MAURI
A lot to talk about this week, but I’ll keep things short due to time restrictions. We feel very
well into the Zone Leader life and adjusted to Tarawa living. The members here
are resilient, strong and faithful. I love them. And I love our investigators.
We just had 8 baptisms. It was the first wave since we got here, but there are
many more to come. Some are getting stronger and seem ready for interviews next
week. There’s been a little confusion lately since, for a month now, Elder
Afatasi and I have been on constant splits and exchanges. The last Elder from
the recent intake left just yesterday. Yes… yes… they finally got to all there
places. This has been the worst transfer (in the “drawn out” sense) of all time-
so many broken planes and times of bad weather. But they’re finally all set now
and, as of last night, it’s just the two of us in our house. Felt weird. Lately
there have been 5 in our house, but it was good- we were able to use the extra
help to teach more lessons and find new investigators. Over 30!  |
| Radio is used to contact "outies" weekly |
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| Teitei Bird |
We’ve had lot of meetings
and conferences lately. Just a couple weeks ago, before President returned to the
Marshalls, we had a second island conference to discuss the new Mission Goals
and standards of excellence. The work is being hastened! The new standard is
one baptism per week, per companionship. All other standards were raised as
well. Our mission goal is to prepare 2,500 islanders per year for the Second Coming
through baptism and confirmation. There are not a great number of missionaries
here, hence the standard of one per week, per companionship. Definitely possible
though!
Our most recent meeting was
General Conference. We received recordings a week after everyone else, since it
took time to translate and transport. I was able to watch in English. I wish I
had time to go over all my thoughts about conference and my favorite talks, but
suffice it to say it was amazing! Never fails. I felt such a sense of renewal
and light after- similar to what I feel after study and prayer, of course, but
conference is a whole new level!
We recently starting teaching
a family of 3 couples- each couple has several young kids. They all live in one small house
that has no light, literally J.
We started just a couple weeks ago, and they came to watch General Conference
with us! Tenamoiti and her inactive mom also came, along with the other members
of her house.
Our man, Katoi, also watched
General Conference with us. His baptism date was coming up soon, but recently he
got together with one of our recent converts and…. yeah, we’re trying to figure
that one out since our recent convert is only 17 years old and can’t be legally
married. I don’t know how everything is going to work out yet.
Takaio came though! The credit
for that goes to his family members. He’s set to be baptized next week. He
turns 26 (maximum age to leave on a mission) exactly a year from now and is hoping
he can go as soon as he hits a year after his baptism. 
There were many more that
came to watch General Conference with us- pretty stellar! My main girl, Rutian,
unfortunately, didn’t make it… her story is pretty cool. One day I was on
splits, driving around Eita, and decided to drop in, unscheduled, on Kaiea, one
of our male investigators. Kaiea wasn’t home. But we met Rutian, a friend of
Kaiea’s member wife. Rutian is a 22 year girl and one of my favorite
investigators ever. We started with the first lesson, but she wanted deeper explanation
of everything right away. She didn’t stop asking questions, wanting to see the
scriptures behind them; not to find fault, but to know more. This was my time!
I have an arsenal of hundreds of scriptures and stories in my head at all times
to call upon. She continued her line of questioning through the end of the
restoration discussion. We asked her to be baptized. She explained to us that she
was recently made a Deacon in the Protestant church and was about to be set apart
on Abaiang atoll the following week. Nevertheless, she did accept our
invitation to be baptized under the condition that she discovered for herself
that what we taught her was true. That lesson was 2 hours long! The subsequent
lesson about the Book of Mormon was similar in length and questions. We dove in
deep on several subjects. The next lesson was about the Plan of Salvation. She
was a bit skeptical on this subject, but received it well and committed to pray
about it while continuing to read in the Book of Mormon. Since then… we hadn’t
seen her for a week. We thought she had left to be set apart, as expected. But,
then, just a few days ago, we met again and invited her to conference. She could
not come because she had her own church responsibilities. But, we are having
one final lesson tomorrow at 2. It’s now or never! I’m pumped
for this one. 
I could tell many more stories
like this one about Rutian. Next week I’ll tell you about my favorite current
project… Beetua and Monika. And they are a project! They will come around,
though. I believe in them!
Anyways, things are good.
Living the life of Zone Leader in the Kiribati islands! Lots of great members,
investigators, and missionaries to serve. Being a missionary is the greatest and
most rewarding work in the world. I’m excited for the new week ahead of me! I’m continually in awe of the magnificence of
this work. I can’t comprehend how a person as inept and inadequate and
imperfect as I could be a tool to help change the life of any Kiribati or
fellow missionary. As Elder Renlund quoted ‘’and by the weak things of the earth
the Lord shall thresh the nations by the power of his Spirit.’’ (D&C 133:
59) It’s a testament to me of the reality and divinity of this work. It’s a true
testimony that the Lord does His work through imperfect and prideful men- that
He is at the helm. Do I deserve this success or these many blessings or peace
and happiness? No! hahaha. I wish I could say yes, but I’m far from it. I’m
just doing the small things that I can and He does the rest. He qualifies me.
He makes me whole. He lifts me each day and allows me to say each thing I say
or do each thing I do. It is by His spirit that others receive their witness,
that others are changed, that others are baptized. It is by His priesthood they
are baptized, confirmed, blessed, and strengthened. I’m so grateful that I can
be a part of this work. I know it to be true; I know this to be the living Christ’s
restored and guided church to preach His perfect plan and gospel. This is
knowledge I know for myself and it is, as Elder Rasband said, ‘’wonderful to
me.’’
Peace for now! Have a killer
week everyone!Elder Smith
‘’Stick to a task until it sticks to you; for beginners are many, but finishers are few.’’ –Thomas S. Monson
