November 19, 2012

Ma chere famille,

Ey Bonjour! I am here, safe and sound in Nouvelle Caledonie! and it's fantastic! I am happy to be here! Which is something I probably couldn't have said my first day here, but I really am happy now! 

The trip here was good. I crashed on the plane, hardcore parkour. I was awake for less than 3 hours of the long flight. Hah, but yah, it was good. Vanuatu was super cool. Soeur Lamb and I stayed with President Brewer and his wife that first night and then headed to Caledonia in the morning. Vanuatu was crazy. Lots of Bislama and very humble looking. It was fun to be there, even though it wasn't for long.

And then we got to New Cal. Which is actually super developped! Especially in comparison. Our zone leaders picked us up from the airport, Elders Ulivaka (from New Cal) and Elder Thebaud (From Florida and he knows Frere Blosil!) And after that we had a little mission orientation and then we got to meet our companions! My companions are both from Tahiti and speak almost no English. Soeurs Marae (who's the trainer) and Soeur Teahe (who actually started her mission after me, but got here a week before cause she speaks French.) But yah, I dunno what happened that first day, I thought I was just being a baby, but all of the sudden EVERYTHING was different. Not just the language, but my companions, the people, the habitat, the climate, the culture, EVERYTHING. So I had a mini freak out. No tears (surprisingly...) but I guess I was just questioning if I was really supposed to be here and all that jazz. But! I later found out that apparently that's normal, Cause it happened to Soeur Kailiponi (my mtc bud) AND Soeur Teahe (who speaks french like a boss.) So yah, I'm normal.

I really do love this work though! We were teaching a lesson my second day here, and we were teaching these 6 women/girls and we were sitting outside on the ground and I was bearing my testimony and I realized, YES. I'm where I'm supposed to be. It's going to be ok. It's never going to be easy, but it will always, ALWAYS be worth it. Because this work is important; it's a work of salvation, and it is being hastened because the field is white. 

So yah, I'm starting to understand better though! (and I use that term, starting very loosely,) Haha. That awkward moment when you respond to a question that wasn't asked... That happened at dinner a few times on Saturday night. But really! It is getting better! I am going to learn this language if it kills me! Cause these people are so important and I want to be able to better communicate with them! It won't be easy, but with the Lord, it is most definitely possible! So please keep the people of New Caledonia in your prayers; pray that they will be able to understand me until I can communicate better :) 

The people we're teaching here are incredible! We actually get to teach a lot of lessons so it's fantastic! Retention is a bit of a problem here, so we teach amis de l'église but also a lot of recent converts. We taught a recent convert on Saturday named Jean-Bernard. He was baptised 4 months ago and he's 17 years old! And I like him a lot. I would love to find my replacement here, someone who could take my place in the field when I go home, and I think he might be it! I hope so, I mean, I guess I should talk to him about it and see what he thinks, but he's great! 

Other than that, I got to speak in church yesterday for the first time, which was mildly terrifying, but it went pretty well. I spoke on forgiveness and I made a little french joke at the beginning asking the members to forgive me for my french, hah, I think I'm hilarious... And yah, it was fun to meet the members! I'm gonna see if I can get a ward list or something, cause I need to learn names. Also, I'm singing in the choir for Christmas with my companions! And oh man, I thought Celebration of Christmas was good, but singing+Christmas+FRENCH=THE BEST. I love ittt! 

Well, that's it for now! Je suis contente d'etre ici en Nouvelle Caledonie! I love it here, I love this work! I am grateful to be out here, helping build the kingdom with Elder Santos (Pup my bff), my other two bros (Elder Quinton and Elder Millett), and Soeur Osorio and Soeur Tingey, and soon, Hermana Glauser! 

I love you all family! You can email me and write me letters! And as far as email goes, I can email everyone ane everyone can email me, so just keep in touch! I want to hear from everyone! Thanks for your love and support! Pray for the people of New Caledonia!

L'évangile est vrai!

Love, Soeur Santos