Malekula- A beautiful place with lots of rivers and coconut plantations."

Dear Family,

Thanks for your letters. It took a whole minute to read them haha. Thanks for the quotes from the "Kolipoki" book, I look forward to reading it. Looks like I will no longer be alone in the basement with Sierra's and my bedroom downstairs. Let her know that she can enjoy using the bathroom until I get back when it become's my Personal Bathroom. She'll get used to seeing Dad and I watching baseball.
As for me, I'm really good. I'm having good experiences with my surroundings and my companion, Elder Tula. I'm also enjoying reading The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage. Such a great book. Especially the chapters on the Book of Mormon about the Ancient inhabitants of America. I'm also about to finish the Book of Mormon in my own studying again. I plan on reading the New Testament again. I really love my area. It's such a beautiful place. Lots of rivers and Coconut plantations. This week we spent a lot of time in Leviamp, a unit organised in our area. They're good members but a little unorganised after their unit leader moved to Port Vila. Yesterday we had FHE combined with members from 3 familes. I think it was the first time in years or even the very first time missionaries did that with them. I gave the message about Example. We read Alma 23:6-7 + 24:21-27 about the people of Ammon. They were converted to such a point that they surrendered empty handed to death even calling the name of their Heavenly Father while dying. Their expample helped more be converted than were killed. Elder Tula did an activity that I'll have to show you when I get back. It's taking a paper and tearing it only once to make a cross. It takes the story of Nephi's family until he came and taught the Nephites.
Unfortunately, missionary work is still sluggish. Contacting and asking Referrals hasn't worked out yet. We have a fireside planned this coming sunday and the next at the branch and the unit. We'll watch the Restoration dvd and after kolipoki. All the members will be inviting thier friends and family. We've been trying first to strengthen the neglected members before we can bring anyone into the branch. We've been doing some service and are constantly looking for more. We wield the "Bush knife". It's kind of funny/annoying, everyone here calls me "Derel". That means white man in language of Northwest Malekula. Custom is pretty strong here. The area here is nicknamed "big nambas". It's the area notoriously known for being the center of cannibalism. Some from those generations are still living haha. In this area when a parents child is married, the parents  cannot communicate whatsoever with their childs spouse. If they want to, they pass it through a little kid. Sometimes it can be an obstacle. Elder Tula calls me "Tuwo". That means brother in his language of Paama.
Now, a funny one. The other day I was in the house reading. As I was reading I hear the sound of someone coming inside. I assumed it was Elder Tula. I had a weird feeling and glanced up and saw a huge cow in my house! You must understand our house is probably the size of a sports boat and it's lifted 2 feet above the ground and made of bamboo. He didn't just have 2 legs and his head in but his whole body all the way to the end of the house. I yelled and he ran outside the small opened door.
Also, on another note, last week on my birthday we celebrated it here with the family. We watched 17 miracles/Labor of love and they even made cake and sang "Happy birthday/Happy Long life". So that's pretty much all for now. I'm content with my area and companion but..... we need more investigators! I'm kind of amazed how in my now 1 month here we haven't been able to find one. We contact people and come when they say and they'll push it back forever. I hope it'll get better. Anyways, Love you all.


Elder Sears

"Focus on the Good Side, because it's progress..."

Family,

How are things? I hope you guys are enjoying cold weather haha. It seems so foreign to think about. I saw that picture of Elder Yunack doing a snow angel. It blew me away. The snow looked so soft. I enjoyed the letters. I'm excited to get those books. I hope they come fast. Now that I'm on Malekula we'll have to wait for someone from Vila to come here with it or at next conference. As far as planning for my return, I think it would be best to get busy as soon as possible. Sister Brewer, the mission presidents' wife gave that advice. I'd like to start working and schooling fast but that doesn't rule out fun or trips. I for sure want to spend lots of time with you guys. I'm looking forward to a baseball trip with dad. I really want to get going with my education. Probably SLCC because of expenses:). The mission has taught me to take things more seriously. Lots of teachings from the Doctrine and Covenants have made me really want to learn more and educate myself, especially about the body.

As for Elder Tula and I in Malekula things are dandy. This past week we went to Zone Conference. It was nice having to not plan or do anything but the invocation. I watched the others busy while I ate lots of laplap. All we eat in our area every day is banana and they make it into "laplap sorsor". Guess what we ate at zone conference? Laplap banana! At first I was disappointed but when I saw them open them up I was happy again. Pounds of chicken and fish in the middle. I didn't eat any laplap, I think I ate a few kilo's of meat myself. I piled up the bones. Zone Conference was a bit of a replay for me. The highlight was being with the Elders. We slept at the Zone Leaders house. All the Elders would come to the house and we'd chat. I really got to know some of them I didn't know before. Elder McNeil from New Zealand. Elder Dilling - Canada. Elder Thurber - US. and Elder Poita, Maukura and Tangarasi from Vanuatu. Most of all my bud Elder Arnett from Arizona. He's a crack up. He's an aspiring Broadway singer. He's schooling at BYU Hawaii. We had some good chats and he gave me some advice for when I went back. It's weird how close it is. I still have lots of work to do here though. We kept quoting the words from the Kolipoki book: "I kept the Faith". We discussed short term goals and long term for when we got back. He's really goal oriented. He's put goals on his mission and worked and achieved them. I have goals but most seem spiritual. I really want to not lose the spirit when I get back. I don't want to stay the same as I am or go back in spirituality. I want to always be in progression. It'll be hard during schooling. I have a big desire to be righteous. My best experience was talking with all the Elders. Each one had different experiences, traits, and strengths. They are all at stages that I remember being at. For some reason I came away with an appreciation and love for all of them. Dad, I thought of you talking about "The day that I loved everyone" on your mission. I would listen to them talk and I would see good things in them and their good hearts. I feel like a big thing I've learned is to look at the good side of people. President Brewer once told me "Focus on the good side, because it's progress". Everyone had weaknesses or negative things but look at the positives even if they're few. I've really learned not to be judgemental. Being Judgemental is very weak. That's whats helped Elder Tula and I to be such a success. We're great buds. We get along well . He's a great teacher. I feel the spirit when he speaks of the gospel. I just hope we get some more success to occupy our minds. I've been thinking a lot lately of the verse in Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ". I've been using that as my motivation as I talk to others here. I've developed a "who cares?" thinking. If they accept, great, if not, their choice. We're planning a fireside here. No one here has seen "The other side of heaven". I've seen watching it here with them  and 100% of the time it has a profound influence on them. Anyways that's all.


PS I got a small package with the shirt/wallet.



Elder Sears

Family,

Thanks for the letters. Sounds like you guys are well and happy. I always enjoy hearing about you guys. Sierra, you're epic. Keep preparing for your patriarchal blessing, it will help you so much. Thank you so much for encouraging your friends. It is a part of the covenant we made at baptism, (Mosiah 18:8-10). It's weird picturing myself coming back. There are so many things I can't remember. It will be a big shock seeing failure things. This week wasn't great. On Monday we came down to town for P-day. I ate 2 plates at the House Market stalls. Monday night after family home evening I started getting sick. Tuesday I was very ill. I finally got cleaned out a bit and that afternoon we went and taught 2 lessons in the late aftternoon. Elder Tula got Malaria. He was sick friday through sunday. Yesterday after church he got extreme chills and was shaking badly. We found a transport and went to the hospital to get him checked up. All the other days we weren't sick we spent looking for people to teach. We're teaching one man named Walter and a young boy named Leslie. Here in our area it's different. Everyone gets up around 5 and heads to the garden where they stay all day till around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. They come back and eat and chat and sleep around 8 or 9. They days we weren't sick we spent walking around aimlessly trying to find anyone. The villages are so quiet like ghost towns. We're struggling to find people to teach. The branch and unit we look after are small with very few members, only a few families. We got a volleyball net and ball to put up by the church. They like to play in the afternoon. Hopefully we'll find some. This week we'll proselyte one day before going to Santo for zone conference. I spent most of my time this week reading. I'm reading the manual "church history in the fulness of times". It's such an epic book. I've learned so much about church history and awesome stories. I read a lot about the foundation of the state of Utah and building of Salt Lake City. It made me grateful to live in such a historic place. Brigham Young is a man. It made me miss the place. Anyways thats all from me. I love the area though. Mostly just being with the members. Family Nori is my temporary family here.

Elder Sears

Bas Metavarin! ( Good morning here in Northwest Malekula)

Dear Family,

Bas metavarin!. (good morning here in Northwest Malekula). It’s 9:14 and we’re here in Lakatoro town. This morning Elder Tula and I were sleeping when President Nori woke us up before  6 and told us he stopped a truck for us. We put some clothes on and jumped in the back of the truck with lots of others and the bananas. My area is awesome. We serve in Tulwe branch and we also look after a unit called Leviamp. It’s about a 90 minute walk. Missionaries are very needed here. Attendance this week was 19 at the branch and 18 at the unit. That’s everyone coming. The church is here only for these few faithful families. I hope we can bring some more in. When I came we had one investigator. Now we have a few but this week we’ll be finding some more. I fasted for that purpose. We live here with the branch president and his family. I love them. They are so fun. They remind me of family Saaki in Gaua. We live in a house entirely made of bamboo. We have a small pipe that runs to the river that we bathe in. We don’t own any cooking materials or stove. We eat with the family morning, lunch, and dinner. We buy food on P day and go put it in their kitchen. I told mama Margret that if it was too much of a burden we could get a stove and cook for ourselves. She explained she has 2 kids away at school so we’re simply taking their places. We’ve a part of the family. I call Mark or President, Papa and Margret, Mama. Elder Tula and I are doing great. We get along so well and joke around a lot. I’ve learned pretty well the traits and attitudes here. What’s mine is yours. If you like mine, you can have it. He’s a really good teacher and we’ve had some good chats. We’re just waiting for the Land Cruiser for Malekula to come. The others will use it but they’ll be putting my make-shift weight set inside of it for us 2. We’ll be doing some intense work outs. Elder Tula is huge. I feel totally safe with him haha. He looks like a warrior. I call him Captain Moroni sometimes. We’ve been eating lots of Laplap Sorsor (Malekula’s main food). They scratch either banana, taro, manyoak, or wael-yam into a pudding. Then they bake it with hot stones. In the middle they make a big hole and fill it with coconut milk for dipping the food in. I eat very well and am gaining weight. I eat entirely food from the garden. Anyways that a small update for you. Thanks for everything.

Love,

Elder Sears

Just landed in Malekula....

Hey family,

Hello from Malekula! So I just landed here and we went straight into "town" here in Lakatoro because it's P day. It feels good/different to be back on the island. I'm just excited to get to my house and area and unpack. It was hard saying goodbye to Erakor. I love the people there. That branch has such potential and will continue to become better. When they heard I was going I was surprised, I didn't serve there long but I made some really good friends. Alan and his family made me a "last kakae" or meal. They made a HUGE laplap sorsor in my honor (malekula dish). It's vegetables (taro) grated on a grater then baked on a stone with chicken meat in there. When it's done you pick up the hot stones with grabbers. Maxai and Tuman was a hard goodbye. We had one last lesson with them yesterday and as I shook hands with him he hugged me for a good while. This morning he called me as I got on the plane and told me that "God is with me". I also got to see Aline again this morning, my recent convert from Etas. She is epic. She's 21, and the institute teacher. She texted last night to ask if we could come teach her again. We taught her and went straight to the airport this morning. She is awesome, just needed some encouragement to be strong. She'll start filling up her forms in July once she has her 1 year membership. Anways that's all thats new. Not settled yet. Next week I'm sure I'll have more to say. Love you all. Pray for me and Elder Tula.



Elder Sears

Onward to Malekula

Hey family,

Didn't get a chance to e mail last time. So news...... I'm transferring! I was pretty shocked to hear. Like really shocked. I'll be going to the Tuluwe branch in Malekula island. The island gets it's name from when Captain Cook the explorer came and named it: "Pain in the a**" in french because of it's terrain and look. I'll be looking after 1 branch and 1 unit. It just got opened up to having it's own elders about 2 weeks ago. Before it was visited occasionally. My house will be like Gaua but more remote. Grass hut and a water pipe. The branch presidents family cooks for me until I get a stove. I'll be serving with Elder Tula from Etas branch. I know all his family. He got transferred from the Solomon Islands back to here.I'm being sent there to finish my mission .I get to be "Manbus" again. When I first heard, my first thought was Erakor. I love Erakor. Everything is going SO well. Such progress is being made. I had a day or 2 of being bummed and lots of thinking. I read 1 Nephi chapter 3 and it really identified with me. I will not murmur but I will do because I'm supposed to and I can because God said so. Pray for me and my Companion. I'm confident it'll be ok. My former and favorite companion, Elder Samuel is from this branch in malekula! It's his own small branch with his whole family and twin sister there. He was jumping up and down when he heard I was going. For the last few months already Elder Samuel's family had been making me some island baskets and mats to send to me when I left. I met his family once here in Vila, they are so awesome. Now it turns out I'll be going there myself. He's giving me the whole low down on everything. So off I go. Today was our Zone Leader Council. It was great as always and encouraged me. Today I spent my time preparing to go back into the bush. Bought a pocket knife, a light, and some other outdoor items. I'm excited to get back out there. President said I'm more well suited out in the bush with those people. So that's whats new with me. So this means I won't be doing any more withdrawls haha. Just one today for needed items before I go. Hoping I'll get my package before I'm out into the wild. Anyways love you all. Glad to report I CAN e mail there. Don't know too much about the island but it does have a place for it. That's it for now. Talk to you from the island.

eLdEr sEaRs