End of Mission Book of Mormon Challenge

The library we have helped the Peace Corps organize.

All my tupenus that I have right now.  (6)

Something the Zones drew.

Sunset

Elder Taumoepeau, Lasi (1st counselor to our Bishop),
Timote (Ward Mission Leader), Elder Mahina, Elder Fonokalafi,
and me after eating toopai last night. It's like a sweet coconut dumpling.

This week was again really slow.... I don't know what has been happening haha but I hope this week we can try pushing harder and not rely on the members so much to bring us work but instead, to go out ourselves and find work.  It was way stormy here over the weekend, just really windy and rainy. Our papaya tree behind our house got knocked down and my bed got wet so I slept on the ground on Friday night. My new comp is from Vava'u and he is just waiting for his Visa to Australia so I am just with him til he gets it then I don’t know what happens. 

 So I am reading the BOM up until I leave and I set one out just for this purpose. The mission always does a challenge and right now it’s a 150 day "ASSURANCE" challenge. So when we read, we need to find the things that ASSURE our testimony to the truthfulness of this gospel.  (I’m reading it in English cuz I don’t like reading in Tongan.  I don’t get the fullness of what I am reading and it’s hard to apply it to myself.)

I wrote a little "testimony" in the front...

Malo e lelei,

     This Book of Mormon, or BOM as I call it, is dedicated and set out for the last year of my mission. Well not exactly the last year, but from today, February 26th 2015 to July 13th 2015, and I am reading every day from here on. There have been times of non-reading and times of disappointments, but today I am committing myself to the dedicated study of this book. Without this book, this church here would be without existence. The power behind reading this book over and over and always praying about it can increase the happiness and joy in one’s life that there is no way to deny it. This church is true! Oku mo'oni aupito ia. Oku ikai ke iai ha me'a hala i ai. Kou 'ilo fakapapau na'e ha'ele mai a Sisu Kalaisi pea pehe foki ki etau Tamai Hevani ki he tamasi'i ko Siosefa Samita i he ta'u 1820 i he taimi na'a ne lotu ke ne ilo pe ko fe he siasi na'e mo'oni pea na'e totonu ke ne kau ki ai. Na'a na faka'aonga'i ia hange ko ha me'a-ngaue ke fakafoko mai he ongoongolelei ki he mamani. The only way to know all of this is to read and pray. To work, or read, and then ask for our Father's guidance/assurance to tell us whether or not any of it is true. 

     There have been times of doubt in my mind, just because me as a person I tend to focus on the things of the world, ngaahi me'a fakaemamani, and not on the promptings of the Spirit, pe koe ngaahi ue'i mei he Laumalie Ma'oni'oni. I guess that is really my purpose for reading it this time and hopefully many times in the future. To strengthen and build up the testimony that has started within me.  I have times where I honestly really do struggle and I ask myself, "Is this worth it? Being away from EVERYTHING I know for two years to share with people of a different land, different language, different attitude, different traditions, about a little book.... A book that was translated by a boy of no learning, no worldly knowledge, a typical unlearned farmer..... Is it all worth it???" I don’t even know how many times that this thought has gone through my head. But there is always that something, that feeling that one can't just shake off. It is what makes me always fall back to this. I guess it is just God helping me stick through it all. He sends the Holy Ghost to be that guide, that companion that always knows what is best. I know for a fact that this is what guided me to Alma 26:27: "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

     Without this scripture being read at the EXACT right minute, I know for a fact that I would already be home right now, chilling in America.  But this gave me the encouragement, the confidence that I can do ALL, because my older brother Jesus Christ has already felt all that pain and all that sorrow, and He is there to help. Like it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean no to thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." He is there!!! You just gotta believe in him :) TRUST with all your heart, might, mind and strength and He will help you and guide you through all struggles, all heartaches, and all difficulties that we come across not just here in a mission but just life in general! I know for a fact that if you pray with a sincere heart and with real intent, that the Spirit can and will guide you to the exact scripture you need at that exact moment of difficulty and strife. God knows our pains, He knows our struggles, and all He asks is for our faith and to act upon that faith in prayer, Read and Pray! Prove to Him that you believe and want to follow the footsteps of Christ our Savior.

      That is pretty much the reason why I am setting out the BOM just for this special time. So that afterwards, I will be able to fall back on it no matter what. It will be like my binding testimony to it all. I will cover this thing with markings, colors, quotes, symbols, writings, names; just everything that I feel develops my faith and knowledge about this book. Because that’s what this is.... My Assurance BOM..... not only to the book, but to everything that there is in this gospel. And it’s what I challenge everyone to do. Set out a special BOM to this exact purpose, to assure their testimony and their knowledge about this wonderful gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Mani :)