Don't Worry...I'm Alive!

MAURI NGKAMI!!! Sorry this email is so late... we were actually told we weren't going to get email at all this week. There is one place on the whole island that has internet access. At the time there is only one computer that works and the internet is very slow. This won't be able to be a huge email, but I'll try to include a bit. Well... where do I even begin? I met my trainer, Elder Fifita, and he is the man! He is so awesome. We are assigned to work in the village of Banana. Our house is a small stick house, and it is currently being worked on right now. This means we are living with the 2 other elders in their area. We sleep on the floor on these little pads with the spiders, rats and everything else that runs around our house at night.  AC doesn't really exist out here so it is pretty hot all the time.  We all have our own little fans so that makes it a lot better! We take showers using a bucket we fill with rain water. The people here really have nothing... they live in these small huts made of sticks and sheet metal and eat rice, coconuts, and fish for everything.  Kiribati is actually the poorest country in the whole Pacific. Yet, I have NEVER met a group of people who are so positive and faithful.

      This Sunday, I had my first church meeting in a mwanaba. A mwanaba is a large roof, made of palm leaves and sticks, that is held up by a couple wooden pillars. It was actually the coolest church meeting I have ever had even though I had no idea what anyone was saying. Time isn't a big social structure out here so most people show up to church about an hour late... in fact.... everyone shows up to church about an hour late. The church building is kind of far from most of the people's villages, so I asked my trainer how they all get to church. He says, " None of them have cars so each night they kneel down together as a family and pray to Heavenly Father asking him that they will find a way to church the next day. When they wake up, they get ready and head out to the road and wait and hope that someone will come to get them. Almost every week... there is someone that drives by that will take them to church". 

I have never seen a group of people with such powerful faith. These people live on one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world. They are thousands of miles away from any other form of land. They have very few resources and even fewer forms of food. Yet, they know that their Savor is there with them. They know with all their hearts that Jesus Christ hears their prayers and loves them just as much as his other children. I came on this mission hoping to bless the lives of others, but I don't think I will ever be able to bless these people as much as they have blessed me. 

Scripture of the week!  Life gets hard and times get tough but no matter where I am or what I am doing, there is one scripture that never fails to boost my faith in the future. Doctrine and Covenants 45:62

"For verily I say unto you, that great things await you"

I love you all and I pray that each of you will find happiness and peace this Christmas season. Remember the reason we are celebrating Christmas and strive to show your love for our Savor by striving to be more like him. Through him, nothing is impossible. Until next week.

1)my house that is almost done being built
2) our mwanaba
3) I finally have a skirt
4) my favorite boys!
5) the magic conch
6) sunset at the beach
7) My companion, Elder Fifita, and me chopping coconuts








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