Not Much Time

Dallin sent a quick email, but there wasn't much time.  He is happy Elder Sion has returned and they are trying to get back to a normal routine.  He was really disappointed to hear from President that he probably wouldn't be transferred until March.  He is anxious to experience something new, but is happy to do whatever is asked for the time being.

He did get his Christmas package.  They must have sent it with the new missionaries.  We sent a few necessities as well as a bunch of candy and little toys to give to the kids in his area.  "I actually somehow got my Christmas package! They must have sent it on from Tarawa, I'm lucky it came last week! Thank you so much! Me and Sion had a blast building Legos haha."  

It also included letters from friends, family, and a bunch of his college/hometown friends.  His friend Matt created a riddle hidden throughout his letter.  "I really did love that.Those kids are the best. I'm glad Matt still respects me enough to be clever to me haha great guy. We gave the hot wheels to our branch President's daughter, and she loved it, she's a cute little kid."

The Island was running low on water and a big storm came through.  "We had a super fun service: picking up trash after a HUGE tsunami style wave came over our branch President's sea wall. We were there when it happened and it was so big! Really scary/cool. Too fast for a camera but amazing nonetheless. It was just huge surf kicked up by a big thunderstorm. I hadn't heard thunder in so long -loud! Waves like that don't happen very often at all. It hardly ever rains, but it rains right when we're about to run out."

That was it for this week's update.  He is healthy and happy and learning a lot about patience.  I know he will enjoy getting to know some new missionaries on the island before being transferred again.

The Boat Came Back Early!

We heard briefly from Dallin last night.  His companion has been gone to the outer island Fanning for the last week.  A barge goes out to take supplies every 3 months and the missionaries go to visit the branch.  Dallin was excited that the boat was back 4 days early and glad to be back with Elder Sion.

The work has been rough this last week and he and his temporary companion have been trying to work all 3 areas while they wait for Elder Openshaw and Elder Bettencourt to arrive.  He had a heart-wrenching story where a new investigator got upset and started drinking again, but they were able to keep many of their people moving in the right direction.

He thinks he will be transferred in the next 2 weeks with Sion to somewhere new, but no details yet.  He didn't have much time, but seems to be in good spirits and healthy.  Small world... Elder Openshaw actually went to Timpview High School and knows Dallin's friend Kalani!  We are anxious to hear where he will be transferred and what his next adventure will be!

Quick Update

We did get to email with Dallin this Sunday, but there wasn't much to say after Skyping a few days earlier.  He is preparing to cover all three areas on Christmas with Elder Aru while Elder Grover and Elder Sion go on the boat to Fanning for just under 2 weeks.  He spent the last few days getting to know the Banana area and visited Poland (yes, there are villages named Poland and London on this island) to see what could be done there. He still thinks that he and Sion will be going into Tarawa fairly soon, but not until they get Christmas fully "staffed" and running smoothly.

He was super excited to hear the news that our dear friends had a beautiful baby girl.  He can't wait to see pictures of her.

Two new elders will be arriving this week and will need to be acclimated.  Elder Pettingill was supposed to come (I am friends with his mom on Facebook), but has a HOLE in his foot from being on Beru.  Yes, a hole. (If you want to see a picture, click here and scroll down to the last picture of the post.) Thankfully they are keeping him close to the nurse until it is healed a little more.  So Elder Bettencort is coming instead and I think that will be great! (I also know his mom from Facebook :)  There has been a lot of success on Christmas, and I think there is potential for a lot more.  Hopefully these Elders will be able to find the people who are ready.

I had to go after only a few emails back and forth because Taylor was stranded at church with a car that wouldn't start.  She went to sacrament meeting with a friend who was getting confirmed after being baptized the day before.  This was on top of going to our 3 hour block and teaching YW for her leader.  But we all know that no good deed goes unpunished, so there she sat in the parking lot.  We called AAA and waited 4 HOURS!  Apparently every old car in our town broke down in the freezing temperatures.  Dallin drove this Honda before his mission and upon hearing the news immediately replied "She's destroying my car!"  To which she replied, "I guess I'm just really jealous of the bond you guys had so I'm purposefully beating him up."  I guess that missionary "glow" does not extend to sibling kindness when your old car breaks down.

(Obviously they were just kidding...)

Skype!

We got a surprise email on Wednesday night that said internet was up and the Branch President had given them a working computer!  Dallin said that he would be calling us on Skype the next day.  Great... but it's the middle of the week, the girls are in school, and Ed is out of town.  Sigh.  So I picked the girls up early from school and called Ed to warn him that he would have to excuse himself from meetings and join us on the phone.

He was able to Skype and it was so wonderful to see his face and hear his voice.  It is amazing the comfort it brings just to see and hear him.  He looks healthy and happy and has only a slight accent.  As much as he misses his sisters, they can still annoy him within a matter of a few selfies (see pictures below).  It was good to see that things were as they should be :)  He ended with us a little early and then called Ed later that night when he was at a computer so they could see each other as well.

I really think that getting this Skype will give him the boost he needs.  I know it was just what I needed.

No email

We didn't hear from Dallin this week.  Transfers are going on right now, but so far no word on where he will be going.  As far as we know, he is on Christmas for at least a few more weeks.