Hello, Dearest Familia! How's everybody doing this balmy, sunny Thanksgiving week? Oh, wait. That's just me. Sorry! I love you guys more than all the water in the whole ocean X 100. I love you.
What a week I just lived. Right now I am very healthy and happy and living well. And I'm grateful for that, because the start of this week was a little rough. I can tell you that because it's over, and now everything's great. This week I caught the dreaded "Zika" virus. That's right! I came down with a mosquito-borne epidemic virus on my mission! I'm a legit missionary! Apparently this sickness is sweeping the South Pacific, and it's just this weird new little thing. What it does is give you a fever and a sick all-over-body rash and achey joints and stuff. But then you get better after four days! Soeur Chytraus and I both got it, so that made for a very non-productive week of missionary work.
I know this sounds cliche, but it really did make me grateful for my health. I think sometimes you need a good swoop of sickness to remind you how marvelous it is to have a body that can hop on a bike and ride up a hill anytime you want.
During the illness, I had a very, very odd experience. So, Thursday night I was laying on my bed being miserable. I could not sleep because I was so achey, and I was just sitting there in the dark kicking my legs and not sleeping. Things were particularly bad because for some reason I thought that removing my mattress would help my back, so I was basically laying on a hard board, loosing my mind. Out of nowhere, my companion started to laugh very hard. I hope this doesn't embarrass her, but she was sleep-laughing. That was already kind of startling and upsetting. But to make things even freaky-er, in that exact moment something caught my eye. I look to my left and our stinking cat is sprinting up my mattress, which is leaned against the wall. Hard board. Companion laughing. Wild cat in my room. None of these events were actually related, but at 3:00 AM it seemed like they were. I wasn't happy about it.
But that moment passed, and it made for a very funny conversation the next morning. But the cat's cuteness-level took a real hit. I don't care who you are, if you are a feline, you can't come in my house. I have been having hard feelings towards her for a couple days. Imagine my delight two nights ago when we came home and found what curled up behind our garbage can? Two tiny newborn kittens.
Anyhoo, it's good to have little adventures. Its makes for some good stories, and it adds a little spice to life. I was thinking today about how infinitely interesting life is when you pay attention to the small things, like kittens and non-achey knees. Life is good.
It is Thanksgiving week, and I am a little sad that I wont be there to hold up my three corn kernels at Grandma's and eat the marshmallows off all the yams. But I am just fine. Because this is where I'm at, and I am blessed. And the fact that you are all there, still you, still my family, means that no matter where I am, I have every reason to be perfectly grateful.
And most of all, I want to say that I am grateful for our Savior. I am so thankful that Someone loves me enough to forgive me every single time I ask, and that He understands me. I am thankful for His perfect example and His perfect love in guiding me there, even when I fall very short. He loves us still, fully and truly. That alone is enough. Life is beautiful.
I love you!
Soeur Mann
Monday, November 25, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
#65 - The Roller Coaster
Hi, guys. I love you.
It was another week on what I sometimes call in my head "The Hawaiian Roller-Coaster Ride." (Even though I'm actually in Tahiti.) Up, down, all around, havin' fun, wanting to vomit, a real experience. We had a wonderful, wonderful moment on Saturday evening- two baptisms that night, and it went very well. One of the girls is 14 years old, named Poeragni. The very first time we taught her, I started to tell her about prayer and my heart felt like it was on fire. She was listening so hard, and I knew she believed it. She was so pretty in white, and we were thrilled to see all the young women in the ward at her sides the whole night, so excited to welcome her and support her. The other lady is named Marilyn, and she is the friend of literally everyone. It's funny because all the missionaries in our zone go to each others' baptisms, just to be there for one another and talk to investigators and stuff, but the night of Marilyn's baptism, you could have said that every single companionship was there for "their" investigator, because every single one of us has taught this lady at some point or another. She's kind of the ultimate ward-hopper, and she's somehow taken lessons with us all. So finally, finally, we all got to see her reach her dream of being baptized. Cute thing- Soeur Green and I gave the talks. Who would have thought that one day we would both be giving the talks at the same baptism? It was such a happy night.
I love the bike ride home at night. It takes about 10-15 minutes to bike into our area from our houses, so every evening we have that little bike ride home, and I enjoy every minute. I like to ride my bike with no hands and try to impress the people we pass. I also like to sing. I like to see how beautiful palm trees are when they are lit up by streetlights. I love that I have a group of friends that says hi to me every night who are actually literal drug dealers, but we can still be friends anyway. I love to finish the day knowing that no matter how I feel or how I did, I tried to do something that mattered. Sometimes the ups and downs come, but one thing is constant, and it's that I honestly know that what I am trying to do and trying to say is good and true. And that is enough to make this work extremely worthwhile.
-Every day I put mango oil in the ends of my hair. I don't know if it actually does anything, but it makes me feel like an island princess.
- Couple missionaries are the most wonderful people alive. We've had a couple times where no one was signed up to provide us with dinner and we didn't really have anything to eat, so I got up the guts to call my wonderful mission mom, Soeur Hemming, and ask if maybe...possibly... she had anything to eat? That's what mission living does to ya. No shame. And of course she came over with a delicious plate of homemade Mexican food. Heaven. My husband better believe that we are going on a mission one day, and I am taking care of all the missionaries, just like they do for me.
- We had this odd little miracle happen the other day. Miracle/joke. Both are great. We were just contacting in this neighborhood and this guy yells over, "Come talk to me! I want to learn, too!" He seemed to be a little under-the-influence, so we said, alright, we'll come by on Friday afternoon. He gave us his name, which is Ardonick Barff. So on Friday we ride over there and we don't know where he actually lives, so we just asked the first person we saw, "Do you know where Ardonick Barff lives?" This old papi with a baseball hat on. And he says, "Yes. That's me." Imagine our confusion. Turns out that he really is the only guy named that in the neighborhood, so whether it be a miracle or a practical joke, we found him. And we are teaching him, and he is a sweetheart! We sang him "Nearer My God To Thee" the other day, and now he wants us to sing every time we see him. Tonight he is coming to FHE- God works in mysterious ways.
Big lesson I learned/am learning this week: Forgive easily and instantly, and don't worry about whose fault stuff is. Fault doesnt matter in the end. Difficult thing to master, but it's the way we're all getting into heaven.
Dad- Happy Birthday, my best friend! You are my hero.
I love you all forever and ever!
All my love,
Soeur Mann
It was another week on what I sometimes call in my head "The Hawaiian Roller-Coaster Ride." (Even though I'm actually in Tahiti.) Up, down, all around, havin' fun, wanting to vomit, a real experience. We had a wonderful, wonderful moment on Saturday evening- two baptisms that night, and it went very well. One of the girls is 14 years old, named Poeragni. The very first time we taught her, I started to tell her about prayer and my heart felt like it was on fire. She was listening so hard, and I knew she believed it. She was so pretty in white, and we were thrilled to see all the young women in the ward at her sides the whole night, so excited to welcome her and support her. The other lady is named Marilyn, and she is the friend of literally everyone. It's funny because all the missionaries in our zone go to each others' baptisms, just to be there for one another and talk to investigators and stuff, but the night of Marilyn's baptism, you could have said that every single companionship was there for "their" investigator, because every single one of us has taught this lady at some point or another. She's kind of the ultimate ward-hopper, and she's somehow taken lessons with us all. So finally, finally, we all got to see her reach her dream of being baptized. Cute thing- Soeur Green and I gave the talks. Who would have thought that one day we would both be giving the talks at the same baptism? It was such a happy night.
I love the bike ride home at night. It takes about 10-15 minutes to bike into our area from our houses, so every evening we have that little bike ride home, and I enjoy every minute. I like to ride my bike with no hands and try to impress the people we pass. I also like to sing. I like to see how beautiful palm trees are when they are lit up by streetlights. I love that I have a group of friends that says hi to me every night who are actually literal drug dealers, but we can still be friends anyway. I love to finish the day knowing that no matter how I feel or how I did, I tried to do something that mattered. Sometimes the ups and downs come, but one thing is constant, and it's that I honestly know that what I am trying to do and trying to say is good and true. And that is enough to make this work extremely worthwhile.
-Every day I put mango oil in the ends of my hair. I don't know if it actually does anything, but it makes me feel like an island princess.
- Couple missionaries are the most wonderful people alive. We've had a couple times where no one was signed up to provide us with dinner and we didn't really have anything to eat, so I got up the guts to call my wonderful mission mom, Soeur Hemming, and ask if maybe...possibly... she had anything to eat? That's what mission living does to ya. No shame. And of course she came over with a delicious plate of homemade Mexican food. Heaven. My husband better believe that we are going on a mission one day, and I am taking care of all the missionaries, just like they do for me.
- We had this odd little miracle happen the other day. Miracle/joke. Both are great. We were just contacting in this neighborhood and this guy yells over, "Come talk to me! I want to learn, too!" He seemed to be a little under-the-influence, so we said, alright, we'll come by on Friday afternoon. He gave us his name, which is Ardonick Barff. So on Friday we ride over there and we don't know where he actually lives, so we just asked the first person we saw, "Do you know where Ardonick Barff lives?" This old papi with a baseball hat on. And he says, "Yes. That's me." Imagine our confusion. Turns out that he really is the only guy named that in the neighborhood, so whether it be a miracle or a practical joke, we found him. And we are teaching him, and he is a sweetheart! We sang him "Nearer My God To Thee" the other day, and now he wants us to sing every time we see him. Tonight he is coming to FHE- God works in mysterious ways.
Big lesson I learned/am learning this week: Forgive easily and instantly, and don't worry about whose fault stuff is. Fault doesnt matter in the end. Difficult thing to master, but it's the way we're all getting into heaven.
Dad- Happy Birthday, my best friend! You are my hero.
I love you all forever and ever!
All my love,
Soeur Mann
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
#64 - A Year on the Island
Family, every time I read your letters I seriously feel like I have just drink...en? I don't know how to say that. I feel like I just drank a big old glass of agua. It just fills up my soul. Seriously it's like a little piece of my brain lights up that only lights up when the people you love most talk to you. I love you so much. I'm so thankful for you. And I am so, so thankful that Millzy puts socks on her head and does Sméagol impressions in Brazil. What an absolute champion. That's exactly why I like you guys.
The big news from the island this week:
- There are two cats living at our house. They have been living there, without even paying rent, for about two weeks. They are both orange and kind of cute, and they drive me nuts/bring me great joy. They are always, always there. I don't know why they chose us, but they have completely settled in. I talk to them just like I talk to Lizzie, and my companion finds that humorous. Normally I think I would kind of hate that there are two stray cats slinking around, but I actually do love coming home at night and having two buddies just sitting there on the porch waiting for us.
- Thank you for the birthday gifts! Grandma Mann, thank you, thank you, thank you for being so kind. Your package was so nice- I eat those mentos so slowly. I seriously think, "Grandma touched this package of mentos..." and eat one at a time. I know exactly whom I'm going to give the two beautiful handkerchiefs to, too! Two sweet women who worked with me all the time in Oremu. They will cherish them. Thank you so much, Grandma! And to the family- never has cereal, milk, and a funnies section touched someone's heart so deeply. Seriously. It's kind of like when Dad gave me a bag of chocolate chips for Christmas- it doesn't seem like much, but there's so much meaning behind it. I loved it. Thank you!
- My birthday was so lovely. The day was completely normal, and I didn't expect that we would do anything different, but that evening we got to our ward member's house where we were supposed to eat dinner. This lady is named Stella, and she has been like the "missionary mom" for 16 years. She's amazing. We pull up on our bikes and all the lights were out, so I kind of suspected something. Her husband called us in, and when they flipped on the lights, all the elders from our zone and a group of young adults from the ward were waiting to surprise me! We had a great dinner and the girls from the ward did this amazing Tahitian dance. My companion helped arrange the whole thing. Amazing that no matter where we go, there are friends. Also, I am determined to learn to move my hips like a Tahitian. They ALL know how to do it. They assure me that I'll be able to learn. It really was such a fun night, just a pleasant, happy moment.
- This past week also marked my one year anniversary of being on the island. What a crazy thing. I have never, ever lived such a full, rich year of life. I tried to kind of reflect on the past year as a whole, and it made me feel a bit dizzy. I bet every missionary feels like that when they try and look back. Too much to even really try and think about at once, but it's been wonderful. Rich is definitely a good word for it. I think one of the biggest overall things that's been engraven on me over the past year is the fact that doing the right thing is not a question of want or convenience. You must try to do what's right, no matter what. And it isn't always the easiest or the most fun, but that's not part of the question. When we just try to do what's right, we find peace. And peace is worth much more than fun or convenience.
- Last night we were talking to the non-member husband of a lady in our ward. He made us some delicious ginger-spicey vegetable stuff with pork and we ate a good meal and then got talking about the gospel. It was an interesting conversation. He believes in God a little, but He doesn't believe in organized religion because he says we really can't go around predicting things or acting like we know about stuff we've never seen. I asked him what he thought will happen after this life and he replied, "No idea." He doesn't believe in anything, really. He thinks we ought to just live one day at a time, and we'll just see what happens. Frankly, my knowledge on the topic of what happens after this life is only about one degree broader than his. I don't really have a clue what will happen, exactly. But I have a few very simple, basic truths in my heart. I know that I will be with you guys. How, where we will be, what we're gonna wear, if we can eat food... I have no idea. But I know that what we have is real. It's not just going to disappear out of nowhere. It's going to last forever, and so that gives meaning to what we're doing. It means we really do need to be nice to each other, be patient and humble, and be grateful. The love between people is all we have, and everything else, literally everything else, is just extra stuff. I know that families are eternal. You guys are my best friends forever and ever, and therefore my life, and your lives, matter. What we do matters. How we treat each other matters. And that is why we must seek after the gospel and live it.
I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and I love all of you. I am thankful, thankful, thankful for life. It is beautiful.
All my love, Soeur Mann
The big news from the island this week:
- There are two cats living at our house. They have been living there, without even paying rent, for about two weeks. They are both orange and kind of cute, and they drive me nuts/bring me great joy. They are always, always there. I don't know why they chose us, but they have completely settled in. I talk to them just like I talk to Lizzie, and my companion finds that humorous. Normally I think I would kind of hate that there are two stray cats slinking around, but I actually do love coming home at night and having two buddies just sitting there on the porch waiting for us.
- Thank you for the birthday gifts! Grandma Mann, thank you, thank you, thank you for being so kind. Your package was so nice- I eat those mentos so slowly. I seriously think, "Grandma touched this package of mentos..." and eat one at a time. I know exactly whom I'm going to give the two beautiful handkerchiefs to, too! Two sweet women who worked with me all the time in Oremu. They will cherish them. Thank you so much, Grandma! And to the family- never has cereal, milk, and a funnies section touched someone's heart so deeply. Seriously. It's kind of like when Dad gave me a bag of chocolate chips for Christmas- it doesn't seem like much, but there's so much meaning behind it. I loved it. Thank you!
- My birthday was so lovely. The day was completely normal, and I didn't expect that we would do anything different, but that evening we got to our ward member's house where we were supposed to eat dinner. This lady is named Stella, and she has been like the "missionary mom" for 16 years. She's amazing. We pull up on our bikes and all the lights were out, so I kind of suspected something. Her husband called us in, and when they flipped on the lights, all the elders from our zone and a group of young adults from the ward were waiting to surprise me! We had a great dinner and the girls from the ward did this amazing Tahitian dance. My companion helped arrange the whole thing. Amazing that no matter where we go, there are friends. Also, I am determined to learn to move my hips like a Tahitian. They ALL know how to do it. They assure me that I'll be able to learn. It really was such a fun night, just a pleasant, happy moment.
- This past week also marked my one year anniversary of being on the island. What a crazy thing. I have never, ever lived such a full, rich year of life. I tried to kind of reflect on the past year as a whole, and it made me feel a bit dizzy. I bet every missionary feels like that when they try and look back. Too much to even really try and think about at once, but it's been wonderful. Rich is definitely a good word for it. I think one of the biggest overall things that's been engraven on me over the past year is the fact that doing the right thing is not a question of want or convenience. You must try to do what's right, no matter what. And it isn't always the easiest or the most fun, but that's not part of the question. When we just try to do what's right, we find peace. And peace is worth much more than fun or convenience.
- Last night we were talking to the non-member husband of a lady in our ward. He made us some delicious ginger-spicey vegetable stuff with pork and we ate a good meal and then got talking about the gospel. It was an interesting conversation. He believes in God a little, but He doesn't believe in organized religion because he says we really can't go around predicting things or acting like we know about stuff we've never seen. I asked him what he thought will happen after this life and he replied, "No idea." He doesn't believe in anything, really. He thinks we ought to just live one day at a time, and we'll just see what happens. Frankly, my knowledge on the topic of what happens after this life is only about one degree broader than his. I don't really have a clue what will happen, exactly. But I have a few very simple, basic truths in my heart. I know that I will be with you guys. How, where we will be, what we're gonna wear, if we can eat food... I have no idea. But I know that what we have is real. It's not just going to disappear out of nowhere. It's going to last forever, and so that gives meaning to what we're doing. It means we really do need to be nice to each other, be patient and humble, and be grateful. The love between people is all we have, and everything else, literally everything else, is just extra stuff. I know that families are eternal. You guys are my best friends forever and ever, and therefore my life, and your lives, matter. What we do matters. How we treat each other matters. And that is why we must seek after the gospel and live it.
I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and I love all of you. I am thankful, thankful, thankful for life. It is beautiful.
All my love, Soeur Mann
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
#63 - 23 Full Trips
Hello, to one and all! I would just like to say that my favorite food might be mangos. I am eating a mango right now, and it is so. so. good. It is candy. Let's all take a moment and be glad that this earth naturally produces something as good-tasting as a mango. Brilliant.
I would also like to say that I still love you, I care about you so much, and I can't believe I am the luckiest person in the world. I really am amazed and humbled and not grateful enough for the people in my life. I thought a lot this morning especially about you, Mom and Dad, and all of my grandparents. Last week when I wrote my email I was talking about some struggles I had in the beginning of my mission, but I want you to know that I got through that thanks in large part to you and all that you taught me. I've met so many people that have overcome enormous difficulties and endured very hard childhoods, and I just simply have been so incredibly blessed in my life. I'm so thankful for the happiness I've had, which comes from the good people who loved me and taught me. I was thinking today about specific moments when I remember being taught important truths and hearing the testimonies of each one of you. I love you. Thank you.
Perhaps you will remember an email I wrote a long time ago about an old, skinny papi named Papi Vaea that we taught who didn't really listen to us too much and always seemed a little put-out by our presence, but who also had a little twinkle of "I love you" in his eyes. Well a little while ago I got the phone call from my bishop from my old ward letting me know that Papi had passed away. It's funny how thinking about the Plan of Salvation every day influences your thoughts, because the first thing I thought was just, "Oh, Papi... what is he even doing right this very second?" Funny and wonderful to know that he really is just alive somewhere, still being himself. The very sweet part of this story is this: Right before he passed away, some of Papi Vaea's last words were about two missionaries that came and talked to him about good things. He told his family that the birthday he passed with the missionaries was one of the best birthdays he'd ever had. When I thought back to that birthday, I remembered how Soeur D'agnillo and I were running around, super busy, but we knew that we had a visit with him, a baptismal interview for a baptism that never happened because he never could quit smoking. We pulled over at a little store and grabbed these little hostess cake things on our way up the hill. That night we just ate the little cakes with him, sang happy birthday, and told him we loved him. It was the simplest, most unimpressive birthday celebration. But a few months later, long after I'd forgotten about it, it came back to me, and it turns out that that tiny act turned out to be one of the happiest moments of the end of someone's life.
I thought a lot about him, because he was someone that was kind of frustrating at times. At the end of my time serving in Oremu, we didn't really see him too often because he seemed to make just about zero "progress"- he never came to church, he never really understood our French, and the poor guy, after 30 years or something, just couldn't beat the smoking thing. So we didn't really teach him much because we didn't feel like we were bringing any good changes in his life. But Bishop's call made me re-think about what "progress" is or what it means to be effective when it comes to being a disciple of Christ. Of course, being a full-time missionary, I really am here to help people move forward and change, and I know that's my objective. But in the end, for all of us, we're not really here to judge other people's progress or place a value on their time. What matters is just being nice. That's all. Whether people change or come-around or progress, that's between them and God. But everyone deserves our kindness, no matter what. I'm excited for the next time I get to see Papi, give him a hug, and see what he's become. Be he converted or not, I love him.
As far as the work is going, let me tell ya. Things are going great. I am loving, loving working with my new ward. We have been seeing the missionary spirit and enthusiasm climbing up this past week, and already I can sense that there will be great things happening here very soon. Delegation is key, it turns out. And love, too.
Thanks for the birthday wishes- I'm very pleased to have made almost a full 23 trips around the sun now. 23 trips around the sun, lots more to make, and then living on and on forever- I'm alive! How wonderful! Life is beautiful.
All my love,
Soeur Mann
I would also like to say that I still love you, I care about you so much, and I can't believe I am the luckiest person in the world. I really am amazed and humbled and not grateful enough for the people in my life. I thought a lot this morning especially about you, Mom and Dad, and all of my grandparents. Last week when I wrote my email I was talking about some struggles I had in the beginning of my mission, but I want you to know that I got through that thanks in large part to you and all that you taught me. I've met so many people that have overcome enormous difficulties and endured very hard childhoods, and I just simply have been so incredibly blessed in my life. I'm so thankful for the happiness I've had, which comes from the good people who loved me and taught me. I was thinking today about specific moments when I remember being taught important truths and hearing the testimonies of each one of you. I love you. Thank you.
Perhaps you will remember an email I wrote a long time ago about an old, skinny papi named Papi Vaea that we taught who didn't really listen to us too much and always seemed a little put-out by our presence, but who also had a little twinkle of "I love you" in his eyes. Well a little while ago I got the phone call from my bishop from my old ward letting me know that Papi had passed away. It's funny how thinking about the Plan of Salvation every day influences your thoughts, because the first thing I thought was just, "Oh, Papi... what is he even doing right this very second?" Funny and wonderful to know that he really is just alive somewhere, still being himself. The very sweet part of this story is this: Right before he passed away, some of Papi Vaea's last words were about two missionaries that came and talked to him about good things. He told his family that the birthday he passed with the missionaries was one of the best birthdays he'd ever had. When I thought back to that birthday, I remembered how Soeur D'agnillo and I were running around, super busy, but we knew that we had a visit with him, a baptismal interview for a baptism that never happened because he never could quit smoking. We pulled over at a little store and grabbed these little hostess cake things on our way up the hill. That night we just ate the little cakes with him, sang happy birthday, and told him we loved him. It was the simplest, most unimpressive birthday celebration. But a few months later, long after I'd forgotten about it, it came back to me, and it turns out that that tiny act turned out to be one of the happiest moments of the end of someone's life.
I thought a lot about him, because he was someone that was kind of frustrating at times. At the end of my time serving in Oremu, we didn't really see him too often because he seemed to make just about zero "progress"- he never came to church, he never really understood our French, and the poor guy, after 30 years or something, just couldn't beat the smoking thing. So we didn't really teach him much because we didn't feel like we were bringing any good changes in his life. But Bishop's call made me re-think about what "progress" is or what it means to be effective when it comes to being a disciple of Christ. Of course, being a full-time missionary, I really am here to help people move forward and change, and I know that's my objective. But in the end, for all of us, we're not really here to judge other people's progress or place a value on their time. What matters is just being nice. That's all. Whether people change or come-around or progress, that's between them and God. But everyone deserves our kindness, no matter what. I'm excited for the next time I get to see Papi, give him a hug, and see what he's become. Be he converted or not, I love him.
As far as the work is going, let me tell ya. Things are going great. I am loving, loving working with my new ward. We have been seeing the missionary spirit and enthusiasm climbing up this past week, and already I can sense that there will be great things happening here very soon. Delegation is key, it turns out. And love, too.
Thanks for the birthday wishes- I'm very pleased to have made almost a full 23 trips around the sun now. 23 trips around the sun, lots more to make, and then living on and on forever- I'm alive! How wonderful! Life is beautiful.
All my love,
Soeur Mann
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