Bwaketi

I am doing good, found out that my companion and I will both be going back to Tarawa on Wednesday, but I think our area will still be open which is good. I don't know where I will be going or who I will be serving with, I just know I am going back to Tarawa on Wednesday.

One  person that was really progressing here was Bwaketi (buh-kess) who came to church, and his wife came this time, which hasn't happened at all in the last 2 months, so he should be getting baptized soon, which would be awesome!

So life goes on, can't believe I first came to Christmas Island like 5 months ago. Time goes by fast.

I will let you know next week where I am at and who I am with!

Elder Farner

A pile of salt

Elder Menzie

Hey everyone.

Today I think I will share some of what the senior missionary Elder Menzie spoke about at our Sacrament meeting yesterday.

He said that when he used to be a Bishop he wanted to schedule interviews with his members to invite them to repent or change, but he would get the impression from the Spirit that he should instead tell them that God loves them. John 3:16- for God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son

Sacrifice is something that both God and Jesus Christ can ask of us because they have already gone through the ultimate sacrifice themselves. A Father sacrificing His Son and a Son sacrificing himself.  God is our loving Heavenly Father. That’s the title of the first doctrinal principle that we are meant to teach as missionaries. First thing we need to know.

Have a great week

Love you all,

Elder Farner

Banana II

Hey Everyone!

Well this past week has been interesting. The area I am serving in is very unique in that it is a very large geographic area but doesn't really have that many people that live within its boundaries. Oh and its called Banana.... so yeah that is interesting

This coming week we have a district conference and we will be doing a Kiribati dance which will be interesting.

Area next to my house

Also our house is probably 100 sq ft. So basic living. Good practice for college life....

My house

Tiabo,

Elder Farner

Well water before bleach tablet

Well water after bleach tablet

Banana

I am working in Banana now which is an interesting place.

So we have 5 Zone Leaders in our mission. There are three zones, 2 on Tarawa and one on Christmas. There are 2 companionships of zone leaders on Tarawa and only me with my comp (who isn't a zl). Plus we only have 4 companionships in this zone and have no district leader so its basically just a district out here. 

My new is Elder F is from Hawaii but he is actually Samoan. He played in March Madness and stuff for University of Hawai'i so he is pretty good at basketball. He has been out since January.

Fiji

*Elder Farner is 'typing' his emails from an old cell phone (the kind that have multiple characters per number) so his emails are quite short - the following entry is a combination of the last two emails we have received:

August 12, 2018

Mauri Ngkami. Cant talk much because I have to go to a meeting right now. I am now a Zone Leader and we are going to be having a meeting with Elder Nattress of the Seventy in like 40 minutes. Still will be working in Christmas and will be leaving Tarawa next Monday so I may not be able to email

Love you all

Elder Farner

P.S. Give my condolences to Brother and Sister Urey, "Ma and Pa"

Sorry to hear that.

August 19, 2018

In Fiji right now. Going back to Christmas, let everyone know, gotta be quick.

Tiabo
Elder Farner

E na bwakara

Sorry everyone for the lack of blogs in recent months as things have been a bit crazy.

So first the house. Up until about 3 weeks ago I have been living in a stick house with a leaky roof made of woven coconut leaves. So when our mission president came, he contracted a new roof to be put on. So about 2 weeks ago we were approached on the street and told that we should gather our stuff and move it because they were going to start replacing the roof.  So we were doing that and our new mission couple showed up;  Elder and Sister Menzie from Tasmania. Way nice people.  Anyway, we moved into the house for Elders in London and have been living there for almost 2 weeks and today just moved back in to our house.

Also on August 13-15th we are having a mission tour where Elder Nattress is coming to Tarawa so on Aug 8th we are all flying to Fiji and then back to Tarawa on the 9th. Then on the 22nd we are coming back (some of us may stay on Tarawa). So that should be interesting.

Investigator pool is starting to increase.

A little about my comp:  Elder Anani from Samoa. His father used to be a Methodist minister but then converted. Elder Anani is turning 21 next month which is a big deal in the culture. He is hilarious.

Things are going well enough. Not perfect but, hey, e na bwakara (it'll have to do)