Transfer Sunday this week!

Aloha Family.

 

I hope all is going well on the "staycation" ha ha. Wow this week was a pretty up and down week. We had a little slip as the Gomes missed church so we have to push the baptism back, but the good news is that they were ready for Church just there ride ended up not showing up. :( That's ok though. They are still going to be baptized on the 21st of April and that is what matters. I am glad to hear that all is well with Easter and stuff. I bet Elise was a hoot. We dyed a few  ourselves over here with members and then in our pad so that was nice. I got a few more pictures to send today as well so I guess that should be exciting. I realized that I needed to print off a few more photos from my card before I send it home so I will do that today and mail it off tomorrow. All in all it was a nice week and it sounds like everyone back in Utah is as well.

 

So nothing more really happened Tuesday after I emailed except that we bought a whiffle ball and bat to play Home Run Derby in the gym and it has been a huge success. We have been playing every other day about for morning exercise. So that has been lots of fun. we all just chipped in $4 so that is super nice. Tuesday night the Zone leaders from Maui came over for Wednesday also. We picked them off the boat around 8 and then planned and then grabbed some Molokai Hot Bread. It was good as usual. You cant beat cinnamon sugar and butter.

 

Wednesday we took Elder Garretson with us. He was an AP for the 1st 8 months of my mission so we learned a lot from him. He goes home in 6 weeks so it was interesting to pick his brain about things he wishes he would have learned sooner and what not. We had some good little lessons with recent converts. I can't remember if I mentioned about this, but Debra, you know the one who is just got baptized, was doing some genealogy and found out that she has a Tripp about 5 generations back in her line. She was so excited to show me and hand wrote it all down and through it in a folder for me so that was kinda cool. It also interesting for me that his middle name is Benjamin. After lunch at Molokai Burger we had some success tracting. we ran into lots of Filipinos who like to pretend they speak no English, but we did find a new investigator so that was exciting.

 

Thursday was the start of our Car keys problems. Things were good all day we had some solid lessons with investigators. One was with a guy named Sheldon. We have been teaching him lots, but he hasn't really had the desire to really know for himself. I am not so sure what changed this week but he was more prepared and ready to listen and learn. He has been taking lessons from the JWs as well so he said he had some concerns with our church. He asked if we wanted to share our message 1st or get to his concerns. We started off just talking about the Atonement and launched into the 1st half of the restoration lesson. Something we said touched him and the spirit was super strong, so at the end he told us that we had taught enough and that we could talk about his "concerns" later. It just helped build my testimony that the spirit is the one doing the teaching and puts the words in my mouth of what to say. Anyway we had dinner and after we could not find our keys anywhere. It was so crazy we couldn't find them. We called Bro Apuna to come pick us up to get the spare and we figured we would find it when it was lighter. Right as he pulled up we found the key under the tire like it had fallen out of Elder Robbins pocket as he got out of the car. Anyway we headed over to Apuna's for their son Cade's 12th Birthday, and then called it a night.

 

Friday was our huge service day. We had service scheduled from 11 til 7 pm.We started with helping a less active with unbaptized children plant some banana trees, next brother Kelley took us to weed whack a non member friends yard. He is having liver problems and can't do it himself. His yard is the one with the goat in the back. He wasn't too wild, but wasn't exactly thrilled to have someone grab his horns. He was at the end of his rope though so I wasn't worried. 

From there we went to another part member family and pulled weeds in the taro patch with the non member dad. He seemed surprised that we wanted to help so bad and I think it is a good way to get to fellowship with him better and help him get ready for our message. Our last service project of the night was to help cook the short ribs for a baby shower for Apuna's oldest daughter. It was a good time. Brother Apuna has a good little set up that makes it easy to cook lots at once.  it is like a big barrel cut in half with coals in the bottom. He made some iron mesh racks that hold the meet inside and then you just flip them all at once. So that is what we ate for dinner well our 1st dinner. We had a lesson with Vince our newly committed to baptism investigator. anyway at his house they MADE us eat a 10 oz steak, a lau lau, some Portuguese sausage, and some bacon and mushroom kabobs. I think that was as full as I have been on my mission, but somehow I was able to get it all down. Anyway as we are ready to leave we find out the keys were locked in the car.... So that was nice and since nobody was answering their phone we had to be lock smiths. We got a wedge of wood to prop the door open a little, and then got a long piece of wire and was able to grab the keys. I know it was our prayers that made it possible because everything just fell into place.

 

Saturday we did more service of weed whacking peoples lawns. We had a meeting with our ward mission leader Brother Kelley right after lunch. He is a boxing coach, so he has a ring and a gym in his back yard so we took our turn in the ring. :) Anyway we got invited to an Easter party around 3 which lasted until 5 when it was time for our ward Easter Potluck. It was a fun time to spend with the ward. The talent show part was pretty good. There is lots of Hawaiian singing and dancing in the ward which makes it fun. It was also nice to sit by the Apunas they are so fun and good to us.

 

Yesterday was a good Easter Sunday. the other elders spoke so we hung around after our ward to hear them speak. They did nice jobs. We hit a few Easter lunches and visited a few people like the Gomes. Apuna's made sure that we stopped over after our dinner for dessert. I was just thinking I think we ended up at their house 3 nights this week, plus the 2 parties. They are truly a blessing to have as a missionary. Definitely going to miss them if I do leave next week.

 

So Transfers are coming up Sunday we find out what is going to happen. I assume I have 6 more weeks at least to stay here. Elder Robbins and I are getting along great and we are seeing successes I would hope to stay and make more memories here, but if it is my time to leave I know the Lord is behind it. I remember how much I didn't want to leave Ka'u, but if I didn't leave there I never would have seen the miracles here, so if I go I am sure it will be where I need to go. I for sure want to come back and visit Molokai as soon as possible though. Well anyway sorry this email is kinda late I guess you will get it after dinner? or so Hope the vacation is great and lots of fun Love you All! ALOHA!

 

                                  Love, Elder Tripp

ha ha I am glad Kalu liked the pictures of the pig. I just ate dinner at her parents house the other night which was fun.