Hello Family

Sorry I wasn't able to write last week. The website would let me read all my mail but it wouldn't let me reply to anything. I even tried on a couple different computers. Ah, the joys of living in Pohnpei.

Mango season is still going strong and I think I have overcome my allergic reaction to them because they don't make me itch anymore.

The three teenagers in the Andon family were baptized and confirmed this weekend. Now their whole family is baptized except for the oldest girl who is going to school in the states. The Father has also received the priesthood and is working towards getting the Melchezidek priesthood as soon as that is possible. Even though the Elders took over teaching when they moved in the area, it is still so rewarding to see a whole family baptized. 

Things in my area are going well. It is still our biggest struggle trying to get people to church. This week's excuses are pink-eye, a dead car battery, slept in, a broken shoe, and visiting family for the weekend. So many bad things seem to happen to people on Sunday morning. 

Two of the girls in our branch received their mission calls this week. One is going to the Philippines and one will go to Australia. They are so excited. When I first came only 3 people were on missions from Pohnpei. Now there are over 27 young people either on missions, with a call, or waiting for calls. The LeFevres also say that they have people call them daily asking to help them get their mission papers ready. It is an exciting time for Pohnpei and we'll have a stake on this island before we know it. 

One of our investigators, Rihlen, was reading the Book of Mormon and said that he wanted to receive a blessing from someone who had power like Moroni. He is very sick from hi diabetes so we had the Elders come to give him a blessing the next day he told us that his blood sugar went down from 274 to 208. He believed it was a miracle and wants to be baptized but is afraid to do it before elections because he wants to run for congressman.

We had an interesting lesson with Rihlen's wife the other night. He wasn't home so we asked if we could teach her. She is mostly deaf but is very good at reading lips so I just talked loud and slow, making sure she could see my lips moving. The lesson turned out well and she has been doing her reading. She was even able to answer some questions and is very interested to learn more.

Sister Ioane and I found the most delicious cinnamon rolls in a small container shop down in China Town (no, China Town does not have chinese people. I don't know why it was given that name). They also sell excellent muffins and banana turnovers.

Yesterday we had about 5 lesson planned out in our little bush place that we call Narnia. However, when we got out there the whole family community was having a bingo party and drinking. They invited us to go drink with them and teach them the gospel. One of the old women we teach was super drunk. She gave me a big hug and told me how much she loved me. Two of the adults didn't join the party so we had a lesson with them and spent the rest of the evening finding new people and visiting our less-actives.

Well, time to go. Love you all.

Sister Beutler

P.S. I want to hear about how the sibling reunion went.