From Sydney

Happy Birthday GRANDPA POWELL!!!

 

I wanted to call you up yesturday and sing you a song Carrie style:) But atlas! I had to wait to say it here:)

 

You know, being a missionary for a long period of time is awesome. AND I never want to go home. haha. NUNCA! TAU TOKI SIO TODAS PESSOAS NA MUNDO!!! Excuse my horrible Spanishnesongan. I have no idea how to speak any language.

 

There is a couple of things that I hate telling people about myself:

1-I'm a Visa Waiter

2-I'm a Visa Waiter

3-My Portuguese is horrible

 

Haha. Man, so I don't tell them I'm one, but somehow they always find out. Like they ask these funny question (especially annoying returned missionary men)

In pompous voices like they are better than us American Assigned missionaries:

"I bet y'all had wished you had been called foreign hmmmmm?"

 

And it is like, welllllllll.....actually I did get an assignment to a foreign country, but I get to serve in America for who knows how long where I get awesome food, a shower that works, and muito otra coisas! HA! Beat that! I get the best of both worlds!!!

 

Enough with my California pride,

 

(AND I want to point out that I am the LONGEST Visa Waiter in the Family. I might be waiting forever, so I think I deserve an award!)

 

This week was super crazy and good!

 

We have this suppppperrr Less Active Woman named Sarika, who is pretty much a little loco moco but super awesome. But she had to kick out her roommate, so we had to help her roommate (a nonmember move) it was an awesome experience. She is a awesome woman.

 

We also have this member in our church named Brother Walters who were going to visit this week in the evening. But nothing goes as planned so we decided to visit him early on in the day. He was super shocked to see us when we walked in his door because in 15 minutes he was going to go to the hospital. And he had been praying someone would show up to visit him because he thought he was going to die at the hospital. It was a really spiritual visit. And he is still alive:)

 

We had this HORRIBLE lesson with our investigator. We taught him the Plan of Salvation, but his like relative was in there, and was taking over the lesson, and was making me and Sister Palmer agrivated, and the spirit wasn't really there. But we invited him to be baptized, and he said "Why not!" So he is being baptized on March 2nd! Yay for the spirit allowing Matt to at least feel the spirit. But I seriously dislike Missionary Present Lessons. THEY ARE THE WORST. Especially when he (the member) tries to get you to explain really deep doctrine: The literal fall, Kolob, The War in Heaven. It was just all over the place. haha.

 

All the members here are super awesome and lovely. I love the wards I am serving in. I am trying each day to be a good companion to Sister Palmer. I think that is my most biggest want. I just want to be a good companion.

 

And we met this adorable Jewish Woman who loves to talk about God, but no one will because they don't think they believe in the same God as her, and that makes her super sad. So we were all for talking with her about God, and it made her day. She said she loved us:)

 

So! Don't be scared to talk about God! God loves all of his children! And people want to talk about Him! That's my invitation for all y'all! I love y'all! The church is true!

 

Love,

Sister Powell

From Sydney

I have forgotten how to have a companion. MEH! haha.

 

I have this horrible thing that has happened. I don't get afraid anymore. I hardly get nervous. I don't know when or how I realized it, but I just don't get scared. People tell me to talk at Sacrament, I talk. People tell me to sing, I sing. I walk up and talk to everyone. I love meeting new people. I just go out and do without really thinking. I think part of it, is because I had to be my own companion for a really long time. I am not used to another person contacting along side me, or another person wanting to teach the lesson with me, or wanting to excersise with me. It's SO WEIRD! I have to remind myself that I have a new companion that wants to participate. I don't have to start every lesson or contact every person or pray every time or anything. It's kind of awesome.

 

Sister Palmer is seriously so awesome. I don't know if it is because we have so much faith together, or we want to be great missionaries, but awesome things happen. She is like psycic or something. It's craycray.

 

Everyone in Pleasanton loves to TALK!

 

I remember during transfer meeting I was PRAYING so hard that I wouldn't be called to Pleasanton, but than when President starting calling the missionaries going to Pleasanton, I knew it was where I was going. I am so glad that I was sent here, it's teaching me so much. ESPECIALLY how to rely on the spirit again. The spirit is awesome!

 

Last night, all of our appointments fell through. Eveyone cancelled, and it was super sad. So we tried to visit people but no one was home. So we prayed and asked what we should do, and we didn't get any thing. So we opened the scriptures and we came to Helaman 3:6. It's super funny because we are sitting on Driftwood Road right next to Timber  Road, and Redwood Road, and things just wood:

  And now no part of the land was desolate, save it were for timber; but because of the greatness of the ^adestruction of the people who had before inhabited the land it was called ^bdesolate.

 

So we got that we shouldn't be that particalar street and that maybe it was pointless to try to visit people, so we were going to decided between contacting or working on the area book. So we opened to another scripture in Mormon 8:24-

 And he knoweth their ^aprayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove^bmountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause ^cprisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word.

 

So we knew we were going to do super awesome whatever we did, so we decided to drive down main street to see the population of people. And we drive past and there is some people and we can't decide for sure, so we park and we open the scriptures again and it was Ether 2: 16- 16 And the Lord said: Go to work and build.

 

And so we went out of our car and contacted some awesome people. We contacted a man whose uncle was mormon but recently died and he always wondered how he changed and was happy. And happened to own the Quad. And we gave his girlfriend who wanted to know more about Jesus a Book of Mormon. And then we walked passed this girl named Lindsay and her friend Kevin who demanded us to teach her something. Sure she was interesting, but we taught her the Plan of Salvation. It was super good.

 

And things like that have been happening all week. Like we say something, and it happens. Or we think of someone we should visit, and we actually really needed to visit them. Or our GPS has a little hiccup even though we typed in a totally different address, and we end up at a less actives house who hasn't been visited in a while. it has been super nice. It's super pleasant in Pleasanton. Sure people talk, we visited Sister Ghofranion, and I thought she was going to read the whole entire Book of Mormon outloud to me. But it is super pleasant. We have met some awesome people: Like William, and Vanessa, and Mariam to name a few. And I got to speak in Sacrament with President Davis (Second Counciler in the Mission Presidency who I am really close with because he helps me with my Visa stuff), and It ahs been super inspiring. I have learned so much.

 

We have this investigator named Matt, who is super awesome. He knows next to nothing about God, and he is a new investigator who wants to learn more. So if y'all could keep him in your prayers, it would be awesome:) I love you all!

 

Happy P-day!

Sister Powell

From Sydney

I have been transferred to Pleasanton, California! My new companion is Sister Palmer. She is awesome and is from Sandy, Utah. She has such a strong testimony. I heard how awesome she was before here, and all the hearings were true!

 

This week has possibly been the most stressful week of my life. Such a weird week. I have no idea what was exactly up with it, but it was so weird.

 

Monday, we were at a members home for his farewell Family Home Evening. I am so glad I just spent time with family before I left. You could tell that he really wanted to just be with his mom and dad and sister

 

Tuesday was so weird. SO WEIRD. It was just full of driving. But we got in a really good lesson with our recent convert, Janet and Vita. They were so happy. Which was good, because they have been so down.

 

That night I had a super strange dream. I had a dream that President was mad at Sister Funaki, and she didn't know why. I woke up, and I knew something was going to happen. My personal study was full about being patient and enduring to the end.

One scripture that stuck out to me was Hebrews 12:

 

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the ^asin which doth so easily ^bbeset us, and let us run with ^cpatience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the ^aauthor and ^bfinisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him ^cendured the cross, despising the^dshame, and is set down at the right hand of the ^ethrone of God.
 3 For consider him that endured such ^acontradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, ^astriving against sin.
 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
 6 For whom the Lord loveth he ^achasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
 7 If ye ^aendure ^bchastening, God dealeth with you as with ^csons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
 9 Furthermore we have had ^afathers of our flesh which ^bcorrected us, and we gave them ^creverence: shall we not much rather be in^dsubjection unto the ^eFather of ^fspirits, and live?
 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his ^aholiness.
 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the ^apeaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are ^bexercised thereby.
 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the ^afeeble knees;
 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be ^ahealed.
 14 Follow ^apeace with all men, and ^bholiness, without which no man shall ^csee the Lord:
 15 Looking diligently lest any man ^afail of the ^bgrace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his ^abirthright.
 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with ^atears.
 18 For ye are not come unto the ^amount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which ^avoice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
 22 But ye are come unto mount ^aSion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of^bangels,
 23 To the general assembly and church of the ^afirstborn, which are ^bwritten in heaven, and to God the ^cJudge of all, and to the ^dspirits of^ejust men made perfect,
 24 And to Jesus the ^amediator of the ^bnew ^ccovenant, and to the ^dblood of sprinkling, that speaketh ^ebetter things than that of Abel.
 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they ^aescaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not weescape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I ^ashake not the earth only, but also heaven.
 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with ^areverenceand godly ^bfear:
 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

I had a feeling that I would have to make a decision and President would be calling me. And he did call me. He asked me what he should this transfer. And I told him to keep me with Sister Funaki. He was really against it on the phone because of things that had been going on, but I told him: I am here to serve the Lord, and I will do whatever He wants me to do. If he wants me to stay, I am up for another transfer.

 

I have never felt so much like the Savior in that moment. No one wanted to be her companion (I am sorry if that was mean), and I really didn't want anyone else but me to have to go through it. And I honestly just sobbed, because I didn't know if I had the strength. I put my all in our companionship.I was willing to sacrafice everything to make sure no one else had to got through what I was going through. I didn't know what much I could do.

 

Thursday, I told her about my  talk and she was super mad. I do not know what is wrong with me, I am seriously trying to figure it out, because I want to be a good companion. But it was funny because all the rest of the days afterwards she was super pleasant.

 

We had a super cool contact that day with this man named Bob and his dog Molly. His wife had died 14 years ago, and we taught him the Plan of Salvation. He had been so reserved, but he loved our message. He walked us to our dinner appointment and everything. I love the Plan of Salvation. It seriously is amazing.

 

We also celebrated Sister Funaki's one year. We burnt a shirt and everything. It was super good.

 

Friday, I had a feeling that I had to do fingerprinting for my Visa. I kept asking for a sign where we should go for fingerprinting (because the state of California doesn't do fingerprinting) and then I saw a fedex truck, and I knew we needed to go to fedex. We went there, and they didn't have fingerprinting (lame sauce), and we walked out bummed. But we contacted a man and asked him where, and it was right next to fedex! So I did fingerprinting, and it turns out I really needed to do it. Go feelings!

 

Saturday was soooo emotional. I didn't think I would be getting a transfer call, and next minute, I am in bed and I get a call. I was so upset. Sister Funaki was so happy. She was happy she could do whatever she wanted to do now that I was going. So, pleasantness went away.

 

I was so upset, because I was so sure that I needed to stay. I was so willing to stay. I wanted to help out more, and I was so sure I had to be the one to do it.

 

Sunday, I woke up so upset. Especially since there was celebrating going on. I asked God why? What is wrong with me. And I got the answer through Isaiah, weird right. Haha. But here are the scriptures:

 1 ^aSing, O ^bbarren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy^astakes;
 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
 4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the ^ashame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the ^breproach of thy widowhood any more.
 5 For thy Maker is thine ^ahusband; the ^bLord of hosts is his name; and thy ^cRedeemer the Holy One of Israel; The ^dGod of the whole earth shall he be called.
 6 For the Lord hath called thee as a ^awoman ^bforsaken and grieved in spirit, and a ^cwife of youth, ^dwhen thou wast refused, saith thy God.
 7 For a small ^amoment have I ^bforsaken thee; but with great mercies will I ^cgather thee.
 8 In a little ^awrath I ^bhid my ^cface from thee for a moment; but with everlasting ^dkindness will I have ^emercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
 9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the ^awaters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
 10 For the ^amountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the ^bcovenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
 11 ¶O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy ^astones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
 12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
 13 And all thy ^achildren shall be ^btaught of the Lord; and great shall be the ^cpeace of thy children.
 14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the ^awaster to destroy.
 17 ¶No ^aweapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every ^btongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the ^cservants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
1 Ho, every one that ^athirsteth, come ye to the ^bwaters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, ^cbuy wine and milk without money and without ^dprice.
 2 Wherefore do ye ^aspend money for that which is not bread? and your ^blabour for that which satisfieth not? hearken ^cdiligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
 3 Incline your ear, and ^acome unto me: hear, and your ^bsoul shall live; and I will make an everlasting ^ccovenant with you, even the ^dsuremercies of David.
 4 Behold, I have given him for a ^awitness to the people, a ^bleader and commander to the people.
 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and ^anations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
 6 ¶^aSeek ye the ^bLord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him ^areturn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly ^bpardon.
 8 ¶For my ^athoughts are not ^byour thoughts, neither are your ^cways my ^dways, saith the Lord.
 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ^aways ^bhigher than your ways, and my ^cthoughts than your thoughts.
 10 For as the ^arain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and ^bbread to the eater:
 11 So shall my ^aword be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
 12 For ye shall go out with ^ajoy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the^btrees of the field shall clap their hands.
 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the ^afir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.


I guess God knew that if I went through another transfer, I wouldn't have liked myself. I really needed to learn something. I will go where ever the Lord wants me to go. I LOVED Sister Funaki. There is so many good things about her. I am glad she is getting a new companion to help her even more. I know I helped, she needed me as much as I needed her. But my help for her apparantly ended. She needs a new companion and so do I. I have grown so much. I have become a greater teacher, and a better friend. I have learned that it is good to be honest, especially if it helps the person I love. I have learned that I can do hard things, and that I am willing to do everything for the Lord. It was so fun to watch Sister Funaki grow too. She really did become more patient, and her testimony and knowledge grew too. I wish I could've been better, but serisously, I learned so much how to be patient. I have learned that Jesus Christ is my best Companion and he is always there. I love him, and I know he lives, becaue I know him and felt his love.

I am so excited for the new transfer. I love Pleasaton already! I will email my new address next week. Love y'all!

Love
Sister Powell

From Sydney

So,

 

I have become well aquainted with nature this week.

 

Sister Funaki and I were driving down the road and we saw a squirrel just going on it's merry way. LOW AND BEHOLD!!!!! A hawk comes out of no where and lifts up the poor little squirrel. The little squirrels arms went straight out like wings as if he was saying: I'M FREE AT LAST!!! I'M FLYING!! LOOK AT  ME MA!!!" And then they went down like "Aw snap, I'm chip dip."

 

We were both in awe and shock.

 

Second experience:

 

Sister Funaki and I go visit Sister Moli. She is super sick and wouldn't let us in her house. We are about to leave when Sister Moli says: "Oh look out for the dog over there." Just like if she was describing lovely weather. So we just think it's the neighbors dog that likes to bark. So we both turn around to look at the dog, and it's right there.It's the biggest dog I have ever seen. Just standing right behind us, staring at us, we turn back and our member is just slowly closing her door. Haha. Turns out the dog was super nice.

 

Okay. I am super sick. Haha. I went to a misioaries setting apart dinner (and setting apart, IT WAS INFRONT OF EVERYONE!), and I ate an oyster and all these old Tongan people was so impressed with me that the kept giving me oyesters. Let's just say I ate every one on the table. Mehhhhhhh. Bad idea. But eat to impress and eat for referrals! Haha.

 

Speaking of referrals. I made a bunch of old men write some referrals on some papers like little children. It worked. Haha.

 

Oh and we went with a mini missionary this week named Vina who is super cute. Apparantly I am known in the ward as the "Obedient Missionary". I make everyone turn off their tv's, and radios, ,and I make every dinner an hour, and each visit gospel related. Haha. She kept saying to me: "Let me know if I'm being disobedient. She did good:) She is so ready to be a missionary. I am excited for her to turn in her papers.

 

Everytime we go with a Minni Missionary, we see miracles. We visited with this former Pisope who we had no idea existed. He had a stroke and barely can talk. We went into his home, and he looked at me and just started sobbing. I kept talking to him and describing my family. He just loved listening. Sister Funaki taught in Tongan (I bore testimony) and when she finished, we found out that they are related. It was awesome. He started sobbing and sobbing. Not alot of people come to visit him cause he can't really speak. So we are going to visit him more often.

 

I love being a missionary. There is nothing better. It's hard, it's tiring, but it's so rewarding. There is a part in the Book of Mormon that I love, Aaron is talking to the King about God, and the King says how do I know him? And Aaron tells him to pray. The King throws himself on his knees and says this beautiful prayer and a part of it is: "I would give away all my sins to know thee."

 

I would give up everything to know Him better. I have learned so much about my Savior and Heavenly Father here on the mission, but seriously, I have an infinite amount of knowledge that I need to learn about them. I love them, and I would give up anything: my dreams, my heart, my sins, my life, my all.

 

I won't to be like that King. I love my God and I trust Him. I am learning and learning and I thank Heavenly Father every day that I am here on a mission. He knows me and loves me. I love y'all too! Thank you for your support!

 

Love Sister Powell

From Sydney

I hate driving. Hahaha. 

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I am one of the only "polynesian" sister that drives. And I know I am supposed to be all loving and stuff, but dang I get annoyed while driving. Polynesians are bossy. Hahaha.

I never want to be a soccer mom.

Okay. Now I am done. Thank you for listening, now I won't say it to their faces. But dang, they need to appreciate;)

Okay. This week was a lovely week for the most part. It had it's ups and downs. Car issues, rotten news about my Visa (Por yeah! I just love Visas so much!), everyone (except for me) on their monthly disease and being super grumpy, and roaches. But hey! Those just build character.

I have had a lot of prayers answered this week, small and big. But some reason lately, it's the small ones that get me emotional. Like finding my library card, I about bawled my eyes out finding that thing this morning. Or finding my toothbrush, or seeing my companion pray after weeks of not praying. All these things just make me want to sing and shout praises.

The main event this week was my exchange. We have this thing called "STLs". They are Sisters that go out and try to help out the Sisters. I have never gone on an exchange with a Sister Training Leader, I always have gone out with the companion. And I have moved so much, so I really don't know who they are. So, I went to Redwood City with a new missionary in the Spanish Program. I loved it. I LOVE the Spanish program. And it was a nice change to be with a different missionary. 

Hermana Baird has hair pretty much like me, and is the sweetest person you will ever meet. Her Spanish is super good, and she is super obedient. She is awesome. I bought bread for her one time because poor girl was being deprived of food. (She lives with super healthy people). 

A couple weeks ago, Sister Funaki and I came in contact with this Spanish guy on the street. He has been less active for years. And for some reason, after we talked with him, just because we bore simple testimony that Heavenly Father loved him, and the Spirit testified of that truth to him, he decided to come back to church. He has passed out the sacrament now. He was super grateful to us and kept sending us text messages. His name on our phone is "Daniel Do Not Answer" because he sent a text message I didn't like. Haha. 

I thought I would never see him again, but at the exchange, we saw him at the park. He was so happy to see me. And it was pretty cool to see him. My Spanish is horrible, but we had a pretty good conversation. He is preparing to go to the temple. Than he went on about my "celestial eyes" and he became Daniel Do Not Answer again. Haha.

That day we also taught this adorable old lady named Abrigal, who is a Potential Investigator. We taught her about the Book of Mormon. And when I was testifying in my "Spanishnese" I felt like my chest was on fire in the inside and my heart was going to explode with love. And then I got sad, because I wanted to be teaching in the Language that I was assigned to speak. And I prayed after that lesson that we would meet someone who could speak Portuguese. And then we did! He spoke like three sentences, because he isn't fluent, but I just wanted to just hug him. I was like PORTUGUESE!!!. He owns a resturant downtown in Redwood.

I love teaching everyone, even if they are on the street. We taught some cool people. Some guy from Iraq named Mohammad, he taught us too. We taught a man named Tony, and a guy named Harrison, and than we taught a guy named Angel. We taught them the restoration. Angel was funny because when I was saying the first vision, he thought I was praying at him. I was like no! Haha. Poor Angel now thinks Mormons are creepers. I should've said yes;).

All and all, it was a good week. I learned a lot and I changed. That's what is important. I hope I was worthy enough to have the Spirit so that I helped the Spirit help others to change. At least I planted a seed:)

I know this church is true! I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week:)

Ofa atu!

Sister Powell

From Sydney

I am the clumsiest person in the world lately. I am tripping over thin air! People in EPA know me for my fast speeds for connecting to variouis objects (por example: the ground). Satan has tried to get me with my emotions, fast speeding cars trying to play chicken with me (cough), and otro coisas. My spelling is terrible in every language, haha. Like I want to correct various up there, but I don't think I will. It makes me giggle.

 

Tuesday we had an awesome Christmas Devotional with the whole entire mission. The music there was beautiful! My friends Hermana Lindsay and Hermana Kofford did a lovely job singing (I realized that I knew everyone in the mission. I have been moved around so much. What can a girl do?)

 

No one was home on Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Friday, or Saturday, or Sunday, so our days were spent singing on the street, teaching our lovely homeless people, and knocking on members doors.

 

Wednesday was awesome. I woke up to presents! Thank you everyone that sent cards, and packages. Sister Funaki loved the Reeses. We went to this members home for breakfast who wanted to feed our whole Zone. We reanacted the Nativity Story with costumes and life size fake camels. It was so funny. I have a lot of pictures (I was the photographer). Later that day we went to dinner at another house that wanted to feed all of us too! Por yeah! So much food. My nine month food baby is getting pretty large.o

 

Soooooooooooooooo, story time that happened. Haha. I wasn't going to tell y'all, but it seriously made me so happy.

 

Christmas time was pretty stressful, we were going to dinner and this guy is down the street driving crazy! He's doing crazy donuts and then he comes right at our car. So, me driving 5 miles per hour, goes straight into this fence. Which was so dumb, becuase I was going so slow. So driver of car ignores all the stop signs and just drives away. I was so concerned with the car, that I totally forgot about the fence. So I do all the process, and I go through out my day (and call my family! best time ever). And then I go to bed, and I just lay there thinking: I forgot to tell the owner of the metal fence that I hit his fence). I stay up all night in a panic and praying super hard that the guy wounldn't be mad, and wouldn't use the church to pay for a new fence. Cause his fence was terrible to begin with. 

 

So we go to the house the next day, and I am just praying and praying. We knock on this door, and there is just this adorable South American family sitting inside (I think they are Brazilian). I am just like hearing the choirs of angles singing. Haha. I rush explain what happened, and then the man of the house walks out and observes the fence. He says: "Don't worry about the fence, we just appreciate your honesty. Let us know if you need help with anything." 

 

I never wanted to break mission rules so bad. I just wanted to hug that man. I have never felt so happy in my life. Prayer works! I wish you were all there for that moment, or that I could explain how strong the spirit was at that moment. I am going to stalk that house to see of they are Brazilian. Haha. They look and sound exactly like Arthur and Sister Meidados. See, everything happens for a reason! Even nice Children of God trying to scare servants of the Lord by playing chicken with them.

 

Don't freak out everyone about my little accident, everyone is fine and everything is being taken care of. And people are usually really nice here while driving, I think it was just the Holiday spirit.

 

I know the church is true! I love you all so much, and I am so happy to be on a mission. Everything happens for a reason:)

 

Some lyrics for some songs:

Lyrics

1. 1. Savior, Redeemer of my soul,
   Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
   Whose wondrous pow'r hath raised me up
   And filled with sweet my bitter cup!
   What tongue my gratitude can tell,
   O gracious God of Israel.
2. 2. Never can I repay thee, Lord,
   But I can love thee. Thy pure word,
   Hath it not been my one delight,
   My joy by day, my dream by night?
   Then let my lips proclaim it still,
   And all my life reflect thy will.
3. 3. O'errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
   Change frowning foes to smiling friends.
   Chasten my soul till I shall be
   In perfect harmony with thee.
   Make me more worthy of thy love,
   And fit me for the life above.

 

1. 1. It may not be on the mountain height
   Or over the stormy sea,
   It may not be at the battle's front
   My Lord will have need of me.
   But if, by a still, small voice he calls
   To paths that I do not know,
   I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:
   I'll go where you want me to go.
2. (Chorus)
   I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
   Over mountain or plain or sea;
   I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
   I'll be what you want me to be.
3. 2. Perhaps today there are loving words
   Which Jesus would have me speak;
   There may be now in the paths of sin
   Some wand'rer whom I should seek.
   O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,
   Tho dark and rugged the way,
   My voice shall echo the message sweet:
   I'll say what you want me to say.
4. 3. There's surely somewhere a lowly place
   In earth's harvest fields so wide
   Where I may labor through life's short day
   For Jesus, the Crucified.
   So trusting my all to thy tender care,
   And knowing thou lovest me,
   I'll do thy will with a heart sincere:
   I'll be what you want me to be.

 

1. 1. I feel my Savior's love
   In all the world around me.
   His Spirit warms my soul
   Through ev'rything I see.
2. 2. I feel my Savior's love;
   Its gentleness enfolds me,
   And when I kneel to pray,
   My heart is filled with peace.
3. 3. I feel my Savior's love
   And know that he will bless me.
   I offer him my heart;
   My shepherd he will be.
4. 4. I'll share my Savior's love
   By serving others freely.
   In serving I am blessed.
   In giving I receive.
5. Chorus
   He knows I will follow him,
   Give all my life to him.
   I feel my Savior's love,
   The love he freely gives me.
7. 1. Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom;
   Lead thou me on!
   The night is dark, and I am far from home;
   Lead thou me on!
   Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
   The distant scene--one step enough for me.
9. 2. I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that thou
   Shouldst lead me on.
   I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
   Lead thou me on!
   I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
   Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
10. 3. So long thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still
    Will lead me on
    O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
    The night is gone.
    And with the morn those angel faces smile,
    Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

 

 

 

 

Thanks again for my IPOD. I love it so much. I love music! And I am still the Primary's Piano Player. So thanks for making me play the piano too! Hahaha:)

From Sydney

So I realized that when I write, I might be a little too honest with unneccessary facts. I have always been a little too honest when writing; periods, peeing in my pants, and etc. I am not ashamed of anything, but other people might be. Especially when their side doesn't have a proper exposition and representation. I have realized I haven't justly done that for any of my companions. My letters will now be super honest but in a good way:) This is an exposition for all of my lovely companions. 

When you write, every character has a background, and the writer knows it. Every character is meshed into the plot. Ther are 2 types of characters: dynamic and static. In real life, there is no one that is static. 

My 1st companion wast the brilliant Sister Corbitt who unfortunatley had to go through emotional Sister Powell. Bless her heart. Sister Corbitt is pretty much exactly like me but ten times more brilliant. She loves her family ver much, especially her mother. She is a genius and "conversational" in Math, Spanish, Music, and just about everything. She pushed me with the language. The Portuguese I know now is all because of her. Shet taught me to love someone other than my family. I prayed every night that she would get her vis (not because I wanted to get rid of her, nunca!) but because I knew how badly she wanted to get to Brazil. And she did get her visa. Sister Corbitt is changing Brazil for the better. Sister Corbitt is passionate. Everything is important to her as it should be. The most important thing to her, from what I gathered, is the Plan Of Salvation. Her testimony is so strong and beautiful she tells everyone it without hesitation. Sister Corbitt looked for the good in everyone. Every soul was precious including our "investigators" She prayed for them with all her heart and put their names in the temple. She was true missionary the moment she walked in the mtc. The gospel was her life. SHe expected the best in everyone: honesty, love and respect. She was devasted when they weren't because she saw what they were capable of. Her ability to see my capablity wanted me to be more christlike the ever. Sister Corbitt trusted the Lord enough to know what was capble of was high. HEavenly Father was first to her, and her best friend. Angels were surrounding her, and supporting her. I don't think she realized just how loved she was by everyone that was around her. Our district loved her, the teachers loved her, and I loved her. She was missed when she left.Sjster Corbitt is one of my best friends and I am so excited to speak Portuguese and hangout with her after the mission.

Sister Parks is my 2nd companion. Sister Parks is the most loving person you will ever meet. SHe is from Idaho. She has a huge family, and just about as crazy as my family:) She loves her family a whole lot. She exemplified the Atonement. Her ability to forgive and forget is amazing. She put the needs of everyone before her and she was the radio in the shower room. Haha. Sister Parks taught me the importance of letting go and moving foreward. Shet tautht met otlove everyone I meet. The most crazy and most spiritual things happened with her, and she prepared me for futrure companions. I love Sister Parks.

Sister Hall was my "mother". Sister Hall taught me thte importance of having fun as a missionary.I had the awesome chance to live with her for her last six weeks to get toknow her better. SHe is selfless. She let go of a great job, her life, and everything else to serve a mission. My week with her in the beginning taught me to be bold every moment of the day. She taught me the importance of leaning on your Heavenly Father no matter how old or far in life you get, you have  your Heavenly Father. She taught me it was okay not to know everything or be perfect, answers and testimonies are always growing and coming. Sister Hall is Hiliarious, spiritual , beautiful and a true leader. She was and is San Jose California's best StL.

Sister Jones was my other "mother". The moment I saw her I loved her. She is stinking Hilaiarious and I don't think she means to be. She is a sheltered Utah Mormon through and through. She hates spending money, but she loves to be obedient. Every decision she made was leaned towards pleasing the Lord. I was mazed how she could rip out her scriptures and know what to read. She loved her members and investigatrs. She taught me to speak in a lesson even if I didn't know howt tos say something. I didn't Know spanish and neither did she, but we worked together.

Sister Zidek was my 5th companion. Sister Zidek is the greatest person you will ever meet. I am so sad I wasn't companions with her longer. We saw miracles together- and it was all  because the want to be obedient and our love for God. Sister Zidek didn't know Spanish, I didn"t know Spanish, she wasn't trained, I wasn't trained, and we were thrown together. Por yeah! I can't even describe how strong the spirit was during our time together, and it was all because of Sister Zidek. SHe is the strongest girl you will ever meet. She is hilarious too- "what gender is the infant?"- inside joke y'all will never understand. Haha. She was exhauseted everyday from having to lead every converstation. her effort payed off and she was lucky enough to be fluent in Spanish by the time Ieft. We ran to our car to be home on time. We studied the write handbook and lived it so our heart area could flourish. She taught me that obedience brings miracles-obedience is a miracle in itself. I love Sister Zidek and I am so grateful for her.

Sister Fuimaono is the greatest Samoan you will ever meet. We rocked Livermore. It was a crazy six weeks. Running out of MSF money the 2nd week together, contacting super creepy men, almost dying multiple times (form laughter of course:)), teaching horrible lessons to dry mormons (Maggie and Joe), our only teaching pool was old women (RIP Siste Shueler:( ). She would serve me before I had the chance to serve her, little stinker. We never really had a bad day. We laughed and we worked hard. Sister Fuimaono was never afraid to teach anyone. She was always the first person to bear her testimony at Sacrament, at missionary meetings, on the streets, in homes and in our appartment. Every time we did companionship study, she alwasy had something life changin to say. The spirit flowed from her because she was determined to make the best of Livermore, where she has been her WHOLE entire mission. She taught me the importance of being friends with your companion, of laughing, of joking, of not being ashamed of any part of the gospel. She taught me it was okay to cry with a lost investigator. SHe taught me to keep looking, keep searching, everyone is prepared. Sister Fuimaono came from no walls Samoa, and is never leaving all 4 walls Livermore. Sister Fui made my life lighter and better.

Sister Tietjen is the most lively person you will ever meet. Alum Rock was a hard transfer, and we were faced with a lot of trials, but we made every day a celebration. Everynight we would count our miracles and dance. Sister Tietjen saw every moment of the day a miracle. She was brave and bold. She did not let one person walk by without talking to them and getting theri number. I have never given out so much referrals in my liffe. She knew the gospel like the back of her hand. In every lesson, I felt like the investigator. She said things in lesson that I needed to hear. She believed that she could do hard things. She believed we could set high goals and achieve them. I have never worked so hard in my life, because she is the most hard working Sister Missionary in San Jose California. My Testimony grew in every way wither her- prayer, the Book of Mormon, the love Heavenly Father has for me, eternal families. We worked together to build each other up. Sister Tietjen was an awesome 7th companion. 

Sister Livingston is the most beautiful Sister Missionary you will ever meet on the inside and out. You can't help but smile when you are around her. She is probably the most perfect Sister Misionary you will ever meet: profesional, loving, perfectly obedient, fearless, and spirit guided. She never thought bad about anyone, and never spoke ill of anyone. I think Sister Livingston is a perfect PERSON really. She never let her testimony falter. She faced opposition with complete faith in the Lord. She helped me more than she will ever know. I felt like ther was something wrong with me, and that why I was being moved and not seeing success. I was searching for answers, and getting blessings, and not recieving anything. And she answered my prayers. She gave met the answer I needed. She treated everyone the same, and truly gave them her time. She truly listened to them, and let the spirit asnwer. SHe never allowed herself to be an unworthy instrument. No matter where shw was, she taught. She helped me see my purpose and the love my Heavenly Family has for me. She lifted my blindness and let me see a glimpse of the love that I knew before. Her patience, love, and strength taught me everyday. She is a true friend. I wish I could express the way she helped me.

Sister Weeks loves to do misisonary work more than anyone you will ever meet. She is foreward and bold, and concerning misisionary work, she displayed no fear. She walked boldly to every person she saw on the street. She was willing to hop out of the car to contact Every time she talked to member, strangers, investigators, and missionaries she was happy and made them feel loved. She gave the best hugs. No one had a bad thing to say about her because she always went the extra mile. Dinners with member were all about that. She loved to the extreme. She could get any appointment on the phone because she could love someone just by their voice and name. Oliver, our recent convert, said she was an angel and childlike. She was both. She saw everything with fresh eyes and thought everything in the world was amazing and beautiful. She saw things the way the Lord intended them to be. Her prayerse and testimony were simple and powerful, just like the gospel. They always touched my heart. I love Sister Weeks.

Sister Funaki is my 10th companion. Life with Sister Funaki has flown fast and has been filled with laughted. SIster Funaki is hilarious. She is the most animated human being you will ever meet. When she is happy, she is estatic. It is awesome an contagious. Her smile is always real. She is hard working and everyday she tries to be better. She loves everyone she meets. She loves the members with all her heart. Her concern is to strenthn their relationship with HEavenly Father. She goes into a home wanting to serve. She wants to know everything about them. Every detail, small or big, is important. And she remembers everyhing. We have struggled to find new investigators, but we have worked hard to look for them. We go out and contact. Sister funaki tries to relate with everyone we meet, and they alway remember her.. She teaches everyone and invites everyone. She loved all missionaries, especially her roommates. She serves for her family. She wants them to be forever, and I know that they will be because of her service. She helping me know that mine will be forever too. She is smart, and her willingness to learn teaches me every day. Everyday she teaches me to be better. I love her so much.

During district meeting, Elder Tonga asked us what resturant we would take the Savior to. Later in the meeting, after the question, he said our companion was the savior and we should be willing to take our companions to that same place. I have learned so much about the Savior and it was all because of those Sisters. I have learned about his suffering, his love, his patience, and his miracles. Through serving them, I have felt his hands. I have never felt so loved, and the want to be better. THey are making me better. I love my companions:)

This week was great! I love you all.

Love Sister Powell

(Sorry for all the mistakes- I was typing up like the wind!)