A Week On Tahiti

24 February 2014, Uturoa, Raiatea

OK, this week I wasn't in Raiatea at all. We left Tuesday and we got back Saturday. It was AWESOME!

It has been a while since I left my sectuer. We stayed at the house in Faripiti, I think, with the assistants and the zone leaders of Papeete. It was super fun. I'm not sure why it was so fun, it just was.

Anyways, the reason we all went to Tahiti, "tous la monde" (ed. note: all the world or the whole world went), was because Elder Nelson came to visit us. He is one of the 12 Apostles. We had a special meeting with him as well as President Callister and Elder Pearson. Their wives were there as well. They all gave talks. They were pretty powerful. 

Sister Nelson talked about the premortal life, and talked about how when we study certain topics that resonate with us, that may have been one of your specialties in the premortal world. Also, she cited a quote from Joseph Smith that said, "If you could look into heaven for 5 minutes, you could learn more about a subject than studying it your entire life."

Elder Nelson said some pretty awesome stuff too. He said, "If people don't accept our message, it's because they aren't from the House of Israel." It was pretty interesting, but kind of harsh at the same time. He also told us to read 1 Nephi 15. He cited a few scriptures in it pertaining to the Abrahamic Covenant. He said all of the prophets have prophesied about this generation. We are the generation that has the opportunity to FULFILL THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT. Then he kind of hopped on the podium and threw his hands up. It was pretty funny.

Yeah, so read 1 Nephi 15 carefully. I don't remember much else right now. I'm really tired. 

In Tahiti, the traffic is craaazy! We ate at McDonalds too much; they call McDonalds "Macdo". When you eat there you have no regrets, except later, when you recreate the Hoover dam in your intestinal track. 

Well, I don't really want to end the email with that thought. What else? 

Oh, I'll be getting transferred next transfer (ed. note: end of March), but I don't know where. We'll see. 

I love you all!!!!

Wish I could watch the Olympics!!!

Love, Elder Molinari

We had a baptism this week!

17 February 2014 Uturoa, Raiatea

We had a baptism this week! Woooooooooooooooooooo

It's been a while.

Alice et moi. Her son, who baptized her is to the left.

The baptism was nice. It's always nice to have a baptism every now and then as a missionary. Although, we had to do it twice because her son, who was baptizing her, didn't put his arm that she was holding in the water. Then after, I completely forgot to tell her that the reason we had to do it again was because she wasn't completely submerged. It was a really special moment for her son. 

After, she bore her testimony. It was REALLY short, but powerful. She got up. Thanked everyone. Then said, "aujoudhi, je suis contente." (Today, I am happy.) And that was all. It was a really nice baptism.
  

My new companion, Elder Demuynck. This is the airport in Raiatea. 
Everything you can see is the airport. It's very small. No security checks, nothing. 

My new companion is Elder Demuynck. He is from Paris and he's totally awesome. He's definitely a lot stricter than my other two Tahitian companions, but I think I need a little bit of rigidity in my life right now. In fact, he's actually a lot like me. We have tons of similar interests. However, the problem is, sometimes we go to bed late...cough, cough.

He speaks French really well! I realized the difference between Tahitian French and Parisian French this week. He arrived on Wednesday. He’s been serving for 18 months now, and its been mostly in Tahiti, he did 2 months in the Tuamotus, but other than that its been just Tahiti. So...he doesn’t speak very much Tahitian. Well he doesn’t speak Tahitian. So its been awesome, all the Tahitians speak Tahitian with me. He actually wants to learn it now, since everyone around him speaks it. Its REALLY hard to learn Tahitian if you are on the main island, so he’s going to take advantage of it while he is here. His father is French and his mother is Guadeloupéen. Except for the fact that his eyes are blue/green, he might pass as a native (Well that and maybe gain 100 pounds!).

It's really nice, because he eats breakfast like me, just a little. So we won't be spending tons of money on food. He wants to be a Manga artist when he returns home. So he has an imagination like mine, so we just talk and talk. But we work as well! He is a super hard worker. He's been a zone leader for most of his mission. I think he got transferred here to learn Tahitian;) He teaches really well too. No complaints yet xD 

"Jungle"

I think I'm going to be transferred in March when all the new Americans come. I think maybe I was just here for Alice. I gave her several very powerful, poignant blessings and even her stubborn husband consented to a blessing. Heavenly Father had a lot to say to Him.

The ward attendance has jumped by about 50+. The reactivation night is now set nicely in place with the bishop who presides and leads it - not the missionaries. I think Elder Demuynck will train here when I get transferred. OR I will stay and train. I think it's one of those two options.

Not Going Anywhere

10 February 2014 Uturoa, Raiatea

Transfers are this week. One of us is leaving and it isn’t me. Elder Tumarae will be going to Faa’a which is on the main island of Tahiti, just about in the middle of Papeete. I think I'll be here forever. It was a little surprising, but I'm not going to complain. Our house is the only house outside of the main island that has an air conditioner! And there is still plenty of work for me to do here. Elder Tumarae is sad to go.

My new companion is a Francaise, Elder Demeuoyk. I have no idea how to spell his name but it's something like that. He has been out for a year and doesn’t speak any Tahitian. So it’s good that I’ve been focusing on it for the past few weeks.

We have a baptism scheduled for this Saturday. It is an old mami who has been meeting with the missionaries for a long time. She knows more about the church than many of the members do. Her husband is not a member and refused to give permission for her to be baptized. But miracles happen! He decided to start reading the Book of Mormon with her and after two fasts and lots of prayers, he said yes. She is very excited and we are too.

This is the beach next to the Murae

Last Monday we went on a trip to visit Taputapuatea Marae on Raiatea. We can't go to other islands, but we were going to take a boat with Guillian out to the little motus that surround Raiatea. President said yes, but the Soeurs couldn't come. So we decided to visit the Marae instead. It was a shame, but I guess it would be unfair to leave 'em out. 

These are some of the ancient temple sites overlooking the sea.

Marae are the big stone courtyards and temples the ancient Tahitians built for worship and sacrifice. They are made of volcanic rock. All these sites are relatively close together. You can probably find them on Google maps. These are on the east side of the island, south of where I am in Uturoa. They are the oldest in all Polynesia. Raiatea was the first island to have people on it. 

Super old, eerie, creepy tiki at the site

In fact, the proper name is Ti'i, but I think everyone turns the glottal stop into a "k" 

Here is what it looked like when the explorers first got here. This is on a billboard near it.

This is me in a coconut tree

They are really easy to climb. After climbing, I got us a couple coconuts, which is tricky because you have to change your weight so you are balanced on one hand, and then spin the coconuts with the other without having them drop where you are. 

Here is a stereotypical beach shot. I thought it looked nice. It's a little bit of warmth for everyone that's stuck in the cold right now! 

Elder Molinari

A few Pictures this week

 Rainbow over the chapel

The plateau behind Guillian's (Huahine is in distance)

The cars here are all 2 people wide. 

But of course, there are three of us in the back seat.