The Sisters’ week began with heading over to the Church for Soeur T’s English exam [this is for a certificate that confirms her proficiency in English and is taken by a lot of non-English speaking missionaries before they go home], simply a conversation with a computer responding to 15 questions. It took her about half an hour (sneak peek into the future she passed!! yay!! she does speak English!!) It’s a nice idea and Soeur Holt wishes there was something similar to confirm her proficiency in French.

Later on p-day we joined Soeur Eclar and Soeur Kasongo for a Tahitian dance class from the one and only Soeur Tepapatahi; loved it!!

Most of the rest of the week was spent in contacting with a little bit of teaching. We met a young lady who wants to serve a mission for the Evangelist church. And a man who contacted us who wanted to know what the difference was between us and the Catholics; we responded with introducing the Book of Mormon. Then a lesson with a lady who we had met Sunday evening. She is really receptive but seems to just agree with everything we say; we are not sure if there is a problem with comprehension with the Creole, her son in law kind of joined in and he asked us the question why there are so many churches. We told him the Joseph Smith story. An interesting lesson with lots of testimony.

One morning the Sisters contacted in an area where everyone was at work; we met a lady who is originally from paris and she didnt want to talk to us about Jesus but was happy to offer me a hat for the sunshine and take a photo of us because apparently she likes to capture moments? haha

In another lesson the Sisters taught a lady about the Restoration and priesthood authority- we invited her to be baptised- she didn’t seem to understand authority or the necessity of the confirmation/gift of the Holy Ghost, so it’s a no for now.

Prior to Zone Conference we picked up Sister Herrington to come and work with us the appointment fell through but as we were walking to our plan B we met a lady who let us help her with her shopping bags, we spoke for a small moment about the Book of Mormon and left her with a prayer. Some more contacting and suivis before lunch- Soeur Herrrington treated us to a salad!

That evening we headed over to the Laynes because they wanted us to prepare the pork for the Zone Conference lunch- Soeur T has made a name for herself as the mission chef.

Some of the things that I learnt at Zone Conference:

• within the teaching of the repentance there should be always centred in the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
• something that Soeur T and I are trying to apply is to re-evaluate our teaching methods but more specifically how we can meet everyone’s needs after each lesson.
• short term pain leads to eternal gain whilst still finding joy in the journey.
• the holy scriptures contain solace for our souls.
• we need to practice what we preach. Trust in God and open your mouth. This has been and will be a subject of study leading up to General Conference.

Thursday was President Herrington and Soeur Atkins’ birthday we had made them a cake the day before and sang for them etc…

There was a funny conversation when the Sisters met an old lady who told me that I am wasting my time at 20 years old that I should be out multiplying and repelenishing the earth which is what God has commanded me to do! Thanks grandma!! haha

Friday evening was the talent show at the church- after the missionaries, the rest was karaoke so we headed out!

It seems to have been a hard week this week- we read Moroni 9.6 together:

“And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labour, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labour to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.”

This made it slightly better but things are tough at the moment no one seems interested or open let alone ready to make sacrifices to come unto Christ. We were both so ready to start our fast.

On a positive note I finished the Book of Mormon this week; lots of scriptures that I loved but generally speaking I’d just like to add my testimony and amen to President Monson’s invitation to read the Book of Mormon daily from start to finish. No matter how many times you already have, do it and after get down on your knees and follow the counsel of Moroni. I did it that week and yes it is strange to ask again for a testimony that you already have but I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that the Book of Mormon holds spiritual clarifications to questions that cannot be fully understood solely with reference to the Bible. But I do know the Bible to be the inspired word of God. I treasure its testimony of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I know and have practiced the principle of receiving revelation from these two holy books- that I can pray directly to my Heavenly Father and he answers my questions of the soul through the words of His ancient prophets. This is the experiment that I have made upon His words and this is how I know with certainty that the Book of Mormon is true.