candlelight dinners

Whats cooler than writing letters and eating dinner under candle light? Nothing!  Well there is plenty cooler but I still think this is pretty cool.  Its been pretty rainy lately, so we don't have any power (solar).  I don't mind though.  I dig candle light and fires to cook stuff on.  We have one can of propane left and if we run out, we'll build fires for cooking.  We tried making the corn bread stuff today without eggs or milk.  We used our rice pot, a empty tuna can, a measuring cup, and a ceramic plate to create a steam oven.  It worked..the cornbread was good, but we burned through propane doing so.  Everything is going good out here though.  Elder Valinotti is probably the most similar to me of all my companions yet.  However come to think of it, I haven't had a companion yet that I didn't get along with very well.

I have grown rather apathetic since I've been here.  The kids here grow up getting what they want when they ask for it.  The also feel that they have a right to whatever they see.  I've grown immune to hearing my name and any question that involves Kose Mochen Upwe Angei...(you don't want?...I will have...)  They want Ramen, soy sauce, spam,  50cents, water, salt, plastic bags, tobasco, black pepper, garlic, ramen, water, matches, kool-aid, ramen, water, ramen garlic, ramen, soy sauce, ramen, gum, cardboard, ramen, tuna, ramen, chicken, ramen, and wait.....ramen.  The brochure for this place should read something like:  "Come enjoy the experience of being asked for something twenty times a day or your money back guaranteed."  On the plus side I've gotten used to cold showers, sleeping on the ground, sitting on the ground, and living out here without air conditioning.  The Zone Leaders have air conditioning in their apt  and we all freeze whenever we go in.  The one good part about that is that it makes the tile nice and cool for sleeping.  There are times when I worry a bit about coming home, going from this humidity and heat to the damp bite of fall air back home and then in January, the Utah winter.  I often recall a  memory I have from BYU when I saw a guy in sweats and a hoodie bundled up against a wall in one of my classes.  The TA asked him if he was alright, and he answered that he had recently returned from a mission in the caribbean and that he couldn't seem to get warm.  I now realize that I had laughed at my impending future.

This past week, the A.P's came out.  I got to see Elder Madsen again, and Elder Malit, who has seved on Chuuk, so he was a big help.  Earlier in the transfer another area on the island Weno on Chuuk called us and told us one of their investigators who was doing real well was moving to Tonoas.  A young girl about 10 or so.  She lives about a 30 minute walk away and  we were able to sit down with her parents the day the A.P.'s came.  We had a really good lesson on the restoration.  The spirit was definitely there and after we all shared our testimonies, the man said that he had something he wanted to say.  We were in the heart of Protestant territory so we were like shoot, this stubborn Chuukeese man is going to dominate our faces (earlier when he had seen that we were there he wasn't too happy and asked another woman what our purpose for being there was.)  He started talking rather fast in Chuukese and I could only understand that he was talking about the protestant church.  I felt impressed that he needed a Book of Mormon so I turned to Elder Valinotti, who was struggling to listen and told him about it.  He got one out of his bag.  Elder Malit saw and looked pleased,  When the man finished Elder Malit bore his testimony and then asked Elder Valinotti to explain the Book of Mormon.  After the lesson, I had a real good feeling and I talked to Elder Malit about it.  He told us that the man had basically said that the Protestant church was not true in his eyes.  It was whatever the Pastor had wanted and he(pastor) has never said that it was Jesus Christ's Church.  He has been praying and waiting for someone to tell and show him which church is right.  His wife was like "we give them money every week, but we don't know where it goes, and none of us in the congregation seem to receive any benefit from it.  They are Studdin!

We got to come in to go shopping, and for Zone P-day.  Our really studdin' investigators are doing even better then they already were.  The man Jon asked us how he could become a member of Jesus Christ's church and says that he thinks about baptism when he wakes up, and when he goes to sleep.  We have high hopes for them.  

Rains and winds are picking up here.  We have had some crazy storms lately, which make boat rides choppy and wet.  Those last couple of boxes were really helpful.  My only request is for cookies and baby powder.  I'll hit you up again in 4 weeks.  :)

Wait....I am in dire need of socks.  I think that the trolls or dwarfs stole mine.  I haven't matched socks in awhile.  Maybe like 12 pairs. Please and thank you!!

Elder Lapeyrouse

Creative cooking and...washing!

So Chuuk has been a good ride thus far.  Besides the fact that it's hot as hades out here.  I had forgotten how much I loved Micronesia.  Guam was nice, definitely had more food and technology perks, but nothing beats the simplicity of an island, And now Elder Valinotti and I have one all to ourselves.  Chuuk is seriously the place I think every young boys should of had as his playground.  A lagoon of about a hundred or more islands, Many small and uninhabited.  You could sail around, explore the islands, or go diving to the beautiful reefs filled with tropical fish and sea turtles, and tons of WWII submarine and ship wreckage. 

Speaking of boats, and islands, we get to go into Weno on Zone P-day (if zone p-day is on Weno) and the first monday of each month.  This is when we go shopping.  Elder Valinotti and I get to go to Uman every thursday for district meeting.  Besides those times, its good ole Tonoas for us.  Normally the missionary boat is about 18ft and looks like a cross between a bayliner and a pontoon.  However, the week before I came to chuuk a heavy storm sunk it, ruining both engines.  They have to buy a new boat, and in the meantime, we use little boats, 10ft or so with a 40 mph engine.  The only thing I don't like about Chuuk so far is laundry.  I said goodbye to the only apartment in Guam with a working washing machine, and received a warm welcome from my buddy the "Ace hardward Bucket"  Laundry goes like this:  Wake up, fill the bucket 3/4 with water, dissolve powdered soap, add bleach (if whites), add clothes, then using a plunger with holes you pull some butter churning moves and get it all nice and mixed up.  Then you let it sit and soak and that evening dump out the BROWN water (Note I don't think that most people in the states realize how much body sweat and soil are in our clothes when there is no visible dirt)  But trust me, 10 "rinse cycles" later, and trust me I UNDERSTAND  how much dirt there is, you wring out each individual piece of clothing and hang it up on the line.  If there is a stubborn stain, you can throw a washboard step in there somewhere.  Surprisingly I don't miss air conditioning at all.  For most of the mission, thus far, until Yigo North, my houses haven't had much of an AC unit.  I had to remind myself the other day that Tonoas doesn't have one at all.  We both sleep on mats on the floor with  about a foot between the mats.  We place a small fan at the head of the gap.  Half the time, our solar power runs out and the fan cuts off in the middle of the night.   We leave all the windows open though.  Elder Valinotti and I are going to buy some candles this upcoming monday so we don't have to use the energy on our light bulbs, and we can use more for the fan.  I guess this would be a good time to mention that fridges, ovens, and microwaves are non-existent out here.  So we don't have anything dairy, and we get inventive with our Japanese propane stove.  The other day I cooked one of those Betty Crocker Warm Delight things that you sent me using a steam cooker that I crafted out of a pot, a empty chicken can, and a makeshift lid.  It worked pretty dang well.  

Chuukeese is coming faster that Kosraen did.  But it couldn't come fast enough.  We get owned daily out here because neither of us know chuukeese that well.  Its all good though.  No better way to learn right?  Regardless....other than crazy, drunk, men who get way wasted/angry, and start fights at nightfall, Chuuk has been real nice.  Its a nice challenging change of environment.  I will probably spend my 2nd year here so I look forward to all the crazy adventures this part of the Federated States of Micronesia can bring.  Transfers are coming up, but I don't expect much to change.  As for the boxes the past few have been good (Guam and Chuuk)  Maybe some drink mixes would be nice though.  Oh!!  I would like my priesthood lineage and an updated address list (including Aaron's mission office one since he never gave it to me)  Tell the ward Hi for me.  Can anyone believe that we have already been out a year  (sorry Nicholls just a few more months).  Al tong noenikemi! 

Much love, take it easy!

Elder Braydon Lapeyrouse

Just sit right back, and you'll hear a tale...(Gilligan's island theme song)

A couple years ago in seminary (ok..many years ago hehe) I remember watching a church video about an older lady who walked everyday to the mailbox waiting for a letter, and each time finding it empty (called the Mailbox).  I have recalled this many times over the last 4 weeks waiting to hear something from Gilligan, I mean Braydon.  hehe  Anyway yesterday I was able to do the happy dance after checking the mailbox.    Here it is.  

August 15, 2011

I think there is a misconception prevalent  within the Micronesia Guam Mission.  One that is common among those that are "born" (start out) on one of the outer FSM, CMNI, or Palau Zones.  This idea being that we would start out on these islands and learn the language, serving there for sometime before "doing time" in Guam and then finishing our mission in our own respective islands.  President Dowdle realized quickly the dangerous effect this manner of isolated thinking had on the mission.  Before he got here and early in his mission, Zones had rivalries.  Guam was looked at as the punishment island.  Languages were used as cliques, and mission unity was something everyone professed to have, but many would show otherwise.

I'm not sure how many of the stories that I've heard have been exaggerated or not, but I do know that it was enough for President to spend a lot of effort on unifying the mission.  I think that one way of doing so was getting Elders to understand that they were never assigned to serve only within a specific Zone or language.  There have been a few Elders who have demonstrated that we are not as "safe" as we had thought.  Elder South for example from Chuuk, to Pohnpei, then back to Chuuk.  Elder Pearl from Chuuk to Yap.  As President Dowdle's Mission came to an end, transfers became more crazy and unpredictable then they had been.  Closing some areas, and opening up new ones.  Elder Allred on Chuuk doing a swap with Elder Henrie in Yap.  Elder Agalzoff from Palau to Guam for one transfer and the replacing me as Elder Andrew's new companion in Utwe on Kosrae.  When I was transferred to Guam needless to say, I had figured enough craziness had already happened, and the fact that it was President Mecham's first transfer led me to believe that upon taking Elder Agelzoff's place in Yigo North I would be in Guam for some time.  Especially since we were losing six Elder's and only getting three new ones.  However, transfer calls came. Elder Adams is writing down the names....gets done with writing down the Guam Zone, and my name isn't on the list.  Just seconds after being excited upon hearing that Elder Madsen was the new Assistant to the President, I was overcome with a number of feelings as Elder Adams asked about me.  My filipino brother Elder Iglasia on the other side of the wire laughs a bit, starts in with the info and pauses after "going to"... just for the sake of tormenting me...then finishes with "....Chuuk,  he's going to Chuuk".

I was shocked, blown away, excited, and yet nervous.  I sat there on the couch and...just sat there.  The fact that Elder Valinotti, who was part of my MTC group, was going to by my new companion on one of the outer islands of Chuuk still didn't even register.  I only knew two things:

1.  I was once again boarding that island-hopper flight again a lot sooner that I thought I would.  2.  I was in for a ride.

So Chuuk....A blast so far.  That main island Weno (pronounced "Would-A) is well.....I can't put it into words.  All roads are dirt and have Gigantic craters/lakes in the middle of them.  The mission cars (Toyota Tacomas) are all beat up.  Alignments shot, power steering doesn't work, the windows on the (couldn't read the word hehe) are smashed, the gas cover has been ripped off, dents, dents, and more dents.  Damage from Locals, and from the local roads.  Its like a giant Ghetto with a billion people (ok exaggeration) living on it.  Power is on for 4 hours then off for 4 hours.  The outer island...no power, no roads (walking only), no cars, not Ghetto, but very rural.  Our house has three small solar panels to run our 1 florescent bulb, small fans, and our water pump.  I guess you could say that we have a fridge, but it gets no colder that 70 degrees.  No oven, No AC.  We have a butane stove (scratch that) burner that we cook on.  Roughly a 20 square foot house situated quite nicely on a green tropical island amid sparkling blue waters.   I get to ride a boat to district meetings and any other time we need to get off this island (which is only every 4 weeks).  We get to end our day at dark because its too dangerous to be out.  (Chuukeese men like to get drunk, have bad tempers, and walk around when drunk looking for fights,)  There are many islands that are unsafe.  Decapitations..impalements...slingshots designed to kill....you know, the usual.  Shooting each other with spear guns....Wait,What?..Who said that?  I was talking about how neither Elder Valinotti or I know Chuukeese very well.

I seriously am loving it out here.  The only things that keep on the outer islands are Spam, Corned Beef, Rice, and other canned goods.   So thats all we have to eat.  We have a stud of a Branch President.  (who is the only worth Melchizedek priesthood holder in the branch)  He helps us a lot.  We have a definite baptism coming up, and her husband is doing well also and is making us slingshots.  Its great being Elder Valinotti's companion and seeing him again, having Elder Butler in the same Zone, ( he is ZL) and learning a second language.  Well I guess that is a third personal language.  Its coming faster than I thought it would as well.

There are days that Elder V and I wake up on our sleeping pad/cot/ mattress thingy (we sleep on the floor) and both make the comment that we feel like we are camping.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be in this mission.  For this experience, and for this trust.  I've met too many people, missionaries, and locals alike, and seen and done many things that have changed my life forever!  I can't believe there's only a year left.  Time is so short.  I love you all...Oh! I forgot to mention how strong the Brotherhood is between all the Chuuk Elders.  It reminds me of the Squirrels.  In Chuukeese custom there are "Promise Brothers", which is the Chuukeese equivalent of blood brothers.  The Elders in the Chuuk Zone treat everybody as such.  Our own Chuuk Island family.  There are no individuals in this Zone, and our relationships emulate island custom.  I look forward to whats ahead, and I hope that you all are doing well.

Much love...take it easy

Elder Braydon Lapeyrouse

Dogs, dogs and more dogs

my pwipwi's, Ngon mochen Guam. The Chuukese Language is so gangsta'. I'm enjoying studying it. I got the Pictures from the wedding and it looked really cool. And the boxes, thank you. Guam has been really cool thus far. I feel like I'm learning so much. We have an investigator now that will be baptized on the 16th. Her name is Jade and She's doing really well. We have about 3 other baptisimal prospects but they are a little frustrating because they arent as consistant as I would want them to be. Well two of them have only been taught once this past week and are new so I cant really say that. Two of the guys we are teaching are car finatics and have their own projects. I saw a sick 63 bug last night. and Chamorro trucks....The chamorros here love their drag/lowriders. We see some interesting cars. So I get to meet the new President today. Saying goodbye to President and Sister Dowdle was really sad. I cant wait till mission renunions.  We have interviews tomorrow and a zone conference on Wednesday. I'm really excited. Elder Adams and I are getting along really well and I am looking forward to the upcoming weeks. On a funny side, The other night Elder Adams and I went to contact a Chuukese family the other night but the only one home was their 18 year old daughter. She had the door open before we even got to the door, came outside and sat down, flattening out her skirt, and tidying up her hair. She was a lil flirty but not enough for us to be sure so we told her we'd check back later. The second time she was the only one home  again but she didn't seem excited to see us. Same goes for this time. Yesterday at church I walk into the Chapel and see this girl sitting with some friends. She waves and smiles and I was just thinking "you've gotta be kidding me" Elder Adams welcomed her and then we took our seats and laughed about the matter. Her family and her friends family really do have good potential though so I dunno. Other than that its been, dogs, dogs, more dogs, ugly dogs, annoying small dogs, wait! a cute puppy. and more ugly dogs. A few slammed doors, a "busy" stonner, so many phillipinos!! And Chuukese. I love the Micronesian people. Elder Adams and I have the "ranches" in our area. All dirt roads, out in the back country that only the Micronesians live on. They live everywhere but only micronesians are on the ranches. We like those better than the normal housing because we've both become so accustomed to the culture and we feel more comfortable out there. Its all good. I do ask however that you send my express jacket because the apartment is cold, and my Black shoes are done for. The missionary mall should have some good ones. Elder Adams has "Borns." the Air Force base is also in my area and so my ward is basically all Airforce personnel. As for the Flashdrive....whenever. I'll check back next week, Happy 4th of July!

-Elder Lapeyrouse

SPEND 4 DAYS IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRY HOSPITAL......CHECK

  THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF EMAIL THAT YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE FROM YOUR MISSIONARY.  HE NEVER ANSWERED THE QUESTION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE TEST CAME BACK POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

"kiss from a rose" - Seal

I'm terribly sorry you never got the Walung email. I resent it. In the meantime, I'm going to let you all know about my experience with a hospital in a 3rd world country.

After monday night, I only seemed to get worse. Tuesday morning I felt alright, and even ate some toast, eggs, and bacon. Then I starting cramping throughout my whole body, sweating, felt extremely light headed, and so on. President had suggested we go to the hospital and get them to take a blood sample to test for Dengue fever (I don't know how to spell it) I ended up getting admitted because no on has a clue here.  I was given a sodium chloride IV and a nice rock to lay on for the next 4 days. The hospital here.....is a bed. you bring everything else, toilet paper, water, pillows, bed sheets, a fan (you'll want a fan) and so on. I don't even want to describe this place and the bathroom shall never be mentioned again. But there I lay. At first in a room with 5 other sick people and their families. (families watch over the sick because the nurses don't) and the rooms aren't that big. They soon moved me to another room with one other guy and his wife. This guy shook the walls when he snored, but he was leaving the next day so that worked out. Elder Coffey ended up getting admitted into the same room as I for dehydration, which meant that every other missionary had to spend the night on mats on the ground. It was a very long, 4 days. On one particular night in which I was feeling extra loopy, and sick I began singing kiss from a rose by seal. My IV probably fell out 4 times in total and I don't want to know how many airbubbles got into to my bloodstream due to their lack of competance. On one of the nights I changed the IV so it would drip super fast and hurried up and finished the bag and locked it off before I went to sleep. I also gladly took that tube out when they shook their shoulders to answer my question of if I needed it or not.   The whole experience can now be checked off my bucket list though I am not glad to say I have done so. I was so glad to eat food again upon getting out becuase I refused to eat the boiled chunk of skipjack tuna  or turkey tail they served every meal. The good news is I'm all better now. The other news is, I'm pretty sure I'm being transfererred from Kosrae this week. Should be interesting. Much Love

-Elder Lapeyrouse

Lovin my Bike!

I've come to really enjoying putting my Presidents letters in here. I don't have a song for this week, but Dierks Bently was hard to get out of my head after you guys told me you were going to see him in concert.....at a race. jealous kuhtuh sriksrik. but I would like to give a shoutout to my bro Aaron who's about to leave on his mission to Mexico. Much love my brother, it's been sweet reflectin on the good times. Godspeed.

 

 

 

President Dowdle,
I really enjoy this opportunity to be back in....I'm not sure why I just used the terminology "Back in" but I meant to say that I really enjoy that I can work in and focus on Utwe. I suppose I said "Back in" because I literally feel refreshed after being briefed on this new missionary program. I'm looking forward to two hours of companion study and the applications that are designed to push both of us. Back to basics, I guess you could say. The most essential and most important. I'm also really loving my bike. It took a lot of headache to finally get it but its well worth it. I was a big fan of mountain biking back home, as well as riding through the city on one so this feels more natural to me than a car. I also get exercise, and the opportunity to travel through the village without the isolating barriers of windows. Good things are ahead President and I'm looking forward to them. In fact. A referral I've been needing to contact came to church yesterday with three inactive teenage or slightly older than teenage boys. He expressed a desire to be baptized and said he was free all the time. Satan's hold is weakening, and I say it's time we mute those ol' bells of Hell.
I hope that Sister Dowdle and yourself can enjoy your time left in Micronesia. I really appreciate your work President, take care.
-Elder Lapeyrouse

 

 

So anyways, I got my bike this week. Its a GT Agressor 1.0 if you want to look that up. Mine is mostly white, with blue and yellow. Its sick and I love it. Elder Andrew isn't too big on it now. He fell yesterday and scraped his knee pretty bad. but spirits are high, the works picking up, The exercise will make me hungier so I can eat more rice. haha  And the mission field has introduced a brand new program. Its supposed to be for new missionaries and their trainers who recieved the same training I did in the MTC. Apparently they are field testing it before they make it final. Its a 12 week course of basically Preach My Gospel boot camp designed to push, strengthen, and fine tune new missionaries. With the hopes that they can train after their third transfer. We get an extra hour for companion study each day and a syllabus/study guide thing with topics, goals, activities, and so on. I'm loving it so far because it's everything I learned in the MTC put into action. Everyone in the mission field knows what the "8 lessons) are and this is what the program is centered around. The Essentials of Preach My Gospel. It's a sweet deal. I look forward to being able to study more. As for a box, I like mac and cheese, the chicken helper, the fruit, and other food items, not really anything sweet, and no more potatoes because I have enough of them. Apparently there are also Italian sides, so thats an interest of mine. I would also request Taco bell sauce packets. a good number of each flavor. Elders Sturms family did that and I'm jealous. however my time is up, and I must go. I love you guys, take it easy.

-Elder Lapeyrouse

"Yeah man, thats the good stuff"

"We are the Kings and Queens of Promise"

 

So I figured I'd throw a little 30 Seconds to Mars at ya'll this week. Thats kinda been my theme of this week. Well theme #1, until I got to watch conference. Theme #2 goes a little like this:

 

 "It's the first long kiss on the second date, mommas all worried when you get home late, dropping the ring in the spaghetti plate, cause your hands are shakin' so much. And it's the way she looks with that rice in her hair, eatin' burnt suppers that whole first year, and askin for seconds to keep her from tearing up. yeah man thats the good stuff." (Kenny Chesney)

 

So the assistants were here this past week. Elder Matthews (Kosraean Elder) and Elder Barlow (Palauan Elder). Elder Matthews really enjoyed being back on Kosrae since he didn't really get much of a good-bye last time. Him and I put a big effort on throwing a last minute District party Friday night before they left on Saturday.  We succeeded.  So then they left and we got to watch conference. Awesome by the way. After watching saturday morning, saturday afternoon and sunday morning sessions, Elder Sturm and I were talking to Dr. Ken about how we liked it and how cool we thought it was that they didnt have topics. He was a little confused so we told him that we thought that they all prayed about it and that their talks would specifically touch everyone who listens to them in a different way. About how different people hear different things over and over. And then......In Sunday Afternoon Holland gave a talk on what we had been talking about. We thought that was pretty cool.

 

So back to Kenny. Elmer's 1 year old daughter was in front of me while we were watching conference and she has the biggest and (excuse the non manly terms) most adorable eyes of any kid I know. And she sat there and stared at me, and stared at me.  I told Elder Sturm about it and  he said that everytime she does that to him it makes him want to say "awww I want one."  It also doesn't help that so many of the speakers at conference talked about we should strive for an eternal family. To be married in the temple and about all the blessings of it. President Monsons talk at the priesthood session was amazing and had me counting how many months in Micronesia I have left. So not going to lie, I've been thinking about my future wife all weekend and seriously pondering about the time I do decide to get married. Thinking about the Priesthood responsibility of marriage. (listen to Monsons talk from the Priesthood session) They tore into us about robbing daughters of God of the chance to start an eternal family, and about how men usually let their wives fill the void that we lack to fill. I imagine most girls would get a kick out of monson's talk. But conference was also good about learning to be charitable, give service, any desires can be overcome by something greater and the affects of the atonement. I also want to point out that Elder Gary E. Stevenson gave the opening prayer for the Sunday Morning Session. I was actually hoping he would talk but I did get to see him nonetheless. I spent 6 hours across a 2 1/2 foot table with that man and president Dowdle in a little 15 by 8 hotel room a couple weeks ago. I love Zone Conferences. Especially when General Authorities join. Anyways, all is good here, I'm really excited for next transfer because its supposed to be a big one. It will be the last or second to last transfer that President Dowdle will do before he leaves. He wants everyone to be in a fresh area that they can stay in for awhile so that President Mecham won't have to make a big transfer while he is still new. Anndd I've been in Utwe practically my whole mission. We'll see what changes happen. There are even rumors of two zone leaders on Kosrae and 3 companionships. (or so President himself has mentioned). we'll see in three weeks though.

 

Love you all

-Elder Lapeyrouse

NO LAUGHING MATTER....

Braydon sent me a quick email before this one telling me that his email was sort of a Declaration, and to please post it...all of it.  It is rather lengthly, but Braydon felt that it was important to say.....

"That's just Satan...but he can go to Hell" - Elder Foote

 

"Everybody used to tell me that big boys don't cry, but I've figured out enough to know that that was the lie, that held back the tears in the eyes of a thousand prodigal sons. We are children no more, we have sinned and grown old, but our Father still waits and he watches down below to see his crying boys come running back to his arms. And were growing young..."

 

Addiction, Satan's tool to take away our agency. These past 6 months I have seen just how pathetic we make ourselves when we give him control. Mainly since almost everyone on this island has an addiction. Mostly alcohol and its because there's not much to shoot for here. Sadly, over the past few weeks I've seen it completely take control of some of those that I love very dearly. I cannot begin to describe the shuddering story of a good friend of ours that reached his all time low on a pitch black night, no moon, and a blueish glow on a small flashlight reflecting against the window.   There was blasting country music, blood covering the ENTIRE inside of his house, and him lost in the abyss of alcoholism in a heap on the ground screaming that no one loves him and laughing hysterically ( Elder Sturm describes the story)   

 

"Ok, I'll tell it. I still lose sleep over it, but oh well. I'll just keep it short and quick. He had been drinking for a long time. He is a recent convert (oh yeah, by the way Abraham and Elcina are both members too). He has been having a lot of problems. One night we got there (around 8:30) nearing what became the end of a 3-week-drunken experience. Both Elder Madsen and myself had several very strong feelings to not go, but being dumb and prideful we ignored them.
Again, very long story short, the mansion house of Doctor Ken was pitch black, lit by the moonlight reflecting off the ocean and the blue-ish flashlight of our cell phone. Very loud country music was playing drunken, broken up love songs. Due to an accident that had yet to be cleaned up (and made much worse due to several subsequent blunders) the house was covered in blood. I don't know how he bled that much, but the 7 inch gash on his head is pretty nice. We finally find him in his room, curled up on his now-more-red-than-blue sheets ranting. (If you haven't noticed, this house would have just won the "Best Haunted House of the Year!" award if it weren't for the "no use of real demons" clause in section 3.55a.... sorry, maybe not a funny joke.)
Anyway, here we are, standing in this room, drunk crying/ranting/and laughing (totally adds to the effect), country music, and an actual odor of blood (which followed us around that whole night). Suddenly I felt very lightheaded and... I don't really know. Just not feeling good.  I guess snapped out of it when I realized Elder Madsen had fallen over. Luckily an office wheel chair was there to break his fall. Elder Madsen had completely passed out, and would probably have a similar injury to Ken's if the chair didn't break his fall (the chair fell over, but he landed confortably on the back side of it which slid down the wall quite slowly).
Several seemingly hour long seconds passed by until my companion woke up, VERY confused. I started praying, though Elder Madsen had not quite figured out where he was (he thought I had just been waking him up in bed and was wondering why I had country music playing. I think he figured it out sometime during the prayer). As Elder Madsen was on the floor and getting up and as we prayed Dr. Ken kept saying "Did he just fall?" and "He fell!" and other such remarks as he laughed. The laughing was not really helpful.
So then we left. I think I said a hundred prayers before I went in, several hundred prayers while I was in the house, and thousands more later that night. But, I always felt safe :) " (Elder Sturm)

 

 

     Fortunately this same man has risen out of his hellish endeavor after an experience much like the combination of Alma the younger and Enos. He's doing really well and that song at the beginning of my post was for him. Two days ago we witnessed another account in which a drunk ex- pro- kickboxer threatened to end Elder Sturm's life. (see his email after mine. He says some really good things especially his testimony.) On of the nicest people we know and one of our greatest friends destroyed by his own choice to relinquish his agency. Its an ongoing battle that has left us many times in tearful prayers for these people that they might find the strength inside themselves and pull through. I'm literally standing in the devils play ground and he's not too fond of us. I wish to bear witness to the destruction, the hopelessness, the terror, pathetic yet tantalizing despair of forsaking ones agency. It all falls on us, we choose who to give ourselves to and the results are exponential in both directions. Addictions: pornography, alcohol, drugs, etc. are a filth and a plague that only injure you and have the very power bring you within the hellish hands of the devil himself. There is no escape, there is no hope,  and there is no " doing it only a little".  The Prince of Darkness and his fallen brethren will own you, control you, and bring you down. They hate you, wish to bind you in chains and make you suffer eternal torment, and they are the puppeteers that have a copyright on addictions and your despair is all they seek. I bear witness to how true this is because I see it often with my own eyes, and I wish that those who read this will please not tempt it. I have seen those I love beaten, battered, and torn. There is a saying: The Savior never said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it. I would like to point out that the Savior never actually said that at all. There is no record of it. But what he did say "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:29-30)

His yoke is easy, his burden is light. Choose him and you shall find rest, peace, and joy. It all starts with choice, its not hard to choose either one but beware of whose yoke you are taking upon you. For I testify without a doubt that the long journey back under the yoke of the Adversary is a daunting one, and one of much trail and suffering to bear. In the name of our loving brother, our friend and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

J. Golden Kimble wasn't too far off when he said "Baptize the Hell outta' 'em" was he?

 

 (The following is Elder Sturms email to family)

 

 

Elder Sturm:

 

Well, it's been an exciting week! I can now say that I have sat at the foot of a man with a fifty-something-win/two-loss record/kick boxing champion of Hawaii as he threatened to kill me. And since missions are all about coming out and getting cool stories, I'm excited! Ha. I'm just kidding. Anyway, I'll get to that story. Friday during weekly planning we wrote down a goal of "one baptized, one confirmed" for the following week!  It's the first time we have been this close to a baptism since the last batism 4 months ago! I am SO excited! But then something happened. I wrote it all down in my President's letter, so I just copied and pasted it to here. Hopefully it all makes sense being written straight to you as well, but who knows. I spent a lot of time on his letter so I can't really spend time rereading it or rewriting it. We only have so long on the computers :)


President Dowdle,
It's a good thing the Church is true. I would probably be a very sad person at all times if it wasn't.
You'll notice our goal for baptisms this week is one! Julie is doing amazingly. She has been reading, praying, coming to church, and has been very excited for her baptismal date on the 16th. She is now living with Abraham and Elcina Abraham next to the Nautilus. She apparently does not get along with her mom and her step dad (her dad recently died, we're not sure how long ago). We encouraged her many times to call her mom, although she is 21 and (not that I know the actual law here) old enough to choose for herself.
Yesterday we got to their house for an appointment and she was the only one in the house. She seemed really sad about something, but she would only respond with the usual "I'm fine" or "I'm well." We asked her where Abraham was and she pointed across the street. Abraham called us over. Not to a huge surprise we found him with several (10? 15?) beer cans, all empty. He started talking to us about family problems from Julie's family, and how he didn't want to have to deal with them anymore. Julie finally came over and I asked her if she had called her mom. She said yes, and they were not happy. Apparently Abraham has been getting a lot of opposition from her family saying he was the one forcing her to be baptized.
Obviously with him drunk no good came of the conversation, but we just kept talking, him ranting about how he knew the church was true, but wondering why we even come over anymore, complaining about how messed up he is. Then he told us that the choice was Julie's. We (I'm with Elders Lapeyrouse/Andrew right now) turned to Julie and talked to her about her choice she had to make. I told her we didn't want to tear apart her family but that her and I both know what she needs and wants to do. No one can force her. She didn't say anything really, just sat thinking.
Abraham then went on for a long rant about whatever came to his drunk mind. Something he kept saying about how messed up he was made me really want to address that. I hunched down in front of him and basically bore my testimony to him(looking back I have no idea why, it was probably quite difficult for the Spirit to make it past whatever wall he had built; I guess it just seemed right at the time). I told him he can change, he can overcome this, but he has to trust God. Have faith, pray, then do your part. Actually try to stop. He started crying, then just got angry. At this point the fact that he is an ex-professional kickboxer came back to my mind, and my current position was a little disadvantageous. (Is that a word?) Abraham said (in English in a voice which I later found out was almost inaudible to anyone besides me, two feet in front of his face) "do you want to see how bad I can get? Do you realize how close you are to me ending your life? Do you realize how easy that would be?" I felt the Spirit, so I knew I was safe (or at least I wasn't afraid, whatever it meant). But I stood up very slowly, asked him what he wanted us to do, and he said leave and don't come back. I tuned down the language a bit.
So we left. We walked back over to his house on the other side where our car was parked, leaving behind what we were hoping (and are still hoping?) will be our first baptism for the year. We got to the car and I started crying. I don't think I have ever cried like that for that long. I hate sin, I hate Satan. I love those people! I asked Elder Lapeyrouse to pray before we left. As he prayed we heard somebody coming, it was Julie. We closed the prayer and waited. She told us "I'm going to keep reading the Book of Mormon and praying. This choice is mine and if I want to be baptized I will. I'll let you know." We told her to kampare and headed out.
Anyway, that is my experience for the week. President Jonathan said he wanted to head down there and "soften his heart" before we went back again, so we didn't go back yesterday. We'll probably stop by tonight anyway. Abraham is the nicest guy I know when he is sober. I just hope some of the "I guess the church really can't help me" thoughts haven't carried over.
So yeah, all is well. No worries here, just a very sad Elder Sturm. Every song in Sacrament meeting the next day was about how happy the gospel makes you and the Sacrament song talking about these covenants and taking the Atonement upon ourselves and being made clean. Needless to say they have never had more meaning to me.
But like I said, all is well. Satan is really putting forth his best effort right now, but I know he won't win. He hates me, but I would have it no other way. He is powerless compared to my Savior and my King. The nation of Israel will win, our forces will triumph. Patience, Elder Sturm, patience.
Thanks for everything President, sorry you had such a long letter to read. Have a good week! Until then, Kampare!
Elder Sturm
 

So anyway I am quite a large deal over my time limit, but I thought those two stories should get home. No worries, I'm not in any physical or spiritual danger from either of these people (in fact, I was having a great spiritual experience last time I was in Ken's house, he is doing well).
I guess I should just add my encouragement to obey the Word of Wisdom. Abraham is the nicest guy I know on Kosrae until he is drunk. He is aparrently slightly different after a few drinks.
I'll leave with bearing my very strong testimony that God lives, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our King (who will soon come and literally reign as a King over the restored nation of Israel), that the Holy Ghost is promised by an eternal, perfected, and glorified Father to each and every one of His children who want that guidance, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only and true church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the very same that was established by His hand in the days that He walked this Earth. We have been promised an eternal and ever-lasting gift of happiness not only in the presence of our Father who loves us, but to become as Him and live as He lives now. I know that these things are true, and I know Satan hates them all. He hates me, he hates you, and he wants you to be miserable even as he is (2 Nephi 2:27). He will not win The War. The only person who can decide who wins the battles is you. Please use your agency wisely. It is everything. I promise you that it is not worth it to choose incorrectly. We all make mistakes, but if you truly desire to come unto the Father it is always possible.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
Repentance.
Baptism.
Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Enduring to the End.

Do that and we are saved. Eternal happiness is waiting for each and every one of us. Do we want it?
Please choose wisely what you do with your "probationary state." It means everything, and can cost everything.
I know these things are true, independent of any other person. I share them to you in the name of my Beloved Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

Its going to be a great week.

Last week I was worried about Braydon and sent him some pep talk quotes in an email.  This was his response, and his way of showing me that things had really picked up this week, and he was in work mode.  He did not however answer my questions about food and hopefully not having to eat anymore ants.  I don't know if this was to keep me from worrying or to convince me to send more good stuff from the states.  hehe  The quote that Braydon is talking about was given to our youth at a fireside.  It states
"THERE IS NO CHANCE, NO FATE, AND NO DESTINY, WHICH CAN CIRCUMVENT OR HINDER, OR CONTROL THE FIRM RESOLVE OF A DETERMINED SOUL"






We get to see conference this weekend. But not the Priesthood session. Josh is really that tall? And your prayers worked, this week was rather good. And where did you get that quote about the "firm reslove of the determined soul"? Josh sent it to me first in the middle of a rap.....just wondering. Got some new investigators this week and I hope they'll go well. Elder Matthews term as assistant should be up after this transfer and I'm the next in line age wise to leave Kosrae which is why i feel like I might go. but as a whole, all is well.

	Baptized	Confirmed	With Baptismal Date	Attended Sacrament Meeting	Lessons with a Member Present	Other Lessons Taught	Progressing Investigators	Referrals Received	Referrals Contacted	New Investigators	Lessons to RC/LA	Investigators @ Baptism
Utwe
Total	0	0	1	2	11	2	1	15	5	11	1	0
This Week's Goals	0	0	4	4	11	2	4	10	5	5	5	0
Next Week's Goals

							As you can see, this was a much better week, and it is only going to go up from here.  Its going to be a great week. Love you all

Ants=Protein

Braydon didn't write anything for a blog, just a personal email.  He finally answered a lot of my questions that I had been asking.  He was sad that both BYU and Carolina had lost in the tournament, and wished the Welcome boys and girls good luck on the Bball tournament to come.  He said that I could post my own report on his letter, but I am just including part of it.  I sent him 2 large boxes today, and hope that he enjoys the protein bars I sent him better than the ants.  hehe

Elder andrew and I are doing well and I hope I dont leave Kosrae this next week, but a part of me does. WE are in such a rut right now and its really starting to grind. I also have ate nothing but ramen and rice for the past couple of weeks. and one of those hams grandma and grandpa sent. The island is parctically out of anything fresh and the dried stuff is so outdated. My ramen bowl had mold the otherday, and one had ants in it. but i ate the one with ants, they quickly died and added protein. But this place sure is beautiful. by the way I cant fit in one of my belts, and i can barely fit into other one. they are 32's i think and are too big. And I need toothpaste as well. As far as the weight thing, I've picked up size and weight on my upper body and dropping waist sizes. this salty food cant be a good diet. and just to let you guys know ahead of time. Arigatos will not be my first choice for a while after i get back. I hope you guys are doing well. I guess no blog entry for this week but I kinda wanted to give you guys a nice letter. I guess you can post your own commentative report on the week if you want but Im out of time. My scripture of the week is Moroni 9:6 and my scriptures of the transfer are Mosiah 4:27, and Alma 46:17.......what if?

 

I love you guys and youre in my prayers daily. Kampare sucu luhk, Nga luhngse komtacl!

-Elder Lapeyrouse............

Milk it does a body Good!!

 I hate spending all of p-day on a plane but I'm finally back on Kosrae. No Box yet. Guam was so awesome. Basically in training all day straight for 4 days and a service project after the end of day 4. Butt the lunches we had were amazing. And you should look up the recipe for Hawaiian haystacks or whatever they are called.I also hit up taco bell this past week. we ordered for about 10 people in one car and loaded up. The stores on Guam are nice and I finally had milk that I could drink straight. I learned a lot of good stuff this past week and got to tract around Guam and contact some of the Guam elders' Kosraean referrals. I sat in a pew at church and it felt weird to have a pianist and everything. When we got the tsunami alert we were close to the office and so we had to go and call all the zones. President Dowdle locked down the mission and we stayed at the institute building for a long while and played ping pong. Then we went home and went to bed. We barely got any news coverage but the tsunami threat was pathetic for pretty much anywhere but japan. There were some big waves on Guam but it really just affected the beach side of things and some of the resorts. Small clean up job. Meeting a bunch of new elders was really fun and I like a lot of them. I also got to see Valinotti! We were at the service project and I was getting a doughnut from some members and when they moved he was like "I know you're not going to ignore me" It was sweet, and he's doing well. I didn't get to see Butler. But from what I hear he can spit Chuukese and is just tearing it up. I can't wait to see him again. This past week has really made me appreciate the kind of elders in this mission. Chilling with Phillipinos, New Zealanders, Hawaiians, and just some of the coolest Americans you could meet is just awesome. I got a few more brothers this week.  It was nice to get some quality time with President and he's just the man. I really don't know what else to say, Ive got to get everything sorted here again and I'm really hungry. I love you all and I hope you are doing well. It was nice to hear news from home. And man I've got a lot of letters to write. Sorry to those of you I have'nt gotten back to.

 -Elder Lapeyrouse 

These crocs are made for walking.....

 Sunrise on Kosrae

 Yum coconut milk!

"Lets burn a hole so we can climb out, of these paper walls and this empty house."

not sure why that is my song for this week, but its been in my head a few times over this past week.

So I want to start out by saying that walking over 6 miles a day has brought me back to my hiking days and all the good times I had with Aaron and Erick on them. Especially the night Aaron and I tried Grayson at night and wandered around aimlessly for 4 hours singing primary songs to keep the wolf pack away. Good times. I got the package from the young women,  loved it...can I have Sister Hipps address? But I will give a thank you on here anyway. Thank You Young Women!!   This past week, I have never sweat so much in my life. This crystle blue water has never looked more inviting. Anyway, I've really enjoyed this past week, Before I had felt like I was getting nothing but a cold shoulder from this area. I didn't know anyone. Like we were seperated by a "paper wall" if you will. Something meaningless like misunderstanding and fear. We've just been able to talk to everyone we passed this week and help them out if they needed help. Now when we walk, the kids walk with us, and the adults wave to us. Some call us over to talk to them and on a few occasions, we've been approached by two guys that tell us that if we ever need anything, talk to them.  some are wanting to know a little bit about what were all about. I've seen this area come alive and My skills in the language have grown immensely. The only down side is that I've noticed that I am thinking too much with my head now instead of feeling with my heart.

Elder Andrew is awesome. He's just as outgoing as I am and Is like a big kid.  He is sarcastic, and you can't say anything that will offend him. He's truely fearless and I'm learning a lot from him. I'm going to like this companionship a lot. But... he loves spam. ugh And I have written in my handbook that spam is not for the belly, nor for the body, and is not for the good of man. (Masap luhn Kosrae: rule 2) ha, wow we are way too isolated out here. but its all good. These friendships I've made with Elder Madsen and Elder Sturm will last way beyond the mission. I probably won't see much of Elder Andrew though since he is from Papua New Guinea ,but all is well here on kosrae. We are in a rather large slump since christmas but that just means there is a great harvest coming. take care, I love you all!

-Elder Lapeyrouse

Follow the Leader

A couple of post ago, Braydon wrote about an incident where a crab got loose in the car.  We just received the SD card in the mail this week. I love hearing him laugh!!



"Just ask him how he made it, he'll tell you Faith & Sweat"

 

So about 5 days ago we lost another one of our tires. This makes the third since I've been here. DESTROYED!. We had just replaced two with tires from Guam. So we put the spare on and went on. Elder Madsen called guam. Well two days ago our spare gave out. It's so worn down from the weeks we were on it from last time and its worn through now in some places. As I was checking it out the other day when it died, I noticed the almost worn away sentence that said "Tempory Use Only" printed on the side. I had to smile at the irony. But after some scrambling and some help from Elder Madsen and Elder Sturm we finally got the car back to our house. And there it resides...on a cylinder block because size 15 tires are near impossible to find on Kosrae anyway and it just so happens they are fresh out. The Earliest Guam could get us Some new ones is Probably the first week end in march.  so until then...we walk. the past couple of days Elder Andrew and I have walked over 6 miles a day and have barely been able to cover our area. Figures we live in the spread out area where 4 of those miles practically no one lives in. Just the lonely road, the Jungle, the ocean, and the Sun. So Yesterday I put on this tie that I traded Elder Andrew one of mine for. As I was putting it on I noticed some writting on the back from Elder Matthews who had originally owned the tie. "Fasr Kampare". So the translation of fasr kampare is "Walk on" go forward, endure, Be strong. you get the jist. I have one tie that has been through quite a few elders and has Chuukese and Yapese written on the back of it. I'll probably add some Kosraean to it if I ever pass it on. But any ways, everything is good. Elder Andrew and I played a game similar to follow the leader while we walked the other day with a bunch of little kids. We started with three and we ended up with like 15. It was really fun and I got some videos of it. Other than that everything is good. Just fasr kampare for me. I love you guys, hope you're doing well. Oh I get to go to Guam the second week in March for a big leadership training.  I will be gone from that tuesday until the next monday.  Oh, I need to send a shout out and a congratulations to Stephanie Remington and give her my best wishes on the marriage. God bless.

 

Gianluca is in a walking area I believe. Man I feel for him. I love being able to walk now. Get some exercise, work on the tan, talk to more people, but its still hot, and dress shoes are not made for walking. Kampare ma wiuhk.

 

So I figured after last night that I could really use some IcyHot. Can't believe I didn't bring any. So nunak muhnahs, could I get you guys to send me some. As well as Yours and Kylee's sizes for like skirts or something. There is a member that wants to make you guys skirts and I told here I would ask you. So I guess like waist size or mainly just leg height. I dont know what to call it but from like the floor to the waist measurement.

 

So hows everything at home? School for the chillin's, and work as well. Hows the ward doing? Keep working hard and I love ya,

Elder Lapeyrouse

Just Keep Swimming

---

"You've gotta swim. And swim for your life. Swim for the music that saves you when you're not so sure you'll survive. you've gotta swim, and swim when it hurts."

 

Figured I'd drop a little Jack's Mannequin in there. So this week being essentially on my own has been a whole different world. I've just been wiped out every night. With a new companion who doesn't know the language you basically shoulder everything. Elder Rufus did it, Elder Madsen did it and now I guess its my turn. Plus this very has beena very unproductive week. Everyone claims to be busy and nothing seemed to go right. But its okay, there was one night I was feeling overwhelemed but the 4Ordained cd is really awesome. Anyways I want to share a story

 

Yesterday in Priesthood, oh man, so here it goes. Its currently 45 minutes past the time church was supposed to let out. Were sitting in this little room probably as big as the school of the prophets around one of those tables that you find under the stage of the church. So Ronny is asleep leaning against the door. PahPah Kur is just out, slouched over in his chair, the Branch President is watching Ben 10: Alien Force with the primary in the other room. Elder Andrew has his head resting on his fist intently listening. Camrun Innok next to me is seconds from falling out of his chair because he's dozing off so far forward. I've got my elbow on the table and my left hand supporting and covering half my face. It's like 105 degrees in the room and Yulsin is just sitting in the corner going on and on teaching in Kosraean about some verse that says "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath." The air is heavy and I'm just thinking, you have got to be kidding me. When suddenly out of nowhere Yulsin askes: "Elder Lapeyrouse, could you please explain Afternoon Delight to me?" I cracked the biggest smile ever as my mind flooded with "Sky rockets in flight..." and images of Will Ferrell singing in a field. I'm trying really hard not to laugh and I look up and Elder Andrew is looking at me like hes got this answer hes just gotta get out but wants my approval to speak. I nodded as he says "reading scriptures after church." I just layed my head on the table and laughed silently to myself as Yulsin sastified with the answer, continued. The lesson went on for another 10 or so minutes but it was alright, that made my day.  I hope the Anchorman fans enjoy this. Nicholls would probably have a riot if he read this. Jayson too. Good times on Kosrae. Ill leave you guys with the line that got me through the week.

 

"the adversary trembles, when he hears the call, of the savior's chosen warriors defending truth for all...So fight on, spiritual soldiers that march boldly onward. Onward to victory. Firm and undaunted, in God we have trusted. Fighting with love, honor, and charity."

 

that and Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them."

 

Love you all,

Elder Lapeyrouse