...and a Happy New Year

Dear Family,

I don't know if any of you remember me talking about the language mastery packet we have to pass off , but I spoke at another baptism this Saturday and finally finished everything. Now I'm officially a Pohnpein language master. I'll even get a certificate from the mission for it. YAY! 

It was fun to talk to all the brothers and sisters for Christmas. Sorry I didn't get to talk to some of you very long but I was happy to see all your smiling faces. Afterwards we went to our Branch Christmas Party and then tried to teach lessons but they all fell through. We ended up going on a Christmas run giving goodies with Elder and Sister Vincent (they are the missionary couple that live right close to us.  

I've found that in Pohnpei Christmas isn't over until December ends. It has been hard meeting with lots of our investigators this week because they have had Christmas parties all week long. Yesterday Santa Claus was still going around in a police car and ambulance throwing candy to all the kids. There has also been an exceptionally high number of drunks on the streets this week. Yesterday one was yelling, "Seripein (girl) from the United States of America" as we were walking down the road. Then he asked if he could just touch my hand. I've learned not to shake the drunks hands though because they never let go.

Because the majority of our lessons fell through this week, we have been able to talk to and find lots of new people. Maybe this is just God's way of leading us to people who have been prepared to hear the message. 

I'm told that all day on New Years everyone goes through the streets banging pots and pans, so tomorrow should be a very loud and interesting day. 

The Christmas presents were all wonderful and I loved them. The sagebrush took me right back to memories of riding Betsy out on the dry farm, and it was nice to taste honey, apples, and jerky again. I've almost ate myself sick with all the chocolate and candy too, but I've enjoyed every minute of it and I still have plenty. I need to give an extra big thanks for the camera and crocs too. They were perfect. Thanks for thinking of me during the season and for all your prayers.

Love y'all,

Sister Beutler

Merry Merry Christmas!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, it finally happened. I got sick for the first time since I've been out here. Sister Varea and I ate some turkey-tail at a less-active's house and that night we weren't feeling well. This morning we both woke up with diarrhea and nausea but I think it's gone through our systems because we are both feeling much better now. 

The spirit of Christmas is in the air here. Where ever we walk, we hear people wishing us a Merry Christmas from there porches, through their windows, from up in the trees, and yelling it out their car windows. Sometimes we hear "Merry Krisimas Sister Co" from a voice far away and we're not sure where it comes from. 

Our work hasn't been quite as successful this week. Everyone says they are busy getting ready for Christmas or visiting family on another part of the island. We have had some good lessons though and I try to not let is discourage me. We had a very interesting lesson with an old man the other day. I'm convinced he was a bit drunk because he was mostly just trying to quiz us on our bible knowledge. He said he was confused why the Book of Mormon didn't have the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in it. When we tried to explain what the Book of Mormon was about he just interrupted and asked what Jesus' first miracle was and so on. He was so impressed with our knowledge that he got up to shake our hands. We ended up just sharing a short scripture and our testimonies and left. 

Yesterday I was walking on the road and a breadfruit fell from the tree and exploded about 4 feet away from me. The little girls walking with us screamed and my legs and skirt got splattered with it. I personally think over-ripe breadfruit is one of the worst smelling things ever. I kind of got myself cleaned off with a few leaves. 

I've enjoyed getting the emails and Christmas wishes from my aunts and uncles. Merry Christmas to all of you.

Mom, Dad, Bros and Sistas-I think everything is set up now and I'm excited to talk to all of you tomorrow morning.

Also, I got my Christmas package last Monday but I have been a good girl and haven't opened any of my presents yet. Thank you for all the little gifts. They will make my Christmas morning extra special.  

Stay Strong,

Sister Beutler

Rain is Falling All Around

Family Dear,

First of all I would like to wish mom and dad a happy anniversary (It should still be the 16th in Guyana I believe). 

I received Eve's package last Monday after I wrote my emails. It was perfect. Now my little house looks all ready for Christmas. I am also very much enjoying the music from Becky and Jason. 

It has been raining soooo much this week. We have defiantly made good use of our umbrella's. I think I'll have to get a larger one soon. Yesterday it was blowing hard and my stomach and head were the only things that didn't get soaked. 

I'm really loving teaching these people in Kolonia. We have one older Yappese woman who told us she is on her quest for truth and she has narrowed it down to the Jehovah Witness church and our church. I was excited to find a Yappese Book of Mormon in our house and we gave it to her the next day. The best part is that it is translated completely and she actually reads it. I know she will get her answer soon and will be a great influence to her family in the future.  

One of our golden investigators that disappeared was back in town yesterday and we had an opportunity to teach her along with a bunch of the neighborhood children that were over at her house. She is only 16 but seems to be that boss of what goes on in their home. She even makes her 16-year-old niece sit in and participate in the lessons.

We did service for Yolanda and Glory Ann this week. When we showed up in our shorts and t-shirts they were surprised and didn't think we were actually serious. They had plenty of weeding for us to do though. The people here really don't like seeing me work. They say silly things like "You're going to get itchy because your skin is white." I usually have to just start working before they have a chance to make up an excuse. I know they appreciate it in the end though. 

Aaron, I assume you're getting everything worked out for the skype call with Elder Lefevre. I'll make sure to mention what you wrote in your email just in case though. 

I love you all, 

Sister Beutler

Merry Christmas

Dear Family,

It has been such a good week. I've met most of the investigators in the area now and most of their names put to the right faces. The stores here REALLY decorate for Christamas. They are covered in lights. It kind of surprised me, but it's helping me feel in the Christmas spirit even without the snow and family. We have also started singing Christmas songs in all our lessons. We copied them from an old Pohnpein Pros hymnbook. 

In one part of our area there is a community of Kirinese people. They say they are anciently descendants from Tonga. I wouldn't be surprised. They are quite large people. I've really gotten to love them. They have good hearts and are very kind to the missionaries even if they aren't members. Their language sounds pretty too and it's fun learning a little of it.

We have a couple of sisters we are teaching that have the Kitti accent. When I asked who would say the prayer after the song one said she would but I thought she was telling me to, so I did it. After the prayer she was giving me a good stink eye but we all got a good laugh out of it. I love those two, they really enjoy reading the scriptures and ask good questions.

An African man stopped us on the road a few days ago. He said he teaches at the college and when Christmas break starts he would like us to come teach him. He speaks English and is a really funny man. I'm excited to start teaching him. We also started teaching a Yappese girl that is a teacher at the high school. She said she wasn't really sure if she believed in God. I think she's the first person out here that has told us she wondered if there was a God. I'm also excited to continue teaching her. 

I found out this week that there is still leprosy on Pohnpei. One of the ladies had gone to the hospital and they told her that's what she had. 

We found out one of the ladies that comes to church every week is not a member so we started teaching her this week. She says she knows everything is true but said "my husband must be Satan because he always stops me from doing good things". 

After we finished teaching the plan of salvation another woman told us that she wanted to go to the Celestial kingdom with her kids but it would be okay if her husband went to one of the other kingdoms. When the women say things like that I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. 

Now that I'm in a walking area I think I'm going to stay quite fit. Our area is big so there is lots of walking to do and hills to climb.

Dad, I was reading in the New Testament and Luke 13:13 reminded me of you. I thought of when you'd make fun of me for praying that the food would nourish and "straighten" us.

I'm excited to talk to all of you for Christmas. I think the time will work out just swell. I'll tell the missionary couples and they will be emailing to get everything worked out before the day arrives. For now I will plan to talk to all of you for my 11:00am Christmas morning, and all of your's Christmas Eve.

Love you all,

Sister Beutler

Merry December

The Pohnpeins don't celebrate many of the holidays celebrated in America, but they sure celebrate Christmas. They celebrate all month long. On Dec.1 there was a parade to kick off the month. We had just gotten out of a lesson when we heard the police sirens and all the children came running out to the street with bags in had to catch candy. The Pohnpien Christmas bells (suakau pounding) are also filling the air with their melodious tunes (when they pound the saukau roots they put them on a large flat stone and then pound it with smaller stones). It seems like every fourth man we talk to is drunk.

We've done a lot of contacting this week. Pohnpien directions are really funny sometimes. The best was when a man pointed out a tree (in an area covered in trees) and said "See that tree there, the family lives under it." I'm starting to get accustomed to my new area. The people from Kaping Marami have some especially strong members. There are a few people that refuse to talk to me because I am white and then there are always the drunks that come up to us on the streets and tell me how beautiful I am because my skin is white.

Why did the couple that was renting the house move out? I thought they were staying 'til May. Is the last chicken still alive? 

Momma, you still have never replied to me about when it would be a good time to skype the family on Christmas. Will all my brothers and sisters be together Christmas Eve? What is the time difference between Guayana and Pohnpei? I love you all so very very much.

Sister Beutler

Mom and Dad,

I received your letters on Thanksgiving Day. I was so happy to get some real letters from both of you and I return my love. Dad, I do stay very busy and we teach lots of lessons. The people here are all willing to listen, we just have to be observant enough to know which ones really want to hear and which ones are just being polite. It was good to here about your teaching experiences.

Family,

The people here don't really celebrate Thanksgiving but the missionaries got together in the evening and ate an excellent meal with all the traditional Thanksgiving food. The couple missionaries prepared it all for us. We even had turkey and pumpkin pie. The Lefevre's said they put pictures of it on the mission blog.  [This is the link http://alanmelanielefevre.blogspot.com/]

We had a baptism in Sapwalap this weekend that I was able to go to on the condition that I give the Restoration talk. I was a little nervous to give a talk in Pohnpein but it went really well and I didn't even have to use notes.

I was really sad to leave Sapwalap. Yesterday we went on splits in Sokehs. I went with a middle aged lady that I didn't really know and we taught investigators I'd never met. It was hard but I hope to get to know the people fast.

Mom: my mailing address is the same as long as I'm on this island. There is just one P.O. box and the zone leaders get our mail for us.

I love you all.
Sister Beutler

New Happenings

Dear Family,

Sister Varea and I had an awesome week. We have three different people that actually sought us out and asked to be taught so each of them should be pretty promising. We were able to teach 20 member present lessons this week which is the most we've ever done. We will also be having a baptism for two young boys this Saturday. They have a 20-year-old brother that was baptized 4 years ago but is less active now. He has started sitting in on the lessons and asks lots of questions. I believe with a little encouragement and fellow-shipping he'll be a strong member again and a good support for his brothers. He just needs to stop chewing that nasty beetlenut! I hate beetlenuts and sakau. They seem to be everybody's downfall out here.

Now for the sad news. Late Saturday night we found out that I will be transferred to Sokehs. Sokehs is the city part of Pohnpei so I will be leaving the jungle (for now). Sister R. Varea will be my new companion. Right when the work was really picking up in Sapwalap too! There is happy news though. Sister Fatongia (my companion in the MTC) is coming to Pohnpei and Sister T. Varea will train her in the language in Sapwalap. We'll pick her up from the airport this Wednesday. I'm really excited to see her again and she's gifted with learning new languages so I think she will pick it up fast. We also finally got Sister Salaiau on the plane to go home this morning at 1:00am. While we waited at the airport I was able to get lots of my language mastery things passed off with the locals. Lots of people came to send her off even though it was the middle of the night.

In Sokehs pretty much all of the teenagers speak English, some people speak normal Pohnpein, some speak the Kitti dialect of Pohnpein and there is a big section of people that speak Krinese (a language from one of the outer islands). I'm afraid my language progression might slow down while I'm here since I won't be using it all the time. I'm excited to get to know all the members in Sokehs though (there are lots because the church is really strong there). We also won't have a car so maybe I'll get a little more fit too. I'm still staying happy and very healthy. I love all y'all. 

Sister Beutler

Transfer Week

It has been a really good week for Sister Varea and I. We taught lots of lessons and we continue to find good investigators. I've been happy with the work and I'm getting better and better at teaching on my own when we go on splits. Now that my twelve week program training is over I'm allowed to study the rest of the missionary library besides just the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel. I've started studying from the new testament with the seminary manual and it is really fun learning all the insights prophets, apostles, and scholars have to say about the writings in the 4 gospels.

Sister Saliau was supposed to go home on Thursday with Elder Peterson. We all went to the airport to send them off but Sister Saliau's visa expired so she wasn't allowed to get on the plane. Anyway, she is still here and has an interview with the Embassy on Tuesday. Hopefully she will be able to go home this next week. The sister that was supposed to take her place hasn't had her visa go through yet so until that happens, Sister R. Varea will join me and Sister T. Varea 4 days a week in Sapwalap and then teach in Kolonia 3 days a week with one of the senior couples. Sister R. Varea was throwing up for four days straight so Sister Saliau has just been sitting in their house studying her scriptures and waiting to go home.

We had our district conference (like stake conference) yesterday. All the members on the island came to Sapwalap so our branch deep cleaned the church building from top to bottom. The mission president, one of his counselors, and his wife spoke along with some of the other leaders of the Pohnpei district. The ones that spoke in English had someone translate for them so they would only say a couple sentences at a time. Their talks were really good though. 

I pray every night for all of you to receive the blessings promised to those who lead righteous lives. I can also feel all your prayers in my life. Yes momma, my testimony continues to grow leaps and bounds every day. 

Love, Sister Beutler

Me, Awalt, and Roger cleaning fish for dinner.

In the Service of My Lord

Dear Family,

The work has picked up this week. We are finding more and more interested people. We contacted three sisters this week who said they'd had the discussions long ago. They said they knew our church was true and when I extended them a baptismal date the oldest said, "okay what time?" They family may show some opposition but I believe their mother's heart has been softened. It's interesting how people here can be thirty years old and they still won't do anything without the parent's permission. Part of the culture here is that people are very very respectful to older people.

Sister Salaiua will be going home this week so a family in our Sapwalap branch (The Calios) had a going away dinner for her on Saturday. We also went to a dinner for her at the house of a Phillipino family last night. We had to drive to Kolonia and sleep over so we could take the sisters to the zone activity this morning. They don't have a car since their area is right in town. Anyway, there was lots of delicious local food to be eaten. Sister Salaiau congratulated me last night on gaining weight (a compliment from an islander). She's not the first to tell me I'm looking plumper so I'm afraid it must be true. I think it's all the taro and meat I eat here. Sister Varea says they are body building foods. At district meeting this week I beat my district leader in an arm wrestle so maybe I'm just getting stronger. :)

Our branch did a little trick-or-treating thing for the kids on Halloween. They went to three different rooms in the church building and got a little bag of candy, a bag of chips, and a candy bar. It didn't last long but the kids really seemed to think it was fun and some even dressed up in make-shift costumes. A group of the young men dressed as women. They thought they were pretty funny.

I've been wondering how cousin Jordan is doing. Is he in Ukraine still or some other country? How would I get a hold of him if I wanted to write a letter?

Mary, I enjoy your weekly update on things going on in Dayton. Mom and Dad, thanks for writing to me. I feel like I've finally settled into this new life and culture. I'm learning not to get frustrated about things as easily and the language comes better to me every day. I also pray for you two every day and I know you are doing a great work for the members and Elders where you are serving. The senior couples always ask me how you two are doing whenever they see me.

I feel all your prayers and I'm so thankful for so many family members and friends that love me. 

Well, I thinks that's all folks,

Sister Beutler

One of our service projects digging taro at the Welters

 

Dear Family,

 

This week we have been able to teach lots of new investigators that actually really want to participate in the discussions and know what we have to teach. It has been a good change. As we take the members out teaching I've realized how much work we have to do with the less actives. They point out all sorts of people that have joined the church and fallen away. I have to remember that we can only work with so many people at once so I don't get overwhelmed. So many members go back to their saukau and beetlenut and then eventually fall away because they don't feel worthy to go to church.

 

For our service we helped a member family dig a trench by their pig pen so the pen wouldn't get flooded out when it rains. I'm sad to say that my camera fell in the ocean when we went to Nan Madol. I put it in a bag of rice for a couple days but I'm afraid it has gone the way of all the earth.

 

Brothers and Sisters:I think I have listened to enough cheesy church music to last me a lifetime. If anyone feels an inkling to send me something, some good uplifting, missionary appropraite cd's would be appreciated (I love Christmas music).

 

Mama: My transfer day is this next Wednesday Nov. 7 so it is a week after yours. The mail service is good here. I usually get letters from the US within a week or two so your letters sould get to me. I will most likely be in Pohnpei my whole mission.

Dear Family,

It has been an interesting week. Sister Varea and I have happened to teach an uncommonly high amount of older people. They are all either Catholic or Pros and they all say the same thing. “There is one God and all the churches are good.” We can teach them as simply as possible about the apostasy and priesthood authority but they don’t really seem to be listening. They tell us they know the Book of Mormon is true because it is words of God even though they haven’t read or prayed about it, and they can’t seem to grasp the concept that because the Book of Mormon is true, that also means Joseph Smith is a prophet. My point is, it isn’t fun trying to teach old people. There is one older woman, however, that I think actually had an “Ah-ha moment” when we read about how Christ was baptized. I can tell her heart is open because she really does think about what we say and is willing to change.

We have also had the opportunity to teach quite a few high school/college-age people who we contacted through referrals. The young ward members come with us to contact them too. They are a little more intimidating to teach because we are close to the same age but are also a lot more fun because they want to learn.

General Conference was so good, I thought of Jared during the talk about the bees. Between conference sessions we ate with the members and I tried pig intestines for the first time. They were pretty gross and that will be my last time trying them. I also found out this week that there are glow-in-the-dark mushrooms here. We forgot our flashlight one day and as we were walking in the dark on a jungle path to our car I could see all the mushrooms glowing around me.

This Saturday was pretty worthless for teaching. Pohnpei was having a cultural celebration so everyone was either at a party or pounding sakau and we aren’t allowed to teach when they do sakau. I guess it would be the equivalent of trying to teach in a bar.  

Even though there are so many forces trying to delay the Lord's work, it continues to more forward on this island and hearts continue to be prepared. I keep thinking of people at home that need the gospel. Share it with everyone. There are so many just waiting for an invitation.

Love you all,

Sister Beutler

Family Dear, 

It has been a busy week. My language day went pretty well. Sister Varea sent me on a split with Paulo. She is 20-year-old girl that doesn't know much English and didn't speak any to me. I taught one of her friends. It was really scary and I don't know how much the girl understood. I was so nervous I was forgetting words I've known since the first week here. I'm glad the first split is over with now though and I know if I just depend on the spirit it can only get better. I actually feel like I've been improving alot on the language this week. 

We had our zone conference on Saturday so we got to see President Mecham and his wife. It was so good. It's nice to receive some good instruction and President knows how to get us excited and uplift our spirits. He's excited about the change in missionary age and is hoping that if there is a big increase in sister missionaries they may start sending sisters to Kosrae and Yap! We also had baked potatoes, rolls, salad, and jello for dinner. It was the first potato I've had since I've been here. 

Our district went to the Nan Madal ruins today. It is an ancient city built of rocks. Nobody knows what happened to the people and half the city is sunk in the ocean now. It was really cool. I also got to meet the Nanmwarki (King). I guess he owns the land with the ruins. I didn't know who he was until he left and the Elders told me, so I wasn't able to get a picture with him. 

We get to watch general conference this next Saturday and Sunday. It won't be too long of a wait this time around.

Love you all,

Sister Beutler

Pictures-*All the sister missionaries in our Pohnpein skirts.

*My Best attempt at a jack-o-lantern. They don't celebrate Halloween in Sapwalap and don't really grow pumpkins.

*Some of the Elders at the Nan Madal ruins

 

All the sister missionaries in our Pohnpein skirts

My Best attempt at a jack-o-lantern

Some of the Elders at the Nan Madal ruins

 

Kasalelie Maing Koaros,

Oh my goodness, I won't be able to watch conference until they send it to us with the Pohnpein translation. Sister Varea and I will watch it in English in the clerks office while the members watch the Pohnpien version in the chapel. It might be a few weeks until I can see it. So, I just heard about the age change for missionaries. That is crazy news. I so wish I could have come out here at 19. I think there will be so many more sisters coming now. That will be great. I've learned so much already that I never would have learned had I not come. My testimony grows more each day and I know how to really study and find answers though the scriptures and prayer. This new revelation will be such a blessing to so many people. 

We were able to have a baptism of Daniel and Javileen on Saturday. They are both 11 and have such strong testimonies. Unfortunately, Daniel's auntie was mad that he got baptized so she came and took him away Sunday morning so he couldn't be confirmed. I'm not sure why his parents let her take him but Daniel told his grandma that they can slap him or do whatever they want but he knows his decision was right. Hopefully we get everything straightened out so he can be confirmed this coming Sunday.We put the Valentine Family on a baptisimal date and and they are looking to be golden investigators. I can really see the parent's desire for their family to be joined in the church and the boys love coming to primary.

We also have an old woman that believes everything and comes to church but still doesn't quite understand the concept that we are the "only" church with priesthood authority. She has been baptized Catholic and Pros and doesn't know if she wants to get baptized a third time. Last night we really talked in depth about the authority of God with her and I know she knows this is the right church. She just needs a little time to pray about it.

I'm getting much more comfortable with speaking in Pohnpei. Sometimes my mind gets ahead of my mouth though and I forget to add some words in my sentences or even finish a thought. I always know when that happens though because the person I'm talking to just raises their eyebrows. People use their eyebrows to communicate a lot here. We have a language packet with lots of different things I have to pass off with my trainer and also with a local Pohnpein. This Wednesday is the day I plan to go for a whole day speaking only Pohnpein. We will see how that goes.

I love getting everybody's letters. It's fun to hear what's going on in your lives and also back home in good old Dayton.

Love you all,

Sister Beutler

Hello Again my Family Dear,

I can't believe September is already over. Eve raised a question as to if I write my emails on Sunday. Just to clear that up, we are 17 hours ahead of Idaho so I'm almost a full day ahead here. I posted a couple pictures. One is of me giving my cheesiest grin while frying bananas for lunch. One is Sister Calio racing to weave a basket at our branch activity, and the final one is just some of the local food I have the opportunity to eat every day. I'm getting to the point where I crave a coconut if I haven't had one for a few days. 

Mary was telling me how small Pohnpei looks on the map. There is one main road that goes around the perimeter of island and we can drive the whole thing in about 2 hours going 30mph.

This week we got a brand new car. Some of the Elders were using it for a couple days but when we got it, it still only had about 160 miles. We have to be extra careful with it. The roads here are covered in potholes.

On Saturday we took a couple of the YSA age people with us to go contact one of their friends. When we got there the whole family (over 10 adults, the momma, and I don't even know how many children) were there. They all stopped what they were doing and sat in for the lesson. They live pretty close to the church building and I'm very hopeful that we'll at least get a few good investigators out of the family. 

I tried parrot fish for the fist time this week. It was the strangest fish I'd ever seen. It is very colorful and has a beak just like a parrot. I'll have to take a picture of one someday. 

It has been raining all morning. From what I'm told, They get more rain here in a single rainstorm than Idaho gets the entire year. I can definitely believe that. After about ten minutes of rain there are already rivers running through the streets. 

I love you all and enjoy reading your letters and emails. I was sad to here uncle Garth isn't doing well but I am glad he is getting better and will keep him in my prayers.

Remember to study the scriptures every day and treasure up the words of God. I know he gives us more knowledge the more we seek to find it. Be good boys and girls and don't take any wooden nickles.

With all my Love, 

 Sister Beutler

Some of the local food I have the opportunity to eat every day.

Sister Beutler frying Bananas

Sister Calio racing to weave a basket at our branch activity.

Dear family and friends,

It has been another good week in Sapwalap. We went on exchanges again at the beginning of the week and I was with Sister Saliau in Kolonia (see attached photo). She finishes her mission this next transfer and gave me lots of good advice about forgetting myself and putting my whole heart and soul in the mission. 

Sister Beutler with Sister Saliau in Kolonia

On Wednesday we went to the Welters do do service. We helped them dig up taro. I always like learning how to do new things and the locals like to teach me. They all worry about my skin turning dark though. I try to tell them that I'm used to being out in the sun but I don't think they believe me.

When we went to teach one of our recent converts they were eating little crabs. they gave me a claw to eat and when I but down on it I must've hit a nerve because the joint and claw moved. I let out a squeal and threw it across the room. I felt a little bad but after I explained myself they just laughed and laughed. 

We have a family we are teaching with four children. We have only been able to see them a couple times but the little boys love us and they came to the primary activity and church this week. One of our members who was helping us teach said he met the husband on the road the other day. The husband asked if he was a member and then told him that one day his whole family was going to join our church!

The language comes to me more and more each day and I enjoy speaking it. They use the same words for multiple things in this language, making everything sound very broken if translated into English. Sometimes I wish their were more words so I could express myself better but I guess it makes the language easier to learn. There are lots of honorific words that I need to be careful to use when appropriate such and when I am speaking to and older person, or about God. 

One thing I have learned is how much I took for granted growing up where I did. The members would give anything to have a temple nearby or be able to attend a live session of general conference. It was such a blessing to grow up among so many saints. 

I am so grateful for this gospel and the opportunity to serve the Lord. I know one day Pohnpei will be full of saints. The gospel is spreading so fast here but there is still so much work to be done. 

I love you all very much.

Sister Beutler

A Pohnpein apple and one of the many types of bananas here.

 

Hello again my dearies,

 

It has been a good week. Today is my one month anniversary in Pohnpei!  

Congratulations to Aaron and Aneesa on their new baby. He sounds like quite the chunk. I want to see a picture.

Last week we went on exchanges after p-day so I was in Kolonia with the other Sister Varea. From that day on I have no longer been teaching with notes. I just use the words I know and the investigators and Sister Varea help me along when I'm stuck on a word. It's amazing how much you can say with only a vocabulary of about 200 words. Anyway, while we were on exchanges a man came up to us while we were walking to a lesson and what I got out of the conversation is that he was telling us to come teach him. As I started to follow him Sister R. Varea told him "Soh Mwahw (no we're good)" then took me by the arm and led me away. She then  told me he was drunk and was telling her to leave so I could go teach him by myself. We got a good laugh out of that.

I recently found out that there are kings on Pohnpei. I guess each clan has one and they go to all the funerals and important events but none of the other sisters have ever met one as far as they know.

For service this week we helped a family weed their taro. Weeding is much different here. The roots hardly even go into the ground because it rains so much. They put all the weeds in a wheelbarrow and then dumped them in the river. I don't know how much good that really does to prevent them from spreading.   

On Thursday we had a couple appointments fall through so we went to a member family to teach them the restoration and how to do their own missionary work. There were lots of aunts and cousins there so we were teaching about 7 adults and 20 children. When we finished we asked if they knew anyone who wanted to hear the gospel. Two of the children (a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old) piped up and said they wanted to be baptized. They go to church every week with their cousins and we didn't even know they weren't members. Their mothers said it would be fine if they got baptized and they are really excited to take the discussions and become part of the church.    

I've gotten to where I hate the word pwetepwet (pronounced: pwech-a-pwech). It means white. At first I thought it sounded fun but people usually use it when they aren't saying very nice things about me. It isn't a fun word anymore.

I have recently found that I need to repent and shave my legs more than once a week. A couple nights ago during a lesson I had my legs extended out because they had fallen asleep while I was sitting cross-legged. One of the little girls put her hand on my legs and then excitedly exclaimed how poky they were. All the kids then had to come rub my legs to feel for themselves. I don't think it helped the spirit of the lesson much.

Jared asked about the raw fish and in my letter I didn't explain it very well so I will do it now for all to hear. They serve all the fish here with the head and everything. They only eat certain kinds raw. They cut slices in the sides and then massage lemon juice and salt into the meat. When I ate it, it felt a little bit like I would imagine biting though someone's flesh and tearing the meat off their skin with my teeth. I don't know that I enjoyed the experience that much.

Mom wanted to know more about my living situation so here it is. We live in a one room house about the size of my bedroom at college. We have electricity but it usually turns off for a few hours every morning so we need make sure to charge things when we do have it. The water in the tap is rain water so on P-day we fill our blue jugs with filtered water in Kolonia and use that for drinking water. It is only $1.50 for 5-gallons. There are ants everywhere so we keep anything they could get into either in the fridge or freezer. The other night I was drying myself off and saw I was covered in ants. I guess they thought my towel would make a good home. We do have a washer and dryer in a little section behind our house so that is really nice.  

Love you all,

Sister Beutler

P.S. The picture is of me and the other sisters along with a member (Sister Calio).

Kasalelie peneinei (hello family),

     It has been a good week for Sister Varea and I. Jeffery was baptized on Saturday. He was really nervous for the interview and the baptism and all but afterwards he looked so happy and I know that one day he will be a strong priesthood holder for our branch.

     The people here give us food all the time. A couple days ago I tried a couple new foods, Pohnpein peanuts and also bananas cooked in coconut milk which tasted a little like peach cobbler. I am used to seeing children with machetes now. The first few days I expected them to come running after me with them but everybody carries them around as their main tool.

     We always have plenty of people to teach here. I still have never had to go out "finding." The people we teach are all refferals and someone in the house is always willing to listen. Setting appointments is a little different though. Everyone is on island time here so they mostly just have three time frames in their mind (morning, afternoon, and evening). Marvin and Jayleen are a nice young couple we began teaching this week. They seem very interested and I think they are very promising. We hiked up to Catarina's (an investigator) house and when we got there she was gone but there were a bunch of men and young boys who we taught. I was a little scared during that lesson, all the huts are usually filled with women so I'd never taught so many men at once.

     We made a Pohnpein Book of Mormon calendar yesterday morning and we are going to challenge all our new converts to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. Their Book of Mormon only has 79 chapters because the rest haven't been translated yet so it shouldn't be too hard. We gave the challenge to the Augustine family last night and they are really excited to get started. They are a really fun family (there is a picture of them). The husband doesn't want to be part of the church but sister Augustine keeps praying for him and sometimes he'll sit in for parts of our lessons. I know one day he will accept it. Right now I think he just doesn't want to give up his saukou and beetle-nut but his wife and daughters continue to be good examples to him.  

     I am using the language more in our lessons everyday and understand most of what is going on. I still have to throw in lots of English words when I speak but the people all like to help me along and I am grateful for their help and patience with me.

     I love you all and can feel your prayers. 

                                Love, Sister Beutler

PS. The pictures are of Jeffery's family, The Augustine family, and our zone after playing football)

It was exciting to hear about Austin and Chris' mission calls!

Football Game with the Zone

The Augustine Family

Jeffery's Family after his baptism

My Dear Family,

This week has been pretty good. Tuesday Sister Varea was still supposed to be resting for her sickness so we deep cleaned our little house and studied the language. Wednesday we had appointments planned for the whole day but almost everything fell through because there was a funeral. I guess when someone dies here they have a funeral that day. They slaughter several pigs and the whole town stops what they are doing and goes. Jeffery is an investigator we have been working with. We set a definite baptismal date for him this Saturday and fasted with him yesterday. His wife is already a convert and I am so excited for their family. A little girl brought us a smashed dried up frog yesterday. There are frogs everywhere at night. They are so cute when they're alive. Sister LeFevre told me she has a mission blog that can be found  through her facebook Melanie Desmond LeFevre. (http://alanmelanielefevre.blogspot.com/)

The weather is always the same. It rains for awhile almost every day and stays between 75F and 85F. According to my companion the days don't get longer and shorter here. That might get a little boring. But, I am informed that the holidays still come even though the seasons don't change! Sister Varea said Figi weather is the same as here, along with the customs so she didn't have much adjusting to do.

With Love,

Sister Beutler

Sister Beutler and her trainer Sister Varea

Sister Beutler in Pohnpei

Pohnpei

Kaselehlie from Pohnpei,

                To answer Mary’s question, dearelder.com can still be used to send letters but it costs something like $6 a month to use now that I am out in the field. letters sent to the mission home address will get to me eventually. This is a better address to use though and will be the same as long as I am in Pohnpei:

P.O. Box 2203

Kolonia FM 96941

Pohnpei

                My trainer, Sister Varea, has had a cough for a couple months so on Wednesday we finally went to the doctor and she had pneumonia so she was ordered to rest for the week. She stayed in Kolonia with the other Sister Varea and Sister Salaiau and I went back to Sapwalap. Sister Salaiau told me how to ask all the basic questions at the beginning of a lesson like “Which hymn should we sing” and “Who should pray” on the way back to Sapwalap. I wrote it down and from then on I was in charge of getting the lessons started. Needless to say I had a lot of people trying not to laugh at me or finish my sentences. Sister Salaiau keeps telling me that if I work really hard with the language and suffer now, I can rest later. I am starting to figure out what people are talking about  by picking out words i recognize. One of our investigators, Sileen, wants to be baptized but her husband wouldn't let her. She has been praying a lot for his heart to be softened. When we went to visit her on Thursday her husband was there. He listened to our lesson and even agreed to begin taking the discussions. 

Mom and Dad, the living conditions of river people you visited sounded just like all the people in Sapwalap. I thought Yap was the only island with topless women but I’ve definitely seen plenty of that this week.  There are little roadside stores here that have the best rolls I’ve ever tasted (they are sweeter than usual). You can buy a bag of rolls or a bag of doughnuts for just a dollar and they are one of my favorite treats. My first week here they had broken up doughnuts for the sacrament bread.

On Saturday we had a district seminary activity all the missionaries got to go to. They played lots of the pioneer games like stick pull and they had a pie eating contest. None of the students had ever heard of such a thing. All the chosen participants were natives and none of them could finish their pie so they finally just gave a prize to the one who finished the most before they had to go outside and throw up.

That evening there was a branch activity cultural show. I met a lady at the show that knew an Elder Beutler. Did Danny ever serve here? We call here Mama Serina. There were lots of dance numbers for the show, and plenty of food. The food at parties is usually rice, strange noodles, raw fish, taro, bananas, fried cucumbers, and always hotdogs.  One of the members gave us some pineapples from her garden a couple days ago, It is still are still my favorite fruit here. The bananas taste about the same as back home except sweeter, and they are really small. 

                As for myself, I am still in good health. I feel like crying every morning but by afternoon I feel like maybe I’ll be able to make it through the day, and by evening I am happy again. Everything here is so different from home but I know I was sent to this mission for a reason. I already have many people who love me even though we can hardly communicate and the children all run up and hug my legs whenever they see me. They lift my spirits a lot.

Until next week,

Poakepoake Kumwail ( I love you all),

Sister Beutler

P.S. One picture is of my trainer and I and the others are just some pictures of Pohnpei.

Sister Beutler and Sister Beutler

Sister Fatongia and Sister Beutler both headed to the Micronesia, Guam mission.

Kaselehlie Family,

                I had the chance to talk to most of you in the airport. Sorry Eve, I thought I would have time to call you in Honolulu but our flight was late so we had to get right on the next plane I think you were the only one I missed. We made it to Guam by 7:00p.m. on Wednesday. The time change was hard to adjust to especially after our long flights my internal time clock was all messed up.

                The mission president’s home is very nice but deceiving compared to the rest of Guam.  It is kind of a modern run down city. As a whole I didn’t really like Guam all that much.  It reminded me of the ghetto side of Ogden.

                Now for the news you have all been waiting for… On Thursday morning we opened our new “mission calls” I am serving in Pohnpei in the Sapwalap area and am learning Pohnpein. Elders Lyman and Hansen are here also. My trainer is Sister Varea she is from Figi and is very sweet. Her sister is also in Pohnpei and Sister Salaiau (from Popa New Gunea) is her companion. They serve right in town but we will be seeing them once a week. I’m told I am the only white sister in the whole mission.

                The People of Pohnpei are wonderful. They are very patient with me in learning the language and like to help me learn new words. The ones that take care of themselves are attractive people. The children all run up to us and hug our legs. They are good children who work hard and mind their parents. When we first arrived they came and grabbed my suitcases to roll them to our house. They have a hard time saying my name so many just call me Sister Beauty. They all tell me I am very beautiful and comment on my fair skin.

                Our house is very small. It is only one room and we have to lean our mattresses against the wall when we wake up so we have room to walk around. We do, however, have a small bathroom with a flushing toilet and shower and we have an oven, fridge, microwave and air conditioner so I am living in luxury.

                Pohnpei is beautiful.  There are hundreds of different plants everywhere. While we were hiking up the mountain to an investigators house the trail was covered in sensitive plants. My companion is used to them so she thought it was funny when I got excited about them. The region where I am serving is the jungle area so people live in very humble circumstances. They all have a cement or wood pad in their huts.  We sit cross-legged on it to teach lessons. Some people have small trucks and sometimes so many people are riding in the back that they are barely hanging on. It looks like they are spilling over the edges.

                On my first day we taught a 17 year old boy that knows English very well. It was his first discussion and I invited him to be baptized. He said he wanted to. He is very ready to change his life and is willing to do anything.

Last night we were teaching a recent convert and I bore my testimony in Pohnpein it was very simple but at least it’s a start. In this same family Roger (a boy preparing to go on his mission) introduced me to his brother the first day here. He speaks a little English and said his name is Guess.  I thought he was asking me to guess the boy’s name so I said David and they all burst out in laughter. My language is coming along better than I expected. Everyone tells me I am lucky because missionaries learn the language in Sapwalap fast since the people don’t know very much English.  

                We have a branch in Sapwalap and the church house is much nicer than I expected. We live right next to it on the church grounds.  The chapel has benches but we sit on the floor in the classrooms. During relief society we could hear the primary children singing and one of their songs was to the tune of “There’s a Tavern in the Town” J. I didn’t understand much of what was going on in church but Sister Varea did her best to translate for me.

                The food is good. It is mostly rice with some sort of flavored meat (tuna, chicken broth, fish, etc.). There are chickens, pigs, and dogs everywhere. There are a few cats too. I’ve had breadfruit a few times. It tastes almost just like baked potatoes. I’ve eaten a few things that I’m not sure if I should be eating but my companion assures me it is fine. I haven’t tried the raw fish yet.  

                Today we had a zone activity and we played volleyball and football. I made a touchdown! It was good to see Elder Lyman and Hansen again. They make me feel more at ease because they are new at everything too.  The Elders don’t have a water heater so they have to take cold showers.

                I’m sure there is more to tell but we have to pay to use the internet by the hour so I will be done now. I love you all and enjoy reading your letters. Tell the little ones I miss them too.

Love,

Sister Beutler

Dear Family,
    I can't believe how fast I have progressed here, when I don't have all the little things to worry about. I have been able to focus on improving the things I didn't even realize I had a problem with before.
    I got my travel plans this week. We will be leaving Tuesday at 3:00 am. Our flight leaves Salt Lake at 6:00 am. and goes to San Fransisco. From there we will go straight to Guam. After figuring out the time changes we decided our flight is about 20 hours and when we get there we will skip like a whole day. 
    The food is still good and I continue to grow plumper every day.
    I see Elder Stegelmier pretty frequently. He seems pretty happy to be here and is doing well. My companion calls him Elder Stooglemier. I don't think he can say her name correctly either though. Right now I'm washing my clothes and listening to the Elders from Germany & Denmark. Their accents make me happy. They are having a discussion with the Elders in my district about what we call our three middle toes.
    Gym time is still much looked forward to. My favorite is playing basketball with Sister Landry. She is from Mississippi and she's one of my favorites. Another one of my favorites is Sister Gur. She's a big sturdy gal who is very funny & down to earth.
    During the devotionals I enjoy listening to all the funny noises (along with the talks of course). There are the constant sniffs, coughs, and pen clicks; but it is the most exciting when the speaker says something really profound. All the heads go down followed by a chorus of pen clicks. Then the heads pop up one by one and pens click again.
     Elder Gilman was sick yesterday so he went to the doctor and came back with a prescription for a 12-hour nap.
    We usually teach 2 or 3 discussions a day with our progressing investigators. Sister Fatongia and I are learning a lot. We definitely have things to work on but we learn more every day.
    I see Sister Beutler (Wayne's daughter) all the time. We pretty much have the same schedule. It's good to get to know the cousins I knew existed but never really talked to.
   I met Elder Mahu Yesterday. He is in the new district in our zone. He said Nathan is his uncle and he lived in Dayton 'til he was about 4. (I think she meant Mihu)
    I have been trying to drink my cranberry juice every day. Mary, I am feeling very sad for you that the big lawn mower isn't working. Best of luck with that. I'm not all that disappointed about missing the first bean picking but I'm sure you had a blast without me! That is very exciting. I'm glad all the nieces and nephews haven't forgotten about me yet. Could you send me a list of our family with their birthdays? I wouldn't want to forget.
    I nearly forgot. I am allowed to call my family while I am in the airport. I'm not really sure who to call. The only number I have memorized is Mary's, so I will call her and go from there. Probably not until I get to the San Francisco airport though. Which will be around 8:00 am. your time.
    Mom & Dad, it was good to receive your emails. I'm glad the Elders enjoyed reading my letter. I told Elder Creech to try and find you. I didn't think he would actually remember.
    It sounds like you are both getting more comfortable with your mission responsibilities. Thank you for the words of support. I love you both very much as well as the rest of the family. May God Bless You. We are all very blessed.
    With Love,
          Sister Beutler

Dear Family,

        The MTC is great! I don’t think I would’ve said that a couple days ago but I’m getting used to everything and don’t feel so much out of my comfort zone anymore.

        Sister Fatongia and I are still getting along well and she even runs with me. I am also becoming good friends with the other two sisters in my district. Our whole district is wonderful and we are just like a family now after only a week. We all strive to be obedient with exactness and there are no complainers.

        The cafeteria is a magical place! There are always at least 4 main dishes to choose from, several different desserts, all the fruit you can eat, and any drink you could ever want including juices, milk, & chocolate milk. So far I have gained 3 pounds.   I am, however, still under 135, so it’s O.K.

        During gym time we can go to the field, the gym, or the fitness center and they have all the equipment you could ever need for working-out and other games.  I even found 3 other Sisters that like basketball so we’ve played 2 on 2.

        We are supposed to all prepare a talk on the topic chosen for the week and be prepared to speak for sacrament meeting.  They always choose one Sister and one Elder to speak once we get into the meeting.  I got to be the lucky Sister chosen so I gave my talk on faith.  I was nervous to talk in front of all the missionaries in my zone but it went just fine.

                I met another sister Beutler.  She lives just a few doors down from me.  She is Uncle Mark’s & Aunt Joyce’s granddaughter.  The boy that plays the 14-year-old Joseph Smith in the Joseph Smith Movie came on the same day as me too!  He actually has dark red hair.  He calls my companion Sister Samari because she always wears a bun on top of her head.

        You can send me free letters through Dear Elder.com while I am in the MTC .  I only have 30 min. to be on the internet so there isn’t much time for me to read and send emails.  My email here is (amy.beutler@myldsmail.net). 

        We have 4 different people we are teaching some of the people are our teachers role playing a convert they know, and others are actors at the TRC who are either actually investigators or  they are converts who are acting as themselves before they were converted.  Sister Fatongia and I are getting more and more comfortable with teaching.

        I was in the MTC choir for the devotional on Tuesday.  It was so exciting to be in a choir where the men out-number the women.

        I am learning so much here.  At the Tuesday devotional my favorite quote was:  “If you have a problem; Solve It.  If you want results; Do the Work!”  Besides all my mission goals, I have made two personal goals for myself while I am out here:  I will never say unkind things about others, and I will not complain about the rules.  I’ve had to catch myself a few times, but it is so much easier to improve yourself when the spirit is with you always and you are surrounded by so many other people who are trying to improve themselves.

        I got sick the third day out.  I had a sore throat, was freezing all day, and felt shaky.  I was a naughty girl though and went to class and all my scheduled events anyway.  I don’t think my body was used to eating so much sugar, so I laid-off the desserts for a while and got feeling better quickly.

        Sundays are the best.  This is my first P-day and it’s pretty good too.  Some days for zone teaching, the Sisters are paired up with Elders.  That’s always an interesting experience.  Teaching with an Elder is much different than with a Sister, especially when I don’t know him.

P.S.          I haven’t seen Elder Stegelmier yet but I am keeping my eyes open for him.  I think that is everything.  May God bless you all.  I love you guys and hope to hear back from you soon.

                                        Love/Sister Beutler

P.S.S-My estimated departure date is August 14

On July 25, 2012 Sister Amy Beutler entered the MTC. Even though her parents couldn't be there, she had plenty of family support as she left. She will be loved and prayed for as she serves her mission.

Amy Beutler spoke in church today before departing on her mission.  She gave a wonderful talk and shared her powerful testimony.  Amy will be a great missionary. May God bless you.

On April 25, 2012 Sister Amy Beutler received her mission call to the Micronesia, Guam mission.  She will leave on July 25, 2012. She will be serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for a period of 18 months.  Way to be, Bamer!