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Episode 11: Christian Mcalister - Marshall Islands - Ebeye, Wotje, Majuro, Ailinglaplap
60 Plays15 days ago
Christian Mcalister served in the Marshall Islands Kiribati Mission from 2016 - 2018. Christian was adopted from the Marshall Islands when he was an infant and was able to return to his home country and people as a missionary of Christ. When he landed in the islands he felt as if he was home with his people. Learning his language and culture was very special to Christian, but most of all was finding and meeting his family members in the Marshall Islands. Christian served on Ebeye, Wotje, Majuro, & Ailinglaplap. Besides meeting his family in the islands, Christian also met his future wife, Polly Marie, who was a Fijian sister in his MTC group.
#MarshallIslandsMajuroMission #MarshallIslandsKiribatiMission #MarshallIslands #Ebeye #Wotje #Majuro #Ailinglaplap #TheIslandsPodcast #theislands #PacificIslands #PacificIslanders #Micronesia
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Background
00:00:01
Darin Tingey
All right, we're on with another episode of the Islands Podcast. I'm your host, Darren Tingey, and today we've got my buddy, never companions, but live together, Christian McAllister. Christian, It's weird calling you Christian.
00:00:18
Darin Tingey
Give a little intro on yourself and where you're from.
00:00:24
Mcalie
Yeah, okay. So I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. And ah I wasn't born in Memphis. I was born in the Marshall Islands. And at nine months years old, I was adopted and to my family now here Memphis.
00:00:33
Darin Tingey
Let's go.
00:00:40
Mcalie
And yeah, you know, I just was able to be called to go serve and speak, you know, Marshallese and get reunited with my family. And it was pretty cool.
00:00:52
Darin Tingey
So
Unexpected Mission Call
00:00:53
Darin Tingey
freaking cool. And you live Memphis now.
00:00:56
Mcalie
Yep.
00:00:57
Darin Tingey
And you met your wife on the mission. That's pretty cool.
00:01:00
Mcalie
I did. i met her in the MTC even, in fact, but we did not know we were destined to be together then.
00:01:10
Darin Tingey
so uh and you served from 2016 to 2018 same as me i think you were just a transfer behind me right yeah it's crazy and you came to ebuy too as your first day which is so fun dude we had a lot of fun together but um
00:01:17
Mcalie
Yep. Yeah, we were just six weeks after you guys.
00:01:24
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:01:29
Darin Tingey
So I want to hear ah little bit about like when you got your call, because you kind of had a little unique situation with your call and then coming out in the mesh.
00:01:36
Mcalie
I did.
00:01:39
Mcalie
Yeah. So my original call, I was a whole year earlier than I actually served. It was to Spokane, Washington, Marshallese speaking. I remember I had a huge party and a bunch of people came and everyone was freaking out when they heard Marshallese.
00:01:56
Mcalie
Then I had to take care of some things. and so It was about a year delay.
00:01:58
Darin Tingey
That's right.
00:02:00
Mcalie
and I remember the summer we didn't have a party. I just got my new call in the mail and I was just like, oh well, let's go to Spokane, I guess. and Then I'm reading it.
00:02:12
Mcalie
I'm in the kitchen with my mom and it said, Medjaro Marshall Islands. and i I was kind of like, whoa. I showed my mom and, you know, she kind of freaked out all over again. And um I'm sure I would have had a great time and spoke in Spokane as well. But it was really cool getting to go back to the homeland.
00:02:32
Darin Tingey
So you were totally like, I'm going to Spokane. Was it, was it like, did you know you were going to get a new mission, a whole new mission call or was it like, oh, I'm probably just going to back to Spokane?
00:02:46
Mcalie
Yeah, no, I had no idea. I just thought I was goingnna i just getting a new call. or and I was just thinking stateside.
00:02:52
Darin Tingey
So cool.
00:02:54
Mcalie
Even if it wasn't Marshall, I just kept thinking stateside.
00:02:57
Darin Tingey
So cool. I mean, here you are, born in the Marshall Islands, adopted, and now you're going back to your home country. Like that's probably the coolest thing ever.
00:03:06
Mcalie
Yeah, no, it was it was. It was overwhelming, but it was also you know really cool. I didn't know what to think. Yeah.
00:03:13
Darin Tingey
Had you done any like research growing up about the Marshall Islands? Like, yeah, I'm Marshallese. But I feel like when I met you, i was like, dude, this kid's Marshallese, but he's
Cultural Reunions and MTC Experiences
00:03:22
Darin Tingey
from Memphis. Like he's from the South, you know?
00:03:22
Mcalie
yeah yeah No, it's funny. As kids, my parents and, you know, my brother, we'd always go to these Marshallese reunions. It's this group of people that all adopted Marshallese kids and they would throw some, you know,
00:03:40
Mcalie
event for a few days at like a hotel or resort and all the Marshallese kids would get together. So there's like three years, we went three years we went to that and it pretty cool. Most of the people weren't members. So was just a bunch of people that adopted Marshallese kids. So,
00:03:54
Darin Tingey
Wow. That's really cool. ah ah So you go to the MTC in the fall, right? And it's just you and two sisters. Is that right?
00:04:09
Mcalie
Yeah, and well, we had two other brothers. One was speaking Marshallese stateside, and then there was just one elder who was speaking Haitian Creole, and they had no one to put him with, so they just put him with the Marshallese elders.
00:04:25
Darin Tingey
No way. So the the one kid going to the States, you're like, yeah, that was going be me, but now I'm going to the Marshall Islands.
00:04:31
Mcalie
Right, right. so yeah I totally forgot where he went. I have no idea where he went to speak Marshallese.
00:04:37
Darin Tingey
You probably would just go can, dude.
00:04:38
Mcalie
Yeah, maybe.
00:04:41
Darin Tingey
ah And you're with the other two sisters that came with us were Sister Ralea Tonga and Sister Marie from Fiji.
00:04:48
Mcalie
Yep. From Fiji, yes.
00:04:51
Darin Tingey
And I remember you guys were so tight knit, like so tight knit.
00:04:54
Mcalie
Yeah, we were. it was I think the why we got so close is because in the MTC, I guess they had big families and they have lots of brothers and they're used to taking care of them.
00:05:05
Mcalie
And they would bring trays because you know in mtc you can just get tons of food and we would come sitting down and they would have like two trays each for the three of us elders with just all this food and they kept doing it we're like hey you gotta stop you just we're wasting all this food and then they'd wrap it up and you know give it to us in class and we and then they started bringing in the teachers you know tonini and sherman all this food Yeah, so they were just so open and loving from the jump, and I think that's what really helped us get so close.
00:05:38
Darin Tingey
That's cool. and that's That's hilarious. It's just bringing you tons of food. Elders, eat.
00:05:43
Mcalie
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
00:05:44
Darin Tingey
Eat. We're going to the Marshall Islands, so we're not gonna eat like we're not going to eat.
00:05:45
Mcalie
And that's what they would say. They'd say, eat Yeah, they'd be like, eat, eat, eat. You know how the Fijian sisters are.
00:05:53
Darin Tingey
in the Marshall Islands. Little did you know, you go to E-Buy first, where they feed you like every house you visit.
00:05:57
Mcalie
Oh, yeah.
00:05:59
Mcalie
No.
00:06:01
Darin Tingey
So tell me what it was like for you. coming to the Marshall Islands because you came to EBI first and you came with Sister Marie.
00:06:09
Mcalie
Yeah. So I remember landing on Mejero, the first.
Arrival in Marshall Islands and Cultural Insights
00:06:13
Mcalie
And I think someone told this story similar too, but you have no idea. You just see ocean when you're about to land. I was just in looking at like the the sea. They didn't have any movies on that plane, unfortunately, not like I would watched it.
00:06:26
Mcalie
But they ah have I just see ocean. I'm like, what's going on? And then I remember when I landed, it was really hot and I was dressed like I was in Utah because it was kind of pretty cold at the time.
00:06:36
Darin Tingey
It's cold, yeah.
00:06:37
Mcalie
And I just remember getting there and I was like, whoa, this is pretty crazy. You can see the ocean on both sides. And you've got all these people that kind of look like me, looking at me.
00:06:48
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:06:49
Mcalie
They're all looking at me. So yeah, that that was pretty intense.
00:06:53
Darin Tingey
You're like, my people. This is the homeland, my people.
00:06:58
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:06:59
Darin Tingey
Did people ever try and speak to you in Marshallese at the beginning and you were kinda like, no, I don't speak Marshallese yet.
00:07:00
Mcalie
Uh-huh. Oh, the... All the time, on like from the beginning, but especially on E-Buy.
00:07:11
Mcalie
Yeah, and they they just would fire away at me, and then they'd have be really confused. They're like, oh, he's it seems like he doesn't really understand, or he's just being really rude, or maybe he's mad.
00:07:23
Mcalie
And then they'd kind of pause a bit.
00:07:24
Darin Tingey
ah
00:07:27
Darin Tingey
Yeah, the first the first like couple of words you probably learned it was like adopted, you know.
00:07:33
Mcalie
Right, right.
00:07:33
Darin Tingey
ah Try and explain to that. Did they, you know, what was kind of the, when you tell people you were adopted, did they like kind of understand that that was a thing?
00:07:45
Mcalie
Yeah, because so back, especially when I was adopted, it was a huge thing that Marshallese kids were being adopted. So all the people, especially when they realized I didn't speak, I think they probably thought, oh, he must have been one of those adopted kids.
00:08:00
Darin Tingey
Has that kind of died down? Yeah,
00:08:03
Mcalie
I do. I think it has kind of died down. It's not as as big.
00:08:08
Darin Tingey
and i know I know there was like the one past missionary who actually like got like arrested for the way he was doing, dealing with adoptions.
00:08:19
Darin Tingey
That happened in Arizona, actually, not long ago.
00:08:20
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah. I remember hearing about that.
00:08:22
Darin Tingey
um which is crazy. But yeah, it it was like, it was a big thing for Marshallese kids to be adopted. and in Marshallese culture, let's talk about this for a second because Marshallese culture, I remember being online talking to a family about it. They're like, yeah, like if I have some kids and my brother say he's got two girls, but it doesn't have a son and I have a couple of sons, I just had a brand new baby born. and He could be like, Hey, could I have your son? And I would just have to give my son.
00:08:50
Darin Tingey
Like that was just part of their culture.
00:08:52
Mcalie
yeah
00:08:53
Darin Tingey
It's just crazy. He's like, yeah, my my brother needs a son so he can have my son. And it's just like totally normal for him. And so, you know, you wonder if ah part of the adoption thing was kind of like not as crazy as maybe um us Americans would think it would be, you know?
00:09:08
Mcalie
Right. I think when I was adopted, it was still kind of new. Agencies haven't really gotten involved. It was really easy or easier for families to get Marshallese kids compared to you know other countries. So I think that's why there was like a hot streak of all these Marshallese kids getting adopted.
00:09:25
Darin Tingey
Yeah. Yeah, it's it's a funky thing culturally as far as as far as how they how they view it um I feel like that was something we taught.
00:09:35
Darin Tingey
It's like, oh like eternal families. and And like, obviously, that's not saying the adoption is bad, but, you know, just the way they they view it maybe.
00:09:40
Mcalie
Right, right.
00:09:43
Darin Tingey
um So then you fly to E-Buy. side You fly to E-Buy. Maybe we should let everyone know. Sister Marie is who you married eventually.
00:09:51
Mcalie
Yes. Yeah.
Missionary Challenges and Innovations
00:09:52
Darin Tingey
Okay?
00:09:52
Mcalie
yeah
00:09:53
Darin Tingey
But you guys spent a lot of your missions together. And you weren't dating. You weren't dating.
00:09:57
Mcalie
Right.
00:09:58
Darin Tingey
But you were close.
00:09:59
Mcalie
Yeah. Yeah, it was funny. I had just got out of a relationship not too long before the mission. and I was hadn't really even gotten over that at the time. remember I carried pictures around of her in my suitcase and stuff.
00:10:11
Darin Tingey
Yeah, think.
00:10:12
Mcalie
and So I was really just kind of and not even really thinking of that. But we were really close, and our mission was unique. We got to like spend so much time with missionaries, which was really cool because you know all of us, we have like such a special bond. that you know It's pretty rare, honestly.
00:10:31
Darin Tingey
Yeah. What was your first, what was your first, let's see, walk me through your areas and then we'll start with you by again.
00:10:38
Mcalie
So I went to Ibai for about six months, and then I went to Wutje for about three transfers. Then I was in Delup. Then I went to Ulaga.
00:10:49
Mcalie
Then i after that, I went to Ailing Level Up. And then I finished in Agile Tagge and Rita.
00:10:56
Darin Tingey
Okay. All ebay E-by-central is your first area, was it not?
00:11:01
Mcalie
Ibai Central, yep. We opened it up again.
00:11:05
Darin Tingey
ah you You another turn, though, I believe.
00:11:08
Mcalie
Yeah, on our turnbill, yeah. And I remember when I first – or, you know, actually, I got to serve in all three awards in my time there.
00:11:10
Darin Tingey
Were you in that ward the whole time?
00:11:16
Darin Tingey
Okay. What were you going to say, though?
00:11:19
Mcalie
But, oh yeah, when I first got to Ibai, when I got off got off that boat, I remember seeing you and all these other missionaries.
00:11:20
Darin Tingey
You remembered what?
00:11:29
Mcalie
I see Elder Teal, and he was on one of the episodes earlier. But Elder Teal really tall and strong, stocky guy. And I remember, i might maybe I was nervous, I don't know, but I remember the first words I said to him, I was like, what's up, little boy?
00:11:44
Mcalie
and And he was, he's just looking, he's this kid from Utah. He's like, what? Little boy? Me? Little boy? I like, yeah, little boy. so I guess, I'm sure they do it elsewhere, but in Memphis, you know, when you're playing basketball, that's how we talk trash, little boy. And I i don't know why I said that to him. Ever since then, I just called him little boy. The rest of the mission.
00:12:04
Darin Tingey
a
00:12:04
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:12:05
Darin Tingey
yeah That's your Memphis, yeah, that's your Memphis trash talk coming out.
00:12:09
Mcalie
ah
00:12:10
Darin Tingey
First words off the boat, dude. Way to make friends.
00:12:12
Mcalie
I was like was like, man, this guy is huge.
00:12:13
Darin Tingey
Way to make friends. ah ah And you lived at Triple J with us, which was, ah you know, I always tell everybody, it's it looks the apartment looks really nice and until until it's not, until the water's gone, until everything stops working in it, and then it gets bad real fast.
00:12:28
Mcalie
Oh, yeah. Uh-huh.
00:12:35
Mcalie
Really? I mean, I'm talking about... When the water's out, it can be, out I mean, there was one time and it was the four of us. I think it was out at least three, four days. I don't know. um remember it was getting to a point where it was, it was pushing it and it was like hazardous living conditions.
00:12:51
Mcalie
Cause we eat so much.
00:12:51
Darin Tingey
nowhere Nowhere to go to the bathroom anymore.
00:12:52
Mcalie
We get, yeah, we get, we get fed so much. So what are you supposed to do?
00:12:58
Darin Tingey
and I know, it was almost like you wish you were on an outer island. like It's easier to live on outer island with no running water because you had like some wells or you know you could go to the bathroom in the forest or in the ocean.
00:13:09
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:13:11
Darin Tingey
But on E-Buy, you can't just like squat on the lick side because there's a million kids and
00:13:15
Mcalie
I know, because there's so many people. I think we took those water jugs and filled them up at um with water in the ocean and then would flush the toilet.
00:13:25
Darin Tingey
Flush the toilet.
00:13:25
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:13:25
Darin Tingey
Yeah. Yeah. Fill up a jug and oh man, that was disgusting. But so many memories there. And you were known for a your, your egg sandwiches.
00:13:38
Darin Tingey
but Where did that come from? but Just one day you were like, right, I'm going to make these for these guys.
00:13:43
Mcalie
I used to make them all the time for me. And then we would just play cards and have lunch. And I remember I made Turmbosome. And i don't know. I just, I kind of like making eggs. So I would ask you guys, you guys, you guys want some? And I'd, you know, ask them how you guys like it. And I just, you know, it became a thing. Cards and egg sandwiches.
00:14:00
Darin Tingey
Yeah, McAllister became a fan favorite real quick with the egg sandwiches.
00:14:03
Mcalie
but
00:14:05
Darin Tingey
That's an easy way to make friends after you give the sup little boy to the missionaries. Make it better by making some sandwiches while we're playing cards.
00:14:15
Mcalie
Right. But it wasn't better than Turnbow's Pizza, so I mean...
00:14:16
Darin Tingey
take
00:14:19
Darin Tingey
Oh, I forgot about that.
00:14:20
Mcalie
Yeah, we were of the...
00:14:21
Darin Tingey
Dude, having an oven was so clutch on that island.
00:14:24
Mcalie
Oh, yeah. noh
00:14:26
Darin Tingey
ah Pizza. I think we did a lot of cakes too.
00:14:31
Mcalie
We did. And then we always would make... Alfredo. I don't think we had any protein. We just make the pasta and get those little Alfredo jars and just go crazy.
00:14:40
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:14:41
Mcalie
That was pretty much all we ate other than what the people gave us.
00:14:41
Darin Tingey
Did...
00:14:46
Darin Tingey
um like Yeah, we ate like – like I said, every house we went to. But living above the Triple J, which was a grocery store there, I feel like you know we were able to just walk over and get whatever we wanted. But i always remember – one thing I really remember about Triple J – was the pasta and rice they all had bugs in it.
00:15:06
Darin Tingey
Just tons of bugs, right?
00:15:06
Mcalie
Oh, yes. Yes. Uh-huh.
00:15:08
Darin Tingey
Like, I think if you left your pasta like sitting around for too long in the States, maybe, I don't know, maybe maybe it's not, but there's just tons of bugs in it.
00:15:19
Darin Tingey
Like so many bugs. And at first you're like, this is disgusting.
00:15:23
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:15:24
Darin Tingey
But after a while you're like, ah you just go get to get it and wash them out. Just wash it, clean it.
00:15:29
Mcalie
Right.
00:15:29
Darin Tingey
All right, good to go.
00:15:29
Mcalie
It was worse on Ibai than any, I think, at least that I can look on, any other island was on.
00:15:34
Darin Tingey
Yeah, I remember like on Outer Islands, my flour and my rice had tons of bugs in them. Like I've tons and there's no way to like, I tried to sift them out, but it's just so bad.
00:15:45
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:15:48
Mcalie
Just gotta...
00:15:49
Darin Tingey
hush but it's just part of life, dude. if it You can't just chuck the whole bag of flour.
00:15:54
Mcalie
No, no.
00:15:54
Darin Tingey
Like, they don't have many they't have that many bags of flour on the outer islands.
00:15:57
Mcalie
Right, right.
00:15:58
Darin Tingey
They run out real quick. And so, can't just chuck that thing because there's bugs in it. You just got to sift it out and eat it.
00:16:05
Mcalie
No.
00:16:06
Darin Tingey
I think i when we went back oh I went back in August, and my family, i I showed them that. i was like, hey, look, like guys.
00:16:12
Mcalie
Oh, you did?
00:16:12
Darin Tingey
Yeah, look. Look at all the bugs.
00:16:13
Mcalie
Oh, haha. yeah
00:16:14
Darin Tingey
We ate that. So, give me a rundown of E-Buy. Like, E-Buy, how... I'm sure it ranks pretty high in in your favorite areas.
00:16:24
Mcalie
Oh, yeah. E-Buy is one of the best places. One, just because there's so many people, and i I love to just talk to people. And there was all these, you know, Marshallese people. And, you know, I've never experienced where ah everywhere I look, you know, I just feel at home. Because, you know, yeah, of course, ah I think it was nice. i was I lived and went to school in places where there were a lot of people that had similar skin like me, but I never really felt a part of any group. And when I was at E-Buy,
00:16:54
Mcalie
You know, I just, I felt at home. was, you know, really, it's pretty cool. I never really felt that before.
00:17:01
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:17:02
Mcalie
Turnbow and I started in the central area and and we didn't know any Marshallese because he was, I think that was his second transfer in the mission.
00:17:03
Darin Tingey
And.
00:17:13
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:17:13
Mcalie
And, but, you know, Turnbow said, I remember he told me, he was like, you know we don't know Marshallese, but we know it how to smile. And he'd always just smile. And, you know, all of a sudden we just have all these people to go talk to and teach. He got us all these lessons. And I mean, they probably understand anything we said, but, you know, yeah, it was pretty cool.
00:17:34
Mcalie
Straight to work.
00:17:35
Darin Tingey
He was ah yeah turn by a farm boy from Idaho. So he was hardworking, hardworking always smiling.
00:17:40
Mcalie
Mm-hmm.
00:17:43
Darin Tingey
He brought the energy for sure. what um What was your kind of your favorite things on eBike? Because you spent Christmas there too with me.
00:17:54
Darin Tingey
i Do you remember Christmas?
00:17:55
Mcalie
Oh, yeah.
00:17:56
Darin Tingey
Like talk about Christmas.
00:17:58
Mcalie
So that's when everyone gets together and they have this thing called beat.
Cultural Celebrations and Transfers
00:18:04
Mcalie
So all the different wards and all the different groups, you know, and the whole you know a few weeks leading up practice these dances.
00:18:12
Mcalie
And then they meet together all at one time on Christmas Day. And from morning until night, they just dance and dance and play all this music and Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
00:18:23
Mcalie
I don't know if, did you guys, didn't you guys dance with the South Ward?
00:18:27
Darin Tingey
Yeah, we did.
00:18:27
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:18:28
Darin Tingey
Every night, every night we were there practicing.
00:18:30
Mcalie
Right, and I remember Turnbull and I were with the Central. We were with Billy because he was the one that made the beat.
00:18:34
Darin Tingey
That's right.
00:18:35
Mcalie
Yeah, and so that was, oh yeah, that was fun.
00:18:37
Darin Tingey
Billy Pound.
00:18:38
Mcalie
I mean, who who would have thought you get to dance as part of the culture when you're on your mission?
00:18:44
Darin Tingey
Yeah, dude, beach so fun. and And the youth, I feel like, you know, you go to church on Sunday and you're like, okay, these awards are words like a good size, right?
00:18:57
Darin Tingey
But then comes beat. And like, if you're not active, you're coming to beat though. Like, even if you're not going to church, you're coming to beat.
00:19:02
Mcalie
Right, right. the
00:19:05
Darin Tingey
So then you realize like, oh my gosh, like the church is actually way bigger than I expected here.
00:19:10
Mcalie
I know.
00:19:10
Darin Tingey
And they, especially the youth, you're like, that kid never comes to church, but he's coming to beat. Like, like, oh yeah, you got baptized forever ago, you know? it's like, and he's like the guy leading the beat.
00:19:17
Mcalie
Uh...
00:19:20
Darin Tingey
And so they just like, They come for b and a whole month of December, they're just practicing and then they show out on Christmas day. And it's just like, I honestly i want to spend Christmas out there again with my family.
00:19:34
Darin Tingey
It so fun.
00:19:34
Mcalie
Oh, dude, that'd be crazy. Yeah, like you said they come out and then you're just like, wait, I know that guy. You guys know him. And then they're like, oh, that's a cousin or that's my brother. And you're like, oh, this whole time, why didn't you let us know? And he's like, you know, I didn't know.
00:19:48
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:19:48
Mcalie
So you see all these people coming up.
00:19:51
Darin Tingey
um So you're on e-bike for, you said three transfers? Or four?
00:19:57
Mcalie
Four, yeah, six months.
00:19:59
Darin Tingey
Dude, that's a long time.
00:20:01
Mcalie
Yeah, it was. Yeah. ah So, yeah, yeah and eating all that rice because, you know, they just feed you.
00:20:04
Darin Tingey
A long time not to take a shower. I'm just kidding.
00:20:10
Mcalie
You eat, you know, sometimes two, three, at least two or three times a night. You know, it's it's crazy. I tell missionaries here, and you're like oh, yeah, we had a good week. We got fed four times. and up Here, quick story. I remember there was one time.
00:20:23
Mcalie
Turnbow and I, we had so many appointments set up from like 5 to 8.30. and we And three of them were not members, and but they fed us. They all fed us.
00:20:37
Mcalie
And so this is our fifth time getting fed that night. And we just we were the type to never refuse food. But I remember that because they fill your plate up so full of rice and put that chicken on it that, you know, isn't always cooked.
00:20:50
Darin Tingey
Half cooked.
00:20:51
Mcalie
Right.
00:20:51
Darin Tingey
ah
00:20:51
Mcalie
Right. You're just like, man, this got a lot of oil in it. And you look down it's like, oh, it's pretty red. but ah But it was our fifth time eating. And I i remember looking at Turnbull. He's just sweating bullets.
00:21:05
Mcalie
And I'm hurting so bad. And we were like, we don't know what to do. And I remember we just took like two bites. And then we felt so bad. We were like, We're so sorry. we can't We literally cannot eat anymore. We have eaten so much. And I remember after that, we just went home and laid in our beds. out We probably didn't even, i don't know, it was terrible. It was a really rough night.
00:21:27
Darin Tingey
Yeah, I feel like,
00:21:31
Darin Tingey
i feel like E-Bite, yeah, because you get fed so much, you're like, oh my gosh, like my stomach is going to explode. Like i i might puke this up if I eat another bite.
00:21:38
Mcalie
Yes.
00:21:43
Mcalie
I think that was one of our things. We'd all come home, untuck our shirt, rub our belly, and then sit in those four chairs that we had, you know, in but to where we would play cards at.
00:21:54
Darin Tingey
Did you ever have a poop ah poop story on eBay or you didn't make it?
00:21:58
Mcalie
No, I didn't. I did not have one. i think, i don't know, I just was good at holding it in, or maybe i got lucky. But I think you did, right?
00:22:06
Darin Tingey
and
00:22:07
Mcalie
Or was that somewhere else?
00:22:07
Darin Tingey
yeah ah I mean, I've and i had one on pretty much every island, dude. Like, I remember I i was like, remember I'm like, where's the closest toilet? And I found, there was like a it was by the Abans in the south.
00:22:23
Darin Tingey
And they had like a community toilet. But there was no toilet paper, dude.
00:22:28
Mcalie
sir
00:22:28
Darin Tingey
So I'm just freaking wiping with my hand.
00:22:31
Mcalie
ah
00:22:31
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:22:33
Mcalie
I remember that. I remember that. ah I would have been mortified.
00:22:35
Darin Tingey
a
00:22:37
Mcalie
I probably would have...
00:22:38
Darin Tingey
Those are tough days, dude. Tough days, but they make you stronger and everything seems a lot easier after that.
00:22:44
Mcalie
Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure.
00:22:47
Darin Tingey
So when you got the ah when you got the call for transfer to Wuche, were you like kind of nervous or were you like, oh, I thought I was going to go to Maduro and like see everybody in Maduro? Yeah.
00:23:01
Mcalie
Yeah, so I was Medjaro for like two weeks. And i when I was in Ibai, I remember I would talk to missionaries, like especially my Vani, my sister who was there, rest in peace.
00:23:14
Mcalie
And then ah Marie, who transferred there earlier. And I would just hear all these fun stories of what they were doing. I just love being around missionaries. When I was there my first P-Day, I was like, oh, this is great. I'm going to have so much fun, all these cool missionaries here. Then I find out you know the P-Day that, oh,
00:23:36
Mcalie
and need to I'm getting transferred to Wuche. I was a little disappointed. I remember I told my sisters, and they were they were pretty you know not too happy. Then off to Wuche I go.
00:23:50
Darin Tingey
So you went from E-buy and you flew to Maduro and then they were like, hey, you're going to Wichay?
00:23:58
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:23:59
Darin Tingey
but So they didn't tell you like when you came off E-buy that you were getting transferred Wichay automatically. They were like, hey, come to Maduro first.
00:24:04
Mcalie
No. Yeah, they didn't tell me that.
00:24:07
Darin Tingey
ah You're like, all right, all right, cool.
00:24:11
Mcalie
Yeah, because I think what happened was there was weather going on. So Elder Barrow, who was on Whatcha Ever Placed, he was there for quite a while, actually.
00:24:21
Darin Tingey
Okay. So when your your original flight didn't go out to to what day?
00:24:26
Mcalie
No, no. And so I kind of, I think it was, I think I sat around like three days.
00:24:28
Darin Tingey
How long? How long were you
00:24:32
Mcalie
But what's even funnier when I get to Wache, for some reason, they didn't have a spot on for Elder Barrow to get on the plane.
00:24:33
Darin Tingey
Okay. Okay.
00:24:42
Mcalie
And so he had to stay there. We were in this little trio and he had his bags packed. Then we come next day. Oh, the plane's not coming. we I don't think we were told why.
00:24:54
Mcalie
And then the next time it rained. So he was there like three days in, uh, which was, I'm not a lie. Being in a trio on the outer Island, that was really refreshing. Cause all of a sudden I go to this place where,
00:25:06
Mcalie
Not many people speak English. It's just me and Elder Robinson. And, you know, I knew Elder Robinson from Ebi, and I was just like, I don't know how this can go. With Elder Barrow there, it really kind of helped, you know, put things together.
00:25:21
Darin Tingey
At ease a little bit.
00:25:21
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:22
Darin Tingey
Yeah. A trio on that round would be pretty fun, honestly.
00:25:25
Mcalie
Oh, no, it was.
00:25:27
Darin Tingey
but so give me the lay. I know we've had a few people from which a on, but give me a lay the land of kind of what which a was like in your experience there.
00:25:37
Mcalie
Yeah, so our house, it's actually a really big house. And um we lived right next to the airport. And the airport is just this huge, long strip.
00:25:50
Mcalie
and But it's really, everyone, it's really active. So you hear people walking by all the time. I know they work so hard during the day, but I was just always shocked how people are up at night. You hear people walking through, people talking, you know, having fun.
00:26:06
Mcalie
But no, it was I was there in the beginning when school was not in session. And when there's no school, because there's a school on the island, it can get really slow and there's not many people there.
00:26:18
Mcalie
And I remember we would just, Elder Robinson and I were just having you know a hard time finding people that you know they all knew what we believed in and they had already decided I'm interested or I'm not.
00:26:31
Mcalie
And yeah, a lot of people, because the Protestant church was really strong there, they just did not care for us. Not just as, they were they didn't care for us as people either. So it was struggling. And then all of a sudden, this is shout out to Oda Robinson.
00:26:45
Mcalie
The police station, this police officer who was inactive, he was telling us that they were having problems with getting internet information. And for those you who don't know, Oda Robinson's dad is like the chief seat security officer for Chase Banks.
00:27:02
Mcalie
And he's like really good with computers. And Oda Robinson's like, oh, I know a little bit. So one P-Day, we go to the the police station. We're at this computer. And he's sitting there for hours. I'm getting really restless.
Community Integration and Roles
00:27:15
Mcalie
Then all of a sudden, they he boosted their internet like three, four times, and they can watch videos. and they oh Now everybody loves us because they're like, oh, he fixs these guys he's you know super smart, which he is. He's brilliant.
00:27:29
Mcalie
And so that really kind of got things going.
00:27:31
Darin Tingey
No way. That's so cool.
00:27:33
Mcalie
Yes.
00:27:35
Darin Tingey
they have ah Being able to watch videos on Dallar Island too, like that's crazy.
00:27:40
Mcalie
I know. I don't know what he did, i't but he yeah, he knew what to do.
00:27:44
Darin Tingey
And I know Wichae got the high school and the and they have CMI there when you were there.
00:27:51
Mcalie
They did not.
00:27:52
Darin Tingey
Apparently they have it now, but so were you able to email home from Wichae?
00:27:58
Mcalie
Yeah, there was this one station we could email, but then once Robinson got that computer at the police station going, we but could send email. We could have conversations back and forth.
00:28:09
Mcalie
That's how quick it would go.
00:28:10
Darin Tingey
No way.
00:28:11
Mcalie
yeah
00:28:12
Darin Tingey
Dang, dude, that's awesome. That's so nice on the Outer Island to have that email home.
00:28:15
Mcalie
I know. Yeah, it was.
00:28:18
Darin Tingey
and like Sometimes you need that on the Outer Island. You kind of feel alone a little bit.
00:28:22
Mcalie
Right. Unfortunately, I did not take the time to email home. I was usually looking up like sports stats and stuff. and And I remember later on, president got on to me. he was like, I got an angry email from a mother saying their son has not emailed them in six months.
00:28:40
Darin Tingey
Sorry, mom.
00:28:41
Mcalie
the
00:28:42
Darin Tingey
Like mom, I told you was outer Island. We don't have internet, but this one did, but you just, uh, I hope she does.
00:28:46
Mcalie
Oh, yeah. She might listen to this, too. Oh.
00:28:50
Mcalie
but
00:28:51
Darin Tingey
but Um, so Elder Robinson was there with you for a while and I'm assuming he got transferred off and you got a new companion.
00:28:58
Mcalie
uh,
00:29:00
Darin Tingey
How many people were coming to church around that time? And, and did you guys have any success or was it still just kind of really tough?
00:29:08
Mcalie
No, yeah I mean, it was like, I think maybe 10 people. and that And that was when church was three hours. And I remember that, you know, in the Outer Island, that's the missionaries usually take the role of of like the bishopric and also the ones who, so to give you a rundown, we make the announcements, we bless the sacrament, we lead the music, and we usually give the talks.
00:29:16
Darin Tingey
Oh, gosh.
00:29:34
Mcalie
And um then we lead second hour, which I think was like Sunday school. And after that, that's when the third hour would be when the men and the women split and we would usually teach that. But I mean, eventually got to the point where just kind of cut one of those hours out. But, uh...
00:29:52
Darin Tingey
ah Yeah. I'm surprised you guys did that because I did church on, at least this is on the kiddo side, but we had to do like several villages. We did sacchar, we did sacchar meeting and that was it.
00:29:59
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah.
00:30:01
Darin Tingey
We're like, yeah, that's good.
00:30:02
Mcalie
No, uh...
00:30:02
Darin Tingey
yeah ah
00:30:06
Darin Tingey
But, uh,
00:30:07
Mcalie
Yeah, then Elder Robinson left and Elder and Anderson came in. And really, this was probably the one of my coolest Outer Island experiences. we ah So I don't know if you, ask what's her name? The kid is, mom I think her name is Bonnie.
00:30:23
Darin Tingey
Bonnie says, yeah, I know, I know Bonnie.
00:30:24
Mcalie
Yeah, Sister Bonnie. Yeah, and and so, because she was in Long Island, of course, you know, Sister Bonnie, she likes to be involved in everything.
00:30:30
Darin Tingey
That's right. She lives on eBuy now, actually. She teaches us on eBuy, yeah.
00:30:33
Mcalie
Oh, that's crazy. So she goes to the principal. They don't have any other English teacher. She wanted to be the freshman English teacher, and she wanted us to be the 12th grade.
00:30:45
Mcalie
So she tells us, hey, we just need you to come one day a week and teach one class. Elder Anderson and I are like, sure, we'll do that. We go to the teachers meeting.
00:30:56
Mcalie
All of a sudden, the principal goes to us, so you guys are teaching the ninth grade class. so Thank you so much. We'll see you guys here at 8 o'clock, and you'll get out at 3 o'clock. Elder Anderson and I go, wait, what?
00:31:08
Mcalie
And so we ended up teaching Monday through Friday all day. And then we would go attracting and then Elder Anderson and i were like, I mean, we don't really have much else to do. Let's just teach. And then we can go out.
00:31:19
Mcalie
So we were English teachers. We would stay, we would stay up during nights, um, coming up with lesson plans, what to teach. And I remember we didn't, we didn't know what to do at first. So we would just have them write like a little, like story in the beginning, a paragraph long, and we would grade it.
00:31:36
Mcalie
And, um, that We ended that real quick because I found out quickly how long it takes to grade all these little stories that they write. And, yeah, no, we were full-time teachers. It was crazy.
00:31:47
Darin Tingey
Oh my gosh, dude. So just English with like a new class come in every hour or two hours.
00:31:52
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah. And we got really close with the kids and, you know, our Marshalese group, but you know, because – and Bonnie, i remember she was – She wasn't mad at us, but she was kind of upset because she wanted to do the freshman, and she felt like her martialese was good, which it was.
00:32:09
Mcalie
But, I mean, i you know, what they say, principal knows best, eh?
00:32:12
Darin Tingey
Oh my gosh.
00:32:13
Mcalie
I still love you, Sister Bonnie, if you listen to this. Thank Thank you.
00:32:15
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:32:15
Mcalie
thank you for yeah
00:32:19
Darin Tingey
That's hilarious. She's like, all right, I want you guys to teach this one hour a day. All right, elders, thanks for volunteering to teach for and all day, every day. oh my gosh, I can't believe you guys stuck with that.
00:32:31
Darin Tingey
would have been like, no.
00:32:32
Mcalie
I know.
00:32:32
Darin Tingey
I'd have been like, no, we're not doing this.
00:32:34
Mcalie
Some of those teachers get paid.
00:32:35
Darin Tingey
We'll teach one hour.
00:32:36
Mcalie
They get paid like 30K a year. We did it.
00:32:38
Darin Tingey
Yeah, you guys...
00:32:38
Mcalie
We got did it for free. Did it for free.
00:32:41
Darin Tingey
Well, because i remember, did you teach on E-Buy with me? We didn't taught the Catholic school like in English for like an hour.
00:32:47
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah. ah
00:32:50
Darin Tingey
Again, like one time a week or whatever. Dude, I...
00:32:53
Mcalie
Right, that's what we were hoping.
00:32:55
Darin Tingey
I mean, and those were kids were elementary age, so I was like, I had a hard time with that, but doing doing it all day, don't know how you survived.
00:33:05
Mcalie
Yeah. we yeah Maybe all the plans didn't go according, and I'm sure the kids could have got better education, but they enjoyed it, so...
00:33:14
Darin Tingey
So you did for the whole semester?
00:33:16
Mcalie
I did it the whole time I was there. And I remember Anderson said him and Turnbow continued it.
00:33:21
Darin Tingey
Of course Turnbow did.
00:33:21
Mcalie
But when, yeah and then, then Turnbow and Anderson left, they kind of toned it down to like a few days.
00:33:22
Darin Tingey
I'm not surprised.
00:33:30
Mcalie
But the coolest part about it, when I left, Wichay is known for their flowers. They make these handmade flowers and um they're really beautiful. And so when I left the entire school and all the teachers, they wanted to,
00:33:44
Mcalie
show appreciation and i got i kid you not like three four hundred flowers from this of all different it was crazy usually you get missionaries would get like maybe one or you know a few and i and i had hundreds of them because they all you know they they all had them and they just gave them to me when i left i had this huge party with the school where we ate and we danced and know to you know as a farewell know it was yeah it was pretty awesome
00:33:55
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:34:12
Darin Tingey
That's pretty cool experience. That's a good reward at the end of the the hard work being a teacher.
00:34:16
Mcalie
Yeah. And then the elders kept leaving. They're like, we can't keep giving them all these flowers.
00:34:23
Darin Tingey
That's so funny. Wow, what an experience on Wuche, dude. That's so cool. I still believe you taught for that long.
00:34:31
Mcalie
Oh, yeah, know. It was probably like a month. Yeah, like a whole transfer of teaching.
00:34:37
Darin Tingey
Okay, so from Wuche, you go back to Maduro.
00:34:43
Mcalie
Yeah. And so now
00:34:45
Darin Tingey
Anything you wanted to say Wuche?
00:34:49
Mcalie
I just was really sad when I left. I remember ah i was just crying really hard in the plane. i I didn't expect it to happen. And then remember the pilot looked back and you know kind of comforted me. But, yeah, I was just really, really sad because you get so close with those people because all you can do is just live life together. I mean, there's not no way to entertain yourself. I find myself sometimes here just – Instead of being at home, i just you know if I know friends of mine have stuff going on, I just might go support. just because
00:35:22
Mcalie
um just so I remember those times where people were your only source of you know entertainment. and yeah It was just, you know, it's just really cool.
00:35:29
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:35:33
Darin Tingey
Just kind of hanging out in the community. Everyone's out and about and everybody knows everybody.
00:35:35
Mcalie
Uh-huh. Yeah.
00:35:38
Darin Tingey
That's the best part about the Marshall Islands, the Outer Islands too. They don't have a ton of people on them anymore. They probably would have if they didn't have the ability to come to the U.S.
00:35:50
Darin Tingey
But
00:35:50
Mcalie
Yeah, I've noticed that on you know all these, I'm like, oh, stateside too, stateside too. Oh.
00:35:54
Darin Tingey
Yeah. Yeah, I kind of, but, but it's kind of, it was kind of nice to have a smaller community at the same time to get to know everybody.
00:36:03
Mcalie
Oh,
00:36:04
Darin Tingey
You know, you're probably a legend on what Jay now. ah
00:36:07
Mcalie
yeah, yeah.
00:36:08
Darin Tingey
ah So you go back to Maduro and were you sad to go to Maduro? I'm assuming you were Maduro. I feel like You know, you start at E-Buy, then Wiche. It's like, I went to two Sweet Islands. And not saying Madro was bad at all. Like, Madro is great, but it's just so different.
00:36:26
Mcalie
Yeah, no, at first I was like, man, this is going to be tough. And a lot of missionaries by that point that I knew and were friends with were either on Outer Islands of their own or like you guys got sent to Kitabas. So there were new faces or older missionaries that I didn't really know yet.
00:36:47
Mcalie
So I was kind of just, you know. Oh, i hold on. I have to give one more shout about Woodshake. Elder Johnson would call us every Sunday. He would use so many minutes. He'd call us for like two hours and just tell us all the, you know, what's going on and just, you know, talk to us.
00:37:05
Mcalie
And um that was our only communication with the mission, really. And, you know, that I know Elder Robinson really enjoyed that. And that, you know, really made things you know special for us.
00:37:16
Darin Tingey
I thought Johnson told you all the tea, what was going on in Maduro.
00:37:18
Mcalie
Yes.
00:37:19
Darin Tingey
course he did.
00:37:19
Mcalie
ah if If anyone's going to give like great details about what happened, it was Elder Johnson.
00:37:24
Darin Tingey
yeah That's good.
00:37:25
Mcalie
So we knew we we we did not miss anything. But yeah, we're on I go to Medjaro and then I'm with Indelope. And I was get put together with Elder Joseph, who is a Marshallese missionary who is from the Marshall Islands and lived there his whole life.
00:37:42
Darin Tingey
So now you got two Marshallese guys together. Now you speak Marshallese and obviously JHS native.
00:37:49
Mcalie
yeah
00:37:52
Darin Tingey
Where people are like, oh, we got two Marshallese elders like running the show here in Delos.
00:37:57
Mcalie
I know, yeah, it was kind of, my martial arts was pretty good, but I was kind of slow. i it It took me a while. I could understand really well and on a deep level, but speaking, and I remember I was kind of intimidated because Joseph, he spoke so fast, and I remember he told me, he he spoke good English too, but he told me, he's like, hey man,
00:38:18
Mcalie
we're going to put you through the ringer. Like you're going to learn Marshallese like really good. And I'm just going to speak to you. Like I'd speak to my family. And I was like, okay. And so it just, it'd be days where we're speaking all these Marshallese people in lessons. And then in between walking, I'm speaking to another Marshallese person. So it was just nonstop Marshallese. I remember there'd be times I'd get so tired.
00:38:41
Mcalie
Okay.
00:38:42
Darin Tingey
Dude, I wish I had that. um I never had that experience because i'll there weren't very many Marshallese people called to the Marsh Islands. And even if they were... president just said in the kid of this, right? Because they're basically serving in their own neighborhood.
00:38:56
Mcalie
Right, right.
00:38:57
Darin Tingey
So I'm jealous you got to experience that because, dude, I don't know if i would have gone crazy or if I would have loved it, but having like a Marshallese companion on an outer island would have been so awesome. like Your language would be like through the roof.
00:39:12
Darin Tingey
And maybe even bit better like towards the end of your mission, right? When it's like when you're like i like you've learned it but now you're like mastering it.
00:39:15
Mcalie
Right, right.
00:39:19
Mcalie
I think you would have loved it because you were you were one of those that, like, you were a go-getter something.
00:39:25
Darin Tingey
Dude, that's fun. So um in your in your interview that you sent to me, or you're you're sorry, your mock interview, was it?
00:39:34
Mcalie
My mock interview.
00:39:35
Darin Tingey
Adam Cowell sent me a funny video. He was like, i want to be on the podcast. This is my interview, you know, stuff. But you became district leader there. Is that right?
00:39:43
Mcalie
Yeah, I was district leader. And I remember it was me, and Elder Joseph, and you've got Elder Robinson, Elder Uitu, Sister Marie, and Sister Greenberg.
00:39:54
Mcalie
We're all you know still on the younger side, and I remember... thinking of this district and I was just like, man, this this could be a lot of fun. But at the same time, it's up to me to make sure that it's not too much fun.
00:40:09
Darin Tingey
I like we had a lot of fun in the mission. We had a lot, a good, a good fun in the mission.
00:40:11
Mcalie
Oh, no, we did.
00:40:13
Darin Tingey
So what was, ah what was your experience like in Dellup and, and being district leader?
00:40:20
Mcalie
Yeah, no, I mean, it was great. But at the same time, I think the second round of when things went down was also when I was there, not related. And, you know, there were a lot of good times. I think the best time that we had in Delop, it was Christmas time and president knew I played the piano.
00:40:41
Mcalie
And so he sent this keyboard. We had this really nice keyboard that could pretty much make all the beats and stuff. And, uh, I was just playing around with it. I'd heard, you know, Marshallese beat before. So I, I made a beat and, uh,
00:40:56
Mcalie
I remember Elder Joseph, he we were in a bunk bed. He leaned his head down. He's like, yo, yo, that's really good. Hey, and he'd keep playing. and We were staying up that night playing it. And then he said, I'm going to make a dance to this, and I'm going to make the lyrics.
00:41:09
Mcalie
And so he made the dance and made the lyrics. And so we would go, P days, we would practice it. Have you seen the video?
00:41:17
Darin Tingey
Is it when one of you guys did it for Christmas?
00:41:19
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah, thiss this is the beat.
00:41:21
Darin Tingey
No way.
00:41:21
Mcalie
And so didn't.
00:41:23
Darin Tingey
i think I practiced with you guys, but I got i got sent to lie like two days before Christmas.
00:41:24
Mcalie
mean
00:41:28
Mcalie
That's right. That's right. Yeah.
00:41:29
Darin Tingey
So I didn't get to do it with you.
00:41:31
Mcalie
ah Yeah. so ah So, yeah, that night we made it. I remember ah a the APs were at House and Poulsen. We were like, hey, we've got this beat. And they were like, yeah, sure, let's do it if it's good. And so we did the beat.
00:41:45
Mcalie
We practiced it. And I remember when we did it on Christmas Day. It was about as pure of a Marshallese beat you can get. And the stake president, everyone was just so shocked.
00:41:56
Mcalie
And they they loved it. They were like, wow, these guys really put Marshallese beat together. That sound, that is just, it's really a Marshallese beat. And I remember I taught the piano to Elder Miva so I could sing with Sister Key.
00:42:09
Mcalie
So we had two people singing in the Marshallese. We had someone playing the Marshallese beat. And then we had Joseph and, I mean, yeah, maybe we could... put the video in a link or something, but it's really cool.
00:42:19
Darin Tingey
Dude, yes. 100% we're going to put the video in the link because I remember learning the beat, right? Every PDA, we'd learn the beat.
00:42:27
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:42:28
Darin Tingey
Because for for listeners like Christmas time, you know, we talked about beat, everyone gets together and the stakes in our Maduro, but the missionaries do one big beat together, ah usually.
00:42:39
Darin Tingey
so And like, sometimes it's good. Sometimes it's not that good depending on who makes it. But because we had Joseph leading the dance and then I didn't realize you made the song. I forgot about that.
00:42:51
Darin Tingey
um You making the song, but tell everyone to kind of about how the keyboard works because it's so funny how the marshes people have mastered like creating this beat on a keyboard.
00:43:03
Mcalie
I know. Okay, so you can play, there's like these default tracks in the keyboard that make beats and it's like, dont ch dont ch dont and so then they, at the base, at the bottom of the keyboard where it's the bass, it will just basically play the chord progression ah for the, you know, yeah if you just click this the one, it it plays the one, then it goes the four, the five, and so then in the right hand, that's when you make the melody.
00:43:29
Mcalie
And so you have the beat, and then you're playing the different bass note to go with the chord, and then the right hand, you just play the chord. I mean, it's pretty simple, but when they put it together with the dance and everything, they do all these little tricks and stuff on the keyboard that kind of, you know, these embellishments. And so that's what I really just had to, that's what I had to practice the most and kind of learn when to make it sound authentic.
00:43:57
Darin Tingey
It's such a unique skill. Like and when you get there, you know, as a kid, I remember I had a keyboard at home and yeah, you have the automatic tracks and you're like, Oh, these are cool. But like you never hear of an American using them like ever.
00:44:10
Mcalie
I know, I know.
00:44:10
Darin Tingey
I don't know anyone that's ever used them. It's just more for fun for like kids. You know, you play the track. It's like, Oh, this is a cool little track, whatever you can play with along with it. But you go to the marsh islands and they have mastered it, dude. They like,
00:44:24
Darin Tingey
I swear they still make keyboards specifically for the Marsh Islands because they're so good putting the beat on and then like making their own jam with it and then singing along and like they're all dancing to it And it's like so fun.
00:44:28
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:44:33
Mcalie
Uh-huh.
00:44:38
Darin Tingey
ah
00:44:38
Mcalie
I know. And it's funny, actually, for elder or for Cameron or Elder Kendrick, his wedding, ah Johnson wanted to do a beat for his wedding. So he called me and was like, yo, can you make us a beat? Can you sing a beat? And I was like, I'm not really good with lyrics. I can't really sing, but I'll play. I'll make one.
00:44:56
Mcalie
And so I made one and I recorded it and I sent it to him. And he did. the He put all the lyrics together and the singing. And then I think it was him, house and done. And Poulsen did this huge beat for Kendrick's wedding. And I remember in the background of that video, you can hear like people going, oh my god, what is that? like that That's pretty weird. is that Is that really what they do?
00:45:21
Mcalie
And honestly, I was like, they're really trying their hardest to dance. And it looks good. But I was like, you still got to watch him mar the Marshallese do it.
00:45:30
Darin Tingey
and unmatched in the Marshallese.
00:45:31
Mcalie
yeah
00:45:32
Darin Tingey
They're so good with their with their feet. And it's just...
00:45:34
Mcalie
Yes, the rhythm is crazy.
00:45:36
Darin Tingey
The rhythm's so good. And like usually the dance is like they're doing traditional like daily tasks or, you know, moves that you would on Island Life and they're dancing that that.
00:45:47
Mcalie
Right, yeah.
00:45:49
Darin Tingey
That's kind of the story they tell when they're dancing. But so fun, dude. Yeah, Christmas. I was actually really bummed. I was really bummed I didn't get to spend it Madra with everybody because i my first Christmas was on eBuy.
00:46:02
Darin Tingey
was like, oh, sweet. I'll have Christmas on Madra with everybody. But then first, like, nope, you're going to live two days before Christmas.
00:46:04
Mcalie
Right, right.
00:46:07
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:46:08
Darin Tingey
But la was, yeah, I'd gone to Kiribati and been back by then.
00:46:08
Mcalie
Had you been to Kiribus at that point? Had you already been Kiribus? Okay. Okay.
00:46:13
Darin Tingey
Yeah. ah
00:46:15
Mcalie
You got to go straight to lie.
00:46:15
Darin Tingey
So, well, no, I came back to Long Island for for for three transfers.
00:46:17
Mcalie
That's crazy. Oh, okay, okay.
00:46:22
Darin Tingey
um
00:46:22
Mcalie
Okay, nice.
00:46:23
Darin Tingey
Did the kid of his branch there, but then yeah, got shipped off to lie literally two days before Christmas, but it was great on online too.
00:46:31
Mcalie
Oh, I'm sure.
00:46:31
Darin Tingey
Um, and then, so you were in Delo for a little bit and then, then you got transferred to be a zone leader, right?
00:46:38
Mcalie
Yeah, I went to Uluga. And i my first companion or yeah the first companion was Elder Kennerly. I have so many funny stories with Elder Kennerly. Because we were, you know, I i love to work hard. i My trainer taught me to work hard. and But, you know, I'll be honest, you know, rule all these mission rules or, you know, things of what we're supposed to do at certain times.
00:46:59
Mcalie
That was new for me. i had never really dealt with that. So I, you know, I'd work really hard, but, you know, sometimes I didn't, you know, I guess I'll say i didn't really think too much about it if, you know, I stayed up a little later or other things.
00:47:11
Darin Tingey
So,
00:47:12
Mcalie
And Elder Kennerly was dead set. I mean, he was, he's the nicest and most humble person. He's really sweet, but he will follow the rules with exactness.
00:47:24
Mcalie
And so, you know, I think my reputation was pretty well known and he was, probably like, you know what, we're going to Elder McAllister to just love the rules. Not follow them, but love them.
00:47:35
Mcalie
And I was like, my whole thing was, we're going to get Elder Kennerly.
00:47:35
Darin Tingey
ah
00:47:39
Mcalie
We don't want to be rule breakers, but we just want to be able to just, if you give your best and if you if it doesn't you know make it, it's okay. Just go with the flow, Island Way.
00:47:51
Mcalie
And so... um Yeah, we were zone leaders. And two quick stories about, I guess, what I was talking about. Elder Kennelly would give this thing every night. It's called compliment time.
00:48:04
Mcalie
And we'd do it around like 9.50, 9.55. Then he'd give me his compliment. I remember the very first day. i don't know why, but for some reason I was like, we're staying up past 10 o'clock.
00:48:17
Mcalie
And so...
00:48:19
Mcalie
And so I give this compliment. I'm giving the longest compliment. I don't know how – and then he's looking at the time. He's like, okay, Odom McAllister, 9.59. I'm like, you're just – you're strong.
00:48:32
Mcalie
You can – you know, you i you just do everything. And yeah I just – and he's 10.02. He's like, okay, Odom McAllister, just save the rest for tomorrow. And I was like, okay. And then I remember it he was like – Okay, let's say companionship prayer.
00:48:46
Mcalie
and I was like, I'll say it. I'll say it. He's like, are you sure you just gave a compliment? I think he knew what was going to happen. was like, no, i I feel I really need to say it.
00:48:51
Darin Tingey
ah
00:48:54
Mcalie
and He was like, okay. And I'm praying about, thank you for the trees. I'm praying for the ocean. It's like 10, 12 at this point. He's just like, okay, thank you, Elder McAllister. I think that's good a good prayer. I'm like, okay, amen.
00:49:07
Mcalie
And so then it would continue.
00:49:08
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:49:09
Mcalie
I would just find ways. It would continue through the week, but you know Elder Cameron was really smart. So he adjusted and we would give compliment time during dinner time. I'm probably his only companion that he did that with.
00:49:18
Darin Tingey
yeah
00:49:20
Mcalie
And so that was really funny. And then the other one was I don't know why did. i i told I've apologized to him since. But it was we would tease we would both tease each other.
00:49:31
Mcalie
But when we were about to cross the street, I would wait until there's a long line of cars. And then I would just book it across the street. And I remember the first time I did this, he was like, Elder, sight and sound. And then I guess I had a grin on my face.
00:49:45
Mcalie
And he's like, Elder McAllister, don't. And I just ran.
00:49:49
Darin Tingey
I...
00:49:49
Mcalie
I'm running in the neighborhoods and he's like, I just hear someone behind me, Elder, Elder, side and side and side. And then I hear him going to people, boy to and then i and then he'd be asking people where I was and I'd go back. Yeah, we just find ways the t to tease each other nonstop when it came to the room. It was so fun.
00:50:11
Mcalie
We're like best friends.
00:50:11
Darin Tingey
ae Dude, those are the funny stories that your family doesn't normally hear about, right? Like, you don't tell your family until you're on a podcast like this.
00:50:19
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:50:22
Mcalie
Right.
00:50:22
Darin Tingey
But there's like having so much fun on the mission, like the mission can be like so hard, like...
00:50:27
Mcalie
ah
00:50:28
Darin Tingey
It be so hard, but like you just got to have fun with it. like
00:50:32
Mcalie
Uh.
00:50:32
Darin Tingey
That's what makes it like enjoyable. you you know You're still a person. and You're still living your day-to-day life, but you can have fun with it like that and just poke at your companion, too, a little bit.
00:50:42
Mcalie
but
00:50:43
Darin Tingey
It's always so fun.
00:50:44
Mcalie
Uh.
00:50:47
Mcalie
Yeah, no.
00:50:47
Darin Tingey
dude. And then when you were zone leader, you guys kind of had some rough stuff going on ah in the mission.
00:50:53
Mcalie
Yeah, no. yeah there was... i That was actually... i kind of enjoyed that because, you know... I like to either solve problems or help people. And the zone leader kind of gave me the position to, you know, do that.
00:51:06
Mcalie
since there's so many missionaries in your zone, especially in the East zone, I mean, it's, it's not like just teaching on it every day. There's always, you know, phone call where you need to go help someone.
00:51:18
Mcalie
I remember there'd always be a sister sick and we would love to go check.
00:51:23
Darin Tingey
Always. Always.
00:51:25
Mcalie
We'd love to go check on the sister. And then when you get to the door and you knock and then you hear all these feet going around. And then you open the door and the sister, who is the companion of the sick sister answers.
00:51:38
Mcalie
She's like, Oh, hi, zone leaders. Thank you. Oh, thank you for coming. And you're just like, Hey, you know, are you guys okay? Do you need anything? Oh, we're fine. And then, you know, we'll be like, that's a lot of shoes, you know, in the corner there. And they're like, oh yeah, we, ah you know, sisters have left this or, you know, just ah over time we're like, oh, okay. Yeah.
00:51:57
Mcalie
And then, you know, eventually one of the sisters would come out and most of the sisters were from the Pacific. And when one sister's sick, they love to check on each other and they would all come together, you know, at a period of time or during the day and check on each other. it would just be fun to,
00:52:13
Mcalie
catch them in the act sometimes.
00:52:15
Darin Tingey
yeah You're like, this isn't your area, sister. What are you doing here?
00:52:18
Mcalie
Right? Yeah.
00:52:19
Darin Tingey
yeah
00:52:19
Mcalie
Like they obviously taxied to go to that sister's house.
00:52:21
Darin Tingey
Right. It's like, you were on the other side of the island.
00:52:25
Mcalie
Right.
00:52:25
Darin Tingey
How did you get here?
00:52:26
Mcalie
Uh-huh. Yeah.
00:52:26
Darin Tingey
ah
00:52:28
Mcalie
Oh, we needed to get some soap and we just come to town and we just wanted to check.
00:52:28
Darin Tingey
um
00:52:32
Mcalie
like Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay.
00:52:36
Darin Tingey
yeah i love the sisters of our mission. They were great. But that's like the classic thing. That is such a classic thing.
00:52:41
Mcalie
Right.
00:52:42
Darin Tingey
Oh, so funny.
00:52:42
Mcalie
Uh-huh.
00:52:44
Darin Tingey
Oh, man. Yeah, there was some crazy times during that, too. I feel like there was some immersion transfers because of fights and some crazy stuff.
00:52:49
Mcalie
Yeah, emergency transfers. a
00:52:57
Darin Tingey
we don't have to get into it necessarily, but um that's like as a leader, i thankfully, I was ah i was always off-island when crazy stuff went down, and I didn't have to i don't have to be there, um but it's stressful for you guys as...
00:52:58
Mcalie
Right, right.
00:53:06
Mcalie
ah Oh, yeah.
00:53:12
Darin Tingey
as
00:53:13
Mcalie
Yeah, it can be hard because you're so close with everyone and you know you you really care because you get to know everyone so well. So it's not like just names you hear about or just you know a badge.
00:53:24
Mcalie
you know It's like your brother or your sister. And so, yeah, it can be hard at times. But being with Elder Kennelly, he was so good at organizing the day and then you know just having keeping us busy. His Marshallese was great. Mine was pretty good too then.
00:53:41
Mcalie
So the work was really fun. So I think that that really helped us a lot tonight.
00:53:45
Darin Tingey
And did you, you guys had a van as zone leaders. Did your van have cockroaches in it?
00:53:53
Mcalie
It did. ah Not as bad with Elder Kenley, but then I guess we can train. Then ah after Elder Kenley, I was with Elder Teal. And we had tons of cockroaches. I don't know if he brought them with him, but and we had tons of cockroaches when and when it was him and I.
00:54:11
Darin Tingey
It's kind of a weird thing to have cockroaches in the car, but like to explain it, You open the door and they all like scurry away into little dark places.
00:54:19
Mcalie
Yes, and some of them are a huge.
00:54:23
Darin Tingey
Ugh, it was so gross. But like, yeah, you open, the every time you open the door, you just see them all, boom, mad dash.
00:54:28
Mcalie
Yep. And we would leave bottles with like sugar, and we'd put soap and mix it up. And we would probably put three in there, and we'd come the next day, and they would just be full of cockroaches floating in the water bottles.
00:54:42
Mcalie
It was crazy. We did it enough to where it kind of showed out a bit.
Challenges on Ailinglaplap
00:54:46
Mcalie
But yeah, those are Vans. Yeah. A lot of memories those bands. You could put 12 missionaries you know together.
00:54:52
Darin Tingey
That's right. So from there you go to Island Love Love, your next outer island, right?
00:54:58
Mcalie
Yeah. Yeah, that I'm not going to lie. I had just been in Ulaga and Delap with all the big families that everybody knows. like the Ackley's, and i we're eating so good, and I ah gained a lot of weight back from Woodcham, and a I go to island level up, and I'm not going to lie. This island was pretty tough.
00:55:19
Mcalie
um I'd heard rumors about it you know from other elders, just how rough it can be, and yeah, especially that those first few weeks because I had been eating so much I mean, I remember it was Elder Apello and It's really hot. The island's huge. You got to bike hours just to get places. And we would just have like a half cup of rice and split it every day for like the first few weeks.
00:55:45
Mcalie
And, you know, coconut, we'd go get you know get our own coconuts. But that, yeah, because we didn't really know anybody. Or, well, Elder Apello did. But, yeah, no, it was ah a big shock. And there's a lot less people than Wuche.
00:55:58
Mcalie
And it's hard. We're doing physical labor. That's the only way you can get to know people is, you know, go in me or just do, you know, doing all this hard work.
00:56:08
Darin Tingey
yeah like uh kawaiini is like gathering coconuts on outer islands i'm like you're husking them right were you husking them so that the way people make money on outer islands is they collect coconuts and then they husk them and then they they uh dry the meat and sell it to the boat when the boat comes every couple months uh yeah that's a classic like hey we don't know anybody let's go let's go husk some coconuts for some people
00:56:14
Mcalie
Yeah. Uh,
00:56:32
Mcalie
Yeah, they'll always you know talk to of you if you have coconuts. so
00:56:37
Darin Tingey
Where, so was there just no food on the island when you got there? Like there was no little so stores?
00:56:42
Mcalie
Yeah, no, the store, there was like a little store, but it this store was not did not have the capacity to it. hold much really like we'd have you know get her a big bag of rice but yeah i mean there was for a long time they didn't even have any pro you know like spam or ah what's the other one that you can buy uh corned beef and or yeah there's there was nothing so i mean yeah eventually people would share or give us like you know fish and stuff but yeah i mean i lost a lot of weight real quick on that island
00:57:05
Darin Tingey
Corned beef, yeah.
00:57:18
Darin Tingey
No flour to make pancakes or anything?
00:57:20
Mcalie
No, we did not have any flour. I don't, yeah, flour was, at least when I was there, it was rare to have flour.
00:57:28
Darin Tingey
So you guys eating rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and unless someone's giving you a fish.
00:57:30
Mcalie
Yeah.
00:57:33
Mcalie
Yeah. And I remember, because it it was, at least when when I was there, it was summertime, was so hot. And um I remember drinking the water, it just would be like, pretty warm all the time.
00:57:46
Mcalie
But the funny part about Island Level Up, it sounds like it's, you know, a hard place. That's like the places of, you know, the Iroids or the King and Queens families of the islands.
00:57:58
Mcalie
And so they have this, like amazing basketball court that has lights and it's huge. And so you got this huge basketball court and apparently Fonunu, Elder Fonunu and Opelu who were before me won the league championship when I was there. And, you know, ah but yeah, I mean, the only time you could play because it would cool now would be around, they'd start like around nine o'clock. And so they'd just be playing basketball every night.
00:58:27
Darin Tingey
No way, it had like lights and everything, were they solar powered lights?
00:58:27
Mcalie
So yeah. Had, uh-huh, yeah. So we just, you could play for however long. that That part was, that was really cool. I enjoyed that.
00:58:36
Darin Tingey
Was the concrete nice?
00:58:38
Mcalie
Oh, yeah, like this was better than, this was better than the Medjaro chord because it was brand new.
00:58:45
Darin Tingey
That's so awesome. I love that about Marshall Islands. They love basketball. Their sports are basketball, volleyball, and baseball. Like those three sports, I feel like every day it's like the same thing, especially on Outer Island, same thing. It's like everyone wakes up, they eat breakfast, whatever.
00:59:02
Darin Tingey
They go, some people fish, some people just kind of hang out or build their canoe, kawaii ni ni, whatever. And then it gets to the evening and everyone goes and in they're either going to play volleyball,
00:59:14
Darin Tingey
Like the women go play volleyball and the men go play basketball.
00:59:15
Mcalie
e Yeah.
00:59:18
Darin Tingey
And then sometimes they'll play baseball, but like though that's like every evening they do that.
00:59:23
Mcalie
I know, it's so fun when you get to do that. There was actually two cool experiences that Elder Apelu and I got to have. So ah the house, one of our members is a part of the Kabua family, which is one of the the wrote kings on the island.
00:59:42
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
00:59:43
Mcalie
And I guess one of the great grandkids of Mike Kubua had a first birthday. And so all the islands on the atoll got together on this other island that we had to go by boat to get to.
00:59:56
Mcalie
And, you know, you don't really think there's that many people. When they all get together, I mean, don't know, it's it was at least a thousand. You have all these people together. And ah there's these huge lines to get in this ah to get food. We're in the line.
01:00:12
Mcalie
And then all of a sudden, someone comes to us and they're like, oh, you guys are, all the religious leaders go to the king's table. And we're like, I mean, we're just missionaries. Like, you guys are the leaders for the Mormons. And we're like, okay.
01:00:26
Mcalie
So we go to the king's table with all the other church leaders and the Kabua family. And they have, you know, the pigs and all this food just for ah that table and all this and ice cream and candy flown in from Hawaii.
01:00:42
Mcalie
You know, and it's just a huge feast just for us. And it's like royalty. Little did we know that everyone, all the religious leaders had to give a speech and blessing to the baby.
01:00:56
Mcalie
So you have all these people.
01:00:56
Darin Tingey
Ha ha ha.
01:00:58
Mcalie
And i I remember Elder Apelu and I, as we realized that one of us was going to have to give a speech, that we were just, you know, looking at each other because neither of us wanted to do it.
01:01:10
Mcalie
And then I remember, you know, maybe I'm just really good at, you know, convincing people or maybe he was just being nice. But i I was like, I'm not saying this speech. And I was telling him, hey, you're a senior companion. He's like, you've been out longer than me. He's like, yeah, but you're the man.
01:01:25
Mcalie
You got to give this speech. You are, so i mean, look at you. you're You're Elder Appeloo. And then he was just like, oh, okay. All right, all right. i I'll give the speech. And so he gave the speech. It went pretty good.
01:01:39
Mcalie
But yeah, that was just a really cool experience. We got to go to one of the kings, you know, and their family, their first birthday party.
01:01:46
Darin Tingey
So was Mike Kabua there?
01:01:49
Mcalie
I don't know if he was, I don't think he was there, but I think some of his kids were there. But they've they had this huge, yeah, yeah, they had this huge boat.
01:01:54
Darin Tingey
ah nieces or nephews or cousins he actually has no kids he has no kids he's never married never kids yeah but they had a huge boat they all came in
01:01:58
Mcalie
Oh, he doesn't? Really?
01:02:02
Mcalie
Oh, that's crazy.
01:02:05
Mcalie
Yeah, they had a whole boat come. Just, yeah, just just for them, that big boat. They didn't bring any flour, though, unfortunately. but
01:02:13
Darin Tingey
like yeah that's so cool and they all come in throw a huge party on the outer island um
01:02:13
Mcalie
Maybe they did for the party, but not for the rest of us.
01:02:21
Mcalie
Oh.
01:02:23
Darin Tingey
And yeah, I remember doing a bunch of speeches on my mission too. And I did a ton in Kitabas. And remember my companion making me do one the first week I was there.
01:02:28
Mcalie
Yeah.
01:02:31
Darin Tingey
And I was like, bro, like i have i would I didn't study Kitabas in the MTC. I'm coming from the marshals. I know nothing. And he's like, yeah you got to do it, dude.
01:02:37
Mcalie
Yeah.
01:02:39
Darin Tingey
like Everyone had to do it.
01:02:39
Mcalie
No.
01:02:40
Darin Tingey
And then i feel like I did a ton in the marshals too after that. just yeah you're You're the religious leader, man. You got to do it.
01:02:47
Mcalie
No.
01:02:48
Darin Tingey
But you get to reap the rewards of eating like pig when everyone else is eating the chicken.
01:02:48
Mcalie
no
01:02:51
Mcalie
Right, right, right.
01:02:55
Darin Tingey
Oh, man, that's so cool. And and then Alderabalu was only out there. He was out there for a while. And then I sent my son to you, I'm pretty sure. I sent Elatune, no?
01:03:05
Mcalie
Oh, that's your son? I didn't...
01:03:06
Darin Tingey
Yeah, I trained him.
01:03:08
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah, no, ordered that.
01:03:08
Darin Tingey
Well, for six weeks, and then you trained him the second time, I guess.
01:03:11
Mcalie
oh No, I ordered two. One, I mean, because he at the time, he didn't really know or he didn't really know the best English. He didn't really know any Marshallese. But even though he doesn't know how to speak to you in a language that you understand, he is like the funniest person that you can be around.
01:03:29
Darin Tingey
Yes. but he had a great laugh. He had the funniest laugh ever.
01:03:33
Mcalie
Oh, yes. And he would, like, I remember we would be with people speaking, and they'd be like, Yaakwe, Yaakwe. And he would, like, mess up Yaakwe, and then he'd just look and just laugh, and then they would laugh, and he'd laugh even more, and we're just all laughing. And then, you know, yeah, oh, you're right. He had, like, the best laugh.
01:03:52
Darin Tingey
So did your Marshallese get better because you were just speaking to him and Marshallese the whole time?
01:03:57
Mcalie
Oh, yeah. Like, well, at that point, I was pretty like, you know I was really solid.
01:04:01
Darin Tingey
Yeah, you're really good. Yeah.
01:04:02
Mcalie
And then ah but no, you're right. I definitely took another step, which I kind of thought, all right, this is my plateau. This is where I'm at. But this is, you know, that's good. and this is really good.
01:04:13
Mcalie
But, i yeah, I definitely took another step because I went – we were like two, three months together, and you know, it was just more comfortable for him not to really speak English. So and that's when I first started dreaming in Marshallese. I didn't think I'd ever reach that. I thought that was just for, like, the super smart elders that just caught on so quick. And I was like, yeah, that's not for me. But, no, there was one, only one. But, you know, hey, I i remember it.
Language and Community Life
01:04:37
Darin Tingey
Yeah, that's honestly the coolest thing. And when you're first getting out there on your mission, like, oh yeah, you'll dream of Marshallese. You're like, no way. Like, there's no way.
01:04:44
Mcalie
I know.
01:04:46
Darin Tingey
But then you have that first Marshallese dream. You're like, oh my gosh, dude, I dreamed of Marshallese.
01:04:49
Mcalie
Yes.
01:04:50
Darin Tingey
Let's go.
01:04:51
Mcalie
Yeah, you're like...
01:04:52
Darin Tingey
i I still to this day will dream of Marshallese and Kiribati.
01:04:55
Mcalie
oh yeah?
01:04:56
Darin Tingey
Yeah, it's super fun when I do.
01:05:00
Mcalie
Oh, that's cool.
01:05:00
Darin Tingey
But yeah, it's it's just, that's when you know you're like, but like I got the language, right?
01:05:04
Mcalie
Yeah, you were another... out You were always you're really good with languages.
01:05:09
Darin Tingey
I appreciate it. i tried. But, um and having other Tuna there too, like he was brand new. Like he's from Kiribati. It fun for me to train a Kiribati elder given I started being Kiribati.
01:05:17
Mcalie
ah
01:05:20
Darin Tingey
But you're talking to him Marshallese and then you don't have anyone to speak to English to on that level up. So then, and he doesn't speak any Marshallese. So then you're doing all the talking on that level up.
01:05:31
Mcalie
All the talking.
01:05:32
Darin Tingey
All of it.
01:05:33
Mcalie
ah
01:05:34
Darin Tingey
So I'm sure the language is like through the roof.
01:05:34
Mcalie
Yeah, but... Yeah, and but he the the fun thing about it usually you're like, oh, I want my companion to be involved or I'm worried that they're just going bored. But I mean, he's just got the biggest smile and he's just looking. He but probably doesn't understand, but, you know you know, when someone raises their eyebrows, he raises his eyebrows and someone smiles, he'll just smile. And then they'll be like, oh, you know, what do you, you know what's going on? he'll just be like, shrug his shoulders, I don't know. And then we all just start laughing, you know
01:06:05
Darin Tingey
a Did, so what was life as as far as like, you know you talk about food on the island level up. What was the community like? and And did you guys go fishing a lot with people or kind of what was...
01:06:20
Mcalie
I know. Yeah, great question. And the the part that we were at, the church was a lot stronger. We had more members there. we had leaders in the area who remember. So that kind of helped.
01:06:30
Mcalie
But I remember there was the where the airport is or the airstrip. You have bike like a couple hours just to get there. um but that area is pretty much all Protestant.
01:06:44
Mcalie
And, you know, yeah, Protestant give us a lot of problems, but these Protestants went out of their way to like say really rude and mean things to us. There was this one guy named Lonnie.
01:06:55
Mcalie
I remember. And I was just, I was like, man, I please let Lonnie come to this basketball court. Please let Lonnie come to this basketball court. I'm gonna, I'm just gonna embarrass him. He never came, but yeah, he was a pretty big dude, but he would say like really,
01:07:09
Mcalie
terrible things to us. Stuff that you would, you know, it's kind of hard not to get triggered and be like, all right, Lonnie, like you got one more time and, you know, the island's about to find out what this church is about.
01:07:20
Mcalie
But, but yeah, no, they, you know, it was kind of rough.
01:07:20
Darin Tingey
Yeah. Yep.
01:07:24
Mcalie
We, we'd go there every other day just to go because, ah but um yeah, that was kind of hard. But when Elder Tune came, believe it or not, or you may know, you his uncle,
01:07:38
Mcalie
And his dad, they have like the fishing business over there.
01:07:41
Darin Tingey
Yep.
01:07:41
Mcalie
And and um his uncle now actually, i think is the one who was called as a general authority, right?
01:07:42
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
01:07:47
Darin Tingey
yeah Yes, you're sure to know.
01:07:49
Mcalie
Yeah. And so he was really good at fishing. And i remember the first morning there, I guess he was like, I'm not doing this little half cup of rice or eating. And by then I think we had, there was... you know stuff you could buy in the store more.
01:08:01
Mcalie
ah But ah there was all this fish, and he would just you know catch fish, and he'd tell people he loved fish, and you know people loved him, and they would just bring us fish. I mean, we were eating great by that point. and He brought the the ah the keyboard out, so and he could play really well too, so we're just making all these beats, and people are coming to our you know little hut, and we're just dancing, and we're just jamming, having jam sessions every night.
01:08:29
Darin Tingey
That's so cool that president like would send the keyboard to you.
01:08:33
Mcalie
Yeah.
01:08:33
Darin Tingey
That's actually really cool that he did that.
01:08:36
Mcalie
And sent this like really nice flat screen TV, like a 60-inch, because he wanted people to watch General Conference, you know you know I guess.
01:08:48
Mcalie
But yeah, so anyway.
01:08:49
Darin Tingey
yeah
01:08:52
Darin Tingey
That's what it was used for president. Yep. That's what it was used for general conference.
01:08:55
Mcalie
um Yeah, i watched yeah i I watched General Conference like 10 times.
01:08:57
Darin Tingey
That was it.
01:08:59
Mcalie
But also, this is what the young man this one young man had this laptop and he had like hundreds of movies on it.
01:09:00
Darin Tingey
That was it.
01:09:08
Mcalie
I remember I told the young man, I'm like, hey, you guys need to want you know you guys can use the TV if you want. they would Every Wednesday, they'd come watch a movie. And I would do my personal study facing the other direction in the chapel.
01:09:21
Darin Tingey
see yeah right
01:09:22
Mcalie
And I, and I, and I remember there, I'll be honest, the podcast is what all the listeners can hear. Ragnarok, Thor Ragnarok. I hadn't even been ah like released. It was still in theaters.
01:09:36
Mcalie
They were watching it. And I was like, what is this? And all of a sudden I turn around, I see this, you know, Thor, but I've never seen this. And, Yeah, that's that story. so
01:09:51
Darin Tingey
Yeah, President, that's the only we're watching out here. This is General Conference. Oh, man. that
01:09:56
Mcalie
Yeah, when it was out of Pellet and I, we would watch general conference over and over just because when it it gets to a point where it's so hot, it's rude to go out. And you just, but it's too hot to sit inside.
01:10:05
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
01:10:08
Mcalie
And would get so bored sometimes. And so you would, you know, watch the general conference, you're trying to notice different people. Oh, you know, there's more men on this side and, you know, whatever you can find.
01:10:20
Darin Tingey
So funny, Marshallese culture is hilarious because it's like, oh, it's too hot, like don't go anyone's house because they're all taking a nap. like
01:10:28
Mcalie
Right.
01:10:28
Darin Tingey
And it's super bad manners to awake to wake someone up from their nap in the Marshall Islands.
01:10:33
Mcalie
Oh, yeah.
01:10:34
Darin Tingey
But also if it's dumping rain, if it's like raining, like don't come to my house either.
01:10:34
Mcalie
Yeah.
01:10:37
Darin Tingey
like We're also taking naps. it's like I feel like majority of the time you're taking a nap, but...
01:10:42
Mcalie
Right. And that's, and it's hard for, because that was really hard for missionaries to gauge, you know, like, Do we go to the, are we not working because we're trying to respect the culture or are we doing too much work and hurt making, hurting relationships with people? was really hard to, you know, figure that out sometimes.
01:11:00
Darin Tingey
Yeah. And that, did it is so fun to hear that other two and a just crushed it out there as far as getting know the people and fishing and, you know, cause he's an Islander from Kiribati.
01:11:07
Mcalie
Oh yeah.
01:11:09
Darin Tingey
mean, that's what he does. He fishes and he's really good at it and he loves to eat. I love that he connected with the culture cause I didn't ever get to hear what, you know, how he did after that. So, um,
01:11:18
Mcalie
Yeah, because, oh, yeah, that's right. Because, oh, I remember. Because when I, or when we came back, did we see you guys in the office or had you left yet already?
01:11:27
Darin Tingey
I think I was gone. I was, yeah, that's my last transfer after after that.
01:11:30
Mcalie
maybe Maybe you left. Because I remember when I came back, I went to the mission office and I see Elder House and I see Elder, or not Elder Don because he had to stay longer, but some of the other elders in your, I can't remember if you were there, but I remember,
01:11:44
Darin Tingey
That's right. No, Kendrick and Dunn were there. Kendrick and Dunn.
01:11:48
Mcalie
Right. So maybe you were in the mission um office. I don't know. But I remember I was, I lost a ton of weight. I was like 140. was pretty, everyone thought I was sick. But I was really happy to see, you know, some of you guys before you guys left. Because ever I remember that's the only reason I was, didn't want to go out when I did.
01:12:08
Mcalie
Because I knew like my intake and all these other missionaries were going to be gone. And I was like, man, like, that's like the foundation of my mission. one of the foundations right there, just.
01:12:18
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
01:12:18
Mcalie
coming back in they're all gone.
Family Connections and Heritage Discovery
01:12:20
Darin Tingey
I think i had, I honestly think I had left before you came back and then and there was a few others for my intake that had to stay back for some reason, but yeah.
01:12:25
Mcalie
I see.
01:12:28
Darin Tingey
So then you only had one area left after I love up, right? Just one area and then you went home.
01:12:33
Mcalie
yeah, it was kind of strange. I was in Agiltaoge for like five weeks, but i was really I wasn't really supposed to be there. i was in like a quadruplet.
01:12:47
Mcalie
quadruplelet and
01:12:47
Darin Tingey
Trio, oh, it was four of you.
01:12:49
Mcalie
Yeah, um we were all in that Agil-Tanke house, and I don't know if we were all supposed to be together, but there a bunch of new missionaries, and I remember I was with Elder Fah Nunu, Elder Tawo, oh, and Elder Tune, yeah, that's right.
01:13:02
Mcalie
Elder Tune and I, were we were pulled off early to get ready for this huge intake to come to replace me know most of you guys, and I don't know, maybe we got pulled off a little, or we had to get pulled off that early, but we were just kind of sitting in Agile Taube for a while, not really knowing what to do. So we just followed Fanunu and his companion wherever they went.
01:13:23
Mcalie
And, ah yeah, then the big intake comes, and I find out that I'm going to be in Rita training a new elder, Elder Thompson.
01:13:34
Darin Tingey
Tyler Thompson. I know Tyler Thompson.
01:13:37
Mcalie
Oh, that's didn't you have a class with him?
01:13:39
Darin Tingey
I did at BYU.
01:13:40
Mcalie
Yeah.
01:13:41
Darin Tingey
He got pulled off because of COVID and then he took the Marshallese class at BYU with me, which was fun.
01:13:44
Mcalie
That's, yeah, yeah.
01:13:48
Mcalie
Yeah, Elder Thompson. i love Elder Thompson.
01:13:52
Darin Tingey
Well, any what was your favorite what was your favorite area of the mission and and favorite cultural thing?
01:14:03
Mcalie
Well, it's hard. I'd still would say Ubi just because, you know, and I think I made the most friendships there.
01:14:07
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
01:14:10
Mcalie
And especially because there's so many youth and they were close to our age. And they also spoke pretty good English. And just, i I think I really got to see the culture in Ibai, just, you know, what is mine is yours. People would just be so giving and, you know, just show so much love. You know, I had never really experienced that before.
01:14:32
Darin Tingey
Yeah. And you taught seminary there too. i forgot you taught seminary in the mornings and got close them there before you let's do the, what was your favorite, um, food?
01:14:36
Mcalie
Yeah. Uh-huh.
01:14:45
Darin Tingey
And then I've got another question for you.
01:14:47
Mcalie
favorite food it was i don't know yeah it was probably fish when it was fried i like i like that i never got to have well i got to have sea turtle once when that and that was really good actually um but yeah i didn't get to really have much like exotic things
01:14:55
Darin Tingey
Yeah.
01:15:08
Darin Tingey
Sorry, but yeah, Bradford and Puyro.
01:15:10
Mcalie
right right right
01:15:13
Darin Tingey
um I forgot to ask you. So like you met some of your family when you went back, right? when you When you were there serving your mission, what was that like and where where were they at?
01:15:19
Mcalie
Yeah. ah
01:15:24
Mcalie
It was a long process. we kept getting leads to different, you know, potential areas. And so I would get permission to go to the other side of the mission and do a split and look. And it was like three times we were looking and it was just kind of dead ends.
01:15:41
Mcalie
And then all of a sudden, um, There's this in Laura area, there's this booboo, booboo Enrique. And she was just like, what's your what's your last name? And I said, Oh, my last name is Kellen.
01:15:55
Mcalie
And she was like, and the next day I come and she's like, I know who your mom is. follow me. um And so we go to this place and I guess it's like that whole strip, it's a really big area is like, I guess our whole family area.
01:16:11
Mcalie
And these are, I guess, I'm assuming cousins or you know parts of the family. And she's like, this is Mei Mei's son.
01:16:15
Darin Tingey
Mm-hmm.
01:16:16
Mcalie
This is Mei Mei's son. Where are they? And so we go to the house. She's like, this is where you were born. But nobody was there. So it was like a few P days later, I got to go with my companion and um we go and my Two sisters went with me for support.
01:16:37
Mcalie
And then we knocked on the door, and my my uncle came out. And she's talking to him, and he's like you know pretty astounding. And the coolest part about that was i had been out, and then this is after my two Outer Islands.
01:16:51
Mcalie
No, no. is ah This is after like a year. Not the second Outer Island. But I was... pretty good at speaking the language and you know I got to talk to him and um but we found out most of my family was in America in Arkansas and uh so one PDA I got to uh they My uncle hooked it up and I got to get on a video call and meet my mom and my sister.
01:17:18
Mcalie
And um apparently between my mom and dad's side, there's 17 of us children.
01:17:25
Darin Tingey
Wow.
01:17:25
Mcalie
And I've gotten to talk to a lot of them. But yeah, my older sister, and I'm the second oldest. I'm 28, but I'm the second oldest. And um I got to speak with, I speak to my sister a lot these days. But yeah, no, it was pretty cool.
01:17:38
Mcalie
It was a special experience.
01:17:40
Darin Tingey
That's so cool, man, that you got to finally meet some family and just make those connections. Have you met your family in person, the ones that live in Arkansas? Have you gone over there yet?
01:17:52
Mcalie
I have not gone over there yet. ah You know,
01:17:54
Darin Tingey
Is that in the plan? So you kind of like, ah, you know, I've got my family that raised me type of deal.
01:18:00
Mcalie
no, it's pretty interesting. you know we're We're in talks of you know doing it. We talk a lot online. It just hasn't happened in person. But, you know, I'm pretty excited for it to happen. and i think But there's all it's a new territory. you know My family that i was adopted by, they were always very good.
01:18:19
Mcalie
you know, telling me, you know, where I'm from and um what my family was like and, you know, telling me that I can, whenever I want to go meet them or try to find them, and you know, it's okay.
01:18:31
Darin Tingey
Yeah,
01:18:31
Mcalie
Well, it was obvious because, you know, I have brown skin, they have white skin.
01:18:34
Darin Tingey
no, that's so cool.
01:18:35
Mcalie
So it would have been hard to keep that secret, you know. But yeah, I mean, no, I mean, I never thought that it was
Marriage and Spiritual Growth
01:18:43
Mcalie
gonna happen. I was just satisfied with getting to see what my home looks like, what the people look like, how they act.
01:18:50
Mcalie
But you know that was definitely special when to get to see the person that you know who's your real mom.
01:18:59
Darin Tingey
yeah that's so cool And the other piece that I kind of forgot to talk about, but and we don't even talk about it now, but it's just kind of cool. You married Sister Marie.
01:19:10
Darin Tingey
So she was in MTC with you, spent lot of your mission with you. And the other for Jean's sister, Sister Raditanga, she's since passed, rest in peace. But you were super close with them and you ended up bringing Sister Marie over from Fiji to America.
01:19:24
Darin Tingey
And do you guys ever speak martialese to each other?
01:19:24
Mcalie
ah yeah Oh, yeah. or And especially her when she doesn't want other people to understand. Or when i'm when I didn't do you know something I was supposed to do.
01:19:34
Darin Tingey
Oh, nice.
01:19:38
Darin Tingey
When she's mad at you, she starts swearing swearing at you and Marshallese.
01:19:39
Mcalie
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, Marshallese or Fijian, which, you know, I'm sure all of us missionaries know certain Fijian words because of those sisters.
01:19:50
Darin Tingey
Oh, that's good. Was there anything else you wanted to share about the new mission experience?
01:19:58
Mcalie
Yeah, I think just one of the coolest things for me, and I never really... did much studying or, you know, I just kind of went to went to church because, know, that's what I was expected to do.
01:20:12
Mcalie
And I think I really got to see the the power of, you know, the atonement and what, you know, Christ's love, you know, just, you know, a little bit of understanding what his love is for us.
01:20:23
Mcalie
Because, you know, There's all these expectations and we want to, you know, live up to them. And I think sometimes the adversary can make us feel unworthy to feel like we can turn to the Lord.
01:20:41
Mcalie
And you know I've found that it's never too late, it's never too early, and it doesn't matter what she what's your status is or what you look like.
01:20:41
Darin Tingey
Mm-hmm.
01:20:50
Mcalie
you know He's always there for you. And I've found now in my life that the more you turn to Him, the things that are your biggest struggles or your ambitions that you want and things you want to accomplish in life,
01:21:04
Mcalie
you know You'll slowly achieve and you know grow those strength or weaknesses into strengths just by you know being with Him consistently. And it's been pretty amazing. I think on my mission, I really saw that growth of what you know turning your life to the Lord, what it can do for you.
01:21:22
Darin Tingey
Yeah, definitely. I feel like on the mission, you, yeah you're in some hard times. It's really hard. Honestly, mission is super hard. i I honestly forget like all the hard stuff about the mission now, which is great, but it was so hard. And like, you just really have to turn the Lord and being in the Marshall Islands is so great because they have so much love.
01:21:40
Darin Tingey
And so like, you feel God's love, like through the people and you learn how to love people.
01:21:41
Mcalie
Oh yeah.
01:21:44
Darin Tingey
You know, you really learn how to, how to love a community and, and, and people. So Well, thank you for coming on the pod. It's been so fun. I'm glad we got you on, especially with your unique story of being adopted and then going back to the Marshall Islands on your mission.
01:21:58
Darin Tingey
was actually, and I sent you the message, was actually a kid out there, an elder out there right now same Same story as you.
01:21:58
Mcalie
Oh yeah? yeah
01:22:04
Darin Tingey
bat
01:22:05
Mcalie
ah yeah
01:22:06
Darin Tingey
Adopted into American family and then he got called back to the Marshall Islands on his mission. He's out there right now. So his dad listens the podcast.
01:22:12
Mcalie
What's his name?
01:22:13
Darin Tingey
Shout out. I think... a shout out Elder, let me pull up, I'm blanking on the name. It's like Nelson or something. Yeah, Elder Nelson.
01:22:25
Darin Tingey
I don't know his first name.
01:22:25
Mcalie
Oh, that's cool.
01:22:26
Darin Tingey
His dad's name is David. David, thanks for listening
Conclusion and Shoutout
01:22:29
Darin Tingey
to the pod. But I'll have to maybe connect you guys. He gets back from this mission July 2nd.
01:22:34
Mcalie
Oh, yeah, please.
01:22:34
Darin Tingey
So that'd be awesome. All right, thanks. This has been another great episode of the Islands Podcast.