Spring is here

Family,

It's good to hear that the weather is beautiful there. I don't think I've ever been so hot as I was yesterday. I don't know the temperature, but even if I did, the number alone could not adequately describe how I felt. Imagine taking like 30 of those misters (the ones that they have at theme parks when its hot) and filling them all with boiling hot water, and walking through it all during the summer in Arizona. That's how I felt yesterday.

Elder Shular is great. Like I said, he came from Ramanum in Chuuk. He has a bunch of crazy stories from an island of only 600 people. He speaks great Chuukese (I can say that because Elder Stanley told me so), and he's super funny. He's really pushing me to learn the language, and I never realized how much I actually know. Even though I may not catch all of the words that are said in a conversation, I can usually get the basic idea of what they said, and then respond again. I'm still having trouble understanding what speakers say in church though.

Speaking of church, President Dowdle came to Palau this weekend to train the members here. He wants to open another branch, but more people need to start coming to church. The point of his training was to get the members more involved with helping less active members get back to church. It was really really good, and I can't wait to see what happens. Part of the meeting was discussing reasons why people stop coming, and someone mentioned that it was because the bulk of the services were done in English: the hymns, talks, lessons, prayers, everything. President Dowdle totally rebuked them all for it. It was great. And then he chastised them for not helping us learn. One of the problems we've been having with learning the language is that when we speak to people, especially members, they just respond in English. President told them to quit doing that - it's not helping anyone. I'm hoping we see some major changes soon.

I've been waiting for someone to ask about my favorite scripture. Here it is:

Alma 26:12-13,16
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?
[...]
16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

I'm surprised Grandma declined the wheelchair in the first place. I would LOVE to have a wheelchair at Disneyland, and that's for more reasons than one. My legs wouldn't get tired, and you get to go to the front of all the lines, and everyone gets out of your way. There is no downside.

My companion and I have been given the assignment to shift our focus to working with less actives (President really wants another branch), so we're going to have to decide how exactly we're going to do that. It's hard working with people who already know it's true and still don't come to church, still chew, and who knows what else. It should be exciting though.

I got the package from Adam and Kandis (a little early for Easter, but much appreciated nonetheless). I love getting food from the outside.

Thanks for everything, and I'll be sure to do some really exciting things this week.

Love,

Elder Barlow