Progress is Good

This week was awesome! We had eighteen lessons this week, set up two baptisms, it was really good.

Right now Tehina is really close- he's down to one or two cigarettes a day. He doesn't want to rush things or commit himself to anything, so he's getting there very slowly.

Ahio has progressed a lot. The past lessons weren't super great, but I think it clicked when we talked  about temple ordinances and blessings. His wife is a member, and they've talked about a lot stuff, but he's still been hesitant. During this lesson on  temples, he sat forward really trying to understand. At the end we gave him a baptismal date and had him pray about it. He still wants to know everything before he's baptized, but the next lesson he agreed to the date.  February 27.   Pretty far off, but it gives him time to prepare. At the end of that lesson he gave the prayer. It was probably the most sincere prayer that I've heard an investigator give. Yeah, he's ready.

We also taught the Family Fangatau*. Jacques*, who's inactive, and Beatrice, the investigator. We taught the restoration, and gave her the same date for baptism, which she accepted. Then her husband said that he wanted to baptize her. Yes! Also, at the beginning of the lesson, we asked him to choose someone for the prayer. He thought we asked him to say it, and sId it had been a long tim and he wasn't ready yet, but by the end of the lesson he offered to say the prayer. 

We taught Robert* with DMP (Ward Mission Leader). during the lesson, DMP shared a scripture about the stick of Juda and the stick of Ephraim.  He said that the stick of Ephraim is the Book of Mormon, and this was Robert's reaction: What!? Really!? Now that there's proof, I believe.

Okay, if that's all it takes, I'll go for it.

Something fun: we were at DMP's house. There are always neighborhood kids that hang out there. At one point I picked up some petanque balls and started juggling, and Elder Millerberg started talking about lacrosse, and pretty soon we had fifteen neighborhood kids close around us asking us questions, some religious, some not. Missionary work at its finest! Also, teaching a thirteen year old kid, another small group of kids gathered around. Being kids, they weren't super interested in the lesson, but they had seen us playing soccer last week, so they came.

At church yesterday, we had six investigators show up. We taught a class on prayer, and the spirit was strong. You could see them writing notes and listening intently. Super cool. Sad thing I'm not going to be around for long.

Speaking of that, I'm getting transfered. we were expecting my companion to leave, but nope, it's me. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I'm going to Takaroa. From what I've heard, there are 400 people, 80% of which are members. It's a northern Tuamotus island.

Well, faaitoito everyone. Next transfer's going to be fun. God lives and works miracles according to our faith. He wants to talk to us and help us, but he can't if we don't reach out to him. I'm super grateful to be a part of this missionary work. I couldn't be anywhere else and be happy right now. 

Love, 

Elder Lewis

No Letter This Week

Hey, sorry, no email this week. Things got rushed so we ran out of time. Not a whole lot happened, though. I'll put it in my next letter.

2016!

This week has been a little slow, mostly trying to get to know everyone in the new sector, but it was good. All the members are really cool. They're super friendly, so I don't think we'll have a problem getting them to come to lessons or give referals or help the investigators at church. We met most of the investigators. 

We have one, Sam*, who is adventist and pretty much the only thing holding him back is the question about what day is the Sabbath. We have another, Ahio*,  who quit drugs and alcohol all of a sudden and doesn't know why, but he didn't want to get baptized and then fall back into that stuff, so he's waiting. Another, Feleti*, is going to be baptized.  He can't get baptized for a year, so we're just teaching him until then. Inoke*, who we've taught before, just needs to stop smoking. Kalea* with the same problem. These are some of the  bigger investigators. All of them really close to entering the gate, but not quite.

Vairea is in our ward! She stopped the lessons to try to solve her problems on her own. She ended up moving here and she's way happier now. 

For New Year's Eve, we didn't do much.  All of us were exhausted so we ate some cake, had a bottle of sparkling apple juice, and went to bed earlier then normal. What a blast. 

I don't think I've mentioned the relationship with Africa and Tahitians. I had to explain that there isn't a president of Africa and that there are in fact 54 different countries. I've heard racist jokes about skin color. Tahitians always joke about going to Africa, on missions or other things. They think the re's no food there, that there are trillions of mosquitos carrying deadly diseases and that it's the worst place in the world to go. I'm petty sure they think it's just another island, too. Sorry, not really spiritual or anything but I had to throw that in. It's pretty funny sometimes. They also immediately ask if you know eachother if you're both from Utah. It just kind of shows a little of what Tahitians are like.

Anyways, I hope you all have a good New Year! I know that God lives, I know he sent his only begotten son to atone for our sins so that we can repent and become like Him. I know that God is always there and He wants us to communicate with Him through prayer. I know that this gospel is true and that this church is the true restored church of Jesus Christ.

Have a good week!

Elder Lewis

Saying goodbye to Temarua

I weaved a fan. Not perfect, but not bad for a first try