Monday, August 19, 2013

Week 9: Just another day in paradise!


So good news...I survived the Stormy! I know...hard to believe! So there was all this hype about this storm being a real doosy, but it didnt really affect us! For about two hours we got really bad rain and lightening, and our power went out, but nothing us missionaries can't handle! We had a car for the night so we went up to some missionaries who live upcountry because they had power. It was really crazy, just an insane downpour, then pow done. Oh well, all the hawaiians were freaking out because theyve never seen lightening before lol. Anyway I guess we have a hurricane coming? Should be interesting to see how people react this time.
Well another week gone by, another chance to spread the word. It's weird, normal life NOW seems like missionary life. Like it's hard to think that three months ago I was cruising on a lappytop and playing on an iphone and flirting it up with some ladies. It's weird too cuz I thought I would miss those things but I really dont! (except maybe the ladies part). Me and my comp are doing dynamite right now. We get along better than ever! It just goes to show you the harder you work, the more the lord blesses your life. 
Speaking of blessings from the lord, this week has been crazy in terms of missionary work. Usually, we count tracting contacts and knocking doors as "other lessons taught" which is just a way of keeping track of how many lessons we've taught, but this week the mission said that tracting no longer counts as teaching a lesson. So me and my companion were like "Oh well, I guess we will just have low number this week", but now that we are at the end of the week, we still have the same number of lessons! Which is amazing! Just goes to show you that the Lord's hand is in everything that we do, because we couldnt pull that feat off alon . Me and my comp have been crazy busy. Last transfer we had a lot of down time to do whatever, but now it's...work work work. After morning studies...work. After lunch...work. Before we would get home around 7 and call it a day, but now it's a surprise if we get back before 830-9. Sometimes we don't even eat dinner until that late if we aren't eating with a member! And let me tell you I love it. I love it so much. 
I think one of the best things about being a missionary is becoming so close with the members of the ward. There are members here who are just like family to me!  This weekend, we ate at this families' house on Friday, and then did service all day for them on saturday, then ate at their house again on Sunday! I seriously LOVE it. They are the best. They have a bunch of little kids so I just play legos with them and run around and play with them and what not. I can't wait to have kids. On Sunday, I ate something I've never had before...FISH HEAD. Yahooo! The guy across from me was eating so I decided to try it too! I ate the eyes...the tongue...the cheek everything! Nomnomnom. That night we went to a fireside where a bunch of the graduating youth sang and bore their testimonies, and I went with the family who had a lot of kids, and so they were being all noisy so I pulled out the white board and booyah! It worked! Didn't hear a peep out of them the rest of the night. When we were cleaning up, I played tag with all the kids and it was like the best time of my life. 

We have this really interesting investigator. We tracted into him, and a lot of the time teenagers just dont really want to say no. So we went back this week, and I was really hoping it would work out, so we taught him about faith and he was REALLY interested. He was like, when are you coming back?! And we were like....uhhh tomorrow! So we went back again tomorrow and taught him about repentance and he was loving it! He was eating up every word we were saying. We invited him to church, and he said he really really wanted to but he works (like everyone here) on Sunday. He told us he would try to get it off, but apparently he couldnt because he wasn't at church yesterday. That's okay though, it nice to just have someone interested! 
Also Rodger, the guy that has no legs? Yeah he's pretty much awesome. He has SUCH strong faith, and his life is insane. He's lived in Tahiti, lived in Japan and worked as a Bennihana chef.  He has worked all different jobs all over Hawaii. He went to accupuncture school and knew more about human anatomy than the doctors did because he's a huinter, he won a gold medal in rowing, he said he saw Pele, and has survived two heart attacks, countless hours of dialysis, and has no legs. Yet he is SO POSITIVE. He has all these trials and yet he just jokes around and lets nothing bother him. We read the Book of Mormon to him and he said it was the first time in 40 years hes read or heard the Book of Mormon. He was really excited to hear it! It really touched my heart. We brought the bishop by yesterday and he was really excited to meet him! I just wish we could get Rodger to church. He wants to go oh so bad, but he doesnt want to until he gets prosthetic legs so he can walk in himself.  
Anyway, all is good from Hawaii! I love it here! I know the Lord has blessed me, and continues to bless me as long as I stay faithful. One of the coolest part about the gospel is that no matter WHAT situation you are in, the true and everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ can help you. In anything. I can promise that in the name of Jesus Christ. The church is true, Heavenly Father knows us and loves us, and is waiting to help us out. We just have to ask. Thank you for all the love and support! Much love and aloha from Maui!
Elder Gleave

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