Called to Serve Over the Rainbow

Malolele everyone!

 

Well the time has come! I honestly cannot believe it's here. I am out for my full-field experience here in beautiful Aiea, Hawaii. It is part of the Waipahu Zone and boy am I loving it! Waipahu is the southern part of the island of O'ahu and it's beautiful. A completely different world from Laie that's all I have to say! There are big beautiful homes EVERYWHERE and we live right outside of the city. My new companion is a dear and her name is Sister Uasila'a-Vaha! Try to say THAT five times fast...or once :) ha. She is Tongan and you say her name like this: Wasila a vaha. Everyone has given her the nickname of Sister UV, but I'm taking the challenge to say her full name everytime I say it. I'm getting better. She just finished training and is solid. She doesn't have a license and so I have the privilege to drive in a city I have no idea where I'm going; but it's all good because Sister Uasila'a-Vaha is a wonderful navigator. Plus! driving in Hawaii-even though I'm convinced the island will sink from the choke amount of traffic, is so so much fun because if you ever need to merge lanes, you just throw out the shaka sign, and they will let you right in. It's called 'driving aloha' and it's a real thing. Ah I love Hawaii so much.

 

So I must talk to you about tracting. Well, I only LOVE it!! Oh my goodness I could tract all day. Ha maybe. It totally reminds me of serving in the VC! It's pretty much exactly the same except rather than waiting in a muumuu for people to come in to share the gospel, you go from house to house. At first, I was a little terrified because the homes we tract into are huge and beautiful and on this gigantic hill where you can see the entire city and you can see ALL of Pearl Harbor. People are very well off here. It's terrible on my part, but I figured people would slam doors in our faces (which I was ready for!) and be rude since they had everything they could want, or they think they could want. But anyway, they're not like that at all! If they aren't interested, they tell us so kindly and thank us for doing what we do. What missionary gets thanked for knocking on a door of someone they've never met before?? Who gets that luxury huh? Missionaries in Hawaii I guess :) I tell you ohana, Hawaii never ceases to amaze me. I ofa Hawaii. (Ofa in Tongan means 'love'. I learned that from my great companion. She is teaching me a LOT it's so cool!) Sorry for the choke tangents, I just have so so much to tell you! My first day tracting together, we ended up finding a Filipino man named George and he wants to learn more! We have an appointment with him again and I'm so excited. We have been so blessed with new investigators through tracting, member referrals, and listen to this!

So back in Laie, Sister Munoa and I were teaching this golden lady named Desiree who was progressing and learning and doing well. She wasn't from Laie but went to work at a member's home to take care of their son. She agreed to take the lessons and so that's how we had the privilege to teach her. She didn't want to be taught back home yet with her kids because she wanted to learn it for herself first. Well, a few weeks ago, she told us the exciting news that she is ready to have the missionaries back home teach her and take her to the ward she would go to after she was baptized! We were so excited! I guess it was bittersweet too because I had been the one teaching her, but hey, it's all the Lord's work whomever gets to share it. Anyway, knew I was leaving full-field anyway, so I told her goodbye, when I hear that I am being transferred to Waipahu. Guess who lives in Waipahu? Desiree!! Yes! Oh my goodness, I cried. I cried! Now I get to be the one to teach her and her family and I feel just so grateful.

 

Also! Man, sorry everyone, I'm going 100 miles per hour here. But listen to this. So, Sister Uasila'a-Vaha and I received a referral for a lady named Maria Castro. I looked at her name and thought, "Hmm...this name looks so familiar to me. But I don't know how because she's from Waipahu and I've been in Laie this entire time. How could I know this lady?" We went over to give her a copy of the Book of Mormon that she requested. She answered the door and when I saw her she looked familiar! Okay, I KNOW this lady I think to myself. We ask her how she became interested in reading the Book of Mormon when she says,

"Oh yes! Well my family and I went to the Polynesian Cultural Center a little while ago, and a sister took us on the tram tour to the Laie Temple Visitors' Center. Have you been there before?"......…..

Oh my goodness, have I been there before?! I raced through my brain and totally realized that I had been the sister who had been their tour guide and had taught them about the gospel at the VC and they were the ones who wanted to learn more! Once I realized all of this, I gasped/exclaimed and scared Maria poor thing :) She wants herself and her daughter to learn more and so we set up an appointment for Tuesday. I can't wait 'til Monday to tell you all about it! I never thought that I would get to see the other side of serving at a Visitors' Center. I knew that it wasn't possible to see all the fruits of my labors (as with all missionaries of course, but especially at a Visitors' Center) but for Heavenly Father to let me see and experience THIS! Wow, He is too good to me.

 

He is so good to ALL of us. I am seeing more and more each day how much He truly is aware of us and loves us.

 

Know that I am so grateful for all of you. I love you so much and am so so proud of you. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo!

 

Aloha,

 

Sister Amen

A Tour with the Savior

ALOHA my ohana!

Happy November! How was your Halloween? Are any of you still on a sugar high? Halloween over here was exciting. People come to Laie from literally all over to trick or treat. It's because Laie is so safe and Polynesians over here know how to have a good time. Poor Sister Munoa was sick so we had our own Halloween party at home eating chili and cornbread (that our Bishop and his family so kindly brought over) and watching Mormon Messages. Mormon Messages are wonderful, I have to say! Why didn't I watch them before? If you're ever just cruising on a weekend or something, you have to just sit down and watch them. I know I told you this before when I was a cyber sister, but it's still true. They are so inspired.

Sister Munoa and I were serving at the Polynesian Cultural Center a little while ago inviting everyone to join us on the Tram Tour. To our surprise, no one wanted to come! We were a little bummed because we only give five tours a week and we really wanted to work on being bold and just sharing the gospel with all of our tram guests. We wanted to do all we could to really weave gospel principles into our tours. Even as we talk about the PCC, BYU-H, and the community of Laie, we wanted to focus on giving a tour the Savior would give. We were so excited! But no luck this time :( As we were leaving with our sad empty tram, two older men ran to catch us on the tram! Yes! We asked where they were from and what had brought them here, when they both said, "We are priests for the Catholic church" ...gulp

And now this is where I must end. Sorry I don't have time to finish the story! That's a way to keep you in suspense ya? :) haha I totally didn't mean to do it on purpose I'm sorry. But I'll finish it next p-day! Just know that not only did I survive, but my testimony was strengthened from it.

I love you across the universe and back 100 times! Smile and keep your chin up :)

much aloha,

Sister Annen 

Forever Families

Aloha Ohana!

Happy Monday! How's it everyone? What a week you know what I mean? Goodness, I'm exhausted. A wonderful exhausted though. It always is out here :) 

We had a mission conference with Elder Schwitzer of the seventy this last week. It was amazing! All the missionaries from the islands except Big Island flew to O'ahu to hear him speak. I have never seen so many missionaries in one place! We normally can't all get together with flights and stuff so this was a treat. I got to see the VC sisters who are out full-field including Sister Ogawa! (my sweet Japanese companion from two transfers ago) She's on Kaua'i now so it was so fun to see her.

There are so many things that Elder Schwitzer talked about and I wish I could list them all! But one of the main things he talked about was the importance of the family unit. He said that when we are in Heaven, the organization of the family will be more important than the organization of the church. Have you thought of that before? I sure hadn't! Wow. The organization of the church is to help strengthen the organization of the family now, for the day when the family will help the organization of the church. I hope I explained that okay. Elder Schwitzer did a much better job. But how incredible is that? The family really IS ordained of God. It's why Heavenly Father has commanded us to cherish, strengthen, and nurture our families. We are preparing these small units on earth now to become eternal powerhouses with our Father in Heaven! I just tear up at the thought.

There are so many other experiences and lessons that I want to talk to you about but once again my time is up! Someday, I'll be able to just talk story with you all for hours. I feel like Mormon who talks about how the Book of Mormon is only 1/100 of what really happens. My emails are only 1/100 of what I get to learn or experience and I don't even have to engrave on gold plates! I have a keyboard! ha oh well. Life is good. Just know that missions are the best okay? I can't imagine my life without it.

I love you all more than my Hawaiian friends love poke, musubi, lepulu, spam or otai. (I'll tell you all about those someday.)

much aloha!

xoxo

Sister Annen

Aloha!

My Ohana! Aloha!

How ARE you all?? My my I have to ditto what Elder Annen said weeks ago about feeling like I just got back from a loooong vacation whenever I write the family email. Please forgive me! I promise I'll do better!... haha I think I said that last time. But I know repentance is a real thing! 

How is school and work all going?? Are you loving all your classes and homework? I hope so! I can't remember what it's like, but I hope you're loving it. I can't believe Elder Annen and I will BOTH be home before the end of the this school year! And Elder Annen will be home before the end of this YEAR! Wow, how the time flies. If the rest of my life zips by the way my mission has zipped by, my life's almost over! It's such a great life.

I don't have much to report this week because I was sick for all of it. Not fun. But I'm feeling great now! I didn't think it could be anything bad, but as day seven and eight came, they took me to the doctor in Kahuku to find out what I had. Apparently, I had a few sinus infections, and my ears were infected. So they gave me wonderful antibiotics, nasal sprays, and other medications to keep me alive and going. And now I'm better and ready to go. You know sometimes when you're a missionary, the little thought comes in to your mind that maybe just one day would be nice to just sleep. Or just an hour! You're always pretty exhausted and so the thought seems a little great. But I surely learned this week, that you are the HAPPIEST, when you can just be out and working your tail off. It's so worth being on the verge of passing out when you get home at 9 pm. There is nothing I'd rather be doing.

So I shook hands with an apostle of the Lord the other day. Can I just say wow! It was such an awesome experience being with Elder Holland. I'm not meaning the word 'awesome' as when we use it for anything cool or sweet, but I'm meaning 'awesome' the same way the atonement is described in our hymns and by our prophets. It was such a sacred experience; I can hardly type without crying. I totally want to be an even better missionary now and I want to be converted myself even more to my Heavenly Father. Why are these men so amazing? Yes, they have done incredible things are they truly are just unbelievably righteous people. But that's not the reason why. These men are awesome because of the person they are representing. It's our Savior Jesus Christ. They are literally STANDING in His place. Think about this for a second. If the Savior were to come up to you and say, "Hunter, I need you to please pray sincerely each day." or "Jessica, I need you to please study the scriptures". What would you do? Would you do it? I can't help but to think I would straightway stand up and jump at the chance! I know you would too! So after knowing that our prophets and apostles literally stand in our Savior's place, how will you react to their counsel this General Conference? Think about that this week, as we are privileged to prepare for the words of our apostles or words of our Heavenly Father-they are the same :) Who's excited for General Conference by the way?? I can't imagine how fun it will be to chill in your jamies and eat Mom's world famous cinnamon rolls for those two days. But remember, that as you're cozy and eating heaven, that this is your chance to draw from the powers of heaven. You can know exactly what Heavenly Father needs you to personally do in order to know Him better, and to one day live with Him again because you will be like Him. Isn't that cool? Ah! I'm so excited and even more so talking about it! Be sure to tell me all about your experiences and 'aha!' moments on Monday deal? This is truly a time to celebrate :)

I love you across the universe and back my loves!

much aloha,

Sister Annen

No Rain on Our Parade

Aloha Ohana!

Wow what a week. What a transfer! This week was the Polynesian Cultural Center's 50th Anniversary and I wish I could explain what it meant to be a part of it! Because us sisters get to give the tram tours at the PCC, we were invited to be in the PCC's 50th Parade. A Parade! And oh boy was it ever amazing! We wore our blue tram muu muus and stood on the tram waving to the people of Laie. Who gets to say that they were in a parade as a missionary?? All 30 of us sisters belted "Called to Serve" and "Army of Helaman" over and over and we could really feel the excitement in the air about missionary work. We got to throw candy, hold the hands of the children on the curb, sing, and represent the Lord Jesus Christ all in ONE parade! There were so many times where I tried to hold back the tears, as little girls would run along side us and shout,"I want to be a sister missionary like you someday!" or "When I grow up, I want to be just like you!" Ah, I'm crying just thinking back on it. Who knew a being a part of a parade could be such a spiritual experience :)

On September 21, our mission will be honored to have Elder Holland speak at our Mission Conference! Have you heard of him before? Oh man, I don't know if I can wait that long. The VC and the trams from PCC will all be closed that day so that all of us sisters can attend. It's going to be so special. I can't wait to tell you about it!

We have been and are so blessed here. Laie is such a special and inspired place. I can't say enough how blessed I am to serve on temple grounds almost my entire mission. I can honestly say it's my home away from home. But we can all say that ya? The temple is literally our home while we are away from home. Yes, I can be referring to our home here on earth, but I really mean that the temple is our home while we are away from our home with Heavenly Father. It always amazes me how much He truly loves us! He provides His House here on earth for us to help us feel closer to the home we used to reside. Life is oh so good.

Thank you for being the people you are. I love you so much. Thanks for being patient with me! I'll try to write more.

much ALOHA!

Sister Annen

Transfers!

Transfers this week! Dun dun dun :) haha so we found out transfer news this morning. Sister Knudsen and I knew we wouldn't be together since she's done training now (I can't believe that my daughter is growing up so fast!) and so we were trying to guess what would happen to the both of us! Here's what's going down. So, Sister Knudsen will be training a new sister! Whoo! And not only will she be training, but she is training out full-field! So exciting! She's leaving Laie and going to Honolulu. It TOTALLY caught us off guard since she just came out and normally you don't go outbound til later in your mission. And because I haven't even been outbound yet! But hey, we're happy to do whatever the Lord wants.
As for me...I'm staying in Laie for another transfer! Yeah! It'll be my seventh transfer here in my beautiful little Laie. Half of my mission so far! Holy smokes. And it looks like I'll be here for my eighth and ninth transfer as well because I have been called as the Sister Trainer for the 30 sisters here at the Visitors' Center! I'm so excited! President Warner called me last night and asked if I would accept the call, and even though I was taken back and I didn't think I heard him right, I must have stammered out a 'yes' because it was announced in our VC training this morning. :) I'm totally trusting Heavenly Father on this one.

I have a quick story I wanted to share! So when I first came out, Sister Johnston and I tried and tried to get a hold of and teach this cute Japanese girl named Julia. Time after time, we couldn't contact her. And when we did get a chance to teach her, she didn't seem like she cared during the lessons. At times, we wanted to just give up; but we knew Heavenly Father didn't want us to drop her. We were supposed to keep teaching her. We were both transferred out of the area and come to find out, Julia moved back home. Now fast forward to yesterday. Yesterday at church, Julia's fellow shipper Nathan came up to me and said, "Guess what Sister Annen?? Julia got baptized!" Yep! She had moved home and after that knew she needed to be baptized. Wow, Heavenly Father knows what He's doing. It's all in His timing isn't it? Even if we don't see the fruit of our efforts right away, it's still worth every minute to work hard and be obedient to our Father in Heaven who needs us. I love Him so much!

I have so much more to tell you, but of course time is up already!

Keep smiling and loving and know that I'm loving you right this second!

Lots of love! Aloha! xoxo

sister annen

Proud to be a child of God...and an American!

Happy 4th of July a few days ago! How was it?? Did you have a blast and eat hot dogs and do the lip sync (I'm actually really curious if you did that this year so let me know ;)) ha and watch the best fireworks with the fam? I hope so! The 4th of July was terrific here! It was interesting though just because Hawaii is funny when it comes to the 4th of July. Yes, it's one of the 50 states, but sometimes you forget that since it's so different. A lot of people over here actually don't know it's a state! ha I didn't know that was a thing, but hey it's cool.

So, yes the polys celebrated it since it's another excuse to party and get together with family, but it isn't as big over here as on the mainland. It was a blast though! All of the missionaries finished proselyting at five, and then we all got together and had a bbq. We felt very American, it was awesome.

We got our dear new mission president, President Warner this week! May I just say how much I love him! Really I do. He's from SLC just like Elder Annen's mission president is! (maybe they're pals who knows) He's this small little man who's so sweet and so smart. Very different from President Dalton- not in sweetness or smartness! But in stature haha. President Dalton was a tall big guy and I could always tell where he was even in a large group of elders. But with President Warner, he looks just like another Elder and it's hard to find him sometimes. He is so cute. I don't know how he would feel about me describing him that way, but it's definitely a good thing :) He and Sister Warner, are ready to work and love us all you can just tell. It's obvious that they are called of God to serve here. I'm so grateful to have the second half my mission to serve with the dear Warners.

What else let's see...I feel like there's so much since I haven't emailed in years I'm so sorry! I guess Elder Annen was MIA for a while there too so I'll apologize for the both of us. Anyway! Transfers are coming up next week! What's going to happen :) Who knows. Sister Knudsen and I are on our twelfth week together- she has grown up so fast! and I can't believe it! She's not a baby anymore, but she'll always be my daughter :) We have had some incredible times together that's all I can say. Some super funny and embarrassing times and some of the most spiritual, powerful times I've ever experienced. She is an amazing missionary. I felt like she trained me for sure! I'm going to miss her. Good thing about being a VC sister, is that even if you're not companions anymore, you'll see them everyday and sometimes even live with them again! So that's always a relief when change becomes hard sometimes.

What's going to happen to me next transfer?? Man who knows. Well of course I know who does ultimately! haha but let's just go with the expression for now. I could go to another island and be a full-field missionary for three months, or I could stay here a little longer, I don't know! We find out next P-day so I'll keep you in the loop on that.

Life has been really great and really hard these last few weeks. Our investigator Josh is having a really hard time coming to church. We had set a baptismal date, but because he has only come once, we keep having to move his date forward. The lessons will go really well when we can catch him, and his friend Tau whom he lives with (who's a member) is on board and great at bearing testimony. But because neither of them have a phone and their life motto is "hakuna matata", it's hard to catch and teach him. They are in an amazing reggae band called "The L81Z" (the late ones) and that takes them to Honolulu often. Anyway, they're amazing people, and we just love them.

Some days I would be confused thinking maybe we weren't obedient enough or thinking we were doing something wrong. I would say that I had faith in the Lord, but I didn't trust in His timing! That is totally part of having faith in Heavenly Father. Is having faith in His timing. It just comes down to listening to the spirit to discern what our friends need so that we can know how to best help them. In Josh's case, to come to church. We fasted just yesterday and hope to catch them this week. I'll tell you how it all goes next week too.

I'm so happy that the spirit is the one that teaches! You know what I mean? If it were just Sister Knudsen and I, our area would be bleh. The work wouldn't and couldn't move forward. Thank goodness Heavenly Father is in charge of His work. I know I say that in almost every email! But it's because it's so true and I've really gained a testimony of it.

Think of something that you're struggling with and think about how you can better trust in the Lord's timing. I promise that as you trust in the Lord's timing, you'll find that it's the BEST timing. More so than we can ever see on our own. Allow the Lord to lead you. Because He will.

I LOVE YOU oh so much ohana!

Aloha!!!

love always,

Sister Annen