Daisyʻs Mission - Week 3

First:  Just wanted to add what the Ward ordered for Daisy.  They are starting to do this for all missionaries serving from our ward.  It will be hanging at church and given to Daisy when she returns.  

This week we had a little scare when we didnʻt hear from Daisy on her normal PDay.  We knew she was  in good hands but as a mom I couldnʻt help but wonder if she was ok.  I had to pray and just trust in the Lord and have faith that all was well.  Then 2 days later we got this email!  We were so happy to hear from her.

Week 3 Email from Daisy:

Subject: My Pday got Switched

Hey everyone!

I'm so sorry that I didn't email you guys on Tuesday. I was looking forward to having my day off and getting to talk to you guys, but around 8PM Mondaynight, someone from the MTC presidency told us that our Pday would be switched to Thursday. Im not sure if its every changed to every Thursday now, but I was so bummed that it got changed. It was because everyone in my district except me and one other person needed to get their visa stuff because their missions are in Mexico. But yeah it was really confusing, but I am just so glad that now I get to email you guys! Anyways, HAPPY NEW YEAR! feliz ano nuevo! I just sent a bunch of letter home to you guys, but it will probably take 2 weeks before you guys get it. It looks like you guys had a ton of fun! I wish I could have popped some fireworks and watched to ball drop. The Mexicans here love fireworks! Every night theirs firework shows, but on new years it was so crazy. They were blowing stuff up all day long. It sounded like I was in the Hunger Games. You know when their in the arena and when someone dies that boom sound goes off...yeah that's exactly what it sounds like every day! So this Sunday a group of us Polys sang at our devotional! I love music so much and it definitely brings the spirit. The 7 of us sang Love at Home. verse one in Spanish, verse 2 in Tongan, and verse 3 in English. It was so beautiful and I started crying while we were singing because the spirit was so strong. The MTC president, Tenorio loved our musical number and asked if we could do more numbers throughout my remaining time here. I am completely better from when I was sick last week. I think it was dehydration. Another big new is that I got one more companion and now Im in a trio! I love it so much. So my regular companion is Hermana Terry, and now I have Hermana Jolley. We were friends before and we just get along so well! She is my favorite and I'm kind of sad that just in 3 more weeks we will be leaving the Mexico MTC. My district also joined the choir and on Tuesday's devotional we sang As Sister in Zion, Well Bring the World His Truth in Spanish. It was so awesome. Everyone know me as the Hawaiian girl whos name is really hard to pronouce, who is always cold and wearing a snow coat, and who can sing. I love the MTC so much and getting to meet all sorts of people is so much fun! The days have gone by so quickly, Im loosing track of the days. My spanish is getting really good and I know that el don de lenguas es verdadero, the gift of tounges is true. Yo se que el evanjelio es verdadero y el profeta, Thomas S. Monson, es de lider para todos personas. I have mucho amor por Jesucristo y nosotros. Grasias por su oracions y bendices. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. I love you all and will email you next week! 

Luckily, despite the delay in her Pday email, we actually got her first Traditional Letter from her in the Mailbox on Monday.  So when we didnʻt hear from her, via email, we at least got to read and re-read her letters she sent.  Hereʻs some pics of that.  Sheʻs really such a sweetheart!

Daisy's Mission - Week 2

Letter from Daisy, received on 12/29/15

Hey everyone!

I just got back from the Mexico temple, and it was amazing! Each temple experience is extraordinary. Anyways it´s easier for me to send my group email to my parents and then they FWD it to everyone else, but week 2 here in the MTC has been so much fun. On Christmas I got to call my family and it was the best gift of all. That entire day we had special activities and a world wide Q and A devotional with Elder Bednar. It was quite different from my usual Christmas experiences, but it was still special. On Saturday the 26th, I got sick! It first started off as a headache and then dizziness, but then I got send to the infirmary and I had a high fever and then also threw up a coupe of times. The plus side was that my companion and I got to skip our class, I didn´t have to do a couple of assignments, and I got actually got to sleep for more than 8 hours. I am all better now, so that good! The missionary life is quite hectic, 16 hour days of full on learning is a big adjustment for me. Anyways everyday I´m getting better and better at Spanish. It does get frustrating at times, but I know that through time it will just get easier and easier. I love being a representative of Jesus Christ and I love this gospel so much. I hope to read all of your emails and hopefully reply back as soon as possible. I love hearing the love and support you each have for me. I miss each of you and hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you much joy and success in this upcoming new year. 

Love,

Herman Aiwohi

In front of the Mexico City Temple

All of the Polys in the Mexico MTC

Sister Tanuvasa, also from  Hawaii, Daisy's new BFF on Christmas Day

Hermana Jolley and I outside of the temple.  She's going to New Mexico

 

Daisy's Mission - Week 1

Week 1:

First Email we got from Daisy while she was in MTC (to the group)

Hola family and friends!

This has been an amazing week in the Mexico MTC! I now understand why missionaries like never have time! As soon as I got here, I was immediately put to work! Everyday I have a specific schedule and I feel like there is no time! I have been learning so much Spanish already! El don de lenguas (the gift of tounges) really does work! I have seen and felt the love of God multiples times each day. My faith and testimony has only increased. I love being here and feel each of you prayers. Everyone here speaks Spanish, so it kind of forces me to learn the language. I can usually understand what my teachers and investigators are saying which is truly a miracle. I also thought that it would be very hot here in Mexico, but actually its cold! Sometimes I wear my snow coat everywhere and people look at me funny, but its totally ok haha! Hermana Tanuvasa from Oahu is my favorite person here at the MTC. It is so nice to just have that aloha spirit with someone else. I am so glad that we will be going to the same mission. I love this gospel so much and know that He is the real reason for this season. I hope that as we each celebrate Christmas this week that we remember Him and perhaps give up something for the Lord because He has sacrificed so much for us. My companions name is Hermana Terry. She is from Utah and will be serving in the Mexico Merida Mission. I am in Distrect 8A and love meeting more and more missionaries. Christmas here in the MTC will be wonderful! We will not be having any classes and will be having several devotionals and even get to watch a movie! Thank you for all of your love and support. I cant wait to get to Oregon and serve the people there. Al que cree, todo le es posible, To him that beliveth, all things are possible. I love and miss you all and hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!

Love,

Hermana Aiwohi

Met up with Elder Feangai and Sister Tanuvasa on Oahu and flew to Mexico together.  We were so blessed to get this pic txt to us from the LAX airport from Sis Tanuvasa's parents.

Got her Name Tag... It's Real!!

Her District in MTC

Reviving the Family Blog / Daisy Pre-Mission

Well, it's sure been sometime since I've blogged anything here.  I might upload past events & activities just to fill in the gaps -  no promises tho!  For now, however, I will be trying to keep a record of Daisy's mission progress, mainly for her benefit when she returns.  In the meantime, those of you who are interested can likewise be updated on her Mission happs!

Some background information:

Daisy graduated in May 2014 from Kamehameha and went to BYU Idaho for a year.  This is where she decided she wanted to go on a mission.  She received her mission call in Sept 2015 and was called to serve a spanish speaking mission in Salem, Oregon.  She went through the Laie Temple for her own endowments in October.  She was set apart as a missionary on Dec 15, 2015 and went straight to the airport to catch her flight.  She reported to the Mexico MTC on Dec. 16.  We are so proud of her decision to serve the Lord and for her spirit and testimony.  She truly has grown to be an amazing young woman / adult and we couldn't be prouder.

A hui hou Hermana Aiwohi - We love you and know you will do well!

Harlem Shake with Kims

Just having fun with the Darrell Kims!  Spending our President's Day Holiday doing the Harlem Shake!! 

Beijing China Trip - June 2011

Another slideshow by Smilebox

Our travels in Beijing China - June 2011

Another slideshow by Smilebox