Post-Christmas Recovery

We were able to email with Dallin the p-day after Christmas.  We were kind of worried about him after being so disappointed.  He was still feeling a little down, but they were allowed to email for a long time.  I think it helped him to just be able to chat back and forth.  Part of the problem for them right now is that there is no one to teach because all the potential investigators are still "partying" at their churches. So weird. His mission has so many physical challenges and emotional adjustments, BUT they are always teaching and baptizing and that keeps them going. When the teaching is taken away, all the other inconveniences and discomforts seem more pronounced.  He is learning lots of patience right now.  Here are a few things from our back and forth.

(The senior couple tried to make some food for the missionaries.  It's hard to come by a lot of things, so I really appreciate their effort!)  For dinner the Seamons made potatoes and stuffing and corn, but there was no chicken or turkey so we made a bunch of lobster. Bettencourt hated the lobster - still trying to get used to it. 
(We reminded him of the story Bro. Hopkins tells about throwing out his lobster claw everyday on the way to school because it wasn't cool)  I do remember Bro Hopkins story about the lobster, that's too funny. These lobsters here are a different species, they don't have claws actually.

(The senior couple is relatively new and we asked how they were holding up.)  Seamons are just as frustrated. They're more worried about flights and things. We have two sisters coming in on Wednesday and elder Tarati is leaving - the first move of the January transfer. 

(We asked about the work.)  No new investigators. No one is home. We taught 5 lessons and our two investigators we do have access to are progressing a little. They are cutting down on smoking and the husband came to church. Christmas parties are not over. They won't be over til next Sunday, because they carry through New Years and then through for one more church all together in the cathedral on Sunday. Monday everyone should go home. 

(We asked about cultural traditions around Christmas.) No real traditions, some people believe in Santa, most don't. Really it's just a normal day for them, it's kind of sad actually. We keep teaching about why it's important and most people have no idea. Christmas is just an excuse to party and it's kind of just a sad/cheap feeling. Everything about Christmastime here is off, even the weather. The cops hate Christmas because they have to do so much overtime to deal with drunks. 

(We asked about the transfers and living arrangements.) New sisters will take Tabwakea 2, Tarati's old area. We're still in the stick house. I'm not sure if I will move from the top bunk or not. I want to. The roof is decaying, so like random debris and leaf matter rains on me all night. I'm like a roof for Sion so he doesn't get any stuff on his bed. But if I move someone else will go up to the top bunk and I don't know how that would go, so I'll probably just stay and deal with it.

(Ed suggested that he take all the missionaries for a meal at the hotel restuarant.  It would be like a belated Christmas present and we offered to pay for it.)  The restaurant is a great idea and I really did think about it earlier this week, but the restaurant is in the KPC hotel, and its closed because all the workers are at the bootaki. The Wells Fargo card works on the ATM here so I could get money out.  I think everyone would really enjoy that!

 (He left to try to get money our of the ATM...) We'll go to dinner, but the ATM is broken again. Only 1 ATM on the island and we can't get money til it's up again hahaha terrible. I just went to check it two minutes ago.  

*It seems like it is just not possible to do anything nice for the missionaries on Christmas island right now.  Oh well, this will all be funny someday in retrospect :)  Overall he was sounding better, so hopefully this week will go more smoothly.