So guess what? Pretty much all my fears came true! haha. I'm training a missionary! Elder Judd. He got to meet grandma and grandpa. He's not brand new, but I'm finishing the 12-week training program with him. He's only been out for one transfer. He and I cannot seem to get along. His personality is cool, but he is such a stiff missionary... He wants to work at like 110%, but it just isn't possible in a Samoan ward. I've been trying to do EVERYthing I can for this kid and I'm still falling short. I've repented more in the past week than I think I have my whole mission. But it's still not enough. I'm a relaxed individual, and straight up, I'm not changing that. That doesn't mean I'm idle, slothful, lazy, or disobedient. I just like to go with the flow. And I follow the spirit of the law. It took me a while to find a balance between obedience/hardwork and having fun. If you're not working, life as a missionary sucks. And if you can't let yourself have fun, life as a missionary also sucks. The worst times in my mission were when I was living in the extremes: doing nothing but work work work or doing almost no work at all. Theres a balance to it, although that balance may differ for each individual. He likes being in a Samoan ward but I'm really worried he's going to burn out and lose his motivation to work. I've never known or heard of a missionary being trained in a polynesian ward. The work is hard. Harder than probably all the white and spanish wards in the mission. You have to be okay with just doing as much as you can. If doing all you can doesn't fill the whole day, you have to be okay with that. I burned out in my first area because the work got so slow. I just really don't want to see that happen to Judd.
Anywho! On a plus side, the tender mercies of the Lord are always there. I have ROOMATES. And not only that, but one of them is elder Langi. I LOVE elder Langi. He's one of my best friends still out in the field. He and his companion who's super cool too have kept me sane this past week. haha.
Also, Sabrinna's baptism went really well. I really think that the rest of her family will follow her soon. It's so cool to see, physically, the impact that having the gift of the holy ghost has on someone. Not only in their actions but also in their countenance. It's like someone turned on another faint light that only shines on their face. Pretty cool.
Elder Judd is working like 500 times harder than I have towards learning the language. I didn't really try to learn it since elder Pauga knew it and didn't seem to want to take the time to try and teach me. I have a feeling elder judd is going to know more than me fairly soon if he keeps learning at this rate.
I met a lot of missionaries at transfers that were like "Oh so you're elder browning! I knew your grandparents! They make great food!" I haven't been that jealous of that many different individuals my whole mission. haha.
Well we're focusing on all that we can focus on: the members. Since they already know most of the non member samoans in the region, we focus on strengthening them and their family. Our call is to invite all to come unto Christ, and the active members need strengthening just as much as anyone else.
Well that's all for now. And Aubree, you should be getting a card tomorrow :) hopefully. haha.
Love,
Faife'autala'i Nelesoni Palauni
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