22 Aug. 2011

Family,

This week was a roller coaster for me. I'm trying to adapt to a lot of new things at once. I struggled with my new companion in the beginning - he's just really different than my other companions, but now we're starting to figure out how to work with each other. I'm having to help him with the computer pretty often as I sit here, so my email might not be very long. He claims he's used a computer before, but he didn't know how to use the mouse or the keyboard, so . . . I don't believe him. Anyway, it's been fun.

We've been finding a bunch of new investigators, and I got a little ego boost when I was talking to a couple of Palauans the other day. After talking for a minute in each case they looked at me pretty confused and said, "Are you Palauan...or what? Where are you from?" Rather than lie to them, I said no, I'm from California. They were pretty confused still. They couldn't believe that I'd only been in Palau less than 18 months. Personally, I think that's a long time, but it made me feel pretty good, especially because it happened twice in a day. Elder Rokodakunivosa pronounces really well, so once he gets rolling, I think he's going to be awesome.

President Mecham is trying to get two basic units of the church started here in Palau. It's basically where we just have Sacrament Meeting in a location where there are members that can't make it to church. One will be in Meyuns (I'm really excited about that one because I spent most of my mission working with those people) where there are probably about 100 members - and 99 that are less-active. The idea is take away the transportation excuse, give a few of the priesthood holders the responsibility of being the "group leaders" and see what happens. The branch president is super excited. He said that very soon, we'll have a full branch there. The other is in my area. Right now none of our investigators can come to church because the church is an hour drive away. So even if they did have cars (which most don't) they wouldn't be able to afford the gas. If they had super strong faith from the start they'd be able to do it, but it usually takes time to build that kind of faith. So I'm really excited about this one too.

As for our investigators, I've been surprised how many actually read the Book of Mormon. We'll give a copy to someone and then walk up to their house the next night or something and they'll be sitting there reading it. The challenges that we've been facing are obviously betel nut, and even though they'll read it, people just won't pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. They'll pray, but they won't ask! I don't get it. I think they're afraid to get an answer because they know that if they do, they'll have to leave their church.

People in the 2 villages we work in have been really nice to us. We're always getting bananas, and I'm finally starting to really like them. Usually I've just turned around and given them to someone else, or made banana bread or let them rot, but now I'm actually eating them. It's a good snack (the bananas are tiny - like 2 bites each).

Note for Kim: Invite Lindsay to church! If we didn't teach people that already had a church, we wouldn't teach anybody! When we ask members for referrals, that's the excuse we get a lot. "My friends already have their own church." We're not trying to get the last available slice of the pie. The gospel is for everyone!

Remember that time Heidi dated that "man" who was like 27 when she was like 18? And he came to Disneyland with us? Kim's story with the 30 year old dude reminds me of that. Sorry to throw you under the bus on this one Heidi.

I love you guys.

-Elder Barlow

P.S. No I haven't got the package yet. But we haven't checked the mail today. I'm sure if it's not here today, I'll get it Wednesday when we drive in for District Meeting.