Another week here in Vanuatu. Good old Etas and her 'sofmud'. The highlight
of this week was definitely the mission tour that went down. Elder Hamula, an
area seventy came to visit the new mission. He's pretty epic. So is President
Brewer. Both of them gave incredible talks. President Brewers got me pretty
pumped. He talked about good vs. evil and beating the adversary. He made an
example with Lord of the Rings haha. He enthusiastically described the scene
where Gandalf stood on the bridge as it was collapsing and the evil
monster/spirit was going to consume him and he shouted "Thou shalt not pass!".
He talked about being strong and winning against temptation. He focused our thoughts on
our weapon we were to use, out of the hymn book, "Let us oft speak kind words to
each other". After Elder Hamula went in depth on the gospel. His first words
were, "Why are you here?". Some shared their ideas. He went into 3 nephi
27:19-20
( And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom: therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in his blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end
Now this is the commandment; Repent, all ye ends of he earth, and come unto me and be baptised in my name, that ye may be sancitified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.)
. He helped us get in depth on each principle. He asked us to think
about how we would feel, being unclean, in the presence of holiness. He told a
story of him being late for curfew and missing family home evening. He got home
late opened the door and his mom was sitting in the doorway. He talked about if
we got back from our missions and saw our family for a minute and then
were separated forever to go live somewhere else. He focused more than anything
on the "WHY" of the gospel. I was also chosen to have a personal interview with
him. It was awesome. We chatted about the mission and then he answered some
questions I asked. We talked about good scripture studying. Later that evening
Elder Hamula spoke to the members of the Port Vila district. He put a goal of
having a stake here in 2 years. He detailed what had to happen. He talked about
a gigantic swamp. Countless members are in there and need help out. He talked
about home teaching.
So here's another S/E update. We talked to them about
desire. We asked them about their life goals. It was really good. After, the
next day my companion, while on an exchange, saw him drunk. He said," I want to see
you at church tomorrow." Sunday morning we saw his wife and kids come but he
wasn't there. Just as sacrament meeting was about to start we saw him come in
the back. I smiled and looked at Elder Kalomtak. I was glad to see him not give
up. Our former branch president, now elders quorum pres. had a good long heart
to heart chat with him during sunday school class.
We've been doing weekly
service projects for him and praying for him a lot. We're doing a lot of fun
service projects the last few weeks. This week we did 3 on our day for service,
thursday. Firstly, we tied down 10 pieces of long tin roof about as long as our
truck. We then transported it for a member. After, we went to Elder Kalomtak's
village, Pango and cut 10 pieces of bamboo for Sam. Afterwards we painted the
whole inside of our elders quorum presidents house. His name is Andrick Vano. He
served his mission in Tahiti. We've become good friends and we've had some great
chats. I gave him the Infinite Atonement book and the newspaper pictures of Mitt
Romney. (He was very interested) This week we'll be helping build a house for a
less active family, famle Beri. So we're teaching a mama from Tanna, Rose. She
is so awesome. Unfortunately she has a bad situation going on. She works on a
large plantation/farm/garden owned by a infamous millionaire from Vietnam. She's
worked for him for 15 years. She is the manager of all the work boys. This guy
is the worst. He makes everyone work 7 days a week. He doesn't want them to
leave and go to town. Every day he'll pass in his truck and honk the horn and
everyone has to run and greet him. In the evenings he'll come do somewhat of a
family devotional then he gets 4 or 5 massages. They'll cook for him and he'll make
jokes. He has a wife from vietnamn but he comes with diffrerent ones all the
time. If someone asks to go to church on sunday, he'll make them dress up in
church clothes and go hunting and bring back birds. Before, if you drove on his
property he would shoot the tire on your truck. There are bullet holes and
targets all over the coconut tree's. He is in every way the modern KING NOAH.
Now he's tamed a little and we're fine to come in the morning because rose has
some leverage. Rose really wants to get baptised and come to church every sunday
but he doesn't let her go. Twice she has gone to church only to have this guy
come pick her up church clothes and all and take her back. Rose is great though
and she will find a way.
We also had another interesting experience. We went to
teach S and S the other day. They are from Tanna. Tanna is a pretty
well known and interesting island here. We started chatting with them and they
started to tell me that I and all other Americans were in tanna before. Then
thousand of years ago everyone left to all the big countries. He then proceeded
to tell me that Noah's ark landed in Tanna and that the paint used to paint the
ark is there. Mount Sinai is here and the place where Moses came down and pieces
of the golden calf are broken and in pieces. Also there is an area named
Nazareth. They said Jesus' tomb in there as well. There were 100% serious and
explaining all the places. It was pretty awkward. I was polite and showed
interest but not belief, that's for sure haha. Anyway that's all I can think of.
Just want you guys to know I love you and I appreciate everything you have done
for me.
Elder Sears
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