Shaped and Molded

Mauri! (My companion has been teaching me a little Kiribati)

I feel like I say this every week, but how the heck is it already Monday again?!?  Yesterday,  I officially have reached eight months out too.  It is so crazy to think that much time has already past. It has even been over a year since I received my mission call. It still feels like yesterday that we had all that snow, and me and my brothers built that giant snow man in the front yard.

Soon after, I was boarding a plane to start this great adventure. At times I still think, I'm just a new missionary, fresh from the MTC, still just learning the swing of things, and then I realize, oh wait, I've been here for a good amount of time. But what I've realized is, no matter the point you are at in your mission, it is a continuous process of being shaped and molded to the person the Lord wants you to be.

Every week, there are things that we experience to either test and try us, and to humble and strengthen us. This week was no different, in that we had a just a little bit of everything. A little sickness, a little disappointment, a little hope, and a little miracle.

I'll first start with the sickness. With the sudden change in weather, a cold went around in the apartment, with the sinus headaches and everything. Warm chicken noodle soup, and lots of my new favorite juice (Smart C+ in the Calamansi and grapefruit flavor) did the trick.

We stayed inside and rested for two days, but we decided with that lost time, we would work even harder this week to help the people, and reach our goals. Also this was the last regular week with Sister Itimaera before she has to go home. Which brings us to the little disappointment. I am so going to miss her!

I love Sister Itimaera! She is super sweet and funny. Actually the island in Kiribati that she is from is known for always laughing and being happy. I testify. Even when it is raining outside, and we don't feel like hiking a mountain in the mud, we just put on some sunglasses and pretend it's a beautiful day.














 We make the best of it outside waiting for our little boat to come with a little selfie. And even when none of our investigators that we have been working really hard with don't show up to church, we continue to love them, and have hope for them. I'll be sad to have to kill her but at least we have one more week!

As for hope. No matter how many times investigators don't follow through on their commitments or when we are "punted", there is always hope for them. We have been searching and searching for a progressing investigator or new ways to help our investigators progress. Let me tell you, it is not easy. But we never loose hope and we always have faith. And what we have been seeing is a lot of progression in the less active members in this area. There is always a silver lining.

Our little miracle for the week. We were walking to our area we always visit on Sundays. This area is like one big U shape. We usually go in one side and make our rounds and go out the other side, but this time we got an impression to go the opposite way. As we were walking, a 12 year-old girl tapped me on the back. Not anything new. Lots of kids just stare at me, yell at me from far away, or even just rub my arm as I pass by. Just normal thing, ya know. Well this time, I felt the impression to not ignore this person, but to stop and talk to her. As we were talking, we found out that missionaries used to visit her friend, about a year and a half ago, but they stopped. We then asked if we could come back another time and share with her our message, she then said, will you come over right now and teach us. She introduced us to her friend and someone that we had actually been looking for. We taught all three of them right then and there. I don't know what will come of them, but of course we can always have hope.

I'm so glad that I still have 10 more months ahead of me. There is so much to look forward to, and I know that every day is shaping me to be something more than I ever was before. And I am sure there are definitely more adventures through random little jungles.   :)

Mahal ko kayo!
Sister K