August 11th, 2013

Talofa!

Tuvalu is the coolest, the only thing that sucks is learning a whole new language and i don't have the help of the mtc, luckily some past missionaries have written some study helps. Its awesome here because we are by ourselves and no one comes to check on us and we report to the APs, i'm happy because i feel like i don't have to impress other missionaries or mission leaders, i just gotta do the work i can up in Tuvalu. My new comp is the man, he's not the most obedient elder and pres sent him here because he was the only samoan that could go but he's the man, he's hilarious and i feel like i'm in an episode of summer heights high when i talk to him.  i'm working to learn the language which is a lot harder than fijian, working to get to know the members and gain their trust and working to find and teach people the gospel of Jesus Christ. Book of Mormon is awesome and true and Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God! The work is going great here in Tuvalu, we have a baptism next week and my comp wants me to do it so i'll be baptizing in the lagoon! 

I'm still getting acquainted with the members here. 

At dinner last night, I ate this thing that i thought was potato salad but it did't taste like potato salad and i asked the member and he's like "oh, that's coconut cream onions and raw fish" haha it was really weird, i also ate lamb neck. 

This week, we ran into a white baptist pastor from Wisconsin who has moved to Tuvalu to start the church here (Illegally) We started talking, just small talk and then he started making these comments that were like subtly bashing the church, and he said, "I think if you make a prophecy, and its wrong, than you're a false prophet" and i said, "Well what did Joseph Smith prophecy that was false>?" and he said, "Well I'd have to go back and check" and i said, "well we'd love to come over and answer your quesitons if you want." and he's like "um ya, lets just put the bible down and discuss it" I think he wants to debate instead of answering questions so we'll see what happens.

We have a lot of people to teach but the tough thing here is that my comp is Samoan and Tuvaluans and Samoans don't get along and he hates a lot of people here so it turns people off. The white elders stay here so long that the people get attached to them and when the next one comes in, its tough for them to gain the respect of the people because they feel like you were only there cause the other white elder left, thats what some lady told me haha. Anyways i love you guys and love hearing about whats going on.

 as E. Leiataua says, "latahs."

Love, Elder Cashen