Faafetai I Le Atua

Malo soifua!!!

"And thus ended my sojourn in the Home MTC (in my room most of the time, so there really wasn't much sojourning, tbh)" - The Book of Mauga 6:37

[Notes from Jacob's mother:  1). "Mauga" is Samoan for "mountain/hill".  2)  Elder Hill flies out tomorrow for the mission field. He was notified this weekend that his first area in the New York City Mission will be Staten Island.]

It's kinda weird to think that I'm just done with the MTC. It feels like yesterday that we started, all bright and eager and innocent of the pains of Samoan grammar. Now us eight elders are a little older, a little wiser, still bright and eager, but now tired and weary of the pains of Samoan grammar. Truly a great tale to be told.

This week we did a lot of SYL and roleplaying, both in faaPalagi (English) and faaSamoa (Samoan). Elder Brown and I did a few TRCs this week as well. Two were with Katie, who we had begun teaching last week, and one with Mariah in Samoan. Unfortunately, Mariah did not join the lesson, possibly again because of her health issues during her pregnancy (nothing serious, she just gets sick sometimes). I wish them both the best. This week we also got the opportunity to take turns singing or playing for the opening song in each of Sis Macarilay's classes (I was picked for last Tuesday). I got to sing a Samoan hymn called "Aua E Te Maliu Ese (Do Not Pass Me By)" which is a truly beautiful hymn. I sang a capella, and all of the elders were absolutely swooning 😂.

This week was full of lasts, and even a couple firsts. I played basketball with some elders in my stake for the last time on Thursday. My last class with Uso Gardiner was actually on Thursday (I'll talk about that later). My last class with the district was yesterday (Friday), with many a heartfelt goodbye. My last prank on teachers was yesterday, and it was a doozy (also more on that later). I got to vote for the first time on Friday as well, so that was kinda fun. My district also made a "pass the tag" video, which I'll add below. I also began packing my life for the first time this weekend, so that's both exciting and sad, but oh well.

And finally, I got to go to the temple for the first time last night!!! It was absolutely incredible, and I'm so grateful that so many of my friends and family were able to come as well.

In our last class all together, Uso Tepa repeatedly said the phrase "faafetai i le Atua," or "thanks to God." I really love that, and I think it embodies my life, my time in the MTC, this last week in particular, and my hopes for my mission. If nothing else, I want to always be able to stop and think about my blessings and say with a smile "faafetai i le Atua." I'm really gonna miss all of my friends from the district, both elders and teachers, but I'm more than excited to hop on that plane in two days and fly off to the next phase of my life. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, and I hope I do that everyday, but I also hope that I remember to thank God every day for each and every blessing that He gives me. Faafetai i le Atua.

Sam Fam Shenanigans: This week was an absolute party on top of everything else. Elder Kauer introduced our district to the concept of editing text in a Chrome browser (I'll omit specific details here), and some happy chaos ensued. Nothing illegal, rude, or dangerous, just wholesome and hilarious fun. Of particular note, I began writing a chronicle of my time in the MTC titled the Book of Mauga (I'll attach a couple screenshots for your enjoyment).

Before our last class of the MTC with Sis Macarilay, we all threw on hoodies over our shirts and ties. We joined the call, and she got super confused. We were all just sayin "it's Casual Friday, didn't you hear?" This got her even more confused until we all whipped off our hoodies and revealed our prank. She laughed a lot, and we continued to have an awesome lesson.

Finally, the best one yet. So my whole district has access to a video of me just sitting at my desk reading. Occasionally someone will change their name to Elder Hill during class, set that video as their virtual background, and watch the teachers get confused at the two or three or four Elder Hills on screen. Well, we did this during a workshop lesson with missionaries and teachers from other districts, and it worked too well! The other missionaries didn't notice for about half an hour (and the teachers never did). Eventually, however, one elder asked why there were three Elder Hills in the meeting. Another elder replied "they're probably bots or something, I dunno." Before any of us could reply, all three of us (Elders Brown, Kauer, and myself) were booted from the meeting!! We all started laughing so hard at the crazy and sudden reaction to it. What made it almost funnier was that since we had been booted, we physically could not rejoin the meeting, so we had to just call it a day.

I just wanna take a moment and restate yet again that our district is full of hard working, responsible elders. We just had a lot of fun sometimes haha.

Mafaufauga Fa'aleagaga: My thought today is just an experience and a quote. The experience was the temple. I was blessed with the opportunity to receive my endowment in the temple last night, and I was blessed further by having my parents, some siblings and some extended family, and some dear friends go thorough with me. It was truly a special experience, one that I will never forget.

And lastly, I'll just leave this quote, spoken by Elder Mckrola, here for you to consider:

"Pray like it all depends on God, and work like it all depends on you."

Alofa tele lava lo'u itu ma o'u faia'oga. Alofa tele lave fo'i ia outou uma. (I love my district and my teachers, and I love all of you).

Faafetai i le Atua.

Elder Hill

Photos (In whatever order they're in):

• Two pictures in front of the Gilbert Temple (one just me, one with the whole group)
• The workshop with three Elder Hills (we were booted not long after this)
• Sam Fam name tags
• "Casual Friday" in our hoodies (ft. Sis Macarilay's confusion)
• Me being a responsible adult and voting, sticker and all
• A playing card for the Tarako Pa'epa'e, the White Dragon (a big white Samoan grammar book)
• The introduction to the Book of Mauga
• Elders Tenney, Brown, and myself enjoying the new updated filters and features on Zoom
• Video:  Sam Fam District, "Pass the Tag" 
• Elders Kauer and Hill, after church meetings today.  Elder Kauer leaves Wednesday for Minneapolis.
• An image of the house where Elder Hill will live in Staten Island, NY
• Video:  Elder Hill singing "Aua E Te Maliu Ese".  The general meaning of this verse is, "Beloved Savior, stay with me and help me."