Lessons from an unexpected sources

This week has been amazing. So crazy how much I took for granted back at home. This week I was able to talk to an investigator who is on parole. He was telling us about his experiences being in jail and how that impacted him to always want to do the right. When he got out he had a job that wasn't the best for him and was always tempting him to do wrong. He then told us how he quit that job just because of the temptations that were there. How powerful that was, for him to quit maybe the only job he could get because it was to much of a temptation for him to go back to his old life. I have never known what it was like to "Pluck out your eye if it offends you" So amazing and so humbling to have to learn that lesson from such an amazing man.

Well by small and simple things are amazing things brought to pass. I have never really thought of that as something that would happen to me on my mission. But while we were teaching one of our investigators he had some questions about Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the gospel. Apparently it was getting pretty tense in the room(I wouldn't know I don't speak perfect Samoan) and Elder Redd just decided to have me bear my testimony about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. I was maybe able to mumble out four sentences about what I knew and some promised blessings before I ran out of things to say. After the lesson was over I asked Elder Redd what happened in the lesson (because I'm not perfect in Samoan yet.) He told me that it was getting very intense and by me bearing my testimony even as simple as it was, brought the spirit back into the room and Aloni was able to accept the message and was willing to read the BOM. Such an awesome experience that I had no idea was happening.

The craziest thing was I had to wake up at 4am to go to conference over here. It was such a testimony builder for me to see how many people were willing to wake up that early to go and hear the word of the prophet. I had always taken advantage of being able to wake up five minutes before and just heading up stairs when these people were waking up at four so they could make it to the chapel on time for conference. I love these people and how every day they are able to teach me how to be humble and how to be grateful for all I had back at home and for all I have now!

Thank you everyone for all of the love and support you send! You are truly a blessing in my life!

Alofa Atu

Elder Elder Mason Derek Bethea

1- You told B that you ate Cat.... how was it and how was it cooked?
2- Are the baptismal fonts there indoors, outdoors, or in the ocean?
3- Can you get regular cows milk at the grocery store? How expensive is it?
4- Do you spend any of your pday playing sports with the other missionaries?
5- How many sets of Elders and Sisters are in your District? Zone?
6- Does it rain very often?
7- Do you get the opportunity to do service projects?

So here are the answers to your questions
1- It was weird and it was cooked by some chinese lady in a Fast Food place it was very different.
2- They are outside. Although Elder Redd was able to baptize someone in a waterfall so idk yet.
3- Yes. It is like at the cheepest 3.45$
4- No we mostly are on a beach chilling and just hanging out.
5- We have 2 sets of sisters and 3 sets of Elders. I have no idea about my zone.
6- ALL THE TIME!
7- Not yet but tomorrow we will be able to go help our bishop.

 we had to wake up at 4 am for conference

And the little guy is Landon he is a psycho and is the son of the family we live with

Elder Sa'u our zone leader