kainikatonga

We had a baptism last week and the person was baptized/confirmed by his older half-brother. This guy's half-brother, Irate (pronounced ee-raa-tay) is actually not an angry guy, he is a convert to the church who is one of the most faithful people I know. He works on a boat for 11 month periods (I don’t know how many times he has done it), but right now he and his wife are trying to go to the temple. We had a temple class and he showed up, where he brought his passport and temple recommend which he just renewed for the 3rd time. He was told that he might have to wait 6 weeks for the paperwork to be done, which would mean postponing possibly his departure for a boat, and he said, in English, "This is more important", referring to going to the temple. Just a really cool person. Also his child's name is Randall, so that's cool too.

Word of the week: kainikatonga- pride

Jeffrey R Holland: “The Race is against sin, not against each other"

Don’t be prideful, it causes contention!

Pictures will come next week, sorry for not sending them now.

 Tiabo,

Elder Farner

Tai raraoma

Mauri ngkami,

This has been my first full week in Temwaiku and it is very different  from the last area I was in - lots of work, we are teaching a ton of people. This is a good thing =) There are some awesome families in this area, and some good work to be done. More to come next week.

We have this one investigator that we will be doing fast with this week to help him with some of the issues he is having (per the white handbook, I am merely telling you, not inviting you to join in) and this hopefully will help him to make the next couple of steps he needs in his life to prepare for baptism. We have a lot of investigators- it is hard to keep track of them. Kind of a cool example of how powerful God is- it is very difficult for me to remember all of the things my investigators need and sometimes even their names, but God, He knows us all by name.

Here is a quote “I testify to you that God has known you individually … for a long, long time (see D&C 93:23). He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars (see Psalms 147:4; Isa. 40:26); He knows your names and all your heartaches and your joys!”   God remembers everyone, everything, all of his creations. He know us individually and will help us according to our needs.

"Tai raraoma" = don't worry. Someone perfectly better than us is watching over and helping.

Tiabo!
Elder Farner

Temwaiku

Mauri ngkami,

 I am back off of Marakei and am on Tarawa again, in the village of Temwaiku. We have a ton of work to do here, it is awesome. We are apparently going to go to each house in the village and ask if they have been baptized or not... Should be an  interesting week or so, especially since I am now Senior Companion so my language will be tested. But the people here are very helpful. I will keep you all posted....

I will have more info next week after I am settled in. New comp is Elder Breckenridge from Missouri. Other than that, not much else to say except this cool story.

When I was first in Tarawa 5 months ago, my comp had a Kiribati "Mom" that threw a birthday party for him. She lives in my current area right now and I got to see her and talk to her, and she remembers me and told me that I can actually speak Kiribati now. In fact, when I got back on Friday so many people were complimenting my language skills and and I felt better. But the truth is, I am not that good, every once in a while I will get humbled, so another round of humbling will come.

Ether 12:24-27 is such a great passage of scripture:

"24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands.  Behold, thou has not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them

25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our word.

26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying:  Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Remember that the Lord said "Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek"

Have a Great week everyone

Tiabo

Elder Farner

urubekebeke

Island Council

Well this will be my last email from the island of Marakei. I have had lots of experience in the last 2 years with leaving places that feel like home. What I've learned about myself is that I won't miss a place until I have left it. So I am expecting some sadness as the plane lifts off and it hits me that there is a very slim chance of me ever coming back here. But until then I won't worry about it as much.

These last 4 and a half months flew by, especially this last transfer. I am being transferred on Friday. I should find out Wednesday where I will be going.

I haven't had any convert baptisms in my time here, but the results of my work have yet to all unfold so I will keep on moving forward.

Word of the week = Urubekebeke: homeless/broke

 3 Nephi 18:19-20  -  "19: Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; 20: And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."

Ao tekeraoi te ririki ae boou!

Mauri o!

Ao tekeraoi te ririki ae boou!

Happy new year!

This last week was the 2nd to last week in the transfer so I am gearing up to get a call to be transferred in a week or so, but we will see what the plan really is.

We have a person who has accepted a baptismal invitation! Her name is Veronica (sometimes they have English names out here) and she has been investigating for a couple of years. We were waiting on her husband's divorce to get finalized so that they could get married so that she could get baptized (I don't know why it has taken three years but it doesn't matter).  Her husband is a member and they feed us almost every Sunday. She should get baptized on the 13th of January.

So other than that not much has happened, for Christmas we ate the mashed potatoes that mom sent me. They were awesome! Apparently there is a big announcement coming in our mission in a week or so, so we will see what that's about soon.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Elder Farner

Remember to get your priorities in order this new year for your resolutions

Ether 12:4 - 

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."