VAVAU MOTHER'S DAY STICK SHIFT

We heard from Jacob--this morning--early--at 12:30 am our time.   We were awaken by the vibrating of my cell phone (which was right by my head, just in case he DID call)  "Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!!"  

He sounds wonderful!  He was transferred to Vavau two weeks ago and never had a moment to email his momma--no, not until today.  He is busy helping the other 22 missionaries on the island--as driver, coordinator etc.  He and his companion are the Zone Leaders.  Jacob said he is driving the shuttle ( a bus, manual transmission--ahh, that VW in high school has paid off) and they go all over the place. He said it is a busy island with lot's of people. They are teaching many people and on Sunday they were with an elderly man (80 years young) at church.  Life is good.  He said he weighs 202 lbs--and is grateful for the members and non members who watch out for the missionaries.

Here is his email for today

Monday
May 14, 2012

Mom,
Sorry I don't have  much time.  Where are the pics of Hillary
coming home? I wanted to see those, and Mrs. Stella's baptism.
Can I see those too please?
Also, can you record Hillary's talk and send it to me, maybe on a CD?
We are doing so great. I had 29 letters to read-- that is the reason not much time to write back.
It is so weird to think that you are only going to be writting me for
now on.  It was so awesome to talk to you all last night. Sorry I don't
have my camera cord with me.  I will send pics next week.
We climbed a mountain today, pretty cool!

Ok ofa atu

Vava'u (Where we think Jacob is?)

Vavau

Jacob is in Vavau...we know that because he went to an ATM on that island and took out some cash.  Not sure when we will hear from him, however, Ilisa Johnson, a former member of our ward, has promised to phone her parents and other family members who live there and make sure that he is ok. We did get a snail mail today which recounted many of the wonderful experiences he has had in Haakame--

Russell Graduates!

I feel so weird!! Russell Graduated from BYU!!! What the heck??? that
is so crazy!!! (Not to say that i never had faith in you Russ, you
know just like Dad and the Branch, i just thought you be there for
ever)  What is the rope thing he is wearing? and does that yellow
lapel mean anything.  Russ that is so great, Congratulations to my big
brother who graduated in Blue from BYU!!    Tika 'aupito toko!!
                  It is going to be weird to think that you are not
going to be there when i get back, just one of the many many changes.
crazy! Of Lahi atu,
great to see pics of Aunt Mellissa and Uncle Dave and Aunt Mary

i got your package!!!

April 22, 2012

That is so crazy to think that Russ graduated!!


This week was another great one we had another Satuday with 2!!
baptisims, one of Tangi a little 14 year old and TekiTeki who is 21,
they were both great services!! I was blessed to baptize Tekiteki,
Saturday was pretty crazy becaue we had tangi's baptisim in the
Morning, then we had a Priesthood session (part of a regional
conference for all the pacific) then we had Tekiteki's baptisim, and
then had the efiafi session of conference.  Yesterday we had one of
those broadcast conferences from salt lake, we heard from a member of
the Sunday School and Primary Presidency and Elder Baxter, and Elder
Nelson, really really a joy to hear, It was only anm hour long, short
sweet and very to the point, talked about following the prophet,
getting rid of old traditions and parts of culture that are not in
line with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how the Church is really
Strong in the Pacific where the blood of Isreal is scattered about,
really a joy to hear.

mom i got your package that you sent wayyyyy back in march,,,,
Thank you sooooo much!!!
Oh I am sending a  bunch of letters with a man from my village who is
going back to Nampa Idaho, he told me he is going to be staying in LA
for a day probably near the airport, his name is Vai Fo'ou, i willgive
him your number Dad
I talked with the Tu'iasoa's about Brother Wisenhart, he remembers him
at BYU-H, i sat next to them at the conference, he loved meeting you
all.  they are going back to america in july if iam still here i will
send something.

Love you all so much i love what i am doing now that we have had
baptisims we hav eto find some more people to teach the Restored
Gospel of Jesus Christ!!  Ofa lahi atu!!

 'Ofa atu
Eleta Maikolo

Tuiasoa's

Monday

April 16, 2012




Well dad i cant give you the whole story about what happened when i
met the Tuiasoa;s except that it was really great to hug them and know
that you had all hugged them only three days before. Thanks so much
for the package and all the stuff in it!!, my favorite by far was
seeing all the pictures of you all on Mom;s camera, thanks so much for
sending that, Russ looks like he has lost alot of weight, and Ellen is
growing up Dad and mom you look great.  it was full to see all the
pictures from last year too, Russells gleasons wedding your camping
trip and all the other fun stuff you did, i am so grateful to have you
all as my family that would have ben the hightlight of my week but we
had Two baptisims last saturday of "Ailani, a little 9 year old and
Ana, sho is married to a member, My compa and i fasted last tuesday
and She quit smoking and was able to be baptized really really
special. okay sorry this is short i promise that i will write a long
snail mail letter later today, it was a great week i am so happy to be
a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    you all sound so busy
at home, okay love you !!!

 4/8/12,
 Dear Jacob;

 Today is Easter for you.  Tomorrow is Easter for us.  This afternoon, we met
 the Tuiasoa family that you know from Tonga.  They are bringing you a
 package from us and a short note.  They love you and tell us great things
 about you.  What a blessing it is to have this connection to you.  The
 Tuiasoas fly home tomorrow evening, so they will be in Tonga on Tuesday.  Go
 by and see them when you get a chance.

 We love you and rejoice with all of Christendom in the atoning sacrifice and
 the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

 May our Father in Heaven continue to watch you and hold you in the palm of
 His hand as you serve the people of Tonga.

 Love,

 Dad


Dad
 thanks so much for sending a package with the Tuiasoa familiy that
will be great to give them a hug knowing that you all recently gave
them a hug.

We celebrated Easter by watching conference, it was awesome it always is!!
I can not believe how fast time is going bye it is literally
ridiculous!!! it is already week 4 in the transfer what the heck!!!???
i dont like that.  Hillary is done in a week thatis crazy to think
about, klike i feel all sad inside when i think that hill wont be out
here with me in the Lord's Battlefield serving in God's Army.

Dad thanks so much for the Email you sent Hill last week about how you
finished your mission, i want to go out like that, get an extention
and have nobody know that you are done, that would be hard here in
Tonga because everyone asks, Te ke 'osi 'afe?  (when are you done?)  i
just say ta'u fo'ou (next year)

This week was a good one.  we committed three people to be baptized
next week, Ana, Tangi, and 'Ailani.  although tangi cant be baptize
though because he didnt come to Church this week.  Ana has a smoking
problem, but we committed her to live the Word of Wisdom last Tusday
and then when we met ith here on that Friday she told us she had gone
down to smoking just 2 a day. and that day when we met with her it was
already the afternoon and she hadn't smoked yet. She is such a
testimony builder of the power of this gospel to change a person, it
is so cool to teach Ana and help her and her less active Husband.
You all know how i have  been saying that i feel like my teaching is
horrrible, well yeaterday we taught a guy named Tekiteki, he married a
member, and i feeel like it was one of the smoothest lessons i've ever
taught, it wasn't perfect but it was good, we are teaching him again
later today.

Russell i loved how you mentioned that even if we did not baptize
people we would still have missions,  we are here to baptize, but we
are not here to force people to be baptize but rather teach and
invite.  I know there are some missionaries that serve 2 years and
dont get one baptisim and here i am wishing i could have 8 a transfer
instead of only 5,, i should see every baptism i have  as a blessing
from the Lord, everything is a blessing from the Lord, even our trials
because they help us learn and grow.

Oky i got to go still havent gotten that one package you snet a long
time ago  but i got a letter from the Ortiz Twins it was a joy to read
and see their pictures, they told me the sad news that Alex Smick, a
kid  was friends since East Middle School past away in February. They
dont know what happened just went to bed and didnt wake up. im praying
for his familiy

I love you all so dearly and i am greatful for all your examples of
Missionary service before me, you paved the road for where iam at now.
Ofa atu
Elder Maikolo