8 Aug 2011

Family,

I forgot to tell you that my mailing address is the same as it was before. These smaller islands, including Palau only have one post office. So all the missionaries that serve in each island have the same address. So, it will be:

P.O. Box 551
Koror, PW
96940

As for retail centers, I'll have to drive down to Koror to do all my shopping and everything. Unfortunately, it's like a 40 minute drive, so I'm still trying to decide how to make this most efficient. I'll have to come down for church, district meeting, and P-day. I think I'll try and do all my shopping once a month and then hopefully find a laundry place that's close to the new house so I can limit the amount of times I have to make the drive. I might also have to start handwriting letters. It's just too far. I'll at least email again next week to tell you what we decide. I haven't actually had a chance to move into the new place yet (Elder Wright is in Guam for Zone Leader Council, and I'm here with his companion working in their area until he brings my companion back with him tonight. He went to the New Zealand MTC, so his arrival date was a little different than the other incoming missionaries.), so I can't really tell you anything about it. I do know that there are only little shops that sell like chips and betel nut, and there aren't any gas stations, and definitely no restaurants. As for my Palauan, it's getting there. It's harder to understand, but speaking isn't bad. I forgot some words, but they're coming back pretty quickly.

It was pretty exciting to come to church and see everyone again. What else was exciting was seeing people that didn't used to come, and new members that weren't baptized when I was here. It's good to see things growing. The only active member that lives in my new area broke his arm right below the shoulder while riding his dirt-bike (which he got so he can come to church - he doesn't have a car), so he may have to go to the Philippines to get it fixed. He's trying to avoid that, and I'm hoping there's another solution because I need him. He came to church yesterday with his sling and I told him we need 20 baptisms up there before I leave in October, and he said "don't worry about that. 20, 40, 80 - we can do that." So he's going to take me to all of his friends and since he's a chief, he's the best member missionary we could ask for right now.

Oh, I forgot to mention something. The mission office said that since the new apartment doesn't have a hot water heater, the mission will supply one. Lucky break for me. I was dreading cold showers that early in the morning. They're okay in the afternoon, but there aren't many things that make you dread getting up in the morning as much as knowing you'll have to take a cold shower.

Transfers went smoothly, people were pretty surprised with a lot of the changes. But now I'm out of the loop and don't have to deal with anyone's problems anymore. I heard someone (I heard it was a member) punched a missionary in the face in Guam - but that's not my problem anymore. It's kind of a nice feeling...not that he got punched, just that I don't have to deal with it. On the other hand, I'm kind of scared because I don't really know how the work is going to go in this new area. All I can do it work my hardest, and pray that things happen for me. I'll be sure to let you all know how things progress.

Love,

Elder Barlow