Malolelei famili.

Malolelei famili.  (Tongans don't use exclamation points !!! apparently)

I'm training Sister P. from Tonga! She was being trained by another sister, but I'm finishing it up. I'm glad I got to finish training Sister St.... She's an amazing missionary, and we will be friends for a long time. 

This is the most adjusting I've ever had to do. But it is so good for me and I'm grateful.   Sister P. was really mad when they called my name to be her companion (hahaha). She said she thought President Maxwell would never put her with a palangi, (white person) only poly's.

In the first day I learned ( or "learnt" as they say here) the following things about Sister P. :

She doesn't like Australia (haha) but loves being a missionary. Her favorite food is dog, she used to "prepare" it herself and eat it everyday. She started driving at age 12. She has 8 siblings. Her house burned down right before her mission. As a youngster, she used to find mice in her house and would keep them in her room so her dad wouldn't kill them.  When children at school would try to steal her coins from her pockets they would find her hidden mouse instead and scream.

The first 24 hours were a little rough. But something happened and now I am having soooooo much fun with her!!! We are sooooo different. But at the same time, the same. We get along so well.

Her English is good, but we still do an hour of language study a day. We laugh so hard as I try to explain things to her...like what a marshmallow is. Or what is the tiny circle I put on my eyeballs everyday (contacts). Our cultures are   very, VERY different. But our differences often work to our advantage. It's cool how we both love and cherish the exact SAME Gospel of Jesus Christ! 

I love Sister P. and know that I have so much to learn from her. I admire her devotion and how un-worldly she is. We are so fortunate and have SO MUCH in America. She understands that "things" do  not make happiness. She is so generous and keeps trying to give me her clothes.

I LOVE the Cranbourne ward! There are 2 other sets of Elders here too. (the zone leader's and the  district leaders) It is a SAMOAN WARD (congregation)! I love the fact that even though I look so different than all of them (I stick out like a very sore thumb), we are ALL Heavenly Father's children. Cranbourne has never had a palangi(white)  sister missionary before!

The first day we set a baptismal date! That is a huge miracle because we had never taught  before and I was a little nervous! Her name is R. and she loves the fact that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, she can change. Isn't that the most beautiful concept? Who doesn't want to change in some way? The Atonement of Jesus Christ is for ANY and EVERYONE.

Saturday we did a massive service project for a woman.  The  front/back/side yard was worse than any Hoarders episode I've ever seen. About 30 members of the ward showed up to this woman's house whom they didn't even know and worked for 5+ hours and are all going back tomorrow. That is charity. She came to church yesterday :)

This poor lady just finds the good in EVERYTHING and doesn't throw anything away. I was putting a broken brick in the pile of rubbish and she freaked out and threatened to cut my hair with the scissors she was holding (hahahahaha)

 I love being a missionary. I know that my Redeemer lives!

'Ofa atu

Sister Stevenson

SAYING GOODBYE IS NOT EASY

Hi hi!!

"Now netball is my favorite sport, I like the way they throw it up and down the court..." Like Mike anybody? haha

I LOVE NETBALL!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone look it up on YouTube!! It's a mix between ultimate frisbee and basketball and I'm bringing it back to the States. We played it with a bunch of sisters on Monday and it was so glorious. 

The baptism was Heavenly!

D.'s baptism was Heaven. Really though.

So I've never seen anyone more petrified of a Relief Society Room (that's where the baptismal font is located.) He wanted so badly to be baptised but has been terrified. It was very much like a massive roller coaster for him, before, he thought he was going to throw up and was about to get out of line, but then afterwards he was on top of the world and would've gone for round two ;)

 He told us that he stepped into the font and felt completely calm, and knew he was doing the right thing. He bore his testimony after, it was simple, pure, and powerful. He knows he is a child of of a Heavenly Father, and he wants to keep every commandment. He knows it is not by coincidence that the sisters knocked on his door.

I have never seen him so happy. I could feel angels in the room rejoicing!! I know Heavenly Father was as well. 

Tuesday we were driving to Zone conference and a semi-truck right next to us came in our lane  and smashed into us. Heavenly Father protected us big time. It was as if someone moved our car over.We both felt it. The hit was HARD. There was only slight damage and we were untouched. It was unreal. Heavenly Father is so good to us.

 Zone conference was FANTASTIC :)

As you know, I'm heading out of Churchill Park after the most life-changing/spectacular 6ish months of my 19 years. These people have become my family, and saying goodbye to family is not easy :(  This is my first mission transfer.

But I'm excited to serve wherever I'm going next :) I love life!!!!

1000 Steps  with dear friends

Thought of the week:

You can't expect to receive a $10 answer by only giving a 5 cent prayer.   As we take time to talk to our Heavenly Father, and LISTEN, we receive answers to our prayers, and can feel of His love and peace. It is so worth it.

I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that every word of the Book of Mormon is true. If you haven't yet, READ IT! 

xoxoxoxo

Sister Stevenson

Netball with the Sister Missionaries.  Loved it!!!

Sister missionaries from China and Taiwan....and Texas

P-day hike at 1000 steps

OH MY HEART!!! It was thumping so hard .....

Hello!!

This one of those weeks where we knocked hundreds of doors, talked to so many people, and BAM.....nothing. But that's okay. We must have weeks like these to develop patience, and gratitude for the little things. Opposition in all things :) But it was a happy week just the same!!

The miracles witnessed as a servant for the most high God are remarkable and humbling. S. is a 17 year old girl got baptised a few days ago in the Narre Warren ward. S. is kind and beautiful, though you can't help but ache for her as her teeth are all decayed and rotted. A few days before the baptism, the sisters went to go see S.. They were confused when she opened the door with a scarf around her face. G, a humble South American woman in their ward had paid for S.'s teeth to be fixed. G is not by any means "well-off" and when the sisters called her to thank her, all she would say is "it was not me, it was Heavenly Father."

S.' had on the scarf because half of her face had an allergic reaction to the penicillin

J. told her family about being baptised and they were so supportive and excited for her!!! She even brought her niece to church this week! But I guess they're super busy and won't be free till May...so that's when she's changed her date to. So I probably won't be there... (transfers are this weekend and since I've been here approaching six months I'm probably heading out soon)  but I'm just so happy for her! 

D. had a bit of a fall last weekend .He had so much Godly sorrow when we saw him. He has no doubt of the difference in how he feels when he's keeping the commandments, and when he's not. It was devastating, but sort of wonderful at the same time for him to learn this. The next time we saw him he told us how he had repented that week and got chills and felt really at peace and ready to get on the right path. The Atonement is real. We're still planning for Saturday :)

Fast and testimony meeting was very special this Sunday. Ana was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They didn't have a microphone and sitting on the second row I was only able to hear a little, but the beautiful counsel and blessings that I did hear were all regarding finding strength and joy through the scriptures, and the influence her righteous example would have on her family.

Ana later bore her testimony and gratitude for the gospel, she GLOWED. Sister M. then got up. Oh, my heart!!! It was thumping so hard and I was trying not to beam too much! haha! I was so happy! SIster M. talked about how she's been a member for 50 years, and how thankful she is to the sister missionaries who found her by a bus stop and brought her back to the truth (we found her a couple of months ago and it was truly a miracle from our Heavenly Father). She said she loves reading her Book of Mormon because it reminds her that everything is okay. She said she always wants to read more and more to show the sister missionaries how much she's read that week...hahaha. 

I felt similar to a mother being so overwhelmingly proud and joyful for her children...(even though both these women are older than my own mother :) These two beautiful women have once again come to know their Savio(u)r and they literally radiated. I feel so much love for these sisters of mine. I can only imagine how much our father in Heaven loves us.

I love you all!!!!

Sister Stevenson

PS.    Today for our Pday we are playing netball! I've never played before! It's very Aussie and English and South African!

THIS WEEK WAS THE EPITOME OF JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week was the epitome of JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan told us that he wants to be baptised on 8 March.

We met with J. and read 2 Nephi 31 together. The spirit was so strong and she wants to be baptised sooner than later....on the 8th of March :)

A.'s baptism was a beautiful dream. She looked like an angel and before the baptism was absolutely giddy with excitement! Nothing could bring her down.

She asked Sister Esslinger and I to speak. I spoke about when Sister Baker and I taught her the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I told Joseph Smith's account of seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the spirit was so strong it seemed tangible. But at that exact moment of sharing the account, a LOUD, MASSIVE storm began to rage outside. This was a defining lesson for me as I was able to so dramatically witness the clear contrast between darkness and chaos, and peace, warmth and light. My talk was centred on Helaman 5:12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the ^arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your ^bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty ^cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Because of Jesus Christ, darkness CANNOT win. Christ is the LIGHT of the world and He eases our burdens, and brings joy, hope and purpose to our souls.

A. was so happy :) She bore her testimony after the baptism on Heavenly Father's love. A. is a woman of so much FAITH. She has a lot of hard things in her life, but trust 100% that Heavenly Father loves her, and will bless her and her family as they are obedient to His commandments.

We had stake conference this week. Wow. Elder Paul Coward of the seventy (from New Zealand) was asked by Elder Ballard to speak to the Narre Warren Stake. Saturday night he invited all members 12+ to attend--missionaries included. WHAT a SPEAKER! Holy goodness!!!!

At one point he had all the missionaries stand up. There were 10 stes of elders and 2 sets of sisters. He called our zone leaders to the podium and asked what our average lesson count as a zone was. When they told him, he asked, could you do more? We all nodded our heads. He then asked if the missionaries in our zone have the skill to teach more lessons, again they told him yes. He then look out at the congregation and boldly and powerfully stated "Now is the time to link arms with the missionaries. Fill these missionaries planners." His entire talk was about how the members must be HASTENING the work of Salvation.

I love this work so much. I'm having such a blast, and I am so happy. Thanks for sending me the glitter, mom. I imagine if I were to explode due to so much joy, it would probably look like that ;)

Love you heaps and heaps. Keep choosing the right!!!

Sister Stevenson

KEEP SMILING! :) xoxoxo

G'DAY

G'day!

Word by word I'm starting to say Aussie (meaning like a word a month, so still not much..haha)

Here are some new words for me: ranga, bogan, capsicum.

I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK SO MUCH!!!! This is truly the biggest and coolest blessing ever. 

 I was feeling a little sad this week because D. knows this is the truth, he's just felt so uneasy about baptism.  Earlier this week we got to go to the Temple (best ever!!!!) and I was sitting inside and opened up the scriptures and the first verse I looked at was 3 Nephi 11:25. When I read it I felt soooo happy and I just KNEW that he would be baptised!!! It's not if, it's when.
 He's so great though, we were cracking up big time hearing about how he tore it up at the last Young Single Adult Stake dance. hahahaha

A. is pristine and can hardly wait to be baptised this Saturday.

This week we got to teach her children :)) (her 13 and 12 year old kids) We showed them the Restoration DVD and I was a tad worried that her son would get bored and leave or hate it or something (haha he's a funny kid) But as soon as it ended, he matter-of-fact states "That was actually really, really good." The spirit was so strong!! He said that he wants to live like Jesus Christ and be baptised. He's prepping for 8 March. So much joy :) 

D.(a sweet little member of our ward) got baptised this week and it was so so special. I love this family to pieces.

Joseph Smith had a question, and took it to our Father in Heaven.

He received his answer, just as I know that all of us can too.

I have no doubt of the promise in Moroni chapter 10.

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faithin Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Keep finding the good in everything and everyone!!! Love y'all forever and ever!
xoxoxoxo
Sister Stevenson

A sister that we visit made us each a doll!

Today we fed kangaroos!!

Hellooooo!

I hope you all had a lovely week!!!

Sister St. is getting so confident in every aspect of missionary work and I love her to pieces. Faith in Jesus Christ produces outstanding miracles. Faith is not simply an expression of belief, but a power! Never think that you can't change! With Christ's help, all things are possible.

 My eye got super infected this week and we had to stay home a bit because I looked....so scary. I was about ready to explode with readiness to leave. But my prayers were heard and within 2 days it healed and we were able to go out and work again. I LOVE working hard, especially when it's 100+ degrees :)!

We have started teaching A.'s kids :))) Wouldn't it be a dream come true if they could be baptised with her on the 22nd? They LOVE church and the friends they've met in young men's and young women's. Their home has been so blessed because of the gospel! Heavenly Father puts us into families for a reason!

We were tracting this week and met a lovely Sri Lankan lady. She immediately invited us in  when she read "Jesus Christ" on our badges. We taught her to pray and she was so happy. I love this work so much.

Dan. and D. Kirikiri should both be getting baptised on Saturday. YAY!

I know without any doubt that the Lord is hastening His work! There are almost 85,000 missionaries around the world now!!! But it's not enough to simply cheer for those numbers! I invite  you to commit your heart, might, mind and strength to missionary work as well. There is no greater feeling than assisting in bringing people to  Jesus Christ.

Today we fed kangaroos!! One attacked me because it knew I had food, but I'm alive so all is well. Only my ankle had blood on it ;)

We went to a park this morning for our P-day.

I love being a missionary for Jesus Christ!!! It is a life of JOY sharing this beautiful message of HOPE.

Love you heaps and heaps and heaps.

Sister Stevenson

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I'VE BEEN TOLD I'M KINDA PICKING UP AN AUSSIE ACCENT----OH MY!

Hello hello!!!

I hope you all had a glorious week! I can't believe it's so frigid on that side of the globe.  Kids over here are having school cancelled too. Except for too hot of weather, haha!

Oh my goodness, this week we met and started teaching the most amazing kids from Zimbabwe. We taught the Plan of Salvation and they soaked it all in. They had so many insightful questions and it all just seemed to click for them. We were sooooo happy all week to meet with them the next weekend. But then they texted us and told us their mum says they can't meet with us any more but they are so grateful for what they have learnt. (that's a word here) It. Was. Devastating. Sometimes being a missionary is so sad :( But I'm so grateful that we were able to meet them and teach them at all. 

Last week Dan told us that all these thoughts were coming to his head and how he was about to drop everything that he's learned and step away. I guess he picked up his Book of Mormon and started reading where he left off. He read Jacob 6:8

 Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?

It hit him so hard. He's told us repeatedly, you have my number and my address, do not let me back out of this. I know it's what I'm supposed to do, I don't want to mess it up. 

We all need pushes in life. 

If we want to talk to God, we do so by prayer. If we want Him to talk to us, we not only listen, but we read the scriptures. I can confidently say that I hear Heavenly Father speaking to me as I study the scriptures. 

A. is going through so much more than I realized. She is suffering so much :( Her FAITH and love and dependence on Heavenly Father is so inspiring. She is being attacked from almost all angles in her life. Has she decided to be bitter or angry or turn to substances for comfort?   No way.   A. knows that she cannot make it through this alone and has realized that she is not alone. She has another family at church, and she knows she has a Father in Heaven who is always there!!! It's so cool, she literally GLOWS.   She has such a radiance about her compared to the A. we first met while knocking doors. She is in a horrible situation, but has decided to choose to be happy. Choose happy. I love it.

A. told us that this week she has received so much revelation and now she understands that it is only in our church that has the correct Priesthood Authority of God. I love how Joseph Smith asks which church he should JOIN, not which is true. You can feel the Holy Ghost and God's love in any church that testifies of Him!!! A. has come to realize that all churches have truth, but ours is the only with complete truth. That is quite a bold statement. But I have no doubt of it. And I know that if anyone were to ask sincerely, they would find out the same.

When we asked A. when she wanted to be baptised, she said, "tomorrow?" Haha :) So much joy. Our chapel is super booked for the next bit....so baptismal date TBA :))

Sister St. is improving IMMENSELY! Ah i love that girl so much. She is so unique and funny and a true friend. I've gained so much from being her companion. I love her desire to bring people to Christ, as well as have us grow closer to Him as well.

Sister R. is Sister F's new companion!! That's the sister who I heard about by the shoe salesman in St George!!!! Holy goodness. I adore her sooooooooo much!!

My purpose as a missionary is to bring people to Christ. Isn't that the greatest thing ever?!!! I love the HOPE that Jesus Christ and His gospel brings! Hope is a trust in God's timing and promises. Worldly hope is just thoughts, but Godly hope leads to action. And that is why I'm on a mission! I want everyone to have the hope that I have! How can you all share hope with others? I can tell you this, there is no greater hope than the Plan of Salvation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Love y'all foreva and eva (Sis St. says I'm kinda picking up an Aussie accent----oh my!)

Sister Hailey Stevenson

I got to ride a bike for a bit!