March 2, 2014

Dear Family,

We had a really great week. There was a family of six in the Utwe area
that got baptized on Saturday. I had worked with the kids quite a bit
and so the youngest one, Jojo, asked me to baptize him. It was a
wonderful service, and the Spirit was working overtime making sure
that everyone present knew that what they were doing was of God. I was
also able to confirm one of the sisters at Sacrament Meeting. After
church, the oldest son, Jun, joined us with Likiaksa to go teaching.
We had some of the most powerful lessons yet with them. They both
mentioned how they were inspired by the Holy Ghost at points of the
lesson. They also asked if they could sing a song to one guy. It was
pretty dang cool. I'm getting them to right it down so I can learn it.
Likiaksa was able to baptize Jun, and they are doing super good
together in  the church.

No transfers here. This will be mine and Elder Blackwell's fifth
transfer together, and Elder Blackwell's seventh in Malem area.
Nothing surprising, though. One of my Zone Leaders served in Malem for
just over a year, then got sent to Lelu. This is his last transfer, so
he will be finishing there as well. Pretty dang nuts.

Esmina is doing really well. She is really feeling the Spirit, and is
getting ready to be baptized. She loves the teachings about the temple
and really wanted to go see the baptism on Saturday, but the ride
didn't stop to pick her up. Rats. But, she was really gracious about
it and told us that after she is done teaching her class next week,
she will stop going to the Protestant church and join us down in Utwe.
We have her cane right now that we are fixing up.
She is close.

We're working with a guy who lives way up on the mountain. So far that
we drive for about 10 minutes straight up the mountain until the road
runs out. And then we get out and hike for another five. His name is
Milson, and he wants to be baptized. We just had a super good lesson
with him yesterday, and he is really committed to and happy about
living the Word of Wisdom.

I don't know if you remember Joseph, the guy that me and Elder
Ferguson baptized in Utwe? Anyway, he has always been ridiculously
shy, and had stopped coming to church for a couple of months.
Yesterday, a little before church started, I felt prompted to run over
to his house and invite him back. So we did and he came. It was super
good, and he seemed really happy to be back. The six confirmations
were super nice for him to see.

We're doing really good, and teaching a lot of people. The goal for
the mission this year is to baptize 1000 people. As of the end of Feb,
we were at around 175. In Kosrae, the goal is 25, and we are now at 7.
It is a really exciting time to be here.

I love you all very much.
Elder Gerber