Beach Bikes - January 6, 2014

This has been my first week in the touristy island of Bora Bora. When I arrived here last Sunday I knew I wasn't going to have my own bike because as far as I know it is still in the hands of a thief. But I also knew that my companion had already got a bike for me until I could get another bike. This bike happened to be a classic black beach bike. That just fit in so well with the island feel around here but for me I felt rather odd on it. All of the members think it's weird as well for a missionary to have that kind of bike. And after one week on it it's starting to grow on me.

So this week's report has ups and downs, highs and lows so let's go for it.

We started the week well. Tuesday we took a tour of the sector. I didn't realize that tour of the sector meant a tour of the island. It took 5 hours to do the tour. In the hot island sun. With the white sand blinding me and all of the people we visited shoving food in front of us. By the end of the day I was so red, tired, and full. It turns out that my sector is half of the island and I really like it. The members are wonderful. Every house we went to they gave us food and the sun is somehow hotter here. I still love it here.

New Year's day was good, Thursday my companion and I started getting sick. My companion had  Zika and the doctor thinks I have kidney and other problems, so I am getting an echograph (if that really exists in English) on Thursday. Friday and Saturday we stayed at the house and did NOTHING. I was so bored. But I know that if you're sick you need to take care of yourself. But Saturday night we had a wedding and it was so wonderful. I hope to send a few photos. And Sunday was rather normal.

The spiritual story: This sector has 0 baptisms fixed and that is our goal to get that number up. So we prayed and worked with our amis this week and not a single one of them accepted to fix a date. But Tuesday while we were eating and talking with a member, she talked about her daughter who is to be baptized in February on her 9th birthday. It turns out that because she will be 9 we have to teach her and we got a baptism fixed, just like that. It was a great moment and it shows that the Lord works in mysterious ways.

I know this church is true. I love you family and friends.

Elder Squires

Photos:
Beach bike
A marriage
Sunset
On the beach in Bora with coconuts and great food