Little Miracles in Grand Plan

Aloha!

It has been busy week once again.  I feel like I say that all the time.  I must be a missionary.

I will hit my 17 month mark this week. Pretty crazy, but I am loving every day I have here in Hawaii to serve.

This week in the Visitors' Center I had a few small miracles...

1. Two young adult girls came in we came to find out that one of them was really searching for the truth in different religions.  We taught her about the Book of Mormon and testified to her that it is a true book.  She doesn't want to stay in contact, but she agreed to learn more by reading the Book of Mormon and took one with her.  She lives on the island so I hope she comes back to the temple again soon!   

2. We also talked to a person online named Nimi.  He is very smart and is investigating the church.  He even taught the Law of Chastity in a Sunday School class!  He said that the missionaries are teaching him about "baptismal" and that he is learning for himself why it is important, how to prepare, and what he should do after he is baptized.  Amazing!  He only meets with the missionaries every once in awhile and I think he is taking the lessons from them without even knowing it.  Pretty funny.

3. Sister Wu talked to a Chinese family and introduced them to the gospel. She told them they could learn more by filling out the guest card, but they just kind of ignored it.  When they got back on the tram they sat next to Sister Schmidt and I (we were on an exchange).  Only the mom spoke a little bit of English.  She just happen to ask us if we read the Bible every day and we explained how we read the Bible and the Book of Mormon. She was amazed.  "I never heard this before!" she said.  She is a Christian herself, but not very active in her church.  As we continued talking we found out that she lived in northern California (we thought she was from China because her husband and her 2 kids are).  Well, of course we told her that missionaries could deliver a Book of Mormon to her and teach her more. She thought about it.  Then we said, "They can deliver one in Chinese."  "Chinese?!" she said surprised.  She accepted!  Amazing things happen when missionaries open their mouths.

Love you all! Aloha!

Sister Lindsay Evans

Photo 1 - These are some of my favorite people. You can imagine why.  I used to serve in their ward and when I saw them outside at a neighborhood Halloween party I had to get a picture.

 Photo 2 - Sister Wu and I were Laie Tram Tour guests from the Polynesian Cultural Center for Halloween. (After we finished proselyting of course.) We even have buttons and stickers!

Photo 3 - Another exchange with wonderful Sisters. I was with the Sister on the left, Sister Taki.   She is so sweet and diligent.  She is doing her very best to learn English and she is doing really well! Her simple testimony is so powerful. We love her!  

BIG Surprise!

Aloha!

Muumuus - My mom sent me a question about why I was wearing a pink muumuu in one of my pictures... Well, they don't have enough blue muumuus, so we went to pink while we were waiting for the red ones that the tour guides have.  Then they decided that they don't want us to look like them at the PCC so we are now officially going to be wearing our VC muumuus (the long, light-blue ones) at the PCC.  The way we will differentiate between PCC Sisters and VC Sisters is by a yellow lei that the PCC Sisters will wear.  Just thought I would let you all know.  We a fashion show in our Visitors' Center Training Meeting to decided what kind of lei we wanted. Not everyone loves yellow, but it looks bright and happy... and our message is bright and happy! So we decided to go with it.

So we had a BIG surprise yesterday. All of the Visitors' Center gathered in the theater where we usually meet and were told by Elder Swinton that in a few minutes Elder Niel L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife Kathy Andersen would be here to visit with us.  Sure enough, they came and Kim B. Clark and well as the Tanners from BYU-Hawaii came with them.  They didn't stay long, but he encouraged us to share our light with all of those we meet in the VC.  He said they would never forget us - not because of us, but because we represent Jesus Christ.  We carry a big responsibility.   His wife spoke to us as well and the spirit she carried with her touched my heart.  She is so humble.  It was a treat to hear from them both.  I know that Christ's church is restored to the earth and that we are blessed to be guided by prophets and apostles as God's people were in biblical times.

Food for thought this week [I spoke in church about this]:  "Accountability is a fundamental part of God's eternal plan."  [PMG p.150] Why?

Make sure you are fully partaking of all the good that God has in store for you! Love you all!

Sister Lindsay Evans

Photo 1 - This is Jorin and Annie. They are actually from Hawaii and are both members of the church and the best of friends. Life can be hard sometimes, but they help each other stay strong in the gospel. We committed them to reading their scriptures daily. This small change will make the biggest difference for them in small ways.  For me it helps me to make decisions and be happy.

 Photo 2 - This is sweet Makayla. She is from Switzerland and so kind!  She speaks German and a bit of English.  I was able to show her around the Visitors' Center and introduce her to the gospel.  I offered her a Book of Mormon and she said she would try to find one in Switzerland instead.  She didn't want to learn more by staying in contact with me, but she said, "I think I will have to think about this.  My life might change."  You have to love those moments as a missionary.

 Photo 3 - Sunday Sushi. I have to admit it is one of my favorite things to make.

"October 17th"

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Aloha!

I guess I forgot to send this email a few weeks ago. haha.  Here you go!

This week was transfer week.  I spent my last few days with Sister Walker.  So sad.  But, we are both excited about our new assignments.  We were split up so that we could both train two new Sister Training Leaders.  We have two now because of the increase we have had in the number of Sisters.  The work load has increased at the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors' Center and we are trying to keep up.  Recently our compliment of Sisters went from 28 to 38.  Pretty amazing.

Now that I am in the BYU-Hawaii wards the work has slowed down a bit, but not for long.  We are working with our Ward Mission Leaders and other Ward leaders to get the excitement going for missionary work.  I love it!  I did need a little reminder about the lesson I learned last week - Moses 4:1 - about how our work should be according to God's will and not our own.  Good reminder for me.  Still, I am excited to God's will in this area whatever it may be.

Also, God did send me a little encouragement when the work wasn't getting started as quickly as I would have liked it to.   He answered my prayers in a small way by sending us a member who is struggling and wants to relearn the missionary lessons. Miracles happen!  I am excited to help her remember the simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Miracle moment!  We had someone come on chat this last week that had briefly met the Elders in his local area. They invited him to go to church, but he was not sure.  We talked through it with him and testified of the blessings that can come from attending church.  He agreed to go!  We sent his information that night to the Elders who had contacted him previously.  I love when online missionaries and missionaries in a proselyting area get to work together!  It is just for one person, but it is so happy!

I have been thinking a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  It is the means by which all good things are possible.  The Atonement is the act by which Jesus Christ willingly suffered the penalty for our sins and died on the cross.  It also includes when He rose again as a perfect being.  One of the scriptures I studied this week really stood out to me.  The prophet Alma challenged a group of people to plant the word of God in their hearts.  He said, 

"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen." 

I love this!  

"all this" - have lasting happiness, be free of guilt, be healed spiritually, have peace of mind etc.

"can ye do" - it is possible through Jesus Christ

"if ye will" - it us up to me and my choice to follow Him

I know that God lives.  Jesus Christ truly did suffer for all the pain, sorrow, and guilt that we woud ever feel.  We don't have to feel that way.  Of course, this life is meant to be full of opposition or else we would not be able to grow, but I know that what our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson said is true... "When we keep the commandments our lives will be happier, less complicated, and more fulfilling.  Our challenges and problems will be easier to bear and we will receive [God's] promised blessings."

I love you all!  Pray for someone you an reach out to this week.  I promise you God will answer your prayer.  There are a lot of people in this world to help and love and He needs you on His side.

Aloha!

Sister Lindsay Evans

Photo 1 - The Temple Visitors' Center Director and his wife.  We work with them often.  We are best friends and even better, we became friends in the service of God and others.

 Photo 2 - This is ward camp for the Laie 4th Ward.  Ward camp in Laie is camp like no other.   Everyone basically moves their houses to the beach [which is 2 minutes away] for a week. This week is filled with devotionals, dinners, and family activities.  It's not a great picture, but you have to understand there is a huge eating area and tons of tents set up that you can't see.  People even bring TVs and beds.  It is a pretty big deal.  We got the chance to go one of the dinners and fellowship with some members of the ward.

 Photo 3 - My new companion, Sister Wu!  She is a Chinese speaker (Mandarin).  She was born in mainland China, but moved to Canada when she was seven years old.  She is so positive and upbeat.  I am hoping her wonderful characteristics will rub off on me.  Love her already!

In the Service of Your God

Aloha everyone!

It has been a crazy week!  We had exchanges and interviews with President Bekker and a full-day Mission Leader Council that we had to attend.  We have been busy.  One of the more exciting things we did was pick up a new Sister named Sister Sicotte [sea-caught... no pun intended].   She came part way into our transfer because she was learning mandarin in the MTC.  She studied it in high school, but is actually a native English speaker.  She is so confident and already doing great!

As I was emailing family this week I thought about the scripture in the Book of Mormon that says, 

"I tell you these things that ye may learn ... that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."  

Many people think of the phrase "in the service of your God" and interpret it to mean that we are serving God by serving others.  I believe that is true! But I personally like to think of the phrase meaning that when you are "in the service of your god"  you are doing the service that God would be doing if He were here.  Isn't it true?!  That is His nature!  He would be serving His children.  God is loving and charitable and always turning outwards.   As I do the work of the Lord here in Hawaii I think of My Missionary Commission which states,

"[God] is my master. He has chosen me to represent Him; to stand in His place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if He were personally ministering among the very people of whom He has sent me. My commission is . . . to be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous latter-day work. How great is my calling!"

I love what I do.  I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind.  How grateful I am to know of the reality of the simple and wonderful truths.

Much love and aloha, 

Sister Lindsay Evans

Photo 1 - We had to wear pink muumuus for a few days.  Also we got a Korean guest card!

 Photo 2 - Sister Tu'avao and a classic picture of the Chinese tourists.

 Photo 3 - Sister Evans, Sicotte, and Swinton + double scoop waffle cone.