Week 30 - May the odds be ever in your favor

The leaves I didn't get a picture of that one time we used one as an umbrella.
They were a little bigger in Kitti though.

This week we've been getting a better handle on proselyting! Got TONS of referrals of people who are just ready to be baptized. It's just a matter of being at their house when they're there. (wow did I just use all three 'there's in one sentence?) So we can meet them and start teaching them.

So most of my mission while I've been on Pohnpei or Yap, and sometimes Guam, people are very VERY nice and so so sweet and happy to see us. BUT. This week something happened. Wednesdays are just bad days, I'm telling ya.

So we're out walking, cuz, walking area. And It's raining pretty darn hard. We basically feel as if we've jumped in a pool. I think my dress got an inch or two longer stretched out with all the water. Anywho, we have 20 minutes before one of our appointments so we decide to go friending in the bottom half of China Town. So we do. and we see this house with a couple woman sitting down so we walk down to see them. It's pretty awkward, and they don't invite us in out of the rain (VERY unusual for a Pohnpeian. Usually they yell at us to come in so we don't get wet, in a loving way). We kind of yell out to them who we are and that we wanted to come say hi (yell cuz it's raining and so it's loud). No one really says anything. It's kinda tense and awkward. So I'm just like, Imma wait for someone to say something to us. either tell us to leave, ask us something or what. Well. This man comes out from the side of the house with this knife in his hand, and he looks a little crazy. He starts walking up to us with the knife pointed at us and immediately I'm worried this contact is going to go down Chuuk style. He kind of jokingly waves the knife at us with a crooked smile and then asks us "What do you want?" (in Pohnpeian) still keeping the knife pointed at us. We said we just wanted to come see who lives in this area as we were brand new to Kolonia. I had lived in Kitti before and wanted to see who they were. Then he said ( I hadn't even talked about the church to him yet) "We have our own church." (In English). "We believe in Jesus, we have our church." And then it started raining even harder. He was all nice and smiley in his face, but he was kinda waving the knife around offensively. And his words were NOT kind. I asked if we could wait just a sec till the rain died down (everyone I've ever met makes us do that) and his response was "do you have an umbrella?" We did. So we left with a smile :) (tbh I was NOT smiling on the inside) Only a little scared for my saftey

We walk a little farther and go up to this one house that gets quiet as we walk up. Before we get to the door, a man stands in the frame. He asks if we're Mormons and I say we come from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints but some people do call us Mormon. It's a nickname. And he says "We don't believe in religion, we don't have that. Just Jesus, we only believe in Jesus, we're not even Catholic" Then the spirit told me he was Protestant. I started to say, that's awesome, we love Jesus too and I guess it's good that we're the church of Jesus then But he didn't let me finish. He started putting on his shoes and said "Lets talk over here" He walked over to the house garage thing next door and walked over to the door and knocked on it. I'm like, okay sweet, this guy is okay with talking. Then this Japanese man opens the door and the man says "Hi, these people want to walk to you" turns around, looks at us with a wicked grin and walks away. HOW CAN YOU BE SO RUDE AND CLAIM TO LOVE JESUS? People are very stupid. Lol My poor trainee!! But it was fine cuz the Japanese man was so excited to see us. He's Buddhist though.

We've also had dogs come running up at us and try to bite us every single day this week. Maybe I'll call on those guardian angels that help missionaries and such and have one of them bring Belle over to walk with us.

We have these three investigators, Chris, Lynn and Olahle. Chris's first language is English and Lynn and Olahle speak a different Pohnpeian. Mukolese or something. So we don't understand each other super great. But they're SO interested in the gospel! They read EVERYTHING we give them and they are so hungry to understand and learn more. Schow asked them to be Baptized yesterday (Yes!) and they asked us if they said no would we stop coming back. I said if their answer was no way Jose, we might stop. But if it was just a maybe, we would for sure still come back! They said they didn't want to answer because they're just not ready. They want to know more. AWwwweesssommme!! They're so Gold. So gold :)

Language Study times 4

There was a baptism on Saturday for one of my old investigators in Kitti!! Her name is Mayleen and she was SO solid and living with an awesome member :) They got married before her baptism because they weren't yet leagally married. Super cool! So yay for Kitti branch! More strong members and strength to help them grow and flourish in the gospel!

With Sister Behling at Mayleen's baptism

Bernie and Mayleen

Bernie and Mayleen and their kiddos

Kolonia and Kitti sisters with Meagan Jonathan

I'll stop there, but i love you all! Hope all is well and that you're enjoying second winter! I've just started Romans in the Bible, but holy cow 1 John is SUCH a Good book in the bible.

This week I've learned the reason why the Bible isn't as amazing as the Book of Mormon. It's still awesome and I LOVE reading the word of god from it. Both the Book of Mormon and the Bible were originally written by men of the spirit, holding the priesthood, and writing pure real doctrine and testimony. The Book of Mormon was then Translated by the same holy priesthood and those doctrines were perfectly translated. The Bible was translated by men doing their best, but without the priesthood authority to do so. Which is why some things in the Bible are lost, misinterpreted, or confusing. Because the Hand and Power of God was not in every translating. But because humans aren't totally stupid, the translations were still sufficient enough to keep the word of God :) Kind of like the Pohnpeian Book of Mormon. Still good, still the word of God, but humans make mistakes translating. That's why it's so important to have a testimony that God divinely helped Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon. Because if he did, then the book of mormon is 100% true, and holds and contains the fullness of the Gospel, which has been lost from the bible.

Love you all!!
Sister Nicole