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Episode 24: David Boaden - Marshall Islands - Ebon, Jaluit, Majuro
56 Plays18 days ago
David Boaden served in the Marshall Islands from 2013 - 2015 and was blessed to serve on two outer islands, Ebon and Jaluit, as well as the main island of Majuro. During his time as a missionary, David was able to help many of the Marshallese people come unto Christ and find joy. One of those amazing conversion stories involved a very well known pilot in the Marshall Islands who remains strong and is currently serving as the Bishop of the Long Island, Majuro Ward.
David was able to find the love of his life in the last area of his mission. After being married and sealed in Australia, they now live back in the Marshall Islands with their son.
#MarshallIslandsMajuroMission #MarshallIslandsKiribatiMission #MarshallIslands #Majuro #Ebon #Jaluit #TheIslandsPodcast #theislands #PacificIslands #PacificIslanders #Micronesia
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:00:00
Speaker
All right. We are on with another episode of the Islands Podcast. And we've got a special guest today, David Bowden. Did I say that right? Yes, that is correct.
David's Background and Early Experiences
00:00:12
Speaker
Yes. And this is funny because, you know, I heard your name when I served on my mission from 2016, 2018. I heard of Elder Bowden, but I had never met you, never seen a picture of you. I just knew the name.
00:00:33
Speaker
David.
00:00:35
Speaker
So yeah, my name is David Bowden. I'm from Australia. I was called to serve in the Majuro Martial Islands mission from 2013 until 2015. I had fantastic experiences out there, and I'm really grateful for the opportunity to share them on this podcast with you.
00:00:53
Speaker
Yeah, and we'll get to it eventually, but you are living back in the Marsh Islands, which is pretty cool. Yes, yes. So I said we'll definitely touch on that.
00:01:03
Speaker
um But I've been living there for the past three years, me and my family. And i says it's just ah for me, I love it. i love the place, love the people. And yeah, I'm very happy to be back there.
00:01:17
Speaker
And what do you do for work? um So currently I work at the Australian Embassy um' in the Marshall Islands. I've been able to put my language skills to use to work as a locally engaged staff out there. So um just a real blessing, really really happy to be there and continue to serve the people of the Marshall Islands in a different way.
00:01:36
Speaker
Yeah, you have my dream job. I tell my wife all the time. i was like, hey, do you want to we're go spend some time out there? You know, I don't know if she's on board or not, but I was like, eventually, maybe eventually I'll become like an ambassador or something like that. kind of fun. Yeah, there's lots of other lots of positions. So you just never know where life will take you.
00:01:53
Speaker
But ah for me, it's been great. I'm really, really happy where I am. Good. Well, um let's start from the beginning. So you got your call to the marsh islands madra mission what what was that like did you know where the heck the marsh islands were uh no so i remember it very clearly um i was with my parents at the time and uh i just finished working in 2011 uh sorry 2012 uh saving point for my mission um so i had the money ready to go i was just kind of waiting for my call to come through um and it came through and my grandfather was actually the one that picked it up and uh
00:02:30
Speaker
he said, hey, do you want me to mail this to you or do you want me to open it and read it to you on the phone? And so I said, yeah, just just read it to me on the phone. And he was reading it and he stopped and started laughing. It's like the Majuro Marshall Islands mission.
00:02:42
Speaker
And I remember me and my mum and my dad just looking at each other like, where's that? My dad had heard about it from World War II, so he knew a little bit about and its location and as far as and in in Micronesia. So we pulled out one of them books and just looked through and – Yeah, we said it. So it was quite a quite interesting call. I'm the first um person from my family to go to a language speaking mission.
00:03:07
Speaker
um All my uncles went to English speaking missions and my father as well. um And so, you know, that was also an added um surprise, I guess.
Mission Preparation and Departure
00:03:18
Speaker
But I did want to go um and and travel somewhere else and get a different perspective on life and, you And I'd heard, you know, just to just stretch myself, I guess. And I was just I was just happy to get sent to wherever the Lord um was going to send me. And I do think that that was inspired for for him to send me out there. And so, yeah, that's that's kind of what I got.
00:03:40
Speaker
Was it was it, you know, I've been from Australia. Was it common to get a call to one of the Pacific Island missions? Yeah, also my experience is that I see that that more often than not, it's easy for Australians to go out there.
00:03:55
Speaker
um I think we had about half a dozen Australians during my time that were serving in the mission. um And so I do think, and we didn't have any Europeans, for example. So um I just think, I think it's easier for some to get called to certain areas than others, um as far as immigration, paperwork, all that stuff behind the scenes. So So, yeah, so I hadn't I didn't know anybody that served there. But once once I found out where I was going, we made some inquiries um and it turned out there were some people that, you know, oh, I knew so and so from, you know, down the way that served out that way. and I went, oh, OK.
00:04:32
Speaker
But yeah, it was a yeah, it was it's just a great experience. And so I waited for four months and left on my father's birthday to go on to go to the MTC. And the MTC was a, we had a blast. I mean, in all honesty, treated it more like a football camp than what it actually was.
00:04:49
Speaker
um I mean, I did learn a lot, but as far as learning the language goes for six weeks, I regretfully, I didn't apply myself as much in it. When I first got out into Maduro, you could really tell um for the first six weeks, 12 weeks, ah I really struggled for a bit with the language, but um everything else was good. But we had a really, really good intake, really got along with, um,
00:05:12
Speaker
the the missionaries at the MTC with me. So we had Sister Crane from Oklahoma, as so as she would say, she had a very strong accent. And we had Sister Tofa from, she was a Samoan from New Zealand.
00:05:24
Speaker
We had Sister Samuel from Vanuatu, Elder Faliano from Cali, and he was ah he was a funny guy. Elder Duriba from Fiji, Elder Bascom from Utah, and Elder Whetstone. can't remember where he was from, um but he was from the States somewhere.
00:05:40
Speaker
Wow, that's a good group. Yeah, there was eight of us and then there was also the MTC, three Kitabas boys um and they went states they went to the States. So Elder Peter, Elder Tekawra and Elder...what's his name?
00:05:55
Speaker
I can't remember his name to be honest. Sorry, sorry Elder, I love you man. But yeah, I just can't remember his name, some Kitabas name. um But anyway, we got along really well and so the MTC was a great experience.
00:06:08
Speaker
You had Marshallese training. You're probably one of the a beginning takes to have Marshallese language training. Yeah, yeah. So I think we I can't remember one of the the name of one of the teachers, but we had Brother Fallon, I think his name was, um and both of them had served stateside and both of them had, you know, some they're OK Marshallese.
00:06:29
Speaker
um in hindsight looking back, but they kind laid some good foundations for us. You know, we had a good training. The manuals and and the guides were really, really good. I just, I'm not really a ah book smarts kind of person, I guess, at the time. like i didn't know how to learn language and um I struggled probably a little bit early on to really learn that way in the MTC.
00:06:49
Speaker
It wasn't until I actually got got out in the field and began speaking with people and listening and and doing that back and forth with the locals that it really started to come. Yeah.
00:06:59
Speaker
So when you fly to the Marshall Islands, you know, I'm assuming you went through Hawaii and then took the United Island Hopper, um you know, and what was kind of like first moments in the Marshall Islands like for you? um Just getting out that plane. i said it was just that that um that that kiss in the face of that humidity and that heat.
00:07:22
Speaker
It was like, oh, OK, I guess this is I'm going to have to get used to this um you know but we had a really good um really good time there so the senior couple were on it um we had president shore he had one month to go before he finished up as mission president um so i don't didn't really get to know him uh very well um and i met my my trainer elder joshua sherman and he was a he was a very book smart kind of missionary and his language abilities that at six months were impressive um and looking back i'm grateful for
00:07:56
Speaker
ah his patience with me as a new missionary not having any clue on how to learn a language
Mission Life and Cultural Experiences
00:08:01
Speaker
um and Elder Sherman was trying to be a good missionary and a good trainer and and set a good example for me and and I think he did a great job with that and i'm really grateful for that um so my first area was in Dellop West which was the area behind K&K to the bridge um and that was a great area I really really loved um Dalot West and there was one spot in particular in that area um where there were three families, all neighbours, the Laudrug family, Likung and Alden and then Grandi and Emiti.
00:08:33
Speaker
and They were from Airborne, a mother and a daughter. And we would stop by that area every every day um just to say hello or we know we would teach with one of them one day and the next day the other ones and...
00:08:46
Speaker
um They were really great people and they all and ended up joining the church at various points and um have great memories of sitting with them, with their families and and learning Marshallese and the words and the culture and really, really grateful for that.
00:08:59
Speaker
How many, yeah you know, being right behind K&K, how times do you to K&K a day and get like a, You know, I picked me up.
00:09:11
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. We definitely ah took it for granted, I would say. We just, we the house didn't have much food in it. And we just went there whenever we needed. It was probably every second or third day we maybe we swung by and quickly grabbed something. But yeah, just a great area. I remember walk i must have walked that back road hundred times, like up, back, up, back. It was just I could close my eyes and I can actually walk that back road.
00:09:36
Speaker
um yeah just some great memories from it and lots of people right there's tons of people back there
00:09:41
Speaker
there is lots of people back there and um so i was with elder sherman for for six weeks and then um my next companion was uh elder dalen prisby and and he was one of my favourite companions in all honesty. I really, really enjoyed working with him.
00:09:57
Speaker
He had such good gospel knowledge, more so than me, and I really remember um where we often would have long conversations of a religious nature, and I learned a lot from him and very grateful for the short time that we spent together. We only spent probably about six weeks as companions together, but we had a lot of wonderful success together, I remember.
00:10:17
Speaker
One such experience that I'll share with is the Lauderdijk family that I mentioned earlier. The majority of the family were already baptised and already members, um but the head of the household was the grandmother, Anila, and she hadn't yet been baptised, and so we were working with the family, and um but what was really preventing her from being baptised was that she wasn't married.
00:10:38
Speaker
And so, you know, I remember... Me and Elder Prisby, you know, praying that we'd find a ah way able to present itself that somehow we could we could help her be baptised and enjoy the greater blessings of the Spirit that she very much deserved. And so I remember about three weeks together with me and Elder Prisby of being together, we found out that that her partner was coming back from Hawaii.
00:11:00
Speaker
And so we met with him and and we tried to study with him, but he didn't seem all that interested or or yeah i didn't seem so keen on studying with us, which was fine. um But we talked with him about the importance of marriage and what it would mean for him and his family.
00:11:16
Speaker
And after some so some discussion with him, he agreed. And so we rang Bishop and we scheduled a date and we had them and both married in their home with their family and neighbours present to witness. So that really was a wonderful experience. And about week later, we were finally able to baptise Anila and the nine-year-old boy in the house, Wilson, who actually currently is preparing to serve his mission.
00:11:38
Speaker
um So it's been great to see what a worthy young man he's become. And I know he'll make a fine missionary, but just, you know, just things like that, just wonderful experiences. And and and that was that was my first marriage on on my mission. I was blessed to be a part of quite a few. I had that one in Dalip.
00:11:57
Speaker
There was one in Airborne. There was two in Rita, two in Long Island, one in Laura, and then one in Aljadabi. So that's, eight total. So,
00:12:07
Speaker
So quite a few. So just rare really, really i'm grateful to have been a part of that and to and to help people marry and and to begin keeping keeping that for that principle, that commandment.
00:12:19
Speaker
Yeah, let's let's talk about that for second, because marriage is kind of ah like kind of a foreign concept to the marshall's people, at least what from what I felt like when I was out there. It was like was a Western thing, right? They they didn't ever.
00:12:33
Speaker
get married and now we're like hey you need to legally get married and're like well why do i have to do that you know and then even their their weddings are always so funny because they're not very affectionate people outwardly affectionate you know it's their partner and so like the the weddings they're always kind of just holding the hand yeah would just say that's that yeah yeah i would say that's just that it's culturally it's just cultural norms i think they're they're quite reserved people um they definitely know how to have a good time and definitely know how to show affection and love. I've seen that many times, but just maybe in a different way than what we're normally accustomed to. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Different, different than like American, you know, you see a couple holding hands, snuggling up, kissing, whatever that you just don't see that in the Marshall. Yeah. Not really. No, no, not really. know
00:13:24
Speaker
and is So yeah, marriages were always, I thought they were always like kind of funny. Like they were, it was so great. Cause you know, they're, uh you know is helping them keep their covenants and make covenants with god but it was just so funny to like see them kind of be so timid at their wedding and it's like this is a big day and like in it in America like weddings are huge you know the rest of the world their weddings are huge and here it's just kind of like all right we're going through the motions but um yeah for some for some it's like that yeah I would agree um others they make it a big a big deal um but
00:13:57
Speaker
But yeah, and on that occasion, it was quite, it was just kind of a quiet thing amongst family and friends. And um it was, yeah, just a great experience to be part of. That's the one thing I regret on my mission is that I didn't take enough photos of people.
00:14:09
Speaker
I don't regret not taking photos of scenery or places, but I really regret not taking photos with the people that I worked with. um So I think Elder Prisby has photos of the wedding, like of the actual the ceremony, but I unfortunately don't have any.
00:14:24
Speaker
um But there's also other investigators that, you know, I remember their faces, but I can't remember their names and I can't remember i don't have any photos of them either. So it's that's a real... something I kicked myself over, but, um you know, it is what it is.
00:14:37
Speaker
Yeah. So how long were you in Delip? Just two transfers or? Yeah, it was yeah it was just two transfers. um So towards the end of my time in Delip, Elder Presby went to Jalowicz for a week with one of the APs because they were going to
Challenges and Successes in the Field
00:14:50
Speaker
reopen it. um So he was sent to assist in finding um a new accommodation for them um because he'd been there previously as a missionary. So I spent a week with another AP, Elder Hosler, from the Kitabas side.
00:15:03
Speaker
And so we had ah we had a really good experience together as well. um Elder Halleck from the 70 had come out to visit um the Martial Islands and he wanted to meet with some people while he was there so we took him to go and see an individual by the name of Gary who lived in Long Island and he was Elder Hostel's investigator someone Elder Hostel was working with at the time and Gary was a former bishop but he was no longer coming to church and so we planned a lesson together to visit with him and an Elder Halleck and um I remember
00:15:36
Speaker
When we were at the that that that visit, at the time, both of our Marshallese, because he's from the Kidder beside and I'm fairly new, it what wasn't great. um So the first part of the lesson, in all honesty, but looking back, it was a little disjointed.
00:15:50
Speaker
Here we were trying to share a spiritual thought, but ah you're probably not coming across as clearly as as we would like. And um and in hindsight, I know that Gary speaks good English, so he could have just done English. But anyway, um so Elder Halleck then spoke.
00:16:05
Speaker
And i remember the spirit came into the meeting. And after he spoke, I did my best to try and and reiterate what he said, but in martial arts. And I remember being surprised at myself with with how I was able to speak.
00:16:19
Speaker
And the spirit remained for the rest of the lesson. And we finished up. And as we were walking back to the car, um Elder Halleck put his arm on my shoulder and he said, the spirit took a while, but it got there in the end.
00:16:30
Speaker
um And so that always stuck with me because he was 100% right. um But the story doesn't end there, actually. So I'll skip ahead a bit. So time went on about 18 months, actually. So I was towards the end of my mission and I was working in another area in Majuro in Avedaki at the time. And i remember I remember Gary and I just felt this intense desire to go and see him. And so I was in a leadership position at the time. So I arranged and exchanged with the missionaries who worked in that area so I could go and visit with him.
00:16:58
Speaker
um Now, I didn't know what I was going to say. i i To be honest, i I just, yeah, I had no idea what I was going to say or how the visit would go. But I just wanted to go and visit with him. And so, um and I didn't speak about it with the missionary I was with. I just said, hey, there's this guy I wanted to go see.
00:17:15
Speaker
And so we tried all day to visit with him. um And I think three times we tried to visit with him and he wasn't home each time. And as we were biking back in the evening, we just said, look, let's try one more time. Let's just go to his house and see if he's there. So it was about 830 at night and him and his family were home. And so we went inside. And the moment I walked inside, i just felt the spirit really strongly.
00:17:37
Speaker
And so we opened with prayer and I asked him, hey, you know, do you remember me? And he said he didn't really. So I brought up the previous experience with Elder Halleck. And he remembered Elder Halleck, the 70 that had come visited him. But he i could tell, I think he didn't quite remember me, which was fine. So I said to him, well, I felt, you know, as I said, we opened with prayer. And I said, well, you know, I felt really inspired to come and see you and to tell you that God remembers you and he hasn't forgotten you and he loves you.
00:18:06
Speaker
And he started to cry. um He told us how he had recently been in an accident where he had really hurt his neck and he was soon going to Hawaii to have surgery and how scared he was about it.
00:18:18
Speaker
um And he expressed his gratitude for us to come to visit him and and that he really needed to hear us say that to him. So we prayed with him and and um left afterwards, and him and his family, and we left afterwards. And as we walked out, I remember the elder at the time, yeah Elder Stout, turned to me and said,
00:18:38
Speaker
I've never had a lesson like that before. And I just said to him, that's that's missionary work. And um you know President Monson, I remember he said that one of the sweetest one of the sweetest feelings in life that he knows is that when we feel a prompting and act on it, and then later find out that that was the fulfillment of someone's prayer or someone's need.
00:18:59
Speaker
And I just testify the truthfulness of that statement. It's, it really is true. And it it really is missionary work just to be um ambassadors for, you know, for Jesus Christ and and just to help people feel of his love.
00:19:12
Speaker
um So that was a wonderful experience that I was able to have on my mission. Yeah. And I think, you know, you touched on a good point of like, he werent this wasn't a guy who hadn't heard of Jesus or wasn't already a member. was a, you know, he was a former bishop and like even him, you know, we all need to hear something like that. We all need other people to minister to us and to help answer our prayers. And so it's not, and especially Marshall Islands, a lot of missionary work is not necessarily with baptizing new members, but re-engaging, reactivating old members as well, which is really cool.
00:19:47
Speaker
Yeah, of course. Yeah, of course. So, So, yeah, that was a great experience. And then probably moving on. ah After that, um after Delapar was assigned to reopen Airborne with a new companion, Elder John Whiskey Lavalua. I'll never forget his middle name.
00:20:04
Speaker
um Now, he was a character. He was a ah New Zealander. He was Tongan, a big rugby player. And I remember one of the senior couples, Elder and Sister Barlow, saying about Elder Lavalua,
00:20:16
Speaker
He's like a bull in a china shop. And it just made me laugh because that's how he was. He was just this this big Tongan. But he was nearly finished his mission. was his That was his final area.
00:20:29
Speaker
And so it my chance to work with somebody who had really good martialese. And I loved working with him. we He's probably the missionary I had the most fun with. We had a lot of really good memories together.
00:20:40
Speaker
um But we also had some memorable spiritual experiences together. Honestly, as as I said earlier, I know I could spend the rest of ah the podcast, just telling stories about my five months in airborne. It really is a great place.
00:20:53
Speaker
You know, we we first got out there, you know, we went to go see some of the members and we went to see a woman by the name of Mary and she had some piglets. And I said, hey, can I have one of the piglets?
00:21:04
Speaker
And she said, yeah, sure. So we had a pet pig that we tied up the back of our house and we would feed it and I fed it for five months and I called it Andy actually after my younger brother so it was a really friendly pig you could sit next to him pat it and when I when I left airborne that was my we used it for my going away party so it was a bit sad but I mean you know that's what we did and it was uh yeah it was you know that was just one of the stories there's so many others Yeah, the pigs, man, it's so fun.
00:21:34
Speaker
Wait, so when you, you give me a quick lay land of Ebon. You know, it's not very big at all, it's and it's the southernmost at all, right? Yes. ah Very green. give Give me that quick kind of just geography of Ebon.
00:21:48
Speaker
um Yeah, so Ebon, there's a few communities on Ebon. The main two are Ebon, Ebon, and then Dabe. Yeah. And I think everyone had about 300 people and Thugge had about 200. I said, I might be wrong. i'm just trying to go off my memory here.
00:22:04
Speaker
But it was very green. it was the greenest of all the places I served at. Lots of rain um and lots of mosquitoes too. The mosquitoes were just dreadful.
00:22:15
Speaker
But you get used to it. um But, yeah, the people out there, you know, had a totally different schedule. It was my first time in outer island. And so it was, you know, they'd go out and work for most of the day and then every afternoon – baby playing basketball volleyball at the school um so it was just yeah it was great i really loved it out there i um yeah so many so many what was your house like it was a nicer house um it was a nicer house we actually had the senior couple the barlows come out um to do some uh some work on the house so they installed a solar pump
00:22:49
Speaker
um So we actually had running water in the house. um They were stuck with us actually for three weeks. The plane broke down. And so they were stuck with us for three weeks, which which was great. like i mean, yeah, he could like he could tell, you could make the most mundane story, the most interesting and exciting story you've ever heard. And so he was great at that. And Sister Barlow, she was great. we didn't We didn't have to cook for three weeks while she was there. So, I mean, we were like, me and Elder Lava Lua, we were so happy.
00:23:20
Speaker
um Awesome. That's crazy. They were stuck there with you and just for three weeks, that's a long time. They're probably like not expecting that. We were lucky that we we had beds. So we gave them our beds and we just lived out in the lounge room, on like on the the main living room on the floor.
00:23:35
Speaker
And yeah, I mean, they loved it. They went snorkeling and, you know, of just, yeah, they just had a good time as well. So yeah, Ebon was great. And then, ah you know, you mentioned just the people in Ebon and Ebon and the other town, like,
00:23:50
Speaker
And there was members. How many members, you know, when you first got there, you know, i'm sure the church, you know, had been missionaries in a while. So probably we're doing church. How was it finding the former members? it was It was pretty easy. i mean, the members would present themselves when we when we came back.
00:24:06
Speaker
They were like, hey, I'm a member. um I felt like it was something that maybe they felt part, you know, a sense of belonging or community ship with being with us. And so. So, you know, we had, there was a few members, a few families that members, there was a kid of his family that members, um there was another family who, yeah, who helped us out a lot. So, yeah, we said we had, I'd probably say we had about 20 people coming to church on Sundays, um you know, so it was great.
00:24:34
Speaker
Yeah, was said it was great. You know, um you know, we were able to to just start teaching with a lot of people again. And, um you know, you're teaching people from all walks of life, you know, so and deacons from other other faiths. we You know, I used to really enjoy teaching with them.
00:24:50
Speaker
You know, they had a good scriptural understanding. So you could to have more in-depth conversations um about God and about faith. And so I learned a lot from them, you know, some some wonderful examples of of, you know, Christ-like love but that the people had for one another out there. And um because said, don't if you know, Abelon was the first island that accepted Christianity. And so I would say teaching-wise, it was probably the hardest area I worked at because the people were so –
00:25:22
Speaker
um proud and you know in for for a good reason um to be Protestant you know and saying you know we accepted Christianity first and that's the faith that was here and that's the faith of my fathers and and that's the faith I'm going to have for the rest of my life. And so teaching-wise, it it probably was the most difficult um where people would say, look, I'm happy where I am.
00:25:46
Speaker
And you know would get to a point in your lessons where you'd go, that's fine. you know I'm happy you're happy where you are. um But you still would invite and encourage. And, you know, we did have some success out there. And, you know, there were some really, really good people that we worked with. so Yeah, you you answered my next question because I was going to bring that up about how, you know, the yeah the gospel first right on Ebon. And that is a very, I think they're very proud of, like you said. And so, um you know, let's say, you know, the people you did have success with or the people that were current members, were they kind of?
00:26:20
Speaker
um You know was there a fear of, hey, if I leave the Protestant church, the the the island is going to, you know, ostracize me or, you know, and I'm going to feel separate from everybody else?
00:26:33
Speaker
I mean, I don't think so. I mean... yeah And having been and at the Outer Islands now for you know quite a while, there's a different, more more of a communal community feel in the Outer Islands where people look out for one another because you have to.
00:26:48
Speaker
um You have to help one another and regardless of your faith. I mean, you'll still have your cliques, obviously, but people are more inclined to help one another and to get together and do things with each other.
00:26:59
Speaker
um I remember at christmas on Christmas Day um when we were out there, I said the Protestants were doing their thing and Assemblies of God were doing their thing and full gospel were doing their thing. And, you know, they had pigs and turtles and they were having these great big feasts and,
00:27:15
Speaker
And, you know, us missionaries, you know, we're, you know, we don't have a lot of money, ah you know, we don't have a lot of means. And so we just said, we said to the members, hey, just come around, have breakfast, you know, have breakfast with us. We have, so we have a, I had a package come in for some, some Milo, some hot chocolate. So we said, hey, come around, we'll make pancakes, some hot chocolates, you know, and donuts, and we can do that.
00:27:35
Speaker
And so we did that and people come around and we gave that to them and said, all right, then, And they were all joking around, all right, now let's go to a Protestant and get get the real feed. Get some real food. Yeah, so we were this that's a thing. And we were welcomed like there was no time that we felt like we weren't welcomed um into their into their their buildings um or to their events.
00:27:54
Speaker
you know they were They were happy to see us and we were always given um places of distinction. where They'd always sit us at, they there would always be a table where they would have ministers and and and people of religion.
00:28:05
Speaker
I guess you could say, of influence in the community and and we would always be invited to sit at them tables. I always felt like I didn't belong at these tables and looking around like I'm just this young witness, this young kid, they got no idea what I'm doing.
00:28:18
Speaker
um I remember actually, ah i said it was I guess it an embarrassing time. ah There was an Iloomits that happened, which is like a funeral. So Iroichi's wife had passed and so and people were doing EREC, so they were putting the rocks on the grave.
00:28:37
Speaker
And I was, I'd never seen this before, so I'm sitting at the very back, and I'm actually playing with the kids, talking with the kids, sitting down, so I actually can't see what's happening. And um they asked, hey, you know, a representative from the LDS faith, get up and and and participate.
00:28:54
Speaker
And everyone looked at me and said, hey, you do it. And I'm like, oh, okay, what am I doing? So I walk up to the front. This is in front of the whole community. And, like, They're like, all right, can you put the rocks on the grave, please? And so there's a basket. And what I should have done is pick up the basket and you pull the whole basket over over the grave.
00:29:11
Speaker
But what I did was in my mind, I'm thinking, oh, maybe going ask everybody to do something. So I picked up one rock and threw it. And like it hit the grave. I looked up and looked up and was like, is this what I'm supposed to do?
00:29:23
Speaker
And the deacon just went and kind of walked over and showed me how to do it. And the entire time there's like laughter going on throughout the community. People are trying not to laugh. And I'm just like, oh, man. it was So that was more an embarrassing experience. but And actually one of the one of my good friends, Rumson, he actually scolded me for He was like, see, you should have been paying attention. You embarrassed us.
00:29:45
Speaker
And I went, yeah, I'm sorry, sorry. um But but theypi and the people, they understood. And, you know, they then ah no one took offense. And I think everyone was the people just the people of Airborne are really, really nice people. I really enjoyed being amongst them and working amongst them and yeah yeah it's is you know we kind of had such similar experiences that i sort of lie and i was also there for christmas and i was also there for a funeral so like everything you just said just kind of like brought in all the memories for me like same thing like going to the protestant church i felt very welcome we we we watched their beats you know they came and watched our beat um you know they'd
00:30:23
Speaker
they'd have us sit at a table and give speeches and same thing with the funerals. and It's like all of it. It's just like, it's just so fun because two different islands, totally opposite sides of the marsh islands. Yeah.
00:30:34
Speaker
Same cultural things, same things. It was awesome. Yeah. Yeah. It's just fantastic. Lye's doing really good. Actually. I just, I was out there um about a year ago.
00:30:46
Speaker
They've just finished building ah an actual building now, like a proper church building. and't know if you've seen the photos. Hopefully you have. I went visited actually last August. I came and I stopped on live for an hour. It was amazing.
00:30:59
Speaker
um Yeah. I'm happy for you. yeah i said But I wish I could go see Abon. You know, we, during my time, we opened it for but right at the end of my mission. um We ah reopened it. It hadn't been open for the whole two years that I had been out there. So probably not long after, you you know, you finished your mission, but they, uh,
00:31:19
Speaker
know they opened it for a little bit the elder that was out there uh got super sick ended up going home from it and they're just like all right we're just gonna close this but he he mentioned similar things like you know they're just so proud of the gospel coming to abon first since the protestant church is very strong um but you know abon's so small i would imagine like yeah like you said the community is so great um And so, yes, you have your church where everyone goes to on Sundays, but the rest of the week, everyone's family. They're all related. You know, they're all one big family on those islands. Yeah, very much so. Yeah. um
00:31:54
Speaker
Yeah, it was great. Just, yeah, great experiences. And I actually do want to share, like, ah probably, a I guess you could say, a life lesson that I learned from everyone. So um ah had a really good experience.
00:32:08
Speaker
um i a really good friend out there and i said i mentioned his name earlier ramsan was his name um now he was a character i mean you you won't be anybody like him he was larrikin um that's by actually an australian word sorry so he was a real trickster i guess you could say he was a real you know jokester and had a lot of fun um and i developed a really close friendship with him he actually him and his wife mary so they lived directly behind our house and I remember the many laughs that we had together and and the charity that they showed towards us and um supporting us and helping us with whatever we needed.
00:32:40
Speaker
But they weren't members. and They had studied with the missionaries for many years um and they believed the message, but they hadn't yet progressed to baptism. There were some things that were ah holding him back from from being baptized that he he just wouldn't let go of.
00:32:55
Speaker
And being a young missionary still with, I guess, limited language experience, I felt frustrated at times not being able to adequate adequately convey in enough in my mind my thoughts and feelings about their need to accept the invitations of Christ and his teachings now.
00:33:12
Speaker
Anyway, so I transferred, once I finished my time at Eben, I transferred away and but and I didn't think I would see him again. But fast forward nine months later, I'm serving in Jelowicz, another outer island. And I saw my friend again, I saw Rumson and his granddaughter, Julia, as they were traveling back on the resupply vessel.
00:33:31
Speaker
to everyone and they stopped over in Jellowicz to you know to deliver cargo but then also to stay the night and so I was able to invite him over and and I broke out the best canned food I had for him you know the best food I could I could get to try and defeat my friend and so I made him dinner and and we talked like it was old times but this time you know I said nine months later my marshallese skills were were much much better I was fluent in the language by then and you know, I was able to share how grateful I was for for his friendship and and how I was concerned for him um and and how he needed to stop procrastinating what he knew to be the best path for him um and to give up the things that were preventing him from being baptized. And I bore i bore testimony of the Savior and of his josh his church and of the gospel. And I remember the presence of the Spirit really strongly during our time together and
00:34:23
Speaker
um You know, his his you know happy trickster demeanor kind of disappeared and and you know he thanked me and and shared his gratitude for my friendship and you know he he and how he knew that his teachings and everything that I was telling him were true and how he had a desire to go back and and be baptized and to he would work with the missionaries to to to prepare for that.
00:34:45
Speaker
um Well, two weeks later, um as I was working in Jailwich after he'd left, um I had heard from some of the youths and that unfortunately he had had a heart attack and died. Over the radio, he was announced.
00:34:58
Speaker
And I took the news pretty hard. you know He was one of my really good friends during that time when I was on airborne. And I actually took a break for 30 minutes to grieve you know to griev privately for him.
00:35:10
Speaker
um But I'm forever grateful that the Lord permitted me um to to see my friend again one more time in mortality. And um the reason I wanted to kind of maybe share this this lesson is that um the sin of procrastination, I guess, is is one of the simplest and yet far-reaching sins we more often than not are guilty of committing every day.
00:35:33
Speaker
um It's been called, you know, procrastination has been called the thief of eternal life. um And it robs us of precious moments and and times we might have had, blessings we might have experienced. And in this case, unfortunately, the sun had set on my friend's life and and there was nothing more that could be done.
00:35:52
Speaker
um But, and there are many things that he was unable to experience because he had put off coming more fully unto God. And he just couldn't let go of of what I like to call our favourite sins. You know, we all have them. We all have things that we hold on to that slow us down or outright impede us from more fully coming unto God because we're not ready to give them up.
00:36:16
Speaker
It was Neil Ann Maxwell, I believe, who said that the pathway of discipleship is the only pathway where littering is permissible, even encouraged. And that in the early stages of this pathway, the things that we litter and leave behind um include the more serious sins of commission.
00:36:32
Speaker
But then as we go along, hopefully we continue to discard things that that may cause us to misuse our time and our talents. um I think there was another talk by Darlan H Oaks where he talks about um the things that, while they may be good, are not the best of things we could be doing.
00:36:53
Speaker
um In a talk, is is good good, better, best is the talk. It was a really good talk from Darlan H Oaks. um And so I guess yeah this experience has kind of been a life lesson for me and stuck with me. It's really, really valuable teaching opportunity.
00:37:05
Speaker
um i know my friend rumpson um you know he was a great dude and you know yeah that's that's that's i guess it's not a not a super happy story but it's i guess it's a life lesson um and i really i think yeah i was gonna say and i'm sorry to cut you off but um i mean i think it is a happy one though at the same time uh like being able to see him, you know, one more time, it was, it like you said, it was just a huge blessing for both of them, you know, for, for him to hear one more time that, you know, ah he had a friend in you that, and and you you probably shared that God loved him, like to hear that. And then, you know, you hear he passes and it's really sad, but you know that he's ah embracing his savior, you know, and I, and I'm excited for your embrace with him in the next life. Cause that's a really cool. I have, I have, you know, and I,
00:37:55
Speaker
an older guy that I tell a lot, same thing. he He ended up getting baptized. I baptized him, but um he he died before I was able to make it back to the Marshall Islands to see him. And I'm just, you know, I'm i'm looking so forward for the day to to see him again. and dad just Yeah, of course. So, know, hopefully, yeah.
00:38:14
Speaker
ah friendships The friendships and that you make, are especially in the Outer Islands, right, when you're just spending all day with these people are is so great. and And before we go into the next area, just just quick, like,
00:38:25
Speaker
As far as like six x ah success on Abon, did you guys have
Teaching Methods and Cultural Adaptation
00:38:30
Speaker
success? Was it super difficult? um um you know ah said We had a marriage and we had i think three had two baptisms during my time there. um so ah Did you do church at your house?
00:38:45
Speaker
Where did you do church? We had church at our house. I think um and you know i think I think it was good. um i think maybe to touch on, i think what towards the end of my time at Airborne, Elder Lavalua had gone home and a new Elder, Elder Holman, had come out.
00:39:03
Speaker
And he when he came with me, brought with him a new new ideas, a new vision for the work on the outer island. um And it was actually that was the catalyst. I think it was for me that something clicked.
00:39:14
Speaker
um in me on how to be a how how to go about being a missionary I mean previously I'd been teaching you know you're going through the motions but you're teaching for the sake of teaching and looking back maybe I felt like there was no clear goal of getting people to be baptized um and I know it might sound silly but there's a big difference in your teaching style and how you approach lessons and I think that him coming out was a catalyst for me to start to develop my own style of teaching and and using, you know, I think after airborne and then went on to get basically trained for six months straight, brand new missionaries. And, you know, when you're training and you're leading, you know, you're,
00:39:56
Speaker
you everything is on your shoulders and, you know, it was really, I think it was really good for me to find my own style of teaching and in using Preach My Gospel as an outline, um but very, I think the way I taught was very different from the way many other missionaries taught. For example, I rarely taught the second lesson, the plan of salvation.
00:40:18
Speaker
i I only really taught that lesson to people that ended up baptising. um I spent You know, I ah had a whole new first lesson, how to begin teach. That was the first lesson. It was nothing else. It was just, hey, this is, do you know what we do as missionaries?
00:40:34
Speaker
And then explain to them, this is what we do. And, you know, and we're here to help you get baptised and move closer to the Saviour. And I would invite them, the first or second lesson at the very latest, to be baptised.
00:40:47
Speaker
And so, you know, and that was just the way I approached the lessons and I would spend all my time on the on the restoration lessons and the different ways you could approach that to teach people and help them gain understanding. and And then I would touch on the commandments or some of the gospel, depending. And it was usually by then to make or break, either they're starting to accept these things or you're just teaching. And so, you know, I would i would tell them, hey, you know,
00:41:13
Speaker
we You know we can only help you so much. We're here to invite you to do things, not here just to teach you. um And so i think that was something that I got from the end of Airborne um that I really was able to use moving forward. And I think it helped me become a really effective missionary um moving forward. And so like the invitation baptism, for example, like it would it would go something like this. Like as we teach you these things, I promise you will feel that they are true. And as you do the things we invite you to do, you will feel the spirit more in your life. You'll move closer to God.
00:41:49
Speaker
And one of the things we will invite you to do is following Christ's example and be baptized by someone with authority of God. So will you begin preparing to be baptized? And ah that was the first lesson. That was usually what I would say in the first lesson.
00:42:00
Speaker
And then they could respond the number of ways. Sometimes they would say yes, to which the next lesson, you know, we'd go home and pray about it and give them a date, ranicaba like a date to prepare for. or a goal and then oh another way they can answer is you know i don't know um to which i would then normally say hey that's fine like you don't know yet um you know but i promise that as you as you do these things you will feel the spirit and you will receive an answer from god that they are good and right and then i would ask them a question do you believe god loves you and i think that's a really important lesson in and of itself i remember you look at the book of mormon
00:42:35
Speaker
There's a section where Nephi is just is just is prayed to understand, I guess you could say, the vision of of the father of of his father, Lehi, the tree of life. And Andrew comes to him and says, knowest thou the condescension of God?
00:42:48
Speaker
And Nephi says, i know it's not the meaning of all things, but I know that God loves his children. And so because he knew that the angels could then go on to teach him and explain to him the atonement because he knew that God loves them.
00:43:02
Speaker
And so that's a question I would like to ask my investigators all the time. You know, do you believe God loves you, that he actually cares about you? And it's it's a blessing that a lot of Marshallese people, they already kind of know this.
00:43:14
Speaker
um They're at varying stages of understanding, um which you kind of need to gauge as a missionary and either help grow it or, or you know, continue on. and So most of them would say, yeah, you know, I know God loves me.
00:43:28
Speaker
And then you would say, well, do you believe that God wants what's best for you? In which they would say, well, yeah, if he loves me, he wants what's best for me. And then I would say, well, do you believe that if he loves you and if this path, joining the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints, is the best path for you, that he will let you know?
00:43:47
Speaker
And they would, well, that kind of makes sense, yeah. And then I would testify and say, well, I know he i know he will. And if and when he does, and you feel that, will you join ah and will you join the church and be baptised into it?
00:44:03
Speaker
And a lot of them would then go, okay, well then yeah. And so, right, that was how I used to approach that and nearly everybody but some point would say, well, that makes sense. If if he enters my prayers, then sure, I'll i'll be baptised and join your faith.
00:44:18
Speaker
um And so... It just yeah totally changed how ah how I taught people. um And i was I was very, very quick to give out invitations of baptism and then, you know, we say, hey, you know, i'm going we're going to invite you to do certain things that will help you prepare to be baptised, you know. And then you can kind of talk about well what things are stopping you, what things are hindering you, and then go from there.
00:44:41
Speaker
um And so... I think it's good approach because oftentimes you teach a lesson and you're like, and we've had to be baptized. And, you know, in Marshall's culture, they just say yes to everything.
00:44:51
Speaker
Yeah. You know, like, yeah, man, no, like, you know, sure. You know, yeah. So, you know, you have to kind of almost kind of, want to say, sieve through those that are genuinely interested in those that are just being polite.
00:45:10
Speaker
And the ones that are being polite, I mean, you can still encourage them and invite them to do things. and And as they hopefully, you know, do the things you've invited them to do, whether it's, hey, you know, will you pray a little with your family? Hey, will you read this pamphlet? Hey, will you come to church on Sunday? As they start acting in faith, and that's when the witness comes and they start to feel that, hey, this this path is the right path for me. It's it's a good path and I should ah should continue down it.
00:45:36
Speaker
um So, yes, so that was that was something I took moving forward. and And then I said, sorry, better move on. So I finished Airborne, loved my time out there. I came back and I started training.
00:45:49
Speaker
And um I trained, his name was Elder Milton Maffuli. He was a 300-pound Samoan. So he was a big dude. I'm afraid of Maffuli. Yeah, I'm afraid of him. Yes, so I was his trainer.
00:46:01
Speaker
So, I mean... One thing that I did like about Elder Marfoli is that, you know, when he was with me, and this was, again, this was during that, the new wave of missionaries that were coming into the mission. So we had, for the next, that six months, we just had back to back to back big intakes of like 10, 13 missionaries.
00:46:21
Speaker
um So we had a lot of missionaries coming in. So a lot of people were training and, and I was happy to train him. And I remember our time in Rita together um that, you know, there was a time when there was a king tide over a two day period that just washed over the parts of Rita and um it had destroyed one of the homes of our investigators and and he was really determined to help them out and so we went out and bought food and candles for them and candles and delivered it to them.
00:46:46
Speaker
um So he had that desire to help people which was great to see and and then we spent like a full week doing service and cleaning up people's places on the ocean side of Rita from the rubbish and the coral that the king tide had had washed and onto their lands and so So, yes, that was Rita. And, you know, again, great experiences. You know, I know that's I was made district leader for the first time. And so, um you know, had some leadership opportunities, and teaching opportunities just amongst missionaries where i got to work around Elder Prisby, Elder Dallin Ingalls, you know, Elder Price and great, great dudes.
00:47:20
Speaker
um Really, really enjoy working around them. How long were Rita? So I was in Rita for three months total. So I spent six weeks with Elder Marfooli. And then I didn't spent six weeks with ellaot Joel.
00:47:32
Speaker
um He was a really humble young man. actually Actually, I think he might have been older than me. But he was from Pontepe in Micronesia. And he was a wonderful companion. I mean, he was his language skills for like someone who was six weeks out was like someone who'd been out for six months. like he He had pretty good language skills for his age at the time in the mission.
00:47:53
Speaker
um And he was happy to follow... Ponpe and language and martialities is like, there's some similarities. Yeah, there's some similarities. Yeah, there's some so there's some similarities. And so I think maybe that they helped him out. But and he was super willing. just He was just happy to follow and do whatever I wanted to do.
00:48:12
Speaker
And lucky I wanted to do good things. So, you know, we had a lot of success together. A funny memory that I have of of Elder Joel, I can't remember his first name, unfortunately. and I've lost touch with him.
00:48:22
Speaker
But a memory that always lived with me is that um I made lunch for us one time and I made like a fancy ramen with beef, noodles and vegetables. Anyway, it was decent looking as as far as ah as a missionary could do.
00:48:35
Speaker
um And after after I gave it to him for lunch, I said, here you go. He said, ah, Bowden, where's the rice? And I went, you don't need rice with ramen. Look, it's everything you need and it's fine.
00:48:47
Speaker
And he was like, but you need rice. And so then he stood up and went off and made some rice. And are speaking later on, another missionary elder, Landon Ayala, he was serving with him.
00:48:58
Speaker
He went, I had the exact same experience. I made him like a cabanero one night, like really nice pasta. And I gave to him. He's like, where's the rice? i So he was the kind of guy, every meal he had to have rice with it. And it was a,
00:49:12
Speaker
Yeah, where's the rice? That's all I remember. So yeah, really fond memory of working with him. And and again, we had we had a of success in Rita. You know, so we had two marriages and we baptised a whole bunch of people. And then directly ah the transfer after I left, they had a whole bunch of baptisms in Rita as well.
00:49:30
Speaker
um And yeah, lot, a lot of success in Rita. Really, really, I said it was an opportunity. I was now leading the missionary efforts, you know, as senior companion and trainer. And so um I could...
00:49:42
Speaker
I could work as hard as I wanted and was just blessed that I had companions that were happy to come along for the ride. Yeah. It's yeah it' sometimes nice to be the senior companion. Like I'm, I'm kind of make, you know, we're making decisions together, but I'm kind of making the big decisions here. Like let's go elder. We're going to go do this.
00:49:59
Speaker
Yeah, and don't be wrong. There were times when I, you know, looking back, I could have made a ah better decision where I did something. Hey, let's do this. I think this is best. And it turned out, you know, maybe it wasn't. Maybe I should have listened more to my my companion and his thoughts and his feelings. And, now you know, said, we're all girl young men. You know, we're 20, 21-year-old young men out of high school.
00:50:19
Speaker
You know, we're all learning and growing. Yeah. um but yeah i really enjoyed my time in rita um you know we actually lived in we were the last missionaries to live in allington teban's house before he moved back even before he moved back into it so uh me and me and allington me and allington teban are really good mates really really admire that guy yeah he's a good dude uh current stake president of uh the madrid stake for those who don't know and you know he helped me when i went back and visited a year ago he was the one that helped me coordinate getting a hotel, getting a car. Like it was just impossible for me to make any connection there. So I was like, President Steven, need your help. And he showed up for me. I love that guy.
00:51:01
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. He's a, he's, he's always, we mean he was always joking around together and he'd say, he'd say, you're the man, ah the natural man. Yeah. and And so, you know, mean that that was something that love Elder Lavalua used to always say to me too, because Lavalua was really close friends with Arlington as well.
00:51:19
Speaker
um So, yeah, so again, the three of us, I said, but me and Arlington, yeah, we're really, really mates. um So, yeah, it's great being back in Maduro and hanging out with him sometimes. um So, yes. So, Rita, where did you go next? Where did you get transferred? So then I transferred to Long Island again. As said, I'm still training at this stage. So, yeah.
00:51:39
Speaker
um Elder Barlow, I can't say his first name. It's BAU or B-A-U. Sorry, brother. It's all good, man. So, yeah, we, you know, we worked together. And I remember he was a diehard Lakers fan.
00:51:53
Speaker
And I remember i used to I used to tease him a little bit when I used to say, oh, who's Kobe Bryant? Like, I've never heard of that guy before. I've heard of LeBron James and how he's the next coming and Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time.
00:52:06
Speaker
I know LeBron James, and he'd be he was just would send him over the edge. He'd be like, how can't you know who he is? Sorry, man, i' say I love you, but that's what you get for making fun of me of playing basketball how I play basketball.
00:52:19
Speaker
So, again, me and him, you know, we had some really good experiences together as well i in Long Island. So um I'll just tell you one of them. So we will we were out finding, I said, a lot of these actually, I've actually since, so an airborne,
00:52:35
Speaker
Rita and Long Island, we just whitewashed areas. So basically that's when two missionaries come in um fresh, no one's worked the area, and either neither of them have worked the area before, and they have to kind of start from scratch.
00:52:49
Speaker
um So we were doing that. So we were doing a lot of finding. And I remember saying to Elder Barlow, let's track nice looking houses today. And and I said, well, one, because they're air conditioning, because El Dabalo was new to Madra. And and boy, oh, boy, was he sweating bullets.
00:53:07
Speaker
um So he was happy to hear that. And then um and then, as I said, well, you know, the other reason is, you know, they're more likely to be educated um and have a better understanding in English. So you could help out in the lessons more.
00:53:17
Speaker
And he was like, yeah, OK, OK. Anyway, so we come across this house in Long Island and we knock on the door and a man opens up. His name's Alvin. He's a pilot. um at the time and so he opens the door and he was kind of let us in and as we walk in there's just photos of his family everywhere and so you know we get to talking a little bit and we open with prayer and and we do a how to begin teach I kind of mentioned like that was kind of like the first lesson I would always lead off just like hey Do you know what we do as missionaries? Do you know what which what what we go about doing, you know, and try to clear up any um misconception about what we do and and kind of lay a bit of a platform of what to expect moving forward if you know if they want to keep meeting with us and talking with us?
00:54:01
Speaker
um And so this was all in English. His English was really, really good. And we gave him a restoration pamphlet and we said, hey, give this a read and we'll come back tomorrow. We said, we know, we just kind of cold called you now. will we come in We'll come back tomorrow and have a proper lesson discuss the things that are in that pamphlet.
00:54:18
Speaker
And he said, yeah, okay. And so we left. We didn't even close with prayer. We just left. And we went home and then we come back the next day. And the i remember it it went something like this. I said,
00:54:30
Speaker
We opened the prayer. And I said, so, Albin, how'd you go reading the pamphlet? And he said, good. I read it twice. And I said, oh, okay. So what do you think? And he went, it's good.
00:54:42
Speaker
And I said, I thought a little bit. And I went, all right. Do you believe the things that you read? And he said, yes. And then I thought, and I went, okay.
00:54:53
Speaker
Will you prepare yourself to be baptized on the 28th of June this month?
00:54:58
Speaker
And he said, how did you how do you choose that date? Why that date? And I said, well, you know, look at my companion, you know, well, we pray about these things and we, you know, we invite people ah to on you know to be baptized on days that we feel like they can make.
00:55:13
Speaker
And he said, that's my son's birthday. I'll be ready baptized on that day. And so, you know, that was and that was three weeks away. Like that was like I had memorized every Saturday.
00:55:25
Speaker
um and the dates because that's i was handing baptismal dates like and you get a baptismal date and you get a baptismal date um you know just trying to you know give people goals to work towards um and so yeah and so we were were like okay so we were rushing um as quickly as we could to get him prepared him and his lovely wife lovely woman leader um as often as we could we met with them as often as we could to help them uh know the things they needed to know before baptism and We had members come around to visit them. So Brother Mison Levi, um who's now the second council in state presidency. um He was just a councillor at the time in Long Island Ward.
00:56:04
Speaker
Bishop Glancy Ennis, he's currently in Hawaii doing some diplomatic work there. um They had the baptismal interviews, Alban and Leric, and everything was going great.
00:56:15
Speaker
So we're sitting with them Thursday, two days before their baptism, and we're filling out their baptismal forms. And as I'm filling them out, I get to their name and I pause and I just went, sorry, i have to ask, you're both married, aren't you?
00:56:26
Speaker
And they went, no. And I went, literally, I just thought, David, you fool. Like, how could you just assume, i just assumed, assumed that they were married um because they had photos of their families everywhere. You know, they were acting, they looked like a husband and wife. And I just, you know, and so I said to them, I said, well, we need to get you both married before we can baptize you.
00:56:49
Speaker
how about tomorrow night? I'll give Bishop Enos a ring and he will come around and we'll marry you in your home. um And thankfully they said yes. And they said, yeah, okay, we can do that. So I rang Bishop and again, you know, thankful to Bishop, he said, yeah, sure. You know, on short notice, yeah, I can come around to tomorrow night and marry them.
00:57:05
Speaker
I rang the sister missionaries and was like, hey, sisters, can you make a cake for tomorrow, please? um So they went, yeah, sure, we can make a cake. So yeah, the next day they got married and then baptised on the Saturday and He received the priest of the following Sunday, and then the Sunday after that, both me and him were blessing the sacrament together.
00:57:22
Speaker
And, um you know, he's currently the bishop for Long Island War Arms. Yeah, was going to say, you baptize the legend in the Marshall Islands. Albin is the man. Like, he...
00:57:33
Speaker
I served in Long Island. He was in the bishopric. And then I came back last year. he was still The bishopric was the same bishopric. And I was like, man, it's been almost 10 years in the same bishopric. And now he just coulds called a bishop. And I'm like, this guy is just a stud. And he was the head pilot. was running air marshal. He still is. He can't fly anymore. But just a solid standout guy. And I'm so jealous you got to baptize him. That is like one of the coolest baptisms in all of the Marshall Islands.
00:58:01
Speaker
It's ah like, but here's the thing, what I didn't do anything. Like, you know, when I heard a little bit more about his backstory, he was already making changes in his life um before we come across him.
00:58:13
Speaker
um You know, he was, and so for me, the Lord was preparing him. um And he had, you know, i I honestly don't take any credit for that. It was, all I was doing was just doing what you're supposed to do as a missionary.
00:58:27
Speaker
And that is getting out of your house on time, You know, praying and hoping to have the spirit and just and just inviting people, you know, to to come under Christ. um You know, he was any anybody could have taught him. Anybody could have could have baptized him. I was just blessed at the time to be there and, you know, to be the one that was a part of that that journey for him.
00:58:49
Speaker
But, yeah, they're great people. You know, I said I've got I've got photos on my phone of him post post mission when I've come back to see him. I've got one where he's holding my son and my son's crying, which is a funny photo. And then I got another one a year later when my son's a bit older and we're both all looking and smiling together. So, you know, that's been fantastic to see. And, you know, I know that he's now a leader in the church and he's and he's now going on to help other people come under Christ through his.
00:59:17
Speaker
his example and his leadership. So it's just a wonderful thing to have been able to be a part of. Yeah. He's the man. I, I'm one of his biggest fans. So it's so cool.
00:59:28
Speaker
So cool. You got to be there. I served, I served Long Island for four and a half months and he, I, I, I went over to his house often. So yeah, he's a great dude. Yeah. I said, I still haven't beaten him at checkers, but one day I'll win. I'll beat you one day.
00:59:44
Speaker
So, yes, so I said that was that was with Elder Barlow, but also Elder Lasique. So Elder Barlow, me and Elder Barlow found him and then me and Lasique was there when we baptized him. And he was a funny he was a funny guy. you know he was But he was very willing to learn.
00:59:58
Speaker
um So I enjoyed my time with Elder Lassike. I remember a funny story, actually. It's not so much spiritual, but it's a funny story. And remember one time we had some kids over. And I said to him, hey, man, I don't think we can have them in the house.
01:00:10
Speaker
And he was like, it's OK, G. They're just going to eat a little bit and have a drink and leave. It's all good. And I said, all right, I'm just going to lay down. So I laid down and the kids are over. And then all of a sudden they quickly left together. And then a little bit later on, some missionaries come over and and we were going to exchange that night. And Elder Lassique paused and he was like, hey, yeah did you have $10 on the table?
01:00:31
Speaker
And i said, yeah, let me guess, it's gone. And so we ran out the house and we went looking for these kids. And this is at Long Island Chapel. And so we ran out and there was a bunch of kids sitting at the front on the right of Long Island Chapel. And As they see the four of us, one of them gets up and bolts, just runs but behind and he runs off and of hides behind the the the church next to it, next door.
01:00:53
Speaker
And so I come to the group of kids and said, hey, tell him to come back. And I promise I won't hurt him. And and so one of the kids got up and kind of went off and and come back. And he said, oh, he's he's too scared. He doesn't want to come back.
01:01:05
Speaker
And I said, no, tell him to come back. and or or I'll get him tomorrow. I promise I won't hurt him, but you tell him to come back now, which I know isn't a very missionary thing probably to say or to do, but, and you know, he's just a young man, you know, I was a bit cranky at the time. um So anyway, so he went and he the kid eventually come back. He was a bit, you know, a bit contrite, I guess.
01:01:26
Speaker
um And I said to him, oh, that's fine. Look, we know you take it. We know you've taken it. Just just give it back and all is forgiven, all is forgotten. And he went, oh, I've spent it already.
01:01:38
Speaker
And I was like, it's been like five minutes. What you spend it on? And he just pointed to like another kid who was sitting down and the kid poured out from behind his back a bottle of vodka. They'd gone to the Munwir and bought a bottle of vodka and they'd already drank half of it between like the six of them.
01:01:54
Speaker
And I was going like, oh man, I just, I was just so cranky. So I said, give it here, give it here. So I opened it up and just tipped it out in front of them. And I was like, this, this is fake happiness. Like, and it will destroy your lives. It's no good.
01:02:07
Speaker
And then Elder Price and Elder Barlow, you know, said a few other things to them. And at the end, they said they apologized and they went on their way. But I guess it was lesson for all of us. And it's just a funny story I look back on and
Notable Stories and Lessons Learned
01:02:17
Speaker
think about.
01:02:18
Speaker
It just makes me laugh. But, yeah, Lassiki was like, oh, sorry, man. i was oh, don't worry about it. You know, it is what it is. It happens. You know, I guess we all learn something from it.
01:02:28
Speaker
Ten bucks. But, yeah, so, I mean. and So from there. Yeah. Sorry. i go ahead. Finish what you're going to say. I was just going to say, there was Elder Price was his name.
01:02:43
Speaker
And he was he actually was the one that first started training last year, Elder Lassique, and then I finished off Lassique's training. um But Elder Price, Cade Price, I think his name was, he was a great great and great missionary, great dude.
01:02:58
Speaker
um Some yeah experience that we kind of had together, I guess, was kind of more of a teaching experience where um you know and being a district leader you share you know every week you get together with the missionaries and you try to share spiritual thoughts or it basically just trainings with each other to try and be better missionaries be better individuals and um i shared a training once that really resonated with him that he kind of um it was a parable that i shared and then he kind of turned it a little bit and adapted it so he that he could teach the people in the martial arts and
01:03:33
Speaker
um You know, we spoke about it afterwards together back and forth and it was a, you know, it's a really, really good parable and I think it encapsulates kind of the missionary work that we do um and and in the Marshall Islands. And the parable goes something like this and that there once was a fisherman who every night would go out spearfishing on the reef in the island where he lived.
01:03:57
Speaker
And to catch fish at night, he would use his trust his trusty danki or his flashlight. And his flashlight was good. He took care of it. and It would light the ocean floor and help him provide fish for his family and friends. And and his life and his community were were happy for it and they were good.
01:04:13
Speaker
One day a stranger came along from the land and came to see him and said, I have a gift for you. It's a better flashlight than what you already have. It will help you fish at night, keep sharks away and will never need replacing.
01:04:25
Speaker
The fisherman replied, thank you, but I'm happy with my flashlight. It works for me and I don't need any others. The stranger then asked if tonight or that night they could go fishing to go on the reef um with the fisherman to show him the flashlight that he was offering.
01:04:41
Speaker
And the fisherman agreed, thinking, look, he has nothing that I want. I'm already happy with what I have and I'll show him that I don't need it. So later that night, later that night, both the stranger and the fisherman went out on the reef to go fishing. And the stranger asked if he could see the fisherman's light.
01:04:56
Speaker
So the fisherman turned on his light and said, see, you know, look how good it is. And the stranger said, yes, I can see it's a good flashlight. You've taken care of it and it works very well.
01:05:07
Speaker
But now let me show you the flashlight that I have to offer. And I don't know if you've ever seen light when a greater light is turned on. It just totally, you can tell instantly.
01:05:18
Speaker
So the stranger turned on his flashlight and while leaving the fisherman's flashlight on and soon you know it was much clearer um and much brighter than what it had been before and it was very it became quite obvious um that the flashlight the stranger had was was far stronger and better than the fisherman's one and so the stranger began to show how this flashlight worked all the features that it and the things that it could do um and soon the fisherman began to imagine all the ways that he could use it to better his family and to better you know to better his family's life
01:05:51
Speaker
um when it came to fishing. And so the stranger said, hey, you know, use this flashlight tonight and just see how it goes. um And that night, the fisherman caught more fish than he ever caught before in his life. the fish ah the light helped it the The flashlight helped him to stay up there longer. He could scare sharks away more readily. And he could you can see the deeper fish, and the fish that were deeper and the bigger fish. And so after he finished, the fisherman gladly accepted the gift.
01:06:19
Speaker
um And his life and the life of his family and the life of his village was greatly improved because of it. um So that's the parable. um Without going into too much detail, because I think that kind of takes away some of the interpretations people can gather from parables.
01:06:33
Speaker
um I think it really encapsulates the work that we as missionaries do, the strangers coming into their lands and saying, hey, you know, you already have a faith in Jesus Christ. You already have a portion of the light.
01:06:46
Speaker
um What we offer is is something that we believe is is better for you. um And, you know, just give it a try and you'll you'll come to see that what we have is can really bless your life and can really help you.
01:07:02
Speaker
And so that was, a you know, I guess a parable born out of, me and elder price kind of talking together you know him listening to a story that i'd given and and extrapolating a meaning from it that wasn't what i had thought about and then coming back to me and talking about it and then you know so we both were able to be edified and learned uh together because we counseled together about it and so really grateful for for him um for for listening during that training and you know helping me to come to this conclusion where i think it's a far superior parable and um
01:07:36
Speaker
yeah Yeah, no, it's it's a cool parable, and it totally is relatable to the marshallist people. and Oftentimes, some of the scriptures they read and you know tell stories that they don't really understand. They talk about you know going up to the mountain to do this, they like but you know what and never seen a mountain in my life. Stuff like that. you know Always trying to relate it to their way of life made them understand to the gospel a lot easier, a lot easier to to understand it than to take grasp of it, um which is really cool. So I really like the parable. Thank you for sharing that. That's fine. That's fine. Again, I think that's that's how just as humans, we we we you know we don't remember lessons, but remember stories.
01:08:24
Speaker
you know You think of general conferences, great talks from general conferences. You remember the stories that the general authority spoke about. and you can gather the meaning from the story, but you couldn't tell me what the title their talk was.
01:08:37
Speaker
Very rarely can you. You know, you just say, oh, remember this one time Gordon B Hinckley spoke about this, or, you know, they spoke about this, and they shared this funny story in it, you know, and that's how even the Marshallese stories, the legends, a lot of them are teaching principles that they pass on to their next generation. so So I've tried to take that moving forward whenever I'm teaching or trying to explain something. If you can share a story,
01:09:01
Speaker
or an experience that hopefully ah cap encapsulates the message you're trying to get across, I always have found that tends to stick and resonate more with people. um So that's just yeah one of the many stories that I was able to accumulate from my time as a missionary. And, you know, we had a lot of success in Long Island. It was a really, really great area. And then um afterwards, I'd served there for three months.
01:09:25
Speaker
And then I transferred to Jalewit, where I worked with our Elder Brigham Harris was his name. And he was a very much by the book missionary. He was still somewhat new.
01:09:39
Speaker
he was in the same intake as Elder Lassike and Elder Barlow. um So ah I remember it was a little bit of it was a little bit of adjusting for me. who had kind of gotten into a routine um that I was comfortable with, my as you do.
01:09:53
Speaker
um But it was good working with him because he inspired me and and encouraged me to be a little bit better than what I was. And I think I was able to help him maybe relax a little bit um in some in some aspects of his missionary work. um But we had a lot of success. We were in Jell-O-Itsjell Board, and I felt like I had a lot more personal growth out there um leading the church now, and not just in missionary work, but actually leading church and um the actual running of it um when I was out there. I remember me first when I first got there, the first three Sundays, we had 14, 10 and 10.
01:10:30
Speaker
That were our number of people that came to church. And out of them three Sundays, there was only one adult for them three Sundays. The rest were youth. Yes, but yeah yeah the rest were kids.
01:10:42
Speaker
And so I remember after second Sunday having a difficult chat with Elder Harris where I said, hey, we're no longer going to be biking two hours to Jellewish, Jellewish every second day to go and teach people out there. We're just not going to do that anymore.
01:10:56
Speaker
um Instead, we're just going to focus in Japport where the high school is. and um And we counselled together and decided to um extend church from just the one hour that we were having it to two hours um and making the second hour a gospel doctrine class for adults.
01:11:12
Speaker
um And so we implemented these changes um and focused more in the area where we were, where there was more populated and more population dense.
01:11:23
Speaker
And the last few Sundays I was there, we were getting, you know, 30 plus people coming to church with like 10 plus people, adults staying behind for the. for the hospital doctoring class at the end.
01:11:35
Speaker
I mean, looking back, i kind of felt bad saying, all right, kids, go home now. The adults are going to stay. I'm going to do an hospital doctoring class. um But we found you know that was something that, you know, for the four months I was out there, really, really proud um to have to have done. and And unfortunately, I said it makes me a little bit sad to say, but um as with all work in the Outer Islands, unfortunately some missionaries who came out after me maybe didn't have the right mindset or commitment to the work and unfortunately all the progress that had been made um came undone.
01:12:10
Speaker
And since going back to the Marshall Islands nearly three years ago, I've learned that Jellawich has remained closed to missionary work since COVID. So that's five years now, there hasn't been missionaries out there. um But I know when I was out there, I did, I did ah did do, ah did put, was my best effort, and I'm just, I just hope that I was able to help those um who i was blessed to work with and and to have spiritual experiences with for the time that I was there, and I know it's a great place, and know you put missionaries back out there, it'll, they'll it'll pick back up again, um you know, um I bumped into Yahshua, who was the, you know, a man from out there, and
01:12:49
Speaker
great dude you know i bumped into a major and i took him out for lunch and you know i had a conversation with him and said well you know hopefully we get missionaries out there and you know because he's the unit leader um but yeah so we'll just see what happens and um and yeah so that's that was kind of the story yeah yeah it's just kind of a challenge you know in the marsh islands you know there's a you know islands open been and and close and And you have members, you know, you have a lot of success and then you'll have other missionaries come and kind blow it up.
01:13:22
Speaker
And then they close island and then it's reopened. And so it's kind of like this constant battle of getting people come to church again and bring them closer to Christ. But I feel like the strong ones, you know, they really do stay strong, even if they're not having a church community.
01:13:38
Speaker
they attend to every sunday yeah know they of course they you know in their heart and and and they know like and they're they're dedicated and they usually come back right away when the missionaries come and those ones are the the true like converted people and and to do that on outer island to have that is is very difficult and i as i'm talking i'm thinking of the story of um story of Ammon when, you know, he he goes the Lamanites and there's, um I'm blanking on her name, but the Lamanite woman who who was a believer early on, her dad was a believer and like, i her yeah, yeah, I think, ah yeah so I can't remember her name, but, you know, her family, were they were believers, but they didn't have any other believers around them, but they, you know, they were dedicated in that. And that's kind of how I think about when these outer islands, they don't have, you know,
01:14:31
Speaker
you know authority or missionaries out there to help them. That's kind of, you know, how they are. And I think they're like extra blessed for it i mean, they're on these tiny remote islands.
01:14:41
Speaker
Like you can't, you can't blame them for, for not having the means to attend a church or something like that, you know? Yeah. I i i think, I think that's, it gives me, you know, hope and in in the atonement.
01:14:54
Speaker
You know, we're all, I like to put it, we're all sitting in exam. We're all in a big exam room, the exam of life. and we're all sitting different tests depending on, you know, what tests we need to sit.
01:15:07
Speaker
So, you know, you'll be marked according to the test that you're sitting, and I might be right next to you, but we're sitting I'm sitting a different test. You know, I've got different questions and different things I need to answer um answer to, and, um you know, I know that their test is different from my test, and they'll be judged according to the test that they're sitting.
01:15:26
Speaker
And so... you know I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful that knowledge. It gives me comfort when I think about you know yeah the field is white, but the labor is a few. you know you think of you know I remember a conversation I had with... and Anyway, but yeah, we do what we can. well Hopefully you can you know help help the new mission president, send missionaries out there.
01:15:48
Speaker
Hey, just keep whispering in his ear. Yeah, again, he's a busy man. um i've I've said, hey, let's let's catch up for lunch. you know I'd love to share with you some of my thoughts and experiences um and uh you know when he gets time so as you know it being a mission president for two countries you know you you spend like one or two weeks and it's flat out in one country and then you go then back to kitabas and spend one or two weeks there and it's flat out and then you're back again so yeah so hopefully i can meet with him and we can have a chat um because yeah there's some place some ideas or some some things i'd like to share with him but we'll see what happens um so how long are you
01:16:25
Speaker
So i almost was in college four months. I served with Elder Harris for three of them, and then I served with Elder King um for, I think, another month and a bit. um so and he And he was very different from Elder Harris. we just I think we just had different different styles. I'm trying to put this nicely. We just had different ways of of of being a missionary and to me. And in hindsight, I could have been a better companion and teacher for him, but we were still having success. said The church was still, you know, the numbers were still there. People were still coming. We were having lot success, and um
01:16:56
Speaker
Then I got the call that I was to be recalled to Majuro the next day and I remember I was i was very angry about that. It was the first time I had totally disagreed with the decision um to transfer.
01:17:10
Speaker
and I remember the whole day before I was just fuming I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to a lot of people um because it was kind of sudden and when I got back and I sat with President Weir I'm a mission president. I said, I gave him the reasoning why I shouldn't have been taken off Jellowicz and why I thought it was the wrong decision.
01:17:29
Speaker
And he just said to me, I needed you here more than I needed you there. And he explained to me the situation in Majuro at the time. And I stopped being angry and I was at peace with it all. um He told me that I'd be a district leader for a little bit and then he'd make me his own leader up and that he needed my leadership abilities in Majuro for the the younger missionaries.
01:17:47
Speaker
Yeah. And so, you know, looking back, he asked me for my, ah you know, then he asked me for my opinion on certain things. And I said, looking back, there was quite a few times where he asked me suggestions and I'd happily share with him what I thought.
01:18:04
Speaker
um And more often than not, he followed the counsel that I provided. um That's what I loved about President Weir, his willingness to listen to those on the ground and helping him receive revelation on the direction of missionary work. I think as President Nelson has put it previously, he's Good inspiration is aided upon good information.
01:18:23
Speaker
um So even though i I felt as though I never had enough time with him, um because unfortunately it's the missionaries who are struggling, we'll put it that way, that get the most time with him, but maybe benefit it from it the least. They take up his time more than those that can kind of fend for themselves. and But the times I did have with him, you know, i was really grateful for.
01:18:44
Speaker
um And I said, I really cherish them, them moments and memories. And actually his wife, Sister Weir, she was a wonderful woman. You know, i can't speak highly enough of her and the spirit that she brought with her anyway.
01:18:55
Speaker
i am I would have her cut my hair. And it's that she was, ah you know, this extraordinary, you know, hair cutter, this barber. It's just I could spend time with her. um You know, she sat like, you know, an hour, an hour and a half aside where I'd go around and she would cut my hair and we would just talk. And I'm really grateful for that. So, yeah, that was great. So that was my time in Jellowicz. So I'd come back and I went to Laura then for six weeks where i worked with Elder Yokimi.
01:19:24
Speaker
He was from Western Samoa and his English was very limited. And that in turn was hurting his ability to learn martialese from his companions. But he had a desire to learn.
01:19:35
Speaker
And he, you know, me and him, again, you know, had a lot of success in Laura. um You know, we had up we had a marriage and and then we we had, you know, some baptisms and in the transfer directly after I left, um ah they had lots of baptisms and a lot of them people were people that we started studying with. So Laura is a great place. You know, I i would live there now if it weren't an hour and a half away from where I work.
01:20:02
Speaker
I know. It's such a beautiful part of Madra, the countryside. It's definitely my favorite, you know, to spend some time out there. I, I'm the same as you. If I were to live anywhere, I'd probably live in Laura. It's just so gorgeous.
01:20:15
Speaker
Yeah. It's, it's, it was beautiful to see, but yeah, it's just, it's an hour and a half away from where I work. So, you know, I haven't got a car, so that makes it bit difficult. Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, so, so what did Laura is only six weeks, but again, great time, great memories. And then, um, they made me zone leader of, um, of in agile, Bucky.
01:20:36
Speaker
for the next four and a half months and that's where i finished my mission off. um So I worked with, first it was el elder Andrew Wilson. ah Andrew Wilson, he was ah he was a great missionary, another great missionary.
01:20:50
Speaker
He was the intake directly after me, um but his marshallies was actually better than mine. He was he was a smart cookie. And i think as a companionship, I think in all honesty, that was probably the best companionship that I personally had when it came to teaching and actually doing missionary work.
01:21:07
Speaker
um We were very much in sync. I think our personalities worked very well together. He was a bit more shy and reserved than myself, um where I was a bit more outgoing in martialese. And when it came to finding, that's where I was i was very confident and and and very capable.
01:21:24
Speaker
um And then in teachings, he could structure a lesson very, very good. And we would bounce back and forth and have what you would imagine a normal a normal companionship would have without the language barrier. It was really, really good.
01:21:35
Speaker
And I think we worked really well together. He was one of the one of the missionaries that I actually looked up to and respected. um there's a few mission there was said There was a few missionaries where it was like that, and he in Elder Prisby was one of them, and and Elder Wilson was the other one where I really respected them and really thought they were upstanding ah young men.
01:21:55
Speaker
So, yeah.
01:21:56
Speaker
And, uh, so the Yedra zone leaders together in Ajitagi at the time. Yeah, for three months. but I think we were together for, me and him were together for, i think it was two transfers. And then, or was it one? I can't remember.
01:22:08
Speaker
So I remember was bit foggy. Anyway, we were, we we were together for a bit and then he went, there you go. I can't remember where went. But anyway, and then, ah my final companion was little Troy Petrucevic and he was an Australian.
01:22:20
Speaker
Um, and, uh, And yeah, he was yeah he was he was a good missionary too. you enjoyed my time with him. um And we you nowul laki we had success when it came to missionary but really we focused more on the ward and the youth during our time. We were the de facto transportation for all things youth related. And on Sundays we would pick people up and take them home from church.
01:22:45
Speaker
um Yeah, that's the issue with Ajahn's hockey. It's so long. It's so long and so skinny. To be to come to church is difficult, and they have to have a ride. Otherwise, they're just not going to come. Yeah, I see i know and and so in hindsight, if you actually look at the mission rules and handbook, you're not supposed to do that.
01:23:02
Speaker
But um it's what we did, and i don't regret it, not for one minute. um We, you know, there's a photo, i might share it with you at some point, um of – of an activity that I had with the youth. I just said, hey, we're all going to, you know, eat some food, eat some ice cream and watch a movie together.
01:23:23
Speaker
um And so there's a photo of all the youth in Agil Dagi at the Agil Dagi Chapel and we're all watching, you know, all eating ice cream and having a good time. And I had a really good bond with all the youth in Agil Dagi at the time. And, you know, it was just great to see, you know,
01:23:38
Speaker
and to to work with them. I really, really enjoyed it. i think that's I love those times. Yeah, those like times, like, doing activities with the youth, like, on live, we did, like, a I paid, like, $20 for gas to go on the lawn, and we took the the boys out crowd hunting on one of the iatholes out there. It was just, like, so fun. i just enjoyed spending time with the youth and doing fun activities like that.
01:24:03
Speaker
Yeah, of course. And I think that's where I really developed my love for the youth and working with the youth. um You know, even though at the time they're only three, three years younger than you, maybe, you know, five, six years younger than you.
01:24:14
Speaker
um but you know really developed a love for them and when i came back later on ah about a year about a year and about a year and a half later you know i bought them all t-shirts lick side boys and uh you know they they loved it it was like a little a little secret combination i called it and uh yeah saved it was all you know it was all good fun and they all worked we all worked to beat in 2016. um it's like a kind of uniform all the adilagi boys wore So, yeah, it was great. Yeah, really, really enjoyed it. So really fond memories. i love
01:24:46
Speaker
Who was Bishop of Ajustagi when you were there? um It was just a branch, and they just made Barney the ah branch president. Barney was still – that guy's been in there forever. is he I'm pretty sure he's still the bishop, right?
01:25:00
Speaker
Yeah, he's still the bishop out Ten years. That's wild. Yeah, good for him. Serving the Lord. He'll have a mansion in heaven for sure. Mm-hmm.
01:25:10
Speaker
um So, yeah, so that's kind of, i guess, yeah my mission. The whole two years. Yeah, I have glossed over something.
Post-Mission Life and Career
01:25:20
Speaker
I said I did meet my wife on my mission.
01:25:24
Speaker
So let me maybe get and get into that little bit. Yes, please. So I first met her. I remember when I first met her. um It was in Long Island when I was a district leader.
01:25:35
Speaker
And I'd gone to the sister's house. And I was knocking on their door. i forget what I went there for. I think I was talking, going to talk about a baptism that was up and coming. And anyway, so I knocked on the door and, and she opened it and I said, Oh, hello, who are you?
01:25:52
Speaker
And she said, Oh, hi, my name's Shmeiko. And I said, Oh, Shmeiko, have you seen Lord the Rings? And maybe you've kind of clicked it on Shmeiko, Shmeagol, Lord the Rings, that little creature.
01:26:06
Speaker
and the ugly creature. And, and she said, Oh no, I haven't seen it. But she says that she says afterwards that she, she had seen it. She knew what I was getting at. um So I was kind of making fun of her when I first met her and I said, all right, then all right, nevermind. Anyway, where's the sisters.
01:26:21
Speaker
And that was the very first time I met her. um And, ah you know, I didn't think anything of it. I just thought, no, she's this, I think she was 18 at the time, just turned 18. This young girl that was working with the sisters, um doing them and like, I'm being, we're going on splits with the sisters.
01:26:38
Speaker
And I remember one of the other missionaries, Elder Schmidt, um he actually said, hey, be careful what you do around her. She'll snitch on you to the gardeners, elder and sister gardener. And I went, oh, OK, I'll keep that in mind.
01:26:49
Speaker
Anyway, so again, didn't think anything of it. Didn't see her again until my final area, Adjadabi, which is where she lives. so And um she was preparing to serve her mission at the time.
01:27:01
Speaker
um So she basically lived with the sisters. um because I think she was waiting for some paperwork, but she was set apart. So she spent the first, like, three or three month three weeks a month in Aljulaki as an actual sister, just kind of waiting to go on her mission to the Caribbean.
01:27:16
Speaker
um And I was working closely with her father. um And so, you know, we were able to help him. and um And, you know, she was the first member in her family to be baptised.
01:27:28
Speaker
um And so we were trying to complete the family as what you do, what you call it, you know, working with those around her. And so I was really working a lot with her father and her, you know, but got to know him and, you know, they they were good people. And um anyway, so she's, you know, seen her back and forth, friendship grew.
01:27:49
Speaker
And I said, hey, you know, can I write to you on your mission? And she's like, yeah, sure, sure. And then she, I went to the airport to see her off. And um I just remember thinking, was like, man, I'm never going to see her again. And just thinking, you know,
01:28:02
Speaker
That makes me sad. And so so, yeah, so we wrote and the first couple of emails, maybe I shouldn't say this. But the first couple of emails, she would just CC me in. she how I like would email her something personal, just like a message. then she would just CC me on a blanket email that she would send to like 50, you know, 40 different people.
01:28:25
Speaker
And so then I messaged her. and I was like, hey, don't do that. If I'm messaging you, you message me. So she was like, OK. So we wrote back and forth. um And um it was just, you know, it was just friends. It was just a friends for the first bit.
01:28:41
Speaker
um But then, know, as time went on, I guess, relationship kind of grew, feelings grew. And yeah we had 18 months to get to know each other. um You know, I would wake up at towards the end. I would wake up at like 2 a.m. in the morning.
01:28:54
Speaker
3am because that would be you know the time in the caribbean that she would be online to email with it was different back then where now you can just kind of live message back then you know mission rules were a bit different so um you know that was something this is post this is post your mission this is oh yeah this is post my mission yeah i only had yeah and she left yeah she left her mission she left the caribbean and then i had like three weeks to go and then i finished my mission so So nothing was going on during my mission. Don't worry about it.
01:29:23
Speaker
and that's That's what people tend to think. They're like, oh something. Nah. Anyway, you should ask her, you know. Anyway. um But, yes so yeah, your relationship kind of grew from there. And, you know, then i I flew over and proposed to her and she said she said yes.
01:29:39
Speaker
and What year was that? This was 2016, end end of November is when I proposed to her. And then came back to Australia and started working and saving um to pay for immigration, pay for flight overs, pay for immigration it's just say immigration immigration, the wedding and the flights. So all up, it was like $15,000 to do all that. So I worked all year, 2017. And then she flew over in December and we got married December 16th, Brisbane Temple. There's some wonderful photos we have um i'll up there. And we lived in Brisbane and, you know, I worked and now you work and you live and
01:30:18
Speaker
She fell pregnant and we had our son in 2021, James. And, um you know, great. Everything was going great. And then in the end of 2022, or towards like the middle of, I'd say middle of 2022, she started to, we'll call it, feel the call to go home.
01:30:37
Speaker
um And so i said, okay, well, if we're going to do it, I guess now's the time to do it. So um we went back, we came back to the Marshalls in November, 2022. And I had no plan. We just will come back.
01:30:51
Speaker
We had we had it quite a bit in savings, um you know, that we've been saving for a potential move or for something. And so we came back and I was blessed to get a job with the Australian Embassy at the time.
01:31:04
Speaker
um After a couple months, one of their staff went on an early maternity leave and so they said hey we know you've applied for a job here before but we think we couldn't give it to you because you went in country would you like to come in and fill in while she's gone and i said yeah sure i'd love it so i worked there for six months um and um unfortunately they couldn't when she come back they couldn't have another position for me in time so Unfortunately, i had to leave them, but fortunately I walked next door in the same building and knocked on the UNDP office and said, hey, can I have a job?
01:31:41
Speaker
And the project manager of the project, it's the Aqua project, it's the one of the biggest projects that's going on. It's about $40 million dollars project helping the outer islands with their water supply and their ability to capture water.
01:31:57
Speaker
um And so they said, you know, the project manager said, hey, can you speak Marshallese? And said, yes. And he said, all right, sure, just apply and we'll you'll probably get it. and So I applied and I got it. And I did that for a year and a half and was able to travel around to, I'd probably say half of all the outer islands in Madura. I traveled to all of Cabo Meto.
01:32:19
Speaker
And then I traveled to Wiche, Ailuk, Aor, Ligip. Yeah, and so basically all the northern islands I was able to visit.
01:32:31
Speaker
Um, so that was great. Got some great experiences and photos and bumping into members, just people out there that are like, you know, cause the story always went when I went out there and started speaking Marshallese with the people that went, Oh, how do you know Marshallese?
01:32:44
Speaker
Oh, well, I was a missionary. Oh, I'm a member. That's, uh, I've got a lot of that out there and, um, you know, and so, uh, really, really enjoyed that job.
01:32:55
Speaker
Um, the only reason I left it was because, um, The Australian Embassy asked me to come back. They said, hey, we've got a position for you. Would you like to apply? And I said, yeah, sure. I just thought it would be a better career move for me.
01:33:10
Speaker
um So I applied and like I got it. And that's what I'm doing at the moment. So, you know, really helping out in a different way in country. um I'm currently serving as the first councillor in the Uluga Bishopric, which has just been reorganised and reformed. So,
01:33:28
Speaker
I've been able to kind of help out in that capacity um post missionary work. I'm now working with families to get them to the temple. um So, you know, um it's been really, really rewarding. I remember when I first came back to the Marshall Islands, you know, there was it was a bit emotional for me at times to walk the same grounds I had walked a decade previous and um with my son, um you know, and he was, you know, a young fellow. And um I admit I was overcome at times.
01:34:00
Speaker
um But, you know, I know how Alma the Younger felt in the Book of Mormon. I think it's Alma 17, when he comes across the sons of Mosiah again, who he hadn't seen in over a decade as they had gone amongst the Laminites to be missionaries. And um it goes that Alma did rejoice exceedingly.
01:34:21
Speaker
um to see his brethren. but what added more to his joy was that they were still his brethren, the Lord. And it was wonderful. It's been wonderful to come back 10 years later and to see people who had, who had you know, had experiences with and have worked with, who had allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ more fully into their lives and allowed it to to do what it's supposed to do, which is to change them for the better. And you could really see, um for me anyway, it was really obvious and I could really see the blessings of those who had accepted the work and the joy that I felt in being but a small part in that and really, really was rewarding. And I guess also on the flip side of that, you know i also came across people who I had previously worked with who unfortunately, um for whatever reason, hadn't accepted the message and um hadn't allowed the gospel more into their lives and unfortunately you know continued in their substance abuse and
01:35:16
Speaker
Sadly, had it it had changed their appearance and, um you know, and changed their, I guess, their lives and not for the better. But, you know, i like to focus on the positive things and, you know, I've been able to come back and, you know, and and work with some other people post-mission, you know, say, you know, work with some members, hey, you two need to get married, and you know, really kind of push that and, you know, helping them get married and, um you know, helping but helping people go to the temple, you know, working with youth.
01:35:45
Speaker
interviewing with youth and and and trying to give them a vision of um you know you know you should be thinking about a mission you should be thinking about going the temple you know um after school you know don't just just don't just do nothing you know go go get educated you know be someone grow and develop and um it's been um it's been really good you know when we're not you know We're out here to help people and together at gather experiences. um you know We're not out here to make money and make a killing.
01:36:18
Speaker
um you know we would We do all right, um but you know life's more about gaining experiences and and and to guess the friends you make along the way. I know it's cliche, but it's very true.
01:36:29
Speaker
I've met a lot of people and been a part a lot of that and really grateful for that. for that And, you know, you're not necessarily need a lot of money because you're already living in paradise so yeah of course that you know i i always told the marshes people because they'd always be like man america want to go to america america is so great and i'm like america is great you know i do love america but so is the marsh islands and you have so much here love and they do love the marsh islands but sometimes i feel like they're like america's even better you know and i'm like
01:37:03
Speaker
you don't realize like the simple life. Like I wish I had the simple life in America. I can't, I like physically can't live the simple life. I, you know, the Island gives you what you need. If, if I'm, I want to go, fish I can go fishing and grab some fish for my family and then we will eat fish, you know, I'll drink a coconut. Like I don't have that where I live. Like I, I, I'm not a farmer. I'm not growing anything. I physically just can't do it.
01:37:27
Speaker
And I just like the life is so simple and i and I, I loved it. And I, and I, almost wish they like would stay, even though I want them to continue to, you know, grow. The biggest thing with Marshall Islands people are leaving.
01:37:42
Speaker
They're leaving the Marshall Islands and it's, it's really tough. i'm I'm like happy for them and, and for their future generations. But it's it also saddens me that they're leaving their islands, which is also kind of leaving their culture a little bit.
01:37:58
Speaker
And um yeah. it And actually i was going to ask you, you know, serving 10 years ago and then now living there, have you noticed that there are fewer people in the Marsh Islands? Can you feel it?
01:38:10
Speaker
Can you see it? Yeah. So all the outer islands population is shrinking. There's only, as far as I'm aware, only Majuro, even Majuro is not growing like it should be just because what's happening is that there's only so much jobs that are in country um and the younger generation,
01:38:30
Speaker
are being encouraged, hey, get educated, become someone. And they do, but then there's just limited opportunities for them. And, you know, when they can just go to the States and work there, and a lot of them do. And so I know a lot of my investigators, people that baptised, that are wonderful people, that are strong people, that talents could be used to build up the church in Maduro. lot of are in the States chasing, you know, chasing a better life for themselves and um and you know i wish them well and it's just it's a problem in the not just not just in the marshall i think it's probably a lot of places um but you can just it's quite prevalent here at the moment so you know we do what we can and um you know there's a lot going for the country there's a lot going for it the people here are great and um i i love i love working i love working amongst them and and living amongst them yeah well um
01:39:25
Speaker
David, last few questions for you that I asked everybody. You know, ah favorite area, favorite food, and your favorite thing about the Marsh Islands. And I'm actually going to throw another one in there because you visited other islands.
01:39:38
Speaker
What's the coolest island you've been to, like, in your job? Okay. um That's interesting. So favorite area.
01:39:47
Speaker
That's a really good question. Because... for different reasons, probably for the work.
01:39:53
Speaker
That's, that's, that's a, that's that's really tough question. I'd probably say just for the experience airborne, um, because it's, it was an outer Island. Um, and it was so unique.
01:40:05
Speaker
I spent the, that was the longest area I served in five months. Um, and I really can't, As far as the work goes, I mean, Agile Daki is always special because it was my final area. So I'll probably say that as well.
01:40:18
Speaker
um it doesn't That's not to put down the other areas. are you know We had a lot of success and you know a lot of great things happen. um so but yeah, I'd probably say Airborne and then Agile Daki. They stand out maybe a little bit more. um Favorite fruit? I mean, I always loved...
01:40:37
Speaker
I always loved jacobot, especially at the outer islands. That was like, that was the soda. That was the cool drink you had in the morning. um And, you know, and then the jacobot that you would get from it, like the honey when you boil it.
01:40:54
Speaker
um So that that was always, that's probably of my favorite food, I'd say, or my favorite thing. um and also use it in um another parable i like to share. which we probably don't have time to share, but that's something that I also use as an example to teach. It's actually my coming home talk. I used a parable or something, an experience that i so that I experienced in Airborne about it. Maybe I could have shared it, but but anyway.
01:41:17
Speaker
um And then, so that was favourite food, favourite. Favourite thing of the marshals?
01:41:23
Speaker
It would have to be...
01:41:25
Speaker
um
01:41:27
Speaker
interacting with the people and hearing their stories. Everybody has a story. Everybody has a life that they've lived with lessons to to share and um um knowledge to share. And people are very interesting. And even though you we may think they're are simple people, they' they're not. you know they've You know, they've got wonderful experiences and and heartbreaking stories. And um as you get to know the people, you really start to develop relationships with them and You know, and and they'll love you like like family, like the people out here. Like they will, the love that they'll that they'll show you and share with you, it will change you.
01:42:06
Speaker
It's changed me forever serving a mission out here. And I remember there was a like a chat forum. I don't usually engage with people in discourse online, but um someone had posted that a mission was a waste of time.
01:42:24
Speaker
and it kind of maybe outline some of the reasons why they thought a mission was a waste of time. And I couldn't, I really just couldn't kind of just let it, let it by. And so I actually, actually replied.
01:42:37
Speaker
um Let me just find my reply. Cause actually took a photo of it. Just give me a second while i find it.
01:42:44
Speaker
um So I said, the The person who posted this has since deleted it. um But I said, know, I strongly disagree with this. You know, missions can be boring at times.
01:42:57
Speaker
Life is boring at times. But I loved my mission.
Reflecting on the Mission's Impact
01:43:00
Speaker
It was the best two years and forever shaped my life for the better. And the person then replied, really, what was so great? And what did you what mission did you go to?
01:43:08
Speaker
um And I said, the Marshall Islands mission, you know, I love serving amongst the people. I loved helping people draw near at Jesus Christ and strengthen their relationships families. I love the last lessons that I learned and accumulated and personally accumulated while in my mission, which my father's always called it the university of life.
01:43:29
Speaker
um You know, I met my wife who served in her mission the Caribbean. um And, you know, I got married to her and we now have a son and we and now we're back in country. you know I was working on the UN project at the time. We were able to use my language skills post mission to go out to the outer islands and to help help them, not just in a spiritual way, but in a physical way, by helping to install water catchments and improve and their ability to capture water.
01:43:58
Speaker
um So in short, the mission changed my life forever. You know, it made me who I am today. I wouldn't ah wouldn't have met my wife.
01:44:09
Speaker
I wouldn't have met my son. I wouldn't have had my son, I guess. um I wouldn't have gone the line of work that I've gone into. I wouldn't have had all the experiences that I've had um that I treasure so much.
01:44:21
Speaker
um And, you know, i I wouldn't trade them for anything. I really wouldn't. It's, you know, ambition is what you make of it. And everyone's missions are different and everyone has different challenges.
01:44:33
Speaker
um And for me, I would just encourage any young man, any young woman, go and serve mission. It's the best thing that you can do in your life at that stage of your life.
01:44:45
Speaker
Bar none, better than university, better than getting a job. That can wait. It really can. It waited for me. ah came back. and know I got my degree. I'm now working full time. we know We're doing okay.
01:44:56
Speaker
um It can wait for you too. And the experiences that you will gain are worth far more than a degree or, you know, a bit of extra money in the pocket.
01:45:09
Speaker
Yeah. I totally agree. And don't need to say anything after that because I totally agree with everything on that. And, you know, mission is super hard. I don't think they tell you how, mean, they tell you it's gonna be hard, but you don't realize how hard it's going to be.
01:45:24
Speaker
But, but you know, here I am almost 10 years later and I just remember the good things. I don't remember any of the bad things about the mission. I remember all, I mean, yeah if I really think about it, but I love my mission. and I came home, my parents, my sister was like, she told me the other day, she says, when you came home, I thought you hated your mission.
01:45:44
Speaker
ah And then she's like, now you're doing a podcast about it. Like, was like, I love my mission. You know, I, I loved it. And, but at the time, i mean, it was really hard. And so I think,
01:45:55
Speaker
yeah You can go off and get bogged down by that. But later, you know, you look back and you look at all the good things and it's been amazing. Yeah, of course. I mean, i like, like, there were challenging times when you're teaching people and and, you know, they just, they don't believe what you're saying, which, you know, is fine, um you know, or, you You know, you need a companion, you know, another and another missionary you work with that maybe you're both just two different people.
01:46:23
Speaker
You know, you both come from different parts of the world, different cultures, different way of seeing things. And it's there's that struggle of trying to ah work together and and and achieve something together. um And it's more difficult with some than others.
01:46:36
Speaker
um i never But looking back, I never i don't i never thought of my mission as a challenge. I just thought I was incredibly blessed to have and and lucky to be called to the martial islands and to have served amongst the people there and I'd do it again in a heartbeat it was yeah just the best the best the best two years and you know I've got so many honestly like I know we've been speaking for you know an hour and an hour and 40 and you know I feel like ive there's so much I've missed um experiences and stories and you know funny encounters or heartbreaking moments where you know you know I went back and just cried um you know but
01:47:15
Speaker
It's, it was just so good. And I just, there's no other way I can put it. I just really grateful that I, you know, was able to serve. And I would encourage everybody, you know, serve a mission and, you know, it will, it will change you forever for the better.
01:47:33
Speaker
Well, David, thanks so much for coming on the podcast. It was awesome. I loved all your stories. ah I'm jealous you get to serve on airborne. ah And I'm jealous that you're you're out there ah helping out the Marshes people. So thanks for coming on. And this was another great episode of the Islands Podcast.
01:47:51
Speaker
No worries. Thank you. Appreciate it