Miracles for Days

Iokwe!

So, I've definitely spent the majority of my mission so far apologizing for not writing as much as I should. Well, no more! From now on you should get weekly updates from me without gaps of silence for ages. Definitely my bad and I'm making it a new goal to use the entire email time I am allotted and to plan time ahead to make sure I can send a general email and also start responding to the piles of emails you all send.

That being said, I definitely ran out of time this week because of all of the catching up. So, brief updates:

I fractured the index and middle fingers on my left hand. Probably jammed the two knuckles on both fingers too. First time I've ever fractured any bones that I know of. Kind of obnoxious. Especially when the little kids decide to pull on them because I have climbing tape wrapped around them. *rolls eyes*  The story is lame, so we'll just pretend it was a bear attack.

Elder Kilmer on the far right.  His new companion Elder Tetea is on the far left.

My new companion is Elder Tetea! He's from Christmas Island, Kiribati (remember Elder Miller, my MTC companion who was learning Kiribati? Elder Tetea knows him from Kiribati; apparently they met?). He's awesome. However, he's been serving English-speaking this entire time and knows very little Marshallese due to that.

Which leads me into the only miracle that I have time for (but trust that we have had many): I so far have done the majority of the talking when we go to see people, since Elder Tetea can't really contribute yet. Which is a bit of an issue since I can't really understand people, remember? Well, apparently I have been extremely blessed because I've managed to teach a couple lessons almost single-handedly now. One particular lesson, I didn't even get to start before this guy started asking us questions about a particular belief we have (on the Priesthood [side note: this guy really knows the Bible; I was so impressed that I was able to bring up the Levites, Moses, and Aaron and he knew what I was talking about]). He brought up a particular story from the Bible and asked a question on it in relation to what I had talked about. I was hesitant to venture a guess on the topic (I was a little unsure of the answer), especially in a language that I am not too familiar with, since it may be misunderstood, but as I thought for a second, I felt the Spirit impress upon me the answer. I felt understanding come in a way that I can't really describe, but that I recognized and felt was true. I shared my newfound answer with him and was pleased to hear Elder Sitati of the Seventy (a leader in our church) answer the very same question (same story from the Bible mentioned and everything) in the exact same way yesterday (he's been visiting our mission). What a blessing to hear that confirmed for me.

Alright, totally out of time. We're super happy out here and loving life. I love being a missionary. Talk to you all later!

Jerammaan!

Elder Josh Kilmer
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Mission, Marshallese speaking


不動心
Fudoshin:  immovable spirit
www.mormon.org

Recent Photos from Oklahoma

Here are some recent photos of Elder Kilmer in the last few weeks we wanted to share.  It's always great to see our son.  We are very thankful for the Mansells for their photos.

With President and Sister Mansell.

Recent baptism of Rose and Little Rose.

At a recent leadership conference (in the back with his former companion Elder Larsen).

Iokwe from OK! Clean as clean can be

Iokwe!

Jolok bōd for not writing so much recently--it's been super crazy.  But not too much missionary work, mostly just work.  President Mansell decreed that last Wednesday as National Bi-Annual Mission-Wide Apartment Cleaning Day and told us we clean until we finish.  We looked at our apartment and thought "it's pretty clean, we should be fine.  This won't take too long." *insert sarcastic laughter here*  IT TOOK US A WEEK.  Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! *dies* 

That was so frustrating.  Not only did we have to take care of all of our apartment, but we had to clean the other Marshallese Elder's house which hasn't been cleaned in 15 years.  Spot cleaning, yeah.  But everything else was left to mold away.  Elder Smith got really sick several weeks ago from his own personal assault on attempting to clean the bathroom but suffered from breathing in too much bleach and mold.  Elder Menlove and I were there all of Wednesday and then took until Tuesday night to finish our own apartment.  The other Marshallese Elders started cleaning the day before we came to help them and finished a day after we did.  They both got sick too.  However, that house is now not only livable, but also enjoyable to be in.

Also despite all of the time we spent without being able to work in our areas, we had two baptisms on Sunday.  Twin sisters, Rose and Little Rose have been begging us for weeks to be baptized.  Little Rose is super sassy, so every time we saw her we got a "Why'm I no beptaij?!?"  Not only were they so excited to be baptized, but we've seen it change their family too.  Their parents have become more interested in their family.  We're focusing on them next.  Let me tell you, baptism is the best kind of clean there ever was.

Life is great!

Jerammaan!

Elder Josh Kilmer
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Mission, Marshallese speaking


不動心
Fudoshin:  immovable spirit