It's Bulking Season!!!
Iaorana Palalas,
It's only right to start of this email by saying bulking season has begun. We have eaten so much this past week, it was crazy. We had some days where we had teaching appointments and they fed us breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food has been amazing and we even got to eat more ninja. Ninja for dinner, then breakfast and lunch the next day. People here really love their turtle.
It was funny because one time this other Elder told a member that he should obey the law here that says not to eat turtle. The member proceeds to say that God put turtle on the earth for him to eat and the rules and laws that are here are below us.
But forreal I have been eating like crazy and have gained a belt loop back in this past week. I can't go too crazy though because I only have two more belt loops left before I gotta start poking more. From the poisson cru, sashimi, turtle, poisson fromage, cake, Mahi Mahi, Pork, Chicken, Fafaru, fermented coconut, Ulu, and choke steak frites. We were eating a whole bunch of different food this one day and my companion proceeds to tell me that one of the dishes was dog as I was eating it. Pretty sure it wasn't dog, but if it was dog it tastes exactly like pork. You can say that life has been good. Especially now that the Salmonella is out of my system.
Lessons have been really good lately. We have been teaching such a diverse group of people from little kids who just want to take everything in, to middle age and older people who are interested in returning to church and having a connection with God again in their life.
It's been a little hard to teach here during the Chirstmas season because everyone is either on the mainland visiting other people or off on another island also visiting family.
One highlight from teaching this past week was talking with a guy about his plants. He had and was growing a whole bunch of different plants and we were like, "Oh what flowers are in these ones?" And he proceeds to say "Nah those one's are for Pakalolo, I grow them and then and I sell the plants for $850-$1K a plant". Pretty crazy, but everyone's gotta make a living and provide for their family some how. Hopefully he'll return to church again, it's looking hopeful.
Another highlight was this little parable that a member shared with a lady we are teaching. She's been having a hard time quitting smoking and he was in the same type of situation as her before. He spent most of his money on drugs instead of his family until he started coming to church. He asked for her cigarettes and explained to her that she was on one side and Jesus was on the other and the only thing between her and Jesus was this small cigarettes. This was such a small but powerful message.
The people:
The people here are some of the most genuine and kind people ever, they are also super humble. A lot of them don't have a lot but what they do have to offer they will try and offer to you. Whether it's water when your thirsty, or fruit from their fruit stand.
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Random Things:
I've cooked hamburger steak a couple weeks ago and then this past week it was soooo hot I made a special Hawaii treat called Guri Guri. Buggah was soooo Ono and was so nice to have after a hot day and a lots of biking. Somehow made 10 cups out of a liter and a half of strawberry cream soda.
Everytime I make something from Hawaii everyone in the house is turning their heads and wants to try. Pretty nice to have things like furikake, shoyu, etc in the stores here. Makes cooking easy just a little more pricey than normal.
Thought:
There are so many small things that we can change in our life that will end up making a big difference. It could be as simple as having the discipline to get up when your alarm goes off instead of sleeping in, or saying hello to colleague in the office. It's the small changes that when built upon each other end up making a big difference.
Moroni 7:45
"E fa’a’oroma’ira’a roa tō te aroha mau ’e te hāmani maita’i, e ’ore roa e fe’i’i, e ’ore ho’i e fa’arahi, e’ita e ’imi i te maita’i nōna iho, e’ita e riri vave, e’ita e mana’o ’ino, e’ita e ’oa’oa i te mau ’ohipa ’ī’ino, e ’oa’oa rā i te parau mau, e mea fa’ahapa ’ore i te mau mea ato’a, e ti’aturi i te mau mea ato’a, e tīa’i i te mau mea ato’a, e fa’a’oroma’i i te mau mea ato’a."
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
Endureth all things, hopeth all things, believeth all things, and beareth all things. Hopefully everyone had a great Christmas and will have a great New Year.
"Vents favorables et mer suivante"
"Mata'i haumaru e moana mania"
"Fair winds and following seas"
Standing by in Bora Bora,
Elder Ellis
