A week full of miracles

So this week has been FULL of miracles. Every single day we found at least one new person to teach. And many of them have such great potential. 

I wish to share one experience:

So Friday we felt that we should visit one of our recent converts and when we went we found him and his cousin. We asked if we could share something with the both of them and his cousin accepted. We only asked his cousin if he had any questions for us and he said, no i think i better not because we might contend, but we encouraged him that we don't contend. He explained to us his beliefs , he is a strong Christian and he knows the bible very well, but doesn't go to any church because he sees lots of wickedness in them, and his questions about what we believed and it was perfect. We explained the Restoration and explained the power of the Book of Mormon. We believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that if any person reads it and asks God if is a book of His words, the Spirit of God will confirm the truth of it to their minds and hearts. He accepted to read the Book and then at the end of the lesson said this, He pleaded so sincerly that up to know it has left me shocked but he pleaded, please there are some things in the Bible I don't understand  and I would like you guys to explain it, when can we meet again? 

I know first that the Book of Momon is true. I know it is the word of God, and as Joseph Smith said, that any man would move closer to God by reading and applying it precepts than by any other book. 

I also know that God called me here to Sullana, by his prophet and we are truly representatives of Jesus Christ. This is His church and I know it. 

 Love nad miss you all, 

Hermana Tanuvasa

Repentance is the greatest form of Obedience

So this week has been an adventure. We did LOTS of walking when many of our appointments fell through. We are searching for new invesitgators right now. 

But Victoria is progressing well. Victoria came to church again this week and in a lesson upon asking her how she felt about baptism, she said " Well my boyfirend says he knows Im going to be baptized. So I 

asked him what he would do if I get baptized and he said that he too would be baptized!" ahhha we hope that he is a new invesitgator for us next week. 

This week I was pondering a lot about giving our life to God. All of us have little things that are difficult to leave behind. It could be sleeping in too long, eating too much, yelling at crazy drivers, or bigger things like smoking or drug addictions.But God asks that we give him everything. That we give him the very gift that he gave us, of agency. I know I lack this a lot. But as we let out Spirit, take control of our carnal body and let God take control of the  both of them, he in turn will give us a free spirit and body. Its interesting to see how obedience and freedom are directly related but its true. Small example, obedience to the Word of Wisdom, gives us freedom to walk and not faint,to run and not be weary. 

I know that obedience brings blessings and like a phrase that Dad sent me months ago, "Repentance is the greatest form of obedience." Oh the truth that rings in those words. Praise be to God and His Son Jesus Christ, who showed us the way of obedience and offered the way to repentance. This gospel is true, I know it.

I love you all, take care and be safe!!!!

Hermana Tanuvasa 

We must preach to the hobbits and people of Narnia :)

Gods infinite love

Denis was baptized this week (: He passed his interview with President and showed up early on Friday afternoon with a huge smile, so excited to be baptized. It was beautiful to see everyone dressed in white. There were 6 baptisms in total. 

Brandy... This week we left Brandy. My heart broke again as so many times it has. He is 17 and still wants to live his life. He told us he didn't want to change. These are the hardest times when Satan rages rampant. But I have hope that one day soon he will be baptized. 

Sullana is progressing. We had Victoria attend church yesterday. She is the older sister of one of our recent converts and she truly in searching fo the truth. Each lesson we´ve had with her so far is so spiritual. We continue to find many good people to teach and our ward is helping us a lot. Hna. Arce is my supporting angel. I truly believe that God placed her in my life at a very crucial time and I feel privileged to work along side her. 

This week I was feeling a little down being overwhelmed with how much I lack, but it was so interesting. As i studied the words of King Benjamin, and Romans 8, I was starting  to understand a little more of the infinite love of our Father in Heaven. King Benjamin spoke of our own nothingness. How literally we are worth nothing because we serve, but we mess up, but when we do good, God blesses us, so we really just are in SUPER debt with him. But in Romans it teaches a beautfiul doctrine of his love

"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us allthings?

 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

 God in His infinte love didn't even hold back his only Begotten Son. He gave us Him and gives us more. And if God opts for us on His team and asks that we, in our infinte weakness be part of his love, who else matters? Because of Christ, we can know of our infinite worth, no matter how many times we fall down or screw up or just get down. God is on our side and he cheers us on and picks up the dropped ball and strengthens our feeble knees. That is why I will continue to follow His example, here and wherever I go. Because Gods love has no limits, neither should mine. 

Thank you family for showing me love without limits. I miss and love you and Im glad to hear that everyone is safe and sound. Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth good will to men. 

Yes I am ready for Christmas ahhahah love you guys, 

Hermana Tanuvasa

The end goal

This week we went on exchanges (intercambios) with the sister leaders (who are awesome !!!) Sister Mcrae cut her finger and her companion kind of freeked out, so I had to play mom and get her some medical attention  

With Andres, his brother Jesus was my first convert baptism in the field

This is my view on my morning runs

This is the staircase I run at the end of my run and then die :)

My Comp and I working with the youth on how to get referrals

This is Brayan who was baptized on August 5

This is Denis who we are teaching, he will be baptized next week

Hahaha wow I can't believe it is 100 days until I come home... that's crazy. But thank you so much for this email mom.  I can feel that its true and I will continue and work harder to give my all to finish strong. 

I have been praying for Uncle Pika and you guys. I hope that his family is ok. This week with be crazy for you guys but God will bless you. 

I am starting to feel the pain of leaving these people behind. Especially when I saw Andres Perez this week. I don't know if you remember him but he is the brother of Jesus Perez, my first convert in the mission. He is here in Sullana painting a mural and then he heads off to the jungle. But it broke my heart because he is so skinny and you can see that he is just sad. I asked him what had happened with the missionaries but he just sadly shook his head. That was one of the hardest things that has happened here, to see him and know that he hasn't followed the teachings of Jesus Christ and because of it he is sad. I reminded him to read his Book of Mormon and gave him another to read while here in Sullana. 

So this week I won't write a ton, because I want to send pictures. I have a  lot!

This week, I've learned this, the importance of having a final goal. Many people in this world don't know their final goal, or have any goals planned past getting a steady job and a good education. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we know our ultimate goal. We know that we are here to learn and progress to return to live with our Heavenly Father again and live as He lives, perfectly in our families.  This is what motivates and changes our daily decisions and it should influence who we are. I know that when we keep this in mind, God will guide us, help us overcome temptations and weaknesses, and show us what marvelous things lie in store for our future. 

I was grateful this week to witness Bryans baptism and  his first step to becoming like his Heavenly Father. This week we are hoping to see four baptisms in our ward and in the upcoming weeks the baptisms of Brandy, Julio, Victoria and Arturo.  I will explain more later but basically its been a great week of hard work.

I love you all!!! Take lots of care and keep the end goal in mind!!

Love Hermana Tanuvasa

The Power of Godliness is manifest in the ordinances

Kayla's zone in Sullana

Seriously the power of God is very real. I miss the temple more than any other place in the world. I was actually hoping that we could go to the temple like the day after i get home. Or if possibly the day I get home would be amazing. Also question, can I enter in still as missionary? Im glad you have felt the power of the temple. I know that God will keep you guys safe as you continue going. 

So Brayan is excited for his baptism on Friday!! He is inviting his family and friends and we are super excited as well. We plan on having Brayan's baptism this week, Denis next week and the week after Brandy. AHHH!! They are our three kids. We were talking about them this week and I came to understand a little bit of the Fathers love and ways;

So Brayan is basically the golden and perfect kid. He agrees to live everythng and immediately obeys. He shares the gospel with his friends and comes to church early with a nicely pressed shirt and pants. He wants to teach and baptize his parents. Denis has come to church 3 times but he is sometimes difficult to find in his home to be able to teach. He has ENDLESS questions (but they are really good ones) and he truly understands the need for repentance, due to some past difficulties. Brandy is a little bit more behind. After teaching him for the same amount of time as Denis and Brayan, this Sunday was the first time he attended church. He wants Gods help but is always willing to do his part to receive it. But he truly wants to be where God is and have what he offers. 

Our three kids are all in different stages, but we love them equally. Equally when one makes a good decision we rejoice, and when one forgets to read their scriptures or isn't there when we are scheduled to teach them it makes us sad. Neither one of them is better than the other. They are all good and they are all important , to us, and to God. 

As we pondered on this I realized that is the same with us. Sometimes we believe that we are not as loved by God, maybe for our disobedience, or just becuase we feel ugly or stupid, but God is no respecter of persons. We are all his chldern and he loves us. How beautiful is that. (:

Now I have learned and know these truths because I read the Book of Mormon.There I come to know how much God really loves me and each one of His children. I know that the Book of Mormon is the key to happiness and salvation, as Nephi mentions from the beginning (1 Nephi 6:4) 

I pray and hope that you all read the Book of Mormon and truly try Moroni´s promise. 

"3.Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

It is open to all. Please, the Lord himself invites you to ask him if these things are true. I know that the Book of Mormon truly testifies of the living Christ, our Savior and shows that He is real. We must always remember Him. 

I love you family!!! I miss you tons and tons and tons and send prayers, big squishy hugs and lots of kisses. You guys are the best. 

Love you, 

Hermana Tanuvasa