Island Hoping
Aloha ko'u 'ohana e ko'u mau hoa,
Cheeeee pas dormi cette semaine, (no sleep this week) aka this past week was jam packed.
We started off the week by taking our truck into the shop to get new tires put on. Then we spent the rest of our p-day taking a little road trip around the island hitting all the different spots since we now had some good traction.
Had some good lessons and invited our friends to do somethings that would help them grow their faith while we'll be gone.
It's been a pretty eventful week and we've been able to do so much in such a short amount of time. From boating, to service, to cutting coconuts, leading lessons and everything in between. We've had a lot of great experience with the members especially Papi Hoka (more stories below about him)
Highlights:
- Had zone conference (wooohhhhhooo) almost 5 hours on a zoom call. Me and Elder Hagen did a little role play, we didn't really know what we needed to do though because the APs (Assistant to the Mission President) called us 5 minutes before and asked us. At the same time we could barely hear them so we were just like mmmm, we think we understand you but we'll see. Other than that we talked about prayer and how we can become better missionaries, and master teachers.
- We were able to have a lessons with one of our friends on Ua Huka and at the begining of the call we were like "Oh and maybe we'll pass by tomorrow, we're catching the boat over". We didn't end up seeing her the next day but a few days after that call.
- Woke up at 3:30am to get ready and catch the boat over to Ua Huka then walked with all our stuff to the little Port. Candy, clothes, Milo (Hot coco), crackers, Pasta and a few book of Mormons were the essentials we brought over for this week long trip.
- Spent the first day on Ua Huka visiting all of the active and inactive members. There's roughly 15 members on the island and 8ish that actively come to church. Oh and the island is pretty small with roughly 600 inhabitants in a few different valleys.
- We spent the second day going door to door introducing ourselves and we met like a quarter to a third of the island. We'd go up to the houses and be like "Hey, we're new" to which we'd get the same response, "Yeah, I heard you guys got in on the boat yesterday". Word really does travel fast here especially when there's not much going on.
- Spent our third day doing service and then we had a little missionary fireside. We woke up early and cleaned the church building from 6:30am to 8am with the members and then went and helped them do copra. Copra is basically gathering coconuts, chopping them in half with an axe and then using this sharp knife to remove the white meat. We ended up doing that from after the chapel cleanup until 2:30pm and we were beat. We ended up nice and muddy, filled up 14 sacks full of coconut meat (each sack being around 70ish pounds), and even got some nice cuts from the blade. I somehow got 12 cuts all over my index finger and a bunch scattered across my hand.
- Held a little fireside where we played a game with the members and talked about the importance of prayer, scripture study and going to church.
- Gave talks in sacrament and then we led the Sunday school class that happened right after. (Pretty sure, they're sick of hearing the missionaries speak but we'll be doing another family home evening or two before we leave)
- Felt something on my leg and ended up looking down and seeing a centipede crawling up it while we were cutting coconuts 🥥 🙃 😢 😪 😔 😐 🥥
- We've been eating a lot of omlettes with the members because there's this little bird island off ua huka with eggs that are orange inside and the eggs kind of taste like fish since the birds diet consists strictly of fish.
- Taught Papi Hoka to make like he was a duck and say "Quack, quack" whenever he farts so it's not as awkward and man was quaking during lessons, at people's houses and in the car. We finished a family home evening and it's all quiet in the circle and Papi Hoka moves right next Elder Hagen and goes "Quack, Quack!" and let's one rip then the rest of the members looked right at Elder Hagen and they were like "WOAHHHH ELDER" I started laughing and Elder Hagen turned red while trying to tell everyone it was actually Papi Hoka which made everyone laugh even more.
- We were contacting with Papi Hoka and another guy and Papi Hoka drives right next to this cliff and is just like, "I can't really see, but do you guys think we can keep going" to which the other guy responds "We can... but we'd all die." ..... Papi Hoka ended up backing up and turning around.
- So Papi Hoka has 60 horses back on Nuku Hiva and there's so many wild horses here. Everytime we would see a lot of wild horses especially ones with babies, Papi Hoka would stop the truck, put on his hazards and take photos and videos.
- We also found out that Papi Hoka sleep talks when he was in the back of the truck with us and would make hunting sounds trying to attract goats or when he would say "Aue no ho'i e" while out cold
Lowlights:
- The normal bikes on Ua Huka are straight killers on the legs especially since there is so much uphill. We go till we can't go no more then we walk
- Had a wasp crawl into my shirt and then stung my chest a couple times. I then untucked my shirt to get the wasp out only to have it fall on my finger and sting it as well. Right after we started biking and my chain comes off as we're going up this hill, we turn a corner to get back onto the main road and two dogs tried to attack me and Elder Hagen. Aiya. Safe to say we got a good boost of adrenaline during our 10 minute bike ride home
Spiritual Thought:
"Teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves" I love how simple yet powerful this little quote is. A principle is an enduring truth that can help guide us in making decisions.
Once we learn the doctrine behind something we are able to master the principles that allow us to govern ourselves in all aspects of our lives.
In Alma 37:35 it says, "O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God".
"Vents favorables et mer suivants"
"Mata'i haumaru e moana mania"
"Fair winds and following seas"
Dieu vous aime,
Elder Ellis
Link to more pictures!!!!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qErFS2eWV3pJGVEV7
