10 July 16 'Ohonua ki ai! New Mission President- President Tuione, New Companion Elder Ofa

             Malo e lelei!

This has been a good week. We didn't get any new investigators and nobody wants to be baptized (yet), but it was productive and fun anyway.
Our goal and vision is to split the ward.  We've nearly met the membership requirement Hence, after meeting with the bishop, we've decided that we'd help the ward out with reactivation and retention in a big way. We are working with the bishop and home teachers to help people be strong in the church and (in many cases) to return to activity. Wish us luck!
Missionary leadership conference was great. The new mission president in the man! His name is president Tui'one. He and his wife were born and raised in Tonga and have been living in New Zealand. They are both young; i think he is in his early 40's and his wife is in her 30's. They are amazing! After we landed, we headed to the office to interview with the new president. Our ride was hours late, so we got to hang out with him for like an hour and a half, ask him questions, joke around, get to know him, etc. it was one of my funnest memories of the mission so far; he's just the man. He will be coming out to 'Eua next week to get to know us and (hopefully) go out and teach with us. 
He teaches us to be a mission that follows preach my gospel and the white handbook, no more and no less (beyond the necessary modifications, i.e. skirts instead of pants, slippers instead of shoes). This means rugby and basketball and volleyball is now allowed!! we're stoked. 
Transfers were yesterday. We're getting a new set of sisters in Tongamama'o, a city further to the south. Much needed support. Me and my companion are the only elders out here; there are going to be 6 sisters. I'm already starting to see this is a bit of a different ball game.
My companion is elder Ofa (the one who was in my class in the MTC) He's the man!
I've been going through the topical guide under the entries for 'obedience'. It's remarkable how straightforward a subject it is. A new favorite verse of mine is D&C 130:20-21.
"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
I've also been reading chapter 3 in Preach My Gospel. I've always read from it pretty consistently, but I've found some pretty cool nuggets of wisdom as I've read the lessons over and over again.
'Ofa lahi atu kiate kimoutolu! 'Oku ou 'ilo 'oku mo'oni 'a e ongoongolelei, 'a ia ne fakafoki mai 'e Siosefa Sāmita. Ko e siasi mo'oni eni, pea ko u 'ilo'i fakapapau 'a e me'a ko ia 'i he mālohi 'o e laumālie ma'oni'oní.
I know it's true!
Elder Brown


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