CHRISTMAS ISLAND STYLE

Tu wo mwet nuh kewa! Everything is good here on Kosrae. Sracknuh wo. Christmas here...geez talk about different. Alu Pros has just gotten so ingrained into this culture that there is no getting around it. On Kosrae everyone goes to the Protestant church, the island is 95% Protestant. But not even really the same Protestant church that they would have in the states. Here it's more of a social status thing. Wearing nice dresses, carrying your bible when someone else doesn't have one, and sitting there and singing. Then they actually have a lesson of sorts. I give them credit for that.  Then its drinking coffee and eating food. People go so that they can say they go to church, and to eat food, And yet its so important to Kosraeans, that even ones who believe what we teach, will not change. They feel like it means society won't accept them. Plus you don't do anything for yourself here until your parents have died or your older siblings have moved out. Just culture. The fact that were 19 years old and don't live with our parents means to some people that we are worthless chumps of life. Its pretty funny. ANNNNNYway I was going to get to the fact that once December hits they start practicing marches and songs that they do in the churches on Christmas day. We really haven't been too hindered on it until this week. Everyone was gone, nobody home.  Christmas day, Kosrae was a Ghost town. One of our recent converts was singing and asked us to come watch. So you know we did.  We went to Tafunsack. The most anti-mormon village on Kosrae. Its got such a huge Protestants population.  So much that it has three active chapels right next to each other. Every time we go there we make the comment that it feels like driving through Hell because of the glares of the people. So we drove right in, parked and walked into the church and sat by our friend. If looks could kill, we'd have been fried. But they can't and it was fun. The people then accepted we could join in watching as well and it was actually cool to watch. Elmer (our recent convert) is just such a stud as well. He's about 22 and over came one of the biggest WOW problems i've seen. It took him about 7 months as well. No one says anything to us when he's with us. His dad and uncle are just two guys that don't take crap. Reedon (Elmers dad) isn't a member but he'll do anything for us and Hamrick (Reedons brother) is just the same. Hamrick lives in Utwe and his family are all members except for his sons. Hamrick is one of my favorite Kosraeans.  He speaks english really well and would fight to the end to protect his family. When his wife joined the church, his brother-in-law came and tried to exercise his authority and right by Kosraean culture to govern her life (her older brother) and Hamrick just let him have it. Both Hamrick and Reedon recongnize the fact that parts of the culture is wack and just everyone in their families stands for what they believe in, and don't let anyone tell them other wise. A lot of the younger generations do the same. Its just these old farts we have problems with. But a lot are near the end so many doors are about to be opened. Kathyann (Hamricks 12 year old daughter) was practicing the singing that other day and we had to drive down a road by Alu Pros to get to an appointment and she stopped and turned to us and waved and said hey and the pastor looked at her like she was the devil or something and she just shrugged him off. Which is awesome but at the same time so many of these kids are like that and absolutly love us and we make the comments among ourselves that we gotta get the kids to not talk to us..we gotta save their lives. At alu pros the other day while we were watching mass (the marching and singing) a huge crowd of kids was just gathering around us and wanting to talk to us and we were like "muhtah" "muhtah" go sit down! Its great, I just love opposition. It only makes me more firm in what I believe. This Gospel is so true and I'm so glad I'm able to be here to teach people about it. Always stand, Always stand. For he ALWAYS stands with you!

 

This is the record, love you all

Elder Lapeyrouse

ATTACK of the KILLER CRAB!!

So the song I can't get out of my head this week is "All Of Me" by John Schmidt. Mainly because Elder Sturm is quite awesome on piano if I haven't mentioned that before. For those of you from BYU, I think he may even top Abe. It's a close matchup but I didn't think anybody could top Abe. Their styles are completely different though. Elder Sturm plays off of expression.  He just makes stuff up to how he feels, and he can play All of Me. So I really enjoy that.

 

Weis! Oasr news luhk! Sislah koluk, nga moulkuhnuh. (woah, I've got some news. Sorry, I forgot) I'm District Leader now. I now get to conduct baptisimal interviews....in Kosraean....and I can barely teach a few principles and have a very very basic conversation. I'm slightly nervous. But hey, I might get to go to Chuuk for about 4 days in January for leadership training. That would be cool. I could get to see Elder Butler again.

 

Ok so, Two baptisms this past week. One planned for this week coming up (hopefully two). We are now at 36 and hope to be at our goal when Elder Madsen goes to Guam on Friday for zone leaders council. We're so excited! We've found our groove this past week and have really been able to work well together. I keep really pushing the same aspects I learened from the Squirrels and it has really been helping out.  Speaking of which... (Aaron Hiatt....How are things. Hows SVU? Mish papers? anything.. I love ya bro. Send me a quick one letting me know how things are going.)

 

Not much has changed here on Kosrae other than the other night we had bought two crabs from some boys and we had them in a big bag in the car. Pretty decent sized too. Well we were driving from an appointment and Elder Sturm was like "The bags tipped over". He looks inside and says " hey I'm not going to lie, there is only one crab in here." I get out my light and start recording the experience. Meanwhile all of us have our feet in the air searching the ground and were just coasting down the road. Elder Madsen was like "Check my feet so that I can go back to driving." He takes the light and then shouts "It's right there by my foot!" The crab was chilling under the break pedal inches from his foot, and he was wearing sandals. We coasted to a stop and tried to get it out. The video is hilarious and when we got out of the car we saw the 7 year old kid of the family we just taught walking down the road a couple miles away from his house, and its like 8:00 at night. We were wondering what he was doing so far away from home alone. But then again 2 year olds go  walking around here where ever they please. So we grab a meitmeit (machete) from the truck and scoop it into the road. A mental guy ( who has the nickname "Fruitloops") put his finger on the shell and held it while we cut the arms off. We were also right near the protestant church and quite a crowd had gathered to see what the three of us white people (mwet fash fash) were freaking out about. Well, Elder Madsen freaking... and Elder Sturm and I just laughing really hard. A local would have just grabbed the crab from the start. I'm rather afraid of those things. They're pretty angry  and firery buggers and can take your finger off.  Anyway, Elder Madsen turns around and kinda sarcasticlly in a playing it all off kinda way and says "Kay wo, mwet nuh kewa" (good evening every one) holds up his hand and says  "wona, wona" (basically everythings alright) and laughs then says "Kal, fong wo." ('k, night') then gets in the car and we all erupted into laughter as we drove away. Needless to say, that crab was boiled as soon as we got home.

 

This mission is awesome. The responsibility, the blessings, the toughness of it, the beauty, the people. This place is just quite the experience you never quite know what to expect, and the people are so humble they truly have very little, some nothing and yet they give.  We were doing service the other day [hacking through a mass of trees and plants and bushes with meitmeits {so fun!}] and the lady we were doing it for made us fish, which they descale here and then boil in coconut milk and water. So you eat it off the bone, skin and all. It actually wasn't too bad but the eyeballs had a texture like stale marshmallows in lucky charms.)  They are just perfect examples of what Heleman talks about, or is it Nephi? Tayuck. I truly love it here and I'm so glad I came. This work is amazing and I love seeing the lords hand in it. I truly hope that those of you wanting or wishing or nearing the time to prepare for a mission, Do it. Prepare now. You cannot even begin to imagine how much you will be blessed. To everyone: Nga luhngse komtacl. Kampare ac nga fah osun.

Elder Lapeyrouse

OBEDIENCE EQUALS SUCCESS!!

"we're burning down the highway skyline, on the, back of a hurricane, that started turnin' when you, were young." - (When you were young-The Killers)

 

 

Not sure what he had in mind when he wrote that line but it makes me think of just the rush, an unstoppable force. Well you really can't describe it.

 

So after one week of being a trio on this island, I can only describe it with a phrase that came up during companship inventory of Fridays weekly planning..."We're basically a dream team."....DISCLAIMER: 100% Obedience

 

So Elder Sturm is from Arizona, awesome at singing. He did choir and show choir back home. His teacher Sang Tenor 1 for Vocal Point during the Standing Room Only CD ( lead solo on "He Is Born") So him and I have been working out harmony on the hymns we sing. So... our opening songs are pretty much beast in lessons and they bring the spirit even more strongly.  Also hes got a drive and a great desire and willingness to serve. The three of us have really been striving for 100% obedience. We quote Section 4 everyday and don't let ourselves focus on anything other than the work till after 9. It was hard at first but its fun now. I never thought I would find myself saying this but it actually is. I can hardly believe it myself. Most importantly is the Spirit like Boyd K Packard said. In this week alone we've recieved many high potential refferals. Too many to know what to do with. Ones where some have been so bold to ask members for us to talk to them themselves. In fact last night we got a call from a member whos kids haven't shown a bit of interest in the church call us and tell us that his daughter joined Family home evening, and she wants to be baptized saturday. We've got a busy week, 2 baptisms saturday, 1 for the next saturday and many potential for the near future. The people who are interested  are not just normal run of the mill people. If they go through, they will open SOO many doors.

 

The only reason we are being blessed like this is because we have truely done as we promised the Lord we would do when we accepted our calls. (That line is actually in the handbook). We Promised to serve with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. To keep an eye single to him and the work, and to devote all our time to our service. Boy Does it pay off.

 

Before I Go I want to talk about my study this past week. I've finished up Alma and just love all of the stories about Moroni, Helaman, Teancum, Lehi, and The 2000 sons. I want to focus on the 2000 Stripling Warriors, who fought for their fathers. Their parents having entered into a covenant to never raise their weapons of war again, desire to break it when they saw the turmoil and the afflictions the Nephites were suffering.  They had a desire to defend them. They couldnt bear to sit and watch. They awakened to a duty to protect their land they live in, their liberty, and their women and children from those who threatened it. But they didnt have to. Their sons stepped up because the sons said that they hadn't made that promise not to fight. and that they didn't want their parents to break the covanent. Alma 53:20. They made a great plan and led away the enemy while their fellow men brought up the rear. When the enemy stopped they didn't know if it was a trick or if their fellow men had overtaken the enemy. Regardless they were worried for their brethern. These 2000 young men. who had never fought before,  were very young, but yet were determined to conquer or die. Helamen asks them what they want to do and they say "Behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth.." They had never fought but they did not fear death, and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their own lives. They had been taught by their mothers that if they did not doubt, God would deliever them.........................and they fought....many times...and not a one of them were ever slain.

 

I want to add my testimony to that. Our god is with us, and he WILL NOT suffer that we should fall. Go forth in faith and Give everything of your heart and soul. Be Fearless and don't doubt God. Never. Fight for what you believe in and never give up, never back down. Be diligent, and valiant and you will succeed.

 

Elder Lapeyrouse

And the there were three.....

Tu wo mwet nuh ke wah! Glad to know that Elder Foote already let the cat out of the bag and ruined the suprise. Soo yeah, I've offically been stripped of my trainie status and there are three Elders covering all of Kosrae now. Upac nuh pwacye! (really hard). Elder Madsen is now the oldest with only 5 months under his belt, Myself at a month and a half, and Elder Sturm who is four days old. We don't have a district leader and the Footes's (senior couple) leave pretty soon and the new couple doesn't come until sometime in January. Just a quick fact: The Elders in the Kosrae zone/district are the furthest away distance wise from their mission president than in any other area, or in any mission. I'm so grateful for this opportunity and this trust. I've been really pondering a lot lately about what I was told in my last mission president interview and just what possibly the Lord is planning. I know he knows what he is doing but Elder Madsen and I can sure as heck testify that we don't have a clue. We've determined were just going to have to go to work, be diligent and serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength. We've been havng a lot of companion studies lately about faith and we have faith that as we devote ourselves and truely set in and do the work that we will succeed. Kosrae has been going through a really tough time lately and is also having so much success. We are sort of in what I guess you could call a investigator famine lately but there are so many signs of it picking back up and going through the roof. Speaking of which we just had three new convert baptisms this past weekend and one child of record. That brings us to 34 and a list of about 15 potential investigatiors that we feel real good about and 2 on dates that are just doing amazing. Needless to say we were quite surprised to find out that on the verge of such great success we got the transfer orders that we did. But we can do it. Fuhsracsr! (easy)

Thanksgiving was awesome. Sis foote prepared a nice dinner. unfortunately Elder Rufus left that day and didn't get to join us and the new elder came a day after. turkey, sweet potatoes, rolls, apples, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and pumpkin pie for desert. I don't want to know how much time she put into getting all that stuff ,most of which I'm sure had to be mailed in.

You said the other letter sounded down. I'm not down, I'm very excited. I'm just wrapped in my own head. I've been really praying lately that i'll figure out what to do here, that the lord will help me,  and that he will help us remain diligent and obedient. Blessings only come through works, faith and obedience. I just want you guys to know that I love you and I pray for you daily and Im just fine out here. The lord delivers his rightous and just. Some of the stuff president has said has given me no need to fear. Be bold be fearless and do work. With patience and diligence and through great faith you can accomplish anything. You can move mountains. You can even be as the brother of Jarod and rip back the veil. Faith and sweat.  Well, thats about all I got to say,   I've got work to do.

Elder Lapeyrouse