Elder Hilliard called to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Week 27

Imwaain I a waak Kam na bane ni mauri moa

Hello everyone!  This week has been good.  It has gone by very quickly.  It has been a little bit different though.  Good news first, we had a baptism!  Mwariki got baptized.  It was a very small baptism though.  Just us elders, the branch president, the YSA president, and the branch mission leader.  It was a good time though.  We baptized him in the ocean.  That was quite the experience.  The waves were huge and the were carrying big rocks the whole time.  I almost fell over 3 or 4 times.  It was good though and I think that it was a true conversion for this man.  Also, Elder Thomilinson finally arrived yesterday (my sunday).  He is great.  He is pretty good at the language and really good at teaching.  I am excited to work with him.  Now, for the less-good news.  I already know the next transfer.  It is 3 weeks (half way) through this transfer, my companion just arrived, and I already know who my next companion is going to be.  What is good about it though, is that I am going back to Bikenbeu.  I am excited to see that family again.  But, I have to stay focused, because I still have 3 weeks left here.  The other bad news is that this week was really slow teaching wise.  Because almost everyone on Tarawa has pink-eye.  My Kiribati companion also had pink-eye, so we were trapped in doors for a couple of days.  Luckily the power didn't die, and we have air conditioning in our new house.  Anyway, that lead to a lot of study time for me.  I read through the entirety of President Hinckley's discourses part two.  It was so good.  Very insightful and has changed the way I look at tracting and how I look at sharing the gospel.  First, this work is extremely important.  It was a reminder that the salvation of souls is on the line.  We have to be dutiful and help as many people as we can.  Second, I really like this line that President Hinckley repeated often, "We are not out to change the truth you have, we ask you to bring what you have, and see if we can add to it".  We are here to convert people.  But we are not here to make fun of, or bring down other people's beliefs.  Sometimes, being a missionary, you see you investigators beliefs leading them to make bad choices or whatever they do.  But you have to remember that everyone is different, and everyone needs our help in different ways.  Some people just aren't ready.  So long as we build their faith in Christ.  And that faith is true, their heart is true, and they are really looking for a fullness of the truth, that is where the biggest successes happen.  We baptize a lot of people in Kiribati, but there are a lot of less actives as well.  I take that to mean that I have to do better in making sure that these people are converted. Not that they just finished their lessons.  Well, that's my soapbox for this week.  I love you all.  Hope you guys have a good week.

Love

Elder Hilliard

PS Remember who you are.

 We sent him a new backpack. He is really proud of it.


Saturday, April 16, 2016

Pictures and Week 25

Elder Hilliard on his beach

In a field

At a baptism 

another field


At Paradise Restuarant                               Wow, week 25. I am already about a quarter of the way through the
mission. Time sure does fly. Despite the hardships or set backs, I really have enjoyed my time thus far. The work we do is definitely worth anything that we go through. Sometimes we forget that, especially if we don't see the results immediately. But, finally, our work here in Temwaiku is paying off. We have a baptism this week. And it is a good one. I am really excited. This week was good. Elder Kennedy flew off to Nonouti but my companion won't be here for awhile, so I have been working with a visa-waiter since then. It is weird being in charge of the area. But, it is good all the same. One of the craziest things that happened this week is that we had drumsticks. Not the chicken ones, or made of wood. But ice cream. That was really good. We were so amazed. But the most exciting thing it that we just watched conference yesterday and the day before. I loved it so much. This has got to be one of the best conferences that we had. The priesthood session really hit me hard. I felt like all the speakers were talking directly to me. I really loved what Uchtdorf said about being happy. Especially because it is something
 that Mom tells me all the time. We are as happy as we choose to be.We can choose if we are happy in our situation or not. I have seen this in my time in Kiribati. There have been some tough times. But when I remember that I can choose to be happy, I am a lot happier. I
 can focus more on the work. I can help my people more. That has to be one of the most true counsels I have every received. And I definitely think it is something we can all do. We can choose happiness no matter the circumstance. Especially if we remember the gospel of Jesus Christ. His gospel is the only way to true happiness.Hard times will hit us all, and we will all be sad at some point. It is part of life. But we can choose how much we let the hard things affect our future. Or affect our beliefs. I know this to be true. I hope you all have a good week and strive to be happy. I love you all.
 
 Love

 Elder Hilliard