'so in the world of today: 13 Feb 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-A study found that by 2050 the US will experience a ‘mega-drought’ due to climate change.
-Over a thousand people gathered in DC to mourn the murder of three Muslim Americans.
-A majority of Americans support Obama’s proposed war on Isis.
-Ruth Bader Ginsburg admitted to being drunk during the president’s State of the Union address.
-A Turkish journalist was arrested for tweeting about corruption in the government.
-The UN threatened to sanction anyone who buys oil from Isis.

'so in the world of today: 12 Feb 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-A ceasefire deal was reached in Ukraine.
-A leukemia patient in California is suing to have the state allow her a doctor assisted suicide.
-A study found that children raised by a homosexual parent or parents are more likely to suffer emotional distress than those of heterosexual parent or parents.
-An Oregon court ruled that a bakery refusing to make a gay wedding cake was guilty of discrimination.

'So in the world of today: 10 Feb 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-Newsweek’s twitter account may’ve been hacked by Isis.
-Governor Jeb Bush released private information on hundreds of Florida residents to the public.
-The FEC chairperson (in charge of responsible election spending) was found to spend thousands of tax dollars in every trip.
-Obama may ask congress for permission to declare war with Isis.
-A study found that Europe’s Jewish population dropped by 1.8 million since 1960.

'Hi Beautiful' by Sister Koroitamana

Hi! How are you? How was your week?

This week we've been trying to help our Investigator Everson from Brazil to prepare for Baptism. He has a baptismal Date for this coming Saturday but he just doesn't feel ready yet. We spoke with our leaders and we felt good about having meet with President White (He is one of Presidents in our Mission who helps people resolve their concerns before being Baptized) it was a great meeting but Everson still wasn't really willing to progress:( I just felt sooo sad through out that lesson. I've been praying for him and trying to discern really what it is that Heavenly Father wants us to do to help him but he still struggles with believing that the Book of Mormon is true. He believes that part of it is true but not all of it. During that lesson with President I just felt like a Mom trying to help her child but not really knowing how. I don't know how we can help Everson but I do know that I really love him and desire his salvation. Please pray for him. How I am realizing so much now that God really is anxious to talk to us. I am learning so much about the importance of those small and simple things like reading and praying daily and how much of a blessing they can be in our lives. 

This week we had a great weekend. Our Recent Convert Eddie received the Priesthood and he has just changed and just looks and feels so much more happier now since he's been baptized. I am really proud of him and I know and can feel that Heavenly Father is as well. He was a little iffy about Baptism for a couple of months but now that he's taken that step he just looks so much happier and Brighter. The Gospel really does something to us. One Tender Mercy this week that I really wanted to share was that while we were in Downtown LA trying to talk with Everyone we met a man named David as we talked with him he mentioned that he just got out prison last September after being there for the last 20 years! He was in there since 1994! Wow! Sister Peterson and I were really just in awe and sooo happy for him. He was soooo happy to be alive and out and to be free. Wow! we introduced ourselves and straight away asked where the church was. We told him about it and told him about the Book of Mormon. He said that he would like to read one. He promised that he would read if he could get one. (Normally we didn't really carry extra copies of Books of Mormon with us besides the one that we normally use but that day as we were about to leave our car I felt the Holy Ghost tell me to pack an extra one just in case) I was sooo glad I did because we weren't close to the car and David was sooo grateful to have it. We called him the day after and he committed to read it. We also met another cute couple in their 70's while in Downtown! There names were Aaron and Sharon.As we spoke with them and introduced ourselves they immediately recognized us as "Mormon Missionaries" then they said that they'd been telling themselves and thinking that they should become a Mormon and convert. They have had such a great experience with Members in their lives and they really just want that :) Sister Peterson and I were just all smiles as we listened to them express their love for the Mormons in their lives that they knew. They are going to start meeting with Missionaries in their area. 

Also this week we had a mini Missionary with us:) It was sooo Fun! Her name was Sister Dawn Frost she's Samoan and soo cute! She loved being with us and is currently waiting to finish her papers and receive her call. Reminds me of me when I went on my Mini Mission.

I Love you!!!

Sister Koroitamana

'So in the world of today: 9 Feb 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-North Korea says it has new ‘cutting edge’ misses
-Bagdad’s curfew was lifted. Lots of people died.
-Obama asked Germany to give the NSA the ‘benefit of the doubt’.
-Boko Harem abducted 30.
-France and Morocco vowed to fight terror together.

'Some of my Feelings About Jesus and the First Amendment' by Sam Orr

     So recently in the world Isis and other Islamist extremists like Al Qaeda and Boko Harem have dominated the headlines, and they’ve done so by almost being your stereotypical mustache twirling villains. Honestly they couldn’t be any less subtle about being evil if they got someone with a stereo to follow them around and play the imperial march everywhere they went. On the one hand it’s refreshing when the enemy is so clear-cut and obvious. But on the other hand this means that some people have had a tendency to clump everyone with the same ideology together in one camp.
     Now as silly as this may sound, some have been taking it seriously. Some have even been calling for war. Not war with a specific nation, or with extremism, but war with Islam itself.  Ridiculous isn’t it? Islam is a religion that teaches charity, virtue, love faith and good works, but few alleged Muslims go bananas and suddenly the world religion is evil. I think you’ll agree with me when I say a good Christian should not want war with good Muslims, but rather want to live in harmony with them.
     Now where am I going with this you may ask? Well as it happens one of those email directed me to a YouTube page, where more of this hateful talk was being spouted. I’m sorry to say I read the comments. Really you shouldn’t read YouTube comments since there’s rarely anything there worth reading, but I did anyway. One person I noted was speaking out against the hatred in the comments and the video. Another person responded very harshly, saying in essence that the original poster was being naïve and that his/her ideas were shortsighted. The responder said that one day he/she would have to choose a side.
     The first commenter responded, and the response I feel illustrates quite clearly why I love being a Christian and an American.
“I have chosen a side. I side with the constitution of the United States which says that all men are created equal. It says that everyone ought to have the freedom to worship as they choose to worship even if they worship Allah. I also side with Jesus Christ, our Lord, who said to love our enemies forgive those who trespass against us and turn the other cheek.”
So profound was this response that when I went back to pick up this quote I found that the responder had removed their reply entirely. I know that Christ Lives, and that he loves each of us, even those of us who worship a different God, or the same God in a different way. I know he set up this land for us, so we would have the freedom to become better, perhaps even become like him.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.

'so in the world of today: 6 Feb 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-Isis is selling Iraqi children into slavery.
-Ferguson is experimenting with less-lethal guns.
-The Pope says spanking is OK as long as it’s done respectfully.
-Representative Blumenauer proposed that the government find ways to tax people by the miles they drive.
-Russia is helping the Ukrainian separatists
-Turkey refused to be at a security meeting because they didn't want to associate with the Israeli delegation.
-Some parts of Canada may soon allow doctor assisted suicides.
-China is upset about the Dali Lama attending a public event that Obama also attended.

'so in the world of today: 5 Feb 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-In Cameroon Boko Harem killed at least 60 people.
-A drone got an al-Qaida leader.
-Putin may have Aspergers.
-Isis are killing kids in the most tortuous and brutal fashion.
-Obama vetoed two bills meant to bring transparency to federal spending.
-Staples bought Office Depot.
-Anthem health insurance was hacked.

'So in the world of today (it's another big one): 3 Feb 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today (it's another big one):
-Poland decided to sell Ukraine weapons.
-224 Ukrainians (both nationalists and separatists) have dies in the last 3 weeks.
-A new study found that viewing pornography literally shuts down the brains decision processing centers.
-A man in Texas was arrested for paying his property taxes in folded 1$ bills.
-The White House is cutting back on some veteran care programs.
-A Muslim family on a Delta plane was made to move to the back of the plane because of their faith.
-The Muslim brotherhood met with the state department, then declared ‘a long uncompromising jihad’.
-Students at the University of Chicago are holding a fundraiser to help a convicted terrorist.
-The NSA has new regulations. They can still spy on you, but they can’t keep the data for long.
-The UN decided that the systematic killing of 8,000 Muslims in the 90’s by Serbia wasn't really genocide.

'Small and Simple Things:)' by Sister Koroitamana

This past Saturday we had the privilege and blessing to go through the Temple with Bob Black. He is the Recent Convert from Manhattan Beach that we found a little over a year ago and helped and was baptized. He looked so happy and at Peace. As we prepared ourselves to go there my heart was sooooooo full of Gratitude and love for our Heavenly Father and Savior and this wonderful work and for leading us to find Bob and especially for the person that he is now because of the Gospel. Being there with him really just helped me to see the Eternal Perspective of everything we do here. It was really an amazing experience:) One I will cherish forever. As we all stood in the Temple with Bob and some of the members from the Manhattan Beach ward my heart was again filled with so much gratitude and love to be surrounded all in one room with all these people that I've come to love so much! I was sooo filled with Joy. I looked at Bob and saw how he was just taking everything in - it was sooo great to reflect on how the small and simple things we do everyday can really lead to great things. I am grateful the spirit led us to talk to Bob in his Garage that day that we met him. He is soooo cool I am so grateful for Temples. I really needed to go there that day. It really just helped me to feel and see the Eternal Perspective and feel really how much Heavenly Father really does love us so individually and sooo deeply. I am sooo grateful for Covenants. I don't think I ever would have really understood how wonderful covenant keeping really is if I weren't here. Something that I really loved about the Temple this time was just seeing and feeling how single minded to his Father's will our Savior was. I am so in awe and humbled to feel how much love he had for his Father and how obedient he was. I want to be like that. It reminded of this quote I had come across earlier in my Mission: "Remember thatJesus’ power came through His single-mindeddevotion to the will of the Father. He nevervaried from that which pleased His Father.¹¹Strive to be that kind of disciple of the Fatherand the Son, and your influence will neverfade."  Elder Christofferson. I love this quote it's really helped me a lot! and really helped me to feel closer to my Heavenly Father and I've definitely seen and felt this promise ring true. 
This week my Companion and I saw lots of Miracles as well! Wow! I really love listening to and following promptings! I feel like this is something that I am learning so much here and something that I really treasure. I am learning to discern that whatever thought that comes to my mind if it is to do good than I can know with all surety that it is from God:) that is something I am constantly striving to work on and Sister Peterson has really helped me a lot with that. Each time I feel like I am getting a prompting to do something, to visit some one or to go somewhere she's always really supportive regardless of how inconvenient it may be. One such experience happened on Saturday night. We had just had dinner and we were on our way to Hollywood when suddenly and almost subtly the thought to be in a different area and talk to people there came to my mind. I told Sister Peterson about it and we both were like uh..it's a little out of the way and we didn't really have time so we prayed about it and decided that after going tot visit a less active in Hollywood we were going to straight there and talk to people there. We did just that and when we got to the less active Sisters home in Hollywood we called her and told her we were outside and she somehow had forgotten that we were suppose to meet that night hence she wasn't really ready for a visit.We rescheduled with her and straight away went to the place we felt we prompted to go to. As we went there we only had about 30 minutes left for the night so we said a prayer and went about sharing the Gospel. As we got there I personally said a prayer in my heart and just told Heavenly Father that I trusted him and that this is us trying to follow this prompting/good thought. As we  continued to talk with people time almost soo fast caught up with us and before we knew it it was almost time to go home. Right as we were waiting at the light to cross and get to our car. I felt prompted to talk with at least more person while we were still waiting at the light so I turned around and found the person that looked like we could talk to.As we talked with him we learned that his name was Brandon and he looked happy but also a little surprised that we were talking with him. We talked with him and testified to him that we weren't really sure where we should go that night but we felt that we should be there and we knew that God led us there that night for a reason. He looked at us then expressed that a couple of weeks ago he had come across a lady that had told him a little about the Savior coming again and upon hearing that he felt scared because of all the things that were written in scripture that would happen. He expressed that since then that has been on his mind and he has been feeling such a need to go to church but didn't really have any that he was going to. My heart felt so comforted as he said these things and I could just feel so deeply that Heavenly Father loves him so much and that he led us there so that we could help Brandon. We had a great little lesson with him that night and testified to him that we knew God had sent us there to find him. He agreed to come to church and to meet with us again. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost and for our Heavenly Father and Savior. I am so grateful to know that Our Heavenly Father loves each of his children and knows what it is that they need and as we listen to the subtle whisperings of the Holy Ghost, miracles happen.

I Love you!!! Keep Following your promptings!
Love,

Sister Koroitamana:)

'So in the world of today: February 2, 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-Egypt approved the death penalty for 183 people.
-A 93 year old Nazi is being tried for his involvement in the Holocaust.
-The center for immigration studies found that the Obama administration has given out several million work permits to illegal immigrants since 2009.
-Obama announced that blocking his immigration actions may threaten national security.
-United steel workers are striking for more money.