June 2, 2013

Dear Family,

I don't know if I have told you all how great it is to hear from you
so often. It is really a help to me to have a family that, when I
think of them, instead of getting homesick I feel an increased desire
to do my best. Thanks:)

So now that it is June, I am really starting to get into the spirit of
Christmas. We have been listening and singing Christmas songs for the
last week or so. Also, it is really odd not to have a change in
weather for months. I think that might be one of the reasons why time
is going so fast.

This week had a lot of miracles. We had people come to church, people
are reading the Book of Mormon, and people are praying about what we
are teaching them.

We have continued meeting with Bernise, and he is really on track to
baptism this Saturday. He is walking miles to get to church, and is
recognizing the Spirit. Actually, one of the biggest signs of anyone
getting ready to be baptized here is church attendance. Everybody
knows when somebody attends our church; so, when anyone overcomes the
opposition from the members of the other congregations to come to
church, it is a really big deal and they are very committed.

We are continually trying to improve our lesson plans. Right now, we
are working on our commitment to come to church. We are thinking about
focusing on a weekly sacrament to all worthy members; unpaid clergy;
and not only feeling the Holy Ghost, but receiving inspiration as
well. It is really nice to see a steady improvement in people keeping
their commitments after we try and see what is working and what isn't.
One of our main frustrations has come from the language. Giving a
commitment to somebody in English doesn't translate well at all. So we
have been working with a lot of local members to try and figure out
the best and clearest way to commit people to do something. It has
been surprisingly difficult--Kosraeans don't really have a way of
ASKING people to do things; they just tell them to DO them, and that
doesn't really feel very nice when it comes to certain commitments.
But, I think that we have got it just about nailed down;)

We are teaching a really wonderful lady right now, Sister Drina. She
recently joined the Seventh Day Adventists (consequently we have been
making lots of jokes on our own time about weekend dentists) and is
really trying hard to follow the Spirit on what she should do. We have
been having some really nice interchanges with her, and she is willing
to read the Book of Mormon. She will tell us about questions that she
has that she is trying to find the answers to in the Bible--for
example, is faith enough or do we need works as well? or how can she
make sure that she and her family can live together forever. As we
talk with her, I start feeling so sad for those people like her who
are searching so hard for answers in the Bible when the answers
they're looking for are blatantly contained in the Book of Mormon.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but I think that the Gospel
of John is one of my favorite books of scripture. I just finished it,
and realized that it would be really nice to swap out the KJV for a
Joseph Smith Translation Version. I don't know if the church has
printed any--or even if they ever will--but it would be nice to have.
(Actually, if it isn't too much of a hassle, if you could put a
pocket-sized Book of Mormon and a pocket-sized New Testament in the
package, that would be wonderful. We have been told that we look
really intimidating with our big backpacks riding around, and we are
trying to improve our relationship with people and have thought about
just carrying a BoM in the shirt pocket and the NT in the pant pocket.
Thanks)

We came across some anti-Mormon literature for the first time this
week. One of our slightly less-active members was given a copy of a
book that talks about the evil tactics of Mormon missionaries. I was
really surprised at the absolute lack of Spirit in the room when he
brought it out. I can't believe that there are actually people that
are that unhappy to the point of writing something like that. However,
we were able to help him overcome his concerns. (I guess it was a plus
that the writer had tried so hard to write sophisticatedly. There were
some phrases that we as native English speakers had difficulty
understanding.)

Anyway, I want you all to know just how happy I am. I have never felt
so good about what I am doing, and have never felt more convicted of
the truthfulness of the Church. I hope that you are all doing super
well and that nothing will get you guys down for very long. I love you
all and pray for you.

Love,

Elder Gerber

ps--thanks for doing such great jobs with your sunday school classes.
I am seeing just how critical it is for youth to have strong teachers
who have the strength of righteous living with them. Keep it up.

May 27, 2013

Dear Family,

Those pictures looked really good:) I'm glad you were able to go climb
some rocks. I am proud of you all:)

So, Bro. Burnise did not get baptized. It was pretty tough on him. He
slipped up again, and was feeling pretty down. So we are working
really hard on helping him gain personal strength through scripture
study, prayer, coming to church, and true intent. He'll get there:)

Actually, Hiroshi never got baptized. I feel really bad for him. It
was tough to leave him right when he was so close. But, I think he
will eventually get there. But, another investigator I spent a lot of
time on in Lelu, Kilafwa, just got baptized. He is doing really well
right now.

We are working really hard right now, and seeing small miracles all
the time. We are trying really hard right now to improve our lessons.
For example, we just put together a really powerful Book of Mormon
lesson that leads into the Gospel of Jesus Christ to teach as a follow
up lesson for the Restoration of the Priesthood. Things are going
well, and the branch is getting stronger.

We had a really sad experience a little while ago. We attended the
funeral of newborn twins, and were some of the only people there. We
had a nice small service for them, and then helped bury them up on the
mountain. It was pretty tough to be there, but I felt my testimony of
God's love for his children increase. I am grateful that I was able to
be there.

Anyway, we have been having a good time working full time here, and I
am happy and healthy. I hope you are all doing well:)

Love,

Elder Gerber

ps--if you haven't sent that package already, could you put in a vial
for oil? Mine is no where to be found. Also, I haven't received my
line of authority card. Even if you could just email me the names,
that would be wonderful so I could start memorizing them.

May 20, 2013

*Sorry I got so behind in posting!!!! I'll see if I can't round up some pictures as well. :)

dear family:)

It sounds like your weekend was really fun. I'm really glad that you
were all able to get together like that:) And I bet that Owen and Andy
did indeed enjoy it.

Dad, stop losing weight. I don't want to get off the plane in so many
months and have to ask where you are, only to find out you're that
weird stick of a man by her side.

So we just got back from a Waclucng trip. We went by small boat, and
it was pretty durned fantastic. I got some great pictures that I am
planning on sending home next Monday. However, on the boat trip home,
we got soaked and salted; sitting here in a air conditioned room is a
killer. It's got to be some ridiculous number like 65 degrees or
something;)

So I don't know if you all recall our investigator, Bernice; but he
has been coming to church regularly and is preparing to finally get
baptized this Saturday. He has made huge progress in his
addictions--in fact, he gave us his can of tobacco to get rid of it
for him two days ago. That was an odd feeling, holding something like
that. But, he related some incredible experiences to us that have been
happening recently; but what I loved the most was when he told us that
when God starts doing lots of stuff for us, He expects us to start
doing what He wants us to do. Pretty smart guy.

There is now a military presence on the island; they are digging
ditches and driving around big army-type vehicles. Normally, whenever
we see other white people, they are just kind of freakish looking
(tall, gangly, pinkish-white); but now they are tall (more like
giant), and very intimidating. I used to think that a mission would
help me talk to people more easily. Turns out that it has only helped
me feel really comfortable talking with Islanders and less comfortable
with white people.

So we are trying really hard to get people here married. It is kind of
weird when they ask us how to go about getting that done; I usually
say something like, "I don't know; I've never done it. Go ask your
mom." And then they asked if we could be the ones performing the
ceremony. I stared long and hard at my ministerial certificate...and
then told them no, the Branch President would be much more
appropriate. Dodged a bullet on that one.

So I want you all to know how much I love you. It has been wonderful
to get a letter from Mom and Dad every week, and the letter from Owen
and Andy is always a highlight of the month.

Everything is going very well.

Love,

Elder Gerber