5 August 2009
Ran Allim eimi meisin!
Boating sounds like it’s been super fun, too bad I’ll still be able to wakeboard better than Zach while blindfolded and one hand tied behind my back! Ha
Kenzie! You’ll be done by the time you get this, but good luck! I hope you did well at Zones.
Mom and Zach you guys are a little behind…… I finished memorizing the Articles of Faith the very same day I wrote and said I was memorizing them, they only took a day to get down.
My companion, Elder Sorenson, is from Idaho. We get along great. He loves sports and is kind of quiet. He knows Chuukese and likes Chuukese food and that’s about all that matters. Ha He’s a good guy.
Last week was just fantastic! We taught about 15 Restoration lessons and none of the people we taught turned out to be even a little bit interested in progressing. So that was sweet.
Nothing super sweet this week and that’s probably a first. Just going out and teaching, teaching, teaching.
We did have Zone P-day on Tuesday and that’s why this letter is late. I had zero time to do anything. Taking care of the Elders, making sure no one died and that everyone had fun was enough to make me as tired as a full day tracting. Ha It was a success which was good and I felt that as a zone relationships were strengthened. Which was the point of the whole thing. Which reminds me Mom and Dad do you have or know any activities that are to be team building or strengthening? You know, I’m sure Dad, you did stuff for strengthening your groups or business with activities. Maybe I’m crazy. Anyway, if you guys know any or could find some we might give them a shot out here. Ha
Once again, please keep me updated with BYU swimming. I’m pushing hard with my workouts, I’m dominating. If only it could be longer. And I’ve changed the way I eat! The Chuukese eat and keep eating until they lie down or fall asleep. Well, I adopted that style because I love Chuukese food, but now I stop before I lie down or fall asleep so things are looking good. Ha
Ok, I love you all, stay out of trouble and ousap mano!
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells “Ito”
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Translating Dedicatory Prayer
28 July 2009
Ran Allim!
Thanks for the box! It’s been forever since I’ve eaten cookies! They were so good! Thanks Kenz.
Yes, my finger is all good. When do you all fly to Hawaii? Isn’t that coming up soon?
Last week we had Zone Conference and our training went very well. All the elders got safely back to their islands and nothings better than that.
The Chuuk zone has a brotherhood like love that other zones don’t have, says President Dowdle. And it’s true, but this Zone Conference President said that he felt a change. The love the Chuuk missionaries had for each other wasn’t as present as before he said, and man he’s right. President realized it and we spent much time in our interview talking about it. It is troubling for him and he said it needs to change because that’s one thing that makes the Chuuk zone different than the rest. The biggest challenge we face as Zone Leaders is not finding investigators, or being productive with our time but to be able to help the brotherly love return amongst the missionaries. Can do!
Romalum had a new chapel built and dedicated last week which is sweet! It’s really nice and very big. Finally the members will be able to all fit in the church. An area authority was supposed to come dedicate the chapel but he missed his flight so Friday evening President found out that he would be dedicating the building. Saturday at about 1:00 pm President called and said that he wanted the dedicatory prayer to be translated (dedicatory prayers are written previous to the dedication). So he stopped by and gave us the prayer and asked us to translate it. And that is what we spent the rest of the day doing. Translating a long three page prayer into Chuukese, fried our brains. President is a very intelligent man and the words he uses just don’t work in Chuukese. But, with the Lords help we were able to get it translated, printed, and made 20 copies by 9:15 pm, so that rocked.
We went to church in Wichap last week. There were only 11, including us. I don’t know what happened but we had as many as 52 attending when I was there, but it began decreasing ever since that Sunday of 52. Macky is still a stud and I still love his guts. We are leaving for Guam on Aug. 11, our tickets are booked, I’ll be going to Guam. President said we might even go bowling. What the heck? That blew my mind, I forgot stuff like that even existed. I’ll inform you when it happens.
OK, I’m going to use the rest of my P-day to rest. Love you lots, good luck in all your activities. Don’t die :)
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells Ito
Ran Allim!
Thanks for the box! It’s been forever since I’ve eaten cookies! They were so good! Thanks Kenz.
Yes, my finger is all good. When do you all fly to Hawaii? Isn’t that coming up soon?
Last week we had Zone Conference and our training went very well. All the elders got safely back to their islands and nothings better than that.
The Chuuk zone has a brotherhood like love that other zones don’t have, says President Dowdle. And it’s true, but this Zone Conference President said that he felt a change. The love the Chuuk missionaries had for each other wasn’t as present as before he said, and man he’s right. President realized it and we spent much time in our interview talking about it. It is troubling for him and he said it needs to change because that’s one thing that makes the Chuuk zone different than the rest. The biggest challenge we face as Zone Leaders is not finding investigators, or being productive with our time but to be able to help the brotherly love return amongst the missionaries. Can do!
Romalum had a new chapel built and dedicated last week which is sweet! It’s really nice and very big. Finally the members will be able to all fit in the church. An area authority was supposed to come dedicate the chapel but he missed his flight so Friday evening President found out that he would be dedicating the building. Saturday at about 1:00 pm President called and said that he wanted the dedicatory prayer to be translated (dedicatory prayers are written previous to the dedication). So he stopped by and gave us the prayer and asked us to translate it. And that is what we spent the rest of the day doing. Translating a long three page prayer into Chuukese, fried our brains. President is a very intelligent man and the words he uses just don’t work in Chuukese. But, with the Lords help we were able to get it translated, printed, and made 20 copies by 9:15 pm, so that rocked.
We went to church in Wichap last week. There were only 11, including us. I don’t know what happened but we had as many as 52 attending when I was there, but it began decreasing ever since that Sunday of 52. Macky is still a stud and I still love his guts. We are leaving for Guam on Aug. 11, our tickets are booked, I’ll be going to Guam. President said we might even go bowling. What the heck? That blew my mind, I forgot stuff like that even existed. I’ll inform you when it happens.
OK, I’m going to use the rest of my P-day to rest. Love you lots, good luck in all your activities. Don’t die :)
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells Ito
Repelling Anyone?
21 July 2009
Ran Allim!
Ifa usumi? Man Zach sounds like one busy boy this summer, non-stop action. McKenzie good luck with Zones and tapering is always exciting! Sydnee I hear you’re a studly swimmer, and a very pretty princess. Kelsey, well…. I don’t know seeing as I don’t get letters from you. I’m just kidding I love when you do write. Mom sounds busier than all and I’m sure Dad is as good looking as ever.
This past week we’ve been getting prepared for Zone conference that will happen this Thursday, and I’m super pumped about it. I think it’s going to be the bomb.
Elder Sorenson is from Idaho. He’s a stud. He went to a year of college at Boise State, worked for a year and then came out on his mission. So he has a year more of “real world” experience that is beneficial to the Zone. Ha Seeing as our Zone is super, super young. Besides one Elder, Elder Sorenson and I are the only missionaries in our zone that have been longer than a year. Everyone else has been out 9 months or less. So young! I worry about all these little boys running around these islands. Ha
While finding this past week we were hiking way up on the mountain. (Same as Wichap mountain but other side) and found a super wonderful family that were stoked to see us. We visited and set a return appointment because there was no man present, and just as we were about to start the long trip down the mountain path, they said: “Wait don’t go that way, go the fast way.” So one of their kids led us to a different path that apparently was the “fast” way. After about 50 yards down the trail we came to a cliff. Attached to a tree a little further up was a telephone cable that dangled down to the bottom of the cliff. The little girl that led us said, here it is, this is the fast way. I was thinking, yeah the fast way right to Guam with two broken arms, sprained ankles and shattered fibulas. The little girl, 7-years old, grabbed the cable and shimmied down in no time. By then I was competitive and there was no way a 7-year old girl was going to show me up. So I grabbed that cable like a man and repelled down that cliff. My hands have definitely become soft out here because it hurt pretty darn good. It was sweet and no one died so I was pumped. We’ll be teaching that family and hopefully things will go well :)
I had a bunch to write but I forgot because my letter is so long. Ha Now the Elders are at our house for P-day and all intelligence left the door they came in. ha A bunch of illiterate Chuukese speaking missionaries, what studs. For real though they are, I love them to death!
I love you all as well, don’t die :)
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells Ito
Ran Allim!
Ifa usumi? Man Zach sounds like one busy boy this summer, non-stop action. McKenzie good luck with Zones and tapering is always exciting! Sydnee I hear you’re a studly swimmer, and a very pretty princess. Kelsey, well…. I don’t know seeing as I don’t get letters from you. I’m just kidding I love when you do write. Mom sounds busier than all and I’m sure Dad is as good looking as ever.
This past week we’ve been getting prepared for Zone conference that will happen this Thursday, and I’m super pumped about it. I think it’s going to be the bomb.
Elder Sorenson is from Idaho. He’s a stud. He went to a year of college at Boise State, worked for a year and then came out on his mission. So he has a year more of “real world” experience that is beneficial to the Zone. Ha Seeing as our Zone is super, super young. Besides one Elder, Elder Sorenson and I are the only missionaries in our zone that have been longer than a year. Everyone else has been out 9 months or less. So young! I worry about all these little boys running around these islands. Ha
While finding this past week we were hiking way up on the mountain. (Same as Wichap mountain but other side) and found a super wonderful family that were stoked to see us. We visited and set a return appointment because there was no man present, and just as we were about to start the long trip down the mountain path, they said: “Wait don’t go that way, go the fast way.” So one of their kids led us to a different path that apparently was the “fast” way. After about 50 yards down the trail we came to a cliff. Attached to a tree a little further up was a telephone cable that dangled down to the bottom of the cliff. The little girl that led us said, here it is, this is the fast way. I was thinking, yeah the fast way right to Guam with two broken arms, sprained ankles and shattered fibulas. The little girl, 7-years old, grabbed the cable and shimmied down in no time. By then I was competitive and there was no way a 7-year old girl was going to show me up. So I grabbed that cable like a man and repelled down that cliff. My hands have definitely become soft out here because it hurt pretty darn good. It was sweet and no one died so I was pumped. We’ll be teaching that family and hopefully things will go well :)
I had a bunch to write but I forgot because my letter is so long. Ha Now the Elders are at our house for P-day and all intelligence left the door they came in. ha A bunch of illiterate Chuukese speaking missionaries, what studs. For real though they are, I love them to death!
I love you all as well, don’t die :)
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells Ito
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Watch Out for Flying Poles
14 July 2009
Nepong Allim Ami!
It sounds like it’s non-stop back at home, man you guys are busy people. Keep it up! McKenzie good luck with Zones coming up, that’ll be fun! I’m sure you’ll do super. I mean since you can claim islander blood and you’re going to swim on an island you’ll do amazing!
Thank you for that information on our ancestors and you bet I’ll claim islander lineage, I knew there was something to our family being so cool and it’s because we’re islanders. Just from the Atlantic side, ha.
That story was neat about Nathaniel Wells Dad, thanks. I thought, before my mission, that family history work was for old people but man I like it, and I haven’t even done any! Ha But the magnificent importance of it for our salvation and for the salvation of our progenitors gets me pumped! Ha
We had a great week! All the elders came in for shopping and no one was injured and they all returned safely. They stayed the night so the “house” was torn apart but it’s always fun and I enjoy their company.
We have two baptisms this weekend, their names are Peter-s and Keinin, they’re great. We set two more baptismal (?) last week as well which look super promising. One in particular named Sewel is the head of a large family. He is intelligent, perceptive and looking for the truth. He could be a key to a flood of baptisms through his family. I pray that he may come to know with a surety the truthfulness of this Church because he could become a leader and bring many souls unto Christ. He has already attended church and plans to continue. He is consistent in reading the Book of Mormon and he took a priesthood manual home from church and read that. At our next meeting with him he had wonderful, fantastic, amazing questions about the priesthood and when they were answered the Spirit was penetrating and memorable. I know he had a witness from the Spirit that the authority is in our Church alone. Good stuff!
While the elders were in this past week we had another neat experience. While we were all waiting for them to email on the one working computer (why doesn’t he email us?), a drunk man with a metal pole was running around outside. He was bashing the ground, bashing trees and everything in sight. Apparently he was bored with trees and rocks so screaming like a maniac he ran over to our truck and bashed the side window in. Then ran into the road and stopped traffic and knocked the hood of a car in. I was outside for all of this and thoughts of running and tackling him were going through my mind until I imagined my skull being the hood of the car he just slammed. So I didn’t. But some other guys came flying by in a flat bed truck throwing rocks at him. Ha So he threw the pole and ran off into the forest.
It caused enough commotion the police showed up. They looked at our truck, looked at the pole and dented car hood. Gave us some concerned looks and then left. They did work! That’s the most I’ve ever seen them work, I’m proud :) I’m 100% positive that nothing will ever come of it. But the fact that they showed up was a nice thought. Anyway, so now we taped up a box and plastic bag over our window. We’re really striving to fit in. Right now we’re ¼ of the way there, three windows left and we’ll be like every other car in Chuuk.
It’s great and I love it! But don’t worry I don’t ever leave the camera in the truck anymore :) Those videos were great by the way.
Okay, I’m out of paper and 2 pages is a lot for me in my struggling English. Thanks for your continued writing it’s inspiring :)
Tong Ennet
Elder Wells Ito
P.S. “Famili ese much” is families are forever. I’m pretty sure I already told you that, but I like it, and I’m putting it up in my house when I return :)
Nepong Allim Ami!
It sounds like it’s non-stop back at home, man you guys are busy people. Keep it up! McKenzie good luck with Zones coming up, that’ll be fun! I’m sure you’ll do super. I mean since you can claim islander blood and you’re going to swim on an island you’ll do amazing!
Thank you for that information on our ancestors and you bet I’ll claim islander lineage, I knew there was something to our family being so cool and it’s because we’re islanders. Just from the Atlantic side, ha.
That story was neat about Nathaniel Wells Dad, thanks. I thought, before my mission, that family history work was for old people but man I like it, and I haven’t even done any! Ha But the magnificent importance of it for our salvation and for the salvation of our progenitors gets me pumped! Ha
We had a great week! All the elders came in for shopping and no one was injured and they all returned safely. They stayed the night so the “house” was torn apart but it’s always fun and I enjoy their company.
We have two baptisms this weekend, their names are Peter-s and Keinin, they’re great. We set two more baptismal (?) last week as well which look super promising. One in particular named Sewel is the head of a large family. He is intelligent, perceptive and looking for the truth. He could be a key to a flood of baptisms through his family. I pray that he may come to know with a surety the truthfulness of this Church because he could become a leader and bring many souls unto Christ. He has already attended church and plans to continue. He is consistent in reading the Book of Mormon and he took a priesthood manual home from church and read that. At our next meeting with him he had wonderful, fantastic, amazing questions about the priesthood and when they were answered the Spirit was penetrating and memorable. I know he had a witness from the Spirit that the authority is in our Church alone. Good stuff!
While the elders were in this past week we had another neat experience. While we were all waiting for them to email on the one working computer (why doesn’t he email us?), a drunk man with a metal pole was running around outside. He was bashing the ground, bashing trees and everything in sight. Apparently he was bored with trees and rocks so screaming like a maniac he ran over to our truck and bashed the side window in. Then ran into the road and stopped traffic and knocked the hood of a car in. I was outside for all of this and thoughts of running and tackling him were going through my mind until I imagined my skull being the hood of the car he just slammed. So I didn’t. But some other guys came flying by in a flat bed truck throwing rocks at him. Ha So he threw the pole and ran off into the forest.
It caused enough commotion the police showed up. They looked at our truck, looked at the pole and dented car hood. Gave us some concerned looks and then left. They did work! That’s the most I’ve ever seen them work, I’m proud :) I’m 100% positive that nothing will ever come of it. But the fact that they showed up was a nice thought. Anyway, so now we taped up a box and plastic bag over our window. We’re really striving to fit in. Right now we’re ¼ of the way there, three windows left and we’ll be like every other car in Chuuk.
It’s great and I love it! But don’t worry I don’t ever leave the camera in the truck anymore :) Those videos were great by the way.
Okay, I’m out of paper and 2 pages is a lot for me in my struggling English. Thanks for your continued writing it’s inspiring :)
Tong Ennet
Elder Wells Ito
P.S. “Famili ese much” is families are forever. I’m pretty sure I already told you that, but I like it, and I’m putting it up in my house when I return :)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Watch your fingers!
7 July 2009
Ran Allim Ngenikemi!
I sent the box! Wow, I did it. I also received the box with the camera in it thank you very, very much! I loved the videos of you all and I was impressed with Zach’s soccer skills but I think he used his arm to hold the ball. Ha
This past week went well. We had to take care of a bunch of zone needs, so we didn’t have much time to find new people, which funny enough, is probably my favorite thing to do having done it so much in opening two areas.
I’ve been preparing for Zone Conference which is next week, and the chapter from Preach My Gospel, we as zone leaders are training on is Christ-like attributes. The more I study it the more I enjoy it! A random question I had when studying this in the MTC was: Is it possible to live a perfect day? Meaning free from sinning for one day. It’s not important or even necessary, I just ask because I asked at Zone p-day and it started a huge debate with ½ for it being possible and the other half saying not possible. I was on the possible side . . . . but whatever.
We locked ourselves out of our house yesterday so we had to break in. I used a tuna can lid to open the door but as it opened all the pressure I was putting on the lid and my hand gave way and I quite literally sliced my middle finger from the very tip to my middle knuckle. Yeah, it was a big one. It was nice and deep and didn’t ever want to stop bleeding! Ha It stopped and I patched it up. But, today, coming down from the mountain I slipped and landed on my left hand (the sliced one) and it started bleeding like crazy again! It just opened it wider and I can see all the nice stuff in my finger but everything will be ok and I’m not even entirely sure why I just told you all that, because Mom didn’t really want to know. Ha
Transfer calls came and Elder Sorenson is my new official companion. We won’t be going to zone leader council until August 12.
Thanks for the poems dad, it’s harder to find time in Mwan to memorize but the little more than a month of time I’ve been memorizing I have memorized about 25 scriptures, quotes, or poems.
Love you lots and lots.
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells "Ito"
Ran Allim Ngenikemi!
I sent the box! Wow, I did it. I also received the box with the camera in it thank you very, very much! I loved the videos of you all and I was impressed with Zach’s soccer skills but I think he used his arm to hold the ball. Ha
This past week went well. We had to take care of a bunch of zone needs, so we didn’t have much time to find new people, which funny enough, is probably my favorite thing to do having done it so much in opening two areas.
I’ve been preparing for Zone Conference which is next week, and the chapter from Preach My Gospel, we as zone leaders are training on is Christ-like attributes. The more I study it the more I enjoy it! A random question I had when studying this in the MTC was: Is it possible to live a perfect day? Meaning free from sinning for one day. It’s not important or even necessary, I just ask because I asked at Zone p-day and it started a huge debate with ½ for it being possible and the other half saying not possible. I was on the possible side . . . . but whatever.
We locked ourselves out of our house yesterday so we had to break in. I used a tuna can lid to open the door but as it opened all the pressure I was putting on the lid and my hand gave way and I quite literally sliced my middle finger from the very tip to my middle knuckle. Yeah, it was a big one. It was nice and deep and didn’t ever want to stop bleeding! Ha It stopped and I patched it up. But, today, coming down from the mountain I slipped and landed on my left hand (the sliced one) and it started bleeding like crazy again! It just opened it wider and I can see all the nice stuff in my finger but everything will be ok and I’m not even entirely sure why I just told you all that, because Mom didn’t really want to know. Ha
Transfer calls came and Elder Sorenson is my new official companion. We won’t be going to zone leader council until August 12.
Thanks for the poems dad, it’s harder to find time in Mwan to memorize but the little more than a month of time I’ve been memorizing I have memorized about 25 scriptures, quotes, or poems.
Love you lots and lots.
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells "Ito"
"Finding"
30 June 2009
Ran Allim!
Our P-days have been changed to Tuesday so if you’re getting letters later that is why.
Well, first I am not with Elder Sorenson, yet. I am still in a threesome with Elders Varo and Ulmer, and turns out Elder Sorenson might not even be my companion. In my interview with President he said: I have no idea yet who your next companion will be. So, we’ll find out all that business next week.
This week was great! President taught us about the doctrine of finding at zone conference. Who’d a thought? There is a doctrine to even finding people to teach! Super! It’s even in a book that you wouldn’t think to turn to, the Book of Abraham. Basically, finding those people that are of the Abrahamic Covenant is what it is. We find those, soon to be, Abrahamic covenant people by finding through those people that are already apart of that covenant (man, I don’t know English) very simply, it’s finding through families. Finding through member families to any relatives or friends they have.
The whole reason I bring this up is because it works! We’ve applied it in our finding and our new investigators are just ready for it! One example, last week I talked to a member that had just recently started coming to church (thanks to the efforts of home teaching) and we talked about his family, all of them, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great grandparents, great grandkids, cousins five times removed and everything in between. After discussing them all I asked him if he thought anyone out of his large family would accept a visit and message from us. He said: Yeah! (in Chuukese of course) There are two that live with me right now in my house. You come teach them and they’ll be baptized. He wasn’t lying. We showed up at his house and walked into his ut (meeting house) sitting on the floor were two young teens both had a Book of Mormon and were waiting reverently. I almost jumped up and down and ran around.
We sat down had a wonderful lesson, committed them to church and to read the B of M and pray. Sunday came, they showed up and have been regular ever since. They will be getting baptized in the next couple of weeks (most likely). Just like that! All we did was ask, and the Lord had prepared certain people to be there to help us and then had prepared the two individuals. There names are Peter-S, and Keinin. They’re studs. So, yeah the church is true if you didn’t know and missionary work is the greatest.
I’m still memorizing a way so if you have any sweet stuff dad, hook me up. Right now I’m memorizing the Articles of Faith. Embarrassing, I didn’t have them already memorized. Elder L. Tom Perry in 1998 General Conference said it would be a great blessing if every church member memorized the Articles of Faith and knew the principles in them. He promised that those who did would be prepared to preach the gospel. When I read that I got my act together and started memorizing them. Ha
Can you believe you’ll be the oldest at home McKenzie? Crazy! I love you guys guts, or lets just leave it at I really, really, really, (fakkun, wejewgen, ennet) love you guys.
Tong Ennet
Elder Ito
We also got a package the same day we received this letter!! Yea, our first one. The small note inside said this: Wow, here it is. At least some of it. Ha Just wash the wood carvings and they’ll be fine :) There’s more but I can’t fit it. The skatos “skirts” are for the girls, the octopus is Zach’s and mom and dad’s stuff didn’t fit but will come someday . . . . . Sea shells for everyone. Sorry it took forever, I have more :)
(the seashells are amazing!)
Ran Allim!
Our P-days have been changed to Tuesday so if you’re getting letters later that is why.
Well, first I am not with Elder Sorenson, yet. I am still in a threesome with Elders Varo and Ulmer, and turns out Elder Sorenson might not even be my companion. In my interview with President he said: I have no idea yet who your next companion will be. So, we’ll find out all that business next week.
This week was great! President taught us about the doctrine of finding at zone conference. Who’d a thought? There is a doctrine to even finding people to teach! Super! It’s even in a book that you wouldn’t think to turn to, the Book of Abraham. Basically, finding those people that are of the Abrahamic Covenant is what it is. We find those, soon to be, Abrahamic covenant people by finding through those people that are already apart of that covenant (man, I don’t know English) very simply, it’s finding through families. Finding through member families to any relatives or friends they have.
The whole reason I bring this up is because it works! We’ve applied it in our finding and our new investigators are just ready for it! One example, last week I talked to a member that had just recently started coming to church (thanks to the efforts of home teaching) and we talked about his family, all of them, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great grandparents, great grandkids, cousins five times removed and everything in between. After discussing them all I asked him if he thought anyone out of his large family would accept a visit and message from us. He said: Yeah! (in Chuukese of course) There are two that live with me right now in my house. You come teach them and they’ll be baptized. He wasn’t lying. We showed up at his house and walked into his ut (meeting house) sitting on the floor were two young teens both had a Book of Mormon and were waiting reverently. I almost jumped up and down and ran around.
We sat down had a wonderful lesson, committed them to church and to read the B of M and pray. Sunday came, they showed up and have been regular ever since. They will be getting baptized in the next couple of weeks (most likely). Just like that! All we did was ask, and the Lord had prepared certain people to be there to help us and then had prepared the two individuals. There names are Peter-S, and Keinin. They’re studs. So, yeah the church is true if you didn’t know and missionary work is the greatest.
I’m still memorizing a way so if you have any sweet stuff dad, hook me up. Right now I’m memorizing the Articles of Faith. Embarrassing, I didn’t have them already memorized. Elder L. Tom Perry in 1998 General Conference said it would be a great blessing if every church member memorized the Articles of Faith and knew the principles in them. He promised that those who did would be prepared to preach the gospel. When I read that I got my act together and started memorizing them. Ha
Can you believe you’ll be the oldest at home McKenzie? Crazy! I love you guys guts, or lets just leave it at I really, really, really, (fakkun, wejewgen, ennet) love you guys.
Tong Ennet
Elder Ito
We also got a package the same day we received this letter!! Yea, our first one. The small note inside said this: Wow, here it is. At least some of it. Ha Just wash the wood carvings and they’ll be fine :) There’s more but I can’t fit it. The skatos “skirts” are for the girls, the octopus is Zach’s and mom and dad’s stuff didn’t fit but will come someday . . . . . Sea shells for everyone. Sorry it took forever, I have more :)
(the seashells are amazing!)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
June 18, 2009 letter
18 June 2009
Ran Allim!
We just had zone conference and all the elders crammed in our house, so this letter is a little late due to preparations and making sure all the elders stayed alive!
Zone Conference was super, as always, and everyone had good feelings about it. We, as zone leaders, trained on chapter four from Preach My Gospel, which deals with the spirit. A kick-awesome chapter if I do say so myself. Best part about training on this chapter of recognizing the spirit was having the spirit present in the training so that all were enlightened and edified.
Being in the islands I’m surrounded by islanders obviously. President Dowdle made some statements about his ancestry being from Ireland and England and since those are isles, he was claiming the title of islander. I like that, and it got me interested more in our ancestry. Our ancestors came from Wales and England right? I’m not sure, wish I would have paid more attention but dad I know you can tell me, so if you could write or send something about our genealogy that would be sweet. Because if President Dowdle is claiming islander, you bet I’m claiming islander as well, President also mentioned that there are statements by some members of the Quorum of the 12 about the inhabitants of the British Isles and if you know of any of that would be super sweet as well, because I have no access to that. ha It struck a chord of interest when he started talking about those things and I have no way to find them out in Chuuk. If anyone can find time to help me out that would be great!
I’ll share with you the quote I just memorized from Joseph Smith. I’ve been studying a lot about receiving personal revelation and the necessity it is to receive it, particularly in proclaiming the gospel: “The things of God are of deep import and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, oh man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search unto and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity--thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None, but fools will trifle with the souls of men.”
The coolest thing about personal revelation is that every person that has the Holy Ghost is entitled to receive it if we will ask, and seek.
I love you all, like my own blood! Oh, wait ....... :) I really mean it when I say I love you all. In Chuukese culture/language to tell someone you love them is a very meaningful expression and is not treated lightly. You will never tell someone you love them unless you honestly do, and when someone expresses that it is taken very seriously. So, when I say “Ua men tongeikemi” (I love you guys) I mean it in a very serious way.
Take care, don’t die.
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells “Ito”
Ran Allim!
We just had zone conference and all the elders crammed in our house, so this letter is a little late due to preparations and making sure all the elders stayed alive!
Zone Conference was super, as always, and everyone had good feelings about it. We, as zone leaders, trained on chapter four from Preach My Gospel, which deals with the spirit. A kick-awesome chapter if I do say so myself. Best part about training on this chapter of recognizing the spirit was having the spirit present in the training so that all were enlightened and edified.
Being in the islands I’m surrounded by islanders obviously. President Dowdle made some statements about his ancestry being from Ireland and England and since those are isles, he was claiming the title of islander. I like that, and it got me interested more in our ancestry. Our ancestors came from Wales and England right? I’m not sure, wish I would have paid more attention but dad I know you can tell me, so if you could write or send something about our genealogy that would be sweet. Because if President Dowdle is claiming islander, you bet I’m claiming islander as well, President also mentioned that there are statements by some members of the Quorum of the 12 about the inhabitants of the British Isles and if you know of any of that would be super sweet as well, because I have no access to that. ha It struck a chord of interest when he started talking about those things and I have no way to find them out in Chuuk. If anyone can find time to help me out that would be great!
I’ll share with you the quote I just memorized from Joseph Smith. I’ve been studying a lot about receiving personal revelation and the necessity it is to receive it, particularly in proclaiming the gospel: “The things of God are of deep import and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, oh man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search unto and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity--thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None, but fools will trifle with the souls of men.”
The coolest thing about personal revelation is that every person that has the Holy Ghost is entitled to receive it if we will ask, and seek.
I love you all, like my own blood! Oh, wait ....... :) I really mean it when I say I love you all. In Chuukese culture/language to tell someone you love them is a very meaningful expression and is not treated lightly. You will never tell someone you love them unless you honestly do, and when someone expresses that it is taken very seriously. So, when I say “Ua men tongeikemi” (I love you guys) I mean it in a very serious way.
Take care, don’t die.
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells “Ito”
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