Maui, Elder Andersen, and answered prayers! 😄❣ -- February 1, 2021

Aloha!!

A LOT happened this week! This will be a long one, but a REALLY good one I promise! This week was FULL of miracles!! We were able to go to Maui this week for three days! IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!! It was really good for me to be able to go and see my zone and other people. We had interviews with President. He told me that he didn't know why I was on Lanai but that he felt very strongly that I needed to be here. He gave me a priesthood blessing and he said that there is someone on Lanai who I, and only I can touch. No pressure. Now I gotta find them but idk how cause we can't leave our pad very much.

So we're trying to be creative.

While on Maui, I had two really spiritual experiences! We drove to Haleakala on Thursday which is a volcano 10,000 ft. above sea level. You drive up above the clouds and it's insane! You literally feel like you're in heaven. But as we were driving all I could think about was how do people look at things like this and not believe in a God?? There is NO WAY that this earth was just created as perfect and beautiful as it is. I love Alma 30: 44 which says, "...The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." I felt the spirit so strongly while we were there. We watched the sunset and I was in tears. Such a cool and special place.

On Thursday night we went to Pulehu chapel. This is the first chapel to be built in the Polynesian Islands! George Q. Cannon built it while on his mission to the Hawaiin Islands. At this chapel, JESUS CHRIST appeared to Geroge Q. Cannon. He walked and talked with him. You can feel how sacred this chapel is as soon as you step on the grounds. I was also in tears as I literally walked where the Savior has walked. Hawaii is such a special place. The spirit is so strong here and the Aloha spirit is real. The Hawaiin Islands and Hawainn people will forever hold such a special place in my heart. How am I lucky enough to be serving here??

We did lots of fun stuff on Maui but I'll just send pictures of those things I won't talk about it too much haha. We got home early Saturday morning and we had a devotional with Elder Andersen, Sister Craven, and a few other members of the 70! They did a devotional for our mission and it was so cool!!! Elder Andersen talked a lot about faith, patience, and diligence. He brought up my name and also talked about the two sisters serving on Lanai. This made me tear up too because it helped me remember that God IS aware of me on this tiny Island. Elder Andersen is aware of Lanai and they know about us and what we're doing here.

In Church yesterday, our branch president spoke and he talked about how they met with Elder Andersen Saturday morning before our devotional. Sister Gamil and I have been PRAYING so hard for President's heart to be softened a bit and for us to be able to work more. Well, I think our prayer was answered. When President was first talking to Elder Andersen he said, "Ah Lanai, the Island where miracles happen." He was talking about US MISSIONARIES. Sister Gamil and her former companion had a baptism here before I came which was a miracle. We also have missionaries on Lanai right now which is a miracle. Elder Andersen told President that we need to find new and creative ways to minister here. Elder Andersen answered our prayers! That's exactly what we needed. Not only President, but all of the members here are much more motivated now to help us out!! This week was such a cool week. Hopefully our branch President will let us get out of our pad a bit more now!

This week was another week of miracles. I testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of you!! If he's aware of us on this tiny Island of Lanai, I know that he's aware of each and every one of his children. This week was very humbling and my testimony was strengthened in so many different ways. I have some work to do, that's for sure! Love you all!!