Stuck in the Sand

HELLO EVERYONE! Let me just start by saying how much I miss you all!  Hope each and every one of you are doing great. Thank you all so much for your emails. Literally, they make my week!

This week was just as intense as the last one! I'm still trying to adjust to the culture and I know it is going to take some time. People here run on "Kiribati time" which means everyone just shows up an hour or two late. It can be kinda frustrating when you have a really busy/full day but It is something I'll have to get used to. My companion and I got invited to several bootaki this week. Bootaki are parties that the locals here have. They always have the missionaries eat first so we stand up and walk over to these buckets full of food that we have no idea what it is. We reach in, grab some mystery meat, some mystery mush, and some mystery drink and go sit cross-legged on the ground. I look over at my companion and ask "do you ever think the next bite is going to kill you?" He looks at me and then down at the food and then says, "That is a good question".. and takes a bite of the food. That explains this mission pretty well.

Yesterday, a local wanted to take us Octopus hunting. I was so pumped! We get in our car and head to the other side of the island. We are in the middle of nowhere when all of a sudden... we stop moving. Our car gets stuck in the sand. After spending a couple hours trying to get it out, we finally decided some of us have to walk back to get help. Elder Guy and I and the member take the long journey back in the blazing heat. I don't think I've ever been so sunburn in my life but it is fine! We finally make it back to the village and we find the one big truck on the island. They drive us back to help tow us out. Once we get there, we realize the big truck is starting to get stuck too so we couldn't tow it out. Finally, we all get out and rock the car and finally we get it to move. There was no octopus hunting but we had a pretty cool story...

Well, it is Christmas time and I just wanted to share a quick scripture really quick. It is found in Luke 9:27...

"For Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall find it."

IT IS CHRISTMAS! It is literally one of the happiest times of the year. This year I challenge each of you to make this Christmas the best Christmas you have ever had... not just for you but for your family! Take the time to step back and give thanks for the wonderful family you have. There was quote I heard this week that goes, "What good does it do to save the world if we neglect the needs of those closest to us and those whom we love most?" Make the world a better place by making your family happy. I've just been told I won't have the chance to Skype my family on Christmas because Skype doesn't work here on the island, but I already know that my family knows exactly what Id say. They know I love them, and I know they are rooting for me every day. Go and tell your family you love them. Make this Christmas their best Christmas.

I don't know the next time I will be able to email because next week is Christmas and then the week after is New Years so this place will be closed. I'll see if I can somehow get on. Thank you again for all kind words, emails, and motivation. You all have made such a huge impact on my life. It is really sad that it took me having to go to one of the most isolated islands in the world to realize how much I have been blessed with back home... but I'm so thankful that I can finally see it. Merry Christmas everyone. Make it great. Tiabo!

Love,
Devon

1) Coolest family ever
2) Sunset while we studied 
3) Even better sunset
4) The frosting on that cake is actually just frozen butter 





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