Tina's Story

The plantation we walk through to get home.

This week was a good week.  We worked hard and did all we could to make the most of the week.  Elsie is continuing to progress.  She came to church again on Sunday and is on date to get baptized on November 12.  She's only 17 years old, but she has so much knowledge and such a huge desire to continue to change.  She loves The Book of Mormon and reads and reads it.  She especially loved church this week because of the Primary program put on by the Primary children.  They recited scriptures and quotes and sang lots of songs.  We don't have a microphone in our bush chapel so we couldn't hear most of it, but we loved the singing.  The children here are soooooooo cute!  I think I just might stick one in my suitcase to bring home! J

On Saturday, Mama Suzanne, Papa Isaac and Tina flew to Fiji to be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity!  Last week, when the flights were finalized, they realized they would be in Fiji the same time as Tina's final exams for school.  Papa Isaac tried talking to Tina's teachers, her principal, anyone he could think of to try and convince them to let Tina take the exams a week early or a week late.  None of them agreed. It was decided that if Tina went to Fiji to the temple, she would not be able to continue on to class 11 next year.  Papa Isaac and Mama Suzanne explained this to Tina. They told her that they trusted God and that when we put Him first in our lives, He will take care of everything else.  Through tears, Tina decided she would go to the temple and go through class 10 again next year.  Talk about faith!!  The people I know here in Vanuatu never fail to teach me!!  The sacrifices they make amaze me and build my faith too!

We also had the chance to teach Papa Joseph and Mama Alice again yesterday.  I love teaching them because they know so much about the Bible and they ask such intelligent questions- not super common for people in Vanuatu!  We taught them about the Plan of Salvation.  The spirit was helping us answer all his questions in a way that he could relate to them.  Even though Papa Joseph is a strong SDA (Seventh Day Adventist), he admitted many times throughout the lesson how much he has to learn and how much he wants to study more about our religion.  

I just want to send out a special THANK YOU to all of you who have been sending me emails of support.  Every word of encouragement helps get me through the hard parts of the week.  I love you all!  Make it a great week.