After a near heart-break on the 23rd (Elder Mafi's Christmas Eve.) when we got cut off just 5 minutes into face time, we were ecstatic on the 26th when Estheanna said, "he's calling in 15 min!" 

We put all our Christmas clean-up on hold and savored those precious minutes to reconnect and have some "family time" with Kalisi. (Man, I love that face)!

We learned that you have to purchase wi-fi credits in Tonga to do facetime. That calling on the phone is actually more expensive - thank you digicell:) We all learned the hard way that you have to have plenty of credits to make that face time last. But we're thankful for a kind church member who lent Elder his phone for our Christmas present.

It was also transfer day (our Monday is Tonga's Tuesday) so Elder Mafi got a new companion while we were talking, his first Utah comp since the MTC. 

Work on Vava'u is difficult and slow. Folks like the missionaries to come by, because they like the spirit they bring, but do not want to hear a message and often expect the Elders to sit and watch movies, this proves a difficult challenge as respect is huge and just leaving shows bad taste. Elder Mafi is learning to assert himself in righteous, gentle ways. 

There is quite a bit of part member and less active work, though. In particular, a family where all go to church except the mom. Elder Mafi and his comp. serve the family in a number of ways to show support and encouragement for the family as they strive to create bonds of love and trust. 

He and his former companion were able to use their talents for Pangai Motu (the town he's in) Days! The townspeople gave them old, used x-ray plastic to cut templates to make t-shirts for this special day. Elder Mafi said it was weird cutting into these used x-ray sheets as he looked at bone tumors and such, but they got the job done and made some nice shirts for folks. It brings a whole new dimension to reduce-reuse-recycle! No Michael's or Daniel Smith Art supplies on Tonga! Haha

The temperature is in the 80's on Vava'u right now, and humid, but as Elder took us on a little tour of his MQ (mission quarters) he was pleased to show us a decent shower and place to hang laundry when they're done washing it in a bucket. He says he tries to appreciate the good things that he has and not look at what he's missing-despite bed springs poking his back, at least he HAS a bed to sleep on.

They heat makes proselyting hard as people don't want to hear gospel messages or talk to missionaries in the middle of the day. They are often told by members and even the Bishop to go home and come back later when it cools down. This is a bit disheartening but as those of you who have served missions know, there's a huge adjustment to the ideals of the MTC and the reality of the work. Elder Mafi is working on finding that balance of remaining true to himself, The Lord and loving the people. I have full confidence in him. I see the struggle as he strives to stay soft hearted yet assertive in ways he may not have been before...I think it's called growing up:) I love that he's thinking about it and working at being better every day as he gains more of a hold on the language and culture.

 What's nice too, is to hear him ask for advice and want to apply it. To thank us for teaching him how to work and stick with something, to pray and struggle, to do the will of Heavenly Father, despite what others think - all things we put as a high priority.

We learned that some special promises were made in a blessing to Elder Mafi and we look forward, in hope and in faith, that those blessings will come to pass.

He wants to thank each of you for praying for him, he needs it and feels your strength.

 THANK YOU!

We as a family also appreciate your love, interest and tender words about our son when we see you.

Bless you and may God bless this work and all the missionaries! Carry On! Carry On!

Ofa Lahi Atu & Happy New Year! 

Elder Kalisi Mandemark Mafi - and fam.

Malo e lelei famili,

It is actually a very white Christmas here in Tonga. Lots of snow on the trees and Christmas spirit floating around. Just kidding haha but there is ONE house that has lights! 

Here in Tonga, Vava'u, there is not much progress being made, unfortunately, but I am pressing forward. Things are hard, but I know the Lord and your prayers at home are keeping me afloat so thank you all so much. 

 Elder Mafi's little Danish Christmas tree and "mini Mafi Family"

 by Kristie the-peg-doll-queen Bumstead

 (a few of the things he received in his Christmas package).

 Pday

 View in Vava'u

 Elder Mafi's comp (far left), Elder and Elder Mafi

That ONE house that has Christmas lights

Regardless of how tough the work is we are making some progress with a family! They are less active because some of the members weren't very nice so they stopped coming. 

After many visits and family home evenings, TWO OF THEM CAME LAST SUNDAY!!! I was so happy! If we can get the two to keep coming the Lord will provide a way to get them all to come. They also know a little English so I am learning a lot by going over to their house. They teach me, I teach them, it's a nice little back and forth, haha.

One of the things here in Tonga is that you have to eat a lot. It shows respect to the family. So I've learned this cool thing. So you wanna be respectful right...? and no doubt the food is decent like you might even like it? But you're full... You've eaten too much chicken, had your fair share of boiled leaves, but there's this heaping pile of food left on your plate...what do you do? You think and think and you're like, well I didn't wanna do this, but looks like you gotta umaki that sucka, hahaha. Umaki, for those who don't know, is an ancient art passed down from generation to generation, of...drinking and eating at the same time, haha. Take a bit, drink, eat, repeat! that's how I make it through most of my fafangas (dinner appointments). I know, I'm not proud but hey, the fam needs their blessings.

Love all of you guys a lot. Thank you for your pictures and your letters and packages and prayers, you're really helpin' a "brutha out." (I mean Elder, haha)

Ofa Atu!

Elder Mafi

Malo e lelei Famili!

Just want to start by thanking you all again for writing me and sending me emails. I always love to hear about what's up and all that.

SO, the past week has been transfers. My trainer, I had for 3 weeks got transferred out so now I have a new comp. Elder Palanite. He speaks very little English which is great because then I'll be able to get my Tongan up.

We have some good teaching opportunities this coming week...a few actually. So hopefully they will turn into papis (baptisms). We have a papi scheduled for next week too!

We were praying for someone to find, then one day some kid walked up and he knew Elder Palanite because they used to party together but he saw that E. Palanite wasn't doing that stuff anymore and after some talking, he's like, "aye, I want to get baptized." So we're gonna teach him the lessons baptize him soon.  It'll be the first one in Pangai Motu in 4 years! I'm super excited!

That's all I have for this week, I hope all is chill at home. 

I know that when we obey the commandments and are obedient to what we have been asked, the Lord will bless us with the things we need. He will be able to speak through us and will help us further His work.

I love you all!

Kataki ki he ngata anga (Sorry this is the end)

Elder Mafi

Favorite Scripture: Alma 26;3

Nuku'alofa to Vava'u ~ October Adventures!

 Eating Tongan pie in Houma

 The Blowhole in Houma

 Elders Valahulu and Mafi

 Country Road

 Houma Store

Vava'u Elders at pig fence service project

October 16th ~ 2016

How's it? I have some news, I have an appointment to baptize! We're in charge of two wards, Houma 1st & 2nd and I had the opportunity to bless the sacrament!

The work here is a lot of members finding people and us doing the teaching. Going over to members houses though is a risky thing. Not because it's dangerous, but because they feed you...and feed you...and feed you. I've had lu (meat wrapped in taro leaves and cooked until soft) for 5 meals in a row, haha. I try to eat but I'm like, " is it worth getting obese? No, no it's not." Sometimes I just mash it up and make it look like I've eaten, haha. Sometimes you do what you gotta do.

The language is really hard to get down. I'm trying really hard. I mostly just sit there and listen, if I hear my name I just nod.

October 23rd ~ 2016

Aye team,

How's it going? Fefe Hake, Oku mou sai pe?

I have a few updates to give you all!

I have had my first baptism! His name is Manako. It was a really cool experience. It wasn't our investigator but still I got to baptize him and the Spirit was really strong, and to see that person's aura change was very special.

The two investigators that my comp. and I are teaching are both committed to baptism, I mentioned one last week.

I even got to take the lead on the lessons. My Tongan is getting better and I'm starting to be able to understand what people are saying. I read the scripture Grandma Finau gave me every day, it's in Alma 37:34-37 I would encourage you all to read it too when you can. 

Oh! Funny story...well not for me.

So we were fasting for our investigators and we just closed it and were looking for some food. Then our fafanga (the person who feeds the missionaries that night/day) drops off some curry sheep and we start eating. Next day, I had to stay home because, well, had to stay close to the bathroom!

That's about it! Ofa Lahi Atu (I love you very much)

Elder Mafi

October 31st 2016

HI MOM! I have lots to tell you!

Last Monday after I got done emailing you and everyone that day I was told I was going to Vava'u! 

I had no time to tell anyone or do anything but pack and leave.

One of the Elders that I came out with from the MTC went home because he was homesick so I took his place. I don't know why I was chosen. I am doing great now, this new area is just what I needed. I also needed a more responsible companion/trainer. The area is tough though. 

(I'll talk about it in my weekly email to everyone)

"Elder Mafi closed his quick email to me with this moving sentence. I was overwhelmed and sensitive to it as my heart aches for the family who's son left the mission field early. I want to dedicate it to all the strong mother's, observant fathers, family and friends who come across this entry this week. I know Beni and I aren't the only ones who have made an impact on this boy of ours life, we  pray he continues and perseveres in faith, as we all must. This life is wonderful and terrible and worth every sacrifice for the betterment of our children and our families. I could say so much more, but again, this isn't just for me, it's for all of you who have helped and loved the 

Larsen - Mafi families in immeasurable ways."

I wanna tell you that I love you a lot and that you've always been a great and amazing mother to me...thank you. - Kalisi 

"A little payback from your kids is always nice."

Aye Squad! What's good? I'm just here in Tonga serving and what-not...haha.

I recently got called to serve in Vava'u last Monday night, (a different island group from Tongatapu, and approx. 190mi. away from Nuku'alofa), so I packed up all my things and headed out. I have been transferred to this little village called, Pangaimotu. the work here is very, very rough. It's a struggle to talk to people because the missionaries before kinda put a bad taste in the member's mouths. Honestly, I don't believe I'll be baptizing a lot, but there will be a lot of ngaue ofa (service) and helping people trust the missionaries again. I am willing to serve. 

We built this pig fence for a little old lady and she was so happy. It was a cool experience and I can't wait to help out more people. We also helped this person get coconuts for their pigs. I drank a crazy amount of that coconut milk, it was hecka good. 

We've gone without food for a couple of days but it's ok, we're losing weight. haha.

We're walking a lot, not to teach but to go to meetings and such. It's 6 miles round trip just for a meeting. It's all good, I can walk and lose some weight. 

Also, here in Vava'u the pigs run around like squirrels in America! I want to ride one! They are giant! 

Lots of good is about to start with me and my comp. We're both pumped to serve, and I can see that we'll be friends when we get home.

'Till next week, Oku ou ofa lahi atu!

After enduring the MTC for almost 6 weeks then topping it off by singing in the Missionary Choir at the Saturday session of General Conference Elder Mafi made it to Nuku'alofa Tonga!

Hi Mom! Ofa Atu!

It's been a crazy time here in Tonga. Everyone is so chill and it's nice, yet really humbling. There's no sense of status really so that makes it great. I like my mission president.
Elder Valahulu is my trainer, he's from Vava'u and he's good, he's got 4 months left. There is another set of missionaries in the area but they stay separate from us.
Tonga is a LOT like Jamaica, very 3rd world, but better cause I'm serving a mission.

So, a couple of stories:

Here in tonga people will steal/take anything, cause that's just the way they live. When I first got here I realized I had left my wallet on the plane, but you know what? Someone was honest enough to return it to me! It was really embarrassing but I was so thankful!

Secondly, the dogs here are hecka vicious, they want to destroy you!  So we were walking in the dark, back to our mission quarters and I felt like I should say a prayer and I could feel the Lord saying to me, " I will protect you." A minute later 4 dogs came, with their mouths all slobbery and wanting to "eat" us (haha). Then 2 other dogs came from a different house and started barking at them and ran all the way up to the 4 dogs and stood them off. Then the 2 dogs walked with us until we made it back into the light of the street lamps. It was pretty cool and scary but I had faith that God would protect us and he did!
So my advice is to recognize and have faith in the Lord and you will be blessed.

Less than a week!

Malo e lelei! (Hello)
Fefe hake? (How are you?)
Oku ou sai pe mo fiemohea lahi (I'm very tired)
So we have these role playing scenarios and in them we have to prepare lessons before hand and teach in Tongan. I am dropping my notes this week. That means I can't have any notes or anything when going into the lessons and honestly I'm trying to get the language down and the Lord knows. So this is what's cool, I have no idea what I'm saying, I'm just saying it and the Spirit is doing the rest of the work. I've gotten my "investigator" to feel the Spirit super strong to the point where he tears up. In the past two lessons my comp and I were the first to get him to commit to baptism.
I tried learning Kolipoki (Groberg) style the past few days and it's difficult but I feel like I'm learning things I wouldn't otherwise learn if I weren't reading from the scriptures.
I've had the opportunity to have many conversations with my teacher and also some of the elders in my district. One thing we talked about is the difference between having faith in someone and too much faith in someone to the point where the endeavor to have faith in them was foolish. Throughout my conversation I learned this, nothing is wrong with having too much faith in someone. As your faith and hope grows, so will your charity, and only when you allow those two to grow, can you build your charity. Charity is pure love and we read that it never fails so any love or care you give someone will never be in vain.
The other thing is to never be afraid of asking God what to ask for. I was wondering, since God has infinite blessings for us and all we have to do is ask, how do we know what to ask for? Do we wait until a situation to arise to receive a gift or a blessing? I think sometimes we should but if we feel like we haven't been blessed we can pray and he will either, one, not give us the blessing BUT will show us our blessings he gives us now or, two, give us what we ask for.
Dad, I'm glad you're my dad thank you for praying for me. Also, you can tell mom oku ou ofa ia koe. That means my love is in you and it's like more of a big deal than ofa atu (I love you). That's what my teacher said, and you only say that to your wife or girlfriend, haha, cool ya?

MTC life

Hello Mother, Father and Sister!

Ok updates....

We have classes sometimes for a total of Nine hours but it helps me get the language down and I'm learning a lot. Slowly, but surely. I see Tanner Fuller sometimes and so it's cool to see a friendly face now and then. I'm getting alongish with my companion. I mean we're not fighting but I'm learning to love haha. It's mostly me that's the problem tbh. 

I spend a lot of time studying and trying to understand the language. For those who don't know, Tongan has a lot of unspoken rules so it's just a matter of repetition and understanding when to use, 'i he, ha, 'e, kihe...things like that. But, in my opinion, though it's a lot easier than Spanish because there's not like millions of tenses. If you wanna say something in the past you start with Na'a. If you wanna say something in the future you start with Te. So it's a little more simple than Spanish in that sense. 

Things here at the MTC are literally like ten things. Wake up, study, eat, class, eat, class, eat, fitness, eat, class, study, sleep.

The food isn't too  bad tho we had Navajo tacos yesterday. VERY yummy.

I have a lot of notes but my main focus has been faith.

Tui in Tongan means faith btw. So as I was studying the scriptures faith has really touched me lately. Not only have I been looking up stuff about it but my teacher has mentioned it AND lds.org has a couple videos that popped up about faith,. One of the things that I've seen is mark 4:37-40 and ether 12:6. I would encourage you to read it and analyze it and listen to see what the lord wants to tell you about these scriptures. I don't wanna be that missionary that makes you read hecka stuff that I write so I won't tell you what I think I wanna know what you all think.

I love you

oku ou ofa lahi atu

Kalisi Mafi (thy son and brother, thy elder)

Hi mom and dad and Esthe!

How have you all been?

I've been good! my district is "supa" cool and we get along super well and joke all day. We are tight already. The teacher is good too like he said to teach by the spirit and let the spirit tell you what the person is saying. The food is lame, I get stomach aches. I can't send picture's quite yet but will soon. My companion is cool. He's Danish, Elder Christensen.  

I've learned a lot. I've learned that the Lord can do the work he just lets us do it becuase he loves us. It's like how as adults we can make cookies with low mess, less dishes and it tastes way better. But when we let kids do it they make a big mess, there's more dishes and they don't taste well. But we do it because we love them and we do it so they can learn. The same goes for our missions and we are the little kids. So thats something that I learned. a 

Love you all lots. Ofa atu. 

Eleta Mafi

Thank You Ball Family! We love you! 

Elder Mafi Reports to Provo MTC

I've been experiencing tsunami like emotions for the past week. Today it hit us all as we watched Kalisi walk through TSA to his gate. MTC bound! 
Luckily our dear friends Kami and Ray Ball picked him up and took him out to lunch at Cafe Rio and the Creamery in Provo.