Watch, wong, and American Tahitians: an adventure in learning gobbly gook

 Iaorana tatou!!! 


1. "Je ne comprend pas anglais" -this old mami listening to me speaking french.
We will begin this letter with a quick reo tahiti lesson so strap in! 

On Wednesday, a member called the Mahina sisters and started jokingly speaking in Tahitian. She asked if the new sister in Mahina was American or Tahitian. Sister Hatch was the only sister in the companionship who understood this question, so with utmost confidence, she grabbed the phone and proudly declared, 
"E taata Marite OE!!!"

The member chuckled and Sister Hatch sat back, arms folded with pride, feeling pretty good about herself. 

She then realized her mistake. "Oe" means "you." This means that she had loudly and proudly told a Tahitian "YOU are an American!!!" 

So now you know. 

2. Tuahine Watch, Wong, and Pol
There is also this member that cannot learn our names. He took one look at my tag, read it incorrectly, and I will now be forever known as Tuahine Watch. He sat awkwardly 10 feet away from one of our lessons in a lawn chair. Throughout the lesson he would go "ayyy WATCH!" I would look over and he would teach me a phrase in Tahitian, the language that Sr Paul says is just gobbly gook, and I would nod and go back to the lesson. Sœur Young is Sœur Wong. This man does not accept correction. 

3. Mahina amis! I love them!
I have loved being in Mahina so far. It is serene and peaceful and so beautiful. I feel like I am finally seeing the fruits of my faith and efforts- people here accept the lessons and keep commitments and it is just so amazing. 

Our friends are really amazing. This week I met Puaua, Alexis, Manulani, Tehaunui, Andrew, and so many more friends and they are all so prepared. 
Manulani is the wife of a member in our ward named Amulek. We taught her the plan of salvation and it was very nice to be able to teach her that God has a plan for His children. He knows the end from the beginning and is the perfect judge. How comforting it is to me that the the most perfect and loving and all knowing being will be our judge. I love being able to teach the Plan of Salvation and see the hope and light come into people's eyes as they realize that they will see their loved ones again. ❤

4. Mosiah 24:13-15
This week I read the following scriptures: 
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

Since I moved to Tahiti, some of my burdens and trials have been taken away. However, many of my trials remain but I have felt strengthened to be able to handle and bear my trials. I think of President Nelson's talk on faith and the polynesian saints: sometimes God blesses our faith and efforts by taking away the rainstorms in our lives, but sometimes He gives us the strength to continue in the rainstorm. 

I love you all! Nana! Je vous aime! Ua here au ia outou! Don't forget to lift someone up and help them feel a little love today! 

Sœur Tuahine Sister Hatch

Pictures in whatever order the universe decides to send them: 
1. Double rainbow! 
2. Mahina is truly unreal. So beautiful. 
3. All of the fruit we received this week, not including a huge bag of bananas and probably 60 rambutans and no less than 6 whole coconuts. 
4. Roland! She is this super sweet member we ate with this week. She insisted on taking lots of pictures with us.
5. Some candid pictures of me drinking coconut water (aka natural sprite). I did indeed spill it all over our car. 
6. Sr Paul driving with coconuts.
7. Somehow more coconuts. Was there a theme from this week?












Ps pray for us because people watch general conference at 6 am here. 

Pps. I love you! 


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