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
