Welcome Home Sister Draper!

Now this is the testimony last of all which I give . . .

Fijan dance we performed at Zone Conference

I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us.  He hears and answers our prayers according to His will and His timing.  Our Heavenly Father knows our deepest desires and dreams and wants us to improve and so He gives us trials that will stretch us to our limits.  However, as He stretches us He is constantly there to help us.  In fact, He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.  He was one who could help us better than anyone else because He would suffer every sorrow, every challenge, every discouragement we face.  He knows us perfectly.  Jesus Christ made it possible not only for us to be forgiven of our sins and receive peace once again, but also to rely upon His grace and mercy when our own strength isn't enough.  Jesus Christ set the perfect example of love and service and it is a life long journey to try to become as He is.

I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.  He saw God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ.  He restored God's one and only church to the world.  He translated a book that I have grown to love more than any other book, "The Book of Mormon".  It truly will bring one closer to God than any other book.  When I open that book, I feel as if the windows of heaven are opening.  Every verse can teach us something.  That book testifies of Christ and helps us come to know Him.  We have a living prophet who leads and guides this church through revelation.  He holds the power of God, Priesthood power.  This power is real and is so individual.  It is available to bless the lives of all of us.  I am so thankful for a Father in Heaven who has created a perfect plan for all of and a way to succeed.  I have experienced personally how this plan brings light into our lives.  I have watched as people hear of this plan for the first time and have the spirit witness that it is true.  I know that God is in the details of our lives.  He is in control.  I know that as we submit our will to Him that He will make more of us than we could ever become alone.

I have such a long way to go and so much more to learn, but I am so thankful for the time that I have to continue to learn and grow and become.  I know this gospel is true.  There is not a doubt in my mind.  I will forever be grateful for the time God has given me to be a full-time missionary in Vanuatu and to serve the people here.

I love you all and will see you soon!  Eight more days and I'll be home!

District photo: Sista Betero, Draper, Sellesin and Putri, Elder Hyatt and Naikasau

Sunshine and Rain

This week flew by!  We started off the week with contacting like crazy.  We found a few new investigators who are promising.  It's always amazes me how all you have to do here in Vanuatu is ask to share a message about Jesus Christ and people are more than happy to let you come into their homes and share.

We finally had the chance to meet with Mary, a lady that we contacted 2 weeks ago.  She has had a Buk Blong Momon (Book of Mormon) for a few years now that was given to her by some tourist who came on a cruise ship.  She has read parts of it and knows that it is true.  When she saw Sista Betero and I teaching Gwendaline and realized that we were Mormons she was so excited.  It was an incredible lesson!  She is so prepared and next lesson we will be teaching her, her husband, and her three children! Yesterday they all came to church together. We are so excited for them!

Thursday I had my first "last kakae" at Julie's house.  They made laplap susur banana and it about killed Sista Betero and I.  Eating laplap is like eating stones and for the next few days you regret you ever ate it.  However, it was really nice to spend the time with them and it makes me realize how short my time left here in Vanuatu really is.

We went over to teach Andre this week and before we taught him he said he had some things to tell us.  He said he wants to go forward with the marriage on Saturday but he doesn't feel ready for baptism.  He wouldn't share with us why, but Annie hinted it was due to some problems with the word of wisdom.  We'll continue to work plenty with him to help him get ready.  Please, please keep him in your prayers.

Papa Nicolas, papa blo Latisha, also came to church this week.  He had some wonderful insights that he shared in gospel principles class and especially loved priesthood class.  Their neighbor, Jenny, also came back from Ambae this past week and has been a great help in fellowshipping and involving Etna, Jinette and Latrisha in family house night and other activities.  She is a blessing to them and us.  I know God placed her next to this family so that she could help them.

I LOVE VANUATU!!!!  I am so blessed to be here and have the chance to know these people and learn with them!

More Miracles!

Sorry, we don't have a lot of time this week because we are leaving early to go for a district hike in Fanafol. . .  BUT this week was a good, busy week!  We worked a lot with a couple named Dona and Dean and our goal was to set a marriage date with them this week. Dona is Annie's brother (Annie is Andre's woman and will become his wife on the 18th) and so his family has been very supportive.  It's been really neat to watch Dean especially when we teach the two of them.  Dean is a member of the Church of Christ and knows a lot about the Bible but as we have really focused on The Book of Mormon when we teach and read with them, her eyes and heart have been opened.  However, on Saturday we went for an appointment only to find out that Dean is going to Ambae, a small outer island, and doesn't know when she will be getting home.  It was really hard to say goodbye, knowing that we probably will never see her again.  I just hope and pray she continues to read and study so that when she comes back to Santo she will be ready for marriage and baptism with Dona.

Annie and Andre are doing wonderful!  Andre is probably my favorite investigator to teach because his questions send me back to the house to find answers.  The marriage is still on for the 18th, followed by his baptism!

We finally tracked down a previous investigator of Sista Manly, Ocean.  She was all ready for baptism but then she went to the bush for a few months.  Tom, one of her best friends who is a returned missionary, also came back from Vila the same week Ocean came back from the bush.  Tom has been great about helping Ocean and involving her.  He has been a blessing to her and us.  She is also working towards baptism on the 18th of this month.

This week we had some fun times with drunk men as well.  We got stoned and followed on two different occasions.  It scared poor Sista Betero pretty bad, but God really is protecting us.  When we got stoned there was a mama outside her yard that pulled us in and went and yelled at the men. And we were able to lose the drunk man that was following us.  We're definitely trying to be more aware and cautious though. There's a reason why we have to be home by dark!

On Thursday night we ate dinner with our American neighbors and their Bahi friends from Kiribati and Iran.  It was a very interesting mix of people, but a good chance to share our beliefs.  We gave them a Book of Mormon as well as the Restoration pamphlet.  They were interested to hear about what we do, but unfortunately not very interested in the gospel itself.  We hope that they will read The Book of Mormon and pray about it, and then maybe they will be more receptive.

I've done a lot of studying about church history this week and it is fascinating.  It has opened my eyes even more to the massive plan that God has!  His work will move forward and nothing will stand in it's way.  I'm so thankful to be part of that work.  I love it!  Have a great week!

Gwendaline

Lots of work.  Lots of walking.  Lots of teaching.  Can life get much better?  We had the chance to do exchanges this week.  I got to spend the day with Sista Manly in Sharpi.  It was fun for her to be back in her old area and see the people she previously taught.  Exchanges are always a great chance to learn and grow so I am thankful for the chance I had to do so with Sista Manly.

Gwendaline was baptized on Saturday!!  She was terrified, absolutely terrified.  She and Anerose were supposed to meet us at the church for the baptism, but Anerose called us just before the baptism telling us that Gwendaline was shaking because she was so scared.  We jumped on a taxi to go to her house.  We said a prayer with her asking for peace and assurance that she was doing exactly what God wanted.  Almost immediately Gwendaline calmed down and we all went down to the church together.   She was baptized and it was a great experience.

We continue to work with Andre and Annie in helping them prepare for February 18th.  Their family has been a huge blessing and support system for them.  Jinette, Etna and Latrisha continue to help us as we work with their families.  Those three read The Book of Mormon like crazy!!  They read 10 chapters in 4 days!!

God just keeps sending miracles!  Sista Betero and I are just amazed how much God is helping us and we know that it is because of all your prayers in our behalf.  Thank you so much!!  I love you all!

Working in Sharpi

Gwendaline is our newest miracle.  She is all set for baptism this Saturday at 10 a.m. She came to church yesterday with two of her nephews and they loved Primary.  Our branch has been having quite a few problems lately, but the Primary is the one program that seems to always stay strong.  The mamas that teach are phenomenal and are some of the strongest members in our branch.  Gwendaline has also learned to love the gospel principles class that just started and is taught by one of the returned missionaries in our branch, Dax.  He recently returned home from serving a mission in France and is also our district clerk.  He has been wonderful at taking care of the responsibilities of our branch president as President Granger tries to find a new one.

Sista Norton went back to Mango on Friday with her new companion, Sista Welter, from Micronesia.  We cleaned out their house the day before Sista Welter came.  We walked into an awful smelling house and came to find that the neighbors had turned off the fridge.  All the meat, fruit and veggies had been rotting in the fridge for over a month.  There was mold everywhere!!  We did a thorough clean but the house still smells awful.

We also filled out the papers for Andre and Annie's wedding yesterday.  Apparently you have to announce the wedding for three weeks in a row at a public setting so we have to push the wedding back to 18 February as well as Andre's baptism.  Both of them were understandably upset but, as stated in the 12th article of faith: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates.  In obeying, honoring and sustaining the law".  Therefore, we will just have to push it back to the 18th.  The thing that makes all of this tricky is that the municipal posts a paper announcing the marriage during those three weeks.  There is a place for comments and if anyone puts a comment against the marriage, the marriage is blocked.  Please keep them in your prayers that no one will get upset and make a comment.

We continue to visit Etna, Jinette, Latrisha and Anerose and all are doing well.  Nicolas continues to face a lot of doubt, but we are working with him a lot to help him see where the doubt is coming from and where he can find truth and answers to his questions.

I think that's a wrap for this week!  Love  you all and have a wonderful week!

Miracles and More Miracles!

This week was an eventful week.  Anerose was baptized on Thursday.  She requested a quiet, small baptism and that is just what we did.  She has already been such a blessing to us.  This past week she has given us three referrals, brought her friend to the baptism on Saturday, and has taught with us as well.  She is just so happy to help as well as involve her two little boys.

Sunday after church, Etna, Jinette and Latrisha were baptized.  They are our miracles!  We had scheduled for Amina's baptism this week, but because of complications she wasn't able to be baptized.  We taught Lisa earlier this week and she told us that she was no longer interested in storying with us.  As we were leaving her house Etna ran up to us and said that even if Lisa didn't want to get baptized she wanted to.  The baptism was one of the most amazing and spiritual baptisms I have attended on my mission.  God really has prepared them and has prepared their families as well.  We will continue to teach Papa Nicolas and Joseph with their children and wives.

Saturday my LAST TRANSFER CALL came!!!  I will be staying in Sharpi with Sista Betero and I could not be happier!  We set goals at the beginning of our first transfer together and we accomplished all of them.  Now we have six more weeks to do even more.

We also followed up with Andre and Annie this week and they are cleared to get married on February third and then Andre will be baptized on the fourth.   Just another testimony of how powerful prayer combined with fasting can be. Now we just have to go through the fun process of paper work to make it happen! 

I know this church is true and I love sharing it with others!  Nothing beats missionary work!!

John!!

John was baptized this past Saturday!  He was baptized along with the
branch president's little 8-year-old boy.  It was a great experience and he had
lots of his friends show up to support him.  One of his best friends,
Betero, was there to help him the whole time.  Betero will be a great
support for him.

We've continued to work with Annerose and she is set for baptism on
Thursday.  She doesn't want a lot of people there and so we
coordinated with the branch president to make her baptism small and
quiet.  I am so excited for her!  She has been working for this for
almost 6 months now.  She will be a solid member and the gospel will
continue to bless her and her two little boys more than ever.
Lisa is also set for baptism this Saturday.  She has been great!  She
continues to help Julie and without fail has a new person for us to
teach every time we go to her house.  We started teaching her Uncle
yesterday and he was very interested.  He actually already had a Book
of Mormon and has read a little of it.

We met with Annie and Andre yesterday as well and set a marriage date
with them.  They will be married on February 3 if all goes as planned.
We fasted with them this past week and then went and spoke with
Annie's Dad to ask for permission, which was granted.  It was a
miracle and we are so thankful for God's hand in this whole process.

We made up a game this week called "mi save yu no wantem" or 'I know
you don't want it" when we contact.  We introduce ourselves and if
they say they are interested we teach them, but if they say they aren't
we take turns teaching a principle of the gospel before we go.  Like
this:  "I know you aren't interested and we're about to go, but before
we go I just want you to know that God is our Heavenly Father and he
loves each of us."  Then the next sista says, "We know you aren't
interested and we're just about to go, but before we go we want you to
know that this gospel will bless your family." back and forth, back
and forth and we see how much we can teach them.  Most people just
start laughing and it it's fun for everyone.  Even if we don't end up
teaching them it helps us make new friends with people that we pass on
a regular basis.

I love the work out here!  It is wonderful and God has so much in
store for the wonderful people here in Sharpi.  This really is the
true gospel and does hold so much truth and happiness!

Christmas and New Year's Celebrations

Sister Norton and I with native dancers just home from a performing trip on a cruise ship.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!  Since it's been two weeks since I have been able to email I'll give you a quick summary of what has been going on over here in Santo.

Christmas:  Christmas week we had the chance to share the message of Christmas with many, many new people in our area.  We taught using the church's picture/art book and it really seemed to bring the story to life for our investigators.  Our branch Christmas party took place on Christmas Eve. We loaded up a bunch of our investigators into a transport and drove to the church around 5 p.m. The program didn't end up starting until about 7:30 p.m. The definition of “prompt” is lost on many people here!  The Primary children acted out the Nativity for all the parents and then the missionaries performed.  The missionaries from the Philippines sang Christmas carols in Tagalog and then the Americans sang in English and the sistas from the Pacific danced.  The program was followed by a yummy giant plate of rice and soup. J  It was really enjoyable and our investigators loved every minute.

 Christmas day we went to church with a few investigators and enjoyed a wonderful program about enduring to the end.  Later that night we had a small devotional with all the missionaries in Santo, ate dinner and watched a movie.  The highlight was definitely skyping the family!!  

On the 27th we found out that Sista Norton from Vancouver, Washington would be joining our companionship.  She was serving with a sista who was waiting to go to Tahiti and when her visa came Sista Norton was left without a companion.  We are happy to have her and to learn from her.

Freshly cut pineapples

We've continued to work in our area like crazy.  Amina was doing wonderful and following the word of wisdom so well, but this past weekend she fell to temptation.  We'll have to continue to work with her.  She is working so hard but is having a really hard time.  She wants to do better, and I know that she will eventually become clean.  

John is set for baptism this Saturday.  He has been coming to church for months and months all by himself some weeks, and at other times with Annerose and her little boys.  While we were doing our planning we both had John pop into our minds and knew he needed to get baptized.  We talked to his dad and he agreed to let him get baptized.  We also hope for the chance to teach John's dad in the near future.  

Well, that's about it for this week.  The sun is shining and life is good over here in Vanuatu.  Thank you again for all your emails and letters and packages this Christmas.  It means so very much!  

Christmas Week!

Sister Betero, Amina, Sister Draper and two pikinini

 Merry Christmas!!!  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas week!  This week we had the chance to share the Christmas story with a lot of people, members and nonmembers.  We've invited each of them to think about the wise men and the gifts that they gave to their Savior and then to think about what they can give to their Savior this Christmas.  It's been really neat to hear about all the ideas that people come up with.  Some have talked about giving more service, trying not to swear, spending more time with children and trying to trust God more.  As we shared this Christmas message with Amina she was really touched and shared with us about how she has continuously struggled with the word of wisdom.  She feels like she keeps relapsing again and again.  She shared with us about the time she prayed and asked God why this was so hard for her.  She felt like God was telling her that she needed to struggle this much because it was bringing her back to Him.  I know how true this is and had the chance to testify to her, using personal experiences.  God really does give us challenges to help us grow and become closer to Him.  We fasted with her this past Sunday for added strength to resist the temptation to drink kava.  She is also in the process of finding a new house so that she doesn't live in a yard with a nakamal (place to drink kava).  Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to work to live the word of wisdom.

Making Laplap with Julie and her family

We had the chance to make laplap with Julie and her family this week.  Laplap is the national dish of Vanuatu. Laplap is prepared by pounding breadfruit, taro or yam roots into a dough. The dough is then cooked in an underground oven, with fresh coconut cream and some pork, beef, chicken or flying fox in taro or spinach leaves.  I scratched a full arm of bananas!  We came back later and ate all together.  That night both Sista Betero and I felt super sick, but it was a good chance to get to know Julie's family and gain their trust.  We invited Julie to get baptized this past week, but her parents won't allow it.  She's been reading The Book of Mormon like crazy and is currently in 2 Nephi 20.  She knows it is true.  She knows that Joseph Smith is a true prophet!  It's so hard when investigators know and have a testimony, but then their family blocks them!  We hope that the time we spent together making laplap and talking with her family will open some doors and soften their hearts.

This upcoming week we have the branch Christmas party on the 24th and all the missionaries are dancing and singing--so that will be fun!  Christmas we will spend with the branch, and then have a missionary devotional at night.  I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!!  Love you lots!

Sharpi!

Here I am at Amina's house with her niece.

My first week in Sharpi was a success.  I absolutely love my new companion, Sista Betero!  She is from Kiribati and is 22 years old.  It's super interesting because I have had many, many islander companions on my mission and with the majority of them I have felt like I have had to push them, but with Sista Betero she is the one pushing me!  She is always saying, "one more, let's find one more" before we go home at the end of the day.  I LOVE it!!  Sharpi is a wonderful area and it feels a lot like Ohlen, the first area of my mission.  It has a lot of potential, and I am very excited to see what the next two transfers have in store.

We have two amazing sistas in our area named Mary and Julie.  Mary is 17 and Julie is 12.  They are so smart!  We taught them about The Book of Mormon and invited them to read the first chapter in 1 Nephi before out next appointment.  We came back and found that Mary had read to chapter two and Julie to chapter 10.  What was even better was that they could remember what they had read and had written a list of questions to ask us.  They also attended a baptism with us this past Saturday.

We are also teaching a single mom named Amina.  She lives at the house of a member, but works at a nakamal (a place that sells kava, an alcoholic beverage) so it makes it hard for her to live the word of wisdom.  She is strong and recognizes God's hand.  She had a dream this past week during which she was told she needed to change NOW.  She hasn't touched kava since then!

We have many, many members in our area and they love working with the missionaries (thanks to Sista Manly and her bubbly personality).  Our branch is wonderful and am I really excited to be in Sharpi and in this branch!  I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Our house with a view of the ocean and a cruise ship!

Toa's Baptism!

Toa's baptism

 Highlight of the week:  Toa's baptism!!  It was such an amazing experience for everyone who came.  He is such a humble man and so willing to do what the Lord asks.  He bore his testimony, dressed in a nice white shirt and tie the eldas brought for him, and testified of how God has a plan.  He explained that because we taught Elsie he then became interested in what we had to share.  Little did we know that because of Elsie, we would find Toa, the one who was really prepared to accept the gospel.  He was confirmed a member of the Church on Sunday and bore his testimony again in fast and testimony meeting. I was even asked to speak at his baptism about the Holy Ghost.   Such a miracle to see him take this step!

Transfer calls came on Saturday morning and Sista Ouamambare is headed to Vila and she will be serving with a sista from Kiribati.  I will be moving to the other side of the plantation and working in Sharpi, also with a sista from Kiribati, Sista Betero.  Sharpi is a great area and I am excited to work with Sista Betero!  I'm super sad to leave Showground and especially the Banban branch.  I have met some incredible people and have learned so much from them. 

Little Tina

We've continued working with Sylvie and she is seeing changes.  Malaya and Sua are doing well but Malaya is progressing much faster.  She just eats up the Book of Mormon!  Sua on the other hand will read really quickly what we assigned him to read just before we come and so he doesn't get much out of it.  I hope the new sistas coming to Showground will be able to help him progress, he would be such a great member!! 

We said lots of goodbyes this week and were given lots of food!  Showground has taught me a lot, and although I would never wish to go through it again, I have learned many things- number 1, to trust the Lord more.  He is all-knowing and really does know what will stretch us and what will break us.  He stretched me pretty hard these past three months but not once did He leave me alone.  I am so thankful for my Savior and His constant love and support.

Thanksgiving in Vanuatu

Photo with a family in our area, the Rapdy Family

It's officially Christmas time!!!!  I keep trying to convince myself that it's almost December but my mind just won't click.  It's too hot and too humid for it to be Christmas time!

Zone Conference!

This week was a crazy week.  Tuesday and Wednesday was zone conference.  Our theme was "If love were the only reason. . . "  The training focused on love and charity towards others and companions.  I learned a lot and it was a good reminder of the things I need to improve on.  We played sports in the rain and ate at Hotel Santo and finished watching the new Christmas Mormon Message.  It was a wonderful two days.

Our Thanksgiving feast Vanuatu style!

Thursday was Sista Ouamambara's birthday.  She is now 24 years old!!  We were staying at the sista’s house in Sharpi because our house didn't have water.  We all made her a Thanksgiving dinner and chocolate cake to celebrate.  

Sista Ouamambara's birthday

We've continued to work with Papa Toa this week.  He is progressing so much.  He had his interview for baptism this past Sunday and he’s all set for baptism this coming Saturday.  The elders quorum has just welcomed him with open arms and he loves it.  As we were walking home from church yesterday he vocalized how thankful he is to have found this church where he feels like he is home.  Please keep him in your prayers this week so that everything works out for Saturday.  

We also had the chance to meet with Toa again AND his wife, Malaya.  We asked him if he had read The Book of Mormon.  He said he had been too busy, but that his wife had read a little.  I asked her what she had read and found out she had read 13 chapters!!!  I couldn't believe it!!  They are GOLDEN!!  

Sylvie is also doing really well.  She is reading every day inside The Book of Mormon.  She is in Mormon right now and even reads with her children sometimes.  It's slow, but she can see the change in herself and in her husband.  God really is working in the details of her life.  Watching Malaya and Sylvie progress because of their reading The Book of Mormon has taught me a lot and is just another testimony of how vital The Book of Mormon is to our spiritual growth.  If you're not reading it daily, DO IT!  I have no doubt that it is the word of God.

Transfers are this Saturday and we know that one of us will be out, so I'll let you know next week what happens!  I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Zone Conference with Sister Granger

Our Thanksgiving feast!

Sua

Mama Suzanne and Papa Isaac and their daughter Tina at the Suva, Fiji Temple

This week we had exchanges!  I stayed in Showground with Sista Rivera.  She was able to show me a lot of her previous investigator’s homes (from when she served in my area) and we were able to visit them again.  Most were still not interested, but it is good to know where they live.  We also had the chance to teach Shila and Kalo together.  Our last lesson with them they voiced some concerns about coming to church because they weren't married and they felt guilty.  We shared with them the story of the woman found in adultery and Christ's response.  It really helped them, and they have made plans to get married the beginning of next year.  They are going to Pentacost (another island in Vanuatu) next month to clear up things with Shila's Dad.  

Papa Isaac and Mama Suzanne

This week it has rained almost every day and the roads are muddy!!!  It's a good thing we can wear flip flops here or Sista Ouamambare and I would be having issues haha!  We need the water though, so it is a blessing.  

I got to teach a lesson in English!!  We were out teaching with a member named Walter who is waiting for his mission call when it started pouring.  We ran to the closest shop we could find to get out of the rain.  While we were standing outside waiting for the rain to stop, the shop owner called us in.  We started talking to him and he said he was from Tuvalu and his name is Sua.  He speaks really good English and so we sat down right there on the floor of his shop and taught him about the restoration in English!  I'm not going to lie, it was a struggle.  I haven't taught in English at all since I taught Sabrina over four months ago.  We shared with him some verses in the Book of Mormon and then Walter bore his testimony in English as well.  It was a really neat experience and the spirit was strong. Sua seemed really interested.   We go back this week to teach him again, hopefully with his wife.

Here are a few pictures of Papa Issac and Mama Suzanne at the Fiji, Suva temple a few weeks ago.  Papa Issac is now our new branch president and is doing a wonderful job.

Sister O. and I are working hard to contact every house in our area.  To me it's a very difficult goal.  I don't mind talking to people, but I HATE going into a new yard where I don't know if there is a dog or not!  The dogs here come out of nowhere and try to bite any open skin!  It's terrifying!!  And they always go for me because I am white and don't look like their owner.  I used to kind of like dogs, but now I dislike them very much . . . at least the dogs here!  Contacting does, however, help us find new investigators, and I haven't been bitten yet.

Tomorrow and Wednesday is zone conference, and Thursday is Sista Ouamambara's birthday so I'll have lots to say next week. Until then I want to let you all know how much I love each of you and appreciate all your prayers in my behalf.  These last few months have been rocky, but I am receiving so much help.  Thank you!

Branj Preseden (New Branch President)

Shila and her two pikinini

So for all of you waiting to hear about Tina. . . She got to take her exams!!!!  She will be moving on to class 11 next year with everyone else in her class.  It's a miracle!  Because she decided to put the Lord first He helped her.  Papa Isaac also was called as our new branch president this week in Sacrament Meeting.  He got up and bore his testimony and let us all know that a lot of things are going to change and to be flexible and willing to work with him.  So, it will be interesting to see how our branch is going to change. 

Elsie was supposed to get baptized this week and everything was ready to go, but when we went back on Thursday she wouldn't even come out and talk to us.  Friday we finally had the chance to talk with her as she was washing clothes.  She didn't even look at us, and told us she was busy all this coming week and couldn't story . . . we still don't know what happened.  We think it might have been one of her uncles or someone in her yard that said something, or maybe her parents said no.  At this point we have no idea, but we are praying.  We will go back and visit her next week to see if she is more willing to talk. 

Sister Draper and Sister O.

We've continued to work with Papa Toa and he came to church on Sunday!  He didn't say much during the meetings, but afterwards he said that he learned a lot and really enjoyed the spirit during the meetings.  He's a 68 year old man and has worked his whole entire life to be able to have money to pay for food.  He is very humble and although he can barely read, he tries his best to study the booklets and The Book of Mormon we gave him.  

Monique before she leaves for Panama next Wednesday

I read a talk by David A. Bednar this past week that I really liked and just thought I'd share a few bits of it.  He talks about the story in the Bible about the Apostles being on a ship in a storm.  They wake the Savior asking, "Carest thou not that we perish?"  Jesus responds, " Oh thou of little faith."  I feel like many of us face moments like this where we feel that the Lord doesn't care about what we are going through, that He's sleeping while we are facing the storms of life.  But in reality, he is ALWAYS aware.  He knows the storms we face will make us stronger.  "Many of the lessons we are to learn in mortality can be received only through the things we experience and sometimes suffer.  God expects and trusts us to face mortal adversity with His help so that we can learn and ultimately become what we are to become in eternity."  Christ is going through our trials with us and is helping us every step of the way.  

Showground for dayzzzzzz

Sylvie and her children in front of their house.

Not a lot happened this week so this email will be short and sweet.

Elsie is set for baptism this week if all goes well. We also started teaching her bobo (grandpa) and he is very interested.  However, he's having a hard time accepting The Book of Mormon as the word of God because he can't read . . . we invited him to have Elsie read to him so that he can gain a testimony for himself.  We'll follow up on Wednesday to see if they did.

We continued working with Sylvie as she works towards baptism on the 26th.  Her husband is a strong head and doesn't want to story with us at all. She's scared to make any big jumps because she doesn't know how her husband will respond.  She's reading The Book of Mormon as well.  We invited her to share bits of what she is reading with her family and see if that opens any doors.  She is an amazing lady and this gospel could bless her five children and husband so much!

We also found a Mama and her three girls to teach this week: Dora, Christy, Lindy and Cindy and Tiana.  They were taught before over two years ago, but when they white washed the area, (take out the missionaries and replace them with two new ones) no one ever came back to teach them.  They don't remember much, so we are re-teaching them the lessons.

Well, I think that's it for this week!  Love you all.

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.

Conference Weekend

Amali Park in Showground

We finally had the chance to watch general conference over here in Santo!!  It would have been wonderful, I'm sure, if any of us had been able to understand it!  The translation quality into Bislama was awful and they didn't have it available in English.  Most of the people there were only able to understand four or five words of every talk!  However, we were able to get three new investigators to come!  I just hope they were able to feel the spirit just from being there.  Now I just have to wait for the Liahona magazine so that I can read and understand the talks myself!

Elsie is one of the investigators that we were able to get to church.  She is 17 years old and a Seventh Day Adventist, but hasn't been to that church in a long time.  We taught her about faith the other day.  She told us about an experience she had last year just three months before the school year finished.  Her Mom called her and told her they didn't have money to pay for her school fees.  She would have to not attend school for the next three months, and then take the test at the end of the year and hope she passed.  Elsie said she prayed and studied and prayed and studied, and at the end of the three months she was able to take the test and pass.  She said it took a lot of faith and trust in God, but she knows that God helped her and He is the reason she passed her final.  She is incredible and loves to invite her friends to story with us as well.

Sunset on the beach

Elsie has been a highlight because we got a call from Mama Veronica and Lilly this past week saying that they didn't have time to story with us for the next month.  We're not exactly sure what happened, but I think the pastor from their church must have talked to them.  We are keeping them in our prayers and trusting that God will eventually help them find a way to join the church.  They are wonderful mamas and we will miss teaching them. 

Eta was also set for baptism this week, but her uncle (who she is living with at the moment) wouldn't allow it.  She will move back to Malekula (another island is Vanuatu) the beginning of next month.  There she will be baptized.  Her parents and other siblings are all getting baptized this coming week.  We are thankful that even though she couldn't be baptized this week she will be able to move back to Malekula and be with her family.  They will all be able to grow together.

I love this gospel, and I love teaching it to others.  It's amazing to see how just sharing a little bit of the truth with others can change their lives; it really makes everything else worth it.  I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Electricity is coming to Showground!

Lorina with Sister O.

The big news bouncing around Showground is that electricity is
coming!!  There have been a few men spray painting the dirt to
indicate where power lines will eventually be.  Everyone is super
excited to hear that they will have a reliable source of power and not
have to rely on solar any longer.  They say the power lines will be
installed within the next two or three months.

We have continued to teach Lilly and Veronica this week.  I love,
love, love teaching Mama Veronica!!  She is just an amazing lady and
teaching her is always a highlight of our day.  She is Leann's aunt
which is super convenient because Leann was baptized while I was
serving in Banban.  Veronica recognizes that her church has a few
things that aren't right.  She reads The Book of Mormon and could
talk for hours about what she learns from it.  Lilly is progressing as
well, but she isn't quite as excited about keeping the commitments as
Veronica is.  She does have a lot of good insights though.  We set a
baptismal date for them on the 29th of October, so we will be working
and praying for them like crazy!

Lorina is progressing as well.  It has been a little difficult because she
is living on her sister's land and her sister is a SDA
(Seventh Day Adventist).  This makes her nervous to commit to baptism.
However, she is a cousin of Mama Veronica, and so we think that getting
them to progress and have lessons together will help a lot.  It will
give her the confidence and support that she needs.

Mama Linda has decided to stay in Banban!!  I was so excited to hear
that she was staying.  We need all the strong members that we can get
and so this was wonderful news.  She will do a lot of good for our
branch.  I just hope and pray that Pauline and Jackson will continue
to go to church back in Ohlen now that Jackson's mom is here in
Banban.

Thank you for all the prayers in my behalf.  They mean so much to me
and help me so very much.  I love you all and hope you all have a
wonderful week!

Grace

We had a pretty normal week this past week.  We did a lot of finding, walking and teaching.  We continue to find, but are really struggling to find people who are really committed to changing their lives.  We planned on having  investigators at church on Sunday and visited them all on Sunday to remind them to come, and not one came!!  Sundays like that are always rough!  But we continue to work because we don't believe in giving up over here.

In Relief Society on Sunday, we were discussing the General Women's Meeting.  We talked about Sister Carole M. Stephen's talk.  Here is a short bit from her talk that I want to share:  

I have recently become acquainted with a remarkable young woman named Josie who suffers from bipolar disorder. Here is just a little of her journey toward healing as she shared it with me:

“The worst of the darkness occurs on what my family and I have deemed ‘floor days.’ It begins with sensory overload and acute sensitivity and resistance to any type of sound, touch, or light. It is the apex of mental anguish. There is one day in particular that I will never forget.

“It was early in the journey, making the experience especially frightening. I can remember sobbing, tears racing down my face as I gasped for air. But even such intense suffering paled in comparison to the pain that followed as I observed panic overwhelm my mother, so desperate to help me.

“With my broken mind came her broken heart. But little did we know that despite the deepening darkness, we were just moments away from experiencing a mighty miracle.

“As a long hour continued, my mom whispered over and over and over again, ‘I would do anything to take this from you.’

“Meanwhile, the darkness intensified, and when I was convinced I could take no more, just then something marvelous occurred.

“A transcendent and wonderful power suddenly overtook my body. Then, with a ‘strength beyond my own,’ I declared to my mom with great conviction seven life-changing words in response to her repeated desire to bear my pain. I said, ‘You don’t have to; Someone already has.’”

From the dark abyss of debilitating mental illness, Josie summoned the strength to testify of Jesus Christ and of His Atonement.

She was not healed completely that day, but she received the light of hope in a time of intense darkness. And today, supported by a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and refreshed daily by the Savior’s living water, Josie continues on her journey toward healing and exercises unshakable faith in the Master Healer. She helps others along the way. And she says, “When the darkness feels unremitting, I rely on the memory of His tender mercies. They serve as a guiding light as I navigate through hard times.”

I have been studying about the Atonement for quite some time and this really touched my heart.  Jesus Christ is real.  He lives.  He will help us through everything and anything we face in this life.  He will NEVER, EVER leave us alone.

I also want to share another clip from Elder Donald L. Hallstrom's talk "I am a Child of God" that I read this past week:

On a very hot and humid Sunday morning, we traveled to a rented meeting facility in the center of the city. Every available chair was set up, totaling 3,500 seats. The final count of attendees was 4,100. Almost all who came had to travel by foot or some form of inconvenient public transportation; it was not easy for the Saints to gather. But they came. Most arrived several hours before the appointed meeting time. As we entered the hall, the spiritual atmosphere was electric! The Saints were prepared to be taught.

When a speaker quoted a scripture, the members would say the verse aloud. It did not matter—short scripture or long; the entire congregation responded in unison. Now, we do not necessarily recommend this, but it was certainly impressive that they could do it. And the choir—they were powerful. With an enthusiastic choir director and a 14-year-old young man at the keyboard, the members sang with vigor and strength.

Then Elder David A. Bednar spoke. This, of course, was the anticipated highlight of the gathering—to hear an Apostle teach and testify. Clearly with spiritual direction, partway through his remarks, Elder Bednar stopped and said, “Do you know ‘How Firm a Foundation’?”

It seemed that 4,100 voices roared in response, “YES!”

He then asked, “Do you know verse 7?”

Again the entire group answered, “YES!”

The arrangement of the mighty hymn “How Firm a Foundation” sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for the last 10 years has included verse 7, which was not sung much previously. Elder Bednar instructed, “Let’s sing verses 1, 2, 3, and 7.”

Without hesitation, the choir director jumped up and the Aaronic Priesthood–bearing accompanist immediately began to energetically play the introductory chords. With a level of conviction I have never felt before in a congregational hymn, we sang verses 1, 2, and 3. Then the volume and spiritual power was elevated when 4,100 voices sang the seventh verse and declared:

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

In one of the most remarkable spiritual events of my life, I was taught a profound lesson that day. We live in a world that can cause us to forget who we really are. The more distractions that surround us, the easier it is to treat casually, then ignore, and then forget our connection with God. The Saints in Liberia have little materially, and yet they seem to have everything spiritually. What we witnessed that day in Monrovia was a group of sons and daughters of God who knew it!

In today’s world, no matter where we live and no matter what our circumstances are, it is essential that our preeminent identity is as a child of God. Knowing that will allow our faith to flourish, will motivate our continual repentance, and will provide the strength to “be steadfast and immovable” throughout our mortal journey. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

These two talks have lifted me and carried me this week.  I know that this gospel is true.  I know it.