Muht

My first experience "muht"-ing

***June 25, 2004 JOURNAL: Down Pour!
          We walked about a million miles today!  From one end of our area to the other!
          Service: muht - We pulled weeds for Yolanda and her "cousin-in-law"  I felt pretty dumb pulling up weeds in a FOREST!  Mostly because it's a forest and because I couldn't tell the difference between plant life and weed.  But, then I thought to myself, if it were my yard, I'd be happy to have anything growing at all.  Then I started thinking straight and decided that if t were my yard (if you can call a mountain side a yard) then I wouldn't want weeds cluttering it up.  We were able to get to Yolanda's and back safely using the river.
          After lunch we walked from our apartment, clear out to the otherside of our area.  We visited Norma to tell her the baptism that was supposed to be tonight has once again been pstponed.  It's been postponed again and again since April.  Our next appointment, Diana, wasn't at home.  On our walk from there we got to pass the overlook.  So pretty!  I wish I had had my camera.  We saw the rain clouds coming in, turned to walk away and the rain came down, hard.  We looked back and the mountain "scenery" was gone.  The clouds were so low and the rain was so thick that you couldn't see through.  The rain has put a damper on our ability to work.  For one second I thought to myself, "Why did I get sent here?"  Then I remembered, "This is where the Lord wants me.  This is where I need to be."  Must work harder!

28 May 2013

TRANSLATION STATION

God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. In the scriptures God’s plan is called a merciful plan, the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation.

Jesus Christ is central to God’s plan. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His Father’s purpose and made it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and eternal life. Satan, or the devil, is an enemy to God’s plan.

Sapwellimen Koht ah koasoandi pwon - Sapweillime doadoahk oh Sapwellime klori - iei en kin ketin sewese emenemen kitail en pereniki Sapwillime kapai kan koaros.  Eh ketkihong kitail ehu pilan unsek en imwisekila Sapwillime koasoandi.  Kitail wewehkiher oh aledahr pilahnwet mown atail kodonhger sampah.  Nan pwuhk sarawio Sapwellimen Koht ah pilano adahniki pilahn en kalahngan, pilahn en peren, pilahn en poadoandoar oh pilahn en kamour.

Sises Krais iei me keiu en kesempwal nan Sapwellimen Koht ah pilahn.  Sang ni Sapwillimen Sises Krais ah tohnpen dihpankitail, Sises Krais ketin imwisekilahr Sapwellimen Koht ah koasoandio oh wiahda ehu ahl pwen emenemen kitail en ka pereniki mour kokohlate or mour soutik.  Sedahn de tepelo iei imwintihti en Sapwellimen Koht ah pilahn.

Yolan and Petir - the first time

Oh, the beginning of the Pohnpeian people that stole my heart!

***June 24, 2004 JOURNAL: In a Rain Forest
          The rain was our enemy today.  (The rain is never my enemy - we got to play in the rain!!!)  We walked to a couple of houses but since it was raining a lot of people (in general) were still asleep.  So, we came home for an early lunch.  We met a lady named Yolanda.  I order to get to her house we have to go trekking through the forest on a (muddy) footpath and cross a river, then walk a little ways before getting to her house.  We tried to get to Yolanda's house earlier in the morning, but the river was too high and the current was running too fast, that's when we came home for lunch. Sister Garside baked a cake for Peter (Yolanda's husband) during our lunch break then we tried to get out to Yolanda's house again.  We all went in slippers.  This time the river was much nicer.  We talked to Yolanda about faith and had a little birthday celebration.  By then the rain had started up again.  The river was running way too high so we had to take a "back road."  I like to call them foot paths.  Two-hours later we got to the main road, caught a taxi and came home.  We waited out the rain a while and met with another lady.

20 May 2013
A Test on Organization:  I am learning that the more organized I am the more successful I feel.  I spent a goodly amount of time last night organizing my week this week.  I wanted to accomplish more this week than I normally set out to accomplish.  "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."  We'll see if I organized and planed enough to accomplish my goals of blogging week daily, gospel study and scripture reading daily, couponing and starting a freezer "stockpile" in addition to the normal cooking and home cleaning.

A Sunday Review

We had awesome talks in Sacrament Meeting from two high-council speakers on OBEDIENCE!

Brother Porter shared a story about a dog they had while living in Texas.  He said they walked her on a particular path that would protect her from harm and heat.  However, she occasionally enjoyed running away and off the path.  When this happened she would be heard not to long latter whimpering or crying because of a thorn in her foot.  Brother Porter related this to our lives.  About how sometimes we get off the path of the straight and narrow, sin then need help to get back.  We do learn over time how to stay on the path and how to be obedient.  He mentioned that sometimes in life we may simply try to cover our disobedience with bandages instead of fully repenting and getting the thorn taken out of our feet.  Brother Porter testified the times he felt the power and influence of the spirit were times when he was most obedient.

Brother Magoay said the focus of his talk was to help us increase our faith and our power to be obedient.  He said, in our flesh lies our weakness but in our spirit lies our desires to do right and return to heaven.  Our lives are a struggle to overcome the flesh and choose to be obedient.  He said that we are obedient for three reasons: first we obey because we don't want to be punished, then we obey because we want the reward and finally we reach a point where we are obedient because we love God.  We continue to learn obedience to prove ourselves and to prepare ourselves for the glory we will inherit.  We are disobedient for two reasons: we are weak and we are deceived.  Brother Magoay closed with, "In the commandments is safety.  In the commandments lies the dilema to be obedient or to give way to carnal desires."

Mother's Day

***June 21, 2004 JOURNAL
          So, I'm still on Guam and not on a plane to Pohnpei.  I've been trying to calm myself since this morning.  I already knew I was going to miss this flight.  I was pleading with the Lord not to let me miss this flight last night and this morning.  OK.  Time to get over it.

***June 23, 2004 JOURNAL: Pohnpei West Zone, Palikir District, Nahn Pohnmal Area
          So, I made it.  I got to Pohnpei.  I've found a new "alarm clock" that seems to work very well: God.  I've been working on it, in prayer, to ask Heavenly Father to help me wake up in the mornings.  It's pretty effective (duh) so long as I get myself out of bed!
          The plane rides were kind of sketchy.  I met a guy named Joe.  His whole family (basically) are members of the church, but he's Protestant.  I slept most of the way.  I say President and Sister Pulsipher when to they got on the plan in Chuuk.
          New companions - new area - kind of scary.  My new companions are super mice.  It's just this whole being pushed out of my comfort zone idea.
          COMPANIONS:
Sister Garber: funny, from Las Vegas, Nevada, brother also on a mission
Sister Garside: cool, from California, sibling also on a mission
          GOALS - start using Pohnpeian words/phrases, get through 2 Nephi 9

13 May 2013

An excellent Mother's Day!

Please excuse the blue-ness of these pictures:

Father's Day Journal and Translated Passage

First day with a translated passage.  I wasn't sure if I would get to it so soon, but I did!

***June 20, 2004 JOURNAL: Father's Day
          Today was pretty alright.  I feel fat, so I must need to lose weight.
           With all the talks about fathers today, I missed my dad.  I do really love him and I know I don't tell him enough.  He's always been there for me and whenever I needed help he was there to help and understand.  He's just so patient with me.
          Tomorrow morning i leave for Pohnpei.  Of course I'm scared.  I'm anxious to meet my companions, I've heard so many good things.  And I'm sooo-- ready to get to work.  I don't know how productive the next two days will be, being preparation day and zone conference but, perhaps it'll give me some extra time to get started learning the language.

7 May 2013 Translation Tuesday!
TRANSLATION STATION:
Since we were supposed to teach a lesson on the plan of salvation I started translating that part of Preach My Gospel.  Feel free to comment at the bottom on better words and incorrect usages.

Many people wonder, "Where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Where are we going?"  The plan of salvation gives us the answers to these questions.

God is the Father of our spirits.  We are literally His children, and he loves us.  We lived as spirit children of our Father in heaven before we were born on this earth.  We were not, however, like our Heavenly Father, nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the blessings that he enjoys without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body.

 Aramas tohto madamadau, "Ia wasa kitail kosang ia?  Ia karahpen atail mihmi met?  Ia wasa kital pahn kohla?"  Pilahn en kamour kiheng kitail pasapeng en peikekat.

Koht iei Sahm en palinengehnatail.  Kitail mehlel sapwelimen Koht seri kan, oh eh ketin poakpoake kitail.  Kitail koaros miher rehn Samatail me ketket nanleng mown ni atail ipwidi nan sampahwet.  Ahpw ansouo kitail kaidehn duwete Sahmatail me ketiket nanleng, oh kitail sohte kak duwehla Ih oh pereniki kapaikan koaros me eh kin pereniki ma kitail sohte eshela mourwet nan paliwaratail.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Next Post: The Time I didn't make it to Pohnpei and Elder Packer's talk

A Fun-filled Weekend

*** June 19, 2004 JOURNAL: Last Night In Guam (for now?)
          I can't believe it's almost been a week already (since the MTC).  All the elders from our district are gone to their respective assigned areas already.  Elder Wright - Saipan, Elder Barker - Palau, Elder Morris and Elder Christensen are staying here along with Sister Wagstafff and Sister Fusi (who came from the New Zealand MTC).  NO actual times for good byes.  Kind of sad but probably for the better. As for me, I'm alright.  I just can't wait to get to work.  It's been slow here, mostly because of training/orientation messing with the possibility of any real scheduling.
          I leave for Pohnpei Monday morning.  I'm pretty excited I get to learn a new language!  I'm determined to get this language.  It sounds complicated to my ears, but the people around me say it's an easy language to pick up on.  BRING IT!

6 May 2013 Yet Another Sunday Review with Weekend Photo Dump

Yesterday was Fast and Testimony Meeting Sunday.  A visitor, Brother Whiting, shared his testimony.  He said the morning of his flight his son took him to the airport.  His son gave him a Book of Mormon and challenged him to place it during his trip.  After the plane took of a girl asked if Brother Whiting would switch seats with her so she could sit next to her family.  He begrudgingly agreed.  He noted his new seat partner was writing in her journal and studying her bible.  As they talked about their respective religions, he shared with her the Book of Mormon.  The lady said that morning after she said her prayers she meant to bring a novel with her but she had the distinct impression that she should leave her novel home because someone on the plane would give her a book to read.  Cornelius is alive and well where ever we go!

Last night I got to join a lesson with the sister missionaries in Makakilo ward.  It was with a lady from Pohnpei.  It was a good lesson.  It showed me that my language skills are somewhat wanting.  It's time to get back at it and work on keeping up my language skills!  In future posts I plan on having a translated section and hopefully some of my friends can help me with accuracy.

First Friday Hannarah's Night:

 Caleb's 1st Birthday Party:

The Price of Success

First letter to President Pulsipher.  The pre-Preach My Gospel form where we still had to report all kinds of hours and stuff. Still on Guam for this one.

***6/16-6/20/2004 Missionary Weekly Report
President Pulsipher,
          It's been a good first week.
          One of my most spiritual experiences this week was on Friday night.  We were meeting with a girl named Tricia that lives in the apartment complex across the parking lot.  We were reading the introduction to the Book of Mormon with her.  It was amazing for me to hear each of the sisters bear their personal testimonies of the Book of Mormon as we discussed the introduction with her.  I feel so very blessed to have had the opportunity to be with the sisters here.  Their spirits are so strong and I know, they know of the truthfulness of this gospel and that strengthened my testimony.
          In my study of the gospel this week, I've used my "personal Book of Mormon" study time to read 2 Nephi 9.  At the MTC, our branch president, President Chapman, invited us to read 2 Nephi 9 everyday for 30 days to gain a better understanding of the atonement.  So, I've been doing that for almost a week, but his morning I decided to break it down, and it took the whole of of study time to get me through the first six versus.  It was well worth it.  I earned some of the covenants the Lord made with his people.  I thought it was interesting that Christ made promises to the Jews and the Gentiles.  Isaiah talks about the redemption of Jerusalem in Isaiah 52:2.  Then Jacob talks about the church and the truth being restored in 2 Nephi 6:10-15 and about, how the Lord will not be ashamed of his people and all other people will be destroyed.  I guess I had just never thought about the Lord making specific promises to all his people.  It reminded me that the Lord knows us, individually and he knows our needs and what is to come.
          In my studies this week I made a goal to study out of the missionary study guide, and to be able to pray in Pohnpeian.

Quote to Sister Pulsipher:
          "... I have reached the conclusion that some men succeed because they cheerfully pay the price of success and others though they claim ambition and a desire to succeed, are unwilling to pay that price....  To have a high and sustained determination to put over what you plan to accomplish, not if circumstances be favorable to it's accomplishment, but in spit of all adverse circumstances which may arise."

3 May 2013

Here is the entire quote I found on-line so I could properly cite it because I had it from "anon".

I often wonder what it is that brings one man success in life, and what it is that brings mediocrity or failure to his brother. The difference can't be in mental capacity; there is not the difference in our mentalities indicated by the difference in performance. In short, I have reached the conclusion that some men succeed because they cheerfully pay the price of success, and others, though they may claim ambition and a desire to succeed, are unwilling to pay that price.

And the price is...

To use all your courage to force yourself to concentrate on the problem in hand, to think of it deeply and constantly, to study it from all angles, and to plan.

To have a high and sustained determination to put over what you plan to accomplish, not if circumstances be favorable to its accomplishment, but in spite of all adverse circumstances which may arise and nothing worthwhile has ever been accomplished without some obstacles having been overcome.

To refuse to believe that there are any circumstances sufficiently strong to defeat you in the accomplishment of your purpose.

Hard? I should say so. That's why so many men never attempt to acquire success, answer the siren call of the rut and remain on the beaten paths that are for beaten men. Nothing worthwhile has ever been achieved without constant endeavor, some pain and constant application of the lash of ambition.


That's the price of success as I see it. And I believe every man should ask himself: Am I willing to endure the pain of this struggle for the comforts and the rewards and the glory that go with achievement? Or shall I accept the uneasy and inadequate contentment that comes with mediocrity? Am I willing to pay the Price of Success?

According to wikipedia (so you know it's true) this is from Joseph Johnson French. Or you can believe Google who credits  H. F. de Bower with his ending of "And the time to begin is now" tacked on at the end.

Quotes, Believes, Realities and a Baby Shower

Before Preach My Gospel changed the format of our weekly letters to the mission president, there was a section where we could report sick or injury hours and what was wrong with us.  If we had no substantial sick news to report we were encouraged to send quotes (personal or from people of note) to Sister Pulsipher.  Each month she would choose her favorites to share in the Mesenger.

***June Messenger: Sister Pulsipher's Favorite Quotes
          Elder Anderson: "Anger is never without reason, but seldom a good one." -Benjamin Franklin
          Sister Leishman: "If your day has not been a bed of roses, remember who wore the crown of thorns."
          Elder Glemser: "You can't leave your footprints in the sand while sitting down."
          Elder Jeppson: "If you want someone to see what Christ's spirit can do for them, let them see what it has done for you."

After Preach My Gospel came out we were encouraged to study by subject.  At that time I began a second study journal to compliment the first that I still kept.  The first journal was a record of my daily study and companionship study.  The second was solely kept by subject.  Here I started a list of my "I Believe"s

***STUDY JOURNAL: I Believe... (In addition to the Articles of Faith)

• in the power of prayer and bean bag frogs
• that God is our Heavenly Father and that His all knowing and all powerful
• that God loves us and wants to help us
• in the importance and necessity of families
• that love, real love, is the greatest power on the earth
• that through Christ, I can do all things
• if I do my part, God will do His part
• that there is no such thing as coincidence, our lives are orchestrated with purpose and direction
• Cornelius is alive and well, wherever we may be

2 May 2013

I've been trying to do more jogging than walking.  Slowly (more slowly than I want) I'm getting to more jogging.  Here are my mantras when I'm jogging past the skinny-bodied, carefree high school girls:

• if I want to lose the weight then I need to do the work!
• the faster I move the faster I'll get home
• I won't fail if I succeed

Occasional when I jog I see interesting things:

• a small girl walking to school dressed in floppy heels and carrying a large handbag, instead of shoes and a backpack
• two girls, one trying to no avail to use a skateboard, flagging down a school bus driver (who did pull over) not 50 yards away from school
• what I term the "high school" walk: it must consist of the mentality and speed that I wanted to leave home early, but I don't want to get to school early

On Tuesday night the ward relief society hosted a baby shower for Veronica Aronica.  Here are some pictures to show our fun!