Missionary Reunion

In terms of milestones: it's easier to talk in French than English, first week of October: 3rd transfer & 2nd General Conference on the mish, first friend to get married while Im gone (tomorrow, Natalie-girl, love you gorgeous, congratulations you two fine people), finished Luc in the New Testament (French of course) this morning, half-way mark on/around my birthday November 3.

I hope everyone has a fantastic week and dont sweat the small stuff, I'm sweating enough for all of us (Tahiti is hot). 

The photos:

 
A random church that I love.

Baptism of Elizabeth, I promise you that she was actually happy to be baptized, shes just not a huge fan of attention. I gave my talk in Tahitian in the presence of President Sinjioux, cool experience.

Awesome reunion 2 days ago with President & Sister Sinjioux at the Mission Home- girls only, all the Sister Missionaries in the mission except for the sisters on the outer islands!

Well I forgot to suck it in so now everyone knows that I got chubs. :) Soeur J, Soeur L, moi, et Soeur F. 

Papeete, Tahiti temple!!

 

House mates: Soeur T (hilarious), Soeur Weller (running buddy), moi, Soeur Hopuu (comp) devant la temple!

love, here, amour, 

Soeur/Tuahine Carter

 

 

Baptisms

Ia Orana! Eaha to outou huru??

Ok mission time is like university time: SO MUCH CAN HAPPEN in the time span of a week. This past week we had 2 baptisms scheduled, one realized and the other delayed due to drama in the family. The baptism realized makes number 9 since I got to this area, so grateful. It was the baptism of Caroline T and the baptism was so beautiful. We have a ward missionary who is a professional singer and she organized all the music. Puissant.

I spoke Tahitian a lot this past week. Yesterday for fast and testimony meeting I was waiting to speak and right before I got up one of the members who has worked with us a lot in lessons said "Fais en tahitien!" so I bore my testimony on Tahitian for the first time ever at the pulpit. I smiled the whole time because there were several older people who had a kind of shocked look on their face. Very neat experience.

Well it behooveth me to impart the misfortune that has befallen my singing voice. We were on bikes a lot this past week and we bike along the main road so we breathe in all of the pollution from the cars and I officially cannot reach certain notes. Alas, there goes my dream of becoming a professional singer (and we all know how much potential I had in that department). Also it is sometimes a problem to effectively teach the Word of Wisdom when it sounds like Ive been a lifetime smoker. Ah well.

 

 

Allo, bonjour! (How I answer the phone every single time)

 

I know everyone is buckling down to get ready to go back to school; faaitoito. Everybody who finds themself in this situation: work hard and find a way to make your study material interesting- thats the best way to retain information.  Tahiti is starting to get hot again because the seasons are reversed so we're starting the equivalent of spring over here. Riding bikes has been a joy though because the road is right along the ocean so we're always getting a sea breeze. 

My companion and I are at the half-way point in our transfer- 6 weeks down and 6 weeks left, doing well. She will definitely be training next transfer & I know she will be a great trainer!  There are two girls who are filling out their mission papers right now and theyve spent a lot of time going on splits with us, it has been so fun. Splits with the missionaries is one of the best ways to understand how to teach, DO IT if youre preparing for a mission. They share experiences, their testimonies, and their thoughts during the lessons and it is so great for the investigators to have that variety of confirmation. 

Tahitian is making more sense and for that I am so grateful. Its always a hoot for older Tahitians when I speak in Tahitian because I. am. so. white. The other day we taught a family home evening (soirée familiale) in Tahitian and at the end this awesome woman named M expressed thanks for the message and said I was the first white person she had ever heard speak in Tahitian. Sometimes I represent all white people.

DMP Tchong-tai et famille:

The people highlight is my DMP (Dirigeant de les Missionaires de Paroisse) aka the Ward Mission Leader, and his family. They participate all the time and it is absolutely wonderful, they are seriously my Tahitian family. The couple have the cutest love story: they worked together, they both got fired because their boss didnt like that they were together so he gave them a choice and they chose each each other. He was a non-practicing member, she was an investigator. One day she fell into a coma and the doctor said she wouldnt live longer than a week so he went home and earnestly prayed with all of his heart for the first time in his life and he asked God to take his life in place of his wife's. She awoke from the coma and they both became active members of the church. They have a 1-month old and a 1-year-old and even though they have young kids, they always want to be at the lessons! She asked me last week to be the godmother of the youngest, Caleb, and I sobbed I was so touched. Sometimes he starts crying when I give him a kiss on the forehead so yeah, its a relationship in progress, but its all good. 

There is absolutely NOTHING like a mission, I dont even know how to explain things most of the time. Its going to take a lifetime to fully appreciate the experiences Im having here. If youre thinking about serving a mission, GO, if you have a window of opportunity to serve a mission, GO. Of course its a personal decision but thats how I feel about it. Its also incredibly difficult sometimes but thats the only way you can appreciate the power of prayer. 

 

 

Bonjour et mahana maitai!

Quick update: I am really enjoying my mission experience right now. I honestly have changed a lot to become a better missionary, mainly I am way more humble and patient. I am still in the process of learning more about this Gospel but I know for sure that I need this Gospel in my life for toujours et à jamais. Je parle en français tous les temps and speaking English out loud is kind of odd sometimes. 

 

Ok quick investigator highlight: Pierre

Ok he is the cousin of a member who is always going on splits with us and she recommended that we stop by one day. He drinks and does drugs so he talks really fast and raises his eyebrows quickly up and down as a sign of agreement and when we first met him he ended up talking about how he needs to get married & he asked me when I finished my mission. After that he asked me for my real first name and I told him I would tell him after he got baptized. Anywho, he started out the lessons just joking around a lot but as of yesterday's lesson he has started reading the Book of Mormon we gave him, he prays multiple times a day, and he still jokes around but he really wants to change his life now. Miracle!

 

There is an unorganized, but very real, club here that I think has finally accepted me. The club is called Tahitian speakers. Based on what Ive observed, membership can only be given by an existing member of the club, that is to say, the approval of a Tahitian "Mami" or "Papi". This approval is expressed by "mmm"s of approval when you say something correctly and emphatically in Tahitian. I had such an experience the other day when I explained a principle in Tahitian and when the older members of the room started nodding and murmuring their acceptance of my message, I knew I had made it. A great feeling of peace and love came over me at that moment. 

 

Ok alors, keep calm & carry on. :) If you havent heard from me in a while, you will hear from me soon & thank you for your patience. 

 

love, Soeur Carter

Pictures

Bonjour!

Everyones thinkin' it, I'm just saying' it: 6 months. That’s right, this
time next year I will be home (assuming there are no complications with the
travel arrangements & the weather is ideal for flying) so it's probably a
good time to reflect.

1. A mission is really hard sometimes. That’s all I am going to say about
that.

2. Tahiti is one of the most naturally-beautiful places I have ever visited,
and I've visited some pretty places. I'm so lucky I get to serve a mission
in a beautiful place, that helps with the gratitude & appreciation aspect of
mission life.

3. Obedience is really important. Im not brain-washed, I just have lived the
benefits of following the rules & everything is so much easier.

4. English is a little hard to speak sometimes. I am not saying this to make
it seem like I'm so fluent in French & Tahitian that I can't speak my native
language. I stand out here because Im American but Ive picked up some bad
habits that would be out of place in America. One could say that I feel akin
with Richard Wright in "Black Boy". (also because I have black heritage?
-unconfirmed rumor)

5. The mandatory training I received at the beginning of my mission is now
being solidified by my example and training of my comp Sr Hopuu. I really
like being in charge but Im staying way humble because I cant actually speak
the language all the time. Pretty big deal but fortunately I have become the
Queen of Facial Expressions so we manage to be pretty good at figuring out
what’s going on.

6. I’m way more humble than I used to be. That’s “awll” I have to say about
“thayat”.

7. I am solidly converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
by the experiences I have had and the knowledge I have gained.

Random side note in response to little cultural differences: all the girls
greet each other by the 'bisou' which is the kiss on each cheek, you kiss
kids on the top of the head, and I shake hands with all the men.

If you are dedicated stalkers of my blog or if this is the first time you’ve
glanced at this page, visit www.mormon.org to understand more about my
mission. I especially love the 'slice of life' videos of different members
of this church, watch just one and you will want to know more. (the Brandon
Powers one was pretty great)

Spiritual experience to finish off the letter:
Every morning before we head out we say a prayer of safety to protect us
"sur la route" and that the drivers will be safe. One morning my companion
and I were biking (we had already biked about 10 miles at this point) and as
I was crossing the road, the driver indicated that it was ok to cross but
she didn’t actually stop the car. The car hit me as I was crossing in front
about 10 mph and I fell into the road. Im not sharing this experience to
scare anyone, but only to share the miracle that I was not hurt at all. I’m
totally fine, my bike was totally fine. I got up right afterwards and
continued biking, later stopping to say a prayer of thanks. The creator of
the Universe is watching over me & my Heavenly Father is protecting every
missionary who is obedient. I know that every prayer is heard. Start your
prayers in the name of Heavenly Father (or another title), share the things
that are important to you/express thanks/ask for help, and finish "in the
name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Have a fantastic week!
Soeur Carter

Inaha, i te mau hohoa:
(Behold, the photos:)

1. It pays to have rich friends in Tahiti. But really, I am really loving
the black pearl earrings that the Fare family gave me!
2. I heard you liked Tahiti, so I put some Tahiti in Tahiti. (Pinterest?)
3. My planner and journal- I use both on the daily and would be
directionless without. One time I lost my planner for a day and I became
Jean Valjean and started singing "Who Am I?".
4. The cutest kid who kept falling over because the helmet was so heavy & it
was so hilarious. He was the one who gave me the earrings. :)
5. Usually how my language study goes down. Sometimes I occasionally add the
French and Tahitian Books of Mormon.
6. The view just outside our DMP's house, pretty typical. :) The mountains
are pretty much 90° straight up, pretty daunting for all prospective hikers.

Aloha!! (Not the mish language obviously but I thought I would shake things up.) 

It is not the normal day to write letters, but I have permission to use this time now to say....

I'M OFFICIALLY A TRAINER!!!

My companion/trainee/"daughter" (its a mission thing here to refer to companions as family, Soeur Chapman was my mom) is Soeur Hopuu, she is Tahitian, so confident and cooler than me. We have had so many great moments since yesterday when we both rode bikes for the first time with backpacks. (How the heck does anyone do that???) Especially concerned on the modesty aspect because there is always a slight breeze here and we bike against the wind (symbolic??). She and I are pumped to learn Tahitian together, and we're going to translate between Tahitian and English because she wants to learn English also!

Anywho, Soeur Hopuu and I taught an English class yesterday (I teach a class every Saturday from 11-12, its always a good time), we have planned for her birthday which is this Saturday (cake will be involved), she loves to run so we ran the longest route ever this morning and it was fabulous, and today were going to teach until dinner (no fatamaraa so we are going to cook fish and ravioli YUM).

This training is going to be just wonderful. So far I have not felt like time has 'flown by' but I am grateful for every single thing I have learned up until now. There are so many things that are different here than America so that was tricky but Im motivated to keep adapting. I am so grateful for this opportunity to train because so far it has been a way to solidify the things that I know and also to learn more with a different person. Its been great so far and I think that as long as we keep it real & acknowledge that we are not perfect, its going to be just fine. Essentially, I have a huge responsibility (to train) but Im grateful for this huge opportunity to solidify the training I just received and also to continue my language progression at a rapid rate but now with Tahitian! Also, I LOVE every single letter and email I receive, they are always and forever appreciated. I desperately wish I could reply to them sooner but rest assured that I have read almost all of them and I will reply to them asap!!!!!!!

So, I am always and forever grateful for the emails and letters and I really am trying my darnedest to reply to every single person in a quality manner. There are several letters that I have read & loved but have not had the chance to reply yet. Thank you and sorry if you fall under this status!! Bientot A few observations since the last time: 

I realize that I havent written very many spiritual experiences in my letters but I dont want that to be interpreted as an indication that there is a scarcity. I have had so many experiences with the people here where I have prayed or fasted for a miracle in the life of a person that I love here and "unexplained" things have happened, including one experience when an abusive boyfriend got sentenced to prison.