Catching up

 Talofa!

It was nice to have a little more normal routine this week after the crazy week we had last week.  I needed to have a few days in the office to try to catch up on all the charting I didn't do last week and answer some emails and follow-up with missionaries to see how they are doing.  I also had a chance to meet with the Mission Leaders and to have our first health council meeting with the Area medical advisor (AMA) and Sister Reid. That's a zoom meeting that we have where we can discuss some of the missionaries that have health concerns that we feel we need some help or direction with.We got a new AMA in June.  His name is Elder Merkley and I really like him!  He weighs in on the difficult cases and gives me suggestions on what to do. It's like having an online doctor at my disposal!  I try not to bother him too much because he's over all the islands in the Pacific Area, but he's been very helpful in a few cases.  I like learning from him too.  

Last Monday we had a meeting with the Mission Leaders and the other Senior missionaries in the office and President Reid gave us another assignment.  He wants each couple to be assigned to a certain zone in the mission and get more involved in helping out the missionaries.  We are supposed to go to district meetings, try to get with each companionship at least one time per transfer for companionship study, attend their baptisms and attend church meetings at wards in the zone on Sundays. So guess what zone we got assigned to?  The furthest one away from the mission home!  Ya, it will take us over an hour each way just to get there for things.  I'm not sure how we're going to fit it all in, but we'll just have to do the best we can. We're trying to have a positive attitude about changes.  Change is good, right?  The Reid's are changing up quite a few things, which is fine.  Hopefully it will be good for the missionaries.    

Elder G. put up a few more nets last week.  Making missionaries and kids happy!

That's been fun for him to do so thanks for mailing them to us Stokes's! 

We are really looking forward to this upcoming week because we'll get to spend some time with Bayli and Ethan!  Can't wait to see them on Wednesday!  

I was asked to give a spiritual thought for our office staff devotional so I'll share that with you all as well.  I shared a quote I'd heard once by Henry Ford (founder of Ford Motor Company).  He said "If you think you CAN or you think you CAN'T, you're probably right." Sometimes I doubt my ability to do things, and so I don't try because I don't want to fail at it.  Kinda like it took me until I was 38 years old to run my first marathon because I doubted myself and I was afraid I might not be able to run that far or finish the race.  When I finally decided "I can do this", I did it.  I trained hard and prepared myself and I did better than I ever imagined I could do. Satan wants us to doubt ourselves, because then we won't move forward in life.  Heavenly Father wants us to do our best, never give up, and keep moving forward toward the goal of eternal life.  He is our biggest cheerleader in the marathon of life, and he will be there at the finish line to say "Well Done"!  I liked the story Elder Renland told in his last conference address about struggling on a kayaking trip he went on.  He stopped moving and a couple of big waves flipped his kayak over twice!  When the guide came to help him and offer advice, he told him that he needed to just keep paddling, maintaining momentum and forward progress. Elder Renland urged us to row toward the Savior. Pray daily, study daily, reflect on the goodness of God daily, repent daily and follow promptings of the Holy Ghost daily. These five things will help us maintain momentum and forward progress in life. 

Don't doubt yourselves. You CAN do it!

Love you all!!!

I'll try to send lots of pictures next week when Bayli and Ethan are here visiting!!