Week 6

Hello!   Hola!   Talofa!   Mālō e lelei!

Those are the main languages I heard this past week (English, Spanish, Samoan, Tongan + we met a family from Pakistan but i have no clue what language they were speaking to each other haha so i didnt include that one)!

It was another amazing week here in West Jordan Utah! We saw SO many miracles and blessings in each day:) 

Some highlights from this week...

~Zone Temple Trip!! (Jordan River Temple)

~Meeting the Tongan Sister missionaries who have been taking good care of me and teaching me a little Tongan (I referred to them as the Tongan sisters because they cover the Tongan Stake here + they also happen to be Tongan lol) 

~Finding a Sunflower field!!! (Theres SO many sunflowers here I LOVE it!) 

~Eating out with the Tongan Sisters (and some super sweet waiter paid for our food) and then going with them to their stake activity where we got to hear lots of Polynesian music and see some awesome cultural dances! 

~Practicing/learning how to play the Organ a little!! 

~Seeing lots of dogs!! My companion calls me a dog whisperer it's so funny! She's terrified of dogs and they run up to us a lot since we are walking missionaries but I never even flinch and they never hurt me like dogs are so good for me. A family's huge crazy pitbull literally laid down right in front of me and they were like "oh my goodness he's never like this he usually attacks all the new people and is way too hyper" its been kinda cool. and very nice because I feel safe. My companion runs away when dogs start running to us and that's not helpful because then they chase you.

~Church (I'm working on trying to love Sundays, but they're just SO long. Since we cover 2 stakes (12 wards) we go to a lottttt of different meetings every Sunday. We usually go to 3 sacrament meetings, at least 3-5 stake and ward meetings and then lessons and appointments in the evening. It's a lotttt of church and sitting and we started our day super early because of a housing situations for some other sisters who came and spent the night due to a drug issue at their apartment complex... Long story short it was a LONG day! But super spiritual which is a blessing we learn a lot. And we got asked on the spot to speak in one of the wards we attended. And I mean the Bishop literally stood up and was like, "I'd like to ask the sister missionaries to come speak about ______" and we looked at each other (my companion could probably see the fear in my eyes haha) and I was definitely a little nervous at first because I HATE public speaking, but we walked right up and im not even kidding, words i didn't even know I felt or knew came out of my mouth. Like I had no idea beforehand what to say or what I wanted to say but the words came out so easy and I was able to convey my testimony and share experiences and make an invitation and promise on the spot (which is something I'm not the best at) I know that was the spirit because there's no way I could've done that on my own. So that was cool:) 

I honestly love being a missionary! Its crazy to see how much I've changed working towards going on a mission, and actually being on my mission. I mean just 4-6 months ago, I had anxiety doing simple daily tasks and interactions. Now I walk up to complete strangers and talk about Jesus ALL DAY everyday! I handle last minute stresses and uncomfortable situations like its nothing, but before my mission I was not able to do that at all. I love the person I'm becoming already! (And it's barely been over 1 month being set apart as a missionary... I can't imagine the growth possibilities in 18 months!) 

I love and miss you all so much!! I pray for you everyday, let me know if there's ever anything I can do for yall! 

Ofa atu!!

(I love you in Tongan) 

-Your missionary, Sister Traylor

Here's some pictures from this week:)