Malo e lelei

Malo e lelei! Fefe hake? 

(Hello! How are you?)

I'm so grateful to be here at the MTC right now! It's only been a couple days, but I have already learned so much!

My companion, Sister Medina, is from San Diego (her dad is one of the Bishop's in one of "the District" videos)! She graduated from BYU in December in Elementary Education. She is so sweet and we get along really well. Sister Bever (track runner from BYU...going to Tonga) and Sister Hosea (her family is Tongan...from Salt Lake...she's going to San Jose Tongan Speaking) share a room with us and they are so wonderful!! I know we're going to get super close and work really hard together to be the best missionaries we can and learn the language. 

Our District has seven people--five Elders and my companion and I. Four of the five Elders just barely graduated High School. It's so crazy! 

Our Zone consists of all the island languages--Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Tahitian (French), Marshallese (I don't know how to spell that..and the Elders that are speaking that are going to Iowa), and whatever they learn in Kiribati. I love our Zone. The Sisters are so nice (we have like half American and half native Islanders). Taking a shower here is so wonderful because all the Islanders sing while they shower and they have BEAUTIFUL voices!!

All the native Tongans here get SO excited when we tell them we're going to Tonga. I've learned so much from talking to them and they're so happy to teach my companion and I new words! One of the Sisters that ReyLynn teaches at the MTC (Sister Vakameilalo) found me at lunch (because ReyLynn had shown them a picture of me..haha) and she taught me some new words too! 

Fakamolemole - sorry/please

Fakatomala' - repent 

Nofo'a (N-oh-f-oh-'ah) - goodbye

Tamai Hevani - Heavenly Father

We also learned how to say a simple prayer. Tonight, we teach our first investigator, Fisi'inaua Vanilla (Cool name, huh?), so hopefully that goes well! 

President Willis--our Branch/Zone President--is the most loving, caring man! We had our training last night with him and it was wonderful. Alma 13: 2-3 (replace the word Priests with Missionaries)

I'm so grateful to be here and to be with such incredible people. Also, I've seen quite a few people I know these past few days!: Elder Porter Willis, Elder Ben Mitchell, Elder Jacob Wadsworth, Elder Owen Bates, Elder Craig Larsen, Elder Ethan Duncan (he went to Fiji with me), Sister Paige Hamblin, and Sister Hannigan (from my Freshman ward).

Love you all so much!!!! (Ofa Lahi Atu!)

Sister Reid 

Welcome Letter - President Tupou

Dear Sister Reid, 

Malo e Lelei! We are happy to learn of your call to serve in the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission. Thank you for your willingness to serve our Father in Heaven, and we look forward to serving with you...It is a privilege and a blessing to serve a mission for our Father in Heaven. We invite you to come to the mission with full dedication of heart to carry out the work of the Lord

during the time you are here. Your spiritual preparation is the most important part of what you do between now and your arrival in the mission field. We strongly encourage you to start praying and fasting now for those you will be teaching in the mission field. Your spirit and testimony are the most important attributes you can bring to the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission.We recommend that you obtain and become very familiar with Preach My Gospel, and begin studying the lessons. This will help you acquire a better knowledge of the doctrines and principles of the Gospel. Your time at the Missionary Training Center will also be of great benefit to you in providing a foundation of specific skills you will use in the mission field. Since you will be learning the Tongan language, we ask that you start praying now for the gift of tongues. The Holy Ghost will help you teach the Tongan people in their native tongue if you pray and rely on the spirit.We will meet you at the airport. Be assured you will be well taken care of. We look forward to having you serve in Tonga. May the Lord bless you as you study, pray, and fast.

Sincerely,
Leitoni M. Tupou 
PresidentTonga Nuku'alofa Mission

Sister Missionary Clothing in Tonga

Called to Serve: I Accept

Dear Sister Reid:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Tongan language. You assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary.

You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please go to missionary.lds.org promptly to acknowledge your acceptance of this call.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Monson

President

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Dear Brethren

With humility and gratitude, I accept my call to serve in the Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission. Words can’t describe the peace, love, joy and responsibility I feel from receiving this call. The gospel has blessed my life significantly, in every aspect, and the privilege of sharing these precious truths with our brothers and sisters in Tonga truly humbles me. I know I will learn much about charity, compassion, and service from the Tongans—attributes that will help me come closer to Christ. As I have prepared for my mission, I have come to recognize the “greatness of God, and [my] own nothingness” (Mosiah 4: 11) and feel the importance of submitting to God’s will, using the atonement, exercising faith, and practicing patience. Although I am weak, I know that as I strive with diligence and prayer and serve with all my “heart, might, mind, and strength” (D&C 4:2) God will qualify me to bless the lives of those I am called to serve in meaningful, beneficial, and eternal ways. I know that as I live worthy of the Holy Ghost—listen to and act on His promptings—I will be taught from on high and guided to those who hunger for gospel truths and blessings. I look forward to the friendships that will develop and continue beyond this life. Thank you for your confidence in me and for your inspiring testimonies and faith.

Sister Tiffany Reid