HE WRITES

We received the following snail mail from Elder Maikolo today. He was transferred to the tiny island 8 July. We haven't had an email from him since he told us he was headed to paradise. The snail mail is dated 15 July, post marked

28 July in Tonga and received in Downey 9 August.

Not as bad as we thought--it took 3 weeks to get here.

So we finally hear from him 4 1/2 weeks after his last email.

Mom and Dad, Siulai 15, 2011

This is going to be a rushed letter b/c the candle is nearly finished. There is no electricity here in Niuatoputapu. We have a KEROSENE lamp and candles. I shower in the dark. I'm so grateful my watch has a light. It is so beautiful here. I can look out my window from where I study and see a mounga (mountain) and then turn around and look out the back window and see the Matatahi (beach), no joke.

Yesterday (P-day) we climbed the mountain, yeah no big deal, hiking a tropical mountain, and then we rode horses to the beach. I bet there are just as many horses here as there are people. I've asked around and there are not 1,000 people here, maybe 700. Niuatoputapu is about 800 kilometers from tonga. I took an hour plane ride in an 8 seater plane from tonga to va vau, then another hour from vavau to Nui, in the same 8 seater plane. I thought of you, Dad.

My hoa, (companion) is Elder Nai, who was my Zone Leader my second transfer. (The candle just died,I just rigged up a ghetto candle-you get creative when your only falekoloa is 3 km away). Elder Nai is 6'4, weighs 260, he played rugby at Liahona. He is buffer then buff.

There were 38 people at church on Sunday. There are two branches here and two Chapels. The Two Branches combined last Sunday b/c one of the Fale lotus is being repaired. There is a District Presidency here so there is a lot of Priesthood Leadership, which is good. The two Niuas are one District. Niuafo'ou (other island) is like 204 kms away from here. There are two missionaries there. They are the closest Elders to us.

I was kinda Ta'elata the first couple days. I really miss the people of NukuNuku and Elder Tu'auao but I've adjusted now. the work is much different here than in tonga with there being so few Kaingalotu and so few people in general. Sorry when I refer to Tonga I mean Tongatapu, the main island.

You can see my house on the google map. If you find the church in Vaipoa and then find the little white house. It's bigger than the one in Nuku but no electricity and sometimes the water dies in the middle of your shower.

Like Aunt Melissa says "ROLL WITH IT!".

I am including a letter to Dominic and Austin. Can you forward them .

I love you all so much and I hope all is well.

Ofa Atu,

Elder Maikolo

PS I ate Sea Turtle today. Pretty good. Have Uncle Rich get your some. Ofa Atu