Wonderful end to a exciting year 2011

We are much warmer than we are used to at this time of year. The thermometer reads about 85 degrees almost every day. The Humidity is somewhere in the same range. We have been trying to adjust to decorated palm trees with varying degrees of success. Santa in Bermuda shorts is a test and reindeer with sunglasses are a stretch. The rain does not stay mostly in the plain because there isn’t one. The jungle is very well watered and very lush. Our journeys into it have been very soggy affairs. So suffice it to say we are like a couple of snowshoes on the beach. (out of our element) What a great way to shake up our normal routine.
The time we spend with the members has been wonderful. Most of them have so little and yet they are so happy. They are extremely unselfish and want to share everything with us. It’s very humbling for us. They would give us their only food and sometimes do. The other day we got a fresh octopus. Honestly we didn’t know what to do with it so we gave it to the Elders.
Speaking of the Elders here, let us just say that we are so impressed with them. They are a great bunch of guys that are totally dedicated to this work and the Lord. It is an honor to know them and be able to work with them. They take us into the jungle and watch out for us all along the way and then when we get to a members house they are so gracious and giving and really try to connect with the less active members. The children all love them and follow us everywhere. By the time we get back to our vehicle, we have an entourage with us. In between times they are teaching us the language and talking to us about their investigators. We love them and for the first time this year they got to Skype their families on Christmas Day. Yaaay! We are very happy to be here to be included in this important work. Sometimes we look at each other and wonder how this came about, but we know the Lord has had his hand on our heads and pointed us in the direction that would do us the most good. We are just grateful to have this chance to serve him.
We very much appreciate the cards and letters that have been sent to us. They are like little blessings that appear when least expected and most appreciated.

God Bless all of you this Holiday Season,

Elder and Sister Tiffany
PO box 861
Moen, Chuuk
FSM 96942

We got our new "Chuuk" drivers license ---

Be sure to check out my  new name change, SPECIAL TIFFANY "for extra" --- also we are both now of "Island" race.  You gotta love island life, everyone is so kick back here.  We both got a new license but Elder Tiffany stayed with his real name.  

 Elder Tiffany at the Governors Financial office where you pay them to get a drivers license. $15.00pp.  This is the front door.  We walked by the first time because we thought it was a closed building. Silly us :)

Sister Tiffany @ the front door.  Oh how Special she is..... They have great names here, for example a few of our branch members are M4, M5, Mylovely, A7, Gladly, Lonely, Useless, Toy just to name a few.  GREAT PEOPLE

Merry Christmas From Micronesia

We want to wish everyone a very merry, warm, peaceful and loving Christmas. 

Our entertainment was provided by popular singing and dancing duo, The Flying Bonzo Brothers, Flak and Zak. 

(Elder Robertson and Elder Meldrum)

They are a regular Tiny Tim and Bob Crachit. 

God Bless Us, Everyone!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE :)

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MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE :)
Merry Christmas to You
Christmas is a special time to look out at the beautiful snow on the ground and all the snowmen that have been made by the kids. All the pine trees with lights and decorations and icicles hanging on them.
A cozy big fire in the fireplace with big stockings waiting to be filled on Christmas Eve. Maybe a little egg nog all warmed up with the smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls wafting in the air. Palm trees swaying in the ocean breezeeeee, What? Oh yeah, I forgot no palm trees or ocean breeze there in the land of Nod. Well, Christmas here is a bit different than what we’re used to. Yep, you can take that to the proverbial lending institution. The people here are in the Christmas spirit though, hanging decorations and manger scenes abound. The stores (of which there are a hundred little ones) are hanging lights and setting up trees to advertise and a few of them have guys yelling into microphones to “come shop here”. Except the do it in Chuukese. Excuse me while I look that up in my language dictionary. “Feito Kamo Iyeey” (more or less). Merry Christmas in Chuukese is Merry Christmas. Just thought I’d throw that in.
We’re planning a holiday dinner for all the Missionaries. Not sure exactly what we are gonna eat but we have a list to give the Zone leaders to get in Guam and bring back for things we can’t get here. Like sour cream, cream cheese, all most any kind of cheese, frozen fruits, Cereal without sugar on it, real milk and cream of chicken soup. Our little Christmas tree sits on a table just inside our living room area and we try to turn on the lights every chance we get, hoping that it will spark a little Christmas joy. We put a few things under it and we will put some more soon. The Missionaries are going to get little packages that we have put there for them. Our work goes on here.
There are four areas here on this island "Weno" that were needed to be mapped with the GPS unit.  Since we have arrived here we have finished one of them and we’re just getting started doing the other. After that or maybe in conjunction with that we will start doing the other islands. The weather has not permitted us to go out to them yet.  Well it has, but we didn’t feel like getting soaked by rain.

The Spirit is strong here among the members and the missionaries. We have been to a baptism and we have more planned on Christmas Eve. It’s been great to see the work that is going on here. We have met many people here and meet more every day. They have great big smiles and are very humble in their hearts.

Their circumstances are also very humble but it does not seem to bother them. The children’s inventiveness is astounding. They can make a toy out of anything. One boy we saw had cut off the top of a plastic oil can and stuck a couple straight sticks through it towards the bottom and then taken little limes and stuck them on the ends of the sticks for wheels. Then he tied a string to it and tied it onto another stick to hang on to and pull it around like a pull toy. Some other boys took empty rice bags and folded it up just right so that when they hold it up and jerk it down, it makes a loud pop noise.
All the teens here play basketball and volley ball. Their playing everywhere you go. All the chapels here have a court to play on outside available to everyone and they are always in use.

May God Bless each of you and we wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Elder and Sister Tiffany

Days in the Lives of Missionaries in Chuuk

Nothing like white shirts and ties to attract attention in the Jungle.

“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

Smile when you say that!

~On the seventh hour they rested~

May we ever remember that the mantle of membership in The Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a cloak of comfort but rather a robe of responsibility.

Don't ask.

He's gunnin for more investigators!

Each of us can do something to help others. President Monson taught that we should love everyone and learn to see how we can help them

Now, which is the business end?

“[The Lord] will not permit us to fail if we do our part. He will magnify us even beyond our own talents and abilities.

Elder Johnsons up a tree ~ AGAIN

What kind of service does heaven require? “The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

The view of Chuuk

A distant view of our downtown here on Weno

Dept. of Public Safety

We found this sign on the road to the Sapuk Village.  It's rather a funny sign as we are completely unaware of any special ops around here.  We could be wrong though.

The Front Door

This  is the grand entrance to our enchanting abode.  Notice the welcome mat.  We put one down and our neighbors copied us all down the way.

One of the many beautiful flowers on our island "Weno"

1 bedroom no bath private patio entrance home

Available for immediate move in and enjoy the beautiful ocean views and breezes.  Actually these shacks are where the men spend their days viewing their options, not where they live. They gather and discuss the events of family and friends.  Cooking is usually done just outside in a communal way.

Ship Wrecks in the Lagoon

Many ships and planes went down in this area at the end of WWII.  This is just a few that stick up where most are on the bottom.

The jungle was so great today.

Elder Tiffany and Elder Meldrum (playing Caesar).  When your sweating as much as we did you have to be entertaining.

What fun it would be to grow up in the jungle if you're a kid...This is their backyard!!!  You could make all kinds of club houses in there. 

Jumanji or what?

Jungleing, Jungleing, Jungleing all the way.  Oh what fun it is to tramp in the Jungle for the FHE's, hay!

Elder hanging by his tie

Sometimes when the camera comes out, so do the clowns.

There is beauty all around...

The Chuukese women love to wear flowers in their hair. This is Sister Tiffany's favorite flower because it is beautiful and it smells very nice.

 The flowers fall off the tree shortly after they bloom. A flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life.  

Hector the apartment Gecko

We found Hector in our apartment last night.  He was such a cute little guy but I don't want to live with him.  He is also very fast. He had a distinctive English accent as he went out the door too, we thought.  Cheerio, my friend.

Home Teaching

Sister Tiffany with Elder Robertson (showing off Elder Tiffany's cool sunglasses) Great afternoon visiting some branch members.  Elder Henrie is in the background (he thinks he is invisible)....

Elder Johnson

The Elders are great they love the camera. :)  We are taking a break after walking through the jungle at a fresh water pool.
This area was once damned up by the Japenese during the war to make a large pool of fresh water.  Incredible amount of work put into this area.  

Our little car "Berta Chitosa"

She gets us through some very large muddy chuuk holes.  We sometimes feel like we are swimming through them.   

Chuuk hair gel

These people are so inventive.  This little round thing has prickly things on the outside of it and this is the large tree it grows on.

You peel the outside of  it and use the inside for hair gel. They also make hair gel using the fresh coconuts.  We are working on getting that recipe.

Yet another beautiful flower

You gotta love the tropics, the flowers are incredible colors and they are everywhere you go

The Canons of Yesteryear

The Canons are pointed toward the island but 60 years ago they were pointed out toward the Lagoon.  Then they were overwhelmed by an Awesome display of American Fire Power.  Google: Operation Hailstone, for the full story.

Missionary Conference in Chuuk with Elder Ringwood

A Great conference with Elder Ringwood and President Mecham on Dec. 2.  We were very well taught this day.

Humanitarian Couple

Doctor and Sister Archibald from SLC, Utah on a 6 month humanitarian mission.   Good to have a doctor close by.

CES Couple

Elder and Sister Eakins from SLC, Utah. You might remember him from the NBA.

Lunchtime

Elder Lavides from the Phillipines, Elder Lapeyrouse from North Carolina enjoying lunch during break @ District conference.

Institute teacher from Wichap branch Mitomino

Hang'in with the Elders

Local members with Elders Valinotti and Elder Jones.  Everyone really loves being with the Elders.

Us enjoying the view out side the church during the break

We offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

Outer island members

Outer island members in for District conference"church dock"

Merry Chuuk CHRISTmas

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree,

In our little living room.

Will St Nich be able to find us,

We hope to make the holiday bloom.

We only need to be consoled

by rudolphs glowing nose.

To make our hearts begin to cheer

and the spirit here, it grows.