my week

wow. this last week was so good!! I actually really love being in a trio because we are making every second COUNT! (at least we are trying haha)

I always have so many ideas and deep things that I want to say in these emails but sadly, I'm at a loss of words. As usual... I promise we are working over here ! hahaha

One amazing set of people that I met here this last week was a family from the UK. A mom and her two sons. The sons were older, probably a little older than me. One of them walked straight to me and asked if I could show them all around the center. They wanted to learn more about the Temple and what we believe. I taught them about the Book of Mormon, the Temple and taught them the restoration. It was so amazing to see their interest. A lot of times when people come in, even if they are interested in learning, their hearts are still hard and it can feel really forced. I hate feeling like a tour guide. That is something that I have been trying to avoid my whole mission. But this time was different. Before they left, they accepted the missionaries to come teach them more when they return home. Its moments like these that remind me why I love being here :)

Also the weather has been crazy good the past few days :) This is paradise :)

I have one last email to send next week, so I'm going to spare you all from getting gushy until then :) LOVE YOU ALL!

sister willardson

ALOHAAAAAAA

Aloha Ohana!! This last week was a blur kind of... I'm still trying to remember what happened. We had zone conference (my last one! :(), and I had my final interview with President Warner. He just talked about marriage and dating and school and all that jazz. Really good advice, but it feels weird to think about going home!! 

This last week I had really great studies. One thing that kept sticking out to me was how we can stay converted throughout our whole lives. And its through the day to day decisions we make. Elder Clayton of the Seventy said,

"Belief and testimony and faith are not passive principles. They do not just happen to us. Belief is something we choose—we hope for it, we work for it, and we sacrifice for it. We will not accidentally come to believe in the Savior and His gospel any more than we will accidentally pray or pay tithing. We actively choose to believe, just like we choose to keep other commandments."

Everyday we need to make the sacrifices necessary for our conversion. Conversion does not come from one grand spiritual moment or event. It comes from our day to day decisions, and whether we choose to prioritize the Lord or not :)

LOVE YOU ALL!
Sister Willardson

INSPIRE!

ALOHA FAM BAM!!

This last week was FULL of tender mercies. Sister B, M and I have been working haaaard, trying to visit literally every house in the 5 wards we are covering in these last few weeks. And that, coupled with our Visitors' Center shift... has been very rewarding :)

Life is good here in Hawaii!!

Yesterday, I was having a slightly hard day for some reason and I was pushing through it and praying that I could see a miracle or small tender mercy to know that I was doing enough and the second we arrived to shift at the visitors' center, my "hanai mother" (P) from full-field had brought her daughter and husband in to come see me!! P is not a member, we taught her a lot full field but she isn't interested in the church. However, she is the most Christ-like woman I have ever met. Before I left, she gave me a pearl necklace and told me that I was like a daughter to her. I hadn't seen her since until she came into the Visitors Center to see me yesterday!! I was so surprised and full of love that I wanted to cry :) I asked her how she felt at the Visitors Center and she said "I only came to see you, I would never set foot here on my own." haha! Someday I hope and pray that her heart will be softened to the gospel because I know without a doubt that it will only bless her and her family. I know that she was one of the people I was supposed to meet on my mission. Maybe not for her benefit, but certainly for mine. With all that she's been through in her life, she has inspired me to always look to God and trust. It is easy to lose our faith when trials come. It is harder, but more rewarding and noble, to keep our faith even when we are in the furnace of affliction. It reminds me of something that President Uchtdorf said this last general conference in the priesthood session, "there is nothing noble or impressive about being cynical. Skepticism is easy—anyone can do it. It is the faithful life that requires moral strength, dedication, and courage. Those who hold fast to faith are far more impressive than those who give in to doubt when mysterious questions or concerns arise."

I love you all!! Thanks for your continuous prayers and faith!! Be an inspirer!

Sister Willardson

aloha ohana!

BTW, remember Rickie from London? Haven't talked to rickie in like 8 months and he came looking for me on chat! received an amazing email from him later telling me about his life! He is still active and happy and just got married to another convert!!
This last week was kind of long... hahaha but it was so good. We met some amazing people in the Visitors Center. I had a slight panic attack realizing how fast time is ticking and I want more than anything to just STOP TIME. Can someone please let me know when they invent something that can do that for me? lol for reals. 

But anyways. Conference was the absolute best part of this week! I had a lot of spiritual experiences listening to our prophet and apostles speak. I know for myself that they truly are called of God. I will shout that from the rooftops so everyone can know it. How blessed we are to be on Earth at this time!! 

I just want to share a quote from a talk I read in this month's ensign!! It talks about a race in ancient greece where the runners had to keep their torch lit throughout the race. If the light went out, even if they finished first, they couldn't win because the goal was to keep it lit. 

btw,

"As long as we continue to rise up and move toward our Savior, we win the race with our torches burning brightly. For the torch is not about us or about what we do. It is about the Savior of the world. And that is a Light that can never be dimmed. It is a Light that swallows the darkness, heals our wounds,and blazes even in the midst of the deepest sorrow and unfathomable darkness. It is a Light that surpasses understanding. May each of us finish the path we have begun. And with the help of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we will finish joyfully and with our torches still lit."

I know that this is true. Keep your torches lit. Don't give up. Don't slow down.

Sister Willardson :)