I'm going to SANTO!

Wading through a "puddle" to get home after a rain storm.

This week was crazy busy!!!  We have been teaching quite a bit and helping prepare Olivier for his baptism this past Saturday.  He was so excited and was a bubble of excitement on Saturday.  He is so stinking cute!  On Saturday I also had verified that I am going to be transferring to the northern island of Santo to the Ban Ban area!!!  I will be serving with a Sista from Tonga, so that should be fun!  My mom was born in Tonga.  I was talking to one of our investigators about it on Sunday and she said that she will be moving to Ban Ban next week to be with her husband!  Now I can teach the couple together on another island!  God works in mysterious ways. J

Olivier, Mama Lucy, Mama Vero, Sariah, Sista Sellesin and I at Olivier's baptism

On Wednesday we had the “leavers” (missionaries completing their full-time missions) fly in from New Caledonia to stay for a few days and meet with the mission president before they went home.  We had the honor of hosting three sistas.  One was from Tahiti (Sista Mo) and two were from America (Sista Todd and Westerlind).  We took them around to see a little bit of Port Vila and just enjoyed the time with them.  I'm always amazed how much you can learn from "older" missionaries.  They just left early, early this morning and after only knowing them for a few days I can say they will be missed.

We have continued to work with New Jennie.  We talked a lot about baptism when we met on Tuesday but when we came back on Saturday she said she didn't want to marry the man she is living with, and who is father to two of her children.  As we were talking to her we noticed that her face was swollen and black and purple.  Apparently the night before her husband had gotten drunk and had come home and beaten New Jennie, as well as their six-month-old baby boy.  So sad!!  She will be moving out to live with her mom this week hopefully, and we are going over tomorrow to see how we can help her.  It breaks my heart to see such an incredible woman who is striving to do what is right suffer so much! Please keep her in your prayers during this difficult time in her life.

Papa Shem, Me, Jarom, Mama Emily, Jr, and Sarika at my "goodbye party."

On Friday night Mama Emily and Papa Shem invited us over for dinner.  I thought it would just be a normal "eat with a member" meal, but when we showed up they had streamers and balloons everywhere.  They had decided to throw me a good bye party!!  Jarom had put together a program and had me give a little talk.  Then afterwards we ate a traditional Vanuatu meal of simboro, rice, kumala, chicken and soup.  When we couldn't eat anymore they came out with island dresses and leis and calico and dressed me all up and then powdered me with baby powder.  Apparently that's what you do when you have a party in Vanuatu---put baby powder all over everyone. . . I was pretty emotional by the end of it all!  I am going to miss the people in Ohlen so much!  They have loved me since day one of my mission, and it has meant the world to me.  But I am excited to go to Santo and see how the Lord wants me to grow and serve there.

I know this gospel is true!  I love what I am doing as a full-time missionary!  Have a great week everyone.

Live'n the Life

Me and my best friend in Vanuatu!

This week was pretty mellow.  Sista Sellesin got the flu so we stayed home on Thursday and Friday, but that only meant that on Saturday we worked extra hard.  Teaching New Jennie on Saturday had to be the highlight of the week though.  The last lesson we taught her was about the Plan of Salvation (Plan Blong Sevem Man).  When we asked her what she remembered, she told us the whole plan and said she had read the pamphlet, and the first two chapters in the Buk Blong Mormon as well as the chapter in Alma we gave her to read!!!  She is just such a smart lady and is so interested in learning about the gospel.  She says that she wants to read the whole Buk Blong Mormon because she thinks it is so interesting.  She really hungers after knowledge and I love it!!  The only bummer is she leaves for the islands next week and won't be back for 3 weeks. . . hopefully I don't get transferred.  The longer I stay in Ohlen, the more I love the people that I'm around every day.  I love the way they talk, joke around, laugh, smile, live and just enjoy life.  Vanuatu really is the best mission in the world:)

Sista Sellesin and I also started teaching three young women in our ward English this week.  They are struggling in school because they can't understand English well, so we thought we would help them.  It's super fun actually!  After our first class though, Sista Sellesin told me she had been thinking about becoming a teacher but now has no desire to be one haha!  Being a teacher takes a lot of patience!  

On Monday, our district decided to have a "last supper" because two of our eldas are going to the Solomon Islands this coming week.  We went to a beach and roasted a pig!  The whole zone ended up showing up and we played volley and ate.  It was a lot of fun and a good way to relax and spend P-day.  

Roast on the beach with the district
Pictured are Elda Moala and Welegtabit

Another highlight of this week was going to church and seeing Emily and Shem and all their kids sitting together in church as well as Papa German and Margret and their family.  It just makes me smile from ear to ear to see them all together.  What's even better is knowing that this isn't temporary, it can be eternal!  The gospel is such a wonderful thing!

Grace came to church as well as Suzane!  They both stayed for the whole 3 hours and the young women just welcomed Grace with open arms, it was wonderful.  We need to work on getting the Relief Society a little more welcoming.  The members really do play a huge role in helping investigators feel welcome and loved.

Olivier is set to get baptized this coming Saturday.  He is counting down the days and couldn't be more excited.  Whenever he sees us walking around in Ohlen Mataso, he runs over and grabs our hands and tells us how many more days he has left until he can get baptized- he's just a little excited:)   I love you all.  Have a great week. 

My comp can do anything with my hair!

Rain!

Happy Birthday cake for my Mom!

I don't have a ton to say this week because we mostly just worked in our area.  That being said, we had a lot of miracles this week as well!  We made an exchange with the sistas in Erakor Lagun.  While I was in Sista Lianos's area, Sista Sellesin and Sista Omae went to a part of the Ohlen area that we haven't really explored before.  They were able to hand out 26 pass along cards and set up six appointments.  During those six appointments we were able to find four more investigators, and during the week we found another two by just walking to our area!  We are running around trying to get to all these appointments and even though it's a little stressful, it's the most wonderful thing in the world! J  We love being busy teaching people about the true gospel of Jesus Christ.  

A few of the investigators we found this week include:

Jessica, Grace and Leann- We contacted Jessica on the street about a month ago, but were never able to actually find her house.  Sista Sellesin talked with Grace on Wednesday and set up an appointment.  When we went to the appointment with Grace we discovered that Jessica lives right next to her!  We taught Grace, Grace's Abo, and Jessica all together.  While we were teaching them Grace's Mom came in to listen, as well as her three siblings.  Her Mom is interested as well and asked if she could be taught the lessons as well (YES!!!!)  Grace's Dad is from Papua New Guinea.  We can't wait to go visit them again this week.

Roy is a father of one cute little girl and loves to play rugby.  He is a member of a brand new church here in Vanuatu but doesn't feel like what they are teaching is complete truth.  He was really interested when we taught him about the Buk Blong Mormon.  As we were getting ready to leave he thanked us for coming, and said that he would share what we taught to him with his family that night. 

My adorable companion, whom I love!

Dolcie was a referral from Papa Pakoa.  She is the mother of one of the ladies in our ward.  Dolcie had a stroke close to a year ago and can't move half of her body.  Apparently the missionaries were teaching her right before it happened, but once it happened Dolicie moved away to live with her son and stopped the discussions.  Now that she is back with her daughter again she wants us to teach her. She knows her stuff!  She can't say my name so she just calls me Sista U.S.A.  haha!  I love it! J

On Thursday we had the biggest rain storm of my life!  It rained and rained and rained!!  We were safe and dry inside our cement house, but kept thinking about all of our friends in Ohlen in their tin houses with dirt, now mud, floors.  The next day we had to wade through a lot of mud, but people were as happy as ever.  I guess you just get used to it after a while.

I just wanted to share one scripture that has helped me a lot this week.  It is found in Philippians 4:13 and says, "I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me."  My grandparents shared this with me right before I left, but this week I have come to better understand why we HAVE to rely on our Savior and that when we do, we really can do all things "which strengthens us".  I love you all.  Have a great week!

Market

Frank and Lulu with their new puppies

This week started off with a bang!  On Tuesday we tried something new.  We had a market stall in the main market in Port Vila.  In the market stall we handed out pamphlets, pass along cards, Buk Blong Momons and contacted, contacted, contacted!!  By the end of the day we had handed out 600 Restoration pamphlets, 700 pass along cards and made 157 contacts and 24 of them are in the Ohlen area!!!  It was so fun to stand up with all the other missionaries and talk with anyone who would stop.  We had missionaries there from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.  We plan to do it every week.  Now the next step is to contact, teach and baptize!

The Market Stall

One sista in our zone found out on Monday that her mom had passed away.  She is from Kiribati and hasn't had any contact with her family since she left home almost 9 months ago, due to lack of internet access and funds.  Her sister somehow found her phone number and called her and told her the news.  Sista Sellesin and I have been doing everything we can this week to help her.  She talked to me the other night and told me that she and her mom were best friends and did everything together.  Before she left on her mission her mom told her to be strong and trust God no matter what happened. . . little did she know.  I am so very thankful for the Plan of Salvation because it makes losing someone easier--not easy, but easier.  The thing that is keeping this sista going is that sure knowledge and her faith in God.  She has taught me a lot this week. 

Sista Sellesin got super sick on Wednesday night due to abdominal pain.  She couldn't lie down because she couldn't breathe, and so she couldn't sleep.  We stayed home on Thursday because she couldn't even walk.  By the end of the day we had called the nurse and set up an appointment for the following day with the doctor.  She apparently has gall stones, and just needs to take medication and take it easy until they go away.  Please keep her in your prayers.

For service on Thursday we helped Mama Vero build a school.  We loaded up five truckloads of rocks and then unloaded them to even out the ground so that this week we can lay cement on top of it.  I was so stinking tired by the end of the day and could barely lift my arms.  I'm just glad that building this school will help a lot of little kiddos have the chance to learn how to read and write when they otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity.

On Sunday Florence, Jr and Francisca came to church with Sonia!!!  We were so happy to see them!  Florence just lost her job and is still having issues with her husband.  She feels like she needs something more in her life.  We were more than happy to teach her what that is. J

I love you all and hope you make it a wonderful week!  

Annie, her baby brother, and a friend

Baptism!

Elda Moala, Papa German, Me, Sista Sellesin, Mama Margret (his wife)

I just want to thank you all for all your prayers and fasts on my behalf throughout the week.  My ears are feeling heaps better and I know it's because of all of you and the help of our Heavenly Father.  I'm learning that Heavenly Father gives us trials and most of the time we don't understand why they happen.  But what I do know is that God will help us when we rely fully on Him and show Him through our actions that, no matter what, we are willing to do what He needs us to do.  In Ether 12:6 is says that we "receive no witness until AFTER the trial of our faith."  Life is full of trials and the people I teach can testify of that!  I guess I thought that by coming on a full-time mission I was giving up so much, but I've come to learned that I really didn't give up much for what I am receiving in return.  I'm surrounded by those who love me and help me through all the hard things a mission brings.  I have those at home who pray and fast for me when things get rough.  I have a Heavenly Father who is aware of my every need and a Savior, Jesus Christ, who knows exactly what I am going through.  Later on in Ether 12, in verse 27 it says, "I will make weak things become strong unto them."  Trials make us stronger, and even when we don't want them, we need to CHOOSE to learn and grow through them.  I know this gospel is true.  I KNOW it!  

The main highlight of this week had to be Saturday.  Mama Doris, her daughter Lenka, and Papa German were baptized!  We have been working with both of them for quite some time now and it was incredible to see them finally take the step of baptism.  We had 30 baptisms total that took place on Saturday in our zone, so it was a little stressful getting everything to run smoothly, but for the most part it went well.  Nothing beats looking at rows of people you love dressed in white and smiling from ear to ear!  Now German and Margret can begin to work towards the temple with their 3 pikinini!  Next time we'll see them in white will hopefully be in front of the rededicated Fiji temple! J

Dorris, Lenka and the Ohlen support group

This week we went to go teach Patricia again, but she was out visiting some friends.  As we were walking away from her house her daughter, New Jennie, sung out and asked us to come teach her.  We (of course) went right in and taught her about the restoration.  She is in her early 20's and has a little boy that is just 5 months old.  She has taken the missionary discussions before, and was asked to pray about the Buk Blong Mormon.  She did. . . and then the missionaries never came back. . . sooooo we picked up where they left off.  Now we are teaching her and Patrica together on Tuesday.  We plan to go back on an evening when New Jennie's husband isn't working so we can talk to him as well.  New Jennie and Patricia are both very educated, which is rare here in Vanuatu, but I love it because they ask lots of questions and have a hunger to learn. 

Oliva is progressing as well.  He came with his Mom to support Doris and Lenka at their baptism on Saturday as well as help him know what to expect when his turn comes around.  He got super excited and ran over to me about half way through all the baptisms and started tugging on my hand asking me if he could just be baptized right then!  He's the cutest kiddo ever, and we really love teaching him.  His turn is coming!

Thanks again for what you each do for me.  I love you all so very, very much!

Fiji Temple Rededication

After the Fiji Temple Rededication

We moved to a new house this week!  My third house in the same area, but this one beats them all.  Not only is it a 23 minute walk closer to our area, but it's COLD!!  I've had to sleep with a blanket on for the last 3 nights and nothing has ever felt so good! J  I have to say, I love the

move!

So this week has been crazy with my ear!  I woke up on Tuesday and couldn't hear anything out of my left ear.  I woke Sista Sellesin up crying saying I was going to be deaf the rest of my life.  It was the scariest thing ever!!  We called the nurse and we went to the doctor again, but they only gave me MORE medications that didn't work!

Finally Saturday came and I went to my appointment with the Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor.  He is from New Caledonia and was educated in France.  He told me I have a “mushroom infection” and gave me more meds.  He said it could take up to three more months to heal and that I pretty much just have to deal with the pain and underwater feeling until then.  I wanted to cry!  I am so stinking sick of this ear infection!!  The mission nurse told me on Monday I would probably have to go home because of it, so all week I've been freaking out about that, but after the appointment she just said, "Ok, this is an easier fix than I thought!"  But it’s not an easy fix because the meds aren’t helping!  The ENT prescribed me the same ear drops as before and gave me a decongestant for my nose.  I've already dealt with two months of this misery, I guess I can handle three more!  Opposition in all things, right?!  Please pray for me!

We were led to two new investigators this week:  Patricia and Oliva.  Oliva is a boy who is nine years old and belongs to a part-member family.  We are teaching him and working with his family as well.  It's so fun to teach him because all his friends gather around to listen.  We usually have 5-10 pikinini listening in on our lessons with him. 

Patricia is older, but has apparently been watching us as we've taught Enet the lessons.  She just came up to us the other day after a lesson with Enet and asked if we were busy on Saturday.  She wanted to set up a time for us to teach her (miracle or what?!).  We, of course, said we could teach her and had a great lesson with her on Saturday.  She is Protestant, but after we taught her about the Restoration, she said she believed everything we said and would pray and ask Papa God about the Buk Blong Mormon.  We go back to teach her again this coming Saturday.

Teaching Oliva and his friends

This week Sista Sellesin and I decided to spend our "finding hour" out visiting less-active members asking them for referrals.  We went to visit Mary Yataka, but she was busy. As we were walking out of her yard her less-active sister, Rebekah, called us over.  We started talking with her and she told us that her little boy had fallen out of a swing about a month ago and had landed on his back.  It made his back swell up for a while, but then he was fine.  Well, last week, his back swelled up again and he got super weak and shaky and now he can't even walk or move because of how much pain he is in.  We called the Eldas to come give little Thomas a blessing, and they were able to do so.  We visited young Thomas a few days later after he went to the doctor for an X-ray.  They are still waiting for results from the X-ray, but Rebekah told us that after the blessing Thomas took a nap and then stood up and walked!  He still limps and is in a lot of pain, but he is walking!!  Sista Sellesin and I were overjoyed and so were the Eldas when we told them.  The church is true!!  Priesthood power works!  I am so thankful for the constant source of priesthood power in my life, at home and on my full-time mission.  

On Sunday our stake had the chance to watch the Fiji Temple re-dedication broadcast.  It was incredible!  The spirit was so strong and having the chance to hear from Quentin L. Cook and Henry B. Eyring was unforgettable.  I learned a lot and just cannot wait to go back to the temple again.  We had a few recent converts attend, as well as Mama Emily.  I felt like it is super important to start working with them to get to the temple, even if it is a ways a way.  More work for this week!

I love you all!  MAKE it a good week and go out and do some missionary work, it makes you so stinkin happy! J

Sunset in Vanuatu

Zone Conference in Efate

Elda West, Hilliman, Sista Sellesin, me, Elda Fidow, Crowell, and Bramell

This week was zone conference! The theme was "Be clean. Be ready.  Be busy."  As always, the mission president made sure to make the training VERY entertaining!  Sista Sellesin and I got to give training on being clean on the outside (showering every day, using deodorant, brushing your teeth, etc.).  You would be surprised how many of our missionaries here don't actually use soap when they shower, and don't see the need to wash their clothes . . . so we did our best to teach them basic stuff.  We even made up a song and dance to help everyone remember to brush their teeth! J  President talked about the importance of companionship unity and how everything starts with you.  If you want to change your relationship with your companion, change yourself.  If you want your district to be more successful, change yourself.  If you want the mission to be more obedient, start with yourself.  He also read the mission blessing Elder D. Todd Christofferson gave while he was visiting the Solomon Islands a few weeks back.  One thing I loved that he said was that people may choose not to accept what we teach, but they won't be able to deny that it is true.  Pretty amazing promise if you ask me! 

My favorite part about zone conference though had to be MLC (mission leadership conference).  We wrote up on the board problems that our zone is facing, and then started to figure out solutions.  I don't know how to explain it, but everything people said seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear.  I have been praying for answers to a few questions and as we talked about our zone and how to fix things, I was able to find my answers.  When we were finished President said that it had been the most incredible MLC he has ever been to, and that revelation had been shared.  So true!  God is aware of us and he does answer prayers! 

My missionary zone

Sista Sellesin and I also made an exchange with the sistas in Beverly Hills this week.  They have been having a few issues.  With the help of the spirit we were able to help them find a few solutions.  One attribute I am working on right now is charity.  I have found that praying to have that love, as we read about in Moroni chapter 7, helps a ton.  It's not easy, but with the Lord's help it is possible.

You asked how I wash my clothes.  Well, we have a "washing machine," but it's just a thing that spins the clothes.  You have to fill it up with water, and then drain it, and then rinse it, and then spin it, and then hang it out to dry.  It takes a good 1-2 hours to do our laundry.  But it's all good because it makes the clothes cleaner than washing them by hand (which I've done, and the clothes never actually get clean that way).

On Monday we had family house night at Emily and Shem's house.  It has been amazing to see the change in their whole family since they were baptized just a few months ago.  Because people here live in groups of extended family, 3 of Emily's less-active sistas have started coming back to church.  On Monday Emily's son, Jaron, told us that he has started to fill out his mission papers!!!  He turns 18 on August 1st and I could not be more excited for him!!!  We really enjoyed playing games and spending time with them.

So guess what!  If the ENT doctor this next Saturday can't fix my ears, I get to go to New Zealand or Australia to fix it!  Pretty cool huh?!  I'm kind of hoping he won't be able to just so I can go! Not really, because I want this pain to go away . . . but kind of!  I’ve had a double ear infection for over two months.  That can’t be good!  I’m going to come home partially deaf or with some kind of balance/equilibrium problem!  The antibiotics they’ve given me haven’t helped at all.  This is NOT the United States!  The nurse thinks it's because I can't clear them, and so the bacteria is just staying inside.  At this point it just needs to go away! It's getting worse and worse, and now the pain is always there.  Sometimes I feel like I have the flu.  But I've got to say a trip would be sweet!  If life gives me lemons, why not make lemonade?!  

Well that's it for this week!  I know this church is true and I love sharing that knowledge with others.  Thanks for your constant support and love!

Family House Night with the pikininis