Elder Michael in Niuatoputapu

Elder Michael in Niuatoputapu
The Other Side of Heaven

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The King of Tonga Died

Im so happy that i am a "gray" blessing hahaha  that is so crazy to
think that uncle rob has lost 100 lbs, can you send me a pic of that,
so glad to hear that he is doing good with the cancer treatment.  How
are uncle rich and aunt lori? when did jeff and luz move?
That is so cool that Josephine helped you with your RS lesson on
missionary work.  she is such a great example to all of us of just how
important and great missionary work is.      Can you find out Heather
Virgo's home address for me?  remember her, from Palos Verdes, i lost
her home address.

My comps name is Elder Makalio, and even though he is full tongan, he
didnt know a single word in Tongan when got here.  he went to the MTC
in New Zealand, where they are there for only 3 weeks learning how to
teach.  he should have gone to Provo and studied the language for 2
months, but there was a mix up and so now he is here in Tonga and
doesnt know anything/  it will definitely be a learning experience for
both of us. I have already taught him how  to pray and how to bear his
testimony in Tongan. we go to the church in the morning to use the
white board to teach him grammar, i feel like an MTC teacher.  But not
only am i teaching him the language i am teaching him the culture as
well.  he never ate tongan food in Australia, and doesnt act much like
one either, he is a coconut, brown on the out side white on the inside
haha.  he has a great desire to serve the Lord and bring people the
Gospel.  I love greenies!!!!        right now we are trying to find
new people to teach.  we have one investigator who is close to
baptisim, Ana, she married a member, an inactive member and we are
trying to teach them together so they can keep commitments and
progress together.
There is  a 40+ year old man we are also teaching, Siaosi, he's wife
is a member and so are his two sons. they are not super strong, and he
has told us if they become back to church he  will be baptized.  his
wife and younger son have come to church 3 weeks in a row and he has
committed to come to Church this week.
And another lady we are teaching, Mele'asa, all her brothers are
members and served missions, she has told us she knows  the Church is
true but is scared to be baptized.  We taught her in English at the
home of a senior couple missionary in Liahona last Friday, it was a
wonderful lesson, she totally felt the Spirit, but after the buses had
stopped running and she had to walk home, we are not allowed to give
people rides in mission cars.  so then Saturday night we went to visit
her and she wouldnt see us, her mom came out and told us that she is
sad and doesnt want to have any more teaching with her because we
didnt give her a ride home, that we told her we loved her and are
representatives of God but dont show any love.  i did my best to
explain its not because we dont love mele, but because we dont own the
cars.  we will try to visit her again this week.  its lame that are
trying to be obedient, is the thing that hurts us.


the KING OF TONGA died last monday, everyone is wearing black,
everyone everywhere.  all the missionaries are wearing a black arm
band on our left arm as a sign of respect.  The body is coming back to
tonga today and the funeral is tommorrow.  There are 100 nights of
mourning, only church music on the radio, no kind of fun activites, no
birthday parties, no weddings, the night club is shut down in town, no
more stake dances, for 100 nights. crazy huh, also its not allowed for
any loud noises like hammering or building.

okay this is kinda long, i love you all, so cool that Ellen is a beast
at Lax, love you all so much

Ofa atu

Monday, March 19, 2012

Baptism of Tolo and Marie

 
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TRANSFERS Still in Ha'akame




March 19, 2012
TONGA

Yeah, I am still in Ha'akame.  My companion is getting transferred to the east
side of the
Island. My new comp is coming straight from the MTC—he’s
Tongan from
Australia   I will meet him on Wednesday. Where did the
twins serve in
Australia?  That’s crazy that they are done. How is
Hillary doing? I haven’t heard about her in a while. I would assume she is
doing great though --she is a stud. Is this her last transfer??


This week was the first week in over a month where we didn’t have a
baptism. We only had 3 teachings. We were busy with meetings for
Dls and preparing for transfers. I am excited and nervous to be
training again. I will be able to speak English to him this time which
should help us to progress faster.  I got like 4 or 5 letters from
home that was pretty sweet. All but two were from you.  A  Birthday
card from Donna Tterry and a letter from Riley Lovesee, a study buddy
from BYU.  That was so cool to get your letter Riley!


Mom in the next package can you send a new camera? It finally
happened, the screen cracked on my camera today. It can still take
pictures but I don’t know how long it will be able to. Thanks so much
for sending a package.  Can you print pictures from the sim card I sent
you and send me them?  It cost $1 to print one picture here in
Tonga,
only  10 cents in the
US.  Print pictures where there are a lot of
people, don’t print the pics of the scenery, also I would love to see
pictures of you all!!  Ellen looks so grown up!! So great to hear she
had a blast with Gabe Sanchez.   Yes, I know Elder Jenkins, really
well, I’m his DL.  He works in the Office as an OE running errands, he
is a great guy.

Love you all T ell Auntie D (Donna Pen) and Auntie Bunny thanks so much
for all their love and support!!

That is so cool that KTO is engaged.  Tell her congrats!!!

Tell Uncle Randy congrats about Silver Beaver!

'Ofa atu
Eleta Maikolo


PS Ellen can you reactivate my FACEBOOK== save all the pics to the

computer and then delete it, don’t deactivate it.  Delete it completely.
Thanks so much EJ, God is good....

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Greenie, Baptisms, and Letters

Dad,
 Thanks so much for telling Hillary that, because honestly i still
feel like a 
greenie as well.

This week was great, we had two baptisims, Tolo and Selaima.I got 4
letters from Mom that she sent at various times in January, they all
got to tonga at the same time.  Transfers are this week-- we will see
what happens. I love you a lot.  Sorry this is short.

Ofa Lahi atu
Elder Maikolo

Thaats crazy the Lesters twins are done.  Where in Austraila were they?
I always told people about them, but I didnt know what mission they were
in.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Baptism of Simote

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Baptism of Lose

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I Love You All

That is so cool that Perla is going on a Mission!! and to SLC south, i
feel like there are a few missionaries there from our Stake, Aaron
White &Timmy Grow, is that right? so happy for Perla, and the Wilcox's
are going to Guatemala that is so cool!! Who are the others from our
ward preparing to leave?
WOW you both met the Prime Minister of Tonga, that is crazy! There was
a kid here in Ha'akame last week for a Funeral from that stake, i sent
him some letters home with him, i will definietly be going to visit
those Tongans when i get home.  Do you remember the names of the
desserts you ate? faikakai? toupai? they are all delicious!  wow so
much is going on at home!!

Thats the first time i've heard Russell's going to Texas how exciting,
so is he Graduating from BYU in April??
And then theres the news about ellen last week, what a letter she
wrote me, i was crying as I read it. She is so grown up, I feel what
happened to me while Russ was on a mission is happeneing to Ellen
while im gone.  So excited for her to go to Girls State!!
About the Package, i should've asked for this as a Christmas present,
can you send me some pictures of all you, i havent seen your faces in
for ever, yes you have emailed pics but  thats not the same, maybe you
can but together a photo album and send it to me, thats what i really
want to see you all.


Things are going great here in Tonga, we had another baptisim last
week, Lose, remember her, i met her in December but then she left to
Vava'u, and came back two weeks ago and was baptized last Saturday.
We have 2 baptisims scheduled for this Thursday.  Everything is going
great over here in the Other Side of Heaven,.  I love you all keep me
and alll the missionaries in your prayers. Dad thanks so much dad for
your wonderful advice.
Love you alll
Ofa lahi atu!!
Elder Maikolo!!