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.