The latest from Molokai

We got an e-mail from Jared today. He said that things are going very well on Molokai. He said that he had a sister come up to him and ask him if he'd been watching the news - then she remembered that he couldn't watch the news so she asked if he was worried about his family. Jared said that of course he was worried because all he'd been hearing were whispers about a magnitude 5.9 earthquake and Hurricane Irene being a category 2 hurricane that was supposed to make landfall in NYC. So this kind sister took a picture of Jared then and there and sent it to us telling us that Jared was worried about us. So as soon as we got her message we were able to tell her that we were OK, and then we were able to send an e-mail to Jared letting him know what was going on at home. I am so grateful for the kindness of the members, their watchful care over Jared, and their compassion knowing that he would be worried about his family. As it turns out his worries were justified. Our stake has a ward that has been completely flooded out. The people there have lost everything. We were fortunate in that we only lost power for a few days, and friends were able to save the food we had in the freezer.

Jared asked us to give his best to Brett and Brighton, who are getting married this Friday. Then he gave them this advise: "Remember though that you are two different people who will soon be living under the same roof so this is all the advice that I can give to the two of you. Firstly: De Gustibus Non Est Disputandem (one must not dispute about tastes -thanks Dad!). Something tells me that Dad told us that many MANY times for a reason haha probably because it's true:) And Secondly in an evermore tumultuous world most-times the only place we can look for reprieve is our home. THAT is why a home has to be founded on the Gospel, like ours was. So when the Home relies on God, remember: Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress is Our God). He can protect us from the shafts in the whirlwinds so rely on him at all times!

But that's all I've got for you as far as advice, you know, seeing as how I've never been married and all haha. But hopefully you'll remember it!"

Jared said that the work on Molokai is going well, and that he was able to have the baptism they'd scheduled for the 25th. It was the first time Jared has baptized anyone.

It's always good to hear from Jared. We'll miss him at the wedding this Friday!

Where's the Rain?

We got an e-mail from Jared yesterday. In it he said: "I WISH IT WAS RAINING HERE AS WELL!!!!! I want a HUGE downpour right now haha. It's been 90 degrees and sunny for going on 3 weeks now and I'm sooooooo SO through baking and burning like... well... like a really white kid on an island for two years haha:) But like I was saying the monotony in the weather over here is making me miss New York's slightly (or entirely, let's be fair haha) unpredictable weather and I really miss the rain a lot. You'd think it'd rain more in the Tropics... huh."

I thought that was funny because you think that fabulous weather 24/7 would be great, but I guess variety is nice too.

Jared said that things on Molokai are going well. He admitted that he hadn't really believed us when we told him that a mission is hard. But now that he's been out roughly 3 months he agrees that a mission is "100% indubitably, absolutely, positively, HARD" but so worth it.

He said that taking over the area has been both a struggle and a blessing. He said that he feels like he knows his way around the area like the back of his hand, and that the hard work is paying off big time. He said they are hoping to have a baptism on August 25th. And he went on to say that it is truly amazing to see someone change and learn to make and keep commitments. He is excited to see the gospel turn their investigator's life around.

He said that he is learning new things about himself and the scriptures every day. He said he even learned new things about prayer, even though is was something he'd been taught since he was in Primary and had heard in the words to the song "A Child's Prayer". It's funny how you can have an experience that really brings things you have heard all your life to a new level of understanding. He said it's crazy what immersing himself in the gospel has done for him and he encouraged all of us to immerse ourselves in the scriptures.

Jared said his new companion is Elder Spencer Davis from Las Vegas, Nevada. He said that he is an awesome missionary who likes to work hard. They had 4 investigators that came to church this last Sunday, which he was really happy about.

He ended his e-mail by saying that he is alive and well and trying to watch what he eats, but that's it's a losing battle. I have heard that the Hawaiians feed the missionaries very well. So I guess that's a peril of being a missionary in Hawaii. But look at all the benefits!

Pictures!

First of all we got an e-mail from a sister who lives on Molokai. She sent this picture of Elder Brooksby and Elder Taylor. It was taken the day before transfers. Elder Taylor ended up being transferred, and Elder Brooksby is staying on Molokai.

The sweet sister said: "We are in the Hoolehua Ward here on the island of Molokai Hawaii. Your Elder serves in the Kaunakakai Ward but we've come to know and love him very much. Thought you might like to see how happy he looks. He's doing a wonderful job here and all the members just love him. Thank you for sharing him with us."

What a treat for us as parents to hear something like that.

We also got an e-mail from Jared on Monday. He said that he'd gotten the package I'd sent him. He left without any/many pictures from home so I made him a little flip book with pictures of family so he could remember us.

While I was in Utah the "Post-a-Nut" came and Glen put it on the blog. What I didn't know is that it is only something you can do on Molokai. You can't mail a coconut from any of the other islands. Jared said he figured that he should do it before transfers in case he got transferred. But we all know that he didn't get transferred.

He said that he was glad that he didn't transferred because they are finally making some progression in the work there. He didn't know where Elder Taylor was going, but knew that he was going to be a Zone Leader. He felt lucky to be trained by such a very good missionary. But he is nervous to take over the area of East Molokai with a companion who doesn't know the area - and after only being there one transfer. He said that there could be four baptisms within this next transfer and that the work is progressing well.

Jared ended his e-mail by saying: "Well have no fear, I am safe here in Molokai and the Lord is providing for my needs! I love it here and am excited for another transfer here haha!"

I Ran Out of Time

Jared's e-mail this week was kind of short. He said he ran out of time. But here's a little of what he did share.

He said that the missionary work is going OK, and that they are working as hard as they possibly can. He said that they get referrals from the other ward(Hoolehua) for people in their area (Kaunakakai).

He said that he and Elder Taylor get along/work together very well and that they try to have an appropriate amount of fun too. He said that the other two missionaries, Elder Maybon and Elder Hanks are both way nice and they are very funny. So Jared feels like things are going pretty good there on Molokai. He said that it's hard work but that it's rewarding!

He said that they have 2 progressing investigators who have committed to baptism and that one of them has a date!

He said that one fun thing about living there is that almost everybody there speaks Pigin English to some degree. He said that he loves it! He says that he's picked up on some of it, and that he may just come back speaking some. Wouldn't that be exciting!

This is a quote from Jared: "Ho brah that shoyu chicken stay cherry! Pass me da dakine so I can have some grines! We got choke grines at de luau's here brah."

I have no idea what it means. I looked for a Pigin English translator, but couldn't find one. I guess that's a good question for Jared's next e-mail from home.

It sounds like he's doing well.

You know you have a missionary in Hawaii when...

You know you have a missionary in Hawaii when you get this in the mail.



Yesterday, Lauren and I went to the mailbox to get the mail and found this stuffed in it. I can only imagine what the postman must have thought. It was such a unique piece of mail that I decided it deserved animation. I was surprised it ever got through! It appears that to pay the postage, Jared bought one of every kind of stamp they had. (click on the picture and you can spin it around yourself.) If you can't read the message, it says, "Hello Family! I love you and miss you tons! So Have a coconut! Mahalo nui loa & much Aloha, Love Elder Brooksby". It's going to be hard to think of something to mail him back that can top this. Suggestions?