Tahiti - Week 19

CONFERENCE!!

"I LOVED it!!"

"I couldn't pass up a conference weekend without sharing my thoughts
just briefly! I loved the messages that were shared and the council
that was given! For those of you who are wondering, I DID get to watch
conference in English. (Blessing!)
I was reminded of why I am here at Tahiti. Really, the whole idea of
serving others is what I thrive off of.. Of course at times I become
discouraged with whatever trials are placed in my life, but if I
remember back to why I offered my life for a mission, it is all worth
is.
--SERVICE!--

After Saturday's conference we went to have a lesson avec Elene and
Patrick. They are a couple in our area that live in concubinage, but
they have been together for over 28 years and have 5 children. We've
been teaching them for months, and just waiting on a date for the
marriage so that they can get baptized. Elene has taken the lessons
before (for the last 4 years) but this is Patrick's first time. So
we've pretty much been waiting on him. -- Anyways, we were in the
lesson with Patrick and Elene when Sr. Dumouchel and I had a strong
impression to invite them to pick a date for the baptism. They looked
at us, knowing that there's still a lot that needs to be done before
that date, and then Sr Dumouchel said "December 1st" and we all looked
at her like she was crazy. BUT they agreed. And that is the day for
their marriage and baptism. (: YAY.

On a side note, Mickey told me that it was so special to tell them her desire to go to the temple and to have an eternal family. She can tell that Elen and Patrick want that. It's such a blessing!

After conference we had a bird in our house (it's pretty normal. All
of our doors are open all the time) but Sr Dumouchel took Sr Bingham
seriously and tried to help the bird out of the house with a broom
thingy.

I made dinner for Sr Dumouchel and myself.. It' wasn't super great,
but I DID make it before I was hungry, which means I'm practically a
mom."

^^ Mickey's homemade dinner ^^

^^ Pomme etoile (Apple Star) ^^

^^ "The Elder's decorated our car at 5 AM this morning." ^^

BIG HUGS!

je vous aime

♥

Tahiti - Week 18

MICKEY'S FIRST BAPTISM!!

"EDWIN WAS BAPTIZED!!

YAY

 MY FIRST BAPTISM!!

WAHHHOOOO

It was so awesome, my very first one!"

MICKEY'S FIRST BAPTISM!!

"EDWIN WAS BAPTIZED!!
YAY

 MY FIRST BAPTISM!!
WAHHHOOOO
It was so awesome, my very first one!
It was so special to see him take that big step, to be a good example for his family. 
He has a whole lot of laughs and love to share!"

Mickey said she didn't teach a lot this week, unfortunately, 
but this week they've already witnessed miracles.

"...at Edwin's baptism, we noticed a family that neither of us had seen before and they just cried the whole baptism. They ended up coming to every single church activity all weekend long and LOVED IT! So, hopefully we'll start teaching them tonight and watch this families' faith grow and maybe even help them to get baptized."

"Teiki (the wood carving guy) came to church yesterday!
...AND...
We had 16 ami's at church yesterday! The most I've ever seen is 10 and even 10 is a lot."

Mickey gave her first talk in French this weekend!
"It was on the Saint esprit. It went really well, I think. Everyone commented on it.
Edwin told me that if I could give a talk, he would share his testimony. - He knew how hard it would be for me to share a talk."
...how could Mickey say no to a request like that?!
Mickey is supposed to send me a copy of her talk. When she does, I'll add it.

Transfers happened this week. We were in the car when the Elders called. 
I am still in Matavai in Mahina!
Our AP told us that Sr. Dumouchel was being transferred and then he said, 
'TOOOO MATAVAI!'
and we were both so happy. 
YAY!
I definitely screamed on the phone!
It's not normal to stay in the same sector for more than 3 transfers
...so we were all surprised that I am still here. 
I am now the oldest one in this zone."

When I asked if she was able to watch the General Women's Conference in English or French, she replied that she was able to watch them in English.
"I loved Joy D. Jones talk. I was all over the place that day. I watched it at a member's house. I just remember that the women's conference felt so different this year. Maybe it's because I am a missionary... I think that I just have the spirit with me ALL the time...so it didn't feel as special as it normally used to. I hope that Conference isn't like that too. Ya know how Conference just makes you feel so spiritually fed? I feel that way every day."

We talked about looking at Conference as a way to find answers and when we are listening to what the Lord wants us to know, seeking answers or his knowledge for us, it will feel just as special as it always has. We also talked about not having the distractions of the world and why it's important to have love for daily scripture reading.
"I didn't realize how cool the scriptures and gospel really are until I came here. 
They have ALL the answers."

^^ "How on EARTH did I get the world's BEST companion
to stay with me for ANOTHER transfer?! ^^

 ^^ "Hey! Little Secret! - Sometimes when Sr. Dumouchel and I are Fiu with the day, we look at our knee fat and scrunch it together and pretend that our knees are the sorting hat from Harry Potter...
HAH! We actually found this little sorting hat in the Elder's car and about DIED!! I guess it's safe to say that Harry Potter is well missed in Matavai.

^^Zone Conference^^

^^ The cinnamon rolls that we made this week!  ^^
(I told Mickey that Grandma would be SO proud!!)

^^ Just for fun! ^^
"I did a split with Sr. Dampt this week! She commented on my French and gave me the sweetest compliment EVER! 'You're a hard worker. And you want to do things well!' "
(Sr. Dampt reminds me of cousin Steph!)

Well, that's all for week 18! ...can you believe it's been almost 6 months already?! 
Mickey is doing wonderful!
♥

Tahiti - Week 17

"I'm doing SO, SO Good!"

^^ "I don't have words to describe this photo of myself" ^^

Mickey borrowed this hat from some guy. She says she loves it!

Mickey had an interview with the President this week.

"He said my French has improved a LOT since the last interview 6 weeks ago."

"He's so sweet. Really, like one of the kindest people I know.

They are doing a great job. I can really feel of their love."

^^ "The Beautiful view" ^^

...

"This week, I've decided to go back to school! 

(Dixie!)

I was reading the Ensign and really gained an appreciation for learning. 

One that I seem to have lost. 

I am truly excited to go back to get an education! 

One thing I have noticed is that I set goals for myself to learn a certain amount without taking into consideration all of the outlining factors. Then, when I don't accomplish my "goal" I get frustrated and lose all desire to continue. 

But, I'm FINALLY realizing that it doesn't matter how much you learn in one day, what matters is that we are always learning. 

If I learned everything by the end of the week, then I wouldn't have any way to progress next week. 

I just need to be patient with myself and give myself more credit."

^^ Maeva with us at Church. She's practically a Tahitian Queen. ^^

...

"When Tahitians invite you to eat - you eat."

^^ Poisson cru (raw fish salad) ^^

"I've grown to appreciate it.

I eat raw fish at least 5 times a week. It's super chewy.

I hated it when I first got here...but it's growing on me.

It also used to WRECK my stomach, but I'm fine now."

^^ Other raw fish ^^

"We eat a lot of rice. We have rice with every meal. and baguettes with every meal too.

Maa tahiti is prepared over a fire and in the ground, and a lot of people smoke their food.

We eat a lot of things raw."

^^ "We made over 600 cookies this week!! ^^

 They told us they wanted us to make some more cookies, and to double the recipe from last week! WHAT?!? - It's been voted that we have the best cookies!"

...

I asked Mickey if she could choose one favorite memory so far in Tahiti what would it be?

In true Mickey style, she answered, 

"Laughing and loving these people."

It's Mickey's heart to a "T". 

^^ Sr. Dumouchel and Mickey bought matching shirts! (: ^^

"OHHHHHH WE HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK!

His name is Edwin! He is 23 years old.

He came up to us at the beginning of the transfer and told us that he wanted to take the missionary lessons. "He had taken them before so we didn't k now how serious he was about it.) So we planned his baptism for the 23rd about three weeks ago and this last weekend we had his Baptismal interview!

WHAHOOOOO!

Pictures to come!

We even got him to stop wearing his HUGE earrings that he always wears.

YAY

Also, we fixed another baptism for Margureite!

Her boyfriend is inactive but wants them to get sealed in the temple one day, so we started doing lessons with her! This last week they decided to get married ans she is getting baptized on the 27th of October!

YAY (: 

Unfortunetly, Mata Flores cancelled her baptism this week. ):

She cannot commit to the law of chastity."

^^ Mickey said this (^^) was a typical tired Tuesday. I think they look beautiful! ^^

...

Transfers are Monday so Mickey may be sending emails from another sector with a different companion. Sr. Dumouchel has been such an amazing companion for Mickey so she hopes she doesn't get transferred. 

"I don't want to leave her. I love it here with her.

I feel like we have a party everyday.

But, I'm the next to be transferred."

I asked Mickey how many sectors there were on Tahiti and she said,

"I have no idea but there are like 8 stakes, 

with 3-4 chapels in every stake 

and 3 wards in every chapel.

Sr. Dumouchel and I have the biggest sector in all of the mission. 

There are approx. 500 members.

But only 100 or so are active.

There are a lot of members here - many are just inactive."

Mickey sent the above picture for Brad. She said:

"Of all of the pet peeves I have,this one bothered me the most this week.

(It's a nail that isn't in the wood all the way)

Where's the nail sync?"

(She learned all about that when she was working with Brad in his shop the past two years.)

haha - she said this would make Brad laugh - and since she has uncles in the same profession - I thought it would be fun to share.

Personally, I look forward to hearing from Mickey again already! I can't wait to hear how Edwin's baptism went and where her new transfer sends her. 

I hope she doesn't get separated from Sr. Dumoucel - but, really - at this point - it's probably inevitable. They have been SO good together and I love them to pieces! 

Keep praying for them!

Until next time...

♥Hugs!♥

Tahiti - Week 16

FAST AND HOT!

Sœur Wright had another great week! YAY!

"The whole week was awesome and it some how managed to slip right by.

The hardest part is that I'm so tired! ...and it was HOT all week long!"

"This was Sr. Dumouchel and me right after we biked up a huge hill and were dying

...no worries. We lived.

"There are chapels like this all over Tahiti. This one is just right down the street from our neighborhood. It is Protestant.

"A sister in our ward has a gaurd duck! no joke...

instead of dogs (because everyone has dogs) she has a duck,

because no one sees him coming.

He only tried to attack Sr. Dumouchel and me twice this week..."

"These are the most beautiful and perfect flowers I have ever seen!!"

"Party at Sr. Maeva's ♥

"The Elders ended up finding a crab on their front porch, so they put it in this glass bowl. ha

We technically can't have pets....but this one is outside."

"The neighbors we made cookies with."

"...this is how many we ended up having! ha."

^^^These are the cutest girls in Tahiti, if you ask me!!

Mickey is doing SO good right now and I love that it is very apparent in her face.

Also, Sr. Dumouchel is the sweetest girl! She loves Sr. Wright so much! She sent us a letter this past week and said the following:

"...She's so awesome and SO hardworking!

 Everyday is a party with her, we laugh so much it's what keeps us both sane. :)

I'm so grateful for her, she's got such a bright and inspiring light that just beams out of her heart and everyone can see it. I'm trying to pick some of that up.

Thanks for raising one of the raddest people I know - I love her tons!"

They are seriously the best companionship!

 They are practically the same person and could almost pass as sisters!

I love them both so much! 

...until next week!

Tahiti - Week 15

DILIGENCE

"ye shall reap the rewards of your faith and your diligence and your patience."

Alma 32:43

Mickey said she was doing well and that unfortunately nothing exciting happened this week. She was a bit discouraged because she and Sr. Dumouchel tried to be extra hard to be diligent this week and nearly 80% of their appointments fell through and they learned that it's hard to be diligent when you have to rely on so many others.  

Mickey's best part of the week was that she was happy. She and her companion laugh a lot.

She advised us to "enjoy the moment. Oliver Cowdery said, 

'These are the days never to be forgotten.'

 ---live them to the fullest."

Mickey has really been trying to "chill" and enjoy the moments that she has. 

"The more I 'chill', the faster time flies and before I know it, 

I'll be going home and I'm not ready for that yet." 

^^This is Mickey's new Ami! Her boyfriend is inactive, but asked if the missionaries could start teaching her so that he can be sealed with her in the temple one day. haha. I can't help but wonder why he is inactive. 

Mickey thought a lot about obedience this week and she was reminded of a past experience of being asked to clean the fridge and doing things with a good attitude. She said it is also important that when someone asks you to do something, you shouldn't wait - you just do it when you're asked. 

^^Above is Rio and his wife. He was baptized this past weekend! 

He was excited to take the sacrament as a baptized member of the Church!

This week, Mickey was asked to play the piano for a Zone Conference. She said nobody plays piano in Tahiti. Because she is limited in the songs she can play, she was only able to play twice, but she said it was pretty good. 

A language lesson:

"ehh ehh" is an expression in Tahiti. It's used for everything. To say: cute, or sad, or thank you, or pretty much everything.

Funny story:

Mickey asked if anyone in the family was pregnant. haha. Just so everyone is aware, Mickey said nobody was allowed to even think about getting pregnant for at least 3 1/2 more months. She said if she has been out for 5 1/2 months, we can all wait another 3 1/2. 

She said, "It's selfish, but it's the goal." She clearly doesn't want to miss any of the big events!

Well, that's it folks! Keep supporting Sr. Wright, she appreciates it!

Tahiti - Week 14

TO LIE OR NOT TO LIE?

...it's really not a question.

^^I can't help but wonder what Mickey is pointing at.^^

Funny story. 

Elder Gary Stevenson came to visit the missionaries this week!

We got up early, and planned to go into town to get breakfast at McDonalds before going to the conference, but then Sr. Larsen ended up taking us an hour later than we had planned on. (she is our driver) ... we thought we still had enough time to go through the drive thru, but then when the exit came for McDonalds, she quickly blurted out to see if anyone wanted to go without giving enough time to see what we'd say. 

We didn't stop - I ended up going hungry most of the day.

when we got to the conference, an elder asked me what my name was, so I went to show him my tag, and realized I had forgotten it. Woopsies.  ...another elder gave me one of his extras (Elder Blater) hah 

We went to take pictures with Gary Stevenson right before the meeting when we were told that we'd be shaking his hand, and I knew I had to get a sisters name tag! -I went to Sr. Mendenhall and of course she had an extra. (I normally do too, but I had already forgotten my name tag another time earlier in the week, and had used it)

When we went to shake hands with Elder Stevenson, Sr. Mendenhall was only about 4 people ahead of me, so when he got to me and read the tag he said "Another Mendenhall? You HAVE to be related.." -You can't lie to an apostle, so I explained that I had forgotten it, and he just laughed a little and said that it happens. 

Once the conference started, I found myself in the very front row, directly center with the podium... Elder Stevenson was very interactive and asked us a lot of questions. I responded to one question, just under my breath when he came over to me and looked at my tag and said "Now, are you Sr. Mendenhall?" and I explained to him that I was the borrower and that my name was Sr. Wright. He told everyone that "Even Sister Wright knows that when we forget our name tags, we still wear one.." he asked me for the answer to my question, and when I responded, he had me stand up so everyone could see me and repeat the answer.. he laughed a little bit and said it was okay, because an elder did the same thing. 

I was so embarrassed.  ...of all the days I could forget my plaque, it had to be that day... My oh my..

Elder Stevenson talked about extending commitments to people and missionary work.  

The most important part of missionary work is inviting people to act on their testimony

Last night we got a call from our AP (assistant to the president) 

asking if I could come in and learn how to drive Manual car.

We went in and I took a driving test and what not (I already know how to drive Manual) - that just means I'll probably be put into a car sector.

  It was the first time in 5 1/2 months that I've driven. ...It was strange.

^^Sr. Dumouchel Selfie.. (My companion is awesome)^^

Another companion who loves selfies - no wonder Mickey gets along well with her. 

A match made in Heaven. Literally! haha

Mickey said the hardest part of the week was that Marie-ange cancelled her baptism. Sad! Mickey said that she ended up getting back together with her boyfriend and is drinking alcohol all the time and smokes 50 or more cigarettes a day. It breaks my heart. I have high hopes for her.  

Mickey said it is very common for people to smoke in Tahiti and that a lot of people there start smoking at about age 6. In Hitimahahna, most 14 years olds smoke together just for fun. Are you kidding me??!!  So sad!

^^This is the strangest food Mickey at this week. It looks like a cross between a cricket and a cockroach. NASTY! She said, "It's better than lobster. I guess.

Everyone in our sector knows that I don't like seafood now, so I get away with not eating a lot of things."  

...this is the alternative to seafood? I think I'd take the seafood, personally. 

^^This is just a house down our street.. haha I think it's the funniest thing.^^

^^MICKEY!!^^

Mickey said it was a typical mission week. Her favorite part was Elder Stevenson visiting.

She is doing SOO GOOD this week.

Bless her heart!

Keep praying for her and the work.

♥♥