Sunday 27 December 2015
Thursday 24 December 2015
Week 14 - Kiritimati
Email 21 December 2015
Hey Family,
Hey Family,
All this change sounds so exciting! the new house sounds so sick, you guys are living like kings, but so am I! Elder Afatasi and I are living in the senior couples house in Kiritimati, it is possibly the sweetest house in Kiribati. We have two air conditioning units, a nice kitchen, big mattresses and hot showers. But to be honest I cant wait to live in rough living conditions.
Seeing the pictures of Rhys in New Zealand is making me so jealous, it sounds like such a fun trip they have planned. and Vaughan! please do something cool.
This week in Kiritimati has been a really good one, it started slow because we had Senior Couple duties, of course. I had to do a lot of scanning of tithing slips and weekly disbursement for all the branches to be sent to Tarawa. But after we got that all done we had some really successful days, taught a lot of lessons, 3 new investigators and 5 investigators prepared for baptism for December 26th.
We were meant to have a whole family baptized but Tatonga fell, he got drunk. We came to visit after Margret, his wife, told us the news. It was really good to talk to him with his wife and kid, Rooti. He was telling us he had no desire to drink again and was truly sorry and he really wanted to baptized, so we are pushing his date to the 2nd of January, but his family will still be baptized on the 26th. I felt really bad having them baptized on different days, however, after thinking about it more, I think having him see his family be baptized will really strengthen his desire to change and work towards a eternal family.
In the Kiribati Dancing culture, they get really into it, especially the people singing for the dance. They get so into it that they believe a spirit takes them over and they can't control them selves, so right in the middle of some of the performances there would be ladies who were singing, start screaming and shaking so hard until it looks like they're about to pass out.
It was a crazy day, but it finished on a really good note. Our investigator, Fred, who had been taught since Elder Openshaw was here, got baptized. His uncle, who is also the District President, baptized him and it was such a great moment, he is so prepared and I can see him receiving the priesthood soon. To make things better the sunset was perfect, but my camera is out of action.
My parcel has not arrived but we got an email from Tarawa saying there are a lot of parcels going to Tarawa that are meant for Kiritimati, so it's probably in Tarawa waiting for me. For the camera battery stuff, ask Elder Osborne's mum how she posted her parcels because they all made it to him.
Skype should be good, power might cut out sometimes and internet is sketchy but should be good.
Love you guys heaps,
Elder Berends
Sunday 13 December 2015
Week 13 - Kiritmati
Hey guys,
This week has been a lot more successful, we actually had a couple of full working days with out banks and bills getting in the way. However, we were not successful with the bills, they are now 1 week over due. We were unable to get the money because Elder Afatasi doesn't yet have his name under the accounts to be able to sign cheques so we are just waiting for that confirmation from Tarawa.
Sounds like you'll be leaving the ward at exciting times for your YW's mum. How is Red, is he apart of the family yet? Have you planned any hunts for Red yet? I haven't been counting the weeks but it must be around week 13 because I heard the new intake from the MTC arrived last week.
My crocs are going great, Elder Afatasi says he's had his crocs since day one and he only has less than 2 months.
.......
Okay well power just died and I was using basic HTML so that it runs faster but that also means that it doesn't save drafts automatically. So when the power died I lost everything I hadn't saved... which was a lot, sorry. But basically I was talking about all the success we had, 8 investigators came to church, several less active as well, 2 baptisms are going down this Saturday for Kaboruru and Reite, and at least another 4 will be baptized on 19 Dec, including Tatonga, his wife and child.
People have been saying I'm getting the language really fast but I feel I have a reeeeeaaally long way to go. Sorry that it's not a very good email, but there are people waiting for their turn so laters.
Love you au Utu
Love Elder Berends
This week has been a lot more successful, we actually had a couple of full working days with out banks and bills getting in the way. However, we were not successful with the bills, they are now 1 week over due. We were unable to get the money because Elder Afatasi doesn't yet have his name under the accounts to be able to sign cheques so we are just waiting for that confirmation from Tarawa.
Sounds like you'll be leaving the ward at exciting times for your YW's mum. How is Red, is he apart of the family yet? Have you planned any hunts for Red yet? I haven't been counting the weeks but it must be around week 13 because I heard the new intake from the MTC arrived last week.
My crocs are going great, Elder Afatasi says he's had his crocs since day one and he only has less than 2 months.
.......
Okay well power just died and I was using basic HTML so that it runs faster but that also means that it doesn't save drafts automatically. So when the power died I lost everything I hadn't saved... which was a lot, sorry. But basically I was talking about all the success we had, 8 investigators came to church, several less active as well, 2 baptisms are going down this Saturday for Kaboruru and Reite, and at least another 4 will be baptized on 19 Dec, including Tatonga, his wife and child.
People have been saying I'm getting the language really fast but I feel I have a reeeeeaaally long way to go. Sorry that it's not a very good email, but there are people waiting for their turn so laters.
Love you au Utu
Love Elder Berends
Thursday 3 December 2015
Week 12 - Kiritimati
HEY!
Sounds like it was a fun week besides packing. And those cakes look the bomb! (We had a ward activity, a cake auction. Members make and decorate cakes for judging, participating in activities to earn monopoly money and then we auction off the cakes at the end of the evening. It was lots of fun! And we had over 20 investigators, friends and non-member family attend.)
Kam bwati n te kuka!
And it blows me away that people at work are still going on about me, I feel like I didn't do anything to deserve all their kindness, but tell my St Vinnies crew I love them.
What kind of new work opportunities are you looking for mum? And the change will be fun and scary and stressful, but fun! It doesn't feel right give you advice mum because your 101x wiser than me but, just go with the flow and learn something from it.
I'm back in Tabwakea this week because Elder Afatasi got back from Fanning on Tuesday. On Wednesday it rained HARD the whole day, 70% of Kiritimati must have been under a couple of inches of water (this is not a fact). Elder Afatasi came to pick me up from London and we spent that wet day moving into the senior couple's house. We got news from President that the Siemons (previous senior couples on Kiritimati, Elder Siemons needed surgery) weren't returning and that Elder Afatasi needed to be in the SC house to do SC duties. So on top of Elder Afatasi being District Leader we are also Senior Couples/Office Elders/Airport Elders...and none of the Bills are paid (due today) and there's lots of reports and scanning to be done.
So this week has been kinda lame, we have only taught 5 lessons since being back in Tabwakea and the Baptisms that were meant to happen on the 28th didn't because of the Fanning trip. I can not wait for all this paper work to be over so we can get investigators prepared.
We did, however, end our week on a very good/happy note. On Sunday, investigators Tatonga and Markreta got married! We had a nice little service in the Chapel for them, had lots of member present and there was a Bootaki (gathering) with so much food! They have so many friends from the church now. Next step will be a Baptism for them and their oldest daughter on the 12th of December, then a trip to the temple hopefully. I have no idea how we can get them to the temple, plane tickets are so expensive, but hopefully one day.
We had 8 investigators at church as well, which was such a surprise because he hadn't had lessons with most of them yet. But that just goes to show that they're ready for baptism.
Well hopefully next week I'll be able to see some more action. I love you guys! Have fun on your Kiritimati holidays!
Love Elder Berends
Sounds like it was a fun week besides packing. And those cakes look the bomb! (We had a ward activity, a cake auction. Members make and decorate cakes for judging, participating in activities to earn monopoly money and then we auction off the cakes at the end of the evening. It was lots of fun! And we had over 20 investigators, friends and non-member family attend.)
Kam bwati n te kuka!
And it blows me away that people at work are still going on about me, I feel like I didn't do anything to deserve all their kindness, but tell my St Vinnies crew I love them.
What kind of new work opportunities are you looking for mum? And the change will be fun and scary and stressful, but fun! It doesn't feel right give you advice mum because your 101x wiser than me but, just go with the flow and learn something from it.
I'm back in Tabwakea this week because Elder Afatasi got back from Fanning on Tuesday. On Wednesday it rained HARD the whole day, 70% of Kiritimati must have been under a couple of inches of water (this is not a fact). Elder Afatasi came to pick me up from London and we spent that wet day moving into the senior couple's house. We got news from President that the Siemons (previous senior couples on Kiritimati, Elder Siemons needed surgery) weren't returning and that Elder Afatasi needed to be in the SC house to do SC duties. So on top of Elder Afatasi being District Leader we are also Senior Couples/Office Elders/Airport Elders...and none of the Bills are paid (due today) and there's lots of reports and scanning to be done.
So this week has been kinda lame, we have only taught 5 lessons since being back in Tabwakea and the Baptisms that were meant to happen on the 28th didn't because of the Fanning trip. I can not wait for all this paper work to be over so we can get investigators prepared.
We did, however, end our week on a very good/happy note. On Sunday, investigators Tatonga and Markreta got married! We had a nice little service in the Chapel for them, had lots of member present and there was a Bootaki (gathering) with so much food! They have so many friends from the church now. Next step will be a Baptism for them and their oldest daughter on the 12th of December, then a trip to the temple hopefully. I have no idea how we can get them to the temple, plane tickets are so expensive, but hopefully one day.
We had 8 investigators at church as well, which was such a surprise because he hadn't had lessons with most of them yet. But that just goes to show that they're ready for baptism.
Well hopefully next week I'll be able to see some more action. I love you guys! Have fun on your Kiritimati holidays!
Love Elder Berends
Saturday 28 November 2015
Week 11 - Kiritimati
What's up Fam
Hows it going? I feel like that moving house is going to be really tough considering that down stair is a mess. how is the storage in the new house?
My poop problems are still occurring... I hope as well that it doesn't happen for my whole mission. However, it is not effecting my work at all which is good. It cant be the Kiribati food, I do eat raw fish occasionally but an easy meal people make for us will be chicken, rice and noodles.
This week has been really good, I actually worked in London the whole week with Elder Darm. I have improved in the language so much, as I couldn't rely on Elder Darm to say everything as he has only been out a month longer and is still learning too. So instead of just bearing testimony I actually had to teach and ask questions in all the lessons. My conversation skills with people is getting a lot better as well.
When I heard that I'd be working with Elder Darm I was worried because how limited our Kiribati was, but we had really good lessons and are progressing well with some new investigators. One of them is Mirarin and have been really successful with her and she is progressing so much. We've taught her God is our heavenly father, prophets, restoration, Book of Mormon and Plan of Salvation 1st and 2nd lessons.
I'm just blown away that God would trust Elder Darm and I (greenies) to teach investigators these important doctrines and we have, no doubt, had the help from the spirit.
Even though I'm enjoying working in London I do miss Tabwakea and I worry for our investigators. There's only Elders Johnson and Hungai working in Tabwakea 1st every other day. I just hope that they're doing okay and are being well prepared for baptism.
By the way, I baptised an 8 year old Atenti in London, his parents are members but for some reason they like to get the missionaries to baptise everyone. It went really well, I did the baptism pray in Kiribati and it was an ocean baptism.
Sorry about the lack of pictures, I just forget to take pictures because I'm working hard.Only been burnt badly once and that was when we went fishing with AP's.
Akea kanganga ma mosquitos (none difficulty with mosquitos). sleeping is good, clothes are slowly get less and less white but nothings broken yet.
I hope you guys have a really good week this week and have fun moving.
Love Elder Berends
Hows it going? I feel like that moving house is going to be really tough considering that down stair is a mess. how is the storage in the new house?
My poop problems are still occurring... I hope as well that it doesn't happen for my whole mission. However, it is not effecting my work at all which is good. It cant be the Kiribati food, I do eat raw fish occasionally but an easy meal people make for us will be chicken, rice and noodles.
This week has been really good, I actually worked in London the whole week with Elder Darm. I have improved in the language so much, as I couldn't rely on Elder Darm to say everything as he has only been out a month longer and is still learning too. So instead of just bearing testimony I actually had to teach and ask questions in all the lessons. My conversation skills with people is getting a lot better as well.
When I heard that I'd be working with Elder Darm I was worried because how limited our Kiribati was, but we had really good lessons and are progressing well with some new investigators. One of them is Mirarin and have been really successful with her and she is progressing so much. We've taught her God is our heavenly father, prophets, restoration, Book of Mormon and Plan of Salvation 1st and 2nd lessons.
I'm just blown away that God would trust Elder Darm and I (greenies) to teach investigators these important doctrines and we have, no doubt, had the help from the spirit.
Even though I'm enjoying working in London I do miss Tabwakea and I worry for our investigators. There's only Elders Johnson and Hungai working in Tabwakea 1st every other day. I just hope that they're doing okay and are being well prepared for baptism.
By the way, I baptised an 8 year old Atenti in London, his parents are members but for some reason they like to get the missionaries to baptise everyone. It went really well, I did the baptism pray in Kiribati and it was an ocean baptism.
Sorry about the lack of pictures, I just forget to take pictures because I'm working hard.Only been burnt badly once and that was when we went fishing with AP's.
Akea kanganga ma mosquitos (none difficulty with mosquitos). sleeping is good, clothes are slowly get less and less white but nothings broken yet. I hope you guys have a really good week this week and have fun moving.
Love Elder Berends
Monday 16 November 2015
Week 10 - Kiritimati
Mauri au utu
This week has been really good, I still have poo problems. I'm constipated and I can't get this one poop out and at the same time diarrhoea makes it around the poop I can't push out. Sorry about the imagery but I'm doing really good, it's not getting in the way of the work.
This week has been very busy as Elder Afatasi found out on Thursday that there were tickets booked for 2 elders to go to Fanning Island and the boat was leaving Saturday. As you have heard Elders Afatasi and Dinsdale went
leaving me to work with Elder Darm (from California, and has only been out for 9 weeks) in London every other day. I'll still be working in Tabwakea with either Elder Johnson or Hungai, but only every other day. I'm also leading the work in Tab 1st because I know our investigators best, which scared me a little, I feel like I have little personality because Elder Afatasi would make all the conversation and I'd just have my input in the lesson. However after working with Elder Darm on Saturday I was forced to use what I know to make conversation as both of us are very inexperienced and I got pretty good at what I wanted to say. There was a lot of beating around the bush because there were words I wouldn't know but they understood.
Sunday morning I attended London sacrament meeting where I was asked to bless the sacrament, which I'd never done before, as well as speak, which is the usual. I spoke about building our faith (ONIMAKI) and testimony (KAKOAUA) on Iesu Kristo, and plain and simple truths of His gospel. I also shared Helaman 5:12, which went perfectly with what I was saying.
After London Sacrament meeting Elder Johnson picked me up so we could go to Tabwakea 1st branch. There were 3 of our investigators who attended church, which is good but we were expecting at least 6. Tabwa, (late 20's) one of our new Investigators, attended church and she is progressing really well. She is seventh-day
adventist and was told by he church leaders not to take lessons from us, so before we came to teach her for the first time she was really worried. But, she told us in our 2nd lesson with her, once we started teaching she felt a burden being lifted and felt like she didn't have to be told what to do. That's what I love about Ana Ekaretia Iesu Kristo (His church Jesus Christ), we know that God respects our agency and the way we teach as missionaries is we teach the doctrine and invite the investigator to find out if it's true for them selves. I'll talk about an investigator each week.
However, I'm very excited for all my investigators, and I'm really excited for them and their families. If everything goes to plan there should be 7 baptisms on the 28th of this month.
Question/Answers time:
So have you heard from any of your school mates?
- not since the MTC :/ Might shoot them an email and see how things are going with them.
Have you started thinking in Kiribati yet?
-I am in a way. Saying prayers in English is difficult because I keep using Kiribati grammar and say 'ao' instead 'of' and and little things like that. When teaching most time I don't have to translate what I want to say from English to Kiribati any more, I just say what I want to say in Kiribati.
What has been the most challenging meal so far?
- food has been really good, had no problem with raw fish, turtle tastes sooooo good, still need to learn to love SPAM but the most challenging drink is Karewe (coconut tree sap). It's just so hard to finish a full cup of that and act like you like it. Also what's really great about Tabwakea is that our members or Investigators feed us all
the time. After teaching a lesson they'll be like, "KAM TANGIRIA AMWARAKE" (you'll love it/want food) and they'll like you more if you let them feed you.
That's all I got, I'm so happy to hear that you have found a house and I hope you guys are happy with it and that everything works out. It's going to be weird coming home to a different ward. Also we don't hear about anything, so yes I'm very safe here in Kiritimati. Is there any other news about the world that I would like to know?
love you guys
love Elder Berends
This week has been really good, I still have poo problems. I'm constipated and I can't get this one poop out and at the same time diarrhoea makes it around the poop I can't push out. Sorry about the imagery but I'm doing really good, it's not getting in the way of the work.
This week has been very busy as Elder Afatasi found out on Thursday that there were tickets booked for 2 elders to go to Fanning Island and the boat was leaving Saturday. As you have heard Elders Afatasi and Dinsdale went
leaving me to work with Elder Darm (from California, and has only been out for 9 weeks) in London every other day. I'll still be working in Tabwakea with either Elder Johnson or Hungai, but only every other day. I'm also leading the work in Tab 1st because I know our investigators best, which scared me a little, I feel like I have little personality because Elder Afatasi would make all the conversation and I'd just have my input in the lesson. However after working with Elder Darm on Saturday I was forced to use what I know to make conversation as both of us are very inexperienced and I got pretty good at what I wanted to say. There was a lot of beating around the bush because there were words I wouldn't know but they understood.
Sunday morning I attended London sacrament meeting where I was asked to bless the sacrament, which I'd never done before, as well as speak, which is the usual. I spoke about building our faith (ONIMAKI) and testimony (KAKOAUA) on Iesu Kristo, and plain and simple truths of His gospel. I also shared Helaman 5:12, which went perfectly with what I was saying.
After London Sacrament meeting Elder Johnson picked me up so we could go to Tabwakea 1st branch. There were 3 of our investigators who attended church, which is good but we were expecting at least 6. Tabwa, (late 20's) one of our new Investigators, attended church and she is progressing really well. She is seventh-day
adventist and was told by he church leaders not to take lessons from us, so before we came to teach her for the first time she was really worried. But, she told us in our 2nd lesson with her, once we started teaching she felt a burden being lifted and felt like she didn't have to be told what to do. That's what I love about Ana Ekaretia Iesu Kristo (His church Jesus Christ), we know that God respects our agency and the way we teach as missionaries is we teach the doctrine and invite the investigator to find out if it's true for them selves. I'll talk about an investigator each week.
However, I'm very excited for all my investigators, and I'm really excited for them and their families. If everything goes to plan there should be 7 baptisms on the 28th of this month.
Question/Answers time:
So have you heard from any of your school mates?
- not since the MTC :/ Might shoot them an email and see how things are going with them.
Have you started thinking in Kiribati yet?
-I am in a way. Saying prayers in English is difficult because I keep using Kiribati grammar and say 'ao' instead 'of' and and little things like that. When teaching most time I don't have to translate what I want to say from English to Kiribati any more, I just say what I want to say in Kiribati.
What has been the most challenging meal so far?
- food has been really good, had no problem with raw fish, turtle tastes sooooo good, still need to learn to love SPAM but the most challenging drink is Karewe (coconut tree sap). It's just so hard to finish a full cup of that and act like you like it. Also what's really great about Tabwakea is that our members or Investigators feed us all
the time. After teaching a lesson they'll be like, "KAM TANGIRIA AMWARAKE" (you'll love it/want food) and they'll like you more if you let them feed you.
That's all I got, I'm so happy to hear that you have found a house and I hope you guys are happy with it and that everything works out. It's going to be weird coming home to a different ward. Also we don't hear about anything, so yes I'm very safe here in Kiritimati. Is there any other news about the world that I would like to know?
love you guys
love Elder Berends
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Week 9 - Kiritimati
Danien wrote a long email, but lost it when it didn't save
to drafts. So while waiting for his companion to use the internet he hand wrote
everything he could remember from his email and took photos of the pages and put
them in dropbox for us with some photos from the week.
Mauri!
[writing what I can remember from the email I wrote that didn't save as a draft]
So good to hear that Youth is going really good (Felicity is
the YWs president and recently had a convert baptism into her YWs group). And
send my congratulations to Emily and Mark (his cousin and her husband who had
their third child last month) as well as Andrew (a friend who recently became
engaged).
Dad! Be careful, I want to be able to go on some hikes with
you without having to carry you on my back! (Mark tore a calf
muscle/ligament/tendon? Last week, the third time in 6 weeks)
I'm praying for you guys that the house situation won’t be
too stressful (after 10 and a half years we are moving house). Hope all of you are happy by the time it’s all over.
How was your week???
This week has been full of sickness.
On Monday night I ate a partially uncooked Hot Pocket not
knowing it was a bad idea. On Tuesday I woke up vomiting and pooping so I didn't feel too great. However I was able to push myself to do 7 Lessons
before I had to return home.
On Wednesday Elder Afatasi and I picked up the APs from the
airport and then I went on splits with Elder Johnson, which was fun.
Oh, and we got hit by a motorcycle! Out of nowhere a
motorcycle going 60 km/h hit my, and Elder Johnson’s, handle bars as well as
Elder Johnson leg, ripping his pants open. It was a miracle no-one was hurt.
On Thursday Elder Afatasi got sick and vomited so that day
was spent nursing him.
Friday and Saturday I got sick again so not many lessons
done.
On Sunday I still felt like poo. And to make things better I
was asked 1 hr before church to speak in sacrament meeting. I spoke about “Nakoa
ni Ibonga” (Priesthood). I didn't go too badly, but was struggling to think in
Kiribati.
So, overall, not too bad a week, was good to have the APs around.
Sickness was a real pain, all I want to do is get stuck into the work. So I can’t
wait to be healthy again so I can be 100% while teaching the Lord’s gospel.
Monday 2 November 2015
Week 8 - Kiritimati
Mauri Mauri!
ngke, internet is slow here in Kiritimati and I don't have much time, so I'll try and explain as much as I can.
So Tarawa was really cool, Pigs, Dogs and Cats everywhere, Kids running around naked turning anything they see into toys, everyone stares and smiles at you. Can see ocean on both sides of the island its so skinny, its very crowded living, houses are built with what ever they can find. Rubbish everywhere, very busy but I love it so much. Its so different from any place I've ever been.
For the couple of days that I was in Tarawa, I went on splits for teaching mainly with Elder Smith and Elder Afatasi. First full day I went with Elder Afatasi (my Trainer/companion/dad) to teach some lessons. The Kiribati people are some of the coolest people I've ever met, they always smile, always offering food and drink and laugh at everything.
Elder Afatasi is from Utah but his heritage is Samoan and he's been out for 21 months. He is a really good teacher and we are going to work really well together. I'll tell you more about that later as I have a lot to say. Second day I went with Elder Smith to teach lessons, (btw, we were teaching in Eita 1st branch) and it went really well. Elder Smith, from Utah, is really cool, he loves film and television as well so we talked a lot about how good the church videos are getting. Have you seen the addiction recovery series by the church? They are really good. Oh, and he was actually the guy from the bullying video the church made.
On Saturday, Elders Afatasi and Smith had 5 baptism which was really cool so the whole day was pretty much organizing that. Sunday was church, Elders Osborne (also came to Christmas), Larsen and I were asked to get up and say something because none of the speakers showed up which apparently happens a lot. Caught me off guard but didn't go to badly. On Monday I spent the day helping Elder Openshaw drive Elders going to Outer Islands to the airport. I didn't know at the time but it Awkwardly came up in a conversation that he was the Elder mentioned in Elder Andersons talk in General Conference, he's a really good Elder.
Monday afternoon Elder Peeti (kain New Zealand), Osborne (kain USA), Afatasi (kain USA) and I flew to FIJI! We landed in FIJI around 9 pm, checked into the hotel, showered in a WARM shower (Afatasi and Peeti were in awe of everything because they'd been in Kiribati for so long) and slept. Woke up the next day, our flight wasn't until 11:55 pm so we decided to catch the bus to an internet cafe and then to the only Maccas in Fiji.
The Bus in Fiji didn't have doors or windows and had party music always playing so that was fun. The internet cafe was sketchy, emailed for 2 hrs then caught the bus to Maccas which was amazing! Hadn't had a Big Mac in for ever, however, it made me sick. The Kiribati food was fine with my body but maccas just gave me the runs.
Fun fact: the word for Diarrhoea is "BEKA NAKO" which directly translates to "poop that goes".
Anyway, so I didnt feel so good for a couple of days. We finally landed in Kiritimati on Wednesday morning. Kiritimati is beautiful, its a lot less crowded, cleaner, bigger, hotter, people talk faster and its just an awesome place.
Because there isn't any senior couples on the island any more, there isn't any sisters, so Elder Afatasi and I got the sisters house and Elders Peeti and Osborne got the stick which I'm kinda jealous about. But I cant complain about having a mattress. I'm serving in Tabekea 1st, and we are white washing the area. To help Elder Afatasi get situated with area we went on splits with Elder Dinsdale and Elder Hungai. Afatasi went with Hungai because he had served in Tabakea before and I went with Dinsdale and worked in Bwanana. It was interesting teaching lessons because Dinsdale has only been in Kiribati for 7 weeks so our language was pretty limited. But it was good to see how he used his limited language so I learnt a lot from him.
On Friday I finally got to work in my area, the day was just spent visiting area investigators and getting to know them. The same happened on Saturday. Rooti, Tatonga and Margret are a family that we are teaching. We first started teaching Rooti, who is 10 years old and she is already progressing so much. We have had 2 lessons with her and on Sunday she brought her Mum and Dad to church and there we organized to have a lesson with the whole family. So after church we went to their home to teach and before we even started Margaret asked when are we getting baptised which was a shock. We set the date for end of November but Margaret and Tatonga just need to get there marriage papers done. Fred is 16 I think and he is also taking lessons, we committed him to baptism but we haven't set a date yet. Earaitabeta (Elizabeth) is 30 something, she's married with kids. The Husband doesn't really stick around for lesson but one of the kids who is 10ish loves the gospel and he is always asking questions. Elizabeth is also progressing so much, she has a baptismal date for end of November as well. Rete and Kobururu are 15 and 16 girls, and we have taught them once and they already have a baptismal date. Aokotino, 16, is the same, he has a baptismal date.
And last but not least we have Reewi, who we haven't managed to have a lesson yet. On Saturday we went to his house and in a hammock we see a Big 100% naked man, Passed out and smelling of Alcohol pretty bad. I just remember thinking " I hope that's not our investigator". We ask who ever is in the house where we could find Reewi. He laughs and points at the Naked man in the Hammock... So I think we might need to teach him the Word of Wisdom and maybe Modesty. Anyway, I love Tabekea so much and im so excited get to know the area teach more people. Its so amazing seeing people feel the spirit and wanting to change there lives. I'm sorry I haven't being answering your questions mum, but once I get settled I'll be able to answer them and share more spiritual experiences. Also don't send anything to Kiritimati. it'll get lost. If you want to send me stuff now, send it Tarawa but I wont get until I get back there. I'll write everyone individually next week, Love you all so much,
Love Elder Berends.
ngke, internet is slow here in Kiritimati and I don't have much time, so I'll try and explain as much as I can.
So Tarawa was really cool, Pigs, Dogs and Cats everywhere, Kids running around naked turning anything they see into toys, everyone stares and smiles at you. Can see ocean on both sides of the island its so skinny, its very crowded living, houses are built with what ever they can find. Rubbish everywhere, very busy but I love it so much. Its so different from any place I've ever been.
For the couple of days that I was in Tarawa, I went on splits for teaching mainly with Elder Smith and Elder Afatasi. First full day I went with Elder Afatasi (my Trainer/companion/dad) to teach some lessons. The Kiribati people are some of the coolest people I've ever met, they always smile, always offering food and drink and laugh at everything.
Elder Afatasi is from Utah but his heritage is Samoan and he's been out for 21 months. He is a really good teacher and we are going to work really well together. I'll tell you more about that later as I have a lot to say. Second day I went with Elder Smith to teach lessons, (btw, we were teaching in Eita 1st branch) and it went really well. Elder Smith, from Utah, is really cool, he loves film and television as well so we talked a lot about how good the church videos are getting. Have you seen the addiction recovery series by the church? They are really good. Oh, and he was actually the guy from the bullying video the church made.
On Saturday, Elders Afatasi and Smith had 5 baptism which was really cool so the whole day was pretty much organizing that. Sunday was church, Elders Osborne (also came to Christmas), Larsen and I were asked to get up and say something because none of the speakers showed up which apparently happens a lot. Caught me off guard but didn't go to badly. On Monday I spent the day helping Elder Openshaw drive Elders going to Outer Islands to the airport. I didn't know at the time but it Awkwardly came up in a conversation that he was the Elder mentioned in Elder Andersons talk in General Conference, he's a really good Elder.
Monday afternoon Elder Peeti (kain New Zealand), Osborne (kain USA), Afatasi (kain USA) and I flew to FIJI! We landed in FIJI around 9 pm, checked into the hotel, showered in a WARM shower (Afatasi and Peeti were in awe of everything because they'd been in Kiribati for so long) and slept. Woke up the next day, our flight wasn't until 11:55 pm so we decided to catch the bus to an internet cafe and then to the only Maccas in Fiji.
The Bus in Fiji didn't have doors or windows and had party music always playing so that was fun. The internet cafe was sketchy, emailed for 2 hrs then caught the bus to Maccas which was amazing! Hadn't had a Big Mac in for ever, however, it made me sick. The Kiribati food was fine with my body but maccas just gave me the runs.
Fun fact: the word for Diarrhoea is "BEKA NAKO" which directly translates to "poop that goes".
Anyway, so I didnt feel so good for a couple of days. We finally landed in Kiritimati on Wednesday morning. Kiritimati is beautiful, its a lot less crowded, cleaner, bigger, hotter, people talk faster and its just an awesome place.
Because there isn't any senior couples on the island any more, there isn't any sisters, so Elder Afatasi and I got the sisters house and Elders Peeti and Osborne got the stick which I'm kinda jealous about. But I cant complain about having a mattress. I'm serving in Tabekea 1st, and we are white washing the area. To help Elder Afatasi get situated with area we went on splits with Elder Dinsdale and Elder Hungai. Afatasi went with Hungai because he had served in Tabakea before and I went with Dinsdale and worked in Bwanana. It was interesting teaching lessons because Dinsdale has only been in Kiribati for 7 weeks so our language was pretty limited. But it was good to see how he used his limited language so I learnt a lot from him.
On Friday I finally got to work in my area, the day was just spent visiting area investigators and getting to know them. The same happened on Saturday. Rooti, Tatonga and Margret are a family that we are teaching. We first started teaching Rooti, who is 10 years old and she is already progressing so much. We have had 2 lessons with her and on Sunday she brought her Mum and Dad to church and there we organized to have a lesson with the whole family. So after church we went to their home to teach and before we even started Margaret asked when are we getting baptised which was a shock. We set the date for end of November but Margaret and Tatonga just need to get there marriage papers done. Fred is 16 I think and he is also taking lessons, we committed him to baptism but we haven't set a date yet. Earaitabeta (Elizabeth) is 30 something, she's married with kids. The Husband doesn't really stick around for lesson but one of the kids who is 10ish loves the gospel and he is always asking questions. Elizabeth is also progressing so much, she has a baptismal date for end of November as well. Rete and Kobururu are 15 and 16 girls, and we have taught them once and they already have a baptismal date. Aokotino, 16, is the same, he has a baptismal date.
And last but not least we have Reewi, who we haven't managed to have a lesson yet. On Saturday we went to his house and in a hammock we see a Big 100% naked man, Passed out and smelling of Alcohol pretty bad. I just remember thinking " I hope that's not our investigator". We ask who ever is in the house where we could find Reewi. He laughs and points at the Naked man in the Hammock... So I think we might need to teach him the Word of Wisdom and maybe Modesty. Anyway, I love Tabekea so much and im so excited get to know the area teach more people. Its so amazing seeing people feel the spirit and wanting to change there lives. I'm sorry I haven't being answering your questions mum, but once I get settled I'll be able to answer them and share more spiritual experiences. Also don't send anything to Kiritimati. it'll get lost. If you want to send me stuff now, send it Tarawa but I wont get until I get back there. I'll write everyone individually next week, Love you all so much,
Love Elder Berends.
Sunday 25 October 2015
Week 7 - Tarawa
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Week 7 and Elder Berends has completed his training and has now left the MTC, and arrived in the Kiribati Islands. Prior to leaving the MTC we had arranged for Danien to call us when he arrived at Los Angeles airport (LAX). Felicity and I had finish work early on Wednesday in order to be home for his phone call, several hours later and we were watching his flight progress on the FlightAware app crossing the pacific bound for Fiji and a connecting flight to the main island of Kiribati, Tarawa, no phone call, and one very disappointed mother, especially when she was hearing via Facebook that the other missionaries in Danien's group had spoken to their Moms.
To make the experience even better, we get the following email from our missionary:
Mauri!
Just a quick email to let you know that I'm in KIRIBATI (island of Tarawa)! I'll be serving on Christmas Island (Kirimati). I leave and fly via Fiji on Monday. Sorry I didn't get to call yesterday, i didn't get a chance in LA.
I tanariko am utu!
Love Elder Berends
Well, that email was well worth the wait, we can only hope his writing improves?
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Week 7 and Elder Berends has completed his training and has now left the MTC, and arrived in the Kiribati Islands. Prior to leaving the MTC we had arranged for Danien to call us when he arrived at Los Angeles airport (LAX). Felicity and I had finish work early on Wednesday in order to be home for his phone call, several hours later and we were watching his flight progress on the FlightAware app crossing the pacific bound for Fiji and a connecting flight to the main island of Kiribati, Tarawa, no phone call, and one very disappointed mother, especially when she was hearing via Facebook that the other missionaries in Danien's group had spoken to their Moms.
To make the experience even better, we get the following email from our missionary:
Mauri!
Just a quick email to let you know that I'm in KIRIBATI (island of Tarawa)! I'll be serving on Christmas Island (Kirimati). I leave and fly via Fiji on Monday. Sorry I didn't get to call yesterday, i didn't get a chance in LA.
I tanariko am utu!
Love Elder Berends
Well, that email was well worth the wait, we can only hope his writing improves?
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Kam na bane ni Mauri!
Okay, well a lot has happened in the past week. Just so you know I'm currently in Fiji writing this email in this sketchy internet café. So im not yet in Kiritimati (Christmas Island), my flight is midnight tonight so we (Elders Afatasi, Peeti & Osborne) have the whole day just wondering around Nadi, Fiji. Our flight out of Tarawa was yesterday afternoon, so we got to spend the night in a really nice hotel which Elders Afatasi and Peeti were freaking out about because they hadn't seen mountains and a nice bed, etc. for months.
I better start from the beginning though...
The last days at the MTC were nice but I'll skip right to getting on the train in Provo to head to the Airport. MTC buses dropped 14 of us off to the train station and pretty much said, "here are your tickets, good luck". It was a mission coordinating 14 missionaries with 2 suitcases of luggage each, but it was good fun because I love my MTC district. We got to the Airport, checked in bags and got something to eat and all the American Elders and Sisters made their phone calls, I was going to but ya'll would have all been at work and school.
Quick funny story:
Elder Ellis and I were asked by an older couple at the airport where we were off to. We replied with "Marshall Islands serving in Kiribati". Then they said, "Who did we just have go to that Mission?" and then as if it were scripted Elder Christensen comes out of no where yelling, "Uncle Richard!" it was so perfectly timed Elder Ellis and I laughed so hard!
Plane ride from SLC to LAX was nice, LAX international airport is huge! We got through security and that's when I was supposed to call home but there was a bit of trouble. Sister Eubanks got a bit nauseous (it was her first time getting on a plane besides SLC to LAX) and we weren't sure if she was going to be able to fly. So 5 minutes before boarding Elders Ellis, Christensen and I went in to a corner at LAX and gave a blessing of health and comfort. And right after the blessing she stood up shook my hand and got on the plane. She did vomit once right before take off (i was sitting next to her... i lost my apatite for that whole 11 hour plane ride) but other than that she was absolutely fine, eating every meal Fiji airlines gave her. So that's why I did not call home, sorry family.
We landed in Fiji 11 hours later and we were all so jumped that we were almost in Tarawa. While waiting for our flight in Nadi Airport we bumped into Elders who just came from Christmas Island which was really cool. Their pants were really dirty, white shirts were kinda yellow and stained and they were in crocs. They were on the same flight as us to Tarawa so we got some more insight on what to expect.
Flight from Nadi to Tarawa was nice, we were all so excited. I was stuck between Sisters Baldwin and Eubanks again which was super cool got to know them a bunch, we talked a lot about hiking and traveling, etc. Landing in Tarawa was so exciting, Tarawa is so skinny I'm surprised they were able to fit an airstrip. Right after landing the plane did a u turn and we could see how much strip was left and there wasn't even 100m left which was a bit sketchy but it just added to the excitement.
The heat hit us pretty bad, and the arrival part of the airport was a shed with a tin roof with absolutely no facilities and it was soooo hot. The luggage was just handed through a hole in the shed so we had to hunt through a mountain of luggage on the ground to find our luggage. We went through "customs" which didnt consist of anything and we were met by 8 or 10 Elders and President and Sister Weir. There were also atleast 50 Kiribati children waving yelling Eldas! and Ematang! (foreigner) we loaded our language into some Rangers and Hiluxs and off we went, along Tarawa's only road.
We all found out our first areas and Companions/Trainers/dads. I'm serving in Tabakaia 1st and my dad is Elder Afatasi from Utah. I will talk more about him next email but he is sooo cool and I'm super excited to serve with him. Our first dinner appointment was cool. Weird because the family sit and watch you eat and wont eat with you till you leave. But I love the people so much! They are so fun to be around and the my Kiribati is extremely limited but I've got my introductions down and I can share a spiritual thought.
I've been on splits with several Elders so far, I've been on splits with, Elders Smith, Whitehead, Openshaw and of course Afatasi.
I'm sorry I'll have to end the Email there I've got alot more to say but this internet cafe is expensive. I'll finish this email tomorrow hopefully.
Love you fam,
Love Elder Berends
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