Dear Family and Friends,

One transfer in the bag! 

We have got these kids, who we love so much.  They live in a house with 68 people. Crazy huh?! We see them everyday as we walk up and down the mountain. Our area just has two main roads winding up the mountain.  But they finally convinced us to play a game of soccer, which naturally we …lost, considering they didn't give us any credit for our goals.   In fact they didn't even give us a goal lol…still kind of bitter about it.  But on Saturday, we found a truck to pick up 10 of these kids and take them to the Saturday activity.  They totally loved it!!   The difficulty, of course, is getting their parents involved now.  It's hard when like 40 adults live together and we are trying convince them individually to start taking the lessons.  But ah, me and my companion really want to give those kids a fighting chance.  Lots of prayers for them.

We have had super fun lessons with à 50 year old woman named Deborah.  She speaks Tahitian and French fluently, which we love.  She's really keen, attentive, inquisitive and open minded. These are all great attributes when we are giving the lessons… and pretty rare.  She's asks good intuitive questions and I really am excited to teach her more! I just hope this week ---if she sets a baptismal date (which is by no means a baptism, just a goal), that her family will let her.   It is super hard to watch (normally women) be controlled by their families or husbands and told they can't choose to get baptized.  It happens a ton.   In fact our awesome ami, Teahumanu, who is 12, got officially banned from the lessons and from seeing us. If she talks to us, her mom will beat her.  How does that make sense?   Ugh Satan, go away.   

I got asked out officially on my first date and an offer for marriage. LOL  He really would like to marry a Mormon just not be one... but we have so far had some great conversations about Christ.  Baby steps, Stephen. 

After a day of hard work contacting most of the day, we got shut down and roasted in Ward Council which was difficult because we had so many awesome ideas for some ways the ward could help our investigators,  but we didn't get time to talk.

We went in the most beautiful house I probably will ever see in Tahiti for a Faatamaaraa.  To sum up the house: it looks a lot like an American home with carpet, closed walls, granite counter tops and a pool! So it is in this house that a gay Chinese man lives. But he really really loved this Tahitian family's toddler and tried to adopt him, (Dad, can you hear the old neighbor's voice saying, "she's as sweet as sugar"--- same idea, I feel) But the family wouldn't let him so he just invited the entire family to live in his house with him and of course their son. So kind of weird, but the family is chill with it.  (That's the picture of me with Buddha)

​

Classic sunset picture, scene credits to Tahiti

​

Another with my QT(cute) Sisters, Colledge and Miller

​

Common Conversation Topics:

World War 3

Food

Who in the ward is smoking weed but shouldn't be

Food

The fact that Obama, and Oprah just toured Tahiti on a massive yacht. (The only reasons they are not members yet is because we are not allowed on yachts) 

Who is fat and who is skinny hahah and who is on a diet,  or isn't but should be on one.  

Love these people and I'm excited for transfer 2 in this sector! Doing God’s work and it is the best, most lasting happiness.  Going to bed each night without regrets and having big plans for how to help people to next day! 

I love you all and I wish you a wonderful week!

Sr. Spencer

"Carrament Top"

Dear Friends and Family,

I wasn't much of a dabber until everyone who is anyone here does it.  Call me mainstream, but the kids think it is hilarious.  I am a crowd pleaser.

Hey!! I forgot to email out about our baptism last week!! Noarii is 18, and weighs a lot of kilos and just became a dad.  Super excited that he got baptized so him and his new wife can work towards a temple marriage!! 

We have had a lot of sad experiences already with people choosing not to get baptized day of.  It actually hurts a lot to see those people so close to making that first promise with God, persuaded to put other things first, which Satan uses to lead them away from that path altogether.  Also, addiction is a very real thing out here for a lot of people- even very young children.  We have had some powerful fasts with people addicted to Marijuana (paka) and I have seen some incredible people make the hard decision to resist that temptation.

Had a fantastic BBQ last Monday Night for FHE with ward members and some investigators.  These kids could not hold still, except for the dabbing picture.  

This ward befriends our investigators so well!!! I just wish they would talk a little less about other planets that Jesus might have visited and the fact that God is married.  That's always a little confusing for our new friends hahahaha.  Not too much harm done.

We come out of lessons having seen how the Lord touched a person's life, and how he can help them in whatever trial and situation they are going through and then we get to look at God's Magnificence.  And I think of this song. 

I see the stars... etc....Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee.  How great thou art!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAYS!!!!  So great to talk to the family!!!! I've got a great support crew! 

We had some delicious meals this week!! Ate a lot of Cow Hearts again--- I'm kind of a fan.  But here, laid before you is burritos, Sushimi, Fois Gras (the bloated liver spread of ducks), and savory crepes.  And the man with the towel is a police man who does Parkour on the side.  Champion Ona Lol

As far as the rest of the week went... there were lots of good things

Call me an Animal Rights Activist but...they really like Cock (Rooster) Fighting here.  And I really hate it, saw it happen a couple times while trying to do personal study in the sector.  Also I saw a chicken die afterwards, I will spare you the details.

Dogs here are often kind but some are vicious and we always hope those ones are behind the fences.  But the people hurt their dogs a ton out here.  I have seen a couple dead dogs on the road.  

But worse is there are a lot of abusive people here too.  We talk with investigators who suffer a lot of abuse.  We had a lesson with our wonderful investigator, an RLDS woman, named Gina.  We don't know if she is abused or not.  But our member friend who came with us talked about how her grandma was abused and ended up being crippled but still stuck with her husband.  She said that it was beautiful that she stayed.  Ah....what a sad story and totally inappropriate thing to share!! Ah, we're working on the members "lesson-side manner" 

Much love,

Congrats to my friends who are getting married #FRVANDERHOLM and who are having babies!!!! 

I challenge you to spend a little more time this week remembering what God has done for you in your life.  

Here's to another week in the world!

Sr Spencer

Dear Family and Friends,

Variety is the Spice of Life:

1.      Sometimes we go up and talk to someone and start asking them about their life and they explain how much they need the church in their life and how they want to get baptized that day.  True thing! Story of Michelle and Rooino 

2.      Sometimes we walk up to people who clearly are not interested but who still talk to us and schedule a lesson and then just don't show up.  It is hard for them to be honest to our face.

3.      And sometimes we have just crazy people - like John Jaques.  So excited to talk to us.  He shared a scripture with us in Tahitian about Adam and how we all die.   Then he explained why he loves Adam.  Then, he read the creation story and said why Adam lived so long... he said a pool of water like a swimming pool was over his head always.  And how Asians live so long because of their hats that protect them from the sun.  LOL this is why it is so hard to understand at times-- they speak two different languages and they talk about things like this!!!! hahaha

We have every type of Christian here on the Island in abundance.  Pentacostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Catholics, RLDS, Protestant, and some others.

     *  So we had some time between lessons and we are with two members- our two regular Brothers who usually come with us.  So we drop down into this ravine by a Rugby field in the middle of the jungle, and there is this tiny hut that doesn’t seem like anyone lives there but my comp said a Papi lives there.  And Voila, he walks out with his dogs. He’s named Papi Desire, pronounced Tetire.  He speaks only Tahitian like some of the Papis here and that means I am pretty lost in the conversation.  But it was really important to me to be engaged so I am praying really hard just to know how I personally can bring the spirit and what small thing I can share.  We are all huddled under the shade of the tin shack and he is sitting in the dirt with his super sick dogs.  (Lessons like this are when I usually get attacked the most by bugs)  And five minutes into the lesson, a massive pig runs out the forest past us and into the house... all my comp said was "he was smaller last time I saw him”  ….hmm.  So when there is a lag in the conversation, I just jumped in and asked him to read a scripture about Christ in Mosiah,  I really like bearing Testimony of Christ.  And he reads it and I add what I can in Tahitian and then I wait.  I couldn’t tell if he didn’t understand what I said, or if he was thinking about it.  But then he asked for a paper to write it down so he could study the Book of Mormon later that night and if we could come back again.  We scheduled another time as I heard some more squealing pig sounds and looked up to see another massive pig run out from the forest with 3 baby pigs in tow.  Despite the circumstances-- when we left, my comp said she had never had him show any interest in the BOM or ask for the missionaries to come back. It definitely wasn’t my ability to understand this man or his language that helped him connect with the scriptures but rather my desire to bring the spirit ... and Heavenly Father's knowledge of Papi Desire in the ravine and what things he needs to hear and when.  I love that!  And I have such a strong testimony about the power of the Spirit. 

As Missionaries, we have more rules to help us be set apart and to be closer to the Spirit. We have the capacity, but often I need to remember to call on that power during the day.  And when I do, I feel the guidance and power of the Spirit working in the lives of these loving, hilarious people.  

I try not to gush about the members here too much.  But this ward is full of champs. We get to have the Bishop and members come every Tuesday to a lesson.  We have members from YW, New converts, moms and dads stop us on the road and ask to come with us. And a lot of the times they help us get in houses and translate the old people Tahitian with no teeth.  

Here is my address, if you’d like to send me a real letter

L'elgise de Jesus-Christ de Saint De Dernier Jours

BP 93 Mission Mormone

Cours de L'union Sacree

Papeete 98714 French Polynesia

If you know me, I love to read.  And getting an hour to read the scriptures and study them while thinking about our investigators and how I can use these things in the day is the best thing ever. I really love the scriptures and their power.

Back to the good work with my companion and the Tahitian People!
All my love!

Sr Spencer 

*Brooke couldn't upload pictures this week but I found this article from the Church News talking about the church bus in Fa'a'a:)

Siq Piqs

Siqqqq(pretty regular pictures) Piqqqqs

Brooke and her companion only got a few minutes on a computer this week.  We just got a little note, a few pics and her companion's group email.  We'll take what we get:)

Sister Durrant's letter:
Soeur Spencer just makes me laugh and laugh. She talks in her sleep a lot and always wants to help everyone and even asked me in her sleep if I needed help. This is her and a large carrot that she ate most of.

 Here's an average sight of a family making their Tamaa - lots and lots of chicken and garlic and some sweat to salt it. lawlz hahahaha

After a difficult event last week I prayed really hard to see a miracle in this week and guess what? There were lots! There was a member who came with us and showed us to about 4 different families who really need the gospel and want a change in their lives. It amazes me so much how opportunities are just right around the corner and how you don't even notice them until they fall into your laps. I mean we walk past the same houses every day assuming that the people are the same inside of them but there are actually hidden souls who really need this stuff who God has prepared for us. We met a man named Michel whose wife and daughter are members but hes never been baptized for whatever reason. but we talked to him a ton about eternal life and eternal families and that just struck a chord with him. He started freaking out about missed opportunities and the urgency of things, and then he decided he really needs to get baptized - like right now!

Pray for that guy :) He's gonna follow Jesus!

Sr. Durrant

The President and his wife posted these pictures on their blog this week.