The Machete Expert!

Hey Everyone!!

This week in Tonga I learned something new about the culture! So according to my thoughts and calculations,  I have figured out pretty much that Tonga is the only place where you can sweat and get a work out FROM..... Eating. Yes, eating!!! Cause I suddenly realized the other night at our dinner that I was sweating from eating... and that’s not normal... because it wasn’t hot that night.  It was actually raining. So, I came to that conclusion because I realized that the amount of food we eat here and is given to us can only be inhaled through working out your stomach like the hot dog eating contest! So, while I’m eating I’ve started to try and perfect whatever that side-to-side motion was? So that has been my new goal!!

I am now a machete expert!  I climb coconut trees and cut down the coconuts.  My favorite is climbing to cut down the banana bunches.  We work in t-shirts and shorts until about 2:00 when we load up the produce on boats to go the main island.  Then the whole village goes home and goes to sleep.  My companion and I get cleaned up; do our personal study and companion study.  At five o’clock the whole village comes out to the church parking lot.  We have a tennis court and a volleyball court.  We play with the kids and everyone eats.  I love that part of the culture here!  After dinner we go to a member’s home to teach them.

So, as to new news! We have had 4 investigators these past couple weeks and they all have been extremely receptive to the gospel!! EXTREMELY receptive! Then all of a sudden "Poof" we only have one and his name is Pulotu. Now, from our snooping around and asking some members who are friends with our investigators. We were able to turn up this bit of information.... The Wesleyan (2nd biggest church in Tonga) minister went around to them and told them not to take our lessons anymore... and unfortunately they actually listened... so we are trying to get back with them but our efforts are coming to no avail... at least I think that’s the saying? So as to new investigators none unfortunately and with the new transfer coming up so rapidly we are hoping to find at least one more to teach! It’s all thanks to the members. They do everything!  In fact, sometimes they go on their own vilo hoa and find people for us!! It’s incredible! Nowhere in the world do people match to the diligence to these members.  They sometimes come to our house and tell us we have a teaching that night! ha-ha 

Which brings me to my next bit of information! So yesterday was P-day and the net was down because of the night before so we are netting today! But, as I was saying, our district leader told Elder S and I to be ready to pack our bags! Elder L is sick. Now, I had no idea what that meant until he told me where Elder L is serving.  He is in the farthest Island of Niua Fo'ou, which if an Elder is sick they automatically bring him home! Because, there are no direct plane flights there and the boat comes around about a month to a month and a half. So, in the next week or two either Elder S or I will be heading the farthest island where there is no internet or for the most part electricity. It only runs on solar power! So, this will be an interesting next couple weeks coming up to the transfer...

Well, I hope everyone at home is all right!

I LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Sheppard!