Kolopokie/Shark Bait Keeps it Going/ Shut up and Dance with Me... I mean Listen/Be Ye Doers of The Word

Dearest Family and Friends! How are you? Do you know I love you? I hope so!!! So much and with every part of my heart. Keep reading those scriptures! Have not opened them today? That is find open them now! Blessings are waiting for you. As a Disciple of The Lamb of God I plead with you to open the scriptures and pray to Your Father in Heaven! Don't waste another second or blessing waiting for you. Open them and feast upon the Words of Christ out of the Book of Mormon and other sacred scriptures.

Had a very cool teaching moment this week with a person we are teaching named Shiana. I felt very prompted while starting our lesson to shut up, ask how she is doing, and to listen. I obeyed immediately and we were blessed because of it. Thank goodness for the spirit. I asked how she was and she opened up. Despite the fact that she is very excited for her baptism date someone accused her of joining the church because of money. She felt very hurt and confused by their accusations. A scripture popped into my head in a second, with a very still and small voice which said, "I love her. Please tell her." The scripture is Matthew 5:10-12 A scripture my Dad once read to me stand above it about Christ't teachings to be a Peacemaker. It was a scripture I had read that morning for Personal Study. I testified that this would happen many times and that people have persecuted the People of God and even killed them since the time of Cane, the first murder. I testified she could find strength through the Savior. Then to my delight, a wonderful feeling entered the room and the Spirit carried my words into Shianna's heart. Her heart was comforted through the Great Comforter. And I swear I could almost hear the words. "Well done thou good and Faithful Servant." What a joy missionary work is for me. This was a very spiritual experience for me. I know scripture study is important for us to have the knowledge the Spirit of God can draw off of. As President Duquette often says you have to put the tools in your tool box (adding my own words here) so the Great Carpenter of Nazareth may apply his healing hand and create beautiful sculptures of miracles. What a joy it is to serve. Listen to the Spirit. He is there!

 I love to give the best attitude and work I can give for the Lord. I Love The Lord and want to serve Him with all my Heart, might, mind, and strength. To often I find I must repent and change but I love How The Lord Loves me so much and provides me with a way to change. No matter what happens during the day, I am feeling My Savior's Love and doing my very best to remember Him, Keeps His Commandments, and bring others to the Gospel. I am doing my best to be a blessing to my companions. I already love Elder 'Otuhouma and cherish him as another great companion with the many I have had the privilege of serving with. It is my greatest desire to finish strong and keep that going for when I return home. I love this work of being able to build up Zion in the South Pacific!

I love to see those we are teaching progress! I love, love, love to see their faces light up with understanding only the spirit can bring. Missionary work is such a joy! Sleeping and eating are now burdens. Don't worry Momma I still do both of those things! ;) Studying is a complete joy and a feast given by the Spirit, who I might add, is an excellent cook! One thing I really enjoyed from my studies this week came from Matthew 5:19 and James 1:22. Those who will be greatest in the Kingdom of God are those who not only taught what was right but lived what was right. Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only. I testify if we live they way we teach we will not only Be The Greatest in The Kingdom of God but be able to bring other souls there.

So Much Love,

Elder LaMont/Kolopokie/Shark Bait

Sorry, had problem with pictures! Next week Momma! I love you.

Shark Bait Becomes Kolopokie/ Baptisms and Changed Hearts/Time is Speeding!!!

Dearest Family and Friends! How are you????? I hope you are doing well! Things could not be better for me and Elder Mallarme here in Nambatu!

Emergency Transfer! Elder Mallarme and I will be staying in Nambatu and getting a new companion! We will be in a Trio! We are getting a companion named Elder Otu'houma from Tonga. Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, Elders and Sisters this does mean I am officially Kolopkie. Where is the Pudding, am I right??? Oie ah wae! One of the Sisters in my District (who is going home this transfer) got sick of me asking how to say Tongan words that she gave me her Tongan scriptures and told me to stop asking her questions. We will see how much I can learn... I have almost made it to the Testimonies of The Three witnesses in Tongan. The language is coming a lot quicker than any of my many attempts in French. Pretty Excited for my new "Toko" or brother to come and serve with us!

 Elder Mallarme and I are both so excited for Elder Otu'houma! We have his bed already and are excited for our future companionship! Things are going SO SO well here in Nambatu. No doubt the advisory will want to boost his efforts but with the Power of the Book of Mormon, obedience, and pray we know we can protect ourselves. As of now we have 4 set baptismal date for next month. We are thrilled and working hard with the members in order to fellowship and help provide a safe landing for those on date when they join the church and to provide help to their growing testimonies. We are having dinner Saturday night with 4 of the people we are teaching Bishop, His wife, and family to have a devotional about Eternal Marriage and Baptism. Very Excited and motivated to work! Loving life!! Elder Mallarme and I both feel our new companion will boost the success and joy the Lord has granted us. I am desire greatly to see those we have worked with enter the waters of baptism but I will go anywhere The Lord desires for me to go, even if it means leaving Nambatu. I love all the people we have come in contact with here with every part of my heart and soul, however I love The Lord more.  

Because I have been able to serve as a District Leader I had the opportunity to do an interview for a lady named Vanessa Nalawas. And because we could not find a Priesthood man available I also had the opportunity to preform the ordinance.  She is a very strong convert already. She has a desire to go to the Temple of God and I am thrilled to have been part of her interview. I don't know if I have meet anyone more ready for baptism in my life or time here in the mission! Wow! We hope she will work towards her goal of attending the temple with her 4 children with the ward members. The Spirit is always required. I often tell missionaries when I am able to conduct exchanges, "In the very end it does not matter what we say. It is the spirit. They will find true conversion on their own. When they are reading the Book of Mormon and calling on the Name of the Lamb of God."

One of the people we have on Date is named Desmond. We have become very good friends already. He told 

 how just us giving him a Book of Mormon gave him the desire to quit drinking even before we asked him to. He said he has seen that King Benjamin's Promise in Mosiah 2:41 is so true. Blessed in all things. He feels more free, love, and joy. This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. His words later brought me to tears of joy! How blessed I am. I often feel I recive more blessings than I give but I am giving my best my last few moments as a missionary. I know this Church is truly Christ's only True Church. And that He leads it through Russell M. Nelson. I know Our Father in Heaven lives. My Mission President often says something like this: "We are all from Heaven. We are all from one place. It is time we start acting like it."

Love you all! As my brother and Hero always says, "Give Them Heaven!"

Love,

Elder LaMont, Your Alekken Ty, Shark Bait, Kolopokie, Robin Van Persie

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY/ Shark Bait Meets a Man From Pakistan/ Saved By the Bell... I mean the Bus

Dearest Family and Friends!!! I love you! How great it is to be able to speak with you again! Sorry if this email is a little shorter today.

To all the Mothers: HAPPIEST OF MOTHER'S DAY!!!! WE ARE ALL SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU. Mohter's are such amazing examples of love and righteousness. Guardian Angels placed on this Earth to bring the Souls/ Sons and Daughters of Our God into this world. Chosen and precious Vessels who never stop loving those they bring to join, in this Great Plan Of Our God. Thank you for all your sacrifices and love. May God continue to bless you. With all my heart, I thank you and salute you!

I wanted to write a few words of thanks to my Dear Angel Mother. Mom, I love you. Thank you for being my Mother and loving me. You have believed in me, nurtured me both physically and in the Word of God, and have given all that is possible to bless me and all of your children. You are a righteous and beloved Daughter of God. You show why it is not possible for us to Gather Israel without the Great Women and ladies of this Church. I love you with every part of my heart and soul. Thank you for all that you are.

I had a crazy experience once again with the Spirit. We were late walking to a lesson (The lesson before went a little longer than we thought) , when I saw a man wave to us. This man was very much not form Vanuatu and I later found out he was from Pakistan. I waved back and thought of our next appointment. Then the Spirit commanded me to obey. I immediately turned around and speed to him. His is from Pakistan! His wife meet some missionaries in Australia and was prepared by the Hand of The Lord. We gave him a Book of Mormon (in English that I felt like I needed that day) and wished him the best for his return to Australia next week. Talk about blessings!

Just a few thoughts I wanted to share from My Personal Studies: As I have been pondering what I have learned during General Conference I have been blessed with great amounts of knowledge from Heaven. One of the things I really loved from conference is how much emphasis was placed on The Gathering of Israel. I have learned more how important the Gathering of Israel really is! What is even more amazing is the the Gathering of Israel is happening on both sides of the veil! I have reflected on the times I was able to do baptisms for the Dead in the Temple before my mission. What a special and sacred opportunities those were for me! I remember still the peace and joy I felt going to the Temple. I love how Our Father in Heaven through His Son has provided ways for all of His children to be blessed no mater where they are, what circumstances they are in , and who they are. We can all be blessed by making and keeping Sacred Covenants and Ordinances in The Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Nephi 26: 23-28,33 We are all invited to come unto Christ repent and be healed. None are denied the opportunity to come. Repentance is a gift, which we can use everyday. Nothing will bring more happiness and peace of mind into our lives. The adversary tries to trick us into thinking that Repentance can not meet our individual sins and does not bring us happiness. This is a lie! And as a Disciple of Jesus Christ I testify that through repentance we can become more good every day. Repentance is truly not and even but a process. No one is not allowed to use the Atonement of Jesus Christ. All are invited to Come Unto Him!

Funny and quick experience I wanted to share! We were going to be late for curfew because a lesson went a little long again. Perhaps some poor planning on my felt, but I feel it was very much time well spent. When out of the Blue the Elders from Teoma showed up in their bus. They asked if we needed a ride and provided us with an ability to arrive in time. Saved by the bell! I mean the bus! The Lord blesses us so much!

So much love,

Elder LaMont/Shark Bait/ Island Boy/Your Alekken Ty

Enjoy some great pictures for this week! Love you!