Well Christi made it to Hawaii last week! She got there on March 6th. This was her half birthday, which was so fun for her. We sent her a package to be there when she got there for her "birthday" we sent candy, a dress, and some random cute fun things and we all sent her a bday card! We did get to talk to her for about 30 minutes on the phone on Tuesday morning when she was at the airport. It was so fun to talk to her! But then sad when she hung up! But we are so happy for her and proud of her for all she is doing! We finally heard from her tonight! We were a little worried with all the storm issues in Hawaii this last week, and we didn't hear from her yesterday! But I guess no news is good news. I am posting some pictures from the MTC she sent us, and parts of her letter from tonight! Sounds like she is doing awesome!
"Anyways so the President was not there at first and then as we were gathering up our luggage he and his wife showed up.. Such an amazing man!!!! Like i loved them both the second I met them! Anyways so we were getting our luggage put together and he is like "so Sister Duke I understand you're from south jordan... and that you know Elder Garritson.." ha ha yes i do!! So he said that our first night was very rare in the mission... not many missionaries get this experience.. so we were going to drive into Laie and attend a baptism.... First night and we get to see a baptism!! HOLLA!!! So we get thee prettiest drive up to Laie and go to this baptism..we got Mickey D's for a quick dinner and then the baptism was up at the church that is on BYU-H campus. After the baptism we got to go into a room and all open up our first assignments and who our companions will be... Sister Smoot goes first and she goes to Maui. Her zone leaders are Garritson and Carrell... lucky. I stayed on Oahu in the Hawaii Kai and Kahala wards(Gary's first areas too :)) And my companion is Sister Fish. After we opened up our letters we went to the Visitors Center cause President needed to talk to someone. So the APs took us up to the temple and we got some pictures and what not! GORGEOUS!!! then we stayed at President's house that night. It was good to finally get to sleep especially with jet lag.. ha ha we got to bed at 11 in hawaii which is 2 in utah... sheesh! so the next day was transfer day... about 100 missionaries were there at the Tab and where the mission office is and we meet out companions. Sister Fish is from AZ and is 23.. We are very much alike and she is very easy to get along with. She's been engaged before, went to snow, plays sports, just tons of connections!! So after the meeting we go to our pad.. we drop off our stuff and get a lesson put together for the appointment we had that night... Marrissa and Tati are two girls investigating the church... Well I gave my first invitation to baptism and they said YES!! but no date is set yet.. we're teaching them again tomorrow and will try to get to that... but it was awesome!!"
"i love being on a mission... I realized that yes this is thee hardest thing i've ever done in my whole life and i could not do it without the help of heavenly father.... but this is thee best thing i've ever done!! i love it so much and time is already going by so fast... 17 more months.... geez. but i love it! i love bringing that joy into people's lives and it helps build my testimony... its changing me for the good and i could not be more grateful to be here. Hawaii is beautiful and is where I'm supposed to be at this time..."
Her missionary tag :)
With Courtnee's "friend" Spencer
Her companion in MTC Sister Smoot
Her roomates!
Her district!
