You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words... I think this is priceless
Madeline's mom filling out the baptismal record
She's ready!
Sunsets here are my favorite
Monday, November 30, 2015
Tontouta 9
Miracle 1: Thanks to the help of the senior missionaries, I am able to drive again! That whole process was an adventure, but we were able to do some paper work with the police so I can still drive while I wait for my replacement license.
Miracle 2: The power of repentance (Luke 15:7)
Miracle 3: Baptism! What a powerful experience! Madeline got baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was wonderful! After the baptism, everyone was saying congratulations to her and she started crying. I went up to her to ask her why she was crying and she said "Because I am happy". My heart melted. It was the cutest and most innocent response ever.
Miracle 4: We had an investigator, Malia, that came to the baptism. Malia has met with sister missionaries in the past that she still keeps in contact with and she was SO excited when she met us. She has a lot of love for us. I invited her to the baptism because I was giving a talk and she said in the past if we ever had to give a talk she would come to support us. She wasn't really progessing, though. At the baptism, I was standing on one side of the font with Malia and my companion was on the other side. When Madeline came up out of the water Malia turned to me and said "if I want to convert, what do I have to do?" Woah! Okay... So we talked and she also had a chance to talk to the bishop and receive a priesthood blessing. Her obstacle right now is that she has to get married. I'm excited to see what will happen.
Miracle 5: There are A LOT of inactives and we have been working with a few families and a lot of them came to church on Sunday!
Miracle 6: The power of prayer. We engaged one of our less actives, Edna, to pray and ask Heavenly Father what she needs to do with her life right now. She actually did it! And she got an answer! She said she knows she has to start reading the Book of Mormon again. We've been reading a lot with her and you can just see that she is becoming happier and happier and the light is rekindling in her eyes. She is one of the inactives that came to church and she just had a big smile on her face. We saw her later that night and asked her what she thought and she said "I loved it because when I'm there I forget about all the worries at home".
There are so many more I could tell you, but I think you get the point. Heavenly Father is really watching over us and all of His children.
Funny story: We were at the Thomas Family's house having our lesson under a mango tree. He was telling us a story about this man who didn't agree with some aspects of God's creation like why there is a big tree with a strong trunk and long, strong branches but all it grew was little fruit. In his mind there should be great big watermelon or pumpkin growing from these strong branches and not from a vine on the ground. One day he was sleeping under this tree and one of the tiny fruits fell right on the middle of his forehead. He woke up, looked over at the little fruit and thought "Okay, maybe God was right". Hahah the funny part, though, is right as Kila said the fruit fell, a mango fell and hit the table and scared us all! Kila said "see, good thing it wasn't a watermelon or pumpkin". Heavenly Father has a little sense of humor, too (:
Lots of love for you all! I hope you enjoyed your thanksgiving! There is LOTS to be thankful for!
Sincerely,
Soeur Stahura
Address:
Monday, November 23, 2015
Tontouta 8
I bought 12 nights, got 4 free... Spending most of the week at "Hotel Koutio" (the Sister Training Leader's house). We are always here... There is always something... This week I lost my wallet. I was the driver because my companion is in driving school. Here you can use your American driver's license for one year before having to do driving school... But I lucked out because Florida has some sort of agreement with France where I can just change to a French license and then change back before I come home (or something like that), but we haven't done that yet and I was still using my American license. So... lost wallet = no license = I can't drive. Companion in driving school = can't drive. Companionship that can't drive = lost our car and have to do some stuff in Nouméa. So voila... Also our sector is enormous so these last two and a half weeks of the transfer on foot will be quite interesting.
On a brighter note... Madeline had her baptismal interview yesterday and she is SO excited for her baptism! If you could just see the light in her eyes! Each times we see her and teach her the light just keeps getting brighter and brighter. That little girl has a piece of my heart. I love seeing her at church with her big smile, running to give us a hug. She is SO sweet, SO humble, and SO full of love.
This past weekend we had Stake Conference. A story was shared (not sure if it is true or not) that really touched me. A mother and father had a baby girl, but the dad was upset because he wanted a boy. It didn't take long for this little girl to win over her daddy's heart. When this girl was fifteen years old she had serious heart problems and need a heart transplant. Her dad stayed by her side ar the hospital each day. One day they found a heart to do the operation. When the operation was over, the little girl didn't see her dad for fourteen days. When she got home she went searching for her beloved daddy, but all that was to be found was a letter. That letter from her dad explained that he gave her the gift of his life and it was hers to use as she wanted. At the end she said "I learned the importance of saying "I love you"".
Our Savior gave His life for each one of us and He did it as the ultimate expression of love. I don't want to say much else because I want you to meditate on His sacrifice and what it means to you personally. I will pose the question found in Matthew 22:42- "what think ye of Christ?"
This week I've also seen how powerful being a servant of Christ is. We had a couple experiences this week where people just really opened up to us. It has happen in the past as well, but it just really hit me this week. Here I am, 19 years old, watching adults with tears filling their eyes and barriers falling down. I realize that, that is the trust we should be putting into our Savior. I realize that, that is the softening power of the spirit.
Well.... with all of my scattered thoughts.. and for those who know me know that scattered thoughts are completely normal haha... I guess I will just end by saying I love you.
-Soeur Stahura
P.S. Fun story... forgot my camera at the house so no pictures this week... Sorry
Monday, November 16, 2015
Tontouta 7 pictures
I could tell you the countless thoughts I had about this little green sprout.. But this week I want YOU to come up with an analogy for this photo and email me with your thoughts!
This is my little four year old friend, Jenny. I love her and listening to her speak in French is probably the cutest thing ever (:
Location: Tontouta Rivière
Tontouta 7
Well... It's been a few weeks since we set the date and she is still going strong... So I guess I can tell you that we are preparing for my first baptism on Saturday, November 28.... at 4 pm in case you were wondering... haha. Madeline Mahit is eight years old. In the beginning she was taught by the elders who were here before us and so we picked up where they left off and then set a date! Her father died not too long ago, but she is such a tough girl. Her dad was a member but inactive at the time of his death and her mother is not a member. This family is from Vanuatu and live in their own little community and her grandparents and other distant relatives that live there are members, as well. It is only her and her mom who are not members. So, Madeline has decided to enter the waters of baptism and her mom, Helen, has now asked us to teach her, as well. This little girl is an example for her mother and entire family and it is really such a blessing. She asked me to speak about the Holy Ghost at her baptism. What an honor!
On the mission, I have experienced some of my highest highs and some of my lowest lows, but one thing that never changes is the gospel and it is truly something that all can rejoice about together. This week I've really learned that sometimes our blessings, and miracles, come at a price and sometimes it hurts... a lot... But the blessings have a way of blotting out the pain. I was reading Matthew chapter 20 this week and I really liked verses 21-23.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in the kindgom.
-I think this is probably every mother's hope and it is a very righteous desire.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
-Christ answers her and pretty much asks "are you willing to pay the price of your righteous desire?" and she and her sons say that they are ready.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
-Christ replies saying "okay" but notice how humble and honest He is. He gives all glory and honor to His Father. He tells them that the way has been prepared, but it is ultimately the Father who is on high. And that is why Christ is our advocate. He paid the price in full and we sometimes suffer a small fraction of that price, but because He understands, he will Help us and ultimately plead for us and our righteous desires.
Sometimes, like I said, it really hurts. Sometimes we feel like Nephi and are "overcome because of [our] afflictions" and we think that "[our] afflictions [are] great above all". But remember the One who paid it ALL and remember that it is through Him that we can "[receive] strength". (1 Nephi 15:5-6)
So... Can I ask... Are you willing to pay the price for your righteous desires? And trust me... this is something I have to ask myself everyday. Some decisions we make in life have to be remade every day... sometimes multiple times a day.
Weird food of the week: Deer brain... a few weeks ago we were fed something that had tentacles and I didn't ask questions but I'm pretty sure we were also fed some animal organs....
New Caledonia news: it's getting hot and really dry and that causes a lot of wild fires. We had a huge wild fire in our sector on Thursday.
Anyway... I love you! Thank you for all that you do! (:
Soeur Stahura
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Tontouta 6 pictures
Within 24 hours we were given two crabs, three dozen eggs, two bags of rice, a bag of pasta, chicken, and three cans of sardines (that won't be eaten) haha. Culture fact: people like to give
I was organizing or board but it doesn't come off the wall so.. This happened haha
This is where we did a service project this week
Soeur Todd and I at the service project
Tontouta 6
Hi!
I forgot to mention last week with the transfer calls that I am still with Soeur Todd as well as in the same sector.
There are always lots of little miracles throughout the week, but I want to share two big ones.
1. We were tracting a couple weeks ago and a truck pulled up next to us while we were walking down the road. We introduced ourselves and talked for a little bit, gave them a Book of Mormon and two brochures and that was that. We thought we would call them at some point to follow up, but they didn't seem super interested initially so we didn't have our hopes up. This past Wednesday we got a call from Pascal (He called us!! What?!) asking if we pray and read from the Bible... Uhhhh, yes... haha. Then he asked us to come to his house to share a verse with him and his fiancée, Caroline. We scheduled an appointement for Friday and between Wednesday and Friday he sent us several reminders haha. There was no forgetting that we had an appointment with them. We went and they shared some very personal experiences with us and were looking to find peace. It's kind of amazing how much trust people have in us right away. Anyway, we shared several verses with them and testified of the peace that comes through Christ.
2. We have an investigator, Josieanne, that we met tracting one day (everything seems to start with tracting haha). She loves to read and she asked us for a Book of Momon and the Restoration and The Plan of Salvation brochures. In exactly one week time we went back to see her and she had read both brochures and read from the introduction of the Book of Mormon all the way till 2 Nephi 17! She seemed to have really understood and she likes to highlight what she likes while she reads and also to help her understand the stories. She asked a lot of questions and most of the answers were found in the Restoration lesson. She also said that this is the first time she has read what she calls a sacred book! She said she has felt more peace and feels like she is on a better path.
I know this Church is true and I know the gospel changes lives. It doesn't matter what stage in life you are at, the gospel can and will change your life as much as you let it. I can testify of this because the gospel has changed my own life and continues to form me into the woman that Heavenly Father wants and needs me to be each day.
This week I am ponderizing Doctine and Covenants 6:34
Yours truly,
Soeur Stahura
Monday, November 2, 2015
Tontouta 5 pictures
First time touching an instrument with strings.. SO fun! An Elder taught me how to play a song (:
President's daughter has become like my bestfriend. I love her so much!
President, Sister, and Dimity Granger
Zone Activity: Dodge Ball!
Tontouta 5
Okay... the week I skipped:
Exchanges! I was with Soeur Gunn (STL) in her sector of Koutio for exchanges. We had a blast! We went on a hunt for a house, we taught a man who is from Vanuatu who only speaks a little French and Soeur Gunn can speak a little Bislama so it was a mix of languages, and then we set a baptismal date with one of their investigator, Charlene. Charlene is what you call a "golden investigator". Even though she isn't my investigator it was such a neat experiences because she just learns so quickly and was so filled with light and I had so much love for her after just meeting her once.
The following Saturday we spent the whole day in Tomo (25 minute drive from our house) and Boulouparis (35 minute drive). We had an appointment with a member early in the afternoon and then FHE with a family later that night. It was our first time exploring that area so we just spent it finding! We saw so, so many miracles! One of them was when we had FHE we were talking to the family about a less active member that we wanted to find in that area and the next day at church Soeur Bondonneau, with urgency in her voice called us over and said, "that's him! that's who you were looking for!!" This man showed up to church after who knows how long. It was so cool (: So now we're in contact with him and will be able to visit him!
This week:
Zone conference:
One quote I love: "to maintain the kindgdom of God is mundane, but to build the kindgdom of God is divine" -President Granger
We also spent a lot of time talking about Christ and I loved this quote as well:
"Make no mistake [Christ would say] if you let Me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it costs Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect - until My Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said He was well pleased with Me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less.
God's demand for perfection need not discourage you in the least in your present attempts to be good, or even in your present failures. Each time you fall He will pick you up again. And He knows perfectly well that your own efforts are never going to bring you anywhere near perfection. On the other hand, you must realize from the onset that the goal toward which He is beginning to guide you is absolute perfection; and no power in the whole universe, except you yourself can prevent Him from taking you to that goal. That is what you are in for." -C.S. Lewis
I know I talk about Christ a lot, but His name is on the plaque I wear every day for a reason. He is the reason for everything. Because He accomplished the Atonement He understands us perfectly...but He was also part of our creation and why would He, being perfect, create anything less than perfection? Perfection is possible...in the next life... Our mortal experience is just one step of that process. Just because there are times we stumble and fall doesn't ever label us as a failure...because why would He create anything less than perfection? He sees the end result even when we don't and that is becoming like Him and it is in fact possible through our valiant efforts to not give up. So get up, take His hand and let Him lead you, His precious brother or sister, to Eternal Glory. He lives. He loves you. He is the way.
Sunday: transfer calls - I'm staying in Tontouta
Lots of love,
Soeur Stahura
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