05/06/2014

            As for this week’s adventures, I got a new companion, his name is Elder Mendelsohn, he’s my 12th companion I think. We change quite a bit here. But I am really excited to serve with him. I’m still a Zone leader here in Punaauia. Our sector is up in the mountains so we get a pickup for a car! It’s been a huge blessing. 

            For this week’s miracles we found another golden investigator; as they say. We fixed a lesson with her and did a first contact that went really well. She invited us in as if she was our mom and as we taught her she couldn’t stop tearing up. She kept thanking us for coming over and saying how proud of us she was for what we do. She expressed how she was sick of the way she was living and that she was ready to get on the right path again; she and her whole family. She expressed how she wants be an example for her family and how she believes that through the church of Jesus Christ, she can receive all the blessings she needs. It was so perfect, throughout the lesson I kept wanted to jump up and give her a hug and thank her for finally coming back! The Sunday after the lesson, she came to church with her daughter and then she came to our class and was extremely excited to participate in our lesson. After church we dropped her off at her house and then she called us saying that she had talked to all of her children (6) and said that there are already 2 that want to be baptized and that they will all be there for our next lesson. I am so happy to have finally found my lost brothers and sisters! It’s true that at times my joy bucket seems to be completely filled; but during occasions like this, the bucket overflows and I have no idea what to do with all the joy.

            My mission is way too much phun for my own good. It makes no sense to me why I feel like I am so blessed. I honestly didn’t do anything to deserve all of this before my mission. But now that I have a testimony that my Heavenly Father loves me and that this church is true, I do all that I can to help other receive this joy that I have found. We will be engaging her whole family to be baptized our next lesson with them and I can’t wait! Baptizing families is probably the highest points in the mission for me.

            Tomorrow I am going to the temple with a family that I baptized last year. They are going to be sealed for time and all eternity!!! I accomplished one of my biggest goals on my mission! I’m so happy for these people, and I can’t wait to see them in the house of our Lord. I remember when I received my endowments; it was one of the best experiences of my life to see all of the people I love with me. I can’t imagine being any closer to heaven. Going to the temple is rare on my mission; this will be my third time so I will definitely let you all know how it goes!

            I’m sorry but I forgot my camera at home, I will just have to send you all the images next week. Stay safe for the rest of this week.

Elder Fyffe

04/21/2014  

            This week went really well, even though we didn’t have a ton of lessons. The people are all just too nice here. I’ve had the chance to see the happiness that children can bring to parents here in Tahiti. I’ve blessed a few of my investigator’s babies, and have had the opportunity on occasion to ask them what it's like to have a child and what the different levels of joy between each child is. We are all the children of our Heavenly Father, and He loves us all the same. He probably has the biggest wallet in the world with all of our baby PICTURES in it. I imagine the joy He feels all the time seeing all the good that His children are doing in His world. Then I think of the sadness that He feels when he has to see so many of His children move farther and farther away from Him (spiritually) He loves us so much though, that He sent His first born son to die for us, so that we may come back to our Father one day.

            Easter for me this year had nothing to do with eggs. I had the blessing to focus on the true message, probably for the first time in my life. The conclusion that I came up with.... I will never fully understand the atonement, or the greatness of things that the Savior did for me. Crazy thing is, with the small amount of knowledge that I have on the subject, and a whole lot of faith, it's enough to get me to the judgment seat before GOD, where I can thank Him face to face. Faith is such a simple yet profound subject for me. I simply believe, I work for a greater knowledge, hoping that one day it will all pay off. Deep down inside I know it will, and that’s what pushes me along.

            GOD watches over my sister and that’s why I will never give up, because I know one day it will all work out. You have no idea how much I miss the thought of GOING to church with her. Like the Lehi days, then walking home together. I bet that’s all Jesus thought about when my sister and I stopped GOING to church. He missed how nice it was to be in our lives, daily but, we put him aside. I've asked him to forgive me for these things Many times; yet I’ve got a long way to go to make up for it all. It's been so much phun coming back to the right path. It’s sad that it took so long.... I just hope that I can GO for a walk one day with my sister again on this path, then I think it would all come back; all the good memories, all the good feelings, all the promises, and all the happiness that our father has to offer. All I know is that as I keep praying for my family, the Lord is preparing something great for us all and that’s why life has probably been so hard lately haha. That’s the way I think of it. I love my mission way too much; 7 months will go by too fast. So I enjoy every second I have.  

I love you all so much! Stay safe this week! 

ELDER Fyffe

"M" for Mormon or Missionary or Mom... Probably Mormon

04/14/2014

 

            This week went by really well; we actually saw a lot of miracles happen. First off, we fixed 2 other baptisms! It was really cool how it worked out. So we went to go teach one of our investigators who already has her baptism fixed, but when we got there, the husband came out and said that she was in Moorea and that she will be coming back Monday. So we sat in the car and thought for a second. The spirit told me to get out of the car and talk to him so I did. As I was talking to him, I offered to just read a chapter of the book of Mormon with him. He accepted so I went and got my companions and we had a really powerful lesson with him. We gave him a blessing and testified of the life changing decision that his wife would be making soon, in being baptized into Christ’s church. We testified of how blessed him and his family would be if he entered into the waters of baptism on the same day as his wife. He sat there for a second and then accepted to be baptized the same day. The funny thing about this whole experience was that it wasn’t even planned. In fact we were about to turn the car around and go visit a family. Yet the Lord had a different Idea, so he used us to save another one of his children.

            Then right after that lesson, we went to go visit another investigator. On arriving to her house, we called her name and a young girl came out and told us that she had moved, so we decided to do a contact with her and asked if she had some time to talk. We gave her a really quick lesson on the plan of salvation and she accepted to receive the lessons! We were led again by the spirit not knowing what to do beforehand! Her name is Megan and she doesn’t have a religion, usually cases like that are baptized in a heartbeat, so we will see what happens next!

            The last miracle that happened this week is part of a contact that we had a few weeks ago. While driving to a lesson, there was a man on the side of the road walking home. We offered to take him home and he thanked us because he lives all the way at the top of the mountain and it takes him an hour and a half just to get home. On the way up to his house, we talked to him and he accepted that we pass by and hear our message with his family. He gave us his number and that was the last we heard from him for a few weeks. Then one day while at the top of the mountain, after our lesson, I was prompted by the spirit to go knock on one door before we went back down. We were led to a door and when we knocked a lady answered with her two little twin girls. She had never talked to the missionaries so we offered to share a message with her. She accepted and when she was introducing her family she told us the name of her husband and we realized that it was the same guy that we had been trying to contact for the past few weeks! We were all extremely happy to know we had finally found the family, and they are all potential baptisms!

            So pretty much my message for the week is, the best things in life are always the things we never plan for. We simply let the spirit do its work in leading us, and we follow. The Lord has blessed us so much this week, and I can’t wait to see where he will lead us next. All I have to do is continue to act on every little prompting that comes our way. I know that the Lord is watching over his children, even little families that live on the tallest mountain in Tahiti! I’m happy to know that you are all still living. Thank you for all the prayers! I love you all so much. Stay safe this week! 

Elder Fyffe

 

 

04/08/2014

Ya so, Its looking like I dont have the time to write this week, at least not a letter like normal. Lots of things have happened this week, the highlight is definitely general conference! It went by soo quick, I loved all of the talks. I noticed they talked a lot about family relationships and how wee need to do what we know is right, even when everyone and everything around is doing the opposite. Something I like doing during the talks is not noting the phrases word for word but just writing the key words and phrases that the Spirit tells me to write. I definitely have a lot more hope for things to come. The Lord really does take care of his sheep. Im doing the best I can while Im here to show my brothers and sisters here that I love them more than anything! I love you all, please stay safe! Sorry for not having time to write this week!

Elder Fyffe

03/31/2014

            This week has actually been crazy, I got transferred again. I’m a Zone Leader in Punaauia, the cool thing is, Bora Bora is in my zone! I hope that I get to serve out in the outer islands again before I come home; the islands are a lot different than the main island of Tahiti. Anyway, in my new companionship, I’m with two Elders for the moment, just until president figures out where to put them; Elder Fitzsimmons and Elder Garvasi. Both Americans, Crazy thing is, Elder Fitzsimmons is from Lehi and knows a lot of my childhood friends like Tanner Eastmond and Andrew Massey! He's really cool, I’m glad the Lord put me with those two, we have a lot of phun together, all while doing the work of the Lord. We recently got 22 new missionaries here, that puts us up to 150 or so missionaries in Tahiti. It’s more than tripled ever since I arrived! There were only about 50 missionaries when I got here. This mission is growing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if another person from alpine got called here.

            I baptized a little boy this week who was in my old zone, he kept changing his mind on wanting to be baptized. He said that I was the only one who could baptize him haha. It was really awesome to go back and see my old ward, I miss them all a ton. I had a really cool experience this week with door to door. For the first time on my mission, I knocked on a door! We were on the tallest mountain in Tahiti and after trying multiple doors, I had the pleasure to knock on the final door. When I knocked someone yelled "come in!" which kinda threw us all off guard, so we decided to just wait for the lady to open the door. When she opened the door, we presented ourselves and asked if she had already met with the missionaries. She stared at us for a second and then finally answered with" I’m a member" It was really phuni to see how the Lord led us to some old abandoned apartments at the top of the tallest mountain in Tahiti just to find one of his wandering sheep. We invited them to come to church the next day. Not only did they come, but they brought an investigator with them! Thanks for all that you guys do for me! Let me know if there is anything you guys want or need! I love you all! I don’t have much time left, so I will end my email right.... now.

 

Elder Fyffe

 

 

 

 

 

 

03/24/2014

                This week was actually pretty dang eventful! I enjoyed every day because I’m just so dang happy to be out here on my mission. Last night we had our second concert for all of the stakes; it went pretty well I thought, they say we keep getting better and better! The only thing was that we didn’t have any air conditioning, the dang thing was broken. So we were all sweating up a storm. There was a part during the concert when I felt the spirit really strong. The sisters were singing "love one another," and I looked out into the crowd and I saw one of my old companions who had finished his mission a few months ago. I hadn’t seen him since he finished, and It brought back a flood of good memories, and I was just extremely grateful that The Lord gave me a good friend like him. Missions are great for that reason, you find true friends.

            After we finished the concert, we started to drive home; it was already pretty late so we were in a hurry. Elder Faatau the driver was driving when all of a sudden he pulled into a house to visit someone. He got out of the car and started to visit with the person when I asked his companion what was going on because we were kinda in a hurry. He told me that it’s a family friend where the father died this past week, so we decided to let him take his time. He then called us over and asked if we could give a blessing to the mother and daughter. I gave the blessing for the daughter and Elder Faatau for the mother. The spirit was really strong during the blessings, and we both felt prompted to testify of the plan of salvation and use that as a base for the blessings. After the blessings the mother told us that The Lord had answered her prayers. Earlier that day after church, she had come home and knelt in prayer, asking her Heavenly Father to send her some angels because she needed help. The Lord sent her 4 missionaries and she was surprised how fast he answered her prayers. I was really happy to be a part of her answer.

            Those simple experiences are always the most powerful for me. The simple proof that our Heavenly Father loves us and answers our prayers! I miss my sister a lot, and there are times when I feel like she’s the only one who could calm my stress at times, just by talking or listening to music with me. Thank goodness that she will always be my sister, because I will always be her loving brother! I can’t wait for the day when we can go do a few temple sessions together!

            I have learned that I can show how happy this gospel has made me, and I hope that others notice the light that shines from within me. Humans are naturally curious, so I know that the best way we can preach this gospel is by our actions. People will see, eventually. I love my life, I love my mission and I love the hope it gives me to always keep moving forward! Thank you all for your prayers. I pray for you all! I love you Teesha! 

Elder Fyffe

 

As for the Pictures, there’s another baptism we had, his name is Potini. We’ve only been teaching him for three weeks, yet he was prepared by the Lord and was baptized last Saturday! The other is of an activity we went to, I love you all!

Note from Deeb for those who are probably asking... I couldn't identify any elders in this pic so I'm presuming they are the on the ground taking the pics and not in swim suits. Safe assumption I think- For those who are likely wondering :)

 

03/17/2014 

            This week has gone by with a lot of laughter for me. Like I have said- the mission is hard, but it’s the most joy that I’ve ever had in my life. I love my life right now! As for the work, we’ve been seeing a lot of miracles happen lately, there have been contacts that we have been getting, and the people already have the desire to change. When we teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ, they see that it’s the only way, and then they accept baptism without even thinking twice. I love these people here. Transfers are going to be happening in this next week or so. I will see if I stay and train, or if I go somewhere else. I hope I stay; I want to get to know this ward better. I love them very much already!

            Today we celebrated the birthday of two elders in our district. We had a BBQ for them. I’ve had meat sweats ever since this afternoon! I feel so fat! When I come home, we’re getting a gym membership!  

            I think that you would all be glad to know that the missionaries here have a choir program going on. We sing every weekend in a different stake. Surprisingly enough, even to myself, I sing in a quartet. I didn’t sign up for it; someone threw my name in because they heard me sing one day, but I actually enjoy it! A lot of my timidity has gone away. Missions really change a lot about a person. I’m still the same old Chrixtian, it’s just that God is getting rid of all the not so great things about me and helping me become a good person. I still have a long way to go, but little by little, I like the person I’m becoming. I can’t seem to get rid of my craziness though. I have too much phun making others laugh at my sake haha.

            The pictures I sent are of a family that I interviewed for their baptisms. I love those guys soo much. Their last name is "U." But at the end of the night, I told them all to make a phuni face for the picture, and they actually did it! Before I forget, the package still isn’t here yet! Anyway, that’s about it for this week! I wish I could send you all some of my crazy dancing videos, but they’re too big to send. So you will all have to wait! I love you all so much! Stay safe this week! 

Elder Fyffe