Happy Independence Day Everyone! We Have Freedom!

Elder Segundo last night modeling his clothes

July 4, 2016

WEEK 35

Dear Mi Familia & Mi Amigos,

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I cannot even declare that enough times. My words literally can’t describe how much. Seeing your emails makes me so happy, Mom. And seeing you smile is all I need! So KEEP SMILING and having fun.

TODAY’S INDEPENDENCE DAY! I had no idea! I totally forgot. I wasn’t even thinking about that. WELL.... HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EVERYONE! WE HAVE FREEDOM!

Jamison is growing up so fast.... Every time I receive an email from you guys, he is more different!!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! Time is going by so fast. Today I have just completed 8 months... I still feel like I just arrived!!!! It’s so crazy how fast the time has gone by. When people told me before the mission that I needed to enjoy the mission because time will go by so fast, THEY WEREN’T KIDDING!  It’s so crazy!

But guess what!!! I HAVE CHANGES! ELDER SEGUNDO, my companion, will be leaving!!!!!! 😭

God always has a greater plan, but it just stinks because we are having success!!!!! The life of the mission, what it does to you! But I’m going to be getting another companion, Elder Perez. He’s about to die (which means he’s about to finish his mission). He’s from Peru....that’s about all I know about him, so I will let you guys know more later.

This week was literally so cool. We have seen many of the blessings that Heavenly Father has given us. As I work more and more in the mission, I realize as missionaries, we do so much but actually we really do nothing. God literally has his hand in every moment. For example, this week we found a woman we started talking to after I spotted a cool tie. We started talking to her about the church and everything and well, we found out that she was going to baptized in the ocean Saturday with another church. We talked with her like Tuesday... Well, we bore our testimonies and everything and we taught her what is the truth. And well, she came to church yesterday.... She did get baptized on Saturday but she came to our church to find out what did we mean when we told her that she needed to be baptized by someone who has authority. Well... I’ll keep you guys informed of what happens. But she’s just one of many people and we literally did nothing. Oh, how merciful God is!

Well, a lot of things happened this week but I can’t really remember because my brain hurts speaking in English!

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!

- Elder Pukahi

P.S.  Okay, one last story.... Last night we started packing my companion’s clothes and everything. My companion has a little addiction, too, and that is clothing! He loves to buy clothes. So we found out that he has a TON of clothes that he NEVER even uses, so.... you guys already know that I had to try on every piece of clothing he had, and of course, I was modeling. It’s who I am! ENJOY!

WEEK 21 Pictures

March 28, 2016

WEEK 21

Dear mi familia,

That’s awesome to hear about Aunty Jody and Cavin being there and the whole family getting together for Easter and playing games and all that. So happy for you all!

That Easter video that you emailed me, made me wish that we had ipads. I envy the missionaries that have ipads because they really don’t know how good they got it. To show someone this video, it immediately invites the Spirit in the room. It’s crazy. The message that this video brings is so good. What is amazing to me is that I bring this message to people every day—EVERY DAY. I just pray that I can bring it in the way that the people need it.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

We have SEVEN people in the house now! We got a newbie so that was fun. His name is Elder Barrera. He’s fresh from the CCM [Mexico MTC]. He’s the son of the Zone Leaders (Elder Baker and Elder Turner). I’m pretty sure I’ve told you all about the other Elders in the house. But MOM! Thank you for teaching me how to clean up after myself and other things like that. Some mothers did not teach the kids who I live with. I LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART, but they kill me sometimes.

[Okay, up above when Jeremy says that the newbie is the “son” of the Zone leaders, this is mission talk for he is being trained by them. Whoever trains you on the mission is your dad or your mom, like with the sister missionaries. And the relationship continues, like when the trainer’s trainee trains someone, that is now his/her grandson. Or the other missionaries your trainer trains are now your brothers or sisters. Other mission lingo includes when you are close to going home, you are about to “die” and whoever is your last companion “kills” you.]

So this week. It was GRAND. We had a lot of success this week so that was a YES! With a fist pump in the air kind of JOY! But what I truly learned was humility and that God answers prayers. So... humility. I realized how much God is merciful. He has given me everything.

The reason is because Manuel is not doing so well in the health department. So we went over to give him a blessing and everything. And when I held his arm, it felt exactly like the arm of Josh’s when it was in the BAD DAYS. And with just the touch of the arm, every feeling that I have felt for Josh came rushing back…so what I learned is how loving our Father in Heaven is. He has blessed me with life every day, even though I do not deserve it, while greater people than I who deserve to live and grow, do not.

This experience helped this week because yesterday, we went to go with our investigators to church. We went to their house to catch a ride with them to the chapel, but when we got there, their car wouldn’t start. How Satan is so clever! So we called all the members who could have helped us but they were all in a different city. We then decided that we would go and take a taxi but as missionaries WE HAD NO MONEY!  So yeah... we were pretty much stranded with investigators that wanted to go to church with no ride. And so we walked, and as we walked I said a prayer, and what I said in my prayer was this --"Father, you told me when I needed something, I needed to ask. And by your will, you will grant it. Father, I am here with your children who want to come to you, and we have no ride. What I ask of thee is that someone...anyone to pass in front of us that can help us." I kept walking, not knowing what was going to happen. But two minutes later, a family of members pass in front of us, asking if we need a ride. The weird part is that they lived in the opposite direction of where we were. They felt impressed to drive this way instead of the other. So yes, this Gospel is True!

I love you guys and know that the other side is not far! Stay safe and keep smiling!

- Elder Pukahi

Pics:

Elder Adams, Elder Barrera (our newbie), and me.

Here's us, just dorking around...lol.