Talofa!

Talofa! We had a fairly decent past week. We're getting the ball rolling and more people excited about missionary work. We started splits with the elders quorum and high priests this past week and had a lot of success. We were able to each visit a less active family as well as some potential non-member Samoans. One, the one that elder Pauga visited, has a baptismal date now set for August 3rd along with Moli and Sabrina's family. So we're super excited about that. If things go as planned, we could end up with like 6 people being baptized on that day.

Both the less active families were supposed to be at church but they didn't come. One's wife had to take their only car to work last minute and left her husband babysitting the kids but we're unsure about the other. The nonmember Samoans that I went and visited on splits arent interested right now, but because of the whole culture, they're super open. They said "come over we'll barbecue for you!" So we're thinking with more fellowship, they could come around. Our ward mission leader and some of the ward missionaries are going to continue visiting them.

 

We're thinking of visiting members grouped by area and keeping a record of their progress in their missionary efforts: people they know that come to mind, things they're going to do, commitments we leave, follow up, etc. That way we stay organized between visits.

 

How's President Van Cott? What can I say about him knowing that he reads my blog... haha. He said in interviews this past week that he wont have the time to follow my blog any more though. Apparently he looked up a lot of other missionaries in this mission too. He's young but doesn't let that deter him at all. He's the fiery type that likes to do things and not sit around in meetings or in the office. He might be a bit rash but I think he means well and cares about the missionaries and the work. I like his desire to get out and do work himself. Only thing that seems to not be going well is all the office/organizational work. We just barely got a call from the office today to find out our address so they can forward mail. It's been what, 3 whole weeks? Poor Pauga has been waiting for a package for a while. haha. Those letters you sent 3 weeks ago? Still don't have them. Also, supplies from the office (copies of the book of Mormon, pass along cards, pamphlets, etc) are being picked up monthly instead of weekly. So it seems a little messy in that sense but otherwise okay. I'm not going to use the word "change" because he doesn't like missionaries saying he's changing things haha.

 

Anyways, I don't have a ton of time left as a missionary so I don't know if I care very much about getting my slacks fixed. They just need to survive a few more months because then we'll be in suits after general conference. I'm surprised how nice my shirts still are. Still white!

 

There's so much goodness in the end of the Book of Mormon, especially chapter 7 and 10 of Moroni. Chapter 7 is probably one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. I think verses 40-48 go hand in hand with verses 32 and 33 of chapter 10

 

Until next week! Fa soifua!

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning