Elder samuel haycock's
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bringing the light of the gospel to the people of kiribati
Elder samuel haycock's
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Mauri Utu, I’m so glad for this last week I have had, as I have visited everyone and have gone from tip to tip here on Nonouti! So the big events from last week... I will start with Thursday and then move forward as something happened each day. Thursday: We went to Taekan te Aro and then after that we visited people of Tebwatabuki. Then about six we went to Tearabi’s for dinner and because Ebeta’s kid was turning two, we were going to celebrate with her. It rolls around eight and Tearabi’s cooking is done, but she still hasn’t come, so Elder Fonseca and I begin eating. She finally showed up at 8:30 with a lot of food and so I had dessert! After we were done eating, the Sorry game starts and you just have fun going on and off. Friday: This was my day to go down to Temotu and to visit them and to let Elder Fonseca know who these people are if he wanted to visit them in the future. I was able to visit all of them and I took pictures with all of them. Then we returned back to Matang to make sure that the car was going to run on Saturday as well as hire the car from Atukia for Sunday for the people of the North. We finally got the car figured out when it was night and we were going back to Tekaie’s for a Bootaki with them as my last time having dinner with them. Saturday: Started at 5:30 in the morning as that was the only time we could get the car to go because the car was busy with picking up and dropping off people from Bingo with the Counsellor, so we hopped on the car and started picking up everyone in Matang. We had to wake up everyone as they haven’t woken up yet for the day, and the car needed to get North quickly. Anyway, getting everyone up was really fun and just a fun car ride because Moua (a little bit crazy and struggles with WOW and stealing things) climbed on and claimed that he was Osama Bin Laden! Besides that we arrived in Buaririki at 9, so we had some cake/bread in the morning that someone brought and then we all went to the Causeway. One for the kids to shower, but two to waste some of their energy and to just enjoy the day as the car will be coming later. It started off with the older kids jumping off and doing whatsoever pleased them. I captured some cool pictures of them in midair with the sport function of my camera. Then we took some group pictures to remember the occasion. Afterwards, Elder Fonseca and I were tired of the constant sun, so we left with the adults because they wanted to play Sorry with us. We played Sorry and the cards were not in our favour! We lost more times than we won and then it was time for lunch. When the kids came.... let’s say they were not very considerate and they used the boiled water to wash themselves off - wasting most of the drinking water. After that it was about 3:00 and the kids were full of energy again and so we played what is called Ririkoto which is glorified capture the flag where you assign someone from both teams who is going to take the stick and then everyone else on the opposing team tries to stop the person from getting the stick. When you play this game you want to play it on the beach or on a soft surface as tackling and holding are allowed! We played where it was low tide so it was a little wet and the sand just sticks to you everywhere. After that we washed ourselves off in the Causeway to get rid of all the sand. And then we played some more Sorry until it got dark and waited for the car to come as it was dropping off the people for bingo. The car didn’t end up coming until about 8:00 pm, but by then everyone was tired and upset and began to murmur a little bit as they were frustrated with it not coming on their time frame. We knew that the car would come because if it didn’t, he would lose his license to drive for the Island of Nonouti. Sunday: We slept in as we got back late from the picnic. We didn’t get to the house until 1:00 AM. After I showered, I started writing my talk until Fonseca woke up and got dressed and then we biked down to the driver and got him going as we wanted to be as quick as we could with getting everyone. We then got to Teebwa’s house and since we are Elders, we of course have to stay for the meal that was just prepared and have to come back for dinner that night. We started our church service at 1:00 and had good church meetings with the Spirit being the teacher and guiding what should be said. After the service it was time for the food and Marebu was the MC and she started it off with her Maroro basically coming to tears and telling me how much she loved me and for me to never forget Nonouti. She also said that I am from Nonouti now since this was my first place of work. After that the children sang for me. Then the food was blessed and the ladies sang some songs that I am going to get the lyrics to. We took lots of pictures with everyone. And then Elder Fonseca and I slept at Miire’s in the Queen Suite of Buki with mattresses! Such a good night’s rest! I tangiringkami ao! I will tell you where I am going when I know, Elder Ekaki
Back to Front and L to R - Ritebwa, Tebouro's friend, Temarewe, Tiareti, Burian, Tebouro, Amwata, Toromon, Stoody, Tauraranga, Betty's grandaughter, Maria, Moua Sister, Timarau, Reiui, Namoieta, Ribauea, Tautebwa, Taraita, child of Marina, Tutu, Tokataake, Miire, Me, Tearabi, Biriteti, Betty, Marina, Fonseca, ao Marebu. Hannah: Mauri Hannah, I hope you are helping your mom. I'm glad you had fun on your hike. And I want to send you my love with hugs and kisses. Sarah Mauri Sarah, Sounds like a fun Spring Break. My favourite part of serving here on Nonouti has been the opportunity to get to know these people and that I was able to be a messenger of the Lord, that I can help bring the gospel to the people of Nonouti. Also the opportunity that I could connect and build relationships with the people. I send my love to you. Josh Mauri Josh, I hope all is well! Ihaven’t heard from you yet in a while. Well, I want you to know to keep moving forward as our Heavenly Father is here to help us keep moving forward. I know that times can be tough but with our Savior Jesus Christ, we can receive help. I love you Josh. Nate Mauri Bro, Well its sounds like an adventurous week as you were faced with a trial of being alone and then overcoming it by relying on your instinct and the Holy Ghost. I want to tell you that your parents love you and they want the best for you. Even if it seems hard at times why they are telling you to do and to not do stuff. I want to encourage you to listen to their counsel as they are the ones feeding, clothing, and providing a place for you to sleep. I want to say I love you a lot. Liz Mauri Sis, I hope spring break went well. Tell me about it as well as tell how this photography class is going. I love you lots sis. Dad Mauri Dad, Thanks for emailing this week. I’m excited to leave, but at the same time scared of the unknown. But I know that the Lord will help me in this new area and that I’m supposed to be going there for a reason. I’m excited to read Jacob 5 as it is the Parable of the Olive Tree. Thank you for your counsel and I am going to continue to rely on the Lord for his help and strength as stuff is changing. I love you lots. Mom Mauri Mom, Let me answer your questions, with my hand, I will most likely have a scar, but because I cleaned it out right after it happened, no infections have come. It looks like it is better, but for your sake I will talk with Sister Shumway the mission nurse. Oro bin literally translated means hitting the coconut. Opening the coconut so it can dry and be sold. My feet have a mild heat rash as they have been exposed to the sun a lot this past week, but they are looking better. Spiritual Thought for this Week:
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Mauri Utu, I found out today from the Jenks that I will be leaving Nonouti on Thursday March 23, back to Tarawa. I'll admit I am really sad to leave this people and I am going to miss them a lot - especially Tearabi as she has helped me the most here. Now that is out of the way, I'm writing to all of you in this email as I have found that it is easier just to send one big email to you all and so you can know what I am saying to the others. Hannah Mauri, I Love you. I really hope you are helping your mom and dad. I have a couple of questions for you what is your favorite color? What is your favorite thing to do? I would give you lots of hugs and kisses right now but I want you to give your Mom and Dad and all of your brother and sister hugs and kisses for me. I tangiriko Sarah Mauri, Sounds like your week has been a lot of fun. I wish you would tell me more of the story part of your week as that is what I look forward to in reading. This week: to keep it simple, like you I cut my hand with a hatchet while oro bin and there was a bootaki for National Women's day. That's about it. I tangriko Josh Mauri, This week has been fun as we continue to move the work forward. This week it would have to be the tari fish that has been semi sun dried - so it's still raw. I want you for this week to set a goal that you can accomplish by the end of your spring break as you will have all the time during this week to do it. One question I have is how clean is your room? And how close are you to recording Hallelujah? I tangiriko Nate Mauri Bro, The work is moving forward and I can't complain as we plan to have some of our eternal investigators baptized by the end of this month. This last week we had a little bit of rain as a small storm moved in and dumped and cooled down the day for a little bit. Right now supposedly we are moving into the dry season and so it is just going to keep getting hotter. We have two new investigators as one just go back from Tarawa and we are starting up his lessons again this week. I'm excited that you are getting back into soccer and that you are growing I hope it is just up and no out (right?) Friendship and Fellowship are two important things that make an investigator or member stay active in the church. As this last Sunday as I saw this with two strong members who offered their friendship to an investigator and now that investigator comes to church every week and is on track to be baptized by the end of this month. I tangiriko Liz Mauri Sis, Well to be honest I don't know what classes you should take because I don't know what your plan is after you graduate from High School. Are you still planning on going into massage therapy? If so I would try and get most of your general credits done so that you can have less schooling with generals and more time on your major therefore getting into the field as fast as you can. Yesterday we got some rain that actually lasted longer than a 10 minute shower. I am going to try my best (to enjoy my time here) as I am leaving this area. Most interesting thing that I have eaten would have to be the octopus tentacle - more specifically the sucker part on the arm, so good if beaten well or really chewy and hard to swallow if not. I tangiriko Mom Mauri Tinau, I naani kukureirei ibukin te tai aio bwa I kona maroro ma ngke. It sounds like a lot has happened this week. I hope all went well with checkup and continues to go well. This week let's see I sliced my hand with the blade of the hatchet you use to oro bin and were honored guests for the the bootaki n National Women's Day. This week I have been pondering about my Savior Jesus Christ and the work he did for us. This week I finished the Isaiah Chapters and Jacob's lesson with the Nephites in 2 Nephi. And this scripture touched me this week from chapter 10 verses 23 and 25 e taetae nakon aomata ae Nibwaite Iakobwa e taetae ni kangai: "Mangaia ae kakukure nanomi ao uringnga bwa kam bon inaomata ni karaoi oin nanomi - n rinea te kawai nakon te mate are aki totoki ke te kawa nakon te maiu are akea tokina. Mangaia ae ke na kautiko te Atua man te mate nii mwaakan te mangauti, ao man te mate ae e aki totoki ni mwaakan te mwakuri ni kamaiu, bwa ko aonga ni butmwaeaki nakon uean te Atua, ae akea tokina, bwa ko aonga n neoia n ana akoi te Atua. Amen." I love these verses as they describe that we have this agency from our Heavenly Father and that our Savoir has completed His work on the earth that we may return to our loving father in heaven. I tangiriko 2 Nephi 10: 23-25 Dad Mauri Dad, It sounds like yoou are having a fun week and I am excited to read the section and I am also excited to have the D&C in taetae ni Kiribati n te ririki aei. It is so cool that prophets prophesied before the Savior comes and testify of the work that he will do on the Earth. I have been reading in 2 Nephi when Jacob prophesies to the people of Nephi and the Isaiah Chapters. It is a testimony to me that our Heavenly Father's work is eternal and has been since the beginning. I tangiriko Aomata Ni kabane: Te reirei aio I reke ma au Kametebwai n te wiiki ae nako. Kibu aikai a reke ma Koauan ana boki Nibwaai 28:7-8. E taku ni kangai (This message I got from my personal study last week. These verses come from 2 Nephi 28:7-8. It says.) "Eng,ao a mwaiti aika a na kangai: Amwarake, mooi, ao kimwareirei, bw ti na mate nakon te ingabong: ao a na akea te bwai ae e na riki nakoira. Ao a maiti nab aika a na kangai: Amwarake, moi, ao kimwreirei: ma ko riai ni maaka te Atua - e na ti kariaia karaoan te bure ae uarereke;eng, kabebetea am kewe, babakanikawia temanna n aron tein ana taeka, kaikoaka kain rarikim; akea te bwai ae e na riki nakoim ni karaoan bwaai aikai; ao karaoi bwaai aikai ni kabane wa nakon te ingabong ao ti na mate; ao ngkana aron a bwa ti reke n te bure iai, ao e na oroira teutana te Atua, ao n tokina ti na kamaiuaki n uean te Atua." The message from this is that is what the world thinks and that sometimes we get caught up with this idea that if we sin a little we can repent later and if we are caught with sin we will be beat a little then saved. Nibwaai later goes on to say this ni kangai v9 "Eng, ao a mwaiti akana a na reirei n te aro aio, tuua aika a kewe man aki bongana ao ni burababa, ao a no onrake n te kamoamoa, ao a na kakorakoraia ni karabai mairon te Uea aia taeka; ao aia mwakuri bon bwain te roo." That no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God but I kaoti nakoimi bwa e atia ni karoia te mwakuri ni kamaiu Iesu Kristo bwa ti kona n teirake ae itiaki i matana Tamara are i Karawa. Ao Ibukin bwa e atia ni mate ao mangauti tenibong imwiina ibukira Iesu Kristo bwa ti kona ni manga oki nakoin Tamara are i Karawa. I ataia bwa e bon ara Tia Kamaiu Iesu Kristo. Bwa e bon tariu ae ikawai. I tangiringkami ni kabane. I tangiria toau Elder Fonseca. ma I tangiria riki Tamau are i Karawa ao Iesu Kristo. I atongi bwai ikai n aran Iesu Kristo, Amen. (I testify to you that He already established the Atonement, Jesus Christ, that we can stand clean in the eyes of Our Heavenly Father. And because He has died and was resurrected three days later for us, Jesus Christ, we can return to Our Heavenly Father. I know that He is our Savior, Jesus Christ. That He is my elder brother. I love all of you. I love my companion Elder Fonseca. But even more, I love my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.) I Tangiringkami, Elder Ekaki 2 Nephi 28:7-9 2 Nephi 9:52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice. Mauri Mom, This week has been like any other week with nothing really happening so I will reply to your questions as that is the best way to get the brain going. Will you share with us your experiences this week or impressions you received as you taught or listened to investigators or the Spirit? 1. Her name is Kinoia (kee-noi-a) she is the wife of the returned missionary and the week prior we gave her the invitation to pray to know if Thomas S. Monson is the prophet alive now and if Joseph Smith restored the church. She shared with us that next time we visited as she prayed she couldn't stop crying and she also couldn't stop laughing. She asked Katia (ka-sa) why she was crying and he told her it is the Holy Ghost testifying to you that it is true. Where have you seen the Lord's hand in your life this week? 2.This week as I have lost the energy to get up, and as I have prayed he gives me that energy and desire I need to accomplish the tasks for the day. How are you serving your companion and those around you? 3. Today we are going to help Katia and Kinoia find some wood for their buia. What are you most thankful for this week? 4. That My Heavenly Father Loves me and watches over me even when the times are tough and things are not working your way. Looking back, in what ways would you say your testimony has grown from being in the MTC to now? 5. It is easier to express my feelings without having to think about the Kiribati. It has grown little by little as it has been tested and tried. What do you love most about serving in Nonouti? 6. I love the people and it is going to be hard to leave this place most likely in three weeks as I am reaching my six month mark here on Kiribati. My message this week is from my personal study this week: 2 Nephi 9:52 ni kangi "Taraia tariu aika kam tangiraki, uring ana taeka Atuami; kakaonimaki n tataro nakoina ni katoa bong, ao anga ami kaaitau nakon arana ae tabu n te tairiki. Kakukurei nanomi." translated from what the Kiribati means what I understand "Behold my brethern that are loved, remeber his words your God; Faithful in praying to Him every day, and give thanks to His Holy Name in the night. Let your hearts rejoice." read the English. This scripture has been my inspiration for this week as times were hard and were not going as expected. When I did pray to my Heavenly Father asking for that strength He gave it to me and has helped me see my purpose as a missionary more that it is not just about getting a ton of lessons in the day but it is about fellowshipping, inviting, helping, and continually serving them even if that means you only get one lesson in that day but the impact that you left will help them to stay active in the church. As Elder Fonseca and I have changed our teaching, we have drawn closer to the people here on Nonouti. I ataia bwa rinanon tataro bwa ti kona karekea te ibuobuoki ibukin ara kanganga. Bwa e tangirira ni kabane Tamara are i Karawa. Bwa ti bon natin Tamara are i Karawa. I atia n noria te kakabwaia ma au tataro. E kakabwaiaki ma te korakora, marurung, ana tangira, te rau, te kimwareirei, ao te ibuobuoki. I kakoaua bwa Ana Boki Moomon e ana taeka te Atua. I atai bwa rinanon ana Mwakuri ni Kamaiu Iesu Kristo ti kona kainaomataki ma te mate n te rabwata ao n te tamnei. I rangi ni kukurei bwa I kona mwakuri ni mitinare. I atongi bwai ikai n aran Natin Iesu Kristo, Amen. ( I know that through prayer we can receive help for our problems. That He loves all of us - our Heavenly Father. That we are his children. I have already seen the blessing from my prayers. He has blessed me with the strength, health, his love, peace, joy, and help. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be freed from death both physical and spiritual. I very happy that I can be a missionary. I say these things in the name of His son Jesus Christ, Amen. I tangiringkami, Elder Ekaki He was still online, so I replied to him with some more questions: I'm sorry your having such a hard time. What's been going unexpectedly? Is there anything we can do to help? Are you having a hard time getting up because you're sick or just exhausted? Are you getting enough to eat? Time - there is just not enough of it. I'm exhausted physically and spiritually as sometimes we stay at the member's house until after 10 to help the investigators overcome their addiction with smoking. I have plenty to eat and usually eat four to five times a day. I'm glad to hear that you're ok in that aspect - food and health. But a piece of advice is this....you can't keep drawing water out of a dry well. You must make sure you are taking care of yourself physically and spiritually. Sometimes it's a matter of rearranging your schedule or changing some priorities. Don't neglect those things or it will catch up with you, and not in a good way. I am thankful you've sought the Lord's help in this, and I will pray specifically for you and your companion in regards to health, safety, spiritual nourishment and rest as well. We love you and pray for you always. I know the Lord will qualify your efforts and bless you an hundred fold for your enduring trust in him. Hang in there! Mauri Bro, I'm hanging in here as the work is progressing and the heat is increasing as we are moving into the dry season of the year. I'm doing great. My companion is so awesome and really pushes me to be the best I can be. During my personal study this week I've been reading in 2 Nephi this week Jacob brother of Nephi was ordained a priest (a missionary of the church) He was told by Nephi to give this address and share this to the Nephites. Starting in Chapter 6 and goes to chapter 12 and then 12 to 24 where it shares Isaiah 2-14. The part that hit me hard this week is in Chapter 9 verse 52 in Kiribati it says "Taraia tariu aika kam tangiraki, uring ana taeka Atuami; kakaonimaki n tataro nakoina ni katoa bong, ao anga ami kaaitau nakon arana ae tabu n te tairiki. Kakukurei nanomi." translated from what the Kiribati means what I understand "Behold my brethern that are loved, remeber his words your God; Faithful in praying to Him every day, and give thanks to His Holy Name in the night. Let your hearts rejoice." read the English. This scripture has been my inspiration for this week as times were hard and were not going as expected. When I did pray to my Heavenly Father asking for that strength He gave it to me and has helped me see my purpose as a missionary more that it is not just about getting a ton of lessons in the day but it is about fellowshipping, inviting, helping, and continually serving them even if that means you only get one lesson in that day, but the impact that you left will help them to stay active in the church. Something new that I tried this week was the eggs of the Kule and turtle both of which are extremely good. The turtle tastes like steak and the eggs taste way better than the chicken eggs that we grew up. I tangiriko Elder Ekaki |
Elder Samuel HaycockI am called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This blog is about my adventures in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ for the next two years in the Republic of Kiribati. Archives
July 2018
CategoriesContributorRachel Haycock - I am the mother of 6 amazing children and the lucky wife of a dear, sweet man. I love to write, read, cook, teach and sew. I hope you feel the Spirit of the Lord as you read about Elder Haycock's adventures in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. |