...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