September 29, 2013

Dear Family,

So right off, I laughed really, really hard when you asked about Elder
Blackwell. He is pretty sarcastic and pretty dang funny. He just
doesn't smile a whole lot. Kosraeans will comment on it sometimes, and
he is getting a little self-conscious about it. Needless to say, I
read that question to him:)

We just finished those cookies you sent, and they were absolutely delicious.

Pat (sorry, Dad, but it's pronounced "Bat." Actually, his real name is
Palikkuhn, but goes by Pat) got baptized Saturday. It was a really
nice service, and the river he chose was beautiful. He is a really
special kid, and is doing really well. His mom is still pretty
antagonistic, but allowed it to happen. He has a lot of faith. It is
really different teaching him because he was raised in America for his
whole life. His conversion is a miracle. There hasn't been a baptism
in this area for almost a year. He should be getting the priesthood
next Sunday.

We are also working with Edward. He moved to the States as a teenager,
and ended up in Utah for about 20 years. He actually lived in Layton
for most of those. I asked him where in Layton, and he described a
spot that I drove the work truck past for about 2 years. Actually, he
lives in Rolling Hills Estates, which is really why I noticed it in
the first place. Ridiculously small world. He was baptized in Utah,
but was never really active. Then he got deported, and I am convinced
that he was a literal God-send to the area. He has a knowledge of how
the church is run, and has a really good testimony. We are looking at
him as the potential group leader. Good fun.

So Bishop Page sent me a copy of the ward newsletter. As I was reading
Haden's letter, Elder Vesikula looked over my shoulder and asked if he
could read it. Later, he told me that he almost cried he was so happy
about Haden's successes in Fiji. He is from Suva, but knows the other
islands pretty well, and said that that particular island was kind of
a tough area. I thought it might be nice if the next time you see the
Heath's, you could let them know that their son made at least one very
big Fijian very happy.

I am very happy and excited. Walls are breaking down, and things are
happening. Thank you so much for the prayers and sacrifices--they
really make an invaluable contribution.

Also, it seems like Elder Richards should be home about now. If that
is true, I am really blown away at how fast time is going.

I love you all very much.

Love,

Elder Gerber

PS--I especially enjoyed the comics Owen and Andy sent last week. I
hope you two know that you are the best. No other missionary I know of
has brothers that write them, let alone write every week. I always
look forward to hearing about what is going on in your lives. I pray
for you guys a lot, mostly just in my gratitude prayers.

September 22, 2013

Dear Family,

Wonderful things are wonderful, aren't they? Jon going on his mission,
Owen is being a boss, Andy is doing amazing things, etc. What a
wonderful time to be alive.

So Kosrae is doing really well. There were two converts baptized last
Saturday, as well as a child of record. It has been a significant
month here, and the Church is growing. In fact, our little chapel in
Utwe has been out-grown. We are going to need a new building sometime
soon. It is a little odd still being in a new area, but it is kind of
nice to be able to go and visit the branch each week.

We had a good week here in Malem as well. The last baptism here was in
October of last year, and we should have a baptism this coming
Saturday. We're teaching a kid named Pat (actually, his real name is
Palikkuhn, but he has close to a billion nick-names, his favorite
being Pat), and he is really close. He grew up in Virginia, and is
metaphorically a clean slate. He hasn't been really exposed to too
much false doctrine or bias, and really wants to join the church. The
only problem we are running into is finding him. It is interesting to
note that most of the work done to get him to this point was done by
his member cousins.

A bitter-sweet story: We have been teaching a man named Lutig, who was
a referral from Harry George (who has recently been coming back to
church). The elders have been teaching him for a few months now, and
he was progressing really well. Then, recently, he has been very  cool
towards us. Apparently, the Jehovah Witnesses have been meeting with
him and using their scare tactics. Last night, he told us not to come
back. As we were walking away, I felt impressed to go back. As soon as
I mentioned it to Elder Blackwell, he said he felt exactly the same
way. We went straight back to his door, and bore testimony to him. He
brought up concerns that we were able to bear direct testimony about.
He still told us that he wanted a few months to read the bible, but
told us that we could come see him every once in a while. I am not
worried about him.

We are also working with Edward, who lived in Utah. He was baptized
there and lived in Layton for a long time. And then he got deported
back to Kosrae. I'm not sure why, but he is a pretty dang good guy. He
is working with his friend, Mixon, alongside us, and has been an
immense help. We are looking at him as a potential group leader.
Actually, Mixon is doing pretty well. Apparently, he had a
vision/dream about the Book of Mormon and knows that it is true. So,
we are planning on helping him get baptized by next month. Like I said
before, aren't wonderful things wonderful?

I also want to thank you for the fantastic birthday package:) I loved
everything in it. I am getting pretty good at yo-yo-ing, and have been
driving geckos crazy with the laser pointer;) I am very excited for
the cake, and I think that we will invite our landlord and his family
to join us. In fact, they are referrals, and are some of the most
wonderful people on the island.

I am so glad that my little package arrived safely. I have a few more
things here that I didn't want to send in case things went awry, but I
might send them on later. Please listen to the tape. Or try to make a
copy to a CD. I can get plenty more here if you ruin it.

I am ridiculously happy for Jon. Thank you for passing on the news.

I love you all very much. Thank you so much for the pictures. They may
have been my favorite part of the whole package.

Love,

Elder Gerber

September 16, 2013

Dear Family,

So, I have been TRANSFERRED. I am now serving in the Malem area with
Elder Blackwell from Alberta, Canada. My new house is pretty dang
suite. We have the greatest view anyone could ask for--every morning I
get to look over a lake-like part of the lagoon with Sleeping lady on
the side. See if you can find the elementary school in Malem on google
earth; our house is the complex right across the street from it.
Technically the village is called Sracnsrik (the spelling of each town
varies widely from person to person, but that is probably the main
spelling). This new area is very interesting, and probably the most
diverse area on the area. We have the most jungle, as well as the most
city. It is a new adventure, and it's gonna be great. Elder Blackwell
is a swell guy. I like him a lot.

We also just had District Conference for the entire island. President
Mecham flew in for the weekend, so we also just had our Zone
Conference this morning as well. It was absolutely wonderful, as
usual.

I also just picked up a box from the post office. I have not yet
opened it, but I am dying inside to get it open. Thank you so much. I
do have to tell you all that those packages are extremely special to
me. I am getting more and more emotional over each one. Thank you for
your sacrifices.

Actually, speaking of mail, I recently sent home a letter with a few
things that I have picked up here that I wanted to share with you all.
There wasn't too much, since it was kind of hard to fit in the
envelope, but I was able to send a tape of a Kosraean band. I haven't
been able to listen to it, as it is not approved, but I hope that you
can enjoy it. Everyone is always tuned in to the local radio station,
and so we hear it all the time. Hopefully it will give you a taste for
some of the local life.

Right now, I have my sights on a branch in this area. There are two
active priesthood holders in the area, and one of those is going to
the other branch (the Utwe branch is technically the Utwe/Malem
branch). There used to be a branch here, but it got closed down. My
goal is to at least get a group going. There are a few scattered
members, and we are going to get them together. I think that I am
going to have to work harder than ever here, but that the harvest will
be incredibly rewarding. We are planning on baptizing a few people by
the end of this month, and we are discussing how to set up a group
with President Mecham right now. I am feeling extremely optimistic
about this new area.

As for raw fish, there is a local food called "sasrimi" that I have
found absolutely delicious. It is: raw fish. Sometimes with lime juice
or maybe other spices. You can do it with any fish (or so Kosraeans
say). I was really getting into it, until President Mecham put it on
the Do Not Eat list. Oh well.

Speaking of food, where did all of the advice on eating well come
from? I am eating quite well.

That is quite sad that the Book of Mormon is delayed. I have been
hoping for that for ten and a half months. However, the wonderful
thing about it is that the English Book of Mormon is true and that
spiritual knowledge is not dependent on being able to understand what
you read.

I am very happy. Things are going great. I love you all very much.

Love,

Elder Gerber