01/22/2013 - Last week at the MTC and an amazing experience!

Tue, Jan 22, 2013

            Well here I am, writing my last weekly email in the MTC. At the beginning of my stay here at the MTC, I would have told you that this day would never come. Now looking back at my more than 70 something days here, I can honestly say that my time here went by way too fast! Alrighty, I would say that the single most exciting thing/news that we got this week were our travel plans! Being the district leader means that it is my duty to get the mail, so when I went back there and saw our travel plans I got so excited that I ran out of the mail room with the glad tidings, without remembering to grab the mail in the first place! Once the district realized this, I was swiftly sent back to retrieve the flight plans along with the other mail.

            It's all becoming so real! It’s not a dream anymore! The fact that I will be waking up, walking around, riding bikes and preaching the gospel in 2 other languages will be coming to life within the next week!!! Quick note so that I don’t forget, I will be getting 2 Burnese mountain dogs when I get home. I will name one Chamberlin and the other shall be called Good Sir. That is all I have to say on that subject. Yeth. I have prepared a box full of a few things that I won’t need on my mission. Do not be frightened when you open it up and see my temple bag. We were asked by the mission pres. not to bring it. All that I was asked to bring was my white pants, socks and tie. The rest must be sent home. The rest of the stuff is just things weren’t completely necessary for me, oh and the shirts are one size bigger than what I thought would fit you, so you can wash them and they shrink.

            Every time I sit at this computer, I get the chance to remember all of the amazing things that have happened to me here. The changes I have gone through and it just testifies to me that I really am where I am supposed to be in life right now. Just 3 days ago I had an awesome experience with one of the Elders here who is struggling. Elder Glibbyblob hasn’t really gotten a huge grasp on the language for a few reasons, so I took it upon myself to help him as much as I possibly could. Through ministering to him we have grown really close, now he is a straight up cowboy from Montana, that comes with all the typical cowboy feelings of "I don't need anyone’s help," "don’t trust anyone but yourself," and "never show emotion." Now the awesome thing is, he has let me get close enough to him, to know what is really going on. And he was actually thinking on transferring missions because of the language issue and because he wasn’t ever really that excited to go to Tahiti. He wanted to go to Texas instead....Phunny cowboy...

            So, a few days before he and I had a heart to heart talk, I was sitting in class when Elder Clark asked a question in language study time. "Where does one belong?" was what he said. For some reason when he said that, I had a strong feeling to write that Phrase down. Not only that, but I had an even stronger feeling to turn that Phrase into a poem. I had no idea why at the time, why I was writing this poem. So I finished the poem which was about two pages long, talking about when I come home, will I have something to return to. When I come home, will the difference I made, be easy to see. It talks about trials and the fact that were never alone. It goes along those lines and ends up saying that I’ve known all along where my home is, and where I belong, it’s wherever the Lord sends me. Stuff like that. So after I finished the poem I folded it up and put it in my scriptures and thought nothing more of it. A few days later when I was talking to elder Glibbyglob, we were talking about his life before the mission and all the struggles and lack of support he had on this decision to come out here. While I was sitting there listening he stopped talking and then out of nowhere says, "where does one belong," My eyes shot wide open, as he continued to talk, it was as if he was reciting my poem that I wrote a few days ago that I didn’t even show anyone!!

            So I got the strongest feeling that I had to share it with him. So I told him to wait a second and I hurried and grabbed my scriptures and got the poem out for him. I told him to read it out loud to me and we both sat there, being dowsed by the spirit as he read this poem, that I know now, was written about and for him. It supported almost every single one of his concerns and after he finished reading it he sat there for a second and we both couldn’t really say much. I offered him the poem and he declined saying, "Frame that and hang it here in the MTC to help all the other kids with the same problem." I didn’t do that, but I did hide it in his scriptures while he wasn’t looking, so that he could have it for support. Because I know without a doubt in my mind that that poem, which I had no idea at the time why I was writing it, was a prompting by the Holy Spirit. That poem was meant for that elder. I don’t think I have ever felt the spirit that strong here at the MTC!

            It makes me so happy to know that God knows me and the other Elders personally, and he cares about us individually, enough to fix this "small," issue for that Elder. I love my mission so much, and I know that this is the 1st of countless experiences that I will have in these next two years. This church is true!! I love you all so much and can’t wait to talk to some of you Monday (anytime from 12:45-5 but more likely around 12:45!) I’m so excited to finally be going to Tahiti, I can’t wait to bring them the Paradise that some of them don’t have, which is the gospel! I can’t wait to speak in only French or Tahitian the next 2 years. I can’t wait to serve!! I love you all so much and the next time I will send you an email, will be in Tahiti, Wooh!! Gotta go change my laundry now. Stay safe!

Orometua Fyffe

It appears that Elder Christain Fyffe is not the 1st of the family to serve in Tahiti...

Well, I learned that we have family that served in Tahiti back in the early 1900's. The family line is this:

George and Margaret Compton. (Served in Papeete Tahiti in 1915
Merlin Compton -----> (Son of George Compton)
Avon Allen Compton -----> (Wife of Merlin Compton)
Jane Reed Schulze -----> (Sister of Avon Allen Compton
Sandra Schulze Fyffe -----> (Daughter of Jane Reed Schulze)
David Edwin Fyffe -----> (Son of Sandra Schulze Fyffe)
Christian Bohn Fyffe (Son of David Edwin Fyffe and currently serving in Papeete Tahiti)

Hmmm, maybe there are a few souls who were missed...? :)

See the blog here -----> http://everythingaboutcomptons.blogspot.com/2011/05/newlyweds-begin-their-mission-in-tahiti.html

Thanks Tammy! You can tell he's a Compton

01/15/2013

01/15/2013

                I feel like this week has gone by faster than last week, the time just keeps flying by faster here at the MTC. What a huge tender mercy! :) On the other hand I wish I could stay longer because my Tahitian isn't good enough to go out and start teaching a native Tahitian. But I know that if I keep trying my hardest up until the day I leave, that everything will work out just fine, and if anything, I will know just enough to get by. (This is perfectly fine with me!)

                 This morning the rest of our zone (all the original frenchies that arrived here the same time we did) left. :( That means that we are the only ones left. :( :( This also means that we are next!! Not much really happened this week, my days seem to blend together quite nicely now. I wake up; eat, then go to class for three hours, then have personal study time for an hour. Then I go eat again, come back and do language study, then we go to the gym where during that time I help Elder Jambor with his language needs. Then after gym I go to class again and then dinner, then sometimes service. That usually all ends up to around 10hrs a day or something... so I just repeated that schedule 6 times this week and that’s practically my week!

                Last night we had a really spiritual experience though. Elder Sinjoux (the mission president’s son) and Souer U-Fa (Elder Sinjoux's cousin) left this morning. So around 9 last night I got the district together and we went and sang a few hymns to them. In Tahitian I might add. They really loved it; the Tahitian people absolutely love singing! Our instructors tell us that we will usually start every lesson out in Tahiti with a song. Anyway, last night when we were singing everyone in their class started to cry. This made a few members of our district cry, then everyone just kept singing but with sniffles and little pauses throughout. The spirit was so strong, and it really showed us how deep the love of music (hymns) is for the Polynesian culture, the Tahitians especially.

                After the song I had to go grab everyone a tissue because I believe I was the only one not crying, ha. We all love those two Tahitian missionaries so much, and were always down trying to talk to them as much as we could. They were especially fond of me because I was the one who was mostly down there representing our district. They told me that many people will just think I am a Tahitian, and that it will make my mission much easier :) They will be such fantastic missionaries up in Canada, and will change so many lives! Everyone I talk to who has gone to Tahiti, says they have never met a Tahitian that they didn't like. I can’t wait to go out and teach the amazing people of Tahiti!

                It’s crazy how fast everyone here at the MTC can become your family. Especially in your district when you are practically spending 15hrs of the day together. It’s going to be so hard to say goodbye to them all. It will be a very sad experience that can’t be avoided. So I better start preparing now! But we are all realizing, how short our time together really is. We turned our mission into a clock metaphor and found out that 2hrs have already gone past out of our 24hr mission. I don't know if it’s possible to enjoy my mission any more than I am right now, but I better find a way, because it’s going by way too fast. I love the opportunity that I have to give my will to my Heavenly Father for the next two years. I love the opportunity to serve him, and his other children. I seriously can’t think of anything better to do with my life right now. School will have plenty of time to melt my brain after my mission has made me strong enough to complete it.

                I realize also that it wouldn't matter to me where I would serve a mission. If I had gone stateside instead of Tahiti, I know it would have been hard at first. But then the realization of why I am out on a mission would have made itself know pretty quickly. This mission is about everything BUT me. I was called to bring others unto Christ. It just so happens that the people that God prepared for me to meet in the pre-earth life are living in Tahiti. One of the most common phrases that you hear at the MTC is, "God knows YOU, he sent you to where you need to go, he knows you by name and has hand-picked you and your mission." Once you gain a testimony of the FACT that we really are the children of our Heavenly Father, the beauty of this gospel can be seen much more clearly. I can’t wait to meet the people that my Heavenly Father has waiting for me! It’s such an honor to be doing what I am doing right now, and I know my life will be blessed because I made the decision to come out here.

                Missing the Wii-U by 4 days is way less of a frowny face than I thought it would be; although, a tiny frown appears every now and then...oh and music...I miss music. But I know that my family and friends are being blessed and watched over just as much as I am, so it makes it a lot less difficult to be away from you all. Please continue to stay alive for the next little while, and thank you all again for continually keeping in touch with me here!

                Ua here au ia otou roa! Ua ite au e to'u faaor ia ora. Ua ite au e it teie ekalesia, i te ekalesia mau. Ua na roto o Iosepha Semita, ia faahoi faahou tiamai i teie evanelia.  Ua here au i te Buka a Moromona. Ua here au o Iesu Mesia. Na roto i te i'oa o Iesu Mesia, Amene.

Well I have to get off now, my laundry is done. I love you all so much! UA faietoito!!

                     -Orometua Fyffe

Language Class Time

Tahitian tag

Elder Punjab doing tech support (You can read this with an Indian accent.

Temple day

Temple day - Elder Fyffe, Elder Purdy

Christian inspired pose

Free time art

Free time photography

Free time art

Elder Fyffe, Elder Wood - Elder Wood is our AMAZING Bishop's son from our ward here in Alpine. He has been called to the Riverside, CA mission. We LOVE their family!

Week 9

                                                                                                                                                                                01/08/2013

                What an interesting way to start the morning! Elder Millett and I woke up to do our laundry and when we got over to this building the fire alarm was going off! So we walked up to the front desk and asked if we could do laundry still and they told us that no one is allowed in the building while the alarm is going off. Kind of makes sense now, but I was still practically asleep... so on our way back to the laundry room we saw 2 fire trucks, one parked in front of the laundry room and the other parked in front of the sisters living center. We found out that there was a flood at 4 in the morning in the sisters building and that set off the first alarm. Then the alarm in another sisters building went off shortly after that for who knows what reason! Then the alarm in the laundry building went off and we still don’t know why. Anyway, that was my crazy morning. Elder Millett and I got to walk through a completely dark building where the only light was from the fire alarms. We both agreed that it was a creepy situation, and if a zombie or something ran out of a classroom and tried to kill us, that Elder Millett would be the bait because he is slow and scared of zombies. That is the end of my story.

                On to the happenings of this week! Not really much new has happened, other than I was the first one to bear testimony in fast Sunday meeting! It was awesome because nobody except for my district knew what the heck I was saying! But, everybody was silently fist pumping on my way down to my seat, it was really phuni. People really love hearing Tahitian and the most common comment that I got was them telling me how I strengthened their testimony on the gift of tongues. My testimony grew immensely also! I’ve only been learning Tahitian for a tad over a week now, and yet I was able to get up and bear my testimony. It’s amazing how real all of these blessing and promises are! I had my doubts before coming here. But now that I am learning my 3rd language, I know that the only way this is possible, is the obedience and faith in the Lord. I’m in section 80 of the D&C now and I gotta say, I think it’s my favorite book. It’s amazing to me how it’s all revelation, which means it’s all God or Jesus Christ speaking. I’ve highlighted every verse that sticks out to me and it feels like I am just highlighting the majority of each section! I love reading it so much! Each night before quiet hour, I share a scripture or two that I loved especially that with my district and then end with bearing a small testimony about it. They all really seem to love it and I feel like I am finally acting like a district leader! This calling has been more of a blessing for me I feel. I actually feel that same way about my whole mission in general!

                I was at the end of the list for the reasons of why I am on a mission. But ever since I’ve started my mission I feel like I have been obtaining the most blessings! I almost feel selfish somehow... I try every day to let everyone I see, know that I love them. I also let them know how much I love my family. Our families are our biggest support beams, next is our testimonies. I feel like I never really had that sturdy of a testimonial support beam, so I relied heavily on other’s testimonies. I am so grateful for the opportunity to strengthen my own testimony while on my mission. It will hopefully support the rest of my life, as long as I continue to build on the rock of Jesus Christ. I love you all so much and thank you all for being such amazing examples to me and strengthening my testimony! Austin, go on a mission! Teesha, keep doing amazing in school, Trace, keep going to church and start reading the Book of Mormon with your mom, it has some stories in there that puts every video game storyline to shame. Amanda, keep being the coolest person in Idaho! Dennis, start doing everything you can to be ready to go on a mission after your brother. You will be such an amazing missionary! Ua here au ia tatou! (I love you all) Please stay safe this next week. Talk to you soon!

Oromatua Fyffe

Catch up pics

MTC Christmas

Elder Metamorphosis

Singing hymns before entering the Christmas Devotionals

Tahitian B of M

Saur On-Fa and Elder Sinjoux (Tahitian Mission President's Nephew)

Merry Christmas 2012

January 1, 2013

01/01/2013        

                Boy howdy has time gone by very fast! Which I am very grateful for! In about two weeks 70% of our branch will be leaving, and this Thursday, they all get their travel plans! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! Just 3 ish more weeks for me here and I will be out of this cold desert, and on my way to Tahiti, wooh! The thought is a little scary though, If I wasn't learning two languages, I would be leaving with them in two weeks and it makes me realize how important this time at the MTC really is! I don’t feel like I know enough French to go bring another one of Gods children back to him! But I definitely have faith, and enough knowledge of French to get by, (with a few laughs of course.) The fact that the way I speak in English is starting to get messed up because of my French freaks me out! I feel like I’m going to have a very hard time understanding you all when I come back, and you all will have a lot of phun trying to understand me :)

                Tahitian has been going well; it is completely different than my learning French experience. 90% of learning this language is memorization of vocab and nouns. Tense markers are the only thing that we really need to know about sentence structure. For example, if I want to put something in the past, I put "Ua" at the front of the sentence, followed by the subject, and then the verb. If I want to put something in the present, I put "Te" at the beginning followed by the verb, "nei" then the noun, and future is just putting an "E" at the beginning. It’s pretty crazy memorizing all this stuff because the words are all so similar! Moa means chicken and Mo'a means holy... so when I’m teaching, I need to make sure I really pronounce that space between the o and a or else my investigator will laugh at me and offer me a chicken. Same goes with pearls (Poa) and pudding (Po'a) so I have a feeling that I will be laughing at myself a lot these next few months!

                Being district leader has been a lot of phun, I really enjoy serving others and I have a feeling that this has played a part in how I got this calling. My heavenly father knows that the time would go by much faster and easier if I was serving my district. So for that I am very thankful! I've been reading D&C every day and have been loving it! One of my new absolute favorite scriptures is D&C 6:36 (translation from French) "Turn unto me, in each of your thoughts, doubt not, fear not." That scripture has been helping me a lot lately. Learning two languages can be really stressful and scary at times, and I am so glad that comfort is just a prayer, or a scripture away!

               It is so easy to see all of the blessings I have received since I have been here, I teach without notes in French now. I can’t think of any other way a human could get to this level, in 8 weeks mind you, without help from Heavenly Father. I took French for 4 years and all I could remember from it is "puis je alle au toilette?" C'est marveilleux! I’m honored to be serving others for the next two years, I’ve learned so much already and it’s hard to understand that the blessings have only just begun.

                 I’m so happy that I made the decision to go on a mission. I remember always saying to Grandma Sandra, "Worry about your own salvation." when I would decline her invitation to go to church. I realize now how stupid I was being! There is no greater gift that you can give someone than their salvation by coming unto Christ! I love you so much grandma, and thank you for the example that you have ALWAYS been for me! I’m so sorry if any others of you got the pleasure of hearing that from me. I was not the same person as I am now. I’m still the same messed up child; I’m just now realizing how important this gospel is. So because of that, I’m blessed with a higher appreciation of all of you, and a much higher determination to do my best while I’m out here for such a small portion of my life!

                 I can’t wait to keep converting myself these next two years! Thank you all so much for the letters that you continue to send me; it takes time to do that, so I really appreciate it! The MTC would be so much harder if I didn’t have the support from all those letters. I’m sorry if I haven’t responded to some of you yet, I’m trying my hardest to remember/ find time on p-day to write them!

                Well, it’s time to go change my laundry! Ua here au ia tatou! (I love you all) Ua ite ia oe te peropheta mau, ua ite ia oe parau mau te buka a moromona. Ua ite ia ua te Atue it te metua i te Tatou. (I know we have true prophets, I know the Book of Mormon is true and I know God is our Heavenly father) Please continue to be safe while the stupid snow is on the roads! I love you all so much! A faaitoitoito!

                                                                    Otomatua Fyffe