24 March 2014 Tiapa Paea, Tahiti
Well not much happened
this week, except the transfers and everything. So many people are moving
around. President opened up lots of new islands in the Tuamotus and he opened
Hive Oa again in the Marquises. Elder Lovelock is heading to Hiva Oa so that
was pretty exciting! I'll stay here where I am and be the District Leader and
I'm training an "Elder Smith". That’s all I know for now. I’ll meet
him after midi on Tuesday. In my District there will be 4/5
companionships of sisters training. I’m bracing myself for whatever will be the
result of that. Maybe that’s why I was put here to keep a level head! So all in
all, in our Zone we will have 6 new missionaries. I think that’s more than any other
Zone.
There
is a lot of sadness in this area. Lots of drinking and drugs. I don’t think
there is exactly more than Raiatea, but because I’m in such a small area I know
about it all. And for all the people that say marijuana doesn’t do anything to
your brain, they are wrong. When you smoke and drink too much you become crazy.
Literally. I can’t tell you how many people have fallen into JUST marijuana
here and are now completely useless. It’s like they have been lobotomized and
then given the mind of a child. It’s very sad to see. We need to be grateful
everyday for the lives we live. We have more blessings and more safety than we
even realize.
The language is still
coming along. I switched all my studies/ reading to Tahitian a few weeks ago. I’m
a few chapters into second Nephi, but its slow going with Isaiah. Most of the
words were invented to translate Isaiah. I also got a super awesome compliment
the other day from a member from Huahine. We were in the Faatamaaraa
(missionary meal) and he told me he already knew where I had served the first
time I talked with him because of my ACCENT. HA! Best compliment on mission so
far. He said that there is an accent from Raromatai. Oh man did that give me
motivation to keep plugging along in Tahitian.
This Sunday I was
able to follow the discussion for the most part in Priesthood meeting, and I even
added to it, several times. I thought that was a pretty big milestone :) So
things are going well in that respect. I have lots of help, in the morning when
I read the Buka a Moromona, the words that I translate are used throughout the
day, no matter how random. I translated Sheep (mamoe) and sheppard ( Tiai) the
other day and someone used those to words, in a conversation that wasn’t even
about the gospel. It’s nice to know that someone is there helping you learn the
language quicker! I hope Elder Smith is ready to speak lots of Tahitian!
I just think the
hardest thing will be finding ways to fill the day up; lots of member visits
maybe xD
I’m sorry to hear
about Brother Kie, but I’m sure he was in a lot of pain, and he’s probably
having an amazing time with all the people he did temple work for. "How
great your joy will be with the souls you have saved" or something like
that. I just realized you and Daddy have hit that point in your life where
people start dying. But don’t worry; there is literally no reason to fear
death. In fact, I think it will probably be like coming up out of water after
holding your breath for a long time. Pure relief.
