Hopped ON the plane at LAX


 On Mon, Feb 14, 2022 at 1:20 PM Elise Hatch <elise.hatch@missionary.org> wrote:

With a dream and, quite literally, a cardigan.

Iaorana tatou! This week was quite possibly one of the craziest weeks I have experienced (thus far). 

We had transfers and I am now serving in.... Faaa! (Pronounced fa-ah-ah). 
My first week in Tahiti was both super fun and way challenging, but ça va, because as my Tahitian companion Sœur Naehu says, "it's ok it's ok sister don't worry don't worry it's ok."

Here are some notable quotes:
"Alrighty aphrodite" -Sister Christensen
"Where are we and what does Haiti have to do with any of it???" -Soeur Ware, in an absolute panic (we live in the city of Heiri, which sounds very similar to Haiti, especially if you are an American on their first day in French Polynesia)
(in french): "You are weird Sr Naehu" "I am not weird, I am Sr Naehu"
"All I have to do right now is eat my mango" -Sr Ayers
"All I have to do right now is sit here and watch Sr Ayers eat her mango" -Sr Hatch, absolutely exhausted

Some notable experiences:
-Sr Naehu chasing Sr Ayers around the apartment holding our ringing telephone so that Sr Ayers would be forced to answer.
-I sliced and served a pineapple using only a butter knife and my bare hands
-I discovered that while mangoes are disgusting in America, they are absolutely delicious in Tahiti, and best eaten on a bench outside, again with your bare hands

On my last day in California, Sr Day and I joined the incredible Sisters Christensen and Nelson in Riverside while awaiting our flight. We had time to do street contacting for only 15 minutes, but in that 15 minutes, we found Kyree! He was sitting outside. We walked up to him and had a very simple but amazingly spiritual lesson. It was a very special way to end my 7 months in California, a place I already miss dearly.

On my 3rd day in Tahiti, Sr Ayers and I were feeling pretty low and discouraged. Missionary work is DIFFERENT here, and things take so much longer to do. We had taught NO lessons and talked to barely any people my first 2 days. The answers to our prayers came with Stefan and Sonia. Sonia is a recent convert. We decided to visit her and taught her and her husband. I had decided to take my Buka a Moromona with me, and Sonia's husband only reads Tahitian! We stopped by another member family and met their friend Stefan, who is from Bordeaux but is visiting. He had a TON of questions and long story short, we have a


Mon, Feb 14, 2022 at 4:31 PM
Subject: Re: Hopped ON the plane at LAX

whoops! french keyboards are whacky

ANYWAYS...
We have a fatam (member meal or fatamaaraa) with Stefan and the family tonight!

Te faaite nei au i te hoe parau poro'i:
In California, my "best" was a lot different than my "best" here. In California, I spoke my native language, was in a familiar culture, and had been in areas for long amounts of time. Here, I don't speak the language, Polynesian culture is new to me, and missionary work is so much different. I have learned that what defines our "best" will change with circumstances. I cannot expect myself to be able to be the exact same missionary that I was in California because my circumstances have changed. All I can do is do my best for Tahiti. I have learned to show myself a lot more grace and patience because I am doing my best, even though life has changed.
Dieter F Uchtdorf said it way better than I can explain this:
"My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness. They will teach us to do “all these things … in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby … win the prize.”"7

I love you all! Don't worry don't worry, I will send pictures :)

Soeur Tuahine Heureuse 











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