blessings on rice

Sometimes I kind of sit on my bed in Hailey and look out at the sunset and the mountains and wonder how my life could be any better as a missionary. I've been too blessed, it's too good to be true - what did I do to deserve this? This week we got plenty of watermelon from members and it reminded me of the good Boise days when me and Hermana Sundstrom would get a watermelon a DAY. Sister Nelson had us over for dinner and was like, "oh you're from Hawaii you must miss having fruit!" and packed us up, ready to go. 

I got to go on an exchange with Sister Enkhbold, who is from Mongolia - I remember meeting her 6 months ago when she couldn't understand anything and now her English is incredible. She made me soup with rice for lunch. 

We came back from our run one morning and Uncle Doug came out of the house and said, "Want to learn how to bail trees? I'll make breakfast." So he made us smoothies and french toast and we helped him bail his trees (I think that's what it's called...), where you wrap it all up kind of like a Christmas tree. It felt so good to work with my hands for a little bit and to be outside. We talked with Uncle Doug for a while (he's got to be one of my favorite people in the area and takes really good care of me) and he said that he KNOWS Uncle Buddy - so he texted him and Uncle Buddy said, "Take good care of her and give her a hug for me, I've know that girl since baby days!" You know me. Just started bawling. Apparently Uncle Doug's mission companion was also Bro Ho Ching from Laie 2nd ward, I don't know how this even happens but God takes care of you when you need it fo'sho. 

This Memorial Day was kind of insane, we taught tons of lessons (which doesn't usually happen on holidays) and found lots of people around the area that were warm and friendly and happy to see us. I swear the sun makes all the difference. It was great - we had 8 of our investigators come to the Hailey 1st Ward this week and taught the Gospel Principles class (on the fllyyyyyyy) and have seen some major success in Sun Valley, I know that the Lord is working with us as we work hard. It's been pretty rad to see. 

Thanks for all the love and prayers fam, it feels too good to even explain to be in a good place right now. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you, if you like, I'll make you tacos when I get home.

Loves,

Hanatea 

breathe in, breathe out, don't make die ded

this week was incredible fam. Sun Valley doesn't stop giving good. 

We went to Dietrich, this little tiny town outside of Shoshone, and found a ton of people to teach, thanks to the members. There's this guy named Mike who had us over to his house and invited a bunch of Hispanics and his wife showed them how to make cookies. We taught them a little and set up a ton of return appts, afterwards Mike asked us if we could kneel in prayer. We did, and afterwards we were both inspired to have him introduce us to the people he knew. So Mike took us out to Dietrich and introduced us to all of his hispanic friends, and then took us out to get a chicken fried steak from the only place to eat in Dietrich called the Eagle's Nest. Do you see why I'm so happy? you know me. This Sunday we drove back down to Dietrich and one of those families came to church with us. This is what happens when members and missionaries and chickens work together. all good things. 

Back in Hailey, we went on splits and I got to go with one of the young women, a recent convert in our ward, she got baptized back in December. She was so excited to share the gospel and she taught it like a missionary who's been in the field forever. We visited one of our families that was a little stagnant, and after that visit, after hearing her conversion story and asking her questions about it, they decided to come to church together. 

It's been interesting being in an area that has given so much back to me. In my last area, I was so used to giving it my all and getting little in return; in the long run, what maters is your output, not the input you get. That's how we serve God - we try our very hardest and don't expect anything in return. But I'm so grateful to be here and experience something different. There's been some crazy thunderstorms in the valley and we've got caught in the rain on our bikes a number of times, usually the mountains are beautiful, but brown and dry. This week they've been green, almost like Hawaii green (I've just been away for too long I don't remember real green). And it happened in a matter of days. I thought about the healing effects of the gospel; how we can all be healed from anything, we just have to let the water in and be willing to get wet. And we can be healed in a matter of moments. Just allow it to happen - allow yourself to forgive & forget and be you. 

I'm so grateful for my mission. and for you! hope you have a baller week. email me if I can do anything for you 

loads of love,

Hanatea 

ps if anyone ever wants to go with me to a Mumford and Sons concert hmu. not sure if they're still making music. been gone for like 8 years now. but still an option. 

coming from the cold

aloha aunties&unkos,

this week was good to me still, I keep waiting for it to take a downturn and God keeps givin' me good, so so grateful. This was our first week in the ward when we went to the English Sacrament Meeting and let me tell you, serving in a branch my whole mission has been a huge blessing, but also sitting there and listening to talks in English was kind of incredible. There are a lot more members than I am used to and it was cool to feel the spirit with all of them - I felt embraced and loved [and loved for who I am] by the people here and it feels nice. 

We went to Ketchum Burrito this week the day we didn't have a dinner and it was pouring rain, there was tons of snow up in Sun Valley (it's May but it's also Idaho, tired of being surprised), we ran from our car into the restaurant and bob marley's "coming in from the cold" was playing - literally we were coming in from the cold, but also serving here has been like coming home. I don't think I'll want to leave when the time comes. Brother Niedrich asked us to start his lawn mower this week and I felt like it might've been Uncle Buddy asking, but back to reality, still got the nametag on (still grateful for it too). Also got bikes this week, so you know how happy I am. 

We got a referral for a Part-Member Family this week and they live on the same property that we do, so we stopped by one night to go see them and it was one of my favorite meetings ever. We didn't end up teaching anything really, just kind of explained who we are as missionaries and introduced ourselves. They were leaving for a week and asked us to water their lawn each night, so we go over there and watch the sunset as we practice spanish and set the sprinklers off. It makes me real happy. But what made me more happy is that they offered to have us over for elk burgers when they get back, and I think that's what missionary work is all about - it's about teaching the gospel, but that's done in a lot more ways than I would have previously thought. It's about forming real human relationships with others and being you and loving. And that's how people really come to know Christ. 

Loads of Love,

Hanatea Elkington 

aina jams & lilikoi butter

Our Relief Society Meeting on Sunday (we work in an English ward but have a Spanish Group of about 25 members) was about ministering and how we can involve the Young Women in Ministering to those that need help, and it turned into "We think the missionaries need more food! When are the Hermanas coming to eat at my house?" for an hour and it was cherreh 

Still doing so happy here in Sun Valley - kind of waiting for the high to end, but it isn't. Every day I wake up and I WANT to be a missionary and do good for others, and that feels so good. The air is fresh and I can hear the water and I'm doing good [tru aina child] 

We saw one of the Family's we visit who have investigated the Church on and off for about 8 years. We had a great lesson with them about the Book of Mormon and just got to know them a little, and invited them to be baptized this Month and they agreed. They expressed how this past week there has been lots of change, new missionaries, but it's been something good - it was a reminder for me that the gospel is about change and things are changing all the time. And it always brings something better. 

The Members here have welcomed us so warmly it feels like Laie. Part of me feels like I've finally found the balance of cruising & working hard, cuz you gotta have both to be happy - here's to making more smoothies and playing more basketball w/ strangers, hope you all have some good jams this week 

loads of love,

Hermana Hanatea Elkington