Internet Is Up!

(Dal was able to email us yesterday.  Internet had been down for 2 weeks and they had not been able to make any contact with the mission office through radio or phone, so they needed to check in and give stats.  I was relieved to hear from him. Our letters in his inbox contained information about a missionary he served with on Christmas Island who lost his family last week in a plane crash.  Because communication was down, he had not heard the news.  I felt badly that he had to find out from us instead of President.  This Elder's parents and two siblings were killed while he has two surviving brothers. I knew he would be upset as he had grown to love this elder as they served together. The missionary is planning to stay on his mission for now, but is being transferred where he can contact his brothers as needed.) 

Oh my gosh... he always used to talk about how his dad loves to fly planes. That is the worst thing I could hear. I am so sorry for him. He's a tough kid, but that is something else, seriously so sad to hear. Pres did not tell us - internet has been down for 2 weeks. I can't even imagine what he is going through. That is so hard. We will be praying for him, of course.

(There has been some intense persecution in some of the villages. There are rumblings of worse things to come, but for now they are holding strong and the new members are handling it with amazing strength.)

Things are OK, but for a while we were on thin ice. I was scared the area was going to close. I'll forward an email I sent to Pres detailing our problems. It was crazy to say the least. They aren't forbidding us (to come into a certain village) but they're still thinking about it. It's good to talk to Pres again, I need that sometimes!

It's going well, slowly but surely. Last week we had 11 baptisms and 11 confirmations!  It was something to see, honestly. What a treat! We need really badly to find new people now, but the ministers are actively scaring people into not wanting to have lessons. Its tough. We're trying to pray for them (the other ministers). Its tough to do that with real intent. We have a few referrals we're slowly working on them. Our recent converts are all really solid, along with our members. I love them. We just need to keep the momentum rolling.

(I asked if they get worried in the office if they don't hear from you on Mondays.)

Pres doesn't really worry about us. One time elder Mattison went like 11 weeks on Nonouti with no one hearing from him and no one went out to check or anything and when he finally got email again he just sent in his stats for the past eleven weeks and things were normal again. It just happens here I guess. It's okay they don't check on us, we were fine in the end hahaha

OH package came Saturday! THANK YOU SO MUCH I love everything. You are wonderful people. Packages make me so happy. Those cliff bars are delish, you guys should try them, definitely the best flavor (he requested coconut chocolate chip). I think I'll be addicted to coconut the rest of my life after here haha

That package made my day. Especially your letters you throw in there. Those mean a lot after 2 weeks of no email. The fans work. Farley is sad he left before he got his. Tiaon doesn't use one, he gets cold at night. He's crazy. It was rainy yesterday and it felt cool, he was like wrapped in a blanket. Not normal. Food is delish, we made one for FHE last night. I did see the pictures! I literally just love my friends so much. (For all my missionary mom friends... all of Dallin's high school friends here in Pennsylvania are members of other faiths, but you could not ask for a more supportive group for him and his mission. They think he's a little crazy, but they know how important this is to him and write to him and follow his blog.  We really love them too, they are like family to us.) I really miss them. We had a very special high school run, and I am so proud of how everyone is staying on top of things pretty well. I love and miss them and I'm so glad that what we did in high school was meaningful to them.

Investigator story:

Bill's wife Teetei (pronounced kind of like taytay) was baptized, which completes their family! She couldn't get baptized with her husband and kids the first time around because she wasn't quite ready. But, she knew how important it was, so she didn't want her husband and kids to wait 2 weeks just for her. She is super faithful, and quitting smoking was SO hard for her. She told us a story of how 2 days after her baptism, the minister came up and said, "Hey, here's a cigarette, want to smoke?" and Teetei said, "No thanks, I have been baptized, so I don't smoke anymore." and then she walked away from the minister. WHAT UP?!? She's awesome.

Hi Cami! Sounds like you are having so much fun! love you lots pal. Glad that school is going well and ending well and such. So exciting for Taylor! Congrats on the graduation! Thanks for the pictures from the Grad Party! I have to go.  So proud of all of you. I'll talk to you next Monday!

love, dal