Hello!                                                                       Sept. 7th. 2015

This week was full of disappointments and challenges, but positivity and diligence is always key in missionary work. There are many investigators we have started or continued to teach these last couple weeks. One of the challenges we are facing right now is helping them with their concerns they have. Many of our investigators love talking with us, keep all of our reading commitments, love the Book of Mormon and our messages, but just don't think that it's as important as the Bible. Or they don't understand the need to be baptized again. Or they understand that there there is only "one Lord, one faith, and one baptism" because Tongans really love and know their Bible, but it's okay that there are many churches on the earth. Another challenge is the problem with parents who are very strong in a different church. There are 4 girls that are either really interested or want to be baptized, but we can't formally teach them because they aren't 18 yet. Despite the hardships, mission work is awesome and I know we are planting many seeds in Pea!

The gospel is true and it is beautiful! How amazing is it that God sent us here so that we can become like Him and receive all of His blessings. The coolest part is that He has shown us the way to do so, we just have to keep His commandments. He gave us our agency so we could grow and ultimately, choose eternal life. Heavenly Father truly loves each of us!! We must strive to have an open mind and heart so that he can continue to teach us. Doctrine and Covenants 136:32-33 - "Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear; For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly."

Ofa atu!!

Sister Petalisi