18 April 2011

Family,

This last week we were in Kosrae. As we were sitting in Zone Leader Council on that Sunday, I had a pretty bad sore throat, so Sister Dowdle gave me some Airborne (which I don't have any faith in), and some cough drops. As I was writing my letter to you last week it was still pretty bad, and I felt miserable on the plane ride over. It's pretty long, and the flight is called the "island-hopper." It goes from Guam to Hawaii and stops at all of the islands in between: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, the Marshall Islands, and Hawaii, and then back. Plus, you have to de-plane at every stop while they do a security check. So with all the changes in air pressure and moving around, I felt pretty awful. We went to dinner with the missionaries that night and worked with them a little bit. I slept great that night, but woke up feeling pretty terrible still. I felt like my tonsils were swollen so I checked them out in the mirror. I don't know if they were swollen or not, but there was a white spot on the right side, which was a symptom of something that I couldn't remember, so I went out and asked one of the missionaries. He suggested strep, which is what I was thinking of. So we called the mission nurse, and she sent me to the Kosrae hospital. I have to say, the Kosrae hospital is probably the single worst hospital on earth. But we went anyway. They didn't take any tests or anything, he just looked at my throat, called it strep throat and gave me some Amoxycillin. So I'm still dealing with a pretty nasty cough and congestion, but the sore throat is gone, that's the good news.

Kosrae is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. There's a paved road that only goes around half to three-quarters of the island, and you just drive back and forth on it seeing the same things and the same people over and over again. There are very few cars, and people just walk around, so it was really cool. The members found out that Elder Matthews was coming back (he served there for about a year before he came to Guam) and wanted to to throw him a farewell party, since they didn't get to when he left the first time. Since I was coming back to Guam too, I got a bit of the loving as well. I came away with some cool necklaces made of coconut fiber and shells and some headbands made out of pandanas and flowers. They had a potluck at the district center (which is huge by the way), and each branch sang a song and a few people spoke and then we all ate. It was funny because apparently one of the recent converts (not so recent anymore actually) had been spreading a rumor that Elder Matthews was coming back to take her back with him to Idaho and get married. Everyone we talked to asked about it all week. At the party, she was there, but I think someone called her out on it, so she was pretty embarrassed I think; she and a couple of others sat away from everyone else. The next morning we went to the airport and there were several of them there as well. They sang 2 more songs ("God be with you 'till we meet again" and some Kosraean song) and gave us some flowery headbands (like a lei, but for your head) and one of the families waited until the very moment we stepped on the plane (you just walk out on the tarmac then up the stairs to the plane - there's no covered walkway). I can see how it would be hard for a missionary to leave Kosrae, it was sad for me to leave, and I was only there a week. But, I missed Guam, and I'm glad to be back.

With transfers, and then our two trips these last two weeks, our area is pretty dead. We spent yesterday going through a list of part-member families and other less-active families and tracking them down trying to find new people to teach, and the Elders Quorum President is supposed to be giving us some more names this week. We didn't have any immediate success from it, but we met a bunch of families that we didn't know before, and a lot of potential investigators, so I feel really good about it.

That's it from me. I should be staying in Guam for the next few weeks, so I'll talk to you guys again next week.

Happy Easter!

Love,

Elder Barlow

11 April 2011

Family,

It's just before 6:30 here, we decided to email quickly before our flight (we have to be there in an hour and I still have to shower and finish packing the things I needed this morning).

This last week we were in Pohnpei. We arrived late Sunday night/early Monday morning, and then spent P-Day with them. We played football with the elders and then just followed them around to all their errands. After playing and getting all sweaty, I realized that I didn't pack any extra garments. So, I wore the same smelly set every day: Sunday - Thursday. I didn't realize how bad they actually stunk until I went to wash them. Luckily it didn't rain on us though. A bunch of people asked if I'm related to a Spencer Barlow that served in Pohnpei a few years ago. They said he was part Tongan, so I said no. But correct me if I'm wrong. I think there were multiple Spencer Barlow's running around this mission in the past.

Anyway, it was fun, and I learned a lot more than just some Pohnpeian phrases. But it's been a while since I had to sit through that many lessons that I didn't understand. It was so hot when we went that I fell asleep in one of the lessons. Oh well, what can you do? On the flipside, they did have a deaf investigator who taught himself basic Sign Language. Elder Matthews offered my services to help him. So I got to teach someone in Sign Language for the first time. I was pretty nervous because I don't remember much, let alone gospel-related words. Luckily, this guy only new basic stuff anyway. The missionaries figured out all the things, especially commandments, that would be difficult for them to teach. So I ended up teaching this guy about prophets, repentance, and the Law of Chastity. It was so interesting because this guy doesn't speak English, only Pohnpeian (he's able to talk a little), and can't read either one. So if there was a sign that I didn't know, I couldn't just spell it, because he doesn't know English, and definitely can't read it. But, he wants to be baptized, and is working for the end of the month to do it. I had a good time.

This weekend was General Conference for us, combined with Zone Leader Council. We were pretty busy again. I enjoyed Elder Eyring's talk on service on Saturday (If that wasn't the topic, that's what I remember about it, and I don't remember which session). I think that one was probably my favorite. I missed a few having to run to the airport during sessions, but I caught most of it.

Well, like I said, I've got to get going. I love you guys, I'll talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder Barlow

General Conference

Family,

So I'm here in Pohnpei right now, and there's a bunch of people waiting for the computer, so I just wanted to take a minute and let you know I got here safe.

We arrived last night, and we'll be staying until Thursday. The flight leaves Guam, touches down in Chuuk, then again in Pohnpei, Kosrae, the Marshalls, and Hawaii, then makes it's way back. This particular time, it finished in Pohnpei and went back to Guam. So it takes forever.

This next weekend we'll have our Zone Leader Council, as well as the General Conference rebroadcast. We'll finish up just in time to fly out to Kosrae the next day. Elder Matthews served over a year in Kosrae, so he's pretty excited to go back and see it.

This last week was the most hectic since I've been in Guam. We basically lived at the airport with new missionaries, departing missionaries, and transferring missionaries. Not to mention moving them all in to their new apartments, and orienting the new ones. As much as I like being busy, it's hard to sit down at the end of the week and realize how many people you were able to teach. Or not teach I guess. I kind of expected it though, so I'm not too upset.

That's all for me today. I love you guys.

Love,

Elder Barlow