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, Just a quick update about me I am doing great! and I am excited that I have the opportunity to talk to you all. What have you been up to? I have been sharing the Gospel with the people of Bikenibeu. Such a cool experience happened this week! While I was lessoning with this lady, can I say, the Heavens were open and I saw her (in a vision) with her husband and her two children step out of the temple. It was so cool to see. I can testify that it will happen one day. How goes the work? The work is there but it is slow at the moment, but I see it picking up soon. What do you enjoy most about serving in Bikenibeu? Just being able to be in a ward and actually have a bishop that does things. It has been fun working with the Young Men as they are struggling in their assignments but I love helping them out. Needs: If you could send some space saver bags - mine have broken and don't work right. If you want send me a pair pants that would be nice, but I can deal with my two pairs of pants right now. Message from President Larkin: Elders and Sisters Senior Missionary Couples play a critical role in our mission and we have upcoming needs for several senior couples in both Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. This can be an exciting opportunity for couples who are at a stage in life where they are able to serve a mission together. If you have family members who may be interested in serving in our mission, please pass on my Church email address - [email protected] - and ask them to send me an email. If you do not have family members who are able to send, perhaps there are family friends/acquaintances who may be interested. As you know, this is the world's best mission! Thank you for all you do! We love you! President Larkin Spirtual Thought: Alma 34:32-33 - I want to remind you that we must repent always and to not put it off as we are in these last days. I am so thankful for this simple gospel. I want to testify that these things are true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. I tangiringkami, Elder Ekaki Bikenibeu 2 West Alma 34: 32-33 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
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Letter Dated May 14th, 2018 Mauri utu, Happy Mother's Day! (Aia Bong Tiina, A na Tekeraoi!) Well sorry I wasn't able to email you this week. The internet was down in our zone, and I wanted to be obedient, so I sacrificed writing an email. A quick update of what is happening with me. So first, I got transferred from Betio. Sad Day! Especially when you have loved the people and your investigators are starting to make progress to baptism. But, I know that is what the Lord wants. So I have been moved to work in the Bikenibeu 2nd Ward and have been assigned to be District Leader of the Bikenibeu District. Nerve wracking. This past week we had Zone Conference which was really good and it had a lot for me in what I was struggling with at the time. We also received the Doctrine and Covenants in Kiribati for the first time this past Wednesday. It has made my studies really nice. "Tanimai Nakoiu n ami iango n taai nako, tai nanououa, tai maaku." - D&C 6:36 My thought is focused on looking unto Christ. I testify that as we focus our attention on Christ, we will be saved. I testify that we will be given the power to overcome trials and afflictions. I testify of these things are true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. I tangiringkami, Elder Ekaki Bikenibeu 2nd West D&C 6:36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. No real email this week, but we did learn that he is serving currently with Elder Hansen from Idaho who has been out 18 months. He says that being District Leader is sometimes challenging when you want to see the work move forward, but are faced instead with complaints. He also asked for a brownie recipe and that was about it....except for all these beautiful photos. Mauri, Can I say time flies?? It is so crazy how fast the week flies and I'm so thankful that I have this time to send you all an email. Not a lot happened this week as it was all the same, but the exciting part is that we should be having two baptisms this next week in a baptismal font! Super exciting! Spiritual Thought for the Week: Can be found in Preach My Gospel under the section of Patience pg 120. Something that I would encourage all of you to develop - as that is the only way we can handle others. I have been blessed with so many experiences this week as I have left everything up to the Lord's time. For example: this investigator figuring out that the Book of Mormon is true and when an investigator comes to church, to when they accept a baptismal commitment. I know this work is true. I know that when we are patient all things will work out to our benefit. I Tangiringkami, Elder Ekaki Bikenibeu 2 West Patience Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith—you must wait for the Lord’s promised blessings to be fulfilled. You need patience in your everyday experiences and relationships, especially with your companion. You must be patient with all people, yourself included, as you work to overcome faults and weaknesses. “Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.” –President Thomas S. Monson “Patience—a Heavenly Virtue,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 59 Activity: Personal Study
Mauri, It is so crazy how much time has flown and all of the new changes that have came in this past week! As you have heard, as I have been assigned as the new Bikenibeu District Leader. All I can say is that at first I was overwhelmed - but can I say I am thankful for a Mission President that leads this work and that I can talk to him. I can testify in the power of a Priesthood Blessing. So many cool things that he shared with me and I can testify that I am loved by my Heavenly Father and that he knows me and knows how to stretch me. I am so excited for this change! So a little bit about our district... I am over all of Bikenibeu. There 4 Elders and 4 Sisters. That makes us 8 total in this district. Should be lots of fun! Sorry for not emailing you all last week. The internet was out in Bairiki. So I wasn't able to email. But I have sent a letter explaining what happened last week as time is almost up. I want to say that I love you all and will try and send some pictures to you all as internet is slow this week. I tangiringkami, Elder Ekaki Bikenibeu 2 West Letter dated 30 April 2018
Mauri Mom, Thanks for sending me that note. I can testify to that. The Lord really knows his children and knows what they need. Countless times I have been blessed by his love and mercies. This transfer so far has been interesting. I can't tell you if it's good or bad because it has definitely had its good and bad. Definitely a different type of work here on Tarawa. I mean it's all missionary work, but the responsibility of leading a congregation is put upon the Bishop. It is so weird working with a bishop. I am loving really being able to focus on investigators and really having the members support has been so nice. My thoughts or words of advice are found in True to the Faith under the section, "Adversity". Really a good section. I really like the section that says "trusting in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ". This section has brought peace to mind and has prepared me to be able to face trials and sufferings. I know that through Him we can receive all strength to face the opposition. I testify of those things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. I tatangiriko, Elder Ekaki Betio 2nd East Mauri Dad, Thanks for your letter I got it last Friday. Thanks for the counsel you've shared with me. I am going to try and implement it into my teaching with less actives. We have this less active we are trying to help come back, but he seems to always defer it. I'll have to work on that. Highlight for the week would have to be running into Bonibwatio. Just his firm testimony and his commitment to the gospel. We started lessoning with their son and it was like we were teaching with a member present. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for all his children and when they will receive the gospel. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father who appreciates me and knows what I need. I know that my Heavenly Father is at the head and that His son, Jesus Christ, leads and guides the church today. I know that we have a prophet here today who receives revelation for us. A new revelation of Ministering really changes the focus to Missionary work. I know Heavenly Father is our Eternal Father and we are His children. I know that there is power in the Book of Mormon. I know it is God's word. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Do you have any cool mission experiences? How is the work? Any cool experiences with ministering? Are you still doing your soccer thing? Anything exciting planned? I tangiriko, Elder Ekaki Betio 2nd East The time is getting shorter until Elder Ekaki is home again. We were reminded of that this week as we received his travel itinerary for his return trip home to Montana. It is weird to think he will be home before he leaves there because of the time difference. He will be home late on the 16th of August and we are so very excited!
We got our Mother's Day call a little early this time, but it was the best by far. I am not sure if it was because it is the last one before he comes home, or if it was because the technology actually worked this time. It was wonderful! He looked healthy and happy to see us. We were not all able to talk with him - Allan and Nathan were hurrying back from a soccer game 2 hours away - and missed it. His wrist is healing and he has good movement, but was fighting a sore throat and headache that had gone through the apartment earlier last week. We spoke about how strange it was for him to be surrounded by so many people. He has missed being on an outie being away from so many people and the quietness of it. The little city he is in has roughly 17,000 people in about 1/2 a square mile of land compared to his last area of 1,000 people in and area of 4.5 square miles. He says sometimes he gets a little panicky when the people are so close to him. Chicken has been hard to get used to eating as he's had mostly fish, rice and sand worms for the last 21 months to eat. He says the hardest part is eating the chicken knowing they'll probably get sick because it is under-cooked. He is loving working in a ward now with functioning Priesthood and Relief Society - they are all excited to help the missionaries and are great sources for referrals for the missionaries to teach. Personally, I am so very thankful that he is having this experience before he gets ready to come home. I am grateful that Heavenly Father knows him so well to give him opportunities to re-acclimate to life outside of the mission. He confirmed to us that he is leaving Tarawa on August 16th and arriving in Belgrade, Montana on August 16th after going back in time flying over 26 hours to get home. He is sad to be leaving - he loves the people, but he is also happy to be coming home.
The next day, we received an email from him: Mauri, Yes it was great to see you all. Well it sucks when your companion is sick and out for three days. So this week was blah. However one of our investigators started coming to church! So exciting! He has made so much progress! We are going to extend him a date this week to be baptized. Investigators are great! Definitely something I am trying to work on this week has been frustration. But all things will all work out in the end. There is a reason for all things. I know that God gives me challenges so that I can grow. I know all will be for my good in the end I just have to endure. I want to say that I love you all and thanks so much for the Skype. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. I tangiriko, Elder Ekaki Betio 2 East Letter Dated 16 April 2018
Mauri utu, Ngkami kam uara? (How are you doing?) Sorry that it has been a while since I have written. Mainly because I have the internet now, and also because I was out of paper. Yep, so here is the start of a new trend. I can officially say that I have been in Betio for 1 week. It has been a blast, but I am still having a hard time with the amount of people in our small area. It freaks me out sometimes not knowing where I am in the city. We have found this week 15 new investigators, but yet there is a lot more houses that we have not been to. The other thing that has been nice is to actually be working in a ward that is excited about missionary work. Just this past Sunday, we got a new ward mission leader so things should be picking up here. Spiritual highlight of the week: We were lessoning (teaching) with this couple named Ubwaitoi and Kabo. Super excited to lesson and really want to learn more about the gospel. We gave them a Book of Mormon and Nei Kabo said at the end of the lesson that "It is my job to read and to pray about the Book of Mormon." This was the first time in forever that someone has said that. I know that there is power in the Book of Mormon. I know that we can receive truth from our Heavenly Father. I know the Book of Mormon is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. I tangiringkami, Elder Ekaki Betio 2 East |
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. |