Its Been CRAZY!!! So Ive been Transferred to Eatontown! In the Sandy Hook Area! My New companion is Elder Ayers! Hes from Canada by Niagara falls! Amazing Missionary! Has about 6 months left in his mission so hes got a lot to teach me! Ive been so blessed with the Greatest Companions!
We got doubled in so its pretty frustrating trying to find people in an area neither of us know at all! Thank Goodness one of the Elders that was here before us is still in our zone, so hes able to give us some pointers. Its also been super hard because we had Stake Conference yesterday so weren't able to have regular church to meet all the Members of the Ward. We also have regional Conference next week! So its going to be an interesting next couple of weeks... Monday, April 20, 2015
Sandy Hook! (Eatontown)
Monday, April 13, 2015
Crazy Week!
This past week was best and worst week of my mission so far.. Started off pretty chill we were teaching a lot of lessons. We picked up a New Investigator his names Josè! He was a referral from some Elders in Central Newark. We met with him for the first time on wednesday at the church and he was Drunk/high.. He told us he had been a drinker/addict since he was 17. hes 35 now. But as we met with him he told us he would do anything to change. He has 2 kids that he cant be around because of his Drinking & Drug abuse. I felt he was being sincere. Most of the time when we meet with people that have drinking or drug Problems we only see them once and thats it! But we prayed and with him and during the prayer he just started sobbing and he cried out: "please Lord Help me change!" The spirit was super strong!
Jose has been calling us Everyday now Telling us that hes been sober since and is working again and seeing his Wife and kids everyday now! Such a bittersweet Miracle. Pray for him!
My week went down when on friday i woke up and just felt like i was going to die! I had the worst Cold i ever had in my life! I couldn't even Support myself my head was just throbbing so bad and every time i coughed it felt like someone shot me in the chest! hahah being dramatic but it was bad! But Elder Vause (my fav senior missionary) just so happened to be coming over with our Branch President to pick some stuff up from the storage in our basement. So they and Elder Laceste gave me a blessing, and by the afternoon i felt soooo much better!
Sunday Rolled around and it was our Branch Conference. Now when i fist come to East Orange there were maybe 25-30 People in sacrament meeting.. Sunday there were over 100 people there!!! The Stake Presidency and High council were blown away! It was Awesome!! We seriously so close to becoming a ward its not even funny!! The Branch has been working together so hard to make it happen!
Then we got a Transfer calls... Im getting Transferred.. So sad right now! East Orange has been such a great experience and I've been here for 7 months! Its going to be so hard to leave. But I know that the Lord is all knowing and if im needed elsewhere then here i come!
I thank you all for your Prayers!! Love you!
-Elder Fotu
He Lives
(Deeeeeep Breath) Wow!! Easter Sunday & General Conference!! Where do i start???
Well I guess i can start by Testifying that i know that The Lord Jesus Christ Lives today and Forever more!
So many events took place this week that i dont have time to share but have changed and improved my Outlook, Attitude, and Focus of my mission. Its Amazing how Heavenly Father Answers Prayers.
Saturday I went on Exchange with the Zone Leaders. I was with my Homie Elder Wilcox! He was an Assistant for a long time and this is his Last week before he goes home so i had the opportunity to learn soooooo much from him before he dies. Saturday was super busy day in Elizabeth. It was a Spanish Area that Ive been to Before with Elder Wood (Old Zone Leader) so I was super pumped to see people i had met before, again and try my horrible Spanish. Hahaha its so funny because so many people think im from the Dominican Republic so they start speaking spanish to me and i just say "no ablo espaniō" hahah and they say where you from and i say "Tonga", so they just call me Elder Toonga in a Spanish accent the whole time! so funny but if i get transferred i want to get transferred to Spanish so bad! Never would have said that before my mission but the spanish people here are so Humble! and they feed you like crazy;) Best Exchange ive had so far!!
I cant even explain how great Conference was! My Most Favorite Talk by far was Elder Wilford W. Andersons Along with all the other Missionaries i was so pleased to see him up there because he visited our mission about when i first came into the mission and i could feel the great Spirit he brought with him. His talk about Dancing to the music of the gospel was one of the best Analogies I've heard! I will be Defiantly be listening to that one over and over agian for a long time!
It sounds like everyone really Liked Elder Pearsons talk, so did I! And so did Sadrac! He is so close to giving us a date its not even funny! and i think that General Conference gave him that last push he needs to commit!
Funny story: Sunday morning we walked into the church a little late and President Monson's talk was just ending and all the Haitions in the branch were crying and i thought someone had died or something! hahaha but it was just that the Haiti Temple was announced. So everyone was so excited about that! Its gonna be an interesting day for our branch when the chapel is almost empty because all the Haitions are in Haiti for the Temple Dedication... hahaha
One talk that really made gave me an awakening was by Elder Michael T. Ringwood, he talked about People who dont seek after Position, Callings or Power and are steady and faithful in keeping the commandments and enduring to the end and recessive blessing because of there Faithfulness. He starts by talking about how his older Brother was a zone leader and how he was seeking after being a leader in the mission. And i have to admit Ive had my share of thoughts about how Dad, Garrett and Jacob were all Assistants to the President and i have been seeking after that Leadership and trying to impress other missionaries who have leadership to try get a calling. But Elder Ringwood Talks about how his mission President says that God, his President and Elder Ringwood knew his companion was a good missionary, who else needs to know, when he wanted to silence some gossip about his companion.
It is the Lord who calls us, so its not about impressing others. Its about Pleasing God with our work.
There is so much more I would love to talk about but I just don't have time!
Im so grateful for All the lessons i've learned from serving and can't wait for the knowledge and lessons to come! I truly Love This Work. I Truly Love the Lord.
Happy Birthday to Jake, Selu & Tyler!! I wish i got to go to Disney Land for my Birthday! Mom you spoil that little boy to much!
Shout Out to Alema Tautu For getting his call to New Zealand!!! Love You Bradda!
I love and am grateful for all of you! You wouldn't be receiving these emails if i didnt! hahah not to disclaim my love for others...But you guys are Awesome!!
Hear Y'all next week!
-Elder Fotu
Monday, April 6, 2015
He Lives
(Deeeeeep Breath) Wow!! Easter Sunday & General Conference!! Where do i start???
Well I guess i can start by Testifying that i know that The Lord Jesus Christ Lives today and Forever more!
So many events took place this week that i dont have time to share but have changed and improved my Outlook, Attitude, and Focus of my mission. Its Amazing how Heavenly Father Answers Prayers.
Saturday I went on Exchange with the Zone Leaders. I was with my Homie Elder Wilcox! He was an Assistant for a long time and this is his Last week before he goes home so i had the opportunity to learn soooooo much from him before he does. Saturday was super busy day in Elizabeth. It was a Spanish Area that Ive been to Before with Elder Wood (Old Zone Leader) so I was super pumped to see people i had met before, again and try my horrible Spanish. Hahaha its so funny because so many people think im from the Dominican Republic so they start speaking spanish to me and i just say "no ablo espaniō" hahah and they say where you from and i say "Tonga", so they just call me Elder Toonga in a Spanish accent the whole time! so funny but if i get transferred i want to get transferred to Spanish so bad! Never would have said that before my mission but the spanish people here are so Humble! and they feed you like crazy;) Best Exchange ive had so far!!
I cant even explain how great Conference was! My Most Favorite Talk by far was Elder Wilford W. Andersons Along with all the other Missionaries i was so pleased to see him up there because he visited our mission about when i first came into the mission and i could feel the great Spirit he brought with him. His talk about Dancing to the music of the gospel was one of the best Analogies I've heard! I will be Defiantly be listening to that one over and over agian for a long time!
It sounds like everyone really Liked Elder Pearsons talk, so did I! And so did Sadrac! He is so close to giving us a date its not even funny! and i think that General Conference gave him that last push he needs to commit!
Funny story: Sunday morning we walked into the church a little late and President Monson's talk was just ending and all the Haitions in the branch were crying and i thought someone had died or something! hahaha but it was just that the Haiti Temple was announced. So everyone was so excited about that! Its gonna be an interesting day for our branch when the chapel is almost empty because all the Haitions are in Haiti for the Temple Dedication... hahaha
One talk that really made gave me an awakening was by Elder Michael T. Ringwood, he talked about People who dont seek after Position, Callings or Power and are steady and faithful in keeping the commandments and enduring to the end and recessive blessing because of there Faithfulness. He starts by talking about how his older Brother was a zone leader and how he was seeking after being a leader in the mission. And i have to admit Ive had my share of thoughts about how Dad, Garrett and Jacob were all Assistants to the President and i have been seeking after that Leadership and trying to impress other missionaries who have leadership to try get a calling. But Elder Ringwood Talks about how his mission President says that God, his President and Elder Ringwood knew his companion was a good missionary, who else needs to know, when he wanted to silence some gossip about his companion.
It is the Lord who calls us, so its not about impressing others. Its about Pleasing God with our work.
There is so much more I would love to talk about but I just don't have time!
Im so grateful for All the lessons i've learned from serving and can't wait for the knowledge and lessons to come! I truly Love This Work. I Truly Love the Lord.
Happy Birthday to Jake, Selu & Tyler!! I wish i got to go to Disney Land for my Birthday! Mom you spoil that little boy to much!
Shout Out to Alema Tautu For getting his call to New Zealand!!! Love You Bradda!
I love and am grateful for all of you! You wouldn't be receiving these emails if i didnt! hahah not to disclaim my love for others...But you guys are Awesome!!
Hear Y'all next week!
-Elder Fotu
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
HEY YALL!!
Well again this past week just flew by!! Which is unusual because not to much went on.. Tuesday Morning we had district meeting! We got to view the new Easter initiative that the Church has released, a great video about Jesus Christ helives.mormon.org. Watch it if you haven't already!
We had a discussion about the book of mormon and I kinda stole some of Elder Kanenwisher's ideas for the meeting;) (Thanks Beau) We talked about how important the Book of Mormon is, and some great Testimonies of it were shared!
Wednesday to thursday we had an exchange with the some elders in our district! Elder Rodriguez and I were in our area. We taught our friend Garrett! Hes progressing slowly but surely. He came to church on sunday after telling us he was going to come the past 2 weeks and not showing up! So we were super pumped about that! Unlike our other Homie Sadrac who cant stop talking, Garrett is a shy Guy so he didnt really say much during the meetings. Fast and Testimony Meeting was Awesome! I love it when our Investigators are there to here Members Bare their Testimonies about the Gospel! After sacrament meeting i asked Garrett how he felt about the meeting and he said "Im Kinda Hungry...Y'all Got Food After?" Haha I took that as he hadn't been Spiritually fed yet so i pushed him into Gospel Principles class! We then Had a Combined Priesthood & Relief Society Meeting for third hour and a Brother from the Short hills ward who comes every sunday to help out with he young men Named: Chester Elton, gave the lesson. Dad will Probably recognize his name because hes #11 on the list of 30 top Leadership Gurus from 2014. Brother Elton Gave a Lesson on: How living the Gospel can help us succeed. it was a Great lesson that i could feel really motivated our Branch to continue to work hard to Succeed in the Lords Worl! Really motivated me to work even harder as well.
Well thats pretty much it for this week!
Love You All!! Thank You for all that you do!!
-Elder Fotu
Thursday, March 26, 2015
MISSION
Hi Everyone!! Real quick update on this past week!
Started off the week with another great District meeting!! I had a Brother from our Branch (Brother David Sims) Come and share his conversion story with the District! Its was awesome! Our focus that meeting was on " the Role of the Spirit in Conversion". Elder Laceste and i have been really trying to focus on having the spirit more strong in our lessons. And Ive been really studying the section " How do recognize and understand the spirit" in Preach My Gospel.
Sadrac is still hanging in there! We met with him twice this past week, and one of the 2 times we met at our senior couples house for dinner and he told us he wanted to be baptized in a private setting with not a lot of people there... kinda random haha but then Elder Vause said "well we can fill up the bathtub real wick if you wanna do it now?" hahaha Super funny! But next week is our Unit Conference and the sunday and saturday after that is General Conference so i told him after that theirs a chance a could get transferred so he better hurry up!!
Garrett was supposed to come to church yesterday but the ride we set up for him said he said he wasnt going to church so.. we havent met with him talk about it yet but other than that and smoking (2 pretty big things) hes progressing good! Reading and Praying.
We are really trying to focus on our Branch mission leader Brother Martinez and his wife! They are our favorite!! We call them Mom and Dad. They have us over every monday night for dinner and FHE! But... Sister Martinez is not a member.. She knows our church is true and loves it but she is really involved in her own church. Shes been taught by the missionaries for a long time but lately we have been focusing on the Temple and Eternal Marriage, and Brother Martinez tells us that she really likes the Idea so we excited for her!
Well these are pretty much the main people in our teaching pool but we are always working hard on Expanding! I have faith that that your Fast and Prayers truly Help these people and the work.
Thank you all so much for the support!
Until Next Week! Lots Of Love!!
-Elder Fotu
Monday, March 16, 2015
Missionary Service Is The Best Service
Another week in Jersey!
Had zone meeting on Tuesday, our new zone leaders are elders Wilcox & Fairbanks!
Elder Wilcox is an ex-assistant to the President and he was the one who interviewed me when i came into the mission! So we're Homies:)
We talked about Getting back to the basics and always having the end in mind. we also did a workshop on keeping the area book (which im horrible at) so i really needed it! Twas a Great Meeting!
Wednesday a Mission-wide Specialized training was held. Elder Stroud (a senior missionary and a deep doctrine maniac) gave a training on Baptism, by water and by fire. It was AMAZING! Ill attache the pdf so you can read it. Truly helped me see where i am at as fare as teaching and being converted!
Thursday we met with one of our new investigators named Garrett! I actually met and taught him awhile ago and we just got back in contact with him! We have met with him everyday now since Thursday! He has a past of drugs and alcohol but he wants to change for the better. Hes been going to a program to help him cope with his past drug life. but other than that he doesn't have much else to do so he loves having us over! The best thing about meeting with him are his prayers though! He is so sincere and after he prays he always says "I feel good". We always remind him that hes feeling the spirit. Its always a touching experience seeing people recognize the spirit for the first time! The only thing that kinda holds him back is that he smokes and he doesnt want to quit.. H says he smokes to "relief stress". So please Pray for him that he will realize how bad it is for him.
We are still working on Sadrac.. President Taggart invited him to came to Specialized Training. He came but didn't have to much interest in it even though it was all about baptism. But after the meeting President Talked to him and asked him why he didnt get baptized and he said "well i got cold feet.." and president replied " well why did you get cold feet?" and Sadrac being the Really outgoing never gets embarrassed guy he is had nothing to say so he did like a little nervous dance right in front of President Taggart! hahah super funny but i could tell it got rid of his foot situation. President then said "You know what your supposed to do and why your doing it, so just do it!" Bold statement but you could tell it was out of love for Sadrac. Were trying not to push him to much but i told him he only has about three more weeks before the end of the transfer which means i might go and he really wants me to baptism him, so i told him he better hurry up!
Well thats about it for this week.. Thank you all so much for your Prayers and Letters!!
Love You All!!
-Elder Fotu
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