Another Week in Paradise - June 9, 2014

Hello everybody! 

Today I had an interesting experience. I called our Bishop this morning to see how things were going to work our for using the key to the church to do our e-mails. But when I called him he asked me and my companion if we could come with him right then to pick someone up at the dock that had just landed in Bora and had taken the shuttle boat from the airport to the main island. So, we went with him. The person we picked up is the real-estate agent for the church. So he deals with buying, selling, and just all things real-estate when it comes to churchs. But the thing is that he comes from New Zealand and doesn't speak French. So from 10 this morning until about 2 we took him around to look at this land the church wants to buy, also we looked at our church and talked about how we could fit three wards in this building (even with the landslide that has 3 classrooms and our geneology room blocked off).

Then we did the trip around the island so that he could see the ward and the boundaries from the ward when the wards split. And in the middle of that we went to our bishop's house and ate lunch of authentic Tahitian food, or ma'a tahiti. We ate poisson cru, poe banana, uru (bread fruit), fresh grapefruit, and chicken and spinach. Something we do around here is that when we eat ma'a tahiti we don't use utensils. We eat with our hands and that was this guy's first time doing that. And another part of that adventure is the difficulties I had with translating. It's hard to be translate sometimes. When I'm trying to talk to one person in English, and then the others in French and sometimes my head gets mixed up and starts speaking French in stead of English. It was pretty unfortunate but funny at the same time.

Anyway, back to the work this week. 

This week our objective was to talk with the parents of some of the youth that we teach so we can get approval for their baptism. So on Wednesday my companion, Elder Joly, went with our stake patriarch who has been recently called as our ward mission leader to go talk with the mother of three youth that want to be baptized. When they talked with the mom she said it was good but that her husband wouldn't be okay with that. No!! And Thursday it was a brother in our ward who went and saw the father of another two youngin's that we teach. The dad said yes and the mom said she would give her answer Friday. I really hope it works out. Because our stake has the goal of 30 baptisms this week. That would be great if we could succeed in that. 

As for the investigators we have some good news. We were able to fix a baptism! Her name is Maiana and she is one of the friends of Tahia (the daughter of Rosine) and she wants to be baptized with Mahealani. We had some struggles with Mahealani this week and I really [hope] we will be able to keep her baptism. 

So yeah. I felt like I had a lot to say but now I'm not so sure. Ha. Actually Saturday I went on a split with Elder Bagley. I was supposed to do two baptismal interviews for their area. But when I got there for the first one we ended up talking to her boyfriend so that she could get married and baptized. It didn't work out for the moment. Then the second interview I ended up doing and she decided and told me during the interview that she doesn't want to be baptized. That was really unfortunate, but she promised one day she will be baptized but not right now. 

Yup. So not too big of news out here. Just going always. I love you all. I know this work is true and that the church is true and God is good. Keep going. 

Love,

Elder Squires 

Splits, Steak Fries, and Anniversaries - June 2, 2014

Hey family and friends!

How are you all doing? I know you can't really answer, especially if your reading on my blog but I hope you all are doing well.

So, this week was quite the week. We had so many lessons planned that on Wednesday and Friday we had to split up and do lessons with members. It was pretty great. When I went with Frere Teriipaia he let me use his racing bike and it was a lot of fun. And I really got to go fast on that thing. Anyway, for our lessons. We taught Naomi on Wednesday and she didn't seem too good. She is too stressed and can't really function. She couldn't even do her lesson on Friday because she was too tired. We'll see how that goes this week when we see her again.

We finally fixed the baptism for Mahealani, the little sister of Naomi and the daughter of Rosine. It was so great! We brought the president of YW and she really helped with the lesson and encouraging her to fix her date. Her date is now fixed for the 19 June. Yay! Also, I was able to baptize Tipanier, who is the littlest sister of Mahealani, and the last daughter of Rosine. She is 8 and to be able to baptize her and then see her receive the gift of the Holy Ghost just after. It was so great. The Spirit was really strong and she was so happy to be baptized. What a great moment :)

Then on Friday we had a lesson with a couple named Kayrissa, and Fareta. We had engaged them to be baptized and married but right after the lesson they received a lot of trials from the family asking all sorts of questions about the church and just giving them a hard time for wanting to be baptized. It was hard to see. And our lesson on Friday was hard as well because they were having a hard time. But after our lesson we went out and ate a plate called steak fries which is just that. It's a Tahitian favorite. I have eaten that so many times since I have been out here. At least once or twice a week. Anyway, and while we were eating we just talked and had a good time and it made things better than if we hadn't been able to eat with them. I really hope that things will go well for them. This couple is awesome.

And last, but not least, this week was a week of anniversaries for me. It has been 5 months here in Bora, 2 years since graduation, and 2 years since I moved out of the house. Those last two were hard times. To move out right after graduation was a crazy idea and it was hard for me and Mom. I love you Mom, thanks for always being there for me!

Well everyone, I love you, and I hope you all have a great week,

Love,
Elder Squires