Time really does fly when you’re having fun & have miracles cease?

Family and Friends!!! Hello again from the beautiful Island of Vanuatu!

We can’t believe we have only 5 days of October remaining, although, most of you have 6 who are living in North America! Seeing as we are a day ahead of all our family and friends in the USA. This week my grandson Tate asked me one of my favorite questions when he spoke to me via Marco Polo. He said: “how is tomorrow?” (flashing a big smile). I loved Grants questions also, he said: “how are you doing and what are you doing?”

Well, tomorrow is always a blessing. It is another day to do what I love doing. I love putting on my nametag every day. It reminds me that I am representing the Lord and I have the wonderful privilege of ministering and loving in the Saviors name to the beautiful people of Vanuatu.

Grant, you ask how are we doing? So good! What are we doing? Well, that is the purpose of this letter. Papa and I agreed that this week was a week full of miracles!

We have a brother in our ward (A ward is another word for congregation) who our bishop is working with to advance him to be an elder in the priesthood. To do this he needed his membership record number on the church computer system. Sometimes what we find is that the records of the church are not always being updated properly here with the proper information. In this situation, the bishop could not locate it, so he reached out to Mark for assistance. Well, to make a long story shorter here’s some of what Mark had to do. He got the individuals full name, birthdate, the name of the missionary who baptized him back in 2016 (they only had his last name) and date he was baptized. He spent the past week on the phone speaking to global member services, who needed other information. Ultimately, they couldn’t help, so they gave him Church Historical Records number to see if they could determine the missionaries full name by checking if they had a record of someone with that last name serving in Vanuatu during that time. Well, they came back about 2 days later with his full name, and where he served from. Then he got back on the phone with Global Membership Services to see if he could get his membership number. Given he’s not in the ward they would not provide. So, the individual checked to see if he had a phone number he could call, but he didn’t. But they saw his parent’s number and put him on hold and called them. After about 5 minutes, he came back and said his mother answered and gave him the missionaries number. Mark called the number, got his voicemail, and left a detailed message. About 2 hours later this member contacted Mark and gave him his membership record, which allowed him to go back and help create a membership record of the baptism so this sweet man could move forward in his advancement in the priesthood. There were a lot of phone calls and trying to do that at just the right time of day which turned into a miracle!

Mark and I usually teach the 7-8 grade math together on Mondays. This week our foundational teacher (4-5 grade) had everything set up as we arrived. Unfortunately, she needed to be elsewhere and ask if I could teach her math class. I will admit I had a small panic attack and then I did what any sane person would do. I said a prayer 😊!!! I took a breath afterwards, took a moment to read over the lesson. The lesson was placement values with focus on the Thousands. Whew! I can do that. So, I owe the success of our lesson to God. God is my master teacher, and I know I can always, always rely on his help.

One of our senior couples is going home this week. We will miss Elda & Sista Kwan so much. Sister Kwan invited me Tuesday to do house checks. She and her husband have been over housing while serving, along with other assignments. The house checks are done about every 6 weeks to make sure everything in the younger missionary apartments are working well. It provides an opportunity to have anything that isn’t working fixed. It is also an opportunity to see how well the missionaries are taking care of their living space. Another opportunity that housing checks provide is to do a general check-in with these companionships to see how they are doing, if they are working well together. Sister Kwan is so wonderful with the younger missionaries and is so upbeat and positive. She shared her love and invited them to do certain things to improve and live the mission rules. Sister Kwan asked me if I had anything to share. I simply asked them what their day looked like and what were their plans. I encouraged them to minister one by one like Jesus Christ. It was wonderful to see how responsible these young adults are. Many of them are leaders over their peers and you can feel the love and the respect that they have for each, and for the Lords’ work.

L to R: Sister Bertelson, me, Darleen,
Sister Kwan, Elder Kwan

Wednesday was a BUSY day. Every 6 weeks the missionaries gather as a zone to have a conference with our Mission president and his wife. On Monday Sister Ball, our Mission Presidents wife invited me to come and visit with her. Sister Ball asked me if I would take responsibility for the meals at the future zone conferences. I told her I would be happy to do that. Well, the missionary zone conferences were scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday. Sister Kwan had helped in the past and so before she left, I asked if we could do it together. So, on Tuesday we talked about ordering the pizza, Sister Kwan would be making a salad, and I would make the Dessert. So, our Wednesday began at the grocery store. Before our 3:00pm classes I made 4 cakes. I made 2 carrot cakes with walnuts and 2 without. After our evening activities (read further about our afternoon later in the letter) I came home to make two chocolate cakes with peanut butter cream cheese frosting. So, three cakes for Thursday and three for Friday as we have 2 zones of missionaries. One of the zones has 34 missionaries and the other 28 missionaries.

As mentioned, after the four of the cakes were completed, Mark and I headed out to SIS reading and writing classes in Etas. One of our teachers was taking a training class and the day before had asked if we could teach her class. Our lesson was on David and Goliath. When we arrived, it seemed as if we had more students than usual. We always prepare 18-20 and usually have some leftovers. We had 25 students! I think the word is out! There is food, COME!

We did not have enough for everyone. So off to the store Mark went and I had the pleasure of teaching.

While Mark was at the store, he was approach by a man named Jack. Jack wanted Mark to come to his house and teach him. Mark said the man came up to him and hugged him. Mark asks, “where he lived”. He said, “up the road”. Remember, there are no addresses. Mark said Jack, “when I see you up the road, I would be more than happy to teach you, but I need to go as I’m here to pick up some snacks for our students, and my wife is waiting for me”. I’m not sure we will ever find Jack again but, who knows, maybe we will.

Our class ended and everyone got a snack and Mark saved the day! Our class ended at 5:30. After class I started teaching 2 students piano! Those who know me know I’m really not good. The church has a program and I’m just trusting that it will all work out. We headed over to another church building for a young single adult activity that we had been invited too. They were going to have a speed dating activity.

Young single adult having fun speed dating!!!

Upon arriving I was asked if I could run it as they were unsure what to do. I pulled out my phone and went to Pinterest for some questions they could use for their activity. Mark put them on the board as I read them out. We set up the table and chairs and began the activity with 5 girls and 12 boys. They have 2 minutes to ask each other questions and then we took 1 guy out and added 1 guy. Sister Basil, the other adult leader attending said too bad we don’t have more girls. I said: “Sister Basil we should pray”! So, amongst the giggles we silently prayed, then after praying I went to the door to open it up just to see if it worked. As I opened it up there was a girl outside. Then over time more girls kept showing up!! By the end we had 11 girls and 11 guys!! It was even. It was so much fun to watch them! They were laughing and having so much fun. We added some closing remarks encouraged them to follow up with anyone they felt impressed to spend more time with. We ended the night with 2 dances. First choice was the guys and then we switched it and had the girl’s choice. But hold on, that was not the end. Some of the girls had cooked a delicious meal on the fire that day. Some additional young men had been helping with getting it there and as we ended they brought in two huge pots of chicken, potatoes and carrots and rice. We were invited to stay and eat, which we did! That meal was so good! We were happy to have it as we had been so busy that evening.

Dancing after the speed dating activity

Birthday missionaries - Oct & Nov month

After arriving home, I cooked my two chocolate cakes, frosted them and crashed after 11:30pm. So, Wednesday was BUSY.

Thursday was Zone Conference and as Senior missionaries we are invited to participate on either day. We knew we were going to be busy on Friday, so we attended on Thursday.

It was a spiritual feast! President Ball taught us one of the most beautiful lessons I have ever heard on repentance. I will not forget it! President Ball shared a scripture that has been on mind ever since. Repentance is a gift. I’d like to share a scripture hoping that it might help some of us understand what Jesus Christ went through to pay the price for our sins. This is the Lord speaking: “Therefore I command you to repent — repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore-how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. For behold, I God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit

--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”

Elder on the right is going home in one
month and companion was showing his
love for him

I want you to notice how the scripture above is written. Notice the pause marks (—) before and after shrink and between the two repent words. I think it was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland an Apostle of the Lord, who calls this the longest pause. It’s as if the Savior is pausing remembering the suffering. As President Ball shared this, I felt the Lord’s plea, I felt his love. What a miraculous gift of love. He suffered so we won’t have to if we just forsake our sins and accept him as our Savior.

Game of Jeopardy with
missionaries ... part of Zone
Conference

Sister Ball, our Mission Presidents wife does Birthday celebrations at every zone conference. The missionaries get a birthday song sung to them by everyone and then a choice of flip flops or candy. Afterwards, new missionaries were invited to introduce themselves and since this was our 1^st zone conference we were included as newbies. Then missionaries completing their missions were invited to share their testimonies at the end. I can’t even find the words to describe these young adults! But I’ll try. They are extraordinary, true disciples of Jesus Christ.

So much more happened, and if you’re still reading you must love me sooo much!

Our YSA dinner on Friday night ...yummy!!!

Friday, I decided to make enough “upside-down” spaghetti to feed an army for our evening activity. We were scheduled later that evening to teach Institute class, which is a gospel class held weekly for individuals ages 18 to 35 in our ward. Sometimes they have lessons, other times they have activities such as speed dating done on Wednesday in the ward we mentioned earlier in the week. We decided to start by playing volleyball, then having a lesson and then finishing off with good food! We arrived home around 8:30pm and were so tired. I guess our week was catching up
with us.

Boat ride over to Moso Island

The next morning, we were scheduled to meet up with all the senior missionaries for a day trip to Moso Island. We had about a 1.5 drive to the other side of our island and then we took a boat to get to Moso Island. Oh, the dirt roads! I felt like I had been beaten up by the time we arrived at to the boat.

After about a 15-minute boat ride we arrived at the resort. All 10 of us rode in the same boat. We walked to the other side of the island which took us about 30 minutes. The snorkeling is better on that side. So, we hiked, we snorkeled, then we hiked back, had lunch and then Mark and I went kayaking, so we did it all in one day! We relaxed and that evening we enjoyed a wonderful Thai dinner with Sister B and Elder and Sister Kwan before we got back to our apartment.

View from Moso Island

Relaxing afternoon

Today, was the Sabbath. I LOVE the Sabbath. I was invited by the primary leaders to share a 5-minute lesson with the children aged 3-11. Primary is different here; they all meet together for the full primary time. I went around shaking everyone’s hand. That’s what you do. I had a little guy run up to me and wrap his arms around my legs and then another one came up right behind him and hugged us both. Yeap, that’s exactly what I needed. My heart melted! Anyway, I taught a lesson about prayer and Mark and I sang our 1^st EVER duet together!! Please enjoy that as it is attached for your pleasure and enjoyment (see right below).

Miracles happen every day, look for and expect to see them.

You’ve reached the end of our update. Congratulations, for hanging on till the end. Have a super fantastic week and Remember, WE LOVE YOU ALL!

Mark & Darleen aka Nana & Papa, Mom & Dad

Bislama words of the week:

pikinini- child

abu - grandparent, grandchild (yes, it could be either)

Yu go wea? (singular) or Yufala i go wea? (plural) - Where are you going?

Mi stap go long ... - I'm going to ...

Mifala i stap go long... - We're going to ...