Graduation at OWHA Christian School

Graduates Marching in

Graduates being seated

Graduating Class of OWAH,  2012

We were invited to a high school graduation at the OWHA Christian School.  That is the school who received all the sewing machines and fishing gear from the church.  When we arrived, we were ushered to the front to reserved seats, we actually sat in what would be like the Governor's box.  We sat with the Governor and his wife the Lt. Governor and his wife, the 1st councilor in the District Presidency, and then there was us.  It was really neat.  There were 35 students in the Graduating class and they have a tradition where each student had made a pre-recorded video to all the people he or she was grateful to for helping them to get to this point in there life.  then as the Video played, the student handed out Flower Lays to all the people he or she mentioned in there video.  It was really touching, to see all these kids crying as they gave the Lays to there parents, family members, teachers and friends who they were grateful too.  Then when the ceremony was over, we were ushered out with the dignitaries to go through a reception line to tell all the Graduates congratulations, we were sure glad Pres. Kalio was there, so we could watch him and know what to do.

What does God think of you?

Tonight, I had the opportunity of going with Elder Haas and Elder Pierson and Elder LeFevre (of course) and Bro. Jim, we went to teach a family in Palikir, They have been taught all the lessons and I think they know the church is true, but they hesitate at being baptized because they are both Catholic and they are afraid of what their families will think and they are worried about what their friends will think if they join the church. they also have concerns with the lifestyle change that comes with joining the church.  We visited and I felt impressed to tell a story from my youth.  Dad, I don't know if you will remember this, but I have never forgotten an important life lesson.  I was about 18 and some things happened with some friends I had, they wanted me to do some things, that I knew was not right, I knew if I went along, that I would not be doing what the Lord wanted me to do, but if I didn't I would be made fun of, and my friends would probably not like me very well.  Well, I did the right thing and sure enough I was made fun of, and my friends all the sudden didn't want to be my friends any more. I remember I was sitting in my room one night and Dad came in. He knew what had happened and he gave me some advice I have never forgotten. He said " Melanie, you did the right thing, I know right now it does not feel so right, but it is and one day you will stand before God and answer for all the choices you make on this earth, He will be pleased with the choice you just made." then he went on to say " When all is said and done there is really only one opinion that matters, that is Gods, what your so called friends think of you doesn't matter. What anyone on this earth thinks of you does not matter, what matters is What does God think of you?, for the rest of your life you are going to have to make hard decisions, many that will not be popular with the world, when you have to make a choice just ask yourself this question "What will God think of me?" and  make your choice by the answer you get to that question. because really, what He thinks is all that matters." I bore my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel to this family and I said, I guess now you have a question to ask yourself, "What will God think of the choice you make",
     Whatever you do with the choices in this life, whether it is keeping the Sabbath day Holy, Dressing modestly, being in good environments,etc, I have found that if I will ask my self that question "What will God think of me" My choice is easy, because one day I will go Home, and I hope when that time comes He will say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"

These are a few of my favorite things,,,,,,,,,

playing baseball with the kids in UH, using a stick for a bat

Marlene and her brother Jack, he says he might get baptized while she is on her mission

The beautiful, colorful rubber trees on the way to Nett

The road to Nett

Amazing Missionaries ( Elder Donakey and Elder Loveless)

Elders Hass, Tadd, Donakey, and Loveless

Sam's baby turkeys ( when they are big enough he is going to give them away)

Larry Fredrich

 We met a young man, or I should say we met his father after we had been here about 1 month.  Today, that young man was baptized by Elder LeFevre.  Here is his story.

Elder Donakey,     , Larry, Elder LeFevre

e

Larry and Elder LeFevre

Elder Crapo( one of Larry's Missionaries), Larry, Elder LeFevre

Elder Donakey, Larry, Elder Loveless

     Larry met the missionaries about 1 year ago, he took all of the lessons and wanted to be baptized, but his father would not sign the papers giving permission. You see Larry was only 14 years old, the same age as Joseph Smith when he went into that Grove which is Sacred and ask God which church to join. Well Larry had some of the same questions Joseph did and he got all his answers from 2 young missionaries.  Well as the year progressed, he continued to ask his father to please let him get baptized and each time his father said NO.  Every set of missionaries who worked with Larry also ask his father if Larry could get baptized, each time his father said NO. Enter Elder and Sister LeFevre.  We were new to the Island and missionary work, but the Elders ask us if we would come and talk to Larry's father. So we went, we had been told the history of Larry and so we went in not knowing what to expect, but as we visited with Larry's Father, we felt prompted to ask him what his concerns were with Larry getting baptized. He opened up and told all of his concerns, each one was a valid concern, so we addressed each one.  Well we have been visiting with Dusty (Larry's Dad) for about 4 months now and we have really learned to love Dusty and his whole family. this last week, Dusty finally gave permission for Larry to be baptized.  Larry and Dusty ask Elder LeFevre to baptize Larry, so tonight Larry finally entered the waters of baptism and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  As he came up out of the water, he said "I feel different, really happy". On Sunday, Larry will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was a wonderful experience, and as Larry bore his testimony, the spirit bore witness to me, once again of the truthfulness of this Gospel.  It was a great day.

Tender Mercies from the Lord

 A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to teach the First Vision to an investigator, I taught it in Pohnpein, two amazing Elders named Elder Pierson and Elder Madill, ask me to teach it, and they had it written down for me on a card in Pohnpein, that was a tender mercy from the Lord, because even though I read it for the most part, the Spirit once again bore witness to me of the Truthfulness of the First Vision, as I read it to Jasleen and bore my testimony of it, all in her language.
     More tender mercies from the Lord that I have noticed,  Bear Creek Potato Soup, sent from my wonderful children, after a long day, eaten in darkness late at night. An Apron,(sent from another wonder child) to protect our clothes as we cook (when we have time to cook), A jar of Miracle whip, we almost cried when we opened that box and saw what was inside,  Heath Toffee bits, used to make a sweet treat for the Elders and Sisters and members (Thanks so much kids) Jello, it taste so good, it is cool and refreshing, Hostess Snowballs and Fruit Pies, a Christmas Tree from a dear friend who is leaving the Island,clothes for many who need them donated from that same dear friend and Elders who are leaving to go home and know the people here need their clothes more then they need to take them home. Fresh cheese and a roast to share from Janice, freshly caught Fish from Sam, Pictures and Dvd's of our Grandchildren from home (they may make us cry, but we look at them a lot)
     But the best tender mercy from my Father in Heaven,  just being here and telling these wonderful people about His Son, My Savior, Jesus Christ, and feeling the Spirit tell me so strongly that it is all true. Is It worth it, absolutely YES.

Mothers Day for Missionaries

   Had the best mothers possible.  Since I am not home with my children and grandchildren, we decided to try to help 3 mothers here to have the best mothers day ever.  We have 3 families here on the Island that have children on missions in the States.  Because they do not have phones, electricity, and certainly not computers, we offered to make all the arraignments for them to skype with their children on Mothers day, something they have done the whole time their children have been gone. They have never received even a phone call on Christmas.  So with a lot of prayers and work, we got all the missionaries contacted and had them make arrangements on their end to skype with their families and on our end we made arrangements to get all the families to the church where we can get the Internet, so they could skype with their missionaries.
  First was the Kalio family, they have a daughter on a mission in Wyoming, we had some problems getting the connection to work and after 30 minutes past the time we were suppose to have called, we finally said a prayer and ask for help,  within 3 minutes of saying Amen, the computer connection worked. They got to visit with their daughter for 1 1/2 hours.
   Then came the Elowise family..they had car problems, and after being more then an hour late, we finally made the connection for them with their son, who is serving in the Ogden Utah Mission..He comes home in about 1 month, but he won't be coming home to Pohnpei, he will be going to North Carolina, to live with an Uncle so he can have the opportunity to go to school. this is the first time his family has seen him since he left almost 2 years ago and they won't see him again for a very long time.
    Then the Makaya Family, now you might remember us mentioning a young man in the MTC in Provo who was from Pohnpei, he helped us in the MTC. Well he is now serving in the San Francisco Mission, and be cause his family did not have any way to talk to him at Christmas, this is the first time for their family also to talk to him.

The Kalio family, waiting for the computer

The connection comes through

The Elowise family

The Makaya family

Elder Bourne talking to his "MUM"  he is from New Zealand

Sis. Salaiau, talking to her mother in Papa New Guinea,
 her family doesn't have access to a  computer, so she got
to make a phone call

Elder Makaya and Elder Elowise friends

Sis Varea, she got to skype with her family on Monday from our apartment

Happy Sis. Salaiau

     Words cannot express the feeling when those mothers saw their sons and daughter on the computer, Elder Lefevre and I were both crying with them. they were so happy. We told them we would make sure and help them again next Christmas, when their kids are allowed to call again.
     Monday was spent with Elders and Sisters coming to our apartment and skypeing with their families from their.
      Our daughter Carrie and her family called early Sunday morning and our son James and his family called later on Sunday, before we headed to the church.  I was able to talk to Ben's family today and I hope to still be able to connect with Jeffrey, Janelle and Lydia
  All together it was a great Mothers day.

Pres. Dalmer Released

Elder Dalmer has been serving as the Branch President for the Mand branch, and Sunday he was released and a new branch President was called and sustained.  Elder Dalmer has done an amazing job, it has been hard to serve as branch Pres. and do Missionary work. We have had several Missionaries that have been called upon to do this.  Elder Tadd and Elder Dalmer are the ones that I know of.

Ginger & Willard and their Daughter
Married March 13, 2012 by
Pres./Elder Dalmer

Pres./Elder Dalmer with Ginger & Willard

Elder Dalmer with Sanisher & Johny
Married  April 7, 2012

Pres./Elder Dalmer with
Francisco & Miaina
Married  April 19, 2012

   While serving as branch Pres. Elder Dalmer performed 3 marriages, pretty impressive for a 19 year young man.  He wanted me to post those pictures for his family and all of you to see.  All of the people he married, got baptized. It was really neat to see them progress.