Aloha everyone!! I am in Waipahu, Hawaii!! So crazy! A lot has happened, so this email will be long. So first off, I'll talk about the day I left which was last Wednesday. The new airport at SLC is kinda weird. I had a layover in Denver one time, and the new airport reminds me of the Denver airport if anyone has ever been there. I met up with my group and they are all the best! I sat by the only Elder who was flying with us to Seattle, Elder Higbee. He was the nicest, but I felt bad that he was the ony Elder haha. Flying over Seattle was so cool! It was beautiful! I definitely want to go back there one day. We had a a two hour layover in Seattle, so we ate some lunch. When I got to the place we were eating, Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana was playing. If you know Travis Searle, then you know Nirvana. Seattle is Nirvana and Pearl Jam town. I heard that song at lunch and it made me happy but also kind of sad haha. It made me think of my dad who I love so much. Than we had a 6 hour flight to Hawaii! I had the entire row to myself on this flight which was nice! It was a long flight but I got through it, lol.
When we got to Hawaii, the national guard was there taking temperatures. Hawaii is very strict as I'm sure you all know. We also had to have a QR code on our phones in order to leave the airport. As soon as i stepped outside, all I could think was holy cow it is humid!! The airport was dead, there was literally nobody there. It took us a while to find the baggage claim haha. Once we got there, President and Sister Walker were there to greet us. Guys, they are seriously the best. No joke. Sister Walker gave me a big hug and President Walker was so kind and talked to all of us for a while. We chilled at the airport for a bit and then we had to go to our apartments.
I rode with President and Sister Walker with two other Sisters. The drive here was insane! It is just so beautiful! The water is so blue and it truly is paradise. Pearl Harbor is about 5-10 minutes away from where I am staying! If I am here long enough, I will have service opportunities at Pearl Harbor! SO COOL!
So I am here in Waipahu with 6 other sisters. It is different, haha. I'm used to hanging with the boys so it's an adjustment. But I love these sisters!! We all get along and just laugh and laugh. We could talk and talk for hours, and we do. When we got to the apartment, we realized that there were no pillows or blankets. The sisters who are taking care of us had to get us pillows, blankets, toilet paper, and soap. But we got it so don't worry! Two of the sisters who i am here with were originally called to Portugal! Shout out to Bishop! The other sisters were called to Australia in either Brisbane or Adelaide. i am the only one who was called to Perth. My companion for quarantine is Sister Palmer! She is the chef here. She loves cooking and baking so she takes care of the food for the most part!
I tried Vegemite the first day that we were here...it was the nastiest thing that I have ever put in my mouth. SO GROSS. The first few days here were kind of hard. The time difference was hard so I wasn't sleeping great at first and my appetite is not super great right now. But things are slowly getting better. Once quarantine is over we will go to the mission home for a night and get our trainers and our areas. I will be on Oahu for at least this first transfer. When you go to a different island, you have to quarantine again so we will be on this island for a while.
We sing lots of songs in quarantine haha. I am also teaching the sisters how to point their feet, i kind of had to roast some of them but it's ok. And i'm helping them to get their splits haha. We have trainings throughout the day which are fun and keep us busy. We have awesome group studies together. The spirit is just so strong. I feel like the spirit is a lightning bolt and missionaries are iron rods. The spirit is always talking to me and I love it so much.
We had a devotional last night by an author who served here in Hawaii. He talked a lot about Aloha and what it means. He also talked about how generous, loving, kind, and amazing the people here are. He said that the members here just want to give missionaries everything and they are so generous. I'm not kidding you, as he was talking about this we had a knock on the door. Two elders brought us some food and cookies. It was so awesome. I already love the missionaries here. They are just so real and loving.
So remember when I was telling people that I would probably quarantine in a beach house? FALSE. that was the visitor's center sisters. I am in an apartment with a beautiful view of other apartment complexes. (That was sarcasm if you couldn't tell) But the trees here are pretty and we see lots of cats and dogs running outside.
Even though we are in the middle of a pandemic, there is still so much work being done here. President and Sister Walker still hold baptisms in their pool often. So many hearts are being softened here and work is still happening! I truly believe that I was meant to serve at this time. There are people here who I can teach and who I can bring to the gospel. The work is still going on people! The pandemic is not an excuse!! I am so excited to get out of quarantine next week and to start teaching!
Quarantine has been fun and I've learned a lot. I love being here and I love the sisters that i am with. I feel so grateful to be here in Hawaii. I wake up everyday and I don't know how I could be sad or lonely. I am literally in paradise with awesome people feeling the spirit so much. I am receiving so much personal revelation right now. I am so grateful to be a missionary. I know that this is where i am supposed to be right now. THE WORK IS NOT DEAD PEOPLE! HEARTS ARE BEING SOFTENED SO DON'T GIVE UP!! I love you all and hope that you have an awesome week!! I don't have too many pictures, but I have a few!!
Us cooking dinner! They cooked spam but you're crazy if you think I tried it. But I did cook it haha.
Airport squad
Quarantine queens!
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