BYU language credits whoo hooo

So I really don't know what to write in this letter. I think last week I promised that I would lay down the house with some cool scriptures that I had studied during the week but I forgot my scriptures. So maybe next week. I can't believe this transfer is almost over and that soon I will be starting my 4th transfer in the field. Over this past couple of weeks we have been really striving to teach differently. And by truely doing as the lord says. Somewhere in D&C section 50 the Lord asks "To what were ye ordained?" and then says "To preach this gospel by the Spirit" and also in D&C 84:85 "Neither take ye thought beforehand ^awhat ye shall say; but^btreasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be ^cgiven you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man". I hope I got that right. Tried to do it from memory. But we've really tried relying on our impressions lately which is rather difficult because our knowledge of this language is rather limited. But none the less since we have been trying that we've put 3 new people on baptisimal dates (2 being in the first time we had a lesson with them and they were lessons that weren't planned) and our lessons with current investigators have gone so much better. Speaking of this language, I finished my mastery packet last night and I am mailing it in today. When President Dowdle signs it I will be a certified "Kosraean Language Master." That doesn't really mean much but I do get a semesters worth of language credits at BYU for it.  So I think I'm actually done with my language requirements now. So give me the heads up on what is happening at home or at least in the states. I saw that the tv was set to CNN as I walked in and it looks that there was opposition against the US in Egypt. How is school going? Hows work? How is the extended family? How are the Heels holdin up? Just anything. Sorry this letter is rather uninformative. Just not much has really gone on. The weeks are really starting to fly by. And I'm told the second year goes even faster. I sent a  camera card home, and soon will send another one. We've been getting up at 6 lately and walking across the street to the beach and playing catch while watching the sunrise. Got some cool pictures too. I guess you guys will just have to wait. But that pretty much sums it up here. I hope all is well. I want to leave with a scripture out of Luke chapter 9 verse 62. something like "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the^aplough, and ^blooking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." I got it from the movie about John Tanner on the D&C resource dvd. which also has Joseph smith:Prophet of the restoration. But we are here to work, And work is what we must do. Love yall much. Nga luhngse komtacl!

-Elder Lapeyrouse

We are Family

"and a yoo-hoo bottle on the floorboard"

My song quote today comes from "summertime" by Kenny Chesney. Mainly because he's been on my mind a good part of the week. I would like to thank those for writting to me. Adam, it's good to hear from ya. Thanks for the update, Dont run Michael over with your 18-wheeler (till I can watch) and hit me up with that logo. Jayson, Glad ya made it to England, try some fish n chips for me.

So a week on Kosrae with Elder Sturm. With Elder Madsen on Pohnpei for a week and my companion still not allowed to enter the FSM, it was just us two on this island for the whole week. Well I guess the senior couple is here. So anyway, the week wasn't bad. I kind of enjoyed it. I guess I should finish explaining what I was starting. So the Kenny trip. It was all brought about by page 1 of PMG. The fact that everyone around us is our brother and sister. Our beloved siblings that we have the opportunity to spend eternity with. Hence we share the gospel. To show people the joy that comes from knowing that God is our loving Eternal Father. The relief and comfort from his Spirit as well as the joy. The saving Grace of our brothers Atonement that made it possible for us to overcome Spiritual Death and the wonder of his crucifixion death, and return to life that makes it possible for us to overcome physical death. All so we can be one big happy family. Thats why families are so important. To have close relationships you can reach out to. To have support when times get tough. To have joy when you sit there and do nothing more than enjoy your time together. The Family is a median where we can feel our Fathers love and charity and that we can share that love and charity with others. The family unit is most often the source of our GREATEST joy here on Earth. I was thinking about the story where the progidal son returns home, and about when Joseph Smith said that the worth of every soul is great in the sight of God. We are all his family. He loves us. And many of his Children have turned away, or are simply misguided or lost. We have to help them recieve the saving ordinances to get them back with the father. I was just thinking of all the joy I got from my own family and how excited I am to one day have a family of my own. And somewhere along the way I thought of "The Good Stuff" by Kenny Chesney. And that just set the stage. Then the Guitar intro for "I go Back" kicked up and I was sold. I just love country so much. Country keeps it real and just plays off the heart strings of the freely living soul.  I dont know, this week I just really gained a testimony of family and good friends. I'll hit you guys up with some good spriptures next week. love you all!

Como Estas

hola! como estas? wait, thats not right. Tu Wo mwet nuh kewa! Komtacl Fuhkah?

 

So Not much has happened this week except for craziness! We got transfer calls on Wed. Apparently I'm training now in Utwe. A 25 year old from P.N.G. (Papua New Guinea) In other words, he's really dark, probably super buff, and PNG is only place in the world that still practices cannabalism! This is going to be interesting. I also barely have reached the point where I can fathom one day getting a grip on this language. Anyway though, I have some comforting scriptures like mosiah 4:27, 1 nephi 3:7, Alma 38:5, and Alma 26:12 that give me some comfort and some hope. I'm actually pretty excited. How many other missionaries get a companion like this. Not some scrawny kid from the states or something. Also how many missionaries get to be district leader and a trainer at the start of their third transfer. I'm way excited!

 

As for Guam, no I dont get to go. Only Zone leaders. Pohnpei for a week...that I do. That is the next week too so If i dont write on mondaythats why. I'm glad Nips is excited for his super transfer or reassignment.  The Lord has wonderous ways in getting us where we need to be. Thats a cool story and he'll do well in sacramento. He might even get to see ben. Gianluca's testimony impresses me. He's quite the guy.

 

I wanted to tell you all today to look up the mormon message "None Were With Him" by Jeffrey R Holland. Its probably my favorite and has reshaped my view of the atonement and my purpose and duty as a missionary and as a person in general. If you could find that talk and send it to me that would be awesome. You can probably find the Mormon message on youtube or mormon.org.

 

Not much else is going on. The transfer is pretty big. Its an assignment from the Lord and I'm excited for it. I'll let you all know how it goes. By the way, (hows the weather?...) It's been rainy the past few days. Surf looks good though...........one day.....one day. I will come back here once im released. Just saying.

 

lots of love. take care. take it easy.

Elder Lapeyrouse

CHEERWINE, AND WALKING IN THE RAIN

Its great to hear that everything is great back home. I'm not envious of the snow. Though I do miss snowboarding.

 

So I had over $60 of my support fund left over this month, and you have to send the extra back into the office at the end of each month. We just had two days where we didn't do shopping. Kosraeans take any day off they can so basically since Dec 23 till today, the chances of stores being open is hit and miss. We've ran out of gas twice and just ran on fumes. Last week Our truck was out...completely, and our car was on empty. We figured we had 20 or so miles before we would have to push it and so Elder Sturm and I took it to Utwe the next day for church and Elder madsen used an old bike along with a member in Lelu. When we got back, we walked. Picked up a ride on Prez. Hadley's cargo truck on the way into Tafunsak and rode in the bed the rest of the way. Which is on the far end of our area. It also might as well be hadies for us. As I've already stated. We taught a lesson and then began our walk back hoping to stop and teach along the way.  We had 3 hours anyway, and took all of it. But the funny part was that we had to walk down the road that was  in between the two protestant churches in Tafunsak. Church was still in and if you can picture three Elders walking down the middle of this dirt road in between two (very long it seemed) huge white protestant chapels as both congragations were singing their closing songs and those on the edges were ALL watching us. We laughed because it reminded us of a scene in HotRod where the characters are walking down the street to that cool 80s rock, and how as they pass everything just goes straight to heck behind them and the people start rioting and breaking windows and we just figured that would happen. They would stop singing and start throwing chairs out of the windows and going crazy. (you should watch that scene from HotRod to get this effect) Funny as it was though we knew we didn't want to be there for real when they got out so when we heard the signing stop, we booked it down a side road to a members house and touched base for a bit before countinuing our walk back. I never get tired of the oppression there. Along our way home, it starts raining. Pouring. Pwacr nuh pwacye (really fun).  but it really was. And we got back right on time. I enjoyed the time to walk it was fun. Reminded me of hiking with Aaron and Erick and just talking. Speaking of Aaron, that kid sent me a box, and didn't fill out the customs card. (go figure) so customs opened it, and I had to explain Cheerwine to them today so that I could pick it up. They thought it was actual wine. Elder Madsen was pointing to the words soft drink and the guy was pointing to the word wine. It was funny, but I got it finally. And he had put handisnacks in there. I swear that kid can hear my thoughts. I was just about to ask you to send me some of those. I hope he's doing well and I better find out where he's going when he gets that call. Anyway, I'm going to close this one up. Tell Josh to get on that Book of Mormon reading. I can't express how much I love that book right now, nor how much I am thankful for the chance to read it while set apart and in a position where I'm so open to the insights of the spirit. I never had read it all the way through before the mission but I wish now that I had. When I finished it out here it felt so awesome. Even when I reread passages they somehow stand out to me different. That I can relate it to whats currently going on. Or something I needed to hear at that point in time. It never ceases to impress me. So yeah, get him on that. he promised me.  He wont regret it and he can even email me and ask me questions if he would like. I know it will help him as he prepares and in everything in life. (and that goes for all of you guys that are reading this). I love you all. and I wish you well.

-Elder Lapeyrouse.