Tonight we were just getting ready to go to bed when all of the sudden we received an e-mail from Blake telling us that he was online. He went to Neiafu for a zone conference and while there had the opportunity to send us a quick couple of notes. Here are a few summary statements from his letter today that were so great to hear.
"So the boat ride to Vava'u took us 30hrs and it was a tough 30hrs hahahaha. It was amazing to see all of my friends from the MTC though!!!! I threw up a lot on the boat hahaha. When we finally got to Vava'u I met my companion!!! He is awesome!!!! He is very obedient and wants to work all the time!!!! Our islands are tiny!!! There are like 11 houses in each of my towns!!!
At church I give a talk every week ( in Tongan) hahahah it is very interesting. There are like 8 people in each of our branches (wards). Our bishop is awesome!!!! We know absolutely everyone on the island, by name. Most the kids live on the main island and go to school there during the week and then come home on the weekends. The dads go to the bush ( where they get food) during the day! It is hard because we go to house to house and there is just not a lot of work to be done during the week..... so we go to the bush a lot and work with the men......... My language understanding is a lot better.... I usually can understand what is being said!!! But my speaking is still coming along! We have no electricity and we have a ceiling that leaks so we don't sleep well!!!! Its okay we are doing well! I know that I am on motu (small island) for a reason! Even if its just to learn patience and becoming more familiar with the doctrines and the Book of Mormon!!!! I love reading now! It is so so weird!!!! I am so blessed to have a obedient companion!!! We are always striving to make use of our time even when there is not a lot of people to teach!!!!
We met a couple that is here with the Peace Corps. They are white. One person is from California and the other is from Colorado. They are amazing people. They gave two years of their life to come out here and be school teachers for a service. They respect us a lot and are stunned to see 18 and 19 year olds out here serving. We have made it a goal to baptize them. Maybe that is the reason we were there..... I have promised myself that I will always strive to be my best and make use of the Lords time! Blake Hoyt's words repeat in my head everyday! Exact obedience is the key!!!! He also said to be the missionary that your mom thinks you are!!!"
We asked Blake what the island was like because all we can see is what we find on Google images or Google Earth. He said:
"YEAH IT IS WAY CRAZY, ITS NOT ANYTHING LIKE GOOGLE EARTH HAHAHA. its paradise on the beaches but in the town, its quite empty without much going on ... actually reminds me of the movie "the other side of heaven" in some ways."
Blake said that when he does his jump roping exercises, he has a bunch of children on the island that like to watch him.
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| Blake on the boat to Vava'u |
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Blake with his companion Elder Price
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| Elder Berry and Elder Harmon |
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Nuapapu Village. We believe that this is where Blake is living. It is
the bigger village on the island. |
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| Matamaka Village |
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| Matamaka Village |
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We think this is a resort on the Island of Nuapapu. It is on the Southwest
tip of the island. |
Thanks for sharing guys! Blake seems to have such a good attitude and work ethic. How awesome to already be able to understand most of what's going on! The speaking part will come. :) I think it's like that on purpose so we don't say too much and just listen. :)
ReplyDeletetalon (who just typed his own name and all the t's) wants to say hello!
Kirsten & Talon