Sister Sunscreen and Her Pocket Full of Sunshine!: August 20, 2012 and picture day!

Aloha!

THREE BAPTISMS COMING UP THIS SATURDAY!!! The two baptisms for Ira and Cord are still on for this weekend, and Se (our French friend) is ALSO getting baptized this Saturday!! He is on FIRE and totally excited! Oh my goodness, our lessons with him this past week were incredible. We are going to the Temple Visitor's Center tonight. He is grateful to have found the truth. He was prepared for so long by the Lord for this time in his life. It's amazing, isn't it?

We had a huge spiritual slam session this week with a member from the Quorum of the 70, Elder Aidukatis.

It. Was. Incredible!!

He gave us a good reprimanding of all that we aren't doing in the mission that we should step up.. everyone afterward kept saying "Wow, I feel like the worst missionary in the world... Don't you feel like the worst missionary ever?" ..... "No... I feel excited!"

Haha! I was so motivated and inspired to be better that after the Mission Tour with Elder Aidukatis that I didn't feel like a bad missionary at all. In fact, looking at all that I need to improve I felt slightly intimidated at what lies ahead of me, but even though I'm lacking in some areas I still felt like a good missionary.

He talked with us about diligence and being good planners. Sure we can schedule things efficiently, but am I effectively planning things that will better my area and our companionship? He reminded us of our apostolic blessings that if we are strictly obedient to all the mission rules and to what the Brethren are asking us to also include, WE WILL SEE MIRACLES. He was a fantastic speaker, so full of the Spirit. He admonished us to quit wasting the Lord's time. He showed the difference between a "tourist missionary" versus a good missionary.

Anyway, he talked about a lot of stuff, and my journal is now almost full! He was kind of intimidating because he's so blunt with what he says. If you answer something wrong, he'll tell you you're wrong and he'll keep looking for the answer. But once you kept raising your hand to give answers and bear testimony it wasn't so bad! :)

I had such a great and spiritually uplifting week. I've changed my study habits and have set some new goals for myself as a missionary. It's been hard but fun to see the changes already starting to occur. I know that miracles will happen in this area if I do these things. THAT is a promise from the Lord. We need as many miracles as we can get; as many as we are willing to receive..

Lan and Ban are really struggling to quit smoking and are starting to get discouraged, but the ward has been awesome for them. The healthy snacks are coming along great and hopefully it will give them a sense of greater self-confidence.

I don't really have much else to write about, other than I am doing well. I am grateful for all of your never-ending support and love to me. I feel your prayers. The Lord is answering them :)

Always remember the Savior: HE is the reason!

I LOVE YOU ALL!
Love, Sister Sunscreen

(yes.... I've had three people in the past week comment how white I am. Thank you very much! Skin cancer? SO not my thing! Shaka Laka is amazing! *sales pitch intended*)