Manuia le Kerisimasi!

Christmas was soooo dumblit. Woke up and was able to talk with my wonderful family and see little Beckham for the first time. Right after talking to them we went to a referral for a Filipino woman and she accepted baptism! She was so prepared and is set for next month. Then we visited some bishops and ward mission leaders, then ended with taking the whole zone Christmas Caroling. That was super fun and when it was over we went to the top of the mountain on this island where there are tons of Christmas lights. Literally, this tiny little village on top of the mountain is super famous for doing tons of lights, it's super dope. This Christmas was defiantly a lot better than last years, considering I didn't wake up with Ringworm this time:).

Last Friday we had an Island Christmas party with President and Sister Ho-Ching, basically it was the chillest day of my mission and just played a lot of games and ate food and watched "It's a Wonderful Life", which I ended up sleeping through most of it. It was super awesome and we got dope shirts for the zone.

I am so thankful for the Christmas Season, and I hope we all had the chance to remember the true meaning of Christmas, I hope as we all start a new year we can find new ways to always be centered on Christ. I know it's only through his name that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven and with our Families.

 Christmas Eve Dinner

 Yarn Ball-S/O to Heindel Family

 4 Big Samoans

WEST SIDE

Zone Pic

Aoloau

Elder Haleck

We did our conference with Elder Haleck this last Friday which was super awesome, so many great talks/discussions. The spirit was super strong. I had to show him where a room was in the chapel and was able to talk to him 1 on 1 a little bit and talk about his calling, pretty cool. We actually serve in his home ward so we saw him again on Sunday, as he is spending the holidays here. Great guy.

We have been SO busy this last week, I have gotten like 5 hours of sleep every night doing transfers/splits/follow up stuff. I am sooooo tired just wanna sleep. We did an awesome split with Elders in Amanave  yesterday and man their area is so awesome. We walked to the backside of the island and it is just sooooo beautiful. 

I am loving American Samoa, this place is sooo amazing, and they have cherry coke so what else could you ask for! I hope everyone has an awesome Christmas season!! I am so thankful for our savior Jesus Christ! We can rely on him at anytime, he always has his hands outstretched. No better Christmas then Christmas on the Mission! Love you all! 3 Nephi 11:10-11.

Amanave

Just trying to take a cool picture

 Elder Visesio

 Macdons

Elder Zembal 

Splits

American Samoa!!

I got transferred!!!! President called me into his office at like 11 pm last Friday night and told me I was getting transferred. I was shocked. After 15 months in one district, I am leaving the whole Island. American Samoa is a super small island, but my area is the WHOLE ISLAND. We cover the English ward, 2 Tongan wards, and 1 Samoan branch. The Samoan branch is on top of a mountain. I have been here for like 5 days now and I haven't seen the Sun, its just been non stop raining. But this island is absolutely beautiful! It is way prettier than where I was, I feel so blessed to be here. My new companion is Elder Hapuku and we are zone leaders for the West Zone, there are only 2 zones on this island. Also, they have a Carl's Junior and 2 McDonalds so its been awesome. There is so much work to do here we are super excited to get the ball moving here.

Elder Haleck comes on Friday to do an island conference with us, we are super excited to see what he has to share! I am actually serving in Elder Halecks home ward here haha. This is the Lord's work, and I am so happy to be a part of it. Hope everyone has an awesome week!!

On top of a Mountain

 Elder Loni and me

Tavui told me October 24th 2019 he will go in the temple, and wants me to witness, I almost cried

 Best Ward Mission Leader-Ropati

 Hello Tutuila (American Samoa)

Riding in Style

Christmas Singing

Good news!!! Lance got baptized, as well as Cicilia!! Last Wednesday night we visited Cicilia and her uncle talked to her father and basically told him what is up. So that father finally gave the ok, AND he came to the baptism and church for her confirmation! Let's just say that before her dad was not hyped at all, and Samoa culture is basically you can't do anything unless your parents ok it, even if your like 50 years old haha.

Also this week, we did a split with some elders, Elder Chu-Shing, and Leatherwood. It was pretty awesome and super fun, they have a cool hill in there area we climbed to meet some of their friends. We had an island practice this week for our singing, this Christmas we are singing in front of the big government building (again) and we are singing for when Elder Haleck comes next week. We are all excited for that. 

We found two different families that each have 3 kids in them that we are baptizing this month. The Lord just keeps preparing people. We have no baptisms this week because of Stake Conference (This is my 3rd stake conference for this stake that I'll be attending haha) but we might have some next week. The work keeps moving forward! Hope everyone is getting in the Christmas spirit!

Elder Pangai, Elder Chu-Shing and me

 Cicilia's Baptism

 Lance's Baptism

3 girls being baptized