Thursday, February 13, 2014

DOUBLE the BLESSINGS!

Elder Fakahua, DON, Elder Harmon, Bishop Peterson, MARK, Sister Falepapalangi & Sister Fisher


There's NO greater feeling than seeing someone you've come to LOVE so much.. find TRUE ETERNAL HAPPINESS in the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Mark & Don have decided to follow the example of Jesus Christ & you can too! The Lord is doubling the number of His Missionaries & with that He's doubling the number of those He's preparing! 

"Never before has the missionary force been so large.. These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times produce extraordinary people!" -Elder Kevin W. Pearson 

It has been a wonderful journey teaching & getting to know Mark.. It all started on the lovely morning of December 28th.. My Companions - Sister Fisher & Durfey & I were out to do laundry at the laundromat.. We took all our study materials & scriptures to study while their laundry was going.. I have a testimony of the power of prayer! I just remember praying.. that SOMEONE - ANYONE would come up & talk to us while we were there.. Few minutes in we were approached by a young man.. NAMED MARK! He came up to us & started asking us questions about the Church.. he said he knew a lot of LDS people before.. The conversation continued as we started teaching Him about the Book of Mormon.. He then replied something like, "If I had an invitation, I would attend your church!" We LITERALLY had to refrain from screaming out loud! "WELL MARK YOU'RE INVITED TO COME WITH US!" From that day forward.. Mark has NEVER missed a day of Church.. We met with Him frequently to teach Him more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.. He was prepared from the beginning & every time we met.. He was more then willing to accept & LIVE the principles we taught! There was nothing that he was MORE excited for then to finally BE BAPTIZED! Meeting Mark has blessed & changed my life.. I'm very THANKFUL for him & for his GREAT FAITH & example that He is to Me!
The Elder has been meeting with Don for awhile.. Everyone's at different phases in life.. But one thing for sure is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring GREATER HAPPINESS & LIGHT into anyone's life! I remember every time we had correlation with the Elders & the Ward from Elder Johnson & Elder Harmon.. To now Elder Harmon & Elder Fakahua.. they have NEVER failed to mention just how much they truly LOVE Don! His progression in the Gospel is a blessing.. He & Mark faithfully attended church as much as they could! Both Don & Mark were able to overcome different obstacles that came their way with great FAITH & DETERMINATION.. & most importantly because of their LOVE for the Savior & His restored Gospel! 

February 8th 2014 was their BIG DAY! Mark & Don got Baptized TOGETHER (: Double the Missionaries.. Double the Baptisms.. Double the BLESSINGS! My FAVORITE part of Baptisms is being able to see their face as soon as they come out of the waters & being able to reminisce of where this individual was at the beginning to where they are at right now in life.. The Spirit was POWERFUL at the Special Baptism! Times like these.. make EVERYTHING we go through as Missionaries WORTH IT! Day's NEVER to be forgotten! 
Elder Hamon, DON & MARK, Elder Fakahua
Sister Ramasima, Sister Fisher, Sister Falepapalangi & Sister Durfey
Don & Mark's Special Baptism Day (:
Not only has Mark & Don gained a Testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.. But they have ALSO strengthened MY OWN Testimony of this TRUE CHURCH! I am so THANKFUL that I was able to be apart of this miraculous experience.. & I'm HUMBLED to have witness the Atonement of Jesus Christ change & improve the quality of their lives as well as my own life! WE LOVE YOU MARK & DON! CONGRATULATIONS.. This is ONLY the beginning of an AMAZING Journey!

Learn more about Mark & Don's Special Baptism Day at: hhtp://mormon.org/faq/topic/baptism 




Wednesday, January 29, 2014

It's been REAL!

I LOVE serving out here in Klamath Falls in the 1st Ward as well as in the YSA Branch! I LOVE my Companions - Sister Durfey & Sister Fisher! This TRIO is AMAZING! I'm so GRATEFUL for everything that I've been able to learn from them & from this area... Missions are AMAZING & it was about that time again..... TRANSFERS! Transfers happen every 6 weeks & it's when Missionaries are moved around to different areas within the Mission, get new companions or just stay where they're at... I have a STRONG Testimony of transfers here in the Oregon Eugene Mission. I know that our Mission President - President Young is truly inspired of God & that He doesn't leave His knees until He knows where EACH Missionary is needed & what responsibility they will carry! President Young leads this Mission the way Heavenly Father & our Savior Jesus Christ would have it be led! I know that with ALL of my Heart because I've experienced  it first hand along with many of my fellow Missionaries! Every time I get transferred or I get a new companion... I always find out WHY I was so blessed to have these changes occur to me! I have FULL confidence & trust in President Young & everyday Heavenly Father shows me WHY I'm serving where ever I'm serving at that very moment! 
Beautiful Young Women's of the Klamath Falls 1st Ward

Our last Sunday in Klamath Falls we had the another opportunity to teach the Young Women's.. The Lesson was focused on our Individual Worth. "Who I am?" & "Who I can become?" It was amazing to see & learn from each of these girls how much potential we truly have & how often we live beneath our privileges! I'm grateful that my Savior is SO aware of Me & who I can become.. I know He loves us all so much & just wants us to make the right choices to be able to return & live with Him & our Heavenly Father again someday!
Who I am? Who I can become?
I'm so THANKFUL for the GREAT Leadership that we have here in the Oregon Eugene Mission! I'm grateful that I was able to serve together with our Klamath Fall's Zone Leaders in both the KFalls 1st Ward & YSA 2nd Branch! I know this Mission has the GREATEST Missionaries EVER & I look up to each of these Missionaries! #541GetItDone 
Sister Durfey, Sister Falepapalangi, Sister Fisher
Elder Johnson & Elder Harmon (KFalls ZLs)

Friday, January 24, 2014

Perfection at it's FINEST!

 
 I am a child of God,

And he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

 "Understanding who these children are and their potential in God’s kingdom can help us have a greater desire to meet the challenges more patiently—more lovingly. The Lord will help us teach our children if we will do all that is within our power. Families are forever, and the Savior wants us to succeed. As we seek the Spirit, we can receive the comfort, guidance, and reassurance we need to fulfill the responsibilities and receive the blessings of parenthood." -Coleen K Menlove

President Hinckley said: "Of all the joys of life, none other equals that of happy parenthood. Of all the responsibilities with which we struggle, none other is so serious. To rear children in an atmosphere of love, security, and faith is the most rewarding of all challenges. The good result from such efforts becomes life’s most satisfying compensation."

How could you not believe that God is our Loving Heavenly Father after seeing a new born baby.. better yet TWO! I know that Heavenly Father has entrusted each of His Children to Earthly Parents & that the Family is ordained of God! Learn more at http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation (:

Congratulations to My Bro Will & Sister In Law Leilani on the Birth of HANDSOME TWINS! Families are Eternal! Thankful, Grateful & Blessed to be a part of HIS Plan of Happiness!
My Nephews: Matthew & Finau born on January 23rd, 2014

 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

YOUNG WOMEN'S

...Klamath Falls 1st Young Women's...

This past Sunday January 12th, 2014 My Companions (Sister Durfey & Sister Fisher) & I had the wonderful opportunity to teach the Young Women's in the Klamath Falls 1st Ward! The Young Women's organization consists of Young Women ages 12-18.. I LOVE YOUNG WOMEN'S! If I could stay in Young Women's for the rest of my life... It would be a done deal!


How can I know my Heavenly Father?

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us and wants us to draw near to Him. He has given us the opportunity to pray to Him and has promised to hear and answer our prayers. We can also come to know Him as we study the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets and as we strive to become more like Him by following His will.

Think about your relationship with your Father in Heaven. When have you felt closest to Him? What were you doing that allowed you to feel closer to Him? This lesson helped me to know my Heavenly Father more as well as appreciating his role in my life along with my own Father - Sione Falepapalangi. Check out this Video & think about what Heavenly Father has done for you as well as your Earthly Father...


Earthly Father, Heavenly Father
Men on Earth have the opportunity to become fathers and experience some of the same joys that our Heavenly Father feels for us. Fatherhood is a dive responsibility to be cherished.
(www.mormonchannel.org)

That was totally me growing up.. Always trusting never questioning.. taking everything for granted & laying my head in the comfort my parents provided! I've been taking things for granted way too often.. I'm so thankful for my own Father who carries His responsibility towards our Family! I'm thankful for My Heavenly Father & all that he continues to do for Me.. One day I hope to marry a worthy Priesthood holder who can be as great as a Father figure as my very own!



Monday, January 13, 2014

Me? A Sister Missionary?


Growing up I have always wanted to serve a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons! I've always wished, dreamed & planned on serving a Mission & I always knew I would.. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving a full time Mission is a Priesthood Duty & obligation, however Sisters are not under the same obligation to go on missions. Before the age at which young men could serve was 19 & for young women 21! For me that was a LONG TIME! But I was determined to continue to prepare myself to serve at the age of 21. I was almost certain that I had my whole life all planned out... Graduate from High School & just work & save up during that 2-3 years to pay for my own mission! My parents didn't really agree with that idea.... I think they knew more then Me? So due to their wise counsel I continued my education at Salt Lake Community College after graduating from Hunter High School in 2011. Education is really important to my parents they told me to just keep going to school & not to worry about working for my mission. So of course I was blessed for being obedient to them... I got into the groove of college life & picked up a job on the side to start up on my original plans! I swear my 21st Birthday couldn't have come any sooner & that's just totally fine.. So have you ever felt Heavenly Father's presence so STRONGLY? Well I certainly did during the October 2012 General Conference which was an answer to my prayers...
I remember watching this live with some of my Siblings & just being so overwhelmed! I couldn't help but cry... & it wasn't the "cute kinda cry" it was the kinda cry that just made you look ugly! I could now serve a mission at the age 19 & I was 19! Still to this day.. I can always remember the flood of excitement & emotions that I was experiencing. I knew this was it... Heavenly Father wasn't going to make me wait till I was 21 to serve a full time mission & I'm so thankful for that because patience is a virtue I'm still working on... I'm so grateful that we have a Prophet on the Earth today - President Thomas S. Monson, who leads & guides Christ's Church on the Earth today! I'm grateful for modern day revelation & the opportunity that I've been given to help share the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Of course it was hard to focus on the rest of General Conference after that life changing announcement.. I remember just leaving my Family & going up to my room to get on my knees & express gratitude for this blessing! I then promised myself & my Heavenly Father that I would start working on my mission papers & turn them in within two weeks! I called my Bishop (My Father's Cell phone) & told Him I needed to meet with Him ASAP for an interview! (So what if He was just downstairs... a phone call felt more official!) With the support of my Parents & Family... My Mission papers were submitted the following week & that Sunday I met with my Stake President - President Kinikini to submit my Mission papers! I'm very thankful that my parents had raised me in a way to be ready to accept a Prophet's Call to Serve at any given time.

After about 2 weeks of having my papers submitted to Church Headquarters... That BIG WHITE ENVELOPE finally had arrived! I've been waiting for this all my life.... & it was finally in my hands! The rest of my life was inside that envelope! I never really had a particular place that I would prefer to serve... My thoughts were always just drawn back to the simple quote by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Come What May & Love It!" So where ever the Lord wanted me to serve... That's where I was going to go!
"Dear Sister Falepapalangi, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Oregon Eugene Mission..."

...And the crowd goes wild!!!!! Or just Me? When I read my call letter... It just felt RIGHT! This is exactly where the Lord wanted me to go! Never once have I doubted this calling & from day one OREGON has ALWAYS had my Heart! Opened my call on October 31st & I was to report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on January 2nd 2013!
I'm very thankful for this opportunity that I've been given to serve a full-time Mission.. I'm grateful that, "He doesn't call the qualified.. But He qualifies the called!" I'm humbled to know that He trusts ME.. someone so imperfect & full of weaknesses.. To represent His SON who in every way IS PERFECT! In His strength I CAN DO ALL THINGS! Love is the Motive.. & Christ is MY Reason! #BecauseOfHIM <3