Ask a Missionary!

We loved Elder Nelson's talk titled "Ask a Missionary"  Our young missionaries set aside their education, occupation, dating, and whatever else young adults would typically be doing at this stage of life. As missionaries we need to give reports and make plans, we meet together as a district weekly to do this.   

Missionaries strive to follow Jesus Christ in both word and deed.  To set the stage here for you the temperature is around 93 degrees with probably 87% humidity and all the Elders are in long pants, white shirts and ties.  They always, always are obedient and strive to follow Jesus Christ.

Missionaries in their late teens or early 20s are young in ways of the world.  But they are blessed with gifts such as the power of the Holy Spirit, the love of God, and testimonies of the truth that make them powerful ambassadors of the Lord.

They share the good news of the Gospel that will bring true joy and everlasting happiness to all who heed their message. And in many instances they do so in a country and a language foreign to them. They also have the gift of tongues.  These Elders learn the language from their companion when they enter the mission field.

If you want to understand the Bible better, to understand the Book of Mormon better, and gain a broader comprehension of the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God, ask the missionaries! They can help you! It is true - missionaries are always learning and growing.  They may not know everything but they know who does and where to get the answers.  Ask a missionary!

Memorial for One of Chuuks Native Sons

Our dear friends, Clark and Chineina Grahams son, Keitani Graham, the Olympic wrestler for Micronesia, sports hero and role model, died in Chuuk. 

 Keitani was a role model for the youth in the FSM. He also was a great basketball player and track and field athlete. His love for sports and his desire to teach the youth of FSM will be greatly missed.

After graduating from Holy Cross, he served as a volunteer coach, referee, head referee, and trainer for this event through the SHIP-HOOPS nonprofit organization.

 Keitani was a youth leader in this important work of a drug-free Chuuk. He lead by example with  a drug-free lifestyle. He even worked hard getting a law passed that bans smoking in and within 25 feet of all public buildings including schools, office buildings, fields, etc

 Keitani through the SHIP-HOOPS  (Helping Ourselves: Outreach Programs in Sports) organization founded the Akoyikoyi School, a charter elementary school in his village of Penia on Weno, Chuuk.

 These students came from neighboring villages ~ hundreds of students came to honor Keitani Graham.

 Keitani learned to wrestle and competed his way through the FSM, Oceania, globally until he qualified to represent the FSM in the London Olympics in 2012.

 His death was sudden and unexpected because he was a healthy active young man. Keitani had accomplished much in his short life and with his great personality everyone loved him. He was a great motivator and everyone who came in contact with him was inspired. 

Many more people coming to pay respects to Keitani.

To pay respects you can also check out http://www.raatior.com/

Christmas Story

~ Perspective ~ CHRISTmas story!

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.
Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go."

"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... 

Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None for me," said the officer.

"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer.""Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.
George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.
"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"
"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.
"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.

"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. 

"Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

This story is better than any greeting card.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS!

Ran nallim seni ewe Pacific. . .

We have survived another month in “Paradise” and we are still going strong.  We think we are even starting to feel a little more at home now.  I guess that is to be expected after spending so much time here.  The people, like we said before, are very loving and accepting people. They have embraced us and let us be part of their family.  In some cases that is a good thing, in other cases – not so much. But none the less we are grateful for the love we receive.  So this past month was the month of giving thanks for everything we are blessed with and now we have entered in the month of WISHES...

But first, we want to say what we are thankful for --- We are thankful for clean water, garbage pickup, electricity, good beds, good roads, bug bombs, and all the people that make sure these things are possible to enjoy.  We are very, very thankful for technology and a good mailing service.  SuPeR, (in the words of our elders) thankful for a cold glass of fresh milk to drink.
We are also thankful for fresh fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes, peaches and raspberries.

Also thankful for the chance to grow stuff and buy stuff that looks familiar.
ET never thought he’d say it but he misses places like Walmart and Costco.

More important things we are very thankful for is Our Father in Heaven for the atoning sacrifice that was made so we could be forgiving of our weaknesses  and short comings.  We are thankful for the Lords priesthood and blessings we receive from it.  We are also thankful he loves us and takes such good care of us.  (Even on the days when we might not deserve it.)
We are thankful for our children, our grandchildren, friends and family and for everything they do for us and the support they have given us while on our mission.  We feel very loved and thankful for that love.
Now wishes. . . well for starters ET always says “if wishes were fishes, we’d all have a fry, if horse turds were biscuits, we’d eat till we die” (quoting his father, who was very wise in a folksy kind of way) Well we don’t want any of either ---
However we wish for you all to be healthy and strong. We wish that every small child could get a big hug then go to bed safe, warm, with a tummy full of healthy food and the feeling of being loved.  We wish the world could have peace and we could all get along and play nice with one another.
We know those things sound small and child like but that is what we wish for.

Sometimes we look around here and have a hard time imagining Christmas.  There are decorations up here and there and also some of the stores blare Christmas music, but the scenery is just not what we're used to for December.  It's just green everywhere.  And the temperature and humidity haven't changed a lick. But Christmas time it is and we are doing our best to have the Spirit.

Living out on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean is like something in the movies and is eye opening, in many ways.
Sometimes it feels like we are in a book and some days it drags on and on and then on other days, it is so full we can’t even stop our head from spinning.
We have met so many people from all over the world here.

It is great when you can run into people that are from your home area and even more exciting is when we know the same people.  SMALL WORLD.

Our hotel is like a little family within its self.  We live in the building where only the white people live.  Sounds a little racist but that’s just the way it turned out.  Our neighbor is Allan, he is from Louisiana.  He works for the U.S. Dept. of Interior and over sees our tax dollars at work here.  He has been out in Micronesia for many years and in Chuuk 7 years.  He is planning on leaving right after we go home.  He is single but he was going to marry a nice Chuukese lady but she got sick and passed away, left 3 children.  He sees the children every week and loves them.
Our other neighbors live up stairs.

Rob and Cindy, they are the dive masters.  He is from Florida but has lived everywhere including Ogden, Utah and Cindy is from the UK.  She has a great accent and is fun to listen to.  Although she is a little fiery, she is still pretty funny.  In the building in front of us is the Philippine community. We really couldn’t begin to tell you about everyone there because there are so many of them.  They are the workers and some of the great wonderful people here.
We have the greatest job in the world right now, delivering and handing out clothing, toys and goodies, all made possible by charitable souls from all across our home country.  We are not clothed in red or have a sleigh and reindeer and even if Elder Tiffany says he does have the build for it, we are not Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause. You can check out pictures @ bringingthelove.blogspot.com

One thing that we truly love and appreciate this year is family.  At home we all get caught up doing things with our family(ies) making traditions, eating, singing, playing games. We might over look someone that doesn’t have anyone to spend the holidays with.  Here in Chuuk, EVERYONE is family – it doesn’t matter if your blood or not.  We all are God’s children.
The branch Christmas party is on Christmas day because who do we spend Christmas with?  Our family.  Anyway everyone pitches in with food; they draw names for presents, play games, sing Christmas songs, and tell the Christmas story.  It warms my heart because no one is left out, it doesn’t matter what religion you are or what color, age or sex you are. you're loved and welcome to join in the festivities.
We truly are learning a lot of things and everything we ever learned throughout life, we have had to use on our mission.  We are extremely thankful for our upbringings and the incredible wonderful smart amazing parents we had.  We have never felt closer to them as we do on our mission.  When we are feeling down or not sure if we can handle something we feel them with us helping us get through it.  We know that we are very blessed and loved.
This mission is probably the hardest thing we have ever done in our lives, living under the circumstances we live in here and learning to be obedient and humble to what the Lord expects of us.  Wearing this badge every day makes us want to be better people.  We’re not only representing us, we are representing the Lord.  AWESOME.  We used to wonder why missionaries were different and now we know.  We still have more time here in Micronesia and we pray that we will be able to continue to grow and become the person the Lord sent us here to be.
Besides that “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, right?”

May we ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need.  Let us not be critical and judgmental, but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior’s example of loving-kindness.  And may we willingly serve one another.  We know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, that he died for us so we might live again. We also know that Joseph Smith restored his gospel to the earth again so we can learn how we must live here on the earth.  We also know that we have a prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, to lead us and guide us during times of trials.  We know that families can be together forever and it is up to each one of us to share our testimonies and teach others.  We pray for each one of you and pray you will continue to be strong and healthy.  We pray that we will be ever worthy to receive the blessings he has to offer.
We both love and miss you tons and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sapuk Village Young men group

We had the opportunity to visit the Sapuk Branch and have the young men there help us put Hygiene kits together for the school children in the neighboring village of Penia.  

Emyrose rounded up these good young men to help us with this project.

          "Chapel in Sapuk Village"

"Them that honor me, I will Honor". 1 Samuel 2:30

Each kit - has 4 toothbrushes, 2 combs, 2 tubes toothpaste, 2 bars of soap, 2 hand towels.  Also donated were multi-vitimans that the Principal Clark Graham will give to them daily.  

It was a tight fit but they were able to seal them and get them ready for delivery.

Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.  D&C 58:27

Lets load this box up now for the kids!

Loaded and ready for delivery. . .

 

 Our band of brothers who gave us so much unselfish help!

Chuuk Zone District Conference

Missionary work is contained in the Savior’s statement to Nicodemus: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

Practice shot - setting up

Wow what a busy wonderful weekend.  We had the opportunity to have our Area Authority and his lovely wife come visit us in Chuuk, along with our Mission President and his wife. We began with doing a humanitarian project for about 1 hour up at Chuuk High School, then we headed to the Blue Lagoon Resort for lunch and an afternoon meeting.  We were taught from Sister Mecham that the best way to increase lessons is to increase our study and to teach in their native tongue.
Our mission President taught us to never forget our purpose and that God is at the heart of what we do.  He exhorted to us to be bold and act on the promptings given to us.
President Ringwood told us that missionaries are the most prayed for people in the church next to the Prophet President Monson.  We are never alone and we should always prepare and heed the promptings because we are answering someone's prayers.  He taught that answers to prayers only happen with great faith when we go out to teach.
The restored gospel consists of doctrines and ordinances. We proclaim that baptism is necessary in order to redeem us from sins according to the conditions prescribed by the Redeemer and that only priesthood holders of this Church have the God-given authority that transforms the act of immersion in water into an ordinance of the everlasting gospel. Our preaching and teaching is unto baptism.

President Mecham is setting up the camera for a group shot.  It is going to be a good one, just wait. . .

What did I tell you - is this a good shot or what?  Sister Mecham always makes sure President gets a great picture.  So starting in the back with the tall Elder that is Elder and Sister Eakins, next we have Elder Vehikite, Obray, Allen, Johnson, Sealander, Sofele, Jones, Elder and Sister Tiffany, next row we have Elder Walters, President and Sister Ringwood, Sister Mecham and President, Elder Allred on the floor we have Elder Pita, Bowers, Huppe, Rainey and Peck.

Elder Walters greeting the members coming in from the outer islands - Romanum, Tonoas, and Uman.

"Sisters in the gospel" 

The next day we had leadership meetings for the Auxilaries and the Presidents taught. I wish I could tell you what it was about but I went in the other room with the children so the moms could listen and learn without any distractions.  We had close to 90 ladies show up for the training. 

Elder Allred and Elder Tiffany - helping people get into see the President for interviews.  Chuuk has been growing so much that we kept him busy with getting the Priesthood interviews and Temple Recommends.

~After a busy weekend our very cute elders needed to have some fun ~

We have Elders Pita, Bowers, Peck and Obray

Poor Elder Peck is exhausted.  Just a little nap here for a few minutes please. There are no couches  or anything like this to lay on in their apartments so I am sure he is loving here it on the bench.   Missionary work is hard work and that is what it's all about.   As the prophets say "if your not tired, you're not working hard enough"  I know our Elders work very hard.

Once upon a delivery day!

This is little Berta loaded and ready for delivery.  We have had great support from the states getting toys and clothing mailed to "Bringing the Love to Chuuk" it has been a big job getting everything out to those in need but we have loved visiting the families and seeing the look on the children's faces. Priceless!  Before leaving we give them a picture of Christ to remind them why we celebrate Christmas and the True meaning of giving. The Savior gave freely to all and His gifts were of value beyond measure.

Throughout His ministry, He blessed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and the halt and the lame to walk. He gave cleanliness to the unclean. He restored breath to the lifeless. He gave hope to the despairing, and He sowed light in the darkness.

He gave us His love, His service, and His life. What is the spirit we feel at Christmastime? It is His spirit—the spirit of Christ ~  President Thomas S. Monson 

Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the Savior the focus of the season. We can keep Him in our thoughts and in our lives as we go about the work He would have us perform here on earth. True love is a reflection of the Savior’s love. In December of each year we call it the Christmas spirit. You can hear it. You can see it. You can feel it all over the world.
True these gifts are given in the spirit of Christmas but they are also very much needed and appreciated.  Bringing the Love to Chuuk is a measure of charity to the children that help them to feel the love and care that our Savior has for them.

We pass this picture out also with the Articles of Faith printed on the back. 

The children are the future and the hope of life eternal.  Our Savior has an eye on everyone of them and yearns for them to progress and come unto him.  Our mission here is to help them become the faithful children and promoters of his eternal rewards.  In this task we are grateful participants. You can see pictures of the children @ bringingthelove.blogspot.com

Sisters around the world

As sisters in Zion, we'll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we'll seek.
We'll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We'll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.

The errand of angels is given to women; And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human, To cheer and to bless in humanity's name.

I do not have words to express my respect, appreciation, and admiration for these wonderful sisters. Ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.
Joseph Smith said; This blessing of knowledge and intelligence comes to all righteous women in the Church, regardless of their race or nationality, and irrespective of whether they are new in the Church or descendants of one of the first 20 members in Nauvoo in 1842. These blessings flow to those sisters who willingly perform the work of angels.

You've gotta serve where your needed.
How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit's divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.

“The Lord knows the hearts and minds of each of our sisters. He knows their struggles and heartaches, their joys and their sorrows. And only He truly knows what will best help them. Thus, our solution is to ask in faith for direction.”
I truly love my Chuukese sisters and am so blessed to serve here in Micronesia with them.  I know that being a Visiting teacher is very important.  I am grateful for my partner and sister friend in my home ward Julie Bates.  She has been such an amazing companion and example to me.  I pray each day that I will be able to share the blessing I have learned with my Chuukese Sisters.   I am grateful to testify of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and of a living prophet today who leads His work.