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

July 5, 2015

Another week has gone by! In about one more week, I will no longer be the Greenest missionary in the mission! We are getting 16 new missionaries. Two more Palangi sisters! There will now be five white sisters here in Misiona Tonga.

Things on this little Island are getting hotter and hotter. I almost can't stand it anymore! But I know this isn't as hot as it gets, here. :/ I will be a puddle come december!

We are beginning to see more and more problems arising in one of the wards we serve in here in Navutoka. There was a bishop here who served for nine whole years. When he was released, he got very bitter and went inactive. Half the ward followed suit. They either go to a different ward now, because they hate the new bishop, or they don't come to church at all. It has been very challenging!

This takes us back to the importance of being truly converted to the lord! In the MTC, we were taught to make sure that when we teach our investigators, they are being converted to Jesus Christ and his gospel, and not to us as missionaries. 

So I ask you.... Who are you converted to? Ponder this, as I have done for the past.... Well, since I came on my mission! 

Let me ask you (if appropriate) Heaven forbid, one of the general authorities fell away from the church.

What would you do?

It would be very sad, certainly. But how would it affect you, in your faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we not truly converted to the lord?

Yes of course, we rely heavily on the apostles for guidance and revelation from our Heavenly Father. But we must be sure of where our roots are planted!

My companion is awesome! She's hilarious, and like I said, she talks like a black girl and says "Ratch" a lot. I was a little (concerned) about who my new companion would be when I got here. But I am not anymore! Her and I, we are equals. We help and uplift each other, and both of our ideas are valid when we go about our teaching! We listen to each other, and heed each others words. This is how it should be!

The puppy is fine! Also, we learned her name is Sisi. Yeah that's right, they named her. We ALWAYS have way too much food, so she'd fed well on a daily basis, along with like, four other dogs. When they hear our door open, they come rushing over to us with their tails wagging to see if we have any food! 

We currently have two investigators, one with a baptismal date! (YAY!) but on thursday, his aunt died, and we have not had the opportunity to talk to him again, simply because Tongan funerals last for an entire week. The funeral has made things very hard for us, because all of the people have left town to go to it! 

Anyways, I'll send some pics for the last ten minutes of my time here. i brought my camera today! 

I thought about you all a lot this fourth of July! Guess what? The kings coronation on the fourth, celebrated with fireworks! Just like home! 

I love you all!

Love, sister wunderlich

 They mentioned to a member that they liked cake and they have been receiving cakes for a whole week!

No table, no real cups.  This is how they eat in their apartment.