November 15, 2015 (second email)

​This is sister Burbank, the mission nurse. She returned home from her mission  and she's from canada! She's a very sweet lady.

November 15, 2015

I'm glad to hear that all is happy and well in Utah! (at least from what you've told me.)

Heads up, My mission president made up his mind. We only get 30 minutes to email our families home every week. So. My emails are going to be a little bit shorter and a little bit sweeter. 

But, all is well here too! Mostly.

Yesterday was interesting, because I seem to have caught some sort of a cold! I actually quite literally lost my voice, and the doctor told me not to talk AT ALL. My poor little companion had to do all the tongan, and she's only been here for six weeks! We went to all of our appointments, and I think both of us by the end were a little frustrated. She was frustrated because she feels like she needs to know more tongan, and I was frustrated because I could do absolutely nothing to help her. I ended up-----***PAUSE OH MY GOSH WE JUST LITERALLY GOT A CALL THAT WE'RE GETTING HOT WATER PUT IN OUR MQ WOOO**** President Tupou mentioned that all the sisters were getting hot water, and he promised us we would get hot water first. Woo! He kept good on his promise! Uh, but too bad it's actually getting really hot here now.... Hahaha! That's ok. Anyways, on with the story.------ I ended up basically using my super awesome pantomime skills to help the investigator understand the message. I knew these acting skills would come in handy. We invited him to be baptized. He said yes! Now my voice is a little better, but I'm still not using it, because We want it to fully heal. Sister Bever and I are fasting so that I'll be able to teach at our appointment tonight. She was so very patient with me. I had to mouth everything I wanted to say to her. ALSO just some news that I thought was interesting, her uncle is the co-owner of Tillamook Cheese. That's right. Tillamook cheese. I'll just let that sit with you for a little bit. 

Also, I don't like fleas. My companion and I somehow got fleas in our house, and they bite us while we sleep. We're trying to get that fixed! I like my blood, thank you. 

We just had a transfer, and if you predicted as we already predicted, we're staying here! I like it here. We're trying our very best. We're going to get as much as we can out of this area in six weeks! Then, most likely, she will stay here, and I will most likely leave. Right before christmas.

Christmas! 

Also, I finally got the package! Actually, my companion and I both got packages! It was good! She got a birthday package (With a no-bake cake and candles inside: Genius) and I absolutely loved everything that was in mine. Thanks so much, tina! Packages are literally the best things ever. And the T-shirt. It's now my new workout shirt. It makes me happy inside. I don't think any of the native islanders get it, but it doesn't matter. I get it. That t-shirt is basically the motto for my existance in these last 18 months.

We had an investigator drop us this week. We've been working with him for a while, and one day he told us he needs to tell us the truth, and that he just wants to study the bible by himself and not go to any organized religion. We made him promise that if he ever felt like he needs anything more, that he would read the book of mormon. I was so sad! I had no idea how much I loved this investigator until he unintentionally broke my heart. We sang him a hymn and the spirit was REALLY powerful. I knew he couldn't deny it, and I hope that he remembers it when he thinks about the missionaries and the message we shared.

Ok! So much to say, SO VERY VERY LITTLE time! Ugh. 

Mom, I love you all so much and I think about you every day. I keep a family picture in my tongan scriptures that I can take around and show people. It makes me feel like maybe I'm taking you all with me!

Ofa lahi atu!

November 8, 2015

Woo! So, I went to the dentist today, there was a team of 17 americans working in liahona, and I didn't die. Woo! There wasn't even anything serious, I'd just had a previous filling that had come loose. But all is well! Actually, I'm floating on the clouds. I was super anxious for no reason, As usual.

So.

The baptism:

The baptism was amazing. Truly. My heart was afloat, especially when he got the opportunity to bear his testimony. It was so very sweet. This is one of the biggest blessings I've received from my mission thus far, the opportunity to see someones life be ENTIRELY changed by the gospel. Sometimes it's hard for us to see, because we were born in it. But every day is a testimony to me of how true this church is. Along with his confirmation, all of his children last sunday, recieved their baby blessings. Also, this next week, he'll recieve the priesthood. the week after that, hopefully he'll get to go do baptisms for the dead for his dad. This is his kingdom on the earth. I know sometimes there's things in this organization that we don't agree with. But all we have to do is trust. Part of faith is obeying, even when we don't know the reason behind things. I've seen that time and time and TIME again whenever I receive a rule from my mission president I don't agree with, or I don't understand. For example. I think our email time is going to be cut down. I'm not sure, I think he's still deciding, but we'll see. There are too many missionaries breaking too many rules, and so the rules get sharper and more strict.  I'm not joking when I tell you that perhaps half of this mission came for the wrong reason. I'm not sure some of the missionaries truly understand the responsibility with which they've been entrusted. But, my mission president is called of god to lead this mission, and I trust that everything will work out according to God's plan. I trust him, even if I don't completely agree with him.

Recently my companion and I have been eating a lot of chicken and ufi. I swear, every night! Chicken and ufi! But, the more I eat the tongan food, the more I tolerate it. Spaghetti sandwiches is popular around here, and when I first tried it I thought it was the grossest thing ever, but every time I eat it it gets a little bit better.

I have not yet received the package from tina. I've been patiently waiting, but my patience is running out! Grrrr. Ssister bever is also waiting for a package. The mail system is just super slow. I know both of the packages are here in tonga, we just have to get them to us, now! 

Ok. I gotta fly. We've got two lessons tonight, and that's more than usual for a monday! Still have to do laundry! But, I love you all, and I love getting letters from you all every week. Keep me informed!

Sending love from the corner of the world,

Sister Wunderlich

November 1, 2015

There is no Halloween in Tonga. But that night, we did bring candy to the people who gave us our fafanga. They and their kids loved it. One of the english-speaking tongans asked us if we miss halloween, and we said not really, and then he said "yeah, I guess there's just too many people who's faces look like real monsters around here to have halloween" My companion and I laughed super hard. 

Tina and Dave, WELCOME TO UTAH! I live in lay-un, next to the moun-uhns, and we love eating green jello. I have no Idea actually if that's a real stereotype but whatever.

YES! we now get to go to the temple every month, and just all of the mission leadership gets that opportunity. It's amazing! I've only gone once, and I did understand quite a lot more than I expected, but when I had to speak myself I just listened really intently to the very patient assistant. I'm sure she thought I was dumb. Anyways! We train here in tonga for 12 weeks. So, I myself was trained for 12, then I had a 6 week break, and now I'm the trainer. My daughter and I will be together until barely before christmas. At least. And, I have an inkling I'll get transferred, but that's only because I'll have spent 6 months in navutoka. Bummer! I'll leave all these members who know me right before christmas! :( But that's all still up in the air. Anyways, what day is thanksgiving? I'm going to celebrate it over here, too. On the same day as you all, so I know that somewhere in the world, all of us together are giving thanks. You and your turkey, and me and my can of corn. (WE FOUND CANNED CORN AT THE CHINA STORE) Anyways. I have to go! I love you all muchly.

Love,

Sister Wunderlich 

October 25, 2015 (Third email)

Alright. I thought I was being clever when I put cute little tongan subject lines, but from now on I'll also provide a somewhat accurate translation. Tongan is very simple, yet very complicated, because it's so simple. If that makes any sense. Also, simple doesn't mean easy. 

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. That's no good. I hope you get better soon!

Mom, don't let your emotions hinder your messages. Of course, me saying that is rather hypocritical, considering I've hid plenty of my emotions in my emails, as well. Mostly I just convey the happy ones, which i feel like you do, too. So, if we promise to both be frank to each other, in both the happy and the sad, I feel like that will work out. Maybe? I don't want you to worry, though, about the sad things, as I'm sure you won't want me to worry, either. And I won't I'll just pray, because that's all I can do!

I never thought it was possible to feel physical pain from missing someone, until I left for my mission. My first taste of it was when I said goodbye to clytie. That was so hard. When I said goodbye to all of you, it wasn't quite as bad at first, because there was just so much going on at the moment. But driving to the MTC made me feel very carsick, from something other than the usual reason. The worst thing, I think, was after I'd hugged you, and dad, and luke, I was ok, but right before I took off with that other sister. I saw the looks on tate and cohen's faces, and it broke what was left of my courage! That look will haunt me until I return. 

But I also want you to know, I'm so so very happy here. I finally can see the changes this gospel has in the lives of others, and the blessings -eternal blessings- that they can receive just because me and my companion left our families for just a little while. but mostly because of the savior. I've seen now, more than ever, that everything I have is because of the savior. And i'm eternally grateful.

Ok, time is short, I have to go. I love you mom, with all my heart and soul.

love,

your daughter

October 25, 2015 (second email)

We have this investigator named "james" who we've been working with for a while. One lesson we sang a hymn for him and his wife, and they loved it so much they gave us candy leis and a whole watermelon. AMERICAN CANDY! yum! The Tongan on the right, her name is Ester, and she goes on vilohoa with us all the time. She loves participating in the work!

​THIS BABY is adorable.  I tried to get a good picture of her ADORABLE smile, but the picture kind of blurred. She's SO CUTE.​

October 25, 2015

Hey, what's happening at home? I haven't heard from you all in a while.

So, my companion runs for the BYU track team and her scholarship She also studied nutrition before she got here, which I think is extremely ironic on God's part. He sure has a sense of humor. But anyways, every morning I feel like I want to throw up. Running is my worst enemy. Ok. So, I have a little bit of time now, and half an hour later at about.... 11:00. So, for you, that means you have until... like, 4:00 pm. 

SO we have this AMAZING investigator that popped up out of absolutely nowhere. When I was with sister Vaa'i we got him as a referral, and we'd been trying to contact him for weeks and weeks, but he was either never home, or very obviously ignoring us when he was home. Finally, one day, while sister Piva is here, we were trying to come up with a plan, and I thought about him, and we decided just to stop by his house while we were on our way to another appointment. when the time came, we went to his house, and stood there for several minutes calling his name (in Tonga you don't really knock you just call the person's name outside their house) and we decided he probably wasn't interested and started to head off. A member drove up in her car and started to talk to us before we got very far from his house, and after about two minutes talking to this member, the man (we'll call him william) came out from his house. We asked him a few questions and then asked him if he had an opportunity to listen to a quick message. He said yes. Typically, we have a message prepared, but we always leave a window open for the spirit to direct us, and that's exactly what we did! We talked to him about eternal families, and he shared with us that when he was 15, his dad died of a heart attack and he'd been really mad at God for several years. We were able to share with him about God, and how he loves us all. At the end of the lesson, he was completely open, and when we left I knew we'd said just enough to leave him wanting more. We set up another appointment to come back.

Long story short, we've been meeting for a couple weeks, and he's getting baptized! Truly, he is one of those "Golden Investigators" everyone talks about. Every time we come over to his house, he tells us a new way he's changed his life based on the gospel standards, and he tells us the blessings he's received from it! Literally, his conversion has nothing to do with us. His conversion is strictly between him and God. It's amazing! It is truly inspiring to see what the gospel can do in someone else's life. Last lesson with him I got a glimpse at everything. Everything it would be his opportunity to have, to do, to enjoy. He will be able to get the priesthood, his young daughters their baby blessings, and eventually their baptism! Eventually, he and his wife can be sealed in the temple, and AH! I can just SEE the happiness! I want to explode for this one soul who has seen the truth! If Vaa'i and I had given up on him, this would not have happened. He shared with us that he came out that day because he always ignores us when we come over, but that day he wanted to see what would happen if he let us in.

God prepares people to receive this restored gospel! He lives and loves us!

AND I LOVE YOU!

love, Sister Wunderlich

October 18, 2015

Ok, so I don't need deoderant, but I do need one small thing. One metal fork, One metal knife, and one metal spoon. You'd be amazed at the things we've used as silverware around here. I feel like we're playing pretend half the time, because when I was a kid and we used to play house, we'd use strange objects for everyday uses. Except this is real life, and I just want a fork. That is all. sorry if I seem so needy! If anything is too expensive please don't send it.

We have been busy busy busy! I don't know how we even get everything done that we need to. (actually, sometimes we don't, but we try our very best.) I keep having these dreams that I've come home early from my mission for some reason, but I'm trying to return, and I have to get all my stuff together that I need here. It's always nuts! Even my dream life is busy.

So. One more year. It's strange to think I've been out for this long! I feel like I should know so much more than I do now. But you know, life keeps rolling. Every holiday from now on that I experience here will be my last one! They actually have quite a few holidays here in which people don't really work or do anything, for that matter. They seem to happen for no reason, but the people seem to enjoy them!

Alright, I love you all, but I have to go. Please, everyone stay happy and healthy!

Sister Wunderlich

October 11, 2015

Oh. My. Gosh, people. I feel like I haven't spoken to anyone in the outside world for the last year. This week was so very long. So. Hmmm. Yeah, I'm still here in Navutoka, which is fine by me, I will continue to search for new people to teach, and continue working with the old ones! Here's the catch though, I'm training! 

I'm training a brand new Palangi sister named Sister Bever, and she is from Oregon. Her Tongan is way good, especially for just getting here. It's been interesting to watch her as we go around, her reactions to everything and such. She reminds me of me when I first got here! The culture is way different here, so I'm trying to help her cope as best I can.

Because the Tongans can't really pronounce either of our names correctly, we have to sort of tongan-ize them so that people can understand them. My name is simply Sister Lisi-- which means 'list'. We were trying to decide on a good name for sister Bever, so we decided that 'sister Peva' was closest. For one day, we walked around telling everyone that her name was sister "Peva" until one time we said it and a bunch of teenagers started cracking up. We looked at each other, and when we got the chance, we looked it up in the dictionary. "Peva" in tongan means a small flat sea worm, kind of like a leech. So, we've changed her name to sister "Piva" which means "Skirt". Now we walk around as Sister Skirt and Sister List. 

I'm beginning to truly realize the extent of my Tongan, now. When we go out I see that I know a lot more than I thought I did, but sometimes it shows me a true representation of what I lack, as well. It's alright though. Things are tough, but we soldier on! 1 Nephi 3:7 is more relevant than ever before. There are so many days where we basically have to throw ourselves of the cliff and into the unknown, and have faith that loving arms will catch us as we do the best we can! It's truly been a humbling experience, thus far. 

Time is short today, so the email is short today. But take that as your spiritual thought for the day. When times get tough, trust. Trust that everything will be alright. If you struggle with something, anything, tell Him. Trust that everything will work out to his grand design, even if you don't see it yet. I promise that as you make it through the refiner's fire, you will come out better and more perfect than ever before. I love you all so very much.

Keep going!

Sister Wunderlich

Sister Bever and I

October 4, 2015

UE! Dad I didn't know you don't get my emails! I thought you were already on the list? Sorry About that, I'll be sure to add you next time I mass email.

HEY! No, I did not yet hear who the new apostles were, but I'm glad you told me otherwise I would've had to wait another week. The only one of those I recognize is Elder Rasband, because he came to the MTC and spoke while I was there. But that's good! I've been astonished each time I hear that another apostle has died, and it makes me sad, but I know the Lord's work always continues, and I'm sure these new ones will be great!

I had the opportunity to see the Womens general conference last night, (In Tongan, so it was much harder) But My companion and I both commented on how old the prophet looks. What, I leave utah, and everything goes to pot? I didn't know I was needed so much! Hahaha. 

that's super cool that you got tickets! Do you know what general authority it was, because that's super awesome! 

As far as transfers go, They have not yet happened? We think. We thought they were supposed to be yesterday, but we didn't hear anything, and we're supposed to get a call whether we get transferred or not. Then we heard they were today, but I guess we'll see. I could just be spending another six weeks here with sister Vaa'i! I can't decide whether I want to stay or go. Truly, I love the people here, but I also feel like I'm ready for something new. But, whatever the Lord wants! 

In tonga, we eat two meals a day, because the members have to provide them for us, But I'm actually not sure if the rest of Tonga eats breakfast, either. Usually lunch consists of sandwiches of some sort. Corned beef sandwiches, or spaghetti sandwiches, or just bread and butter. Usually when they bring it to our house, they just bring two loaves of bread and then butter and a can of corned beef or spaghetti. My comp and I don't really favor the corned beef or spaghetti, so we usually just eat the bread. BREAD. The bread is AMAZING here. WAY better than the normal bread in Utah, and a loaf from the china store is a dollar fifty. It is so good. For dinner, anything goes. Sanwiches, sausages, fish, rice, chicken, pork, (dog) anything, and usually with a plate of ufi or tapioka root on the side. Lots of it. Almost no fruits or veggies. I'm going to need to go on a diet when I get home. I have not yet eaten dog. I haven't had the opportunity, and somehow I feel like if I eat dog, I'll return home and Phin will never look at me the same. But we'll see what happens!

alrighty, I gotta go. Thank you for keeping me updated in the goings on in the world! I love you so much.

I'll talk to you next week! (maybe, transfers and stuff)

LOVE 

Sister Wunderlich

Sept 27,2015

Hello everyone! This week went by SO fast. I blinked and it's monday again. This upcoming week is going to be crazy, too! It's the last week in this transfer, so on sunday we will know whether we stay in navutoka or leave. 

guess what? Two more baptisms on tuesday! Monday for you. This is really exciting. The thing is, we weren't even looking for these two, the Lord simply dropped two precious souls into our hands. They are both eight years old, and both come from completely different circumstances. The first, who's name we'll call Paul, comes from a very devout weslyan family, but his parents have told all of their children they can go to whatever church they wish. The members have been bringing him to class and sacrament meeting in church for several months, and apparantly when you ask him at school he tells you he's mormon. When we started teaching him, he was so excited. We told him we'd come at a certain time and he sat on his front porch with his book of mormon waiting for us to come! He also invited many of his other non-member friends, who got to participate in the lesson, too.

The other's name we'll call Dot. Dot has had a very hard life. A couple years ago, her father got very angry and because of this, her mother ended up passing away. Her father now, is in prison, and she has been separated from all of her siblings, and now they all live in separate houses. Her aunt asked us if we wanted to teach her. We came over to her house, and the first lesson we taught was the plan of salvation. We talked about how if we follow the gospel, families are able to be together forever. She loved it! She gets so excited every time we come over. One evening we were late to a lesson and she was very concerned, and her aunt told us she was kneeling by the door, praying for us to come.

The love I have for both of these children kind of feels like it might rip me apart. I want to do everything I can to make sure they stay strong in this gospel! We've integrated them into the Primary, and they both now have many friends there, and we've assigned a member to pick Paul up for church every week because Sister Vaa'i and I may not be here for much longer. Their baptism tomorrow is going to be amazing, and we've invited all of their nonmember friends to come to the baptism so they can see for themselves what we've taught about, and hopefully they'll be able to feel the spirit there, too.

I have not yet had the chance to see anything from the General Women's session yesterday. I actually thought it was next week? But maybe that's because they have to translate everything into Tongan. So it looks like we'll watch each session a week late, but better late than never! Also, better in english than tongan. My companion and I will re-watch all of the sessions in english, when we get the chance to use a computer.

Which brings me to something else. If I end up getting transferred this week, I'm not sure when the next time Is I will have access to a computer, so If I don't email for a while again be patient.

My thoughts this week have been drawn time and time again to home, but it's not so much a bad thing. I keep having all these good memories floating back to me before I sleep. Memories of Family, hanging out at friend's houses, MANY memories of colorguard and all the fun I had there, Summers, winters, so on and so forth. But, they don't make me miss home so much, they just bring a warm feeling to my heart. Of course, I do long to see you all, but for now the phrase "Someday" keeps me satisfied. 

A mission is a mini version of life. You leave your family and friends and the people who love you so that you can fulfill God's purposes, and you know that all you have to do is be obedient and preach his gospel, so that "someday" you can return to your family, and be happy knowing you completed God's command. 

Same with this life. We've left our family, Our Eternal Father and Mother, so that his purposes might be fulfilled, and all we have to do is be obedient to his commandments, and "someday" we will get to return and live with him, forever.

It's amazing!

Thank you all so much for your love and support, and know that I miss you all dearly, and that I think about you all before I sleep! (Creepy much?) 

OFA LAHI ATU KIMOUTOLU! Oua te ke manavahe, ko e palani 'oe 'Otua 'oku haohaoa ia. Falala ki ai, 'oku ne osi 'ilo'i me'a katoa pe!

P.S. Have you ever gone through the temple in Tongan? Me neither. We're going on Saturday. This'll be interesting!

 This man was chopping down this tree with a machete!

 Tan lines.

This is the view when we go running every morning.

September 20, 2015

Haha hello, everyone! I guess I have some explaining to do. On our P-days, we wake up at 5am and fakamalosino (thank your body- exercise) to the church, where we email our parents before the sun comes up. then we use the computer as part of our study time, and we don't really typically leave until around noon. I figured you probably wouldnt've sent me an email yet, so I shot you a short one early, and I knew that sometime before we left you would remember! haha but yeah. I figure this is the standard time that we'll be able to write you. At least until my companion or I gets transferred.

WHICH might be happening very soon. The APs came to our district meeting this last week, and they kept on saying stuff like "you're getting a new companion soon" and "are you ready to train?" and dumb stuff like that. They were teasing but I'm actually pretty sure either sister Vaa'i or I will be leaving each other this next transfer. I'll miss her, she's been an amazing trainer to me, and she's so spunky. We have a lot of fun every day. Life is never boring around her! But anyways the next fehikitaki is in the first week of October, so I guess we'll see soon!

YES. I got the package! Literally five minutes after I finished emailing last monday the zone leaders came and gave us the package at the church. We were trying to walk quickly and hurry home and kind of trying to hide it because literally if someone asks you for it you have to give it to them. So I didn't even open it until I returned, but there were tons of people on the street that were like "OOH sister wunderlich! American candies, huh?" Because everyone knows that if ANYONE gets a package from america there's candy in it. Technically when they ask that I'm supposed to offer them the package, but I play the palangi card (meaning the "she doesn't understand your culture" card)  and my companion and i booked it home.(yeah, I'm selfish.) But I loved it! Packages are literally the best thing ever! My companion and I loved the m&ms and I've already begun to give out coloring pages to kids when we teach their moms and dads, and even when we just pass them on the street! I'll have to be careful though, because sometimes kids just hang around me and ask me for stuff until I give it to them. 

When you receive stuff as gifts from people, you have to hide it in whatever sort of bag you have. Especially if it's food, because you're obligated to offer some to other people. So when we go to dinner and stuff and they give us food to take home for the next day, we must hide it or else we won't have any food for the next day! The most recent experience with this is when I shoved a whole cake in my bag from a birthday party. That's an experience for the journal. 

Also. LUKE! HAPPY BIRHTDAY! I was just thinking the other day, about how weird it will be because when I come home, Luke will be eighteen. That is SO weird. SO SO SO weird. but also cool. but mostly weird. Just a little dissapointed about the dance thing, but it's ok, as long as he asks someone! He's just got to ask someone out! he's a cutie.

Well I love you muchly, and I'm glad that everyone is doing well! I'll pray for grandma and grandpa. Let them know that I love them, alright? And if you see Clytie wish her HAPPY BIRTHDAY because it's her birthday this week, too! WOO! 

September 6, 2015

It's beginning to get unbelievably hot. You just walk around and you're just sticky all day! At night we don't sleep with blankets on, anymore. Too hot! Suddenly we're thankful for cold showers. 

Here's something new you've never heard before.... 

I've been poked in the eye by a devil.

Haha, not really, but there is a thing around here the tongans call "puke tevolo" (not pronounced how it looks) which is when unkind spirits that have passed on Haunt the living by slapping them, hitting them, and posessing their bodies. This is a very real belief in Tonga. When somebody is supposed to be "puke tevolo" Everybody has to hold you down and put special leaves on your face until the devil leaves you. Most every tongan I've met believes in "puke tevolo" and ironically the only ones who don't are doctors. Just one more awesome quirk I love about the tongan people!

Anyways, one of my eyes has become really red and irritated, probably because of the sun and the large amounts of wind we walk in everyday, plus dirt, dust, etc. But the members I visit tell me that an unkind spirit came up to me and poked me in the eye! In Tongan this is called "mata kovi" Which basically means "Unattractive face." Yikes. I have some eye drops from the mission nurse and if it doesn't go away soon we'll go to the doctor!

Slowly, I think the language is finally coming. My biggest challenge is understanding people when they speak, But I know that will get better, too! I still speak in very simple, VERY simple sentences, but we're told that we must preach the gospel in a simple way, so that even a child can understand it. 

This week is PACKED with meetings. We have mission leadership council (6hrs) Mission conference (6hrs) and a district meeting with the APs and the Mission President! (2hrs) We will barely get to spend any time in our own area, but this week will be filled with a lot of learning. I hope that we learn a lot, so we can improve a lot!

I love you all so much, and I love hearing from you all every week! Please, help the missionaries!

In your ward, in your stake, wherever, but make sure you help them out! Feed, them, and ESPECIALLY find people for them to teach! They cannot do this without you. They need your help!

Ofa atu,

Sister Wunderlich.

 Eating at a members house.  So. Much. Food.

 A coconut bowl full of heu heu.

August 30,2015

Hello Everyone! I'm sorry there isn't a specific time that I get on each week, P-days are always up in the air, because of weather and time it takes to walk here, and we have to get the key from the stake president for the office and so forth. Sorry!

I was so happy to see those pictures of the boys on their first day of school! Luke, You look flipping handsome. You'd better go on a lot of dates!

Tate looks as innocent as ever, (even younger than Cohen? Don't tell him that) And Cohen looks cool as usual.

I felt a surprising sadness when you told me you sold the bug. That thing was a pain in the butt, but it was my pain in the butt. That little car and I had a lot of memories together. Hot summers, cool nights, colorguard practices, trips to clytie's, dang. May or may not have cried a little bit.

I'm simultaneously surprised and disgusted by how long I've been here. I can't believe it's been four months, it feels like it goes by so very fast, but I also feel like I've already spent eternity here. Misiona Tonga is pretty chill. ... Uh, we currently have no progressing investigators. Duh duh duh dah! We have TONS of people who are members of this church here, but less active. The majority work done in this area is reactivation. So very many members here have joined the church, just to fall away. The majority of these members have gone through the temple, too! Our numbers to our mission president are really bad, as far as non member investigators. We do have some investigators, but currently they are not progressing, because they do not yet keep the commitments we give them.

Something I've learned about Tongans. They will always say yes. They will always say what they think will please you, and not what they really feel. So, when we ask people to do things, they always say yes. When we ask them If they've had certain experiences, (ex. feeling the holy ghost) they always say they have. They will tell you a time to come to their house for a visit, and then run when we come. It's hard to trust them! People even lie to us when we ask what their names are! Sometimes it's frustrating. (A lot?) But I trust that the people who really want to hear the truth, who really want to accept it, will be led to us in time, if we keep looking.

Mission Tour is coming up, and the member of the seventy in charge of the south pacific will be there. I'll have to get ready! Meetings with our mission president and general authorities are always REALLY intense. Like, make you want to puke intense. There's just a lot of pressure. But there is also a lot learned! I will have to be ready!

OK! time to go! I love all of you, and I'm so grateful for all your support.

CLYTIE ROBINETTE good luck with school! It'll be ok, don't worry! Much more next week.

So sorry there isn't a personal email for you this week.

All of you are in my prayers, and I wish you the best of weeks this week! Good luck in all your endeavors, everyone!

With more love than you can even handle,

Sister Wunderlich

"PALANGI, E?"

August 23, 2015

Hello Family! just checking up! How is everyone! Are we all ok? Good? Is school underway! GOOD LUCK! MWAH!

Turns out, neither me nor my companion got transferred. We'll stay in Navutoka for the next six weeks. 

I'm sorry I don't have much time. I love you all so much, words can't even express. I sent a rather long letter to tina this week. 

I hope all is well!

Sister Wunderlich

P.S. A rather prominent game in our day to day life is a game me and my companion call "Self Torture"  It's when we come up with all sorts of yummy food from home in our heads, and torture ourselves with the memory of familiar food. It makes us laugh so hard, even if it makes us hungry! 

Today's Self torture  is a hamburger (from the grill at home) and some fries. Goodness! I'm going to fafanga now, where I will eat corned beef and crackers. I'll pretend!

August 16, 2015

Malo E Lelei, Hoku famili!

I've been getting a lot of emails asking about living conditions here, and culture. So, here you go! I hope this answers a lot of questions.

Laundry: If you're lucky, you have an open-top washing machine. You fill this up only once, for all of your clothes, to save on water. Then you rinse all of the clothes with clean, un-soapy water, and hang them on the line. If you're like us, you grab a five gallon bucket, and fill it with water and some laundry soap. Then you take a big long plastic pipe, and just push the pipe up and down in the bucket to wash your clothes. You rinse your clothes with clean water, and hang them on the line. 

Then you hope it doesn't rain!

Kids: Kids run around free a lot here, no parents with them. Tonga is pretty safe as far as kidnapping goes, so you'll just see five and three year-olds just toddling down the street in their diapers! This is actually a great way to find people to teach, through kids. And, you can tell a lot about people by the way they treat children. The children are my absolute favorite.

Food: We are only fed by the members. We rely on them everyday to be able to eat, because we are not allowed to cook food! When they make food, they make a LOT. Tongan food is VERY different from American food, but I think I'm finally getting used to it. As part of tradition, you sit on a mat, indian style, when you eat. Guests eat first, (so, the missionaries,) and the family doesn't eat with you. They will often talk to us about the work, but sometimes they just sit there silently.

Main dishes include Ufi, and Moa (chicken), but recently I've had Topai (Look it up, SO yummy), And ota ika (raw fish with onions and peppers) and feka (octopus) I'm actually still working up the guts to eat that last one. Wimpy? Probably.

My training is one week from being finished. Ah! Should I know more of the language by now? I don't know. Our mission president told my companion she might be moving to eoa! (another island in Tonga) There haven't been sisters in Eoa for a very long time, So I'm very excited for her! Plus, her family is originally from Eoa. So she'll get to meet them! 

Alright, sorry this email wasn't very spectacular. So little time, so much to say! I love all of you, and my heart sings to you all from this beautiful tiny corner of the world.

Ofa atu!

Sister Wunderlich

August 9 2015

Dad. I'm ashamed to tell you I screamed out loud when you told me about comicon. Actually, I didn't read ahead, and I truly pondered on the 3 big Chris possibilities, (out loud) and then told my companion Captain America was coming to comicon and she just turned her head at me, and then turned back. 

Even in Tonga, I'm still a dork.

Which brings me to my next point, Mom, I absolutely love the pillowcase you made me! I love the fabric and I know none of the sisters will want to take it from me, because the nerd part of me is totally unique here! Also, It smells really reeeeaaalllly clean. The kind of clean I haven't smelled in two and 1/2 months. I contemplated not even using it so it would stay smelling so good, but then I put it on my pillow and was happy through the night.

Dad, actually the Tongan singing here is worse than it was in Utah! Or maybe I'm just biased. They don't sing with a piano, they just have a chorister that stands up and starts. All of the Tongans harmonize, but some of them really aren't so good! And I don't know why, but all of the hymns they sing, they sing suuuuuuper slllloooooowww. It's literally a death march. I'm sure I'll miss it when I leave, but even up beat songs like called to serve are like "cccccaaaaaalllleeed. Tooooooooo Seeeeeeerrrvve hiiiiiiiiiim" (in tongan, of course.) But, singing is singing! You can kind of just sing whatever in whatever hymn you want, because there's so many different parts you can't tell the difference! 

New foods I've eaten: Just today I had Lesi mo Niu. (papaya with coconut on it.) it's pretty good! A couple weeks ago I had something called Tapanima, which I have never seen before, and I don't know what the fruit is called in English. It's got five points like a star, but it's at the ends like a football. If I have it again I'll take a photo. We actually ate it unripe, but it was super good! I could eat that all day. I've also had something called ota ika, which is ligit just chopped onions, peppers, and straight raw fish. And you know what? It was ok. The tastiest thing I've had here I just got to eat yesterday. It's called Topai. It is SO GOOD. It's really just flour, sugar, and coconut, but man oh man is it tasty.People don't like to make it for us, because it's considered "poor people food" by everyone. Look it up on google, and make it. I know it's on there somewhere.

The best food I've had here is poor people food. The simplest cooked dishes tend to be the tastiest. Of course, there's actually a lot of times the food is not good at all, but you just hold your breath and eat it anyways. And, ketchup helps. I eat everything with ketchup. I feel like a maniac, but seriously, if you don't like the taste of something, drown it in ketchup.

I hope I will get used to the bug bights soon. They tell me that after a few months in Tonga, the mosquito bights stop itching. I use bug spray (on my face and neck, I'm trying to conserve) but my feet and legs are always covered with pink bumps. but when I put aloe on them they stop itching. I didn't even know you could do that but I read the bottle and it says it's for bug bights, too. 

Two more weeks and my training will be over! (uh oh, I feel like my Tongan isn't any better?) And then we'll see how much longer I stay in Navutoka. This is my Trainer's second area. She was in her first area for nine months! 

Anyways, It's time to go. I love you all so much and I wish I could hug you! *virtual email hug* I'll send some photos of my goings-about. Love you!

Sister Wunderlich

August 2, 2015

Hey all, sorry I haven't written in a long time! I've LOVED getting all of your letters! Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! This week was a really good week. We had our second baptism! We'll call him Paul. Paul struggled a lot with trying to quit smoking. For a long time, we tried really hard and prayed that he would be able to stop, but he didn't seem to want to quit..... so on one occasion, my companion asked him what the blessings were for following the gospel of Jesus Christ. He listed a lot, and then my comp asked him to list more. And more. And more. Until she was satisfied. He looked at her, and she just said straight out: 

"If you know all of the blessings you can have from this gospel, why aren't you keeping the commitments needed to receive them?"

He just looked at us in silence for a while, and simply asked:

"What do I need to do?"

He was finally listening. Before, sure, he was listening with his ears. But from that moment on, he was actually listening with his heart! He quit smoking, cold turkey, and hasn't smoked again since. On Saturday, he got to be baptized! As he went into the water my heart swelled with joy! 

In honor of Testimony Sunday...

I testify to you that no matter what problems you face, no matter what pains, afflictions, addictions, trials, or hard times you have, If you kneel and say a prayer in with sincerity and humility to our loving Heavenly Father, he will help you. You are never too insignificant, never too small. You have never sinned to the point that our Savior Jesus Christ cannot save you. "The church is like a hospital." Everyone is in need of some sort of healing, everyone is simply trying to do their best!

ETHER 12:27

I love you all and I hope all of you are well! Sending love from the corner of the world!

Puppy getting fat from all of the scraps they feed her!

Tongan sunset

July 12, 2015

There is a cockroach in our area book.

Yeah, you read that right. Without fail, every time we take out our area book, there's a cockroach hidden in the binding. And every time, we throw him outside. Maybe we should throw him into the pig pen? We really don't want to squish him. He's huge!

I have also found an efficient way of getting rid of lizards without touching them or throwing shoes at them. You put a cup over it, slide some paper underneath the cup, and chuck him as hard as you can out the door. You're welcome. Use that the next time you find a lizard in your house. ;)

Best moment of the week:

Our week was super slow. SUPER SLOW. Our numbers were way down, because there were two putus (funerals) this week. Tongan Funerals go for at least a week. At least. So all the church members in the town goes to the putus, and that leaves nothing for us missionaries to do! In the Nuku'alofa Tonga mission, missionaries to not go door to door. There are no results for us in tracting! Mostly because Tongans are huge on tradition. If a family is Weslyan, even if they don't believe in the Weslyan church, they will refuse to listen to your message because it has simply been tradition in their family for the last (however many generations) or so to be Weslyan. So we do not go door to door! We rely mostly on referrals from members (I know this is how it is in Layton, too, so please help out your missionaries and give them someone to teach!) Anyways, we were walking down a back alley, and our previous appointment had just fallen through. We were heading to see if another member was home, and this woman was standing out in her yard hanging her laundry up on the line. My comp and I both look at her, and my comp says "we should go talk to her." "Ok," I say. Neither of us move.

We both just look at each other.

"Go!" says my companion.

 "I can't speak Tongan!" (Yeah I'm ashamed to say I played that card.)

 "Why are we so afraid? This is dumb." 

"We are disciples of Jesus Christ, We fear no man."

 Finally, we both get up the courage to walk over to her.

 "Oku i ai ha faingamalie ke vahevahe ha popoaki mo koe?" To our surprise, she said yes! She invited us into her home, and told us that her husband was a less active member in our church. She wanted to know more! We gave her a Tohi a Molomona, and now we are teaching her the lessons!

Do not be afraid to open your mouth in the service of the Lord! 

We are receiving two new Palangi sisters tomorrow! Now there will be a total of four in Tonga! Four, not five. My companion from the MTC, Had to leave this week. She was very ill! It was very sad to talk to her about it, but she trusts in the Lord's will for her, and we are glad that she will be getting the help she needs in America.

Alright, it's time to sign off. Thank you for all of your letters! I love hearing from you all every week!

Ofa Atu Kimoutolu!

Sister Wunderlich