This week was pretty rough! I've never been sworn at so much haha! But I had a awesome miracle that made it all worth it!
On Wednesday we didn't have too much work, so I was looking at some of the people I tracted into, and planned to just stop by and try to keep busy... But this one lady "Auntie Q", I saw her name and I felt prompted that we should go see her! When we got there, we pulled in and I saw her looking out her door, so I knew she was home. As we were walking up to her I saw that her eyes were pretty red and I could tell she had been crying... I asked how she was doing and if there is anything we can do to help! She told us that her husband is in the hospital and she doesn't know if he is going to make it. She said she has been home alone all day worried... So we started to teach her the Plan of Salvation and how our families can be together forever! In the middle of the lesson she just started crying... I asked what was wrong and she said this morning she prayed to Heavenly Father to send someone from any religion to come and tell her that things are going to be okay, and that we can be with our loved ones again. It was an amazing experience and made my testimony so much stronger. I am so thankful for the the opportunity to serve our Heavenly Father! I can see him blessing my life and all of my friends and family!
I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love Elder Collings
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
January 2016
Everyone is getting married hahha!!
Didn't have a ton this week.. just the missionary grind! I had three less active families who I've been working with ever since I got here to come back to church!! On Sunday all of them showed up! So I finally saw some of the fruits of my labor for them hahaha!
On Sunday I gave 15 minute talk and it was no big deal! But when I stood up to go give my talk at the pulpit I opened up my binder to grab my talk and everything I had prepared was gone... hahaha! So I ended up just winging it up there! I ended up just baring my testimony and talking about Missionary work and some of my experiences! But man, when I saw it was gone my heart dropped a little bit hahaha!!
Me and my comp worked super hard this week and led our zone in almost everything! So that was really cool. I'm sorry I'm going to write a short message! But I promise next week I'll tell you guys a lot about whats been happening!
Love you and hope you have an amazing week! And thank you!! Love you !
Elder Collings
Didn't have a ton this week.. just the missionary grind! I had three less active families who I've been working with ever since I got here to come back to church!! On Sunday all of them showed up! So I finally saw some of the fruits of my labor for them hahaha!
On Sunday I gave 15 minute talk and it was no big deal! But when I stood up to go give my talk at the pulpit I opened up my binder to grab my talk and everything I had prepared was gone... hahaha! So I ended up just winging it up there! I ended up just baring my testimony and talking about Missionary work and some of my experiences! But man, when I saw it was gone my heart dropped a little bit hahaha!!
Me and my comp worked super hard this week and led our zone in almost everything! So that was really cool. I'm sorry I'm going to write a short message! But I promise next week I'll tell you guys a lot about whats been happening!
Love you and hope you have an amazing week! And thank you!! Love you !
Elder Collings
Monday, January 4, 2016
After 3 weeks of no letters... YAY!!
I'll try the best I can to write a long letter.. haha! It's so hard.. But we get to go to Pearl Harbor every couple of months for service! So they took us and gave us a short tour and then we helped them clean the ship and re-wire some things! It was super cool and we met a lot of members there!!
The weeks just fly by.. I feel like I get to talk to you guys a lot more than just Mondays because how much joy I am having out here and I'm keeping myself as busy as possible, so the days just go by soo fast.. haha!
I've been introducing a family missionary plan that we came up with! So we visit all of our members and less actives once a week and go over a plan with them! the goal is to read, pray about missionary work and invite someone to a ward function every day for 28 days! And when we're not doing that, we are either tracting out our area or meeting with our investigators!
The start of this transfer they split one of our wards to bring in more missionaries because the work has been increasing so much! When we only covered one ward we almost tracted the whole area and in one week. But found around 14 new investigators who told us we could come back and have lessons with them. The feeling of doing missionary working and helping bring others unto Christ is by far the best feeling that I've ever had in my life, and I wish I could be doing this for so much more than 2 years haha!
For new years we went to a members house and that gave us soo much food haha! I think that was the first time I've gotten sick since I've been out here! The picture he sent home was only the beginning of the feast! I had like 3 more servings of just that and then a ton of dessert... It was horrible haha!! But that night our zone got together after and played basketball and watched movies, etc. at the church, so I was able to work off some of the weight :)
One other thing I've been trying to do ( I should really stop because it's making me broke every month.. hahaha!!) But Hawaii has a ton of homeless people... So every time we come across someone we give them food and cash that we keep out every month just for them. They have the sweetest hearts and I wish I could give them so much more..
Also!! Something that I am SUPER excited about is that Elder Holland is coming to Hawaii to talk to the elders and meet each of them individually! He is also having a fireside with the members that we get to go to! I couldn't be more excited! I feel like this is a once in a lifetime thing!! I'm trying my hardest to keep as busy as I know I can, so that I can further progress the Lord's work here in Hawaii. I can feel the Lord's hand in my life so strong and I know that as I further study, fast, and pray, I'll be able to continue to bring more souls unto this perfect gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all and hope everything is well.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Making an IMU pit
This week has really showed me the culture out here! I love all the people of Hawaii so much!
The first story that happened this week was when I went and visited a less active family. When we showed up they were already leaving, so I just shared a scripture with them. We just talked about their story with them for a little bit. We found out the sister's brother, who we were talking to, is homeless. He was really skinny and only had a small z! He knew a lot about the church because when he was being raised he went to seminary and other church activities! So he was really nice to us. He had some food that he had been given on Thanksgiving from someone! He gave us over half of his plate! And for them you never deny food or money etc.. because it's very disrespectful. So even though we tried to say no, he ended up making us take it. I had some money in my pocket so I tried to offer it to him. And he just said "no, no. I have plenty" and pulled out a couple bucks in his pocket. So I tried to give it to him again and he just said no, you've already helped just by being here to talk with me.
Another thing that happened this week was right after Thanksgiving! I learned how to cook the food underground! They call it an Imu pit over here! I did a lot of service working in an imu pit! So my shoes were pretty messed up haha! But one of the members just gave me a brand new pair of Nike shoes like it was no big deal! I can't tell you how nice these people are over here. (We asked Conner to show us how to cook this way when he gets home) It's really different! We wouldn't be able to do it the right way back home. You need banana leaves because they hold a lot of water, and you put them everywhere! Then you also need lava rock, because other rocks will explode because they get too hot.
The first story that happened this week was when I went and visited a less active family. When we showed up they were already leaving, so I just shared a scripture with them. We just talked about their story with them for a little bit. We found out the sister's brother, who we were talking to, is homeless. He was really skinny and only had a small z! He knew a lot about the church because when he was being raised he went to seminary and other church activities! So he was really nice to us. He had some food that he had been given on Thanksgiving from someone! He gave us over half of his plate! And for them you never deny food or money etc.. because it's very disrespectful. So even though we tried to say no, he ended up making us take it. I had some money in my pocket so I tried to offer it to him. And he just said "no, no. I have plenty" and pulled out a couple bucks in his pocket. So I tried to give it to him again and he just said no, you've already helped just by being here to talk with me.
Another thing that happened this week was right after Thanksgiving! I learned how to cook the food underground! They call it an Imu pit over here! I did a lot of service working in an imu pit! So my shoes were pretty messed up haha! But one of the members just gave me a brand new pair of Nike shoes like it was no big deal! I can't tell you how nice these people are over here. (We asked Conner to show us how to cook this way when he gets home) It's really different! We wouldn't be able to do it the right way back home. You need banana leaves because they hold a lot of water, and you put them everywhere! Then you also need lava rock, because other rocks will explode because they get too hot.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Speaking like the natives
This week was pretty awesome! We just decided to go tracting!! So we pulled over and started! No one answered for quite awhile.. But by the end we found 2 new investigators!! So that was really cool.
Yesterday one of the presidents counselors came to our ward and pulled me aside. He has a really close friend that just went through a really hard time... he used to be pretty anti-mormon from what the members have told me haha! But I guess from some of the things he has gone through, he decided he wants to learn more about the church!! So we are starting our lessens with him next week!
Other than that we pretty much just met with our normal investigators and less actives! I'm getting myself ready for Thanksgiving.. I'm not too excited! We have been invited to eat at at least 6 different places and of course everyone here eats A TON.. So Thursday I'm probably going to be pretty sick haha!!
Everything is going really good! People are telling me that they think I've lived here for awhile because I can speak Pideon pretty good now! So that's been really fun!
Love Elder Collings
Yesterday one of the presidents counselors came to our ward and pulled me aside. He has a really close friend that just went through a really hard time... he used to be pretty anti-mormon from what the members have told me haha! But I guess from some of the things he has gone through, he decided he wants to learn more about the church!! So we are starting our lessens with him next week!
Other than that we pretty much just met with our normal investigators and less actives! I'm getting myself ready for Thanksgiving.. I'm not too excited! We have been invited to eat at at least 6 different places and of course everyone here eats A TON.. So Thursday I'm probably going to be pretty sick haha!!
Everything is going really good! People are telling me that they think I've lived here for awhile because I can speak Pideon pretty good now! So that's been really fun!
Love Elder Collings
Sunday, November 22, 2015
A new investigator
So this week we found a new investigator! Me and my companion were pretty tired after waking up so we decided to go get a drink to start off the day! When we showed up to the gas station the girl there just started talking to us and asked about our church and we just answered some questions for her and we just simply asked if she wanted to know more about our church and she said she would really like that for her and her boyfriend, so she asked us for our numbers! We wrote down our phone number and gave her a pass along card and she said she would call us once she gets off work! So that was the highlight for the week haha!
We are just finishing up with the three investigators with baptism dates, and one is coming up here pretty soon! All of the other people that we are meeting with are all members, but they are either less active or inactive so we are just trying to bring them all back to church again! But because of that we normally always have around 7-10 people that don't normally come to church are showing up again every week!
One of the sad things here is that there are some kids that want to learn but their parents don't want them to listen, so when the do, the get disciplined. We try to help the best we can. It's been really awesome though because a lot of the people that we meet with have gone through a lot of hard things, so I'm able to relate to them a little bit and answer questions that they have, so I've become really close with a couple of my investigators!
The wards that we serve in are awesome! They are a little too nice.. .Everyday we have lunch and dinner at a member's house, and pretty much every night and they just keep bringing out more and more food haha! I made the mistake once, because I was really hungry, I ate a ton on my first serving! So we ended up having like two more servings after that, and then a ton of dessert. I was pretty sick that night haha! When I first came out I was around 160 lbs... and now I'm right on 170 again! So I'm going to have to start running a lot more! Once I get to around 190, expect a letter asking for weight loss pills haha!! Everyone is so nice here though, and I'm becoming really close with them. Whenever we go to the mall for food with a member we end up getting more money then was spent because people see us and just want to pay for our food and give us money! There was one night we ended up getting around $80!! But the mission president has us send it to him and they put it into a charity, so it all goes to good use :)
My companion has been out for a year now and is pretty good at teaching! It's been nice because I'm able to teach all the lessons and usually can think of some scriptures off the top of my head now depending on what questions they ask! And also it's been nice because after I workout, I just read my scriptures and its quiet so it gives me time to think about things! Since I've been out here, I just finished 2 Nephi last night!! I'm pretty excited about that! Everything is amazing out here and I couldn't be happier! Sorry I haven't been able to write a lot! I've had lessons I had to teach to kids and other members so I haven't had a lot of time to actually talk about things! Ofa atu!!!!
We are just finishing up with the three investigators with baptism dates, and one is coming up here pretty soon! All of the other people that we are meeting with are all members, but they are either less active or inactive so we are just trying to bring them all back to church again! But because of that we normally always have around 7-10 people that don't normally come to church are showing up again every week!
One of the sad things here is that there are some kids that want to learn but their parents don't want them to listen, so when the do, the get disciplined. We try to help the best we can. It's been really awesome though because a lot of the people that we meet with have gone through a lot of hard things, so I'm able to relate to them a little bit and answer questions that they have, so I've become really close with a couple of my investigators!
The wards that we serve in are awesome! They are a little too nice.. .Everyday we have lunch and dinner at a member's house, and pretty much every night and they just keep bringing out more and more food haha! I made the mistake once, because I was really hungry, I ate a ton on my first serving! So we ended up having like two more servings after that, and then a ton of dessert. I was pretty sick that night haha! When I first came out I was around 160 lbs... and now I'm right on 170 again! So I'm going to have to start running a lot more! Once I get to around 190, expect a letter asking for weight loss pills haha!! Everyone is so nice here though, and I'm becoming really close with them. Whenever we go to the mall for food with a member we end up getting more money then was spent because people see us and just want to pay for our food and give us money! There was one night we ended up getting around $80!! But the mission president has us send it to him and they put it into a charity, so it all goes to good use :)
My companion has been out for a year now and is pretty good at teaching! It's been nice because I'm able to teach all the lessons and usually can think of some scriptures off the top of my head now depending on what questions they ask! And also it's been nice because after I workout, I just read my scriptures and its quiet so it gives me time to think about things! Since I've been out here, I just finished 2 Nephi last night!! I'm pretty excited about that! Everything is amazing out here and I couldn't be happier! Sorry I haven't been able to write a lot! I've had lessons I had to teach to kids and other members so I haven't had a lot of time to actually talk about things! Ofa atu!!!!
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
HAWAII!!
Hey! So I can finally send you guys some pictures. But Hawaii is so beautiful!! My first day we went on a little hike and then we went back to the mission home and got to know everybody! We spent two days at the mission home and just studied and didn't do much! But then we got our early Christmas present which is where we will be serving! So right now I'm in Kaneohe on Oahu, and I'm serving in the 3rd and 4th wards here! My Trainer is Elder M and he's from Provo, UT. We get along really well and we're teaching 7 Investigators right now! But one of the huge things when I'm serving now is just re-activation so that's been the main focus out here. But everyone speaks Pideon out here so bumbai I'll be able to understand them more! haha But everything has been amazing, and I'm so blessed to be able to be in Hawaii serving a mission. Ofa atu!!!
By the way! I'm going to buy a ukulele! I've gotten really into them and I've learned two songs now!
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