The Baby's Middle Name is REID

Tons of crazy stuff happened this week with investigators and stuff but I don't have a lot of time to write about it all...so I'll just write about a few random things:

I GOT A BABY NAMED AFTER ME (kinda...) so last week we had fafanga at the Bishop's house and while we were over there eating we found out that the wife was at the hospital and had just given birth. We were a little confused about why the family was still at home and then we realized that they were waiting for us to come and eat! (Yeah, feeding the missionaries is super important to some people). We got mad at them for waiting for us--THEIR LITTLE BROTHER WAS JUST BORN! I got mad at Bishop. haha. And we shoveled down the rest of our food and left. We came back a couple days later and saw the cutest little baby boy EVERR! And we asked what his name was. And guess what they named him? Thomas Lucas Reid Matu (Tomasi Lukasi Liti Matu) I was dying!! The middle name Lucas is after my companions brother that they always joke about marrying their daughter. Man, it made my day! 

We had a special Sister Trainer's meeting this week with President and Sister Tupou. It was wonderful! They shared the sweetest testimony with us... They finish on Thursday! 

The mission is wonderful! I'm so so blessed to be here. I feel so much joy every single day from this work. Just a thought: Don't ever pray again to help the missionaries find people to teach but rather pray for you to find someone for the missionaries to teach. Member Missionary Work is the way to go! Hope you all have a fantastic week. 

Ofa Lahi Atu

Sister Reid

Net was down last week...sorry

First off, just want to apologize for not sending an email last week, the net was down in both of the churches we work in. A lot has happened these past couple weeks so although I wish I could explain everything, it's just not possible..so here are just some highlights!

1- We had a baptism last Saturday! One of the wards we're over was just created last month (one of the wards split) and the Bishop of the new ward brought his brother to be taught--and he just got baptized! Our Bishop was baptized several years ago, went on a mission, married one of the Tukuafu's daughters, and is on fire with missionary work. It's so awesome. 

2- Last Monday we got permission to go to kolo (town--Nuku'alofa) to buy fabric for a couple new kofus (dresses). It is so different from the rest of Tonga--lots of people and lots of cars. We got pizza which was delicious and got to look around the "market". It was a lot of fun to finally see town but I think I'm more about the simple, quiet life. 

3- There was a stake musical fireside this past week here (that President and Sister Tupou came to and spake at) and let's just say this stake can SING! They sing with such power. It gave me the chills.

4- Last Sunday, Sister Wunderlich and I got to sing in one of the wards -- we sang "Abide with Me" in Tongan. Yesterday, in another one of our wards they randomly asked us to sing right before the meeting started so we sang the same song. We were a little nervous but it turned out good (Sister Wunderlich has a gorgeous voice) we also made Bishop cry so we took that as a good sign. And it just happened to be that in that ward the temple president was visiting..

5- We just finished reading the Book of Mormon again as a mission. I love it. It truly is the word of God.

6- Got my Tongan Driver's License this morning! I handed them my Utah one, gave them 60 pa'anga, they took a picture of me, and handed me my license. I'm not driving yet (Sister Wunderlich is the designated driver) but when I do I'll have to learn driving on the left side.

7- Missionary Leadership Conference was last week and it was INCREDIBLE. I wish I had time to share all of the things I've learned. We talked about what it means to both "Do" the things that Christ did as well as "Be" by having a willing heart and developing His attributes. Many people create a TO DO list but we should create a TO BE list. We all discussed what "tell how vs. show how" means. This was President and Sister Tupou's last MLC and at the end when they went around shaking hands we sang "God Be With You till we Meet Again". They are wonderful and I'm definitely going to miss them but I'm excited to have a new president. He comes the end of this month. But President and Sister Tupou will be staying in Tonga until August because the church here will be celebrating 100 years of Misiona Tonga!

8- We had Zone Meeting this past week (my first one since I've been on the mission--'Eua is only a district) and we got to teach like half of it. All of the sisters in our zone were sick so we were the only sisters there. It was a very uplifting meeting and went pretty well for having to translate the MLC meeting (which was mostly all in English) to Tongan for all of the Tongans in our zone meeting.

I love my mission and I love the Lord. I love the opportunity I have to serve my Heavenly Father and pray with all my heart that I can do what he would have me do, say what he would have me say, and be what he would have me be. I know that when we give him our hearts he can make more out of us than we could ever make of ourselves.

Love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

Sister Reid

Goodbye 'Eua

SOOO much happened this past week! But first off, I GOT TRANSFERRED FROM 'EUA! I got a call from the assistants to the President on Monday Night about 8:30pm -- we were just finishing up a teaching with Mateaki and Palomesi at a FHE --and I knew immediately what it was for...I was getting transferred. He said the office just bought my ticket and I would be transferring to Tongatapu (Veitongo/Ha'ateiho) and we would be switching companionships with another pair of Sister Training Leaders -- Sisters Wunderlich (my new companion) and Viamahi. I would be leaving the next day and I needed to do whatever I need to do to be able to be at the airport at 9am the next morning. 

After I hung up the phone, Sister Betteridge and I looked at each other and cried. I think the hardest part was the short notice but I knew it would be okay. We went home and I packed...the struggle was so real! The next morning we went and I said goodbye to Malia and Kepueli (the two recent converts), the bishop, and another family in the ward. Hiko (the old man at the house we live at), sat us down and gave about a ten minute speech...crying...apologizing for if he'd done anything bad, sharing his love--just in the good old Tongan way--and then I gave my attempt in doing the same back. 

We got to the airport, paid for the overweight luggage (although I had left like half my stuff) and I got on the plane with my over-stuffed carry on and pillow/blanket. Luckily, they saw the struggle was real and probably because I'm a missionary, gave me front row and two seats (that's what you get for being a frequent flier). The plane started and I couldn't hold back the tears--I looked out the window and felt like my heart was literally breaking. 'Eua had been my mission. There were people there I knew I may never see again. I let the tears go for about 5 minutes and then looked up for the things that blow out air to dry my eyes out. I felt the sweetest feelings of peace and confirmation that this was God's will and I knew it'd be okay. 

And guess what? It is okay! My new companion is great. She's from Layton, Utah...she has been out here 3 more transfers than me. Our new area is very large. I feel like I'm in Muli (across seas) because they have real stores, a bakery, etc. We have a BRAND NEW car (just came on Monday) and I'll probably get my license in a couple weeks. Aka I need to be dedicated even more to diligent exercise. We live at the house of President Tukuafu (2nd quorum of the 70) and they have this BEAUTIFUL dock out back on the ocean/inlet, there are many wonderful people, and we're over 3 wards so we're super busy! But it's awesome! We have a bit of a mice problem and have already caught two. haha it's the worst but I don't feel as scared of them anymore.

There is SO much more I could write about (lot's of teachings and people that are preparing for baptism) but not much more time. I'm so grateful for the gospel. And grateful for these people. I am so blessed to be in Tonga and to be serving a mission! It's the last MLC for our mission president so that'll be sad..but excited to go tomorrow! 

Hope you all have a fantastic week! Know that God is aware of you and he has a plan! Ofa Lahi Atu!

Sister Reid