Joyeux Noël and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! This week went by so fast! It was filled with really amazing miracles! One being we had 3 baptisms today for Christmas, and it was so amazing to experience that within the first week of being here! They had so much light after they were baptized, and they were just so happy! It made me so grateful to be here for that experience! Other highlights for the week were:

Tuesday I think it was, we were biking in the rain and I was absolutely drenched but it was great! We got to our lesson and my companion asked her to be baptized after our lesson and she accepted and I didn’t understand what they were saying in the moment but my companion said after that he asked her to be baptized and she said yes! And I was like no way! I didn’t even know! It was super funny but I could feel the spirit so strong and now I know why! 

Wednesday was our Mission Christmas Conference! It was so amazing to see some of those in my old district and be able to meet many others in this mission! Also it was amazing to hear from President and Sœur Tuahu even though I couldn’t understand everything I understood what they said in English! Then after we played some games and then went back to our sectors! It was so fun and great to have that time with everyone!

Thursday we did language study with this amazing family the Colombel’s! They are incredible and have helped me so much! After we then ate crepes and it was so amazing to be with such a loving family! 

Friday we had a gift exchange with our district and it was so fun and we also did my first district council! It was great to set goals and discuss together how we can do better! We also ate Vini Vini which is this amazing fish place! It was a Papa’ina burger and it was this fried fish on bread with lettuce and an amazing vinaigrette! It was incredible!

Sunday was Christmas Eve and it was an amazing sacrament meeting and especially truly focusing on Jesus Christ this Christmas and how my life would not be the same without Him! It amazing and then we had a wonderful dinner with my companion’s aunt and uncle! We had Sashimi and Poisson Cru Coco! Also I ate my first Muscle and it was actually really good! 

That’s about it for this week! It was so great and it’s crazy it’s already Christmas! Every day gets a little bit better and every day I see my testimony grow and see the amazing miracles if I have the eyes to see them and see that Jesus Christ is always walking hand in hand with me each day and every second of every day! Also I have been trying to be more patient with myself and Thinking Celestial and know that I can only control my focus and make sure it is always on Jesus Christ and know that I am in His hands as His instrument! This isn’t about me and I need to forget myself and go to work each day! He is always the answer and I am so grateful for Him and couldn’t be here without Him!

I’m officially in Tahiti!! Wow it’s been crazy! It still feels like I’m in a dream every day I wake up! The first day of getting here was so crazy and I was so scared but excited! It was amazing to finally meet my mission President and his wife! They are so sweet and I already have so much love for them! After we meet them they gave us flowers and we went off to the church building. There they feed us pizza and we got to try Poisson Cru Chinois which is a famous dish here. It is kinda like ceviche but not with as much lime. It was so good! Though I almost threw up because it was very late at night and we ate raw fish! But it was great! Then we went off to our places to go to bed. It was a crazy night and then the next morning we got up and went to President’s house for breakfast and lunch. It was so fun and we got to understand more about the mission but it was very overwhelming and I was super tired so it didn’t help! Then we had lunch which was Poisson Cru Coco which is with coconut milk and lasagna. It was great! Then we got our assignments and meet our companions and went to our sectors/areas. I was very shocked the whole car ride to my area and also since my companion is a native but couldn’t speak really any English! So I was just like ok😂 But it was good! Then we got to our house and got all my bags situated and left here. I felt so alone but it was amazing to feel the strength and hand of God in helping me feel safe and ok. We then as a companionship went to this ward Christmas party and ate a bunch of food but I didn’t know what to get and got random stuff not knowing that I got all the same thing and it was not good! I was like I don’t want to be rude but I didn’t want to eat it but I just was forcing it down! There was also dog there as well that you could eat and I was like wow this is crazy! But good thing I didn’t eat it! Then we came back to our house and went to bed. 

The next day we went to another party in the morning for Christmas! It was crazy to have both of the parties! I was able to meet more people and it was great! There was this game they were playing and it was so cool! You throw these metal balls and have to get them close to this small ball and whoever gets the closest wins. Then we ate some food and I had what’s called fafaru I think is how it’s spelled but it’s fermented rotten fish heads in salt water and then they put fresh fish in it and let it sit! It was nasty! I almost threw up! I was like I’m going to die here😂 But yeah it was not good! Then we came home and I was able to help teach in my first lesson! It was scary but I felt such power and my fears go away when I just trusted that my mouth would be filled! And it has been! It’s been amazing to see! 

The next day was Sunday and I was able to take the sacrament and it was amazing to feel that power and comfort from being there even though I couldn’t understand everything! I also was able to participate in a recent member’s ordination of the priesthood and that was so cool! Then before we were going home a sister came and asked my companion and I if we could give her a blessing and we came to her and asked her who she would want to give her the blessing. Without hesitation she pointed to me and I was so scared since I can’t speak French since it was like my 2nd/3rd day there! But I just remembered where there is fear there is no faith and I just paused and trusted I would be ok. Then I was able to give her a blessing in French and it was incredible! I definitely wasn’t me and it was amazing to see the gift of tongues! 

Then Today I talked with my family and had a wonderful connection with them! Even though there has been hard days I have seen the hand of God in every one of them! I have had to trust in Him every day and He has given me the strength to do this! I just have to forget myself and go to work and find these beautiful children of God to come unto Christ and bring them this endless JOY that they can have forever! I love my family and so grateful for them and their love and support! They truly will never know how much they mean to me! Though the language barrier has been hard it’s little by little and I just need to continue to have patience with myself and trust in God’s plan and hand in my life!