July 23 letter from Aaron

Note:  Aaron has somewhat sporadic e-mail access, so for a couple of weeks we didn't receive an e-mail from him.  Last week we received his first snail mail (dated July 23), and also the latest e-mail.  Here is the July 23 letter.

Monday, July 23, 2012

 

My Dear Family

 

Well it looks like I probably won't be able to e-mail every week.  And I definitely won't if I get sent off to another island in the lagoon.  But on the bright side, this will give us a pretty good idea of how long letters will take to get there!  It probably can change depending on how flights line up.

 

I sure hope you are all doing well.  I think and pray for you.  Natalie I hope that you are healing comfortably.  That surgery doesn't sound fun, especially at your age.  But I have faith that you are doing well.

 

I've been here for a good amount of time now and I'm starting to get the hang of this.  This is really not what I expected missionary work to be like.  It's not like the missionary work that I've seen.  This is hard.  Really hard.  Sure it's hard that I can't fully fulfill my potential as a missionary because I can't speak the language yet, but that will come.  What's really hard is that the people don't do what they're supposed to.  We only had 15 people at church yesterday.  Over 100 baptized members.  It's sad.  This missionary work goes forward but if they don't endure to the end after baptism, what's the point?  There have been 10 baptisms in this area since it was reopened in January but where are they?  Elder Fisher and I talk about this problem a lot.  what can we do to try and fix this problem.  We've talked about lots of different things.  Something that has worked other places in the pacific is church schools.  It would be so good if one started here.  

 

The language is hard.  There is so much to learn.  But I am starting to be able to somewhat follow conversations.  I'm really happy about that.  Memorization is hard for me but I am feeling my abilities strengthened.  I am really excited to be able to express to people how I feel and to really get to know them and for them to get to know me.  

 

We've had some cool experiences out here.  I'm really grateful.  I can say some of my testimony in Chuukese and Elder Fisher can translate really well for me when I say things in English.

 

This is a super cool place with really nice people.  I'm excited to learn and do more. 

 

I'm so sorry I'm not very good at letter writing!  I'm always not sure what to write.  But I am well.  I hope that you all are doing well too.  Jared and Allison, I love you and I hope you two are having fun and learning lots.  Natalie, I am so excited and proud of all the good things you are doing.  Momma, Dad, you two are such great examples.  Thank you for all the good things you have taught me.  I love you all so much!

 

Love,

Elder Aaron Lane Walters