Malo e lelei,
So, this week has been much better than last week. Of course, I’ve still had my ups and downs, and Sis Mapa and I continue to learn how to work together, but overall, it’s been much better.
I seriously love these wards and love these people! I don’t know if it’s because they’re Tongan, or these are just great wards, but everyone is so generous and wanting to help and serve. It’s amazing. We have an almost impossible time finding service to do, because no one will let us!
Everyone here is dye-hard rugby. Seriously. There was a big game this weekend, and Tonga lost, and everyone is in arms about it. Apparently there was a questionable play at the end of the game, that would have made Tonga win, but the ref didn’t call it. Rumor is the Tongans government is actually suing... they’re pretty intense in their love of this sport! The teams name is Mate Ma'a Tonga, which translates into "die for Tonga" and seriously, everyone has been saying it this week. They really will die for Tonga, I’m pretty sure...
My Thanksgiving was amazing! We had three thanksgiving feasts. Let me tell you, by the last one, I was sooo full! I don’t think I could have eaten another bite if my life depended on it. I wanted to sleep for a week! Of course though, we got up at 6:30, as always, and got to work on Friday! I had a fun mix of traditional thanksgiving food, with enough Tongan thrown in there to make it interesting. We had a turkey, right next to a full pig, and crab, and some other weird Tongan sides... I got to try some of it, but luckily there was enough normal food, that if I didn’t want to try some of the more mysterious looking stuff, I didn’t need to!
I’m so excited for Garrett to get to go through the temple on Friday! What an amazing opportunity! I wish I could be there, but I know that the whole reason I’m out here is so that others can be sealed to their family, the way we are already sealed together. It makes these couple of years pretty insignificant, huh? When you compare them to eternity... Every time I think of Garrett going to Guatemala, I get so excited for him! He’s going to love it. But dang, it’ll be a far different experience than any of us three had!
I’m trying to think of anything else cool to tell y’all about... it’s been a pretty normal week, I guess. Oh! I did have my first exchange as an STL this week. That went well. I love exchanges, so I’m excited that now I get to do four every transfer. While we were in exchange, we had a cool experience. We visited one member’s home (to drop off the #LightTheWorld calendar, and a nativity magnet we made for all the members) and we just talked for a moment in the doorstep with the husband, before we turned and were walking away. We got about half way to our car when he came back out, and caught our attention, saying his wife wanted to talk to us. So, we turn around and head back... we go inside this time, and find her on the couch, in tears. Turns out, they’d been having marital problems, and she was just about to pack a bag and leave, when she decided to say a prayer. Not a minute after she said it, we knocked on the door. Isn’t that amazing? Pretty much story status. She said she knew we were the answer to the prayer, and we talked for a few minutes. I don’t know what they’ll do, we of course recommended they talk to bishop, but I hope it works out for them. It was cool to see the lord work through us to help his children.
I think that’s if for me this week! I hope you have an amazing week! Love you soooo much!
'Ofa atu,
Sister Erika Marks ️ ️ ️ ️
So, this week has been much better than last week. Of course, I’ve still had my ups and downs, and Sis Mapa and I continue to learn how to work together, but overall, it’s been much better.
I seriously love these wards and love these people! I don’t know if it’s because they’re Tongan, or these are just great wards, but everyone is so generous and wanting to help and serve. It’s amazing. We have an almost impossible time finding service to do, because no one will let us!
Everyone here is dye-hard rugby. Seriously. There was a big game this weekend, and Tonga lost, and everyone is in arms about it. Apparently there was a questionable play at the end of the game, that would have made Tonga win, but the ref didn’t call it. Rumor is the Tongans government is actually suing... they’re pretty intense in their love of this sport! The teams name is Mate Ma'a Tonga, which translates into "die for Tonga" and seriously, everyone has been saying it this week. They really will die for Tonga, I’m pretty sure...
My Thanksgiving was amazing! We had three thanksgiving feasts. Let me tell you, by the last one, I was sooo full! I don’t think I could have eaten another bite if my life depended on it. I wanted to sleep for a week! Of course though, we got up at 6:30, as always, and got to work on Friday! I had a fun mix of traditional thanksgiving food, with enough Tongan thrown in there to make it interesting. We had a turkey, right next to a full pig, and crab, and some other weird Tongan sides... I got to try some of it, but luckily there was enough normal food, that if I didn’t want to try some of the more mysterious looking stuff, I didn’t need to!
I’m so excited for Garrett to get to go through the temple on Friday! What an amazing opportunity! I wish I could be there, but I know that the whole reason I’m out here is so that others can be sealed to their family, the way we are already sealed together. It makes these couple of years pretty insignificant, huh? When you compare them to eternity... Every time I think of Garrett going to Guatemala, I get so excited for him! He’s going to love it. But dang, it’ll be a far different experience than any of us three had!
I’m trying to think of anything else cool to tell y’all about... it’s been a pretty normal week, I guess. Oh! I did have my first exchange as an STL this week. That went well. I love exchanges, so I’m excited that now I get to do four every transfer. While we were in exchange, we had a cool experience. We visited one member’s home (to drop off the #LightTheWorld calendar, and a nativity magnet we made for all the members) and we just talked for a moment in the doorstep with the husband, before we turned and were walking away. We got about half way to our car when he came back out, and caught our attention, saying his wife wanted to talk to us. So, we turn around and head back... we go inside this time, and find her on the couch, in tears. Turns out, they’d been having marital problems, and she was just about to pack a bag and leave, when she decided to say a prayer. Not a minute after she said it, we knocked on the door. Isn’t that amazing? Pretty much story status. She said she knew we were the answer to the prayer, and we talked for a few minutes. I don’t know what they’ll do, we of course recommended they talk to bishop, but I hope it works out for them. It was cool to see the lord work through us to help his children.
I think that’s if for me this week! I hope you have an amazing week! Love you soooo much!
'Ofa atu,
Sister Erika Marks ️ ️ ️ ️