Welcome Home Elder Heaton

Elder Heaton, WELCOME HOME!

Mele Kelikimaka from Elder Vaikeli

ALLLOOOOOHHHHAAAAA MY DEAR FAMILY WELL I HOPE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AND CHRISTMAS AND MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!!!
 

MELE KELIKIMAKA IS THE THING TO SAY ON A BRIGHT HAWAIIAN CHRISTMAS DAY
THAT'S THE ISLAND GREETINGS THAT WE SEND TO YOU FROM THE LAND WHERE PALMS TREES SWAY
HERE WE KNOW THAT CHRISTMAS WILL BE GREEN AND BRIGHT
THE SUN WILL SHINE BY DAY AND ALL THE STARS BY NIGHT
MELE KELIKIMAKA IS THE HAWAIIAN WAY TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!!!

Aloha from Hawaii!

ALOHA THIS IS THE ZONE PICTURES OF THE MISSIONARIES THAT I AM SERVING WITH!!!

-Elder Vaikeli

Welcome Home Elder McGavin!

Elder McGavin, WELCOME HOME!

Elder Madsen's Year Mark!

Elder Madsen has been a missionary for 1 year officially!

Elder Taufui's Miracle.

Hey how is everything going?
Last week me and my companion Elder Seumanutafa had a huge huge miracle!!!! So about a couple months ago when I was with my companion Elder Baumer. Elder Baumer always kept telling me this one lady that is bed ridden, she wants to get baptized so bad. and we always kept going by and trying to see her but she was always in the hospital or the care taker that is Samoan just would ignore us tell us she's not there. So we always would try to see her and it wouldn't work out! But finally about 8 weeks ago we get a call from her care taker and he sounded really worried, and he told us that this lady that is bed ridden wanted to see her. so we schedule to go over the next day and something always came up.
Finally a week later we get a chance to go by and I have no clue what to expect cause all I heard that this lady really wanted to get baptized! so we go in me and my companion Elder Seumanutafa go in and there is this lady that is laying on her bed and she cannot talk very well. we find out that she has this disease called ALS. It's where the muscles start getting very very weak. so this lady she cannot move anything, only her head to nod yes or no and she can try to talk a little bit but it is really hard to understand what she is trying to say. so man all i remember is that we talked to her a lot about the Resurrection and that this right her is just only for a little moment. man it was a great lesson! after that they wanted us to give her a blessing.
and no problem so we ask the care provider what her name is and he tells us that her name is
Manat Soutsavang.....
Man for a second that name sounded familiar and bam, it came to me that it was Kham's last name.
haha hecka got me excited so right away i ask her. if she knew kham and dawn and them, she looked at me, smiled and nodded yes. hahaha I was happy cause  mutual friends! the care taker was telling us that she married Khams brother, hecka small world. so .... mutual family! even better so I told her that we were family.
later that night I was talking to the Laos elders ( Cause Manat is a Laotian) asked him if they wanted to teach her and he so no cause she is paralyzed, I was totally fine with that cause i really wanted to teach her cause she is family! so finally i still didn't know what to do when we went by to see Manat. didn't know what to share what to tell her. so my Zone Leader kept Telling her blood is going to be on my head.....
and that got me thinking. so the next day we see Manat we're talking to her. and that thought came to my mind that her blood was going to be on my head. so randomly I asked her "Do You Want to be Baptized?" and she said yes man i was excited!  and then she tried to say something else but we couldnt understand so we got some of the people at the house to help us out trying to figure out what she was trying to say. so this whole time she was asking us, When? and we look at our phone look 3 weeks from that day and tell her October 8th. man I couldn't believe it, it defiantly was a miracle! so we got everything figured out. She couldn't make it to church obviously. So after the three weeks we got the baptismal interview in the week of their baptism.
The day of her baptism... it was the most frustrating day of my life... so we start church at 2 go til 5. and the baptism was suppose to be at 5:30, but didn't get started til 6. but man it was so spiritual! man especially When we got her baptized. so we need 3 people to help out with the baptism. it was so hard but man it was so great to see how much faith she showed to god and especially everyone at the baptism. how she need to be clean from her sins. so it was really hard how to do it as fast as we can and as careful as can. but I was the one that was holding her, you know like a baby. so spiritually also scary as heck. but we all knew that it was something that god would help. it was so spiritually when that happened and also to see aunty dawn uncle Kham and the rest of the family! and angel and aunty Dawn when they sang the song how great shall be your joy. it really hit home and i knew this is what god wanted me to do, to be here and to be able to baptized her.
But today we found out she had just passed and my heart is filled with joy, to know that this was a miracle to find out that this is what  needed to do before she was has passed! man i just cant stop thinking about how she is in spirit paradise and i am so grateful for the gospel of CHRIST in our life! cause if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have no purpose. and i know that this is truly why i was called here to this area at this time in life, to bring this one sou unto Christ and i know this is the god work and it truly is  the most greatest feeling in world. i really cant explain myself fully right now but its true. love you and I know families and friends will be together forever.
ofa atu!!!!

Elder Taufui's latest adventures..

Hey this week was good! right now we are teaching this one lady, her name is Manat Soutsavang! its Kham's brother's ex-wife, her boyfriend is samoan, she's has some disease, where her muscles are really weak, but it's sad to see her, but it's good everytime we go there she's always smiles. she can't talk so when we teach her we teach and then ask her yes or no questions! She couldn't watch or listen to conference, she wanted to watch it and she cant cause she is in her bed all day and everyday, and didnt have the channel to conference,  but we taked to our mission president and he told us that she needs to be baptized cause she is not mentally ill, so she is getting baptized this weekend on the 8th, its should be a unique baptism, cause we're going to have like 4 or 5 people help her out so we'll see and hope it'll be safe and good.

Also, we're working with this one girl name Tina, her mom was a member then she married a guy who was a methodist, she when they got married they went over to the methodist, man but her dad just passed and the mom went back to the mormon church, so she is investigating the church, She's a strong methodist, but has a lot of good influences on members here in sac, we been working with her for a while now and she came to conference and she had a lot of questions, and the talk that was about the book of mormon helped her out and answered a lot of her questions so hopefully we can commit her to a date this month! 

Aloha from Elder Vaikeli

WELL ALOHA, I AM LOVING THE WORK IN MY NEW AREA!!! THE AREA THAT I HAVE GOT CALLED TO SERVE IN IS CALLED PEARL CITY, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AREA WITH PEOPLE WAITING TO HEAR THE GOSPEL!!! NOW BEHOLD A MARVELOUS WORK IS ABOUT TO COME FORTH AMONG THE CHILDREN OF PEARL CITY, THEREFORE O YE THAT EMBARK IN THE SERVICE OF GOD, SEE THAT YE SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIGHT, MIND, AND STRENGTH, THAT YE MAY STAY BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD IN THE LAST DAY!!!! NOW I DO KNOW THAT THIS GOSPEL IS THE ONLY TRUE GOSPEL ON EARTH, AND GOD DOES LIVE AND HELPS US EACH AND EVERYDAY WE STRIVE TO LIVE THIS GOSPEL!!!! I KNOW THAT THOMAS S. MONSON IS A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD!!! I HUMBLY LEAVE MY TESTIMONY WITH YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AMEN!!!


ALOHA OI

ELDER VAIKELI

Vanem McGavin meets the President of Estonia

My Encounter With The President of Estonia


I was approaching the end of my mission when I was invited to have dinner at a recent convert's house. She was baptized earlier on in my mission, while I was serving in the southern Estonian city of Tartu. At dinner she asked me how I have enjoyed my time here in Estonia. I told her that I have really come to love this country. I've made some great friendships here and I have great memories from my time spent here. I mentioned that there was one thing that I would like to do before I go home. I looked at her, hoping she wouldn't laugh, and said, „I would like to meet the President of Estonia. I have felt a need to meet him since I got to Estonia. I respect him and you never know what doors this would open for us as missionaries.“ She quickly responded, „If that is what you want, then go home and write the president. Ask him if you could meet him, it's always worth a try!“ Throughout the next couple days, I thought about her advice. I felt prompted to do what she suggested, and write the President of Estonia.
As Christ taught, „Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.“ I went ahead and wrote him a short letter, with a picture included. In my letter, I told him about myself and my family. I mentioned some of the things I have learned from living in Estonia for nearly two years, and I stressed how much I have come to love the Estonian people. I asked him for five minutes of his time, so that I could shake his hand and thank him for his service. I mailed the letter and said a prayer asking God that if it is his will, he will prepare the President and his heart will be touched by my letter.
About a month went by with no response from the President. I didn't lose hope that we could still meet with him. As time passed, the Estonian Independence day was drawing near. As in most countries, independence day is a special day. In Estonia, it is an extra special day, considering that most of the current citizens remember a time when there was no independence. Estonia has been an Independent country now for twenty years. Nearly all of the independence activists, and citizens who personally fought for independence are still alive today. There is a magic feeling in the air as Estonians unite each year to rekindle their memories from August 20, 1991. Thanks to many of these people, Estonia was the first former member of the Soviet Union to welcome the restored gospel and bless the lives of the saints in this corner of Eastern Europe.
A few days before Independence day, we checked the mail and there was a letter addressed to me from the Office of the President of Estonia. I opened it up right away and read the letter. I was told that the President has a busy schedule and we wouldn't be able to have a personal meeting with him. To my surprise, the next line stated in eloquent Estonian, „However, the head of the country would like to invite you to a special reception in the Presidential Castle Rose Garden to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Estonian Independence.“ I was in shock! I didn't know what to think. I turned to my companion and said, „We are meeting the President...at his house!“ I asked and received, I knocked and now the door was open, a much larger door than I had expected.
The day for the reception came and we went to the presidential grounds. I had only wanted to meet the President but now we were going to be able to meet everyone who had a role in Estonia gaining independence. All of the noted activists, former politicians, current politicians, and other influential Estonians were invited to this reception, along with two Mormon missionaries. We knew that we wouldn't be able to do normal missionary work there, but we prayed that our presence at this prestigious event would open up future opportunities for the church. We weren't to wear our name badges so we knew we would just have to work a little bit harder to find ways to talk to people about the gospel. We showed up on time and as people were coming in, we strived to talk to as many people as possible. We were able to personally thank those who made a difference twenty years ago. Although they aren't members of the church, they had a large part in church history for Eastern Europe. This was an extra special opportunity for us to thank them. Without these people, the gospel wouldn't be in Estonia, and we would have never been called to serve in this beautiful land.
As we were mingling with the people coming through the large gate, a man was staring at us. Finally he came over to us and said he works for the president. He said he recognized me as the one who sent the letter. I asked him if the President was actually able to read my letter. He said, „Of course, it was addressed to him! The President opened it himself and was touched by how compassionate you were in your letter and surprised at your courage to write him. He personally wanted to invite you to the reception.“ He told us to stick around and that he would be back soon. A few minutes later he approached us and said, „The President is awaiting you.“ The president had stepped aside to meet us. He had his personal photographer ready to get a picture with us as well. The President was a very polite and friendly man. He asked us where we are from and we told him Utah and Iowa. We were confident that he knew at that moment that we are missionaries. We had a short chat with him before he went on his way to greet the rest of his guests. After meeting him, we continued to talk to as many people as we could. Overall the evening was wonderful. We had met the president and many other familiar faces. I was truly humbled and thankful to God that he had given us this opportunity.
To be completely honest, we didn't have much of an opportunity to talk about our unique message to the president or the other guests. I know one thing though, many people at that party knew we were the LDS missionaries. They knew who we were and were left to wonder why we had been invited there. I had a feeling of comfort knowing that our presence had left an impact. We may never find out what came from us meeting the President of Estonia, but we know that it was God's will that this miracle happened. We were able to see other miracles from being at the reception. We had a great conversation with one young man who recognized us as the missionaries and knew a lot about the church. A few days later we ran into him again on the street. About a week later we spoke with a more prominent guest whom we had met at the party. We are confident that many other missionary opportunities will arise from having met so many influential Estonians.
Sometimes we don't know how the spirit will guide us to do certain things. More often, we aren't able to see a direct outcome. Occasionally, far fetched ideas such as wanting to meet the President of a country turn into reality. For whatever reason, I felt a need to meet the President of Estonia from the beginning of my mission and now it had happened. I am especially grateful to the recent convert who acted as a tool in God's hands to encourage me to write him and simply ask. Less than a year ago, I was teaching her the doctrine of Christ and helping her come closer to baptism, and now she was the one teaching me a lesson on faith. As it states in 1 Nephi 7:12 „the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him.“ I support this with my personal experience. I know that with faith, and a righteous desire, we can accomplish anything. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Lance Scott McGavin

Elder Mark William Nielson (my companion)

Quick note from Elder Vaikeli!

Alright it has been a long time!!! But hey all is well over her in the PARADISE OF HAWAII!!!
 
ALLLLOOOOOHHHHAAAAA!!!
 
 
"I am a disiciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of Him to declare his word among His people, that they might have everlasting life."
3 Nephi 5:13
 
ELETA VAIKELI!!!;)

Elder Goldhardt's Year Mark!

Elder Goldhardt has been a missionary for 1 year officially!

Elder Heaton Picture Update.

Elder Taufui, Trainer!

So last week just had a baptism for this samoan guy he's in his mid 20's. It was a good program. We had a couple people sing and his close family members give talks. So last year when I was here in the Tala'ofa ward we started teaching him and now im back we all finally got to see him get baptized. He has one the strongest testimonies. the day before he got baptized he said that this was probably the hardest weeks of his life. So earlier this month, we got him to commit to a date. and the day that we gave him was the 23rd and at the same time his wife was pregnant. and the baby was due on the 24th. So when he reminded us that his baby was suppose to be due the day after. All he said that oh it's alright we'll still do the baptism. 

So right after all that we started to pray, and we prayed and asked that the baptism wouldn't interfere with the new born or the new baby with the date that had given him. On thursday the 21st his wife had the baby and the day of the baptism the baby and his wife got out of the hospital 4 hours before the baptism. But he has a hecka good testimony and know he wants to be sealed to his family. It was gooooood.

This week is our transfers, so last night we got a call from our mission president and he called and said he was going to give me a greeny, haha hecka funny. It's going to be crazy the new missionary coming he might be Samoan but I'm not really sure who is coming in. Ha I'll let you know next week.

Elder Vaikeli in the MTC photos!

Here some of me photos!! That is just me in thee MTC ooo yah!!! 

Elder Hedin's Year Mark!

Elder Hedin has been a missionary for 1 year officially!

Elder Vaikeli quick hello from Hawaii!

Why hello there I am currently in Hawaii right now and yes I am having fun and teaching the words of Jesus Christ ok have a good day!!!

New photos from Elder Heaton

Elder Heaton has been transferred to Downtown Bacolod City after being in Kabankalan for 6 months.  These pictures are a mix of the old area and the new.  He is still ZL and is loving his mission! (...in case you can't tell!)

Vanem McGavin Picture Update!

Elder Heaton.

Elder Heaton has been in the same area for 6 months now.  He loves it and never wants to leave!  He is also a zone leader right now.  He loves his mission!

Update from Elder Taufui...

This week the sun has been coming out a lot and its been a little hotter, I like it though. That just means that there are more people to talk to. But ya its been good. Me and my companion have been talking to a lot of people and trying to see if they let us come a teach them, so this last week we got into some door, got to know them and see where they were@ in life and just applied the gospel into their lifes.  So this week we taught a part-member family that I've been trying to get a hold of and teach cause theyre less active, but anyways we got to teach the little boy and its cool cause when we taught the the little cause we get the family involved and it helps them out cause it's them teaching themselves of what they already know to be true. 

We also taught this one guy name Jack and we taught what our purpose in life was and talked about where were going after we die, so anyways. We have a ward activity and we told him to come and it'll be good, so he said he was going to come and he said that he was excited.  So later on that night we go to the church and he's not there. So we try to call him and he doesn't answer. So it kind of sucked. so we stopped by the next day try to see if he wanted to come to church with on sunday. So anyways he wasn't home. 

So sunday morning we call him up and see if he wanted to check out church, so he didn't answer, we are in church and right before the sacrament was going to be blessed he showed up in the back and so we went back there and sat with him, it was a good sacrament meeting, so after we talk to him and asked him what he liked about church, he said he like the atmosphere and so we told him that was the spirit and before we talked to him about baptism, and he asked us "so when are you going to have a baptism or how does it work do you guys set it up?" it was cool so we told him were having one next month on the 21st and he said that was good! It was a miracle! but ya that was really cool how he just showed up to church out of nowhere! and before he told us that he wasnt going to join or anything like that. so it was one of the miracle!!!!!

The work is going good things are happening, and when we don't see that nothing is happening there are things that are going on in our life for the good we just arent seeing it.

New photos from Elder Heaton

Vanem McGavin quick update.

We taught a bunch of new lessons this week and got 4 new investigators so we are excited to see if any of them really start to progress.  They were all actually very normal, good people and good potentials to be strong members some day.  On Saturday we taught a lady that has been to church a couple times.  She seems to really enjoy it.  We taught her with a member.  We had to call through like 10 members to find someone finally that was able to teach with us.  We asked her to be baptized but she didnt quite understand why she needs to be baptized again.  She is willing to meet again and talk some more.  We see her as a high, or somewhat high prospect for baptism.  Overall the week here was good.  We met a lot of our goals, but unfortuanately didnt have any one at church, which in my mind is the most important thing of all.  

Love,
Vanem McGavin 

Elder Taufui Update!

Okay so right now I'm in Elk Grove! Hecka small ward, they are good members here. There are a lot part member families here. And ya we are just trying to find people here to teach! Last week we went on splits with the elders quorum and high priest and me and the member taught a lesson about the restoration and it was good. We taught the mom and the daughter. So hopefully we can be able to teach the whole family. We also been talking to everyone, since the area is so small it seems like I've already talked to everyone. It's good though if the people don't accept it now, then they'll eventually accept it. 


Ya its crazy i've hit my year mark, so now its time to buckle up and get some people baptized. It seems like my desire has seemed to grow a lot more, last we had zone conference and it was centered on the ATONEMENT!!!! Dang it was tight. There was one thing that our mission president showed us was a quote in the Preach my Gospel, and it was talking about as we get to know and learn more about the Atonement, then our desire to go out and do work will increase. it was cool, so it seems like I've been studying the scriptures more. And also the day before I went out with a missionary from Olympus, Elder Clark. It was cool he's my Zone Leader, And just seeing his desire to do work, I saw that and was like dang im hittin my year mark and I've got to make some changes and start working way harder.  But ya always we have to remember the importance of Jesus Christ, and how we need to do all we can do to keep his commandments so that we can be saved by grace after all we can do. Jesus lives and the church is true.

Elder Taufu'i

Elder Taufui's Year Mark!

Elder Taufui has been a missionary for 1 year officially!

Elder Taufui... trouble! :)

AJ

Elder Vaikeli left for the MTC on Wednesday, March 16 2011.

He will be serving in the Honolulu, Hawaii Mission

Pictures from Victor!... (Elder Taufui!)

More from Estonia