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!