1/29/1984 - 2/4/2014
Dear President,
Boy, what a busy week. Wilsons neighbors on Dublon invited us over for a big dinner on P-day. We all discussed it and we all decided (including Carlsons) it would be more of a missionary effort than a play activity, so we went. That took almost all of P-day, but we did get back in time for shopping and FHE. We also had to do quite a bit of "run around" for some of Mundinger's requests. We sent a bunch of stuff he asked for on one of the boats. Zone conference was special and awesome as usual. And the day after it was really sad to see him go. And the next day coming back through we were glad to meet him and his comrades. I hope when I go home I can take the same route!! Seminary wasn't too hot this Saturday because only one student was on the island. So I didn't give it. Was surprised to find I'm going to Uman with Elder Christensen and Puleiku. I hear it's hot on Uman! Thanks for everything. Love, Steve
P.S. We didn't baptize the person we listed for last week (Towise Stanis) because he quit coming to church.
2/5/1984 - 2/11/1984
Dear President,
It took us a while to get off to Uman this week. Fujita keeps troubles and delays, so I decided to go to Uman without waiting for it to be completely settled. Wilson said all the judge had to do was "sign the paper". I couldn't figure out why it took that long. I still don't know if he's on Dublon yet. We'll find out tomorrow. We had a real hassle getting here on Uman. Monday and Tuesday the Uman boats were rented out. But, we did get a speed boat Tuesday night and got over here. We walked around the island a couple times and taught some excellent discussions where the Spirit was strong. Elder Christensen is sure a good Elder. We also have started having companion study regularly and no English speaking among ourselves ever. It's great! Being away from running water and electricity is a little harder, but the blessings and freedoms we do have on this island are overwhelming. For instance, we have a nice house with furnishings. This is a nice place too. Never hot (only if the wind doesn't blow) and if the alarm doesn't get us up the 6 o'clock sun shining in our faces does. I like this place better than Moen. It's different out here but more native and, shall I say, "jungle like"!
Love, Steve
2/12/1984 - 2/18/1984
Dear President,
This week we got sick of our low hours and finally wrote up a strict goal, and started seeing some good contacts. I'm very happy I'm helping Christensen out, along with Puleiku. Neither one knows the language as well as I do, but I'm far from perfect. But we still have been having some real good discussions, a lot of them new. But, according to Christensen, we have more families and investigators to get ahold of and continue teaching. That's good, and I'm glad to be busy. It's fun! Talking to them in Trukese! Let me tell you an interesting story. You know I have a capped tooth on one of my front teeth, and its kind of a prestigious thing and the people remember me as "Kimba" (capped tooth). Its kind of fun! We're teaching a complete family that loves us and we sure love them! I'm looking forward to their baptisms! Well, I better run. I'll be going to Uman in a bit. Later!
Love you, Steve
2/19/1984 - 2/25/1984
Dear President,
I want to thank you a million for sending President McBride to our district conference to help us out. I think our meeting lasted a little over 4 hours. I felt the Spirit present and I was energized by the enthusiasm. It's great to see so many lives changed for the better. That's what the gospel is all about, isn't it? A big thing I learned this week is that the people will all accept the gospel if only we can present the truth to the them in a way they can understand and accept. Because the Catholics and Protestants have a great hold on the people with their false doctrines. Also, they're depending upon them for translations of the bible, and alls they have to do is slightly alter the translation, and walla! Their religion conforms with the bible. It makes me mad they've messed up 1st Corinthians 15:22, saying all in Christ will be resurrected, instead of all will be resurrected. You just have to kind-of work at it. We had a terrific zone conference with President McBride. I sure love him. The branches always seem to have a feeling among themselves that "Uman is #1" or "Mwan is #1", or "Sapuk is #1". Everytime I turn around they ask me who is #1. I have to keep telling them they're all #1. Then they'll say everyone else is #0 and that they don't like the other branches at all. At times they're not joking. I wish we could have some kind of activity that would dissolve that kind of feeling between everyone. I think I have felt it somewhat in the states, in my own ward against another ward. What makes us think we're all better than everyone else? We have a little of the "Nephite disease". We shouldn't feel we're better than everyone else, but rather we should feel we should become better and help others along the way.
How can I thank the Lord for all that he's taught me here? I'm trying to extend myself to try to get more hours in and quit being so lazy and half hearted about the truth. I should be all or nothing. But I'm on a mission so I should be all. I was quite surprised at Elder Baird's size when I saw him, but I quickly learned to love him. He is so great! And he really is getting into Trukese. He is sure a big help. I had to teach the seminary Saturday because Emy, the seminary teacher, went fishing. But I think I did a pretty good job! It was fun and I could ramble on about Jonah and his mission call. The two scheduled for baptisms (Dasiada Wanter & Towais Stanis) , I haven't talked to them about a date and I need to have a more thorough discussion about it. I'm pretty sure they'll be baptized soon.Have you decided who will be District Leader here? I'm doing the reports since I'm on Moen, but I haven't been designated as such or anything. If you remember can you please send out a bunch more of these forms? Thanks! Love, Steve
2/26/1984 - 3/3/1984
Dear President,
Lifes Great! Well, we did a major change in the schedule and put it in effect. We slept from 9 to 5 and follow the regular schedule, but its just shifting the starting times and ending times. We're teaching Martino's wife. He is a member we baptized about 3 months ago. A lot of Romonum people got baptized, and two of the people I baptized are part of a family Mote is baptizing next week! Lately, things have been picking up. Especially with my new companion Elder Baird, he's really "kicking" me to get me going. Literally. He has to kick me out of bed at 5am, because I never hear the alarm. The Lord is helping me more, on the account of my speeding up. I actually see how He is! I talk to someone and don't know quite what to say, and He helps me, or prompts them to ask questions, so I can answer, and start rattling on and on. Speaking of rattling, doing the 5th discussion was easy. Well, not really easy. Can't wait to hear from you again. Love, Elder Monson
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Micronesia /Guam - Reports to the Mission President January 1984
1/1/1984 - 1/7/1984
Dear President,
What a week! I didn't get much sleep on New Years because [of] all the noise. I started re-teaching a man and his wife Mote had taught on Romonom, from the 4th discussion on. He is asking for baptism. I love golden contacts, especially out here. I think he will be baptized in two weeks. I can already tell he is going to be an excellent member; he likes coming with us to visit our investigators. It seems I've been at the hospital this whole past week. A non-member wife of one of our members was in. We helped her out. A member was in the hospital with appendicitis. My companion has developed a slight ulcer and we spent almost half a day getting to a doctor. He's feeling better now. Plus the one member from Mwan, who started riding our bicycle before we knew it got in an accident that left him in a coma. And since he needs two people to watch him 24 hours a day, all of us missionaries have spent several 4 hour shifts at the hospital. What a "sick" week. The Lord has sure helped me lately and gave my faith a big boost. I'm so happy for that. Love, Steve Monson
1/8/1984 - 1/14/1984
Dear President Keeler,
I had a good, and busy, week! We baptized the man I'd thought we'd be a while on. He sure was excited and glad to be baptized. We were glad to help him. He lives on Romunum but was staying with his grandchildren in Sapuk. Mote had taught him on Romunum the first discussion and I finished them up. He's going to be a very good member! We haven't finished filling out his records yet, but we'll have them finished and sent in a couple weeks. I think maybe in a few more weeks we will have two more baptisms. You know I didn't realize how much the Lord is looking after us all until an interesting event happened this week. I've heard of people "helped" and "protected" by the Lord, and I thought I'd never be in a situation like I was in. I felt the Lord's hand influence my actions this week and it was humbling to me. I had felt that I had never had any spiritual or sacred experiences and never would have, until what happened this week. Boy, have I discovered the power of fasting. It's amazing what can be done with some fasting and prayer. Sometimes its hard to fast for me though, because of the heat I use an unusual amount of water. Also, I'm on a diet too because I've kind of "lost myself" and eaten too much. I'm 35 lbs overweight (since I came out). More later. Love, Elder Steve Monson
1/15/1984 - 1/21/1984
Dear President,
I had some really good discussions this week. We taught the 5th discussion to one guy who speaks English and that was one heavy discussion. We started getting into faith and he wanted to know a definition of faith. I gave him Hebrews 11:1 (and asked him to also read the whole chapter on his own) and I explained faith as best as I know how. We're trying to get the big family at Sapuk to do their own family home evenings, and Elder Carlson is sure doing a good job with them. He's helped them run their own for the past two weeks and with excellent success. Now if we could get the families to have their own home evenings. We challenged our 16 year old investigator Towise. He seems happy about that, although now he's not coming to church. What do I do? I hate my journal (when I get so far behind, anyway). The Lord sure works in weird ways, but he gets the job done. You almost get excited to see what he'll do next to help us out. I'm gaining a greater love for Him. At times I think I really hate myself, and when I really get thinking about it, I am really more blessed that I realize. Have a wonderful day! Love, Steve
P.S. Sapuk is still waiting for the organ you promised the first day you talked to them.
1/22/1984 - 1/28/1984
Dear President,
This week was great. I'm improving my time scheduling and getting more accomplished. We have a baptism scheduled next week but it will have to be delayed. Our investigator quit coming to church. We're trying to meet with him and ask him what the deal is, but we can't find him. He came to church a lot before. The Tongans and the Carlsons had some more of those free Trukese classes given by the Peace Corp, so part of this week I spent with Bennett and we worked both sides of the island. Emy and Yoss and coming back out regularly and doing everything we ask them! I couldn't figure it out. Before, they didn't do their jobs, but since the Carlsons have come they're really picked up. I feel sorry I didn't do much to help them but I didn't know what to do. I know the Carlsons were called to come here and they're doing their job well and I'm so glad. Emy is now teaching seminary more regularly and they are a big help to us in translating the Book of Mormon story book. I sure love them. If we can get them to really get excited about the work, Sapuk could become independent. But, of course, they will always have our support and help. We had an excellent meeting with Roy Bower when he stopped through. I'd love to see that seminary program take off here. Thank you president, for all your work. Love, Steve
P.S. Sometimes you won't get all the weekly reports at once because I ask them to fill out, and send them as I get them.
Dear President,
What a week! I didn't get much sleep on New Years because [of] all the noise. I started re-teaching a man and his wife Mote had taught on Romonom, from the 4th discussion on. He is asking for baptism. I love golden contacts, especially out here. I think he will be baptized in two weeks. I can already tell he is going to be an excellent member; he likes coming with us to visit our investigators. It seems I've been at the hospital this whole past week. A non-member wife of one of our members was in. We helped her out. A member was in the hospital with appendicitis. My companion has developed a slight ulcer and we spent almost half a day getting to a doctor. He's feeling better now. Plus the one member from Mwan, who started riding our bicycle before we knew it got in an accident that left him in a coma. And since he needs two people to watch him 24 hours a day, all of us missionaries have spent several 4 hour shifts at the hospital. What a "sick" week. The Lord has sure helped me lately and gave my faith a big boost. I'm so happy for that. Love, Steve Monson
1/8/1984 - 1/14/1984
Dear President Keeler,
I had a good, and busy, week! We baptized the man I'd thought we'd be a while on. He sure was excited and glad to be baptized. We were glad to help him. He lives on Romunum but was staying with his grandchildren in Sapuk. Mote had taught him on Romunum the first discussion and I finished them up. He's going to be a very good member! We haven't finished filling out his records yet, but we'll have them finished and sent in a couple weeks. I think maybe in a few more weeks we will have two more baptisms. You know I didn't realize how much the Lord is looking after us all until an interesting event happened this week. I've heard of people "helped" and "protected" by the Lord, and I thought I'd never be in a situation like I was in. I felt the Lord's hand influence my actions this week and it was humbling to me. I had felt that I had never had any spiritual or sacred experiences and never would have, until what happened this week. Boy, have I discovered the power of fasting. It's amazing what can be done with some fasting and prayer. Sometimes its hard to fast for me though, because of the heat I use an unusual amount of water. Also, I'm on a diet too because I've kind of "lost myself" and eaten too much. I'm 35 lbs overweight (since I came out). More later. Love, Elder Steve Monson
1/15/1984 - 1/21/1984
Dear President,
I had some really good discussions this week. We taught the 5th discussion to one guy who speaks English and that was one heavy discussion. We started getting into faith and he wanted to know a definition of faith. I gave him Hebrews 11:1 (and asked him to also read the whole chapter on his own) and I explained faith as best as I know how. We're trying to get the big family at Sapuk to do their own family home evenings, and Elder Carlson is sure doing a good job with them. He's helped them run their own for the past two weeks and with excellent success. Now if we could get the families to have their own home evenings. We challenged our 16 year old investigator Towise. He seems happy about that, although now he's not coming to church. What do I do? I hate my journal (when I get so far behind, anyway). The Lord sure works in weird ways, but he gets the job done. You almost get excited to see what he'll do next to help us out. I'm gaining a greater love for Him. At times I think I really hate myself, and when I really get thinking about it, I am really more blessed that I realize. Have a wonderful day! Love, Steve
P.S. Sapuk is still waiting for the organ you promised the first day you talked to them.
1/22/1984 - 1/28/1984
Dear President,
This week was great. I'm improving my time scheduling and getting more accomplished. We have a baptism scheduled next week but it will have to be delayed. Our investigator quit coming to church. We're trying to meet with him and ask him what the deal is, but we can't find him. He came to church a lot before. The Tongans and the Carlsons had some more of those free Trukese classes given by the Peace Corp, so part of this week I spent with Bennett and we worked both sides of the island. Emy and Yoss and coming back out regularly and doing everything we ask them! I couldn't figure it out. Before, they didn't do their jobs, but since the Carlsons have come they're really picked up. I feel sorry I didn't do much to help them but I didn't know what to do. I know the Carlsons were called to come here and they're doing their job well and I'm so glad. Emy is now teaching seminary more regularly and they are a big help to us in translating the Book of Mormon story book. I sure love them. If we can get them to really get excited about the work, Sapuk could become independent. But, of course, they will always have our support and help. We had an excellent meeting with Roy Bower when he stopped through. I'd love to see that seminary program take off here. Thank you president, for all your work. Love, Steve
P.S. Sometimes you won't get all the weekly reports at once because I ask them to fill out, and send them as I get them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)