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

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.

Monday! APs took us on a fishing trip. Elder Hungai, Peeti and Openshaw caught some really big “Urura” and the APs, Openshaw and Davis, both caught themselves a shark! I gave it a go and had something really big on the line but the line snapped. But it was a great day!

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.