Palau Post

Family,

So it turns out that the funeral isn't until this next Sunday. It's going to be a traditional Palauan funeral, and probably an abomination with betel nut and booze. The Branch President is struggling to let someone dedicate the grave, but other than that, the Church isn't involved. There's not much we can do at this point.

Elder Stanley has had an ingrown toenail for about 5 or 6 months now. He's afraid of shots I think, so he's been avoiding the doctor at all costs. Elder Lyman (his new companion) forced him to tell Sister Miyazaki (the mission nurse) while they were in Guam, and then she took him to the doctor right there. They fixed the toenail, but he has been in Guam for the last week because the doctor insisted he stay for a check up. If everything goes smoothly with his toe and with the flights, he should be back late tomorrow night - chances are he won't be. As a result, Elder Lyman has joined us until Elder Stanley returns (who knows when).

We had a CES guy here from Guam yesterday (and today and tomorrow) trying to work with the youth and get them to attend seminary and institute. At this point the seminary averages about 4 (when I taught there were 2), and the institute is at 0 I think. We took him around to some of the youth and he invited them to come. Then he wanted to look at some of the apartment possibilities for a senior missionary couple that is supposed to be coming next month.

For some reason, I think Palau gets left out of the communication web. We were supposed to be getting a senior couple this month (Elder and Sister Clark) but it wasn't until the Zone Leaders went to Guam and saw the new senior couple in the office that we found out that it wasn't the case. We also didn't know we were getting a new one until the CES guy arrived (we didn't know he was coming until he called us from his hotel) and let us know. It's pretty frustrating, but sure does keep things exciting.

My Uighurr buddies have gone M.I.A this week, so I have nothing to report on them. I'll keep you posted. If you find any cool articles about them, I would love to read them (not in my email but regular mail).

I promised pictures of the Ngardmau waterfall, but when we got there, the guide refused to let us go down. He said it closed in an hour and he didn't want us to make him late. Anyway, these pictures are from the dock in a hamlet (village) called Oel in a state called Ngaraard.
We've been teaching the sister of one of our recent converts, and she was supposed to be baptized this coming Saturday, but we found out that she and her "husband" are not married. We're working on getting that taken care of so she can be baptized mid-March. She and the guy are both for the idea, but the hubby's mother is adamant that they are culturally married. That would be fine, but the culture requires that the wife's family gives money or something, which this woman's family doesn't have. We're just trying to figure out what they can do.

I started reading the Bible from the beginning, and I never realized how many crazy stories are in the Old Testament. I figured out I have to read about 5 pages a day to finish in a year. I have a little chart with all the books of the Bible written on it and I will color in each square as I finish the corresponding book. It's pretty fun. I'm at the part where Jacob has 4 wives, a bunch of sons, and like one daughter and just left Laban's house.

I love you all,

Elder Barlow

P.S. I would love the "Nashville Tribute to the Prophet" CD, and any version of the song "My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee" as well as these jelly beans made by Jelly Belly that have gross flavors, but look the same as the good ones. I think they're called Bean Boozled or something like that. They will make for a great game.