Bonjour! What a blissful week!!! Honestly, I would just like to tell you how much happiness I feel. (If you haven't noticed yet, missions are like roller costers) This past Sunday was the baptism of Shannon and Shae Maree Su'a, my sweet baby girls, as I call them in my New Zealander accent. This dear family is just a family of pure miracles. Honestly, my testimony has been so strengthened, just by their example. So, we all get to church yesterday and we're sitting in the congregation in sacrament meeting with our dear Su'a family. The girls were just giddy with excitement and anxiousness for their big day. Sweet little Shae Maree looks up at me and goes, "Is the water going to be cold? If it is, that's alright. I'll still do it." Hahaha so precious. So after sacrament ended, the baptism got rollin'. The girls came out in their beautiful white dresses, and I literally thought I was looking at 2 angels. (which I was) Well, the talk were given, first by one of their big sisters, who has been struggling with activity for a little while. It was such a beautiful message about the Holy Ghost, and I loved seeing her testimony come out of hiding. Then came the baptism part! When I imagined their baptism day, I thought I would be crying my eyes out. But as I watched those angels standing in the water, I literally just could not stop smiling. Not just my face, but my heart was smiling, my soul was smiling, everything was smiling! I can't describe it! It was literally just pure bliss. Each of them had the purest and most innocent look of faithfulness and obedience in their eyes as they prepared to go down into the water. It was in all honesty the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The only thing that was coming to mind was the scripture that says "how great your joy will be if you bring even one soul unto me." THAT IS TRUE. Literally, I can say with my whole heart I have never experienced joy like that before. It was more than just a parent being proud of a child for sharing, or a teacher being proud of a student for a good grade, it was a feeling of complete peace and happiness that these 2 girls were opening themselves up to the opportunity to be blessed by Heavenly Father in every way that He wants to bless them. It was a permanent, eternal joy that I felt. Because I knew that they were starting a journey on an eternal road of blessings. And what more could I want for these 2 girls whom I love so dearly? Then more miracles came. After the baptism, their sweet mother, who is the only one left in the family who hasn't been baptized, looked at us with a smile bigger than I had ever seen, and said she wants to get baptized now too. Family and friends. This dear woman has been the power house strength of her family, and I have mad respect for her, but she would only laugh when her husband would bring up her getting baptized with the girls. But that spirit that was present in that baptism touched her so deeply, that she had a complete change of heart right then and there. The spirit is real, God can soften hearts, and trusting in His will and timing is the KEY! And what was really cool, was that it was literally the last few hours of my dear companion's mission, and this was the note she got to end it on. She went out in the best way, and she really deserved it. This family has single-handedly changed me. They don't even know they do it, but they inspire me, and make me want to work even harder, to be the missionary they deserve. I love my big Samoan family. And I love my mission. This is truly the most blessed and incredible experience I have ever had. I can't stop telling God thank you for getting me out here! How grateful I am that He stuck His hand in my life and helped me get to the place where He knew I would be most happy. He really knows us. And He really knows whats best for us. And I love Him. Thank you again for the birthday wishes! I wish I had time to respond to all of you! But I appreciate you, each and every one! Love always, Soeur Shields
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November 2015
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