Tongan Sunset with Love

New Companion, More Zone Conferences,Real Growth,Retention, KIDS in Charge,ELECTION

November 2, 2012
okay awesome i really want to see what she looks like, i remember
faces a lot better than names.

Well this week has been another busy one with very little sleep. i
did not have a new companion until Tuesday afternoon when Elder
Williams from Centerville Utah flew in from Ha'apai where he had been
a zone leader for just over 2 weeks to be my new companion.  He is a
really great guy, a perfect fit for the job, truly a humble kid who has
a real desire to serve the Lord.d everyday. As soon as he got here, we hit the
ground running with He is a lot like Elder Fisher and
makes me want to work Zone Conferences here on the Main Island,
Wednesday was the west zone, then Thursday was the east zone than the
Town Zone was on Friday. They were all really good and focused on the
doctrine and not on the rules or the white handbook, President's new
thing is that if every missionary understands his purpose and has a
testimony of the Doctrine of Christ, then they will want to be
obedient. I am a big believer in that as well .Another thing we
talked about was Real Growth something that the Brethren have been
stressing throughout the whole year especially here in the Pacific.
i taught about how we need to hold onto the fruits of the Work, which
is Retention, something that is really important and a bit of a
problem here in Tonga. Over 50%+ of the country is baptized
statistically speaking but only about  36% of that 50% is active. so
there is still a lot of work to do.     One moment that was rather
special to me during the zone conferences was when President was
giving the closing remarks at the East Zone,  In that zone there are 4
people who i came in with, plus me who was there at the meeting,
President mentioned that two months from now all 17 of us will be done
(14 of whom i was in the MTC with, we have all become best friends
during our missions and all of us have been trainers multiple times
and have been Zone leader and AP) and President said as he started to
cry that he doesn't know what kind of gift he could give us or if
there has ever been a group like us before. We have always been such a
close nit group with one goal in mind to serve with all our might mind
and strength.  President is not one to often tear up and so when he
did that we(everyone of my group) started tearing up, it also made me
realize just how blessed I have been during my mission, and just how
little time i have left, got to make every moment count!

Speaking of President, he is in New Zealand for a week so we (williams
and I) are in charge for a week, should be pretty fun haha

Thats pretty much everything that has been going on. One elder who i
was in the MTC, Elder Chandler, from Hurricane ut is going home on
Monday because he has been pretty sick for a number of months we will
really miss him, he has been one of the hardest working missionaries
in the mission. it is always hard to say good bye to people, but hey i
told him every time i drive on the I-15 ill be dropping by to say hi.

Hope all is well at home,I didn't get a letter from dad this week. Sorry
for the disjointed email, keep me up dated on the election!!
Ofalahi atu

South Bend, Zone Conference, Flights (alone) Kokipoki

Oct. 26, 2012

Malo e lelei!

Sounds like dad and the kau Pule tapu (priesthood holders) all had a really  fun weekend in South Bend IN, that is exciting also that Hillary is a Ordinance worker and Maegan is pregnant, dad is going to be a Grandpa wow that is way cool.    

Out here in Tongan we have had a very insanely crazy week. Last  Sunday President Tukuafu pulled Elder Fisher into his Office and explained that the two zone leaders out in Vava'u were coming back to the main Island, one because he was done with his mission, Elder Fainu, my old comp up there, and Elder Chandler

 ( who i was in the MTC with) was sick and needed to come back to the main Island, so President decided that one of us would leave the office to go be the zone leader out in Vava'u to keep the missionaries out there in line and he felt that Fisher was the right choice, so Fisher flew out to vava'u on Monday, Pres, his wife and I flew out on Tuesday for Zone conference that was held on Wednesday, then Pres and Sister flew to Ha'apai, i Flew back to Tongatapu, then flew to Ha'apai Thursday morning, We had Zone conference there yesterday, and i just barely flew back from Ha'apai a few hours ago this morning, i have been doing alll this flying by my self, I'm staying right now with the office elders, Pres is still praying to know who should be my new companion  and by Monday i should have one.    

 It was a ton of fun to go up to Vava'u and see the people i knew when i was there. I saw a few people i baptized and they are all still strong in the church, that has really been a great blessing being a missionary, to meet so many wonderful people that i hope to staying contact for the rest of my life. Zone conference was really good both in Ha'apai and in Vava'u.

It was really fun to stay in Ha'apai for a few days, it has the prettiest sunsets. while we were there a freak storm hit the island and there was a mini tornado that hit the part of town where we were. we were out side taking pictures in the mission boat when it all of a sudden the wind picked up and started going crazy we quickly ran to shelter, it only lasted maybe 2 min but did some damage. there were a few houses that were damaged and a bunch of  little trees got broken, and it tore down a few signs. i can say i survived a wicked storm, like kolipoki haha

Next week we have zone conference here on the main island which is going to be really busy.
Despite being busy, I have a baptism today, a little 9 year old that we have been teaching for a little while, the work of the lord goes forth!!

Okay

Can't believe that it is already Nov. next weekend!! 

OFa lahi atu

Elder Maikolo

PS Mom Elder  Prescott is standing right next to me here at the office and he says hi!!

Love this Missionary

OCT 12, 2012

sorry I got this in the wrong chronological order but I especially love the last paragraph

Malo e lelei!!

This past week was similar to last week, lots and lots of Office work, little time out inthe vineyard, but the office work is just as important. Transfers are this Monday and we will see what happens. i really have no idea what is going to happen, everytransefer goes by faster, time is just picking up speed!! We did teach the Aho family this week and it went alot better, we committed them to be baptized and they gave a very weak yes, as in they will be baptized when the time is right, well we are goig to work our bums off to make sure the time is right next month.    

WOW WHAT ABOUT CONFERENCE!!!!   Okay so as you already know we wathc it the following week, but byutv is playde here in TOnga and some people watched at 5am last sunday mornuing to watch the Sat morning session to hear the ANNOUNCEMENT, we found out when durring fast& testimony meeting a lady announcent that she had watched conference that mornuign and told about the announcement. well deosnt that change Dad's job abit as Stake YM Pres, and what about the YW , that had to be a life changeing moment for Ellen, that is so cool if you go in 2014, there are going to be o so many more missionaries aout in the field it is going to be crazy!!  

we jsut barely got back from watching both saturday sessions and what a spiritual feast it was, we watched it in English at Liahona, and it is so much better to hear it in English, nothing on hearing it in Tongan, but the translation is not nearly the same. It is so much better hearint the powere and authority of Elder Oaks bold voice come from him instead of through a translator, i loved Elder Uctdorfs at the end of The morning and Andersons nearthe end of saturday evening still havent watched the Preisthood maybe tommorrow.

Oh can you give Uncle Rob my love to him!! tell him he is my prayers!

Okay sorry for the rushed letter got to go!!!

 

Know that i love you o so sosososmuch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The Church is True! and this is a Great and MArvolous Work

 

Ofa lahi atu
Elder Maikolo

PS So happy downey creamed Warren!!!!!!

 

MOm i wanted to thank you for always doing my laundry and making dinner for me,  This week my comp said as we were attempting to make some food, "I wish i could pack my mom around with me" i wish that same thing! thanks Dad for being the bread-winner and allowing mom to be a stay at home mom to raise us kids!! 

Transfer Week in Tonga

October 19, 2012

well this week was Transfers and Fish and I both stayed put, but we ran literally all over the island taking missionaries to their new areas and taking missionaries to the warf to go out on a boat to the outer islands, the mission spent  $1700 in boat tickets alone, and maybe another $1000 at least in plane tickets, transfers are crazy!! especially when you have 14 new missionaries come in from the MTC, 6 from the New Zeal-and MTC and 8 from the Provo MTC (one kid is Elder Fifita from the Inglewood Stake) and they come on different days and you have New Missionary Orientation with their Trainers,  it has been a pretty crazy week, lots of taking people places and picking people up. the transfer was barely finished on Thursday  we have had only one teaching this whole week and then next week is zone conference here in Tongatapu then the week after is Zone conference in the Outer Islands, then the week after that pres will be in NZ for a mission presidents seminar so yeah no time to be lepa, (Tongan for coasting) haha

The mission secretary bought the plane tickets for my going home group this past week, and they haven't come back from SLC yet but they were requested for the 7th of January so that is 99% concrete my release date. Only two transfers left!! the group that just went home this Monday was the group that  Hillary knew in the MTC, Today marks two years ago hill going into the MTC! it is crazy how time flies!

 

The only thing i really want for Christmas is pictures of you all and a booklet like thing that you did for me and hill with quotes from a bunch of friends and family that was really cool, thanks for making that for us. oh i got three letters this week, (snail mail) another one of your Christmas letters that you sent out in September.

 

So you are all by your self at home with grandpa and Grandma tell tthem hello for me, i still have Grandpa Ralph's BDay letter that i still need to put in the mail.

Hey what is Ethan Saylors home address, i know you sent it to me before but i forgot

Elder Maikolo and Elder I

Jacob met Elder I  before he left for Tonga....in Downey.  Now, Elder I is finished with his mission.  He went straight to the mission home (from the airport) to hand deliver cookies to Jacob (that Ellen made) .  Now, Jacob will go to his homecoming talk tomorrow in Tonga.
Now that is a Tender Mercy!

Baptisms, Temple, Niua and Elder I

Dear family,

This was really a very special week, it all started last sunday when Sky, the chinese man that we have been teaching for a while was finally baptized. It was really a special baptisim, the entire ward showed up for it and even President Tukuafu was there.  That night we had a "open House" a lot like a fireside, that's focus was on missionary work. Sky bore his testimony and shared the story of when he was in Niua and how he came to know that there is a God,  it was really a great testimony and set the tone for the entire fireside. President spoke as well as another man who went through 18 missionaries before he finally got baptized.  then the 1st counseler in the Stake Presidency spoke, he is from Niua, and talked abput the missionaries that taught and baptized him there. It has a very "niua' them to the fireside. That was just sunday, Monday we were very busy teaching and preparing people to be baptized. We taught again the 'Aho family, we taught about the Book of Mormon and committed them to read it and come to ward conference this sunday.  Tuesday was another busy daydoing Office work. Then Wednes day was really a remarkable day. It started off by having orientaion meetings with new missionaries who have just come from the MTC in NZ, they are suppose to go overseas but are waiting on Visas so they will work here in Tonga for a little bit until they get there visa.  After the orientation meettings Elder Fisher and I had the marvlous  oppourtunity to witness the sealing of a family in the Temple.  The mom, Silongo, grew up in the Church and has always been strong in the Church, she is the Relief Society President, her Husband, Elivisi, is a convert who was baptized last year, (his parent come from Niuatoputapu, another Niua connection) he is a high ranking  Officer in the Tongan Army. They have 3 children whose ages are 11,13&15. it was the first time for both of us to witness a sealing and it really was a cool thing to experience. President Tukuafu was there with too.  The spirit was so strong! Especially when the children walked in, wow that was amazingly powerful all white and everything. I wont ever forget how i felt in that room.  its cool to think i will be able to experience the same thing with my wife one day.  that was Wednesday, then on Thursday we had the baptism of Hulita Vai and Peni Hausia. I baptized Hulita, It was special as I hadn't performed a baptisim since June.  Then Yesterday i was on a Vilo Hoa (Comp Exchange) with Elder Tafea, who is from Beaverton Oregon, and only has 16 days left in the mission. His family comes from Niua and he served there after me, we are really close and had a lot of fun on the vilo hoa. oh and of course yesterday Elder I came by the office straight from the airpiort (the office is right next to his house) and drops off your package, i had just left the office so i missed him, but the office elders called me back and we drove back to the office and opened it and ate the cookies,. thanks so much for that, the plane ride wasnt good for them and they had crumbly but still tasty!! they really did remind me of home.  I loved all your letters, wow things really have been shaken up in the stake, things are changing, but the Church is still true!!  Then today i just got back from Elder I's house, i was so excited to see him, and i think he was excited to see me, we talked and laughed for like 20 mins. We found him at his mom's office working on reapplying to BYU-H, here is a picture, i thought that it was really funny that last time we saw each other we were both wearing suits, pants, and shoes, but today we were both wearing  tupenus (skirts) and sandels.  he says that he feels really weird to be home, he dreamed last night that he was still on his mission. we are going to have Pday tofay at the Liahona Gym and since he lives on Liahona campus he is going to try to gome over to play with us. i am going to try to go to his Homecoming talk tomorrow.

The great week is not over as fisi'inaua is being baptized today at 6 then tomorrow is areally busy day

 

I love you all so much thanks for all your love and prayers!

 

'Ofa lahi atu
Elder Maikolo