Week 15: The Lord’s Errand

Had a slow start to the week but soon a sudden change of pace. My week started off like every other week… we were doing the same things like teaching seminary and all that. I was honestly having a slow mind with everything like, "man we’re doing the same thing everyday." My hoa had now been called to be the new Zone Leader for the Hahake zone which is nice because now we have a car and I was happy because that would mean we were going to get super busy.

Thursday night we went to seminary class and did the usual. There has only been one student showing up and sometimes not everyday but he still comes. I struggled a little bit with my teaching and after the lesson was all done I just walked home in silence. When we got home I got ready for bed and I said a prayer real quick and asked Heavenly Father, "If you see fit I would like a transfer. If you think I need to stay here then I will. But I would like to be transfered if that is okay." I knocked out but I kept waking up in the night. Something felt a little bit off about the day but I just went back to sleep. I always talked about how a transfer would be nice, but never have I ever prayed for a transfer before. 

I woke up at my regular time 6 AM and did the usual which was read the scriptures on my phone. While I was reading we got a call from Palesiteni Kaufusi and when I answered he goes, "Vaioleti?" So I just assumed that Palesteni needed to talk to my hoa for some zone leader stuff. I handed the phone to my hoa and he says, "Hello? Palesteni?" And Palesteni says, "Vaioleti? Where's Vimahi?" So my hoa gives me back the phone and when he gave it back to me I already knew—that I was going to be getting transfered. I answer and Palesteni says, "Hello Vimahi. There's a boat that leaves to ‘Eua in about 2 hrs at 10 AM. You need to be on that boat or else you'll have to take the next boat tomorrow. So pack your bags and we'll have someone pick you up in a little." It was 8 AM so I had to literally just grab everything and shove it in my bag 😂 and then soon Elder Foni picked me up and we were off to the wharf.

Ha'asini treated me well and took good care of me and I was happy to be getting transferred but sad to leave my first area without saying goodbye to the kaingalotu. But if the Lord needed me somewhere else then that’s where I would have to go. We headed up to the wharf and I forgot to mention—it's pouring rain by now. Palesteni meets us and he has my new hoa, Elder Wolfgramm from California, with him. He's only been out for 2 months and for both of us, our Tongan speaking is not too good, but we will grow together. We said a prayer with Palesteni and did a little huddle with him and then we hopped on the boat. We stood in the rain for like close to an hour before some members inside the cabin let us come and sit with them. The experience of being on a boat in the ocean was cool and I got a little bit seasick towards the end but nothing too bad 😅 . We hopped off the boat 6 hours later and there was no one waiting for us.  My new hoa said he had tickets for 2 elders and 2 sisters who will be going back to Tonga so that meant someone had to come soon. We waited for maybe another hour in the rain until we saw the car pull up and missionaries hopped out. We talked with them for a little bit but soon they were on the boat and we headed to our new area while they headed on the boat to theirs. 

Me and Elder Wolfgramm are now currently posted in Haatu'a in ‘Eua and from what I’ve heard, it’s  a small area. I also heard it is very dead. I don't know what that means but I guess we'll find out. The people here are very nice but my head hurts from translating all the sentences they say on my own 😵‍💫 . But nonetheless I am happy to be here. I was called to a new area which is super nice and I am have seen alot of the beautiful sights that ‘Eua has to offer.

 Until next time famili! 🫶

A map showing my first area to my new second area

My new hoa (companion ) Elder Wolfgramm from California

Vi fruit.  There's Vi tree right outside of our mission quarters. Finally got to taste the fruit of my last name.  It was sweet and actually did not taste mahi (sour) 😂 

‘Ovava Tree in 'Eua which is over 800 years old!

Did some sight seeing on P-Day with the two other missionary companionships in my area.  At this location there is a legend that a family used to live at the top of this cliff.  During a long period of famine the parents decided to throw themselves off the cliff so what little food remained could be preserved for their children.  The famine continued and eventually the children threw themselves off the cliff too.  The legend says if you go up to this spot with mei (breadfruit) and say a specific phrase then throw the mei off the cliff, 7 turtles will appear from the ocean to eat the breadfruit.  Each turtle represents a member of the family.

Elder Wolfgramm and I