Two New Testimonies

      I thought that I had a testimony of every aspect of the Gospel, but I have gained a testimony of 2 new things. Let me share.

       Stony Fritz and his wife just got back from the Philippines, do you want to know what they were doing there. They were finally able to go to the Temple in Manila and be sealed.
        Jack Yakana and his wife and children are going to the Temple in November, along with Marven and Juliiette Jack, Brian and Maylene Jack, The Krispen family (7 children and parents) and about 4 other families.
      Do you want to know how this miracle was and is able to happen out here, where these people have nothing. I will Tell you.
     The only way they can go is because of the "One time Temple" fund. Pres. Monson talked about it in the last conference.  These wonderful families have waited a long time to finally be able to have their Temple work done and to be able to be sealed, both as husband and wife, and to have their children sealed to them. They are so grateful for the blessing that it is finally their turn to have.
     I have a testimony of this wonderful Fund that provides for families to have one opportunity to go and have their families sealed. Without it, these families would never be able to afford to go. And to see the light in their eyes when they return. Well, there just are not words to describe it.
     Now let me tell you about another thing that I have gained a strong testimony of.
     Nayleen Kalio, Jackson Makaya, and Elder Eloisea. All wonderful young adults from our tiny Island of Pohnpei, All either serving missions or just finished.  Marleen Epina, Jennifer Mark, Roger Paulis, Melvin Joseph, Lenny, Megan, all have either recieved mission calls and are getting ready to leave in the next 2 months or are just turning in mission papers. Laven, Levaugh , LeRoy & Sandra Kalio, Jefferson Redes, Awalt, Jeffrey Gallon, All will be able to turn in mission papers in the next 6 months.
     What do they all have in common.  The General Missionary Fund of the Church.  You see, just like the Temple fund, The General Missionary fund is the only way any of these young men and young women could serve missions. They can only come up with, Maybe, $10.00 a month towards a mission, so the rest of their mission is paid for from the General Missionary Fund of the Church. And unfortunately, their parents will never have the opportunity to go as a Sr. Couple, because their is no fund for that. So they send their children to serve the Lord and they give the Lord all they have, both in service themselves and in money, just so their children can go and give the Lord their all.
      So next time you get a tithing slip, and you maybe have a little extra money, donate it to the Temple Patron Fund ( for the one time visit for those that can't go other wise) or give it to the General Missionary Fund of the Church. Or better yet, divide it up and give a little to both.
      I see both of these funds in action out here and I now have a testimony of both of them. They do so much good and bring so much JOY to all of Gods children. Without this money, their would be no hope out here for future missionaries and families to be sealed for the eternities.

Uh Branch Baptisms

Elder Haas, Leoloni, Elder Madill, Triska ,Elder Carlson & Luka

The Elders with all the baptismal kids and Ivolani; s family.
The 2 little girls are Ivolani's little sisters, Luke is her cousin

Arriving at the River

Luke going in the river to be baptized

Elder Carlson and Luka

Elder Haas and Leoloni

Elder Madill and   Triska

walking back to the Church

Pres. Ladora, the UH Branch President

      Today we had 3 baptisms in the Uh branch, all 3 were done in the River that is close by the Uh Chapel, because they do not have a Baptismal Font and it is just really cool to do Baptisms in the River.  After, the Uh branch had a party for Elder Carlson & Elder Haas, they are both going home next week.  It was a great day.

Moving On

       Tonight we went to the Airport to see one of our young adults leave the Island. Marla Ongesal, is moving to Guam and when she is done with the University of Guam, she will be moving to Hawaii to finish school.
         When most young adults leave the Island, especially after missions, they know they may never return, because there is really no future here for them, if they want a better life then their parents.  Marla is a returned missionary, she has been home about 1 year and finished all the schooling she could at the College of Micronesia, so it is now time for her to move off the Island to further her schooling. She knows she may never come home again, so it was a very bitter-sweet goodbye, for us, but especially for her parents.
         As we helped unload the car, and get her luggage checked in, I had a chance to talk to her Mom and Dad for a few minutes and mentioned what an amazing women Marla is, and what a great job they had done as her parents. That they had prepared her all her life for this moment, when she must leave and move forward with her life.
        As we talked, Pres. Ongesal made the comment that he and Sis. Ongesal had been asking themselves if they were doing the right thing, letting her go, he said they knew they were, but it still made it hard, because they also know this may be the last time they see her for a long time, if not for the rest of this life. They do not have the money to visit her where ever she is, and she does not have the money to return home and visit them. Many times these young men and women even get married without their parents ever meeting their spouse's or seeing their child get married.
      As we talked we decided it is probably a lot like when our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother sent us off to earth, They probably wondered if they were doing the right thing and worried about us also ,as they sent us off to earth.  They knew they had prepared us the best they could and they knew it was the best thing for us, but I can't help but think, it is still hard for them each time they send one of us off, knowing some may never come home again.
      I decided, it takes a lot more love to let go, knowing that by letting go, we are doing the best thing for our children. Just like our Heavenly Parents did for each of us.

Elder LeFevre, Marla, Sis. LeFevre

      So a happy/sad farewell to an amazing women, God Be With You Til We Meet Again.

Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it Holy.............Even when you are on vacation........

        So I heard an interesting thought from our District Pres. He said " The Lord doesn't take a vacation from listening to and answering our prayers".  It made me think.
      It was said, in jest, because someone forgot to come to a meeting, because they were on vacation. So, he made the comment, " Well, remind them that the Lord doesn't take a vacation from listening to their prayers"
        I thought a lot about that, and he is exactly right.  All those times, when maybe we don't fulfill our callings so well, or we are on vacation, so we don't go to church, or  maybe do things that really don't keep the Sabbath day Holy. Or we complain and murmur about things. HE never does that. HE always listens when we pray and always answers our prayer, maybe not always the way we think HE should, but HE does always answer. HE never goes on vacation from us.
           So next time I am someplace that it would be easy to forget the Sabbath Day is HIS day, I am just going to remind my self. HE NEVER TAKES A VACATION FROM LISTENING TO AND ANSWERING MY PRAYERS.


        I hope HE never does.  Mosiah 11: 24 - 25

Patrick

     The End to any day, that makes it perfect.  Baptisms

After our activity, we hurried home so we could attend one of the 6 baptism on the Island. (We had 8 baptisms in one night 2 weeks ago)
    Patrick, is a young man, 21 I believe, He has wanted to get baptized for a long time now, but always waited, because his family is against it.
Well  Patrick decided that this week, he was getting baptized anyway. So He was baptized last night.
    He decided he will not tell his family yet, he will just let them watch the change in him and then when they ask, he will tell them he was baptized.
   He has such a strong testimony, and he said , even if they kick me out, It is worth it, because I know it is true.

Elder Eyre, Patrick, & Elder Stewart

   I have no doubt, he will bring many of his own family into the church, just by the example he sets.

Sick or Not, The work must go on ...............

       Well, when you are in the Lord's service, the work goes on, even when you are sick.
     Yesterday was our big Young Adult/ Institute Activity. We decided to have the Theme be obstacles in our lives. So after an opening prayer we were off and running, literally.  We played a game called "Obstacle Course Kick Ball" and it was a blast. We set up the game like regular Kick Ball and then we made it interesting. Between home plate and first base, the obstacle was a table you had to duck and crawl under. Between 1st base and 2nd base, you had to hop half way in a gunny sack, then loose the sack and run the rest of the way.  between 2nd and 3rd base was the "banana leaf Zig-Zag" you had to zig-zag between all the banana leafs.  Between 3rd base and home plate was the "Slip and Slide".
      Out here, this was the first time any of them had seen a slip and slide. We made it from a huge tarp, laid out on the ground, with water and dish soap on it (the dish soap makes it more slippery). and the game was on. We had a blast. All the young adults loved it, especially the slip and slide.
     then when the kick ball game was over, we went in to cool off a little while we played "obstacle course Duck, Duck Goose". Now just use your imagination. Around the outside of the circle were chairs you had to jump over and tables you either had to crawl under, or shimmy on your tummy under to get through, all  while being chased and the chaser had to go through the same obstacles. It was hilarious.
    After both games, we started volleyball, and ping pong games. The Young Adults played and mingled while we fixed Root Beer Floats for dessert.( It was a miracle, only 1 store had any ice cream left on the whole island and I had to go to about 5 stores to find any root beer.)
    While eating our Root Beer Floats, we all sat down and talked about the obstacles in our own lives, that get in the middle of each of our "straight and narrow" paths. We talked about how we can get through the obstacle in our lives and stay true to the gospel and our baptismal covenants.
    It was a great day, but boy are we tired. We could not have done it without a lot of help from the Lord. With both of us being sick all week, we prayed hard and ask Heavenly Father to please just give us the energy and strength to do His work. He sent help in the form of a young adult named Jeffrey Gallon, and Elder and Sister Kjar, and Elder Vincent. ( Sister Vincent was home sick with the same thing we have). And when it came time to clean-up. all the wonderful young adults helped.

Team Ready? Let's play ball

Our First Slip and Slider

What, no one will kick it my way

Sliding is easier on my butt

Or all 4 's

Not sure about that whole water obstacle

Jeffrey, our helper

Megan, what kind of base is this?

Nothing changes, the girls still check out the guys, and the
guys are oblivious.

What would we do without amazing Sis. Kjar

Duck, Duck Goose, Notice our 2 man table holders.

Ping Pong anyone?

Our Church made Ping Pong table.

     I am so grateful to know that the Lord answers our prayers and helps us to accomplice, what we think we can't.