Week 44 - Tarawa, Teaoraereke (Companion: Elder Grant)

Email dated: July 7, 2016

Mauri.

Thanks for sending the parcel, way excited to start using the pentax! And I'm getting better taking photos again which you will be happy about.

Meet President Larkin, he has already been out to every outer island on a charter plane to visit every single missionary in Kiribati, as you saw in Elder Darm's photo.

And yeah Elder Peeti (from NZ) is AP, the one I was on Kiritimati with, you meet him on Skype for Christmas. And the other AP, Elder Lesser (from USA), funny story, his parents moved into Cleveland Ward, Brisbane, Cleveland, Australia Stake! He original worked in the Marshall Island side of the mission but because his AP now he gets to come to Kiribati. He actually finishes his time in 3 weeks so you might be able to catch up with him in Cleveland Ward.

Kammari was baptized! Such a sweet service, her best member friend spoke at the baptism, and it was really cool. Kammari is so solid especially after all shes has been through. Now just gotta plant a good seed with her family that kicked her out.

Emi is so legit also, she has so many questions, just in our last lesson she asked about a patriarchal blessing! She is really interested, but is gonna take a little longer to receive a testimony as Christianity is completely new to her, but yesterday she said as she was praying she feels like someone is looking over her and she felt loved so her testimony is coming along! Really exciting for all of us. Japanese Book of Mormon still hasn't arrived, but we printed of some talks in Japanese, any suggestions on some talks I could print out for her?

My companion has changed again, so Elder Grant and Buhler, who were out on the most remote island of all, Banaba, with out any contact, arrived back unexpectedly on Monday night after being away for one and half months. Elder Grant (from Perth) was meant to be my companion in the first place but they got last minute orders to get on a boat and check out Banaba. Elder Graham is now in Betio with Elder Kaririki in Betio 3rd. So we have Elders in our Zone! So many changes but its been fun.

So that's about it.

Love you,

Elder Berends