Week 72 Work Hard, Play Hard

Work hard play hard!! Last P-day we had such a fun time. As you can see from the photos we went exploring at low tide at the lagoon by our flat. I really like having P-day in the middle of the week because it gives a nice very needed break in the middle. So we went out and had lunch on the side of the lagoon and then had the great idea to walk out and explore. We ended up getting stuck in really deep mud and catching heap of crabs and even a few puffer fish. All in all it was really fun and we had a great time. Then after we went out and played heaps of different sports. Football, soccer, Frisbee... it ended up being so hot and turn into a photo shoot. It was pretty fun!!

The next day I had the great opportunity to go on a trade off with a new elder!! Elder Waqalevu. He has been out for 3 transfers and is just doing great!! When we started our planning we felt really prompted to look through all the former investigators and follow up with them. It was so inspired!! We jotted down maybe 15 or so names to follow up with and see if they would like to start the lessons again.

Every person we visited invited us in and we got to share a lesson. The first lady had not seen missionaries in 4 years but when she saw us she immediately invited us in. We got to share a crazy lesson on the Plan of Salvation. I think she was on some drugs that day, but none the less we still taught her but what she took in was very different. Reincarnation. It was really fun to explain to her the great plan. She is a very interesting lady but she loves to learn and listen so she will be a great investigator for the elders there.

Everybody that we visited invited us back which usually does not happen. There is one more I thought was really cool. He was an investigator for a few years and then got lost in the paper work. It had been 3 years since the elders saw him. When we knocked the door and he saw us he said, “Shoot, I have not seen you bloaks in forever. Come in!!”

Boy did we hit it off with him. He was just a few years older than us so we really connected when he started to share what he went through with the elders and his life. He is really looking for the truth it is just a matter of learning to recognize it. He taught us the restoration and then we taught how he could know if it was true. It was just a really cool experience.

The trade off was so great and we got so much done for their area. I would have been fine if the day ended like that.

A few weeks ago they were door knocking and found a mom with 4 kids who are not members. Well the mom is a member. We planned to see them at the end of the day. In our companionship study we planned a really good lesson on The Gospel of Jesus Christ with me inviting them to be baptized at the end. The lesson went way better than we expected and I was so excited to invited them. I knew all of them would say yes, so I leaned over to my comp and said, “You do it.” He has never invited someone before. Let alone 4 people at once. He looked so scared but eventually got the words out. And they all jumped for joy and said, "Yes!!" They have come to church twice already and are keen and super solid for baptism.

It was so fun!! We saw so much success on this trade off and it was so fun to watch my comp grow and invite them. He loved it!!

The week was just really good. On Sunday I had the opportunity to give a talk. I loved it. I had done so much to prepare for it even though it was a 5 min talk. The theme for the day was goal setting and how I prepared for my mission. The coolest thing I thought of to explain a goal was imagine you are in the ocean in a row boat with no land in sight, how hard would you row? Now what if you saw an island off in the distance. That is what a goal is like. You will row a lot harder to get there. I thought it was amazing and ground breaking. I got so many comments after on it.

The hardest thing about this area is being in two wards. I spoke in the first ward and then slept in the second. I was trying so hard to stay awake!! I made it through the first speaker but then nodded off in the second talk. I felt so bad but missionary work is so trying and we never get to nap so I took the opportunity.

One man I really need help with in your prayers is Allan. His wife is an active member who is just wonderful. Allan is wonderful. He is not a member but knows all about the Mormons and wants to be one one day. Right now he does not want to commit to a date so we thought we will grow his testimony through Book of Mormon reading. Twice a week we go around and smash out a few chapters with him. Our goal is to get him a testimony so he wants to get baptized. You would think he is a member. Such a great guy!! Keep him in your prayers.

There is so much that has happened in my area and the zone. We have some great sisters who are working with a family who is adopting 7 kids who all want to get baptized. Their mom is in jail and there are multiple fathers who have left with no trace. The family is working on getting the permission for baptism. It is really amazing!! We got to stop by and help them move into a bigger house so they can fit all the kids!! The new house is massive. It was so great to be able to help them and see the love they have for the kids and the church. All the kids are so amazing and have such strong testimonies!

This work just so amazing!! I am so grateful to be apart of it. I wish I could type faster!! There is always so much to say!! This afternoon we are going to meet all the missionaries in my zone to hang out and eat food before we all get transferred this weekend. It will be one last hoorah all together!!

Have a great week.  The church is true, the book is blue, Joseph is the Smith and God is Mormon.

Love,
Elder Cahoon