Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?


 Iaorana tatou! How is everyone doing? 


The highlight for Sr Mapuna happens to be the low-light for Sr Hatch! Enjoy! 
I was yet again splashed by a car, this time with a LOT more water. Then on edge and nervous, a bus honked as it drove by and I got so scared and jumped. I thought Sr Mapuna was going to have an asthma attack she was laughing so hard. 

Other events: 
◇We left a lesson and had no rain jackets nor umbrellas, which is stupid of us because it's rainy season, but there we were. We quickly became SOAKED, but ne vous inquiétez pas because a random man stopped us and gave us garbage bags that he had cut arm and head holes in. Boujee trash. 

◇For whatever reason, the relationship between the missionaries and the Bishop and his wife in this ward was NOT good when I came in. They didn't want to meet with us, didn't really talk with us, etc etc. I don't really know what happened but something changed this week. The wife called us and asked us if we could visit her uncle with her. We did so, and then she invited us over to eat sno cones with her. I love this family and am so grateful that we were able to be with them. It gives me a lot of hope for the missionary work in this ward. 

◇Pray for Christine! She is going through some really hard trials right now. Christine is an amazing friend who is so so ready to be baptized- she wants it so bad, but her current living situation is very difficult. 

◇"tu es farani ou quoi?!?" -Sr Ware to an elder from France who said he didn't like cheese. (Translation: are you even French or WHAT)

It was a really awesome week. We both had really positive feelings going into the week, and then we saw so many miracles and tender mercies every single day. 
I learned this week that happiness is a choice. We chose Monday night that this week was going to be good, and then it was! We chose that we were going to be happy and then we were. I think I have honestly wasted a lot of my mission choosing to be sad- choosing to see the negative and choosing to complain. When we choose to be grateful, we find things to be grateful for. We find joy! 

Forgive me for now stepping up onto a soap box for a paragraph, but I am not very tall and have something to say. 
In our ward, there is a LOT of gossip. They call it "coconut radio" here in Tahiti and IT IS BAD. Everyone complains and talks badly about everyone else. It made me so sad to see these good, kind, and generous people who love the Savior just rant and complain and insult. 
Elder Renlund said: 
 "After the Savior’s visit to the Americas, the people were unified; “there was no contention in all the land.” Do you think that the people were unified because they were all the same, or because they had no differences of opinion? I doubt it. Instead, contention and enmity disappeared because they placed their discipleship of the Savior above all else. Their differences paled in comparison to their shared love of the Savior, and they were united as “heirs to the kingdom of God.” The result was that “there could not be a happier people … who had been created by the hand of God.”"
Elder Uchtdorf said: 
"When we feel hurt, angry, or envious, it is quite easy to judge people. This topic could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:
Stop it!
We have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters." 
This is something I struggle with. As evident from my email from last week, I often put pride or tiredness or frustration before love and charity towards God's children. 
Love others! Serve them, be kind, and look for the good! 
I love you all! 










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