Shark Bait's First Black Out in Vanuatu/ God's Miracle

TALOFA FROM THE FUTURE!!! Hello to my beautiful family and friends!!!

It is an honor to be able to be able to write to you today. Unfortunately I had a hard time signing on to the computer today and will not have as much time to write! We will see how much I get to say! This week has gone by at 100 miles per hour. Elda Gray and I have had to get ready for the new transfer coming up as well as finish a mid transfer. This means scheduling and organizing flights with the Assistants to the President, driving missionaries to the airport at 4:00 in the morning, and trying to get in some teaching appointments at the same time.

Because I do not have much time this week to write I want to share a miracle which occurred yesterday. Elda Gray and I were told during church that we needed to make emergency flights for some Elders because of the transfer happening next week. We went to make the flights and the power went out. After much confusion we figured out Vanuatu has not paid their electricity bill so the electric company shut off the power throughout the entire country. This means we could not make the flights, we would not be able to email, and pull out money from the ATM. Elder Gray and I had planned well and had Vatu saved up for such an occasion however we could not make the flights we needed. I had some silent prayers and we waited -not sure what to do. The power did come back on and we were able to make the necessary flights. This however messed with our schedule to visit our investigators. We went to our area in Teoma and no one was home. We felt like today was just going to be a bad day. We did not just throw in the towel however. We knew we had to keep working. We went to our 2nd area in Nambru ( which Elder Gray and I are both new to) and one thing led to another and we eventually found 3 new investigators through the experience. We taught them about the Restoration and bore our testimonies of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Prophet Joseph Smith. We also gave the Papa or Dad a Buk Blong Momon to read to his family.

After the lesson, Elda Gray told me my Bislama is pretty good in lessons but not quite as good when we come out. The Gift of tongues is very really just in case you did not know!  After this entire experience something really stuck out to me. This was no accident. We were suppose to meet that family. The Lord is very active in his Missionary work. I testify He really did lead us to this family and I can not wait to see what comes of it! What an amazing experience!

I am doing very well and am very happy. Thank you so much to all of you who write to me. I am sorry that today I have even less time today and might not be able to email next week because of the transfer. I might be busy with Travel Elder things during that time.

Momma! Know that I am praying for you any chance I get! I know The Lord will help you accomplish all you set out to do! I admire you for your courage and hard work!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

Elda LaMont/ Shark Bait/ Your Alekken Ty

Shark Bait's 1st encounter with Laplap :) :D

TALOFA FROM THE FUTURE/ OLSEM WANEM OL FAMLE MO FREN BLO MI!!! I Love you all so much!!

This week has been a very crazy one!!! As Travel Elders -Elder Gray and I are never not busy. I love this work so much and I am very honored to not only be a Travel Elder but a missionary in Christ's church.

I wanted to take some time to answer a few questions from you Dad!! Driving on the island is crazy! There are no speed limit signs and the people are also a little crazy when it comes to driving. We make sure to be very careful and the Lord protects us.

The spiritual highlight for me this week was bearing my testimony in Bislama. I testify to you all that God lives. The gift of tongues is very real and incredible. I bore my best testimony of the Buk Blong Momon or Book of Mormon the best  I could to a family we taught yesterday and I felt the spirit rush through me. I am learning Bislama a lot faster than I thought I could. I have prayed for help and God has blessed me with strength.

Another spiritual highlight is that we have been hosting Zone Leaders in our house for MLC (they have come from New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and other parts of Vanuatu)  and I have been able to carry on several conversations in Bislama. Thank you for your prayers.

My trainer Elder Gray has helped me the most this week. He is extremely patient and kind. He is like a giant teddy bear. He has taught me many many things and I love being his companion. As a Travel Elder I do quite a bit of work in the office. We have to book flights, issue those flights, and make sure people go where they are needed. Most times we go to a travel agency and work out the flights there. I am learning more about airplane travel than I ever thought I would.

This week I am going to be getting my Vanuatu license so I can drive the bus we use to transport people when they stay with us. I am learning tons about the other islands and I love to talk with those who stay with us to learn more about them.

Elder Gray and I actually work with Sister Granger a lot since she is the one who usually works with travel. She is very much Australian and very proud to be Australian! Haha! I love her!

My average day really depends. Most times Elder Gray and I go to our area in Temoa as much as we can. There are times where we are either hosting other missionaries, booking flights, driving people, and helping the office elders and we do not have time to go to our area. It is hard when that happens but I know it is necessary to help other missionaries. Despite our business we have a fair amount of people we teach and we are finding more. This is no coincidence. The Lord blesses us. I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!

I had my very first Laplap this week! It was legit! The photo of the food is Laplap, simboro, pumpkin covered in coconut milk, and other things. I will tell you more about it when I can. I am running out of time. The other picture is Christmas trees in the store we shop in with water toys. That is how it works in this part of the world!! Christmas is the hottest time of the year and it is when you have barbecues on the beach! I thought it was an entertaining sight! The last pictue is of a shirt I found for my Momma! I used some left over cash I had from my flight from the US to get it. It is a genuine Survivor T shirt from the time they had Survivor in Vanuatu. Maybe you could use it for a pillow Mom or just wear it but I did get it for you!

Sadly I am out of time. I wish I had more time to email but I very grateful I can email. I love you all so much. Never forget it!

Much love,

Elda LaMont/ Shark Bait/ your Alekken Ty :) :D

Week 2 on the island...

TALOFA/ Olsem Wanem Ol Famle mo Fren blo mi

Mi lovem yu tumas!!!

I cherish this moment to write to you! This has been one of the best weeks of my entire mission and life! I love Vanuatu so much already! So, I have decided instead of me leaving after 2 years, you should all come here!! ;)

I did go to the dentist on P day last week because my face was swelling up once again. It turns out the problems I have been having are not a dry socket rather a small incision which has not healed up. The small incision has been getting food and bacteria and it the causing the infection/swelling. The mission nurse has kept me on antibiotics and the dentist gave me a syringe to clean out things and I have made an amazing recovery! I am gong to the dentist again today to make sure everything is good to go! I testify that The Lord healed me from this and helped me push through! In case you were wondering if Heavenly Father is listening to your prayers, I testify with my whole heart and energy He is.

Because I have been on antibiotics the mission nurse told me to get yogurt from "Au Bom Maché" (Basically the Walmart of Port Vila where we do our shopping) which  made me really excited! Those of you who really know me know of my great love for yogurt! So one morning this week I had a Throwback/Classic Bubbos Breakfast! Chocolate Milk Nesquick (which tastes very different), toast with Raspberry Jam, and Yogurt!

A cool Cultural Experience this week! I got to try my very first Island Kaki (Island food) The Mahit Family (Johnny's parents) made us what is called, "Simboro." It is Manok or sweet potato mushed and then rolled up with Island cabbage. Then coconut milk is poured on top of it. It looked pretty nasty, not going to lie but I was not going to let that stop me. i tried it and it was super good! I am incredible humbled the Mahit Family gave us this food when they don't have very much. These people are so giving and kind. I hope I become more like them. I love how here in Vanuatu Port Vila when we have lessons we usually have them outside houses/huts and we sit on these giant mats made from Bandas tree leafs. During Baptismal Interviews a small Pikinini climed a tree and cut down grapefruit for us to enjoy!

My week was truly amazing because Saturday was Johnny's Baptism!!! I had been counting the days to it! I know the Lord is prod of him just like I am!! It  was such a wonderful day! I am lost for words to describe how happy it made me to watch him step into the font and make this amazing covenant with God. My whole heart and soul were filled with true joy like never before! I felt really blessed to play a small portion in helping him get there and I praised God in my hear for the matchless gift of His Son and The Great Plan of Happiness. Johnny would never had been baptized if it were not  for God and His Holy Spirit which helped us through the lessons! My only hope is Johnny won't forget that day and what he felt. I hope he will continue to keep coming  towards Christ and His loving outstretched arms. I testify as you do The Lord will help you through any trial and you will feel the great joy which comes from His Gospel.

I love this marvelous work. I love our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love and prayfor all of you. Thank you for your prayers and support. My Bislama is getting better and better every day.

Much love,

Elda LaMont/ Shark Bait/ Your Alekken Ty