Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
"I'm Pumped!"
13 Oct 2009
A temple in Brigham City! No way! It’s already like my 3rd favorite temple just because dad always told us there was a temple there. That’s so cool! McKenzie is now in high school swimming. Wow! That’s so amazing. I’m so pumped for you Kenz. Syd and Zach keep up the good work! Keep the W’s coming in for the Wells. Guess what? I got a letter from you guys that you wrote on Aug 24. That was cool. I’m so happy to hear that Kelsey is doing so well, man I love her! She’s still yet to write from BYU “I-do”, that’s all cool though.
Man so I’m pumped about BYU swimming, make sure to keep me informed on the results. I’m working out way hard, and float between 185 - 187 lbs. Which is 10 more lbs. of muscle instead of fat :) than when I came out at. I’m planning on revamping that team. ha, kidding. But is there anything I need to do school related? I only ask because Elder Sorenson has had permission from President Dowdle to get on the couples computer and start applying for school. Maybe not. But is there anything for swimming that needs to happen? Maybe if you could e-mail Tim Powers (what a guy :)) and see if there’s anything that we should do to make sure it all goes smoothly. Sorry, I’m just so pumped about so many things that I can hardly control myself.
Another thing I’m super pumped for is Sewel’s baptism! He’s been hacking away at his baptismal date for months and it’s almost here! Oct. 31. Look out, that’s exciting news!
Kerfin, one of the young men from Muan is leaving on Thursday for Guam and reaches the Philipines on Friday and enters the MTC on Saturday! He’s a stud and does so much for us and for the branch. It’ll be the third missionaroy from Chuuk that I’ll see off, which means I’ll probably cry because these guys are such studs! That’s the biggest news and so we’re making sure to make some time for Kerfin.
Oh, something of note... I got a letter from a girl! Wow! I forgot what that was like. It was cool. It’s all good because missionary work makes you better looking . . . . spiritually :) And so I’m not worried plus, missionary work rocks my world so I don’t care about much else.
I have been on Weno island for 10 1/2 straight months. I don’t know anyone else who has done that. Usually they get transferred to an outer island to break it up, but I have been here straight 10 1/2 months. That’s a long time! I love it though, but I would really love to go back to an outer island again. Outer island life is the greatest and I love having no other worries than just my small little island :)
I talked to Hill the other day and he was way pumped when he heard of you guys going to his homecoming! Do it! Peterson is going to have dinner with you?!! Give him a hug for me! I love him to death. Just like all you guys!
Tong Taiwak!
Elder Wells “Ito”
P.S. I sent a padded envelope with pics. Did you get them? I sent them the same day as this letter.
A temple in Brigham City! No way! It’s already like my 3rd favorite temple just because dad always told us there was a temple there. That’s so cool! McKenzie is now in high school swimming. Wow! That’s so amazing. I’m so pumped for you Kenz. Syd and Zach keep up the good work! Keep the W’s coming in for the Wells. Guess what? I got a letter from you guys that you wrote on Aug 24. That was cool. I’m so happy to hear that Kelsey is doing so well, man I love her! She’s still yet to write from BYU “I-do”, that’s all cool though.
Man so I’m pumped about BYU swimming, make sure to keep me informed on the results. I’m working out way hard, and float between 185 - 187 lbs. Which is 10 more lbs. of muscle instead of fat :) than when I came out at. I’m planning on revamping that team. ha, kidding. But is there anything I need to do school related? I only ask because Elder Sorenson has had permission from President Dowdle to get on the couples computer and start applying for school. Maybe not. But is there anything for swimming that needs to happen? Maybe if you could e-mail Tim Powers (what a guy :)) and see if there’s anything that we should do to make sure it all goes smoothly. Sorry, I’m just so pumped about so many things that I can hardly control myself.
Another thing I’m super pumped for is Sewel’s baptism! He’s been hacking away at his baptismal date for months and it’s almost here! Oct. 31. Look out, that’s exciting news!
Kerfin, one of the young men from Muan is leaving on Thursday for Guam and reaches the Philipines on Friday and enters the MTC on Saturday! He’s a stud and does so much for us and for the branch. It’ll be the third missionaroy from Chuuk that I’ll see off, which means I’ll probably cry because these guys are such studs! That’s the biggest news and so we’re making sure to make some time for Kerfin.
Oh, something of note... I got a letter from a girl! Wow! I forgot what that was like. It was cool. It’s all good because missionary work makes you better looking . . . . spiritually :) And so I’m not worried plus, missionary work rocks my world so I don’t care about much else.
I have been on Weno island for 10 1/2 straight months. I don’t know anyone else who has done that. Usually they get transferred to an outer island to break it up, but I have been here straight 10 1/2 months. That’s a long time! I love it though, but I would really love to go back to an outer island again. Outer island life is the greatest and I love having no other worries than just my small little island :)
I talked to Hill the other day and he was way pumped when he heard of you guys going to his homecoming! Do it! Peterson is going to have dinner with you?!! Give him a hug for me! I love him to death. Just like all you guys!
Tong Taiwak!
Elder Wells “Ito”
P.S. I sent a padded envelope with pics. Did you get them? I sent them the same day as this letter.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Kind of Sad -- but strengthening
29 Sep 2009
Ran Allim ngenikemi!
Oh boy what a week! Elder Sorenson and I have a new motto. It comes from D&C 58:4 “After much tribulation come the blessings.... And right now, let’s just say we’re waiting for the blessings. ha Secondly that little word “much” means a lot more now than it did before. But life is as good as ever. :)
Right now we’re low on investigators progressing towards baptism, but we’re doing plenty of finding so hopefully it will result in some fantastic new investigators.
We had transfer calls last night, and I’m in Chuuk for another! It’s coming down to crunch time. My greatest desire is to at least end my mission in Chuuk, so each transfer I stay in Chuuk means less chance of going to Guam and returning, oh dear.
Our recent (studly) convert Hertina ran into some problems. Her younger sister and her husband that stay with Hertina have taken over the house and have been forcing Hertina and her three children to sleep outside under the “falang” cooking hut. Hertina had enough and went to sleep in her house, but when her younger sister’s husband came home he wasn’t happy at all and under ridiculous circumstances beat Hertina with a metal rod. Hertina left that night with her kids and went to stay at Sameon and Marsine’s house. (They’re preparing to go to the temple in December) and that’s where she is til right now. Her face is way swollen but nothing can slow her down! She still washes our clothes, cooks food for us, loves life more than anything, and is just positive! Nothing can get her down! Amazing, due to the fact that her husband who had gone to America to send back money just barely married another Chuukese woman and left her other kids in America. She has handled all these family problems in such a remarkable way that I am inspired by her example. The truthfulness of God’s restored Gospel brings such happiness and joy that no earthly pain or suffering can quench it and Hertina is a shining example of that. I love her!
The amazingness of this Gospel blows my mind, and seeing it affect peoples lives in such a significant way is spiritual strengthening in everyway. I love this Gospel, and I know with everything emotional, spiritual, and intellectual that I possess that it is true! And that makes me love it even more.
I know Christ is our Redeemer and that Joseph Smith is His Prophet that restored His church to prepare the world and us, for Christ’s magnificent second coming. That through His church and obeying the ordinances and commandments in it we can live forever in the presence of God and I am so pumped about it!
I love you all!
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells “Ito”
Ran Allim ngenikemi!
Oh boy what a week! Elder Sorenson and I have a new motto. It comes from D&C 58:4 “After much tribulation come the blessings.... And right now, let’s just say we’re waiting for the blessings. ha Secondly that little word “much” means a lot more now than it did before. But life is as good as ever. :)
Right now we’re low on investigators progressing towards baptism, but we’re doing plenty of finding so hopefully it will result in some fantastic new investigators.
We had transfer calls last night, and I’m in Chuuk for another! It’s coming down to crunch time. My greatest desire is to at least end my mission in Chuuk, so each transfer I stay in Chuuk means less chance of going to Guam and returning, oh dear.
Our recent (studly) convert Hertina ran into some problems. Her younger sister and her husband that stay with Hertina have taken over the house and have been forcing Hertina and her three children to sleep outside under the “falang” cooking hut. Hertina had enough and went to sleep in her house, but when her younger sister’s husband came home he wasn’t happy at all and under ridiculous circumstances beat Hertina with a metal rod. Hertina left that night with her kids and went to stay at Sameon and Marsine’s house. (They’re preparing to go to the temple in December) and that’s where she is til right now. Her face is way swollen but nothing can slow her down! She still washes our clothes, cooks food for us, loves life more than anything, and is just positive! Nothing can get her down! Amazing, due to the fact that her husband who had gone to America to send back money just barely married another Chuukese woman and left her other kids in America. She has handled all these family problems in such a remarkable way that I am inspired by her example. The truthfulness of God’s restored Gospel brings such happiness and joy that no earthly pain or suffering can quench it and Hertina is a shining example of that. I love her!
The amazingness of this Gospel blows my mind, and seeing it affect peoples lives in such a significant way is spiritual strengthening in everyway. I love this Gospel, and I know with everything emotional, spiritual, and intellectual that I possess that it is true! And that makes me love it even more.
I know Christ is our Redeemer and that Joseph Smith is His Prophet that restored His church to prepare the world and us, for Christ’s magnificent second coming. That through His church and obeying the ordinances and commandments in it we can live forever in the presence of God and I am so pumped about it!
I love you all!
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells “Ito”
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Octopus Anyone?
22 Sep 2009
Ran Allilm ami!
Happy Birthday Dad and McKenzie! Big happy anniversary Mom and Dad you’re all amazing! I bet you all thought I forgot, well I didn’t it’s just a little late. ha Things are as busy as ever but I’m loving it!
I have to brag a little first. The past two p-days we’ve played basketball with the Chuukese and we haven’t lost once. All in all we’ve probably played more than six hours and 60 games of basketball and not once have we lost. So yeah, Zach, I’m still a stud. ha
We had Zone Conference last week and that was a big success! Everyone was edified and spiritually regenerated. I’m excited to see the future results of the conference. The missionaries have done wonders and we have become more unified than ever before! I love these missionaires as much as I love these Chuukese (and that’s a lot). Everything is so good, I love it! And since it is going so well something will probably change so that we won’t get too comfortable. ha Unfortunately that change, I think, involves either Elder Sorenson or myself going to Guam. Oh dear, President Dowdle has verbally verified that I will be going to Guam, the only question now is when? I’m over it.
I have eaten “Nipach” dad (octopus). Paata’s nickname is “Paata Nipach” because they’re famous for catching octopus. And I love it! Nipach is probably my favorite meat to eat with rice, and you know what the best part is? The head! I love the head and “met masouan” (the contents of the inside of an octopus head). That’s one thing you’ll have to learn how to cook when I get back mom. ha
I know I’ve already mentioned it but any new news on BYU swimming? I still go through withdrawals sometimes. Every once in a while for my shower in the morning I’ll fill our bucket we shower with all the way up (5 gal) and then pour it on me all at once and imagine that I’m swimming or at least just immersed in water. ha I’m a nerd.
I’m glad to hear Gramps is out of the hospital, but he’s a stallion so I knew he wouldn’t be in there too long :)
This week will be great! We’ll have plenty of time to go “finding” and find new investigators. We go through investigators pretty quickly here in Muan. If an investigator isn’t progressing we let him/her/them know it, commit them to change and if they don’t . . . . . well we know right where to put them. Right in the former investigator pool. We don’t mess around. We have so much to do we can’t afford to drag someone through everything so they can get baptized and fall away. Our entire focus is finding Abraham’s seed. Those who have been prepared by the Lord and are ready to make the commitments and progression to baptism, and I love it!
My letters have changed over time haven’t they? Sorry, if you all find them boring I write a bunch of stuff that I love as a missionary but I imagine it’s different for you back home. Oh well, the point of the matter is that we’re tearing it up out here. All the Chuuk missionaries are.
“Ua chuen tongeikemi ousap phan ponuku!” I still love you all, don’t forget it!
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells “Ito”
Ran Allilm ami!
Happy Birthday Dad and McKenzie! Big happy anniversary Mom and Dad you’re all amazing! I bet you all thought I forgot, well I didn’t it’s just a little late. ha Things are as busy as ever but I’m loving it!
I have to brag a little first. The past two p-days we’ve played basketball with the Chuukese and we haven’t lost once. All in all we’ve probably played more than six hours and 60 games of basketball and not once have we lost. So yeah, Zach, I’m still a stud. ha
We had Zone Conference last week and that was a big success! Everyone was edified and spiritually regenerated. I’m excited to see the future results of the conference. The missionaries have done wonders and we have become more unified than ever before! I love these missionaires as much as I love these Chuukese (and that’s a lot). Everything is so good, I love it! And since it is going so well something will probably change so that we won’t get too comfortable. ha Unfortunately that change, I think, involves either Elder Sorenson or myself going to Guam. Oh dear, President Dowdle has verbally verified that I will be going to Guam, the only question now is when? I’m over it.
I have eaten “Nipach” dad (octopus). Paata’s nickname is “Paata Nipach” because they’re famous for catching octopus. And I love it! Nipach is probably my favorite meat to eat with rice, and you know what the best part is? The head! I love the head and “met masouan” (the contents of the inside of an octopus head). That’s one thing you’ll have to learn how to cook when I get back mom. ha
I know I’ve already mentioned it but any new news on BYU swimming? I still go through withdrawals sometimes. Every once in a while for my shower in the morning I’ll fill our bucket we shower with all the way up (5 gal) and then pour it on me all at once and imagine that I’m swimming or at least just immersed in water. ha I’m a nerd.
I’m glad to hear Gramps is out of the hospital, but he’s a stallion so I knew he wouldn’t be in there too long :)
This week will be great! We’ll have plenty of time to go “finding” and find new investigators. We go through investigators pretty quickly here in Muan. If an investigator isn’t progressing we let him/her/them know it, commit them to change and if they don’t . . . . . well we know right where to put them. Right in the former investigator pool. We don’t mess around. We have so much to do we can’t afford to drag someone through everything so they can get baptized and fall away. Our entire focus is finding Abraham’s seed. Those who have been prepared by the Lord and are ready to make the commitments and progression to baptism, and I love it!
My letters have changed over time haven’t they? Sorry, if you all find them boring I write a bunch of stuff that I love as a missionary but I imagine it’s different for you back home. Oh well, the point of the matter is that we’re tearing it up out here. All the Chuuk missionaries are.
“Ua chuen tongeikemi ousap phan ponuku!” I still love you all, don’t forget it!
Tong Ennet,
Elder Wells “Ito”
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Finally! 9-10-09 ltr
10 Sept 09
Ran Allim Am!
Holy smokes! Forgive me for not writing but last week and this week have been off the wall. Pretty much every week is off the wall and I think it’ll slow down or something but it never does. You didn’t get my letter about Guam? I sent one or two, but you did get the pictures which is good!
Last Sunday night we got a call from the AP’s. They told us they were coming Monday morning and they had a list of stuff they wanted us to do before they arrived. We had already made plans with other missionaries that week so we were scrambling to get everything worked out for them.
Monday came and we catered to the AP’s every need when they flew in, we had Zone P-day on Tuesday, Wednesday was more helping the AP’s get where they needed to go, Thursday AP’s worked with us which is always crazy, Friday we sent off the AP’s, went to Uman in a huge storm to do a baptismal interview and survived, Saturday we did work but mostly tried to take a few breaths from the past five days and Sunday was just fantastic!
We have two baptisms this Saturday, a mom and her daughter. They’re studs!
I need to tell you about two women here in Chuuk. One’s name is Marsine and the other is Hertina. They take care of us pretty well so you don’t need to worry mom. :) Marsine is determined to make me fat. She makes the best Chuukese food in these islands and she always wants to give me some. I try and eat only a small amount, but she won’t have any of that and all but forces me to eat it all. I’ll never starve with her on my side. Hertina is the mom who will be baptized this Saturday. She was sick of coming to church and seeing Sorenson and I in dirty shirts (these machines do nothing) and so she told us: “I hate when you guys wear dirty shirts, today you come to my house and give me all your clothes and I’ll make them clean.” We were more than happy to give her all our stuff and now they are shining white!
So don’t worry mom, I have some amazing Chuukese women (Fin Chuuk) taking care of me :)
We’ll be having three baptisms this Saturday, after I began writing this a baptismal candidate realized she just needed to get baptized so she’ll also be in the mix on Saturday.
We raised our Zone baptismal goal to 82 and we are currently at 61, after this weekend we should be at 66 with many more in the near future. It’s easy to do missionary work (finding and teaching) the hard part is thrown in when you try and have all your time dedicated to finding and teaching people to baptize. I’ll explain : It’s easy to go out and find people, teach them about our Church and get some numbers on lessons taught, that’s easy. But that’s not what I want to do. I don’t want to just teach somebody, I want to baptize somebody! And that makes it harder. Finding those that have been prepared by the Lord, finding those of the Abrahamic Covenant that will progress to baptism is my focus and to do that we can’t just go out and find anybody and teach them. We have to find the right people!
Sorry about that, just a whole bunch of missionary talk, ha.
Thanks for those pictures of Hawaii. That’s not breadfruit it’s what we call “fach”. And boiled breadfruit “Tipen” is my favorite food ever! You guys are missing out. Sydnee I can’t believe you jumped off that huge rock! You’re crazy!
Good news for you Mom, I’ve lost weight :) ha I’m only 185. That’s way good and if people keep telling me how good I look I’m bound to get a big head about it. Ha
You’re already out of retirement Dad? Like one of those Brett Favre’s I see. Sydnee’s lucky to have such a studly coach.
Mom you look younger than everyone else! Are you 30 again?! :) For reals, everyone looks like they’ve gotten older except you, and I’m not just saying that (he sure knows how to say the right thing when he’s missed writing)
Zone conference is next week and I’m way pumped for what we’ll be training on. I did get those two last boxes, thank you.
Give my love to the Miller’s, I love those guys so much! What ward are they in? Also to Mamma Hafen and the Bodine’s. I think of them, when I have time, which really isn’t saying too much because I’m definitely short on time, but just let them know I think they’re studs as well as their sons!
Love you all so much! Forgive me mother for being a late writer.
Tong Ennet,
Elder Ito Wells
Ran Allim Am!
Holy smokes! Forgive me for not writing but last week and this week have been off the wall. Pretty much every week is off the wall and I think it’ll slow down or something but it never does. You didn’t get my letter about Guam? I sent one or two, but you did get the pictures which is good!
Last Sunday night we got a call from the AP’s. They told us they were coming Monday morning and they had a list of stuff they wanted us to do before they arrived. We had already made plans with other missionaries that week so we were scrambling to get everything worked out for them.
Monday came and we catered to the AP’s every need when they flew in, we had Zone P-day on Tuesday, Wednesday was more helping the AP’s get where they needed to go, Thursday AP’s worked with us which is always crazy, Friday we sent off the AP’s, went to Uman in a huge storm to do a baptismal interview and survived, Saturday we did work but mostly tried to take a few breaths from the past five days and Sunday was just fantastic!
We have two baptisms this Saturday, a mom and her daughter. They’re studs!
I need to tell you about two women here in Chuuk. One’s name is Marsine and the other is Hertina. They take care of us pretty well so you don’t need to worry mom. :) Marsine is determined to make me fat. She makes the best Chuukese food in these islands and she always wants to give me some. I try and eat only a small amount, but she won’t have any of that and all but forces me to eat it all. I’ll never starve with her on my side. Hertina is the mom who will be baptized this Saturday. She was sick of coming to church and seeing Sorenson and I in dirty shirts (these machines do nothing) and so she told us: “I hate when you guys wear dirty shirts, today you come to my house and give me all your clothes and I’ll make them clean.” We were more than happy to give her all our stuff and now they are shining white!
So don’t worry mom, I have some amazing Chuukese women (Fin Chuuk) taking care of me :)
We’ll be having three baptisms this Saturday, after I began writing this a baptismal candidate realized she just needed to get baptized so she’ll also be in the mix on Saturday.
We raised our Zone baptismal goal to 82 and we are currently at 61, after this weekend we should be at 66 with many more in the near future. It’s easy to do missionary work (finding and teaching) the hard part is thrown in when you try and have all your time dedicated to finding and teaching people to baptize. I’ll explain : It’s easy to go out and find people, teach them about our Church and get some numbers on lessons taught, that’s easy. But that’s not what I want to do. I don’t want to just teach somebody, I want to baptize somebody! And that makes it harder. Finding those that have been prepared by the Lord, finding those of the Abrahamic Covenant that will progress to baptism is my focus and to do that we can’t just go out and find anybody and teach them. We have to find the right people!
Sorry about that, just a whole bunch of missionary talk, ha.
Thanks for those pictures of Hawaii. That’s not breadfruit it’s what we call “fach”. And boiled breadfruit “Tipen” is my favorite food ever! You guys are missing out. Sydnee I can’t believe you jumped off that huge rock! You’re crazy!
Good news for you Mom, I’ve lost weight :) ha I’m only 185. That’s way good and if people keep telling me how good I look I’m bound to get a big head about it. Ha
You’re already out of retirement Dad? Like one of those Brett Favre’s I see. Sydnee’s lucky to have such a studly coach.
Mom you look younger than everyone else! Are you 30 again?! :) For reals, everyone looks like they’ve gotten older except you, and I’m not just saying that (he sure knows how to say the right thing when he’s missed writing)
Zone conference is next week and I’m way pumped for what we’ll be training on. I did get those two last boxes, thank you.
Give my love to the Miller’s, I love those guys so much! What ward are they in? Also to Mamma Hafen and the Bodine’s. I think of them, when I have time, which really isn’t saying too much because I’m definitely short on time, but just let them know I think they’re studs as well as their sons!
Love you all so much! Forgive me mother for being a late writer.
Tong Ennet,
Elder Ito Wells
Saturday, September 12, 2009
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