Week 5

hey all,
         So this letter is later than usual, hope you still can get it tonight. Your package of cds came today, that was awesome! Unfortunately last week at district meeting on Tuesday we were informed that President Dalton feels like chewing gum at all isn't very dignified and that we could go 2 years without chewing gum and it wouldn't kill us, so I'm going to have to save all that gum you sent until I get home. But the CDs are nice we drive about 50 miles each day, from one town to another, so we listen to lots of music.

        Anyway pretty slow week here but we did have a baptism Saturday and confirmation on Sunday. This was Miracle (Tui's Grand daughter). She is solid just like Tui. Tui is coming along strong, hopefully he will get everything ready for early August. We picked up Miracle's 10 yr old cousin into the teaching pool yesterday. His mom felt the spirit so strong at Miracle's baptism and she said Alona needed to be baptized as soon as he possible could. So he could maybe be ready on July 30th. Our mission has set a goal for 115 baptisms this month. This would be the highest number in one month for as long as they have records. In May, the mission hit over 100 so the goal had to be increased. Last report from president was that we were going to need some miracles to pull it off. We decided at district meeting that as a zone we were going to fast on Wednesday for all the people who were really close and just needed to get married, take one more lesson, etc. That day we got 3 dates set for July- what a miracle :)

         Tuesday night, we ate dinner at the bishop's house. He thought it would be great fun for us to all try something new..........Balutes!!! And no, not the Jello eggs dad named Balutes. These were the real deal. In the new Cd of pictures I'll be sending home there are some pictures of me eating and looking at them. Kalu, the Bishops wife took a video and then added me on facebook this weekend, so it may show up on there too. In some of the pictures I have, you can see the beak and the eye of the chick. Once the fear of eating them is over it just tastes like a hard boiled egg... once you stop thinking about how you are eating a chick that was developed for 14-18 days. Quite an experience. I'm glad I did it but I'm fine not to do it again. We had burgers after that.

        Can't really remember too much more from  Wednesday or Thursday.

        Friday President Dalton flew in to Kona and made his rounds all around the island to visit all of the missionaries in Kona and Hilo zones. He made it to Ka'u around noon. He informed me he had just come from Ke'e and had just talked to "Erda!" aka Max. He said Elder Bleazard said "hi" and hoped I was doing good. President Dalton made it sound like his plans for me would be to stay in Ka'u for the long haul. I'm for sure ok with that. This place is legit Hawaii. Not many tourists, not super humid, which is nice. The people are real Hawaiian. They have the Aloha spirit for sure. It never stops amazing me how they will give so much to friends and neighbors, even when they don't really have much themselves. They sacrifice so much to come to church and it is a big testimony builder for me. We also decided with President Dalton that we should set a goal to have 10 more baptisms by the end of the year. Giving us 15 total baptisms in the area. It's a lofty goal, but last night Elder Wilson and I talked about 15 solid potential investigators that could easily be baptized if we are willing to work a little harder and strive to teach them the best we know how. Overall it was a great interview I really feel like President and Sister Dalton truly care about all the Elders, and it felt good to know that they have so much faith and trust in me to get the job done out here. We are the farthest area away from the mission home.

         Saturday, we met up early with a member to go do service at one of his non-member friends house to do some yard work. We worked for a solid 3 hours and set up a teaching appointment for Wednesday. :) The wife, Jessica, seems really into it. Boyo is still kinda nibbling. Hopefully he will catch fire and we can bring them unto Christ too. That afternoon was spent prepping for the baptism. Things went great, the Spirit was strong and there was a lot of family and ward support. We for sure have one new investigator from it and hopefully a couple more will come from the woodwork. It's such a blessing to have Pule, Tui's dad, in the ward. They are Samoan and when the patriarch of the family (which is Pule) says something, the family follows. So we may see lots more Taetunas entering the waters of baptism.

          Church was good Sunday,  things were pretty normal after, made a few rounds with members seeking referrals. They promised to be thinking of someone to invite to the next activity.


         Elder Brown called us last night to see how the baptism went. He had been teaching miracle before I got here. He told me he had met George, so that was cool for sure. Elder Wilson and I are getting along great and things are going smooth.

        Today, we are just playing basketball in Hilo and having a good time.

         In my studies this week I was reading Helaman 13 and 14 and my favorite part about it was in chapter 13. Samuel is referred to as Samuel "A" Lamanaite. In chapter 14, he becomes Samuel "THE" Lamanite. It really got me thinking that I want to be the best missionary I can possibly be. Do everything I can to not just be "Elder Tripp 'a' missionary", but "Elder Tripp 'THE' missionary". :) so that has been my new goal for the coming week and months.

          Hope all is still going good wherever you guys may read this from. I Love all Y'all baby!!
Can't wait to hear more from all of you. Love you and Aloha!!!
                                   Love, Elder Tripp