Happy Thanksgiving!!

There are so many miracles I get to see every day. I also get to see lots of funny things (mostly just Pohnpeins being Pohnpein). This week the men are cutting down all the trees by the power lines and as we drive past they always make sure to yell hello to us. Yesterday a funeral was going on and we got stuck a few times as people stopped in the middle of the road to let people out of their cars or just to talk. The other day a teenage boy was sitting in the middle of the road on a leg-less plastic chair just rocking back and forth. The young-uns like to dance for us as we drive past them. We also just saw a truck today with a 4divided by 4 symbol painted in the place where you would usually see 4x4. 

On a more spiritual note, our investigator Cindy who was supposed to be baptized this week decided to wait until Dec. 7 to be baptized with her sister and brother in law. Turns out, God's timing took it's role because her husband, Romeo, also decided he would get baptized with them. These two couples got married on the same day so his brother had a talk with him and convinced him that they should all get baptized on the same day too. Now they have a good support system as they all work to overcome drinking and chewing beetle-nut together. They are all so excited for their baptism day. A couple of the younger kids are also getting baptized with them. 

We have been doing a lot of finding this week and have found some good families. We went to the Uh branch yesterday and after sacrament meeting a girl (whom I had never met) came up to me and asked if she could start coming out teaching with us. She says she has a whole bunch of family in our area. She even gave me a few referrals. That was a miracle in and of itself.

Well, love you all,

Sister Beutler

Dear Family,

It seems that November is flying by. I can't believe it is getting so close to Thanksgiving. The holiday parties have already begun in Pohnpei. The other night we went to visit a less-active woman and she played her ukulele while we sang Christmas songs with her family. 

With all the parties going on, lots of our appointments fell through. We were blessed, however, because it gave us the opportunity to find many new investigators.

Wednesday we noticed a flat tire on our car just as we were about to go out teaching. We took it off and tried the extra tire in our trunk which turned out to be too small. After one of the members analyzed the situation he told us he could give our flat a quick fix that could get us to Kolonia. He also told us we better get a new back tire because it was so worn and bald. We began our drive to Kolonia and half-way there the back tire popped just as predicted. Our zone leaders came to us with a spare and as they changed it we got a large group of kids surrounding us who had just gotten out of school. The tire was stuck on pretty bad and when then Elders finally got it off all the kids clapped and cheered.  

We just put a man, his wife, and their oldest son on a baptismal date for December. The man, Augustine, is just like a giant kid and he always seems so eager to learn. It is a lot of fun teaching them. They all came to church yesterday as did 6 other investigators. One of them, Cindy, is getting baptized this Saturday. Things are going so well.

Love you all,

Sister Beutler

What another great week we had. I love Mesiso (my new area). We continue finding new people to teach and they are so wonderful. I am so blessed to be in this area for the end of my mission.

The young couple we found last week, Maylany and Penski, accepted a baptism date and they are both really excited to put religion back in their lives. 

Monday evening I had the opportunity to try dog. It tastes a lot like pig but more tough. It was nice and hot so it was good, but I don't think it would be very nice if it was cold. 

Tuesday we did service for an old couple. We actually planned it with their grand-daughters who were gone when we got there. I don't think the couple really knew what was going on or why we showed up to their house in service clothes. We told them we were there to work so they played along and gave us a part of their yard to go weed. The old man sat with us and told us all about his career as a police-man and his wife made us a nice drink made from boiled Madu bark. It tastes like black licorice and it's supposed to be really good for women to clean them all out. The water went out right as I was finishing up my shower after service so Sisters Ma'a and Orrock had to take a dip in the river! 

Uh and Sapwalap branches combined together and had a talent show on Saturday. It was nice. A few groups put on some skits and I tell you what, Pohnpein humor is a bit strange.

Yesterday there was a huge funeral and last night the Alati kids all showed up at our porch with a basin full of pig meat they'd taken from it. They asked if they could store it in our freezer. The picture is of one of the little boys with a full leg. 

I love you all,

Sister Beutler

P.S. Mama-For Christmas I would enjoy chocolate/nutela, gummy candies, granola, and a cheesecake mix. I don't really need much else. Sister Fatongia has requested some of Jared's honey (I'd like some too) and it would be nice if you could send some things for Sister Komra (she won't be getting a Christmas package from home). She needs some new crocs. Her feet are size 9. She also really really wants one of those mini scripture quads. Now that I think of it, I wouldn't mind having a few of those mini Books of Mormon. They are real nice.

Sapwalap Branch decided to do a little Halloween gig for all the kids. We showed up for a bit of it and everyone was having a great time. Most of the costumes were mix and matched old clothes tied together to bring the desired results. They went trick-or-treating to the old broken-down chapel and some of the classrooms. Then all the kids ran around with wild sugar highs the rest of the night.

We have some awesome investigators out here. The Welters are an extended family I used to teach with Sis. Varea when I was in Sapwalap the first time. They had been taught for years and years. This summer, one of the ladies finally took the step to getting baptized and since then, one by one the rest have been preparing. It's kind of fun coming back and seeing how much they have all progressed since I've been gone both individually and as a family unit.

We found a lady this week named Maylany. We saw her little boy outside and asked where his mother was. Then a voice called us from above telling us to come on up. The house is built on top of old box cars and we had quite the time finding her stairs as she shouted directions. When we did find them, she was standing at the top with a big smile and beckoned us up. Then she disappeared into a room where we found her sitting with her children, and ready to have a lesson. She just made my day.

We had our District Conference yesterday with 878 people in attendance. It was a lovely meeting.

Our mission nurse, Sis. Mclellen came down to attend the conference and to check out our living conditions. It was her first time to any of the islands besides Guam. She joined Sis. Orrock and I Saturday evening to go out teaching and was utterly amazed at everything. She is from the south and acts just like a true southern bell. She was a lot of fun to take out and certainly had a lot to say about our diet and lifestyle out here. Needless to say, I will be eating a lot more vegetables now and I don't think I'll be partaking of raw fish anymore.

Well, I love you all so very much.

Sister Beutler

P.S. Deborah you should send me a picture of the new baby boy. Please and thankyou :)