Livin' the Missionary Life - Micronesia Guam Mission

Thursday, March 20, 2014

One more post, Finally a Stake for Pohnpei

On Sunday, March 16, 2014 the Pohnpei District, became the Pohnpei Stake.

What a wonderful, sweet blessing for the People of Pohnpei. They have prayer so long, and worked right along side the missionaries, teaching their neighbors and friends, visiting those that have stopped coming to church. Helping boost each others Faith, and their prayers have been answered.
I am so grateful for this sweet blessing from the Lord for the people of Pohnpei. I am so grateful for all the missionaries that have served on Pohnpei for the last 30 + years, that Micronesia was opened for missionary work. I am so grateful for the members who never lost hope or faith. I am so grateful for the wonderful, life changing 2 years we were blessed to be a minuscule part of it. We have been greatly blessed for our 2 years there.
While the Stake was created in Pohnpei, we were blessed to be able to get a live feed from Pohnpei and watched the whole thing. The spirit was strong.
So grateful to the Lord.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A Final Post Script

We have been home from our Mission for 3 months, in just a few days.
I don't imagine anyone will even read this post, except for us.
We will continue to serve the people of Pohnpei, as we pick up Missionaries that are still coming, work on a committee to further more missionaries from Developing countries to be able to go on mission. and keep in touch with many through the miracle of computers and Facebook and e-mails.
I wanted to put down some final thoughts about our mission. I have had some time to ponder on the last 2 years, as we have been to, it seems a million Doctors. I have breast cancer, there I said it, it is not going away for a while. I knew there was a problem when we were still on our mission, but I knew if we stayed and finished what we were sent to do, the Lord would bless me and HE has. I am going to start another blog, so I can write some of the things we are learning through this new experience, but that is not what I want to write about now.
As I have pondered the many miracles, and amazing experiences we had on Pohnpei, and also pondered what the next year holds for us, I have decided I am profoundly grateful for so many things.
My Savior, Jesus Christ, HE is my rock, HE is my Shepard, I love HIM for giving HIS life for me. I can never repay what HE has done, so I must do my best to teach others about HIM.
My dear Father in Heaven, I am so grateful, HE sent HIS son, as a parent, I can only slightly imagine what our Heavenly Father suffered as HE watch HIS son, suffer for all of us.
The HOLY GHOST, I know I am NEVER alone. Even at some hard times and low points, I KNOW, I am NEVER alone. I have felt HIS comforting power. I Know HE lives.
My sweet husband, who has always taken such good care of me and loved me. I am so grateful He honors his priesthood and is worthy to give me Priesthood blessings, and never gives me a hard time when I ask for one.
I am profoundly grateful for the last 2 years we have spent on a beautiful Island in Micronesia, Pohnpei will always have my heart. I am so grateful this illness did not come before we went, or we would never have been sent to Pohnpei, and I would not trade our 2 years there serving the Lord for all the health in the world.
We may not get to go again, so I am so grateful, we went when we could.
I am grateful for my amazing family, what a great support they have been, what a great support they are now.I understand why Families are the one unit that exists in Heaven.
I am grateful for my family on Pohnpei, you taught me so much, some things were harder lessons then others, but through it all, we always knew you loved us, and we will ALWAYS love you. Maybe one day we will be able to come back, but if not, I know we will meet again on the other side, and we will have a joyous reunion.
In closing, words from one of my favorite Psalms, it has come to mean even more in the last few weeks.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPARD, I SHALL NOT WANT
I will be grateful forever for the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessing of serving a mission with my sweet, eternal, companion.

Monday, December 16, 2013

We may have been released but...............

We have been home 2 weeks, we are still adjusting, but we got to go to the Airport today and welcome Elder Kenio Joel to Utah. Tomorrow he reports to the MTC in Provo, but today it was WONDERFUL to see a face we love from Pohnpei. We may have been released, but the work goes on.
Welcome to Utah, our home, Elder Joel

Michael Ongesil and Carter, waiting for Elder Joel to arrive,
Michael is Kenio's cousin

Waiting for Elder Joel

There he is

Tired, but happy to be here

Michael, Carter, Eldre Joel, Brady Dunn( former missionary)

Alan LeFevre and Elder Joel

So good to see him here

It is freezing, get that missionary a coat

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

The Airport

We were very glad we had MJ & Wilson leaving on their missions at the same time we left. It helped get a lot of the attention off of us.
Goodbyes are hard, especially when you don't know when you will see the people you love so much again. But, we are determined to save our money and come back to visit in about 4 to 5 years, when all we missionaries that left while we were here are back. It will be good to give a hug to all the people we love again.
The Nett branch prepared 2 special songs for us that they sang at the airport, and then just as we were going through the doors to security, everyone sang "God be with you til we meet again". I think there were about 200 people their to say goodbye. It was hard. We love all these amazing people. We will be back one day.

Pictures of some of the faces we love so much, we could not put all the pictures on
the blog, so here are just a few

Wilson getting ready to go with us

Sweet Karen Simon, our contact at the College of Micronesia,
she made it possible for us to have Institute classes on both
the National Campus and the Pohnpei Campus. It truly
was a miracle.

Julia, Jovania, BJ, and JB

Sis Saimon, Merleenes Mom, Merleen is on a mission in Australia

Williamson, Sis. Redes & Sis Agrippa

There were so many people, I can't name all of them. It was standing room only

Then the plane passed over the Island because of storms, so we all hung around until Midnight, when United sent a rescue plane. After 40 + hours in the air and on the ground we are finally home. What a sweet reunion.

Trying to sneak away did not work...........................

Mand Branch

Sweet Sis Peters, I love this lady

A quick game of "elastics" while we wait.....................

Then Musical chairs

A new headpiece for Elder LeFevre, They all gave us the most
beautiful gifts.

The Andon family singing to us

Our crazy partners in crime, love these guys, we are
already planning a trip when they get home in a year.

2 beautiful girls, Jessica & Lolain, we love them, they
are both such a strength to the branch,

Weider, an AWSOME YOUNG MAN

Elder Nanson, showing us how he can raise 1 eyebrow

Elder Gardner

We thought we would just sneak away when the time came for us to go home. We did not want a big fuss made, and we did not want these wonderful people spending what little they had on a party for us, so we have not told very many people when we leave. But, somehow word got out, and these amazing people, we love so much have been throwing us parties. They are so kind and loving, and it is there way of saying goodbye to us and one last chance for us to bear our testimonies of the Gospel and this work of Salvation.
We got pictures from parties in Palikir, Kolonia, Sapwalap, Mand, Wone/Rohi, Uh, and then our camera started having problems and erased our pictures from Nett, some of our Kitti goodbyes, and Sekerra goodbyes.
It is very hard to say goodbye..........................

The UH Branch, at the Epina's house, we have spent a lot of
FHE's here, and helped Sister Marlene Epina get ready for a mission,
She will return in March