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)

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Classic sunset picture, scene credits to Tahiti

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

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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