Week 33 - Six Months Will Do It To Ya

Woah! Big news this week! I'm getting transferred! So, I'm moving from the "presque-ile" ("almost island") on Tahiti to the city of Tahiti. I'm in Tipaerui, right at the end of Papeete and technically with Faa'a, where the airport is. Crazy! It's been about two hours living out here, and I can already feel the big difference. There's so many more cars, and... Well, back where I was living before, the average job was selling your fresh-grown fruit on the side of the road. Yeah, it's a little different here - people actually work in stores!

So. Six months in Vaiari, Papeari. That went quick, if I'm being honest.

We went through the week waiting for the news, and had a week full of the Spirit. One day, we had a missionary from two years ago come with us to see her old amis, and we brought her to some lessons as well. She was happy to spend the day with us! Soeur Shannon Padbury. She's awesome.

We also had two lessons with two separate amis who are each very ready for baptism, for this door into the gospel. The first, with our amie Leila, was all about the Holy Ghost. We explained the gift of the Holy Ghost and its importance, not just now, but in the rest of her life. She looked at us and said, "So what you're saying is that I need to get baptized." Near the end of the lesson, she just started crying. She actually got up to grab a towel to wipe her tears. The Spirit was so strong, and she admitted that she'd seriously reflect about it. 

The other ami is named Alexandre, and we basically just bore our testimonies of the truth of the gospel and the power that comes with taking upon ourselves Christ's name. We invited him to be baptized, and I loved his response - he seemed so touched by the invitation. He looked at us, and said quietly, "I'll think about it. I'll seriously think about it." The way he said it sounded truly like, "Thank you for offering this invitation that is so important to you. I know it's not whatever - it's truly something of worth. Thank you." He cried as well. 

So, saying goodbye to these people was especially difficult this week. Both me AND my companion are leaving for different places, so there will be two sisters completely new to that area. There were some tears in leaving... But, voila. Six months will do that to you. That's a long time to devote your entire life to a secteur. It's not too sad, because I know I'll come back. Someday, but all the same...

All the same, I'm excited for all these changes this week! Get ready for a long, long email next Monday, full of pictures and news and everything. It's going to be wild!

Tons of love from the middle of the Pacific,

Soeur Sperry