This week has been good but hard. It is hard to white wash and neither of us know anyone so we are meeting so many people. There weren't really any people that the missionaries before us were really teaching so we are having to find our own. I have come to know how important referrals are. It is so much easier when friends introduce you to the church. People are much more receptive that way instead of knocking on doors and talking to people that may be interested. We have done lots of knocking and have met a lot of really good people and maybe a few will become investigators. Most of our time currently is spent tracting and I wish that we had more people to teach because that is why I am here but I know that the Lord has a plan in mind for me and for the people here on Lanai. I know that the miracles won't come until after the trial of my faith, so I know that I have to keep working and trying my very best and then I will be able to see miracles whether they are in myself or see how the gospel can bring so much happiness into another life.
Last Monday, was our P-day (preparation day) and the Kawasakis took us to the Shipwreck part of the island. After World War II these ships were just left because they didn't need them anymore. So apparently there are about 13 of these concrete boats that are sunk out near the beaches of Lanai. One is still above water and so we got to see that. The only bad part was it was super windy but on the other hand it made the waves look so cool when they crashed into the boat and sent the water flying! Then we eat with the Kawasakis for dinner as well and then play Scrabble. Might I say that despite my spelling inadequacies I have not won nor come in last out of 4 people yet. Haha. I am constantly looking up words in the dictionary so you never know, maybe I'll come home with an advanced vocabulary ;)
Amazing People that I have met: The first is Pete: He is Filipino and remembers a lot of Mormon boys when they would come to Lanai and help harvest the pineapple back in the day. He said they gave him a Book of Mormon but he wasn't sure where he had put it. We were able to give him another one and he said he would read it and pray about it. He said that we could come back and "talk story" with him and teach him. He understands that we have to learn for ourselves and recognizes Jesus Christ as the best example we can follow. The second is Wesley: I think I talked about him last week but I cant remember. But he is great! Though we have invited him to church the past 2 weeks and he hasn't come, he has started reading the Book of Mormon and believes it to be the word of God. When he said that my heart leapt! He would be so great and he already has so much faith in the power of prayer! We are meeting with him on Wednesday! The third is Magdelina: a little old Filipino lady. She was a former investigator and we just stopped by her house to see if she was there and she was and we were able to talk with her and she said she we could come back and teach her. We invited her to church this Sunday and she came! Fourth person is Alberta: she is the one that we farm with every Friday. Well last week she had a lot of questions about church- when it was, what we did at church and stuff like that. She wasn't able to come last week to church. Then this past Friday she had questions about the temple and how we believe that in the temple we can be sealed to our families for time and all of eternity. Ah she is great and then she came to church on Sunday for sacrament and loved it. Sister Duke and I spoke and I think she felt the Spirit! I was able to talk to her afterward and I asked if she would come again and she smiled and said, "I think you will be able to convince me of that." Ah she is perfect, I just love it when people are willing to listen to the gospel with an open heart. I think people misunderstand what missionaries do. We teach and invite. We do not force people to do anything. Yes we want them to pray, read the scirptures, go to church, and get baptized because we know how much happiness this restored gospel has to offer but we do not force anyone to join. It has to be their decision and they have to do it for themselves and for their God. Fifth person is Flora: I talked about her a little last week, she is an older Hawaiian lady that has been coming to church for 20+ years but has not been baptized. I love her so much and I see that she is not happy with her life. She is holding on to so much pain from her past and I know that if she would committ to baptism she would be able to let all of her pain go and she would be able to feel the Saviors healing power change her. We talked about baptism with her this week but she still will not take the step of faith. I just continue to pray for her to have the strength to come to truly know her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Miracles of the week: The other week we had received a referal in the mail for a lady who wanted the Book of Mormon. The referal had her phone number and then a P.O. box number. We tried the phone number but the line had been disconnected (we see that a lot here) so we wrote her a note and gave her our number and told her when and where church was. Well... this week I saw someone in the congregation that I didn't recognize so I went up and introduced myself and then she said who she was and at first I didn't connect the dots but then it came that she was our referal. She had gotten our note and had come to church! Come to find out she is a member but has been inactive most of her life. Maybe it is her time to come back!
The other miracle of this week is I spoke in church. Our topic was on the Power of Faith in Jesus Christ. I had prepared as best I could with the little time that I had. I was so nervous because when it comes to writting I am a perfectionist and when it comes to speaking in front of people I get so nervous and hate it! Well this talk I had prepared but not once had been able to practice it and lets just say I was a nervous wreck. I am so grateful for prayer and the ability it has to at least keep my nerves at bay because I was able to give my talk and it was the right amount of time and the places that I had just jotted down the Lord loosed my tounge and I think I was able to give a good talk. I don't remember all of what I said but either people were being nice when they said I did well or the Lord has the amazing ability to override wrong words with the Spirit. (Both might me true).
Words of the week: talk story = chit chat/ catch up, puka = hole, keiki=child, tita= sister, and ohana= family
Aloha ovau ia oe! (I love you!)
Love Always,
Sister Cassidy Jean Lang
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