Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,
This week has left me exhausted but it has been good. You know you are tired when the members start telling you, "Sister Lang you look exhausted." A lot of restless nights, I think from just all sorts of different emotions rolling over in my mind and feeling that time is weighing down on me.
We started off the week with eating with a part member family. The husband is not a member but has read the Book of Mormon about 5 times all the way through and knows that it is true. He is such an amazing man but there is something that is holding him back form the waters of baptism but I am not sure what it is. I continue to pray and seek revelation that will help. I feel like we are getting a little bit closer. He said no to baptism but he said that he would honestly pray about if it was what Heavenly Father wanted him to do. I really just want him to be happy and he is so good all ready all he has to do is say yes and the next day he could be baptized. I just keep thinking about the talk from General Conference that talked about how we first must love them, second share what we know and then let them decide on their own. I think it was Elder Scott but I could be wrong.
Tuesday was mainly filled with President Interviews. As Sister Trainers we were asked to be the one to go through the Area Books and Daily Planners- that meant we had to make sure that ours was perfect! That took a bit of time because we had fallen behind; but, it felt really good to get it back under control and now it is just maintaining it! Its a lot easier to maintain than to constantly having to catch up- and if you are like me then its one less thing in the back of my mind that is stressing me out. After Interviews, which felt really short, we had exchanges. Sister Fonua came with me to Kalaheo and Sister Mottl went with Sister Haws to Hanalei. It was really good. I had only heard about Sister Fonua so it was good to be able to actually meet her and figure out who she is, her strengths, and what we could learn from each other. The exchange went really well but its hard because I am so used to Sister Mottl and how we work together and its not awkward because we just know when to say something. It makes me a little sad knowing that this will probably be our last transfer together :( But its okay because she comes home right after me. Right, so back to Sister Fonua - we were able to teach a really good lesson to Pono, our recent investigator who is so good! He had been reading the chapters that we had assigned him to read and then we were able to go over 2 Nephi 31 and talk about what we need to do to follow our Savior and return to live with Him. He loves reading the Book of Mormon - he finds so many applications. After we taught him about how the Word of Wisdom tells us how we can best take care of our body. Heavenly Father has told us to not smoke, drink alcohol, tea, coffee, or take illegal substances; but, we should eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and meat sparingly. He said all he needed to do was stop drinking tea which shouldn't be a problem. Then my favorite question, "So, how much meat is sparingly?" I have never been asked that question and I just started laughing because it took me off guard. Hawaii culture is all about meat - typical meal is at least 2 kinds of meat (fish, ribs, chicken, pork, deer, or spam) and then 2 scoops white rice and mac salad; anything that is colorful (aka fruits and veggies) is considered rabbit food... So meat sparingly I guess would mean only eat 1 cow instead of 3 in a day. haha. Pono, could be one of my favorite people. We also told him that he should go on a mission and his only concern was, "Would I have to cut my hair." I have only seen him in a beanie so I don't know what his hair looks like.
Wednesday- we taught the Vegas ohana and they are so ready for baptism! We went over the baptismal interview questions and you can just tell that they are ready and excited with the normal nerves that come too. Also - Landon, 3 year old son, is just the cutest! He just came up and sat right next to me and just kinda snuggled it. Then when we leave it is still, "Come mommy- we need to say bye to my friends!" Yep, I would love to just take him home with me!
Thursday- we some how got roped into making one of the Marshallese bamles (means family in Marshallese) dinner. We come over and there is a whole chicken- liver, kidney, heart and all; and then ribs. Then they say cook! Sister Mottl was vegetarian prior to her mission so she has no idea how to cook meet. Um... I have never in my life made a whole chicken into something... first things first take off the skin and get the meat off the bone. Now I can work with this. I basically did the only thing we know how to do, cook it with garlic, peppers, and onions (the only veggies there). As for ribs - I don't make them because I don't really like them unless they are amazing! Ya those weren't as good by the end of it. Oh well, the bamle said they liked it (though they could have been lying to me; but we appreciated it anyways.) Also, it was the first time that I have ever had a lesson with their whole family. We were able to talk with them about the temple. We gave them one of the temple boxes and the Family Proclamation in Marshallese. They loved it! I left with hands smelling like chicken guts and garlic but feeling very happy!
Friday: Sister Clayson (never was her companion but I lived in the same pad as her in Makakilo for 3 months) finished her mission a few months ago and came back for a visit with her family, well she was on Kauai for Friday and Saturday. So she came with us to some of our lessons and it was so good to see her and just realize that I can come back here after my mission and people will still love me. Kate Clayson came with us to teach Pono and the lesson was awesome again! We followed up on his Word of Wisdom and he told us, "As I was leaving the house today my mom made me ice tea and I handed it back to her and told her, 'Remember, Mom, I cant drink that.'" Later he told us that he had been trying to eat more fruits and veggies and meat more sparingly. He is so good. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he realized that it made so much sense and loved the idea that there is hope for everyone that is alive or that has passed on to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. He told us that he had tried to do what Joseph Smith had done by going up into the mountains and praying and asking Heavenly Father about what he has been learning and the Book of Mormon. He feels like it is right. I just love teaching him because he gets it!
Sunday: A good day but just tiring. Perez was confirmed! Matt, a less active, came to church for the first time since I have been here. I love members that reach out and just offer to help. A member asked Matt if he wanted a ride to church because he knows it is hard to start coming back to church and having to walk in alone. Matt took him up on the offer. It was so good to see him in church again :) He looked millions of times
lighter - I think that is what church is for. We come weighed down by at least a weeks worth of the world, place it at the feet of our Savior and then He tells us, "Leave the load, and follow me." I cant imagine how heavy Christ's load is because we all give Him ours; somehow, He has the strength and I am so grateful for Him. After church we found out that the Vegas family is going to have to have their baptismal date pushed back because of a funeral :( At first I was really upset; but I'm slowly handing it to the Lord knowing that He will take care of it. Sunday night we taught the Lester family about the Word of Wisdom. Jake is planning on getting baptized the beginning of June when the rest of his family will come to Hawaii! We challenged his parents to live the Word of Wisdom for one week to try it. The mom agreed as long as we make her a green smoothie mon, wed, fri. DEAL! We keep praying that the dad will come around and will allow the Spirit to motivate him to action.
lighter - I think that is what church is for. We come weighed down by at least a weeks worth of the world, place it at the feet of our Savior and then He tells us, "Leave the load, and follow me." I cant imagine how heavy Christ's load is because we all give Him ours; somehow, He has the strength and I am so grateful for Him. After church we found out that the Vegas family is going to have to have their baptismal date pushed back because of a funeral :( At first I was really upset; but I'm slowly handing it to the Lord knowing that He will take care of it. Sunday night we taught the Lester family about the Word of Wisdom. Jake is planning on getting baptized the beginning of June when the rest of his family will come to Hawaii! We challenged his parents to live the Word of Wisdom for one week to try it. The mom agreed as long as we make her a green smoothie mon, wed, fri. DEAL! We keep praying that the dad will come around and will allow the Spirit to motivate him to action.
I love this work. It is so very good. I am tired all the time, but somehow find strength to keep going. I know that my Redeemer lives and because of that I too will live again after this life. I know that His sacrifice has paved the road to exaltation and all I have to do is choose to follow the road. I love you all! Ofa atu! Alofa iate oe! Poake poake yuk! Aishiteru! Mahal kita! Yokwe yuk! Aloha wau ia oe!
Love Always,
Sister Cassidy Jean Lang
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