15 Days until Departure

I'm not sure if I could say that I'm ready to say "goodbye" and leave my family behind in 15 days. I know that Heavenly Father will protect them while I'm away. I know the Ward Missionaries will miss my presence in class, because I remembered being gone for one Sunday and one of the Ward Missionaries asked my Mum where I have been.

I have been trying to make everyday count before I leave. I don't like packing because it's not fun for me.

I have been asking myself some questions such as, "Am I excited to leave?" "What can I prepare myself now to be ready to say goodbye for when I leave?" "What are some things that I would like to achieve before I leave?" and "Do I really need to have a countdown to when I leave?"

I can tell you this right now, I am excited to leave but I also have been feeling nervous as each day goes by. I don't know what I can do to prepare myself now to be ready to say goodbye for when I leave because I don't like saying goodbye. I don't really need to have a countdown to when I leave, but it allows me to have a look at the countdown to how many days to when I leave.

In 2 weeks, I will be checking in for my flight. It seems so soon. I know that I will be missing my family and my friends. I know that I will be busy between now to when I leave. I have been trying my best to focus on the things that I would like to achieve before I leave but there are so many things to do. I have 2 important appointments to go, and heaps of other things. I hope that I get to spend more time with my family before I leave. 

I will be going back to Perth but not 100% sure for how long (6 weeks or longer). This blog will be updated while I'm away. It will share my adventures, stories and photos. I also will be emailing some friends who are on their missions to share my experiences and other friends about my experiences. I'm grateful for the friends that I have made and I hope that you will look forward for my updates. 

Striving Continuously

I had no idea what to post today. This post is based on "Striving Continuously." This post is short and sweet. I love a song called "Live Like You Believe by Jenny Phillips." It's a great song and I encourage you to listen to the song. I hope you can see the Video below.

If you can't see the Video above, here's the link below;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM2dWn8cuSg

I shared the song with you because all of my life I have lived like I believe. I always strive to continue to have high standards. I always strive to do what is right. I always strive to stand up what I believe in by not getting myself into situations that I will lose the spirit and there are other things that I have always strived.

Reader, I encourage you to think about the following few questions in your own time. "What does it mean to striving continuously?" "What does it mean for others?" and "What can you do to strive continuously?"

Living the Gospel Joyful

This post is based on a October 2014 General Conference talk called "Live the Gospel Joyful by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf." I love what he mentions for the Image below. 

I will share with you some highlights that I love. 

“It is good to remember that you are always a child of God,” he said. “This knowledge will carry you through the most difficult times in your life and will inspire you to accomplish remarkable things. However, it is also important to remember that being a daughter of eternal parents is not a distinction you earned or you will ever lose. You will always and forever remain a daughter of God. Your Heavenly Father has high aspirations for you, but your divine origin alone does not guarantee you a divine inheritance. God sent you here to prepare for a future greater than anything you can imagine.”

The promised blessings of God to the faithful are glorious and inspiring, he said. “And it takes more than a spiritual birth certificate or a child of God membership card to qualify for these incomprehensible blessings.”

“In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.”

President Uchtdorf said the Creator is reaching out to His children. “He is offering the grand recipe for happiness, peace, and eternal life! To qualify for these glorious blessings, you must humble yourself, exercise faith, take upon you the name of Christ, seek Him in word and deed, and resolutely ‘stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places’ (Mosiah 18:9).”

“He loves you not only for who you are this very day, but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become. “More than you could ever imagine, He wants you to achieve your destiny—to return to your heavenly home in honor.

In your own time, you can read the whole talk, Here's the link below, and I hope you will enjoy reading it. www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/living-the-gospel-joyful

Reader, I encourage you to think about these 2 questions "how do you live the gospel joyful?" "How have you set an example to your non-member friend about the gospel?"

18 Months in Milan Italy (Whitney Barlow)

Whitney has been a great friend. When I saw her photo that her mission call has arrived, I was so happy. She has been called to serve in Milan Italy Mission and she reports to the Spain Missionary Training Centre on Tuesday May 12th, 2015.

She is a great friend and know that she will make a great Missionary one day. I was so happy that she got her mission call. It's hard to believe that she reports to the Missionary Training Centre less than 45 days. 

Whitney; if you are reading this post, "All the best for your mission, you will be a great Sister Missionary. Invite heaps of people to come unto Christ. Remember the Missionary's Purpose and Doctrine and Covenants Section 4, about hastening the work. You always have been a great friend to me and I know that I will miss you during your mission.

Make the most of it for your Mission. 18 Months will go fast when you are busy. Always remember busy Missionaries is always happy Missionaries. Have fun and I look forward to email you throughout your mission (and maybe letters too). I hope you will list me as one of your friends to email weekly. I hope you will pick up the new language within 3 months of your mission or so"

Whitney is lucky to be called to serve in Milan Italy Mission, I hope the members, recent converts and future investigators will treat Whitney with respect and well. I hope she will get many successes when she trusts in Heavenly Father.

Gratitude

I was thinking and writing about the things that I really am grateful for. There is never enough to be grateful for. I am most grateful for being a Latter Day Saint. I love the many teachings that I have been taught from being in Primary, in Young Women's, and now being a Young Single Adult. 

I am so grateful that I have been able to help with some of my friends. I don't have answers to every question. Some questions has got me, really to think about it. I love receiving appreciation in return.

Here's a video below that talks about Gratitude.If you unable to see the video, the video is called "Elder Hales talks about Gratitude"

In closing, if you have seen the video; I encourage you to ask yourself four questions.

Have your thoughts about Gratitude changed while watching the video? If so, in what way?

If not, in what ways could you change your thoughts about Gratitude?

What were your thoughts about Gratitude?

18 Months in Wellington NZ (Rowina Paia'aua)

As I was going through my newsfeed, I saw a status from Rowina Paia'aua about that she got her mission call. I got all excited. She has been called to serve in Wellington New Zealand Mission and she reports to the Auckland New Zealand Missionary Training Centre on Thursday May 21st, 2015.

I got to know Rowina when we first met each other which was EFY 2012. We were in St Leo's together. I miss a few free times when we would dance to any music was playing. We saw each other some events after that, such as Youth Dances, YSA Dances and Temple Trips whenever Rowina was in Brisbane. Those memories was great. 

I miss Rowina whenever she goes back to Rockhampton. She is a great friend and know that she will make a great Missionary one day. I was so happy that she got her mission call. It's hard to believe that she reports to the Missionary Training Centre less than 60 days. 

Rowina; if you are reading this post, "All the best for your mission, you will be a great Sister Missionary. Invite heaps of people to come unto Christ. Remember the Missionary's Purpose and Doctrine and Covenants Section 4, about hastening the work. You are a great friend. Make the most of it for your Mission. 18 Months will go fast when you are busy. Always remember busy Missionaries is always happy Missionaries. Have fun and I look forward to email you throughout your mission (and maybe letters too)."

Rowina is lucky to be called to serve in Wellington New Zealand Mission, I hope the members, recent converts and future investigators will treat Rowina with respect and well. I hope she will get many successes when she trusts in Heavenly Father.

Farewell Sister Ula Ete

Farewell Sister Ete. Sister Ete who is an amazing friend to me and she always set an amazing example to me. She still is setting me an amazing example to me. I didn't expect for her to go on a mission until I saw her status that she got her mission call. I got surprised and messaged her straight away.

Today, she left for her mission to serve in Washington DC for 18 months. She is very lucky to get called to serve there. She was crying so much even when she was hugging me. I didn't want her to leave and I didn't want to say bye to her for 18 months. I was very happy for her to make the decision to serve a mission.

When I look back at the photos that was taken today,it has been making me wanna cry. I don't want to cry. It has been making me miss her more and more. I was happy to be at the Brisbane Airport for her before she leaves.

I enjoyed spending some time with Dorothea today too. It was great. I still try not to cry when I go through shops with Dorothea in DFO after the Airport.

Sister Ete, I know that you wouldn't be seeing this post until you come home. I wanted to say more than what I have said to you for yesterday and today. I wanted to tell you "Thank you for being an amazing example to me, and you still are an amazing example to me. I am very happy for you to make the decision to serve a mission. All the best for 18 months in Washington DC. I hope you will enjoy the mission so much. Make the most of it and take many photos as you can, even if that means silly photos with your companion time to time. I look forward for emailing you during your mission (maybe letters too). Bye for now." 

I was so glad that I listened to Dorothea when she told me to take photos of her and her Mum hugging. It makes me feel so much love for them. Taking photos with Dorothea and a few others help too of having the use of my camera has been great to capture these last memories of Sister Ete before she leaves.

Splits with the Sister Missionaries

Last Saturday, I was doing splits with the Sister Missionaries. What does Splits with the Sister Missionaries means? It means, a member goes out with a Sister Missionary for a day and evening. The Sister Missionary's companion will be with another member for the same day and evening.

It was a wonderful experience. It feels like I was a Sister Missionary for the day because I got to wear a badge that says "SISTER GREEN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS," attend appointments, meet heaps of new people, door knocking, I was able to get some photos and survived a day without using my phone.

I learnt so much from my companion. My companion for the day and evening was Sister Mwea. She was a great companion. I was able to ask her some questions and she was able to answer them which I was so grateful for. My companion and I knocked around 30 doors, found 2 Potential Investigators (Potential Investigator #1 is from Vietnam and Potential Investigator #2 is from China) and attended some appointments.

I loved to share with you the highlight of the day. Sister Mwea and I was about to walk into a small Indian family but the dog named Strom came running down to where we were. We shut the fence, we waited and we got welcome back in. We spoke to the husband for awhile and the husband explained to us what happened to his wife recently. In my head, I couldn't imagine what it feels like to be in her situation. Sister Mwea and I explained to the husband that we were happy to help with anything.

Then the husband invited his wife to come out and he introduced us to his wife. She was so lovely. We explained to her that we were happy to help with anything, it can be house chores. The wife was overwhelmed, she rejected the offer and say "no." I said a silent prayer to ask Heavenly Father to soften the wife's heart and encourage her to allow us in the house. A minute after the prayer, the wife said "Yes, please come in." She was crying, I felt so much happiness and knew it was a miracle.

About 15 minutes since we started, Sister Mwea asked the wife if she would like 2 extra helpers. The wife said "Yes." Sister Mwea told me to call her proper companion Sister Burgess and Courtney. I called them, Sister Burgess answered and we talked to each other for awhile. I asked her if she would help with me and Sister Mwea. Sister Burgess says "Yes, what's the address." I sent a text message for the address. They were about 15 minutes away. I heard Strom barking.

The husband was happy and said "There are 2 extra helpers to come to help and from the same Church." The wife was filled with so much happiness.

All of us, 4 members of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS was able to help the small Indian family. We were able to help with washing the dishes, wiping the dishes clean, clear the tables, sorting out clothes for an organisation and rearranging some things. I will never forget this opportunity. Sister Mwea and I met some people from various backgrounds such as South Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese and Indians.

I would love to share with you, my testimony. "I know Heavenly Father knows our circumstances, I know he knows our weaknesses, I know he knows our strengths, I know he can perform miracles. He may not answer our prayers straight away, but he will be able to do something in return for us when we ask with a sincere heart and intent prayer. Don't expect things will happen for us straight away, everything happens in the Lord's time. He will not let us fall down, he lifts us up and become happy for who we are each day. Always trust in Heavenly Father at all times, at all things and at all places.

We all go through trails, tribulations and struggles. It isn't Heavenly Father's fault, it's all about of the plan of happiness. We need to accept who we are each day. We need to accept those challenges that we face each day, it will helps us to become strong. Stay true and faithful. I leave these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Me and My Companion Sister Mwea