Dearest Family and Friends!
What a wonderful adventure it has been for Elder Gunnell and I this week. It has been a bit of a Roller Coaster but we have seen so many blessings. There truly are no dull moments in the work of Salvation! One blessing I am loving it is now November but it is still very warm here in Vanuatu! I have indeed missed the change of the season (especially the color of all the leaves changing) However I don't miss the cold!
I again would love to share some thoughts, which have come throughout the week and through my studies! :)
We taught a wonderful Family Home Evening the other night. We took a glass of clear water and explained this is how we look after baptism. Clean and pure. Then we dumped in a red fruit mix drink and taught about how sin makes us dirty and of the effects of sin. We then took bleach and poured it into the cup mixing it in and to the astonishment of those we taught made the liquid again become clear. We taught how Christ can completely cleanse us from any sin if we will come unto Him.
I testify this is true. There is no sin, illness, pain, or sorrow the Lord Jesus Christ can't heal. He will not leave us to suffer if we will but come and take of His Living waters. He will make us clean and help us back onto our feet once again. It is never too late. I know He Lives and stands ready to help every single one of us.
Isaiah 1:18
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool
Now we move to the adventures of the week!! :) Hold onto your socks here we go! Off to Neverland... I mean... Vanuatu... It's pretty much the same thing right..? ;)
This week we gained another companion! Because of some of the issues with the transfer/ some issues in Nouvelle Calédonie we had Elder Tetuaiterai (and Elder who has been serving in NC) stay with us during the week. He is from Tahiti and his English is extremely limited. So, much of the week was spent communicating in Broken Bislama and my broken French! Haha! We have had some fun times trying to talk. Being able to communicate with others is kind of like your health. You don't appreciate it until it's gone or you no longer have it!
Elder Tetuaiterai is like one of those giant teddy bear kind of guys. He loves to laugh, when he shares his testimony you can really feel the spirit, desires to be everyone's friend, and can eat A LOT of food. These wonderful people of the South Pacific can really chow down food. It's amazing. I have had the opportunity to learn a tiny but more French and even learned a few things in Tahitian. Irronia is how you say hello in Tahitian!
Elder Tetuaiterai only stayed with us this last week and left Sunday night.
And this week will be quite insane. I am currently writing this on Sunday because tomorrow we leave for Santo Zone Conference. We will be there Monday-Wednesday night. Then we have one day in Vila (Thursday) and then the following morning we fly to New Caledonia and don't get back until Monday night next week. Whheew! It will be busy but fantastic at the same time. Sorry if I don't get to you on emails.
One of the most amazing experiences of this wonderful week was Mama Vanessa's Baptism! If you don't recall Mama Vanessa is a wonderful lady we found in the Area Book. One of her younger sisters is actually a member so we found her this way. Vanessa's record in the Area Book said she was not keeping commitments so the past Elders stopped teaching her. We started teaching her and had a strong desire from the get go to make sure we taught to her needs. We found out the reason she could not keep any of the commitments is because she can't read and didn't really know how to pray.
We have worked extremely hard with her and have carefully tried to teach to her understanding. Time and time again she amazes me. She is a single mother with four very young children. Yet, she gets her kids ready for church every Sunday and brings them the entire time. Despite the fact she was scared to be taught by us, because she has never gained an education, she has done her best to understand what we taught her. Mama Vanessa has shown me truly what Faith is. Her strong desire to want to know more about God, Follow the example of the Savior, be a good mother, and be a righteous person had moved her past her fears. With God all things are possible. And Faith will always cast out our Fears.
She was baptized and confirmed this last Saturday and Sunday! I am so proud of her and all she has done. I was deeply moved by how happy Vanessa was and by how many of the ward members have worked together to help her. Even during the baptism, there were several other Mothers holding her kids so she could enter the font. I love the concept of a Beehive. How a Beehive has so many Bees yet they all work together in harmony to make honey, care for the needs of the larva, and serve the Queen. Hopefully our Wards can be the same! We work together to bring the sweet taste of honey or the Spirit, we help the lava or needs of those in our ward (mourn with those whom mourn stand in comfort those who stand in need of comfort) ,and we do all we can to serve the Queen of the Hive or The Savior Jesus Christ (Mosiah 2:17) Do we do all we can to help the Hive Function? Could we be doing more? Are we looking out for the needs of others? Do we loose ourselves in the great Ministering work? There is much work to do! We can do it. We can bless and help others and as we do I know we will find more joy.
One last story. When Elder Gunnell and I were contacting this one day we found a man named Papa Edwin. Edwin is a terrific man and his knowledge of the Bible is incredible. As we have discussed some of the lessons with him we have really focused on teaching with the Book of Mormon. I am impressed with Elder Gunnell's scriptural knowledge and ability to teach how the Book of Mormon and Bible go hand in hand. I feel we are learning a lot from one another. As we were teaching about the Plan of Salvation I shared a verse from Alma 40: 23 about how we would all be resurrected. His face lit up (Light Bulb Moment!) and he exclaimed, "Ohhhhh! Really?? That's how it works? I love how this Book teaches so clear. I understand. Why had my Pastor not taught me about this?" We again taught how these truths had been lost but then brought again by the power of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He told us he was not going to be able to sleep tonight and would plan on reading the Book of Mormon throughout the night! We are excited with his progression thus far.
I know and testify the Book of Mormon is the truest book in all the World. It is the words of Christ. They truly are His Words and He will show unto us they truly are His words by the power of The Holy Ghost.
2 Nephi 33: 10- 11 and Moroni 10: 3-5
My family and friends, I love you. I pray for you. I Hope you have wonderful week and find ways to help those around you. There is no greater joy than being about Our Father's Work!
Love Forever,
Elder LaMont/ Shark Bait/ Your Alekken Ty/ Island Boy
We introduce Elder Tetuaiterai to Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches. It's sad to think some people don't know about this amazing invention! We saved him!!
This is a less active family we have been working with. Their house has the coolest view so we snapped a quick picture!
Maybe Elder Tetuaiterai thought the Book of Mormon was a PB and J? This is some of Vanessa's kids!
Vanessa's Baptism!! What a great blessing.
Alright kids, how do we feel about Vanessa getting baptized? Two thumbs up!
No changing of leaves but Vanuatu is still beautiful!
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