We are Only Instruments

Bonjouuuur tout le monde!

Hello hello hello! This will be a tad bit brief. I've spent up all my
time replying to my dearly beloveds, but I shall do my best to fill
you in on the week.

Paita. It is slowly but surely rising up! I have always said this
place is BURSTING with potential. This place is packed full of
hundreds of people of every ethnicity and class and income level and
religion. Walisians, Futunians, Indonesians, Ni-Vanuatus, French,
Tahitian, Melanesian, Vietnamese and all number of others. Well, it's
a weekly climb, but Paita is really starting to thrive with the
gospel.

One of the most incredible blessings we've been seeing is the chance
to teach famililes. Up to this point on my mission I have never taught
a family. Ok, I've taught one, but it took a year to go from teaching
an individual to teaching a family. And suddenly we have TWO families
we are teaching. What a sweet tender mercy of the Lord to teach His
Gospel to families.

Right before I left Paita five months ago we had contacted a couple.
We were so excited about them. And then we left. Well this week we
recontacted them and have begun to teach them. Words cannot even
express my joy and also my intimidation in walking into a home and
having a HUSBAND, wife and children sitting on the couch across from
me. That is so very very rare here. Satan really attacks the
priesthood holders out here, and that usually means he attacks future
priesthood holders too. But we are seeing the Lord's hand working His
might work and it is sweet and joyful to be a part of.

Something I've known for a long time but have maybe never expressed (i
think) is just how much this is the Lord's work. Any amis that are
found, any hearts that are touched, any doors that are opened, any
progress that amis make, anything and EVERYthing is "grace au
Seigneur". Thanks to the Lord. I cannot take even the tiniest amount
of credit for any good that is done. Because it isn't me. It is Him.
This work would be impossible if it wasn't His. Flatout impossible.
There is no way that two 20 year old american girls could walk around
this island and make any sort of an impact on people's lives and faith
and happiness if it wasn't the Lord's will and teachings. We are
simply called to be worthy instruments. It is His work and we are
called and welcome to help Him, but we must be worthy of the task. How
blessed I feel to get to see the Lord work miracles through us as I
learn to give Him my all and receive much more in return.

New Caledonia had an open house this week! So fancy! By New Caledonia
I mean our stake hosted an open house and invited the whole country.

We are working ourselves silly and to utter exhaustion. It is
hilarious and rewarding. We sleeptalk contacting methods and lessons
and prayers.

May you all have the happiest of weeks.
Go with the missionaries to a lesson. Bear a simple testimony. Offer a
short, sincere prayer. Members make a world of difference in helping
bring our precious brothers and sisters closer to our Father in
Heaven.

Love you all!
Soeur Evans

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Edification

Bonjoouuuuuur et salut!!

Wow, well not sure where to begin.

Ok, I've decided, I shall begin with Zone Conference. Absolutely incredible. President Brewer and Sister Brewer are so dear to my heart. This was our last Zone Conference with them before they leave in the end of June. My heart was sad saying goodbye, I will miss their counsel and spirit. But I'm sure the next mission president and his lovely wife will be incredible in their own way.

This Zone Conference was FILLED with stories of Cyclone Pam. Oh my goodness you would not believe the miracles and the stories they shared. What better way to learn of the Lord's work than to witness His all-powerful hand leading and performing His own work?

They talked about the night of the storm, the 41 missionaries in their home, the service given after the cyclone, visiting the people, deciding to send missionaries home, visiting church buildings to check the damage and a kajillion other things. While other churches had roofs torn off and walls collapse, all except our very very bush chapels (we're talking sticks and leaves essentially) STOOD. Even the chapels made of wood. They STOOD. In a level 5 storm. When our foundation is upon CHRIST, we will not fall. What a powerful visual for all the people of Vanuatu. And did they ever notice! The church attendance skyrocketing. Branches that used to have about 100-200 people come are now full of 700-800 people, members (both active and inactive), amis, strangers, everyone is flocking to our churches. President and Sister Brewer bore powerful, powerful testimonies. I can't do it any justice in this email, but this work is TRUE. This church is TRUE. The Lord leads this work, for it is truly His.

As for Paita, the work continues on. We have not had as miraculous of an aid, but nonetheless slowly but surely the work is progressing and increasing.

One miracle of miracles this week was finding a new FAMILY. We were in Savannah doing porte a porte (a whole other town that is part of our secteur that we rarely if ever get to go to). Well we were there for about an hour, and were trying to find some more amis. After about 30 minutes of porte a porte and talking to no one (either because of being ignored or not heard because their houses are hidden behind 6 foot gates that we yell bonjour at at the top of our lungs hoping to be heard), we decided to head back. I saw  a woman up the hill and get so excited because it is a sign of human life and we try to contact her. Nothing. Then we see a family and try them. Nope. Well we decide to go to one more house. We yell and a 20 year old man walks up. He's pretty solidly uninterested and indifferent but we ask to meet his family. He invites us down. Long story short. We meet a MEMBER who is visiting his nonmember FAMILY. He's the grandfather, and his daughter and her family were there. We began to introduce ourselves and testify of why we had come. And the husband said that at THIS very moment their family was struggling. How did we know to come here? Why did we happen to just talk about the family? He was touched by the Spirit and knew that we had not found them by accident. HE asked US to keep a copy of the Book of Mormon. HE asked US if it would not be too much trouble to come back again? Ummmmm of course!!! 

Yesterday we went back for our return appt. He said only his wife would be home but that we should come anyway. We show up and they were ALL waiting for us, sitting at the table, ready for us to arrive. I have NEVER experienced that. A lesson with a husband and wife both sitting with us and willing and ready to learn. Miracle!

We had many other powerful experiences this week. One amie testified that when we (the sisters) left 5 months ago it was a big trial. She was pretty much left to herself for a while. But during the lesson she testified that it was a time when she learned of her own strength and spiritual understanding. It was a chance for her to apply what she learned. Now that we are back, she is again feeling the Spirit and remembering its sweet peace. She said that those 5 months without us were long enough for her. She never wants to feel that spiritual hunger again. Wow, what an incredible blessing to hear that. To have a tiny insight in to Heavenly Father's eternal, grand perspective. He knows what we need. Oh does He know!

I love you all! May you all feel the sweet, calming, warming, beautiful presence of the Spirit this week. I have felt it more than I ever imagined on my mission and I never want to lose it.

We are truly doing the Lord's work. Missions are inspired of God. I am grateful each day for the lessons He teaches me and He allows me to be a part of in others' lives.

Looove,

Soeur Evans

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

House in Paita

I'm BACK!!

Dearly beloveds,
Bonjour de Paitaaaaaa!

Hhahahaha I basically have felt like yelling that subject line
every time I walk into a house here. But sadly it doesn't translate so
I settle for, "yesssss, I came back! I left, but now I'm back!....I
know, crazy!"

It is a sweet blessing to be back with these people. The five months
away from them gave many a chance to reflect and turn to uniquely the
Lord. Now, after this personal time they've had to think and reflect
and grow hungry, we return to FEED them. What an incredible thing it
is to see a real hunger in people's eyes for the gospel. Especially
those that have already tasted, some just briefly, others more
intensely. They want it back. I think they are much more prepared to
receive it.

And so, with each day and each rendezvous with amis or inactives or
members, I am seeing why the Lord sent me back. There is much to be
done. There is much to be finished that had only begun.

It was painful saying goodbye to Bourail. Me and SG had the most
magical delightful day last Pday and went to the Poe beach. Google it
it's divine. We basically had a day in the most beautiful place on
earth, best friends after seven incredible months together, finished
by sharing the gospel with strangers. A perfect day.

Before we left go to transfers I stopped to say goodbye to our recent
convert couple. The old ones we visit all the time. Well let's just say
it ended with all three of us bawling. Love them with all my heart.

I definitely left a chunk of my heart up North. But I'm doing my best
to give an equal chunk back to Paita. There are many people I love
here, so it hasn't been to hard to do so :)

GENERAL CONFERENCE. Amen. Amen to it all. What inspired leaders we
have. Can't wait to reread all of those talks and ponder them. Sweet
wonderful counsel from heaven.

On another note people are thrilled to see Soeurs at Paita again.
Which means that the past week I think we've eaten only breakfast and
2 lunches at our house. AKA I fear I will be rolling out of this
secteur. I forgot what it's like to have so many members. And all of
them so loving and supportive and generous. Fills my heart and my
stomach haahaha

Love you all dearly.

Tender mercy; before me and SG left Paita five months ago, we had met
a young mother. We had taught 2 lessons and had invited her to be
baptized. She had said yes. Well before we left we didn't get to say
goodbye so in an awkward goodbye/final testimony, we wrote our
testimonies on pictures of us and slipped it under the door, because
'we'd never see her again anyway'. Well I saw her again on Friday. Oh
my and she not only remembered me, she immediately asked when we could
come by because she had REALLY missed the lessons. We had only taught
her TWICE!!! The Lord is so good. He didn't forget about any of these
people. And neither did I. How grateful I am to see how so many of the
seeds I planted months ago have grown.

Looooooove,
Soeur Evans

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Transfer....surprise

Bonjour mes coeurs!

Well this week we got the transfer call. Ok in New Cal we all get the call because there are 43 of us, but this time it related to us.
I am leaving Bourail. You will never believe where I am going. I didn't believe it. I am going BACK to Paita. I am going back to the secteur I served in for the first seven and a half months of my mission. Hahahaha last thing I expected. I still have no idea why the Lord decided to send me back there, but His thoughts are not our thoughts nor are His ways our ways. Excited to find out why. Also feeling slightly awkwardly excited to go see all those dear people of Paita again and see their faces when I walk back up to their house again after saying goodbye once already.
My new companion will be Soeur Giles from  Utah. She came in with Soeur Gunn. Hahahah also we are now on foot. Paita is huge. I was in a car before. Basically this is going to be hilarious.

Meanwhile, I am now saying goodbye to all of these beloved people in Bourail. The Lord is merciful and despite limited time to say goodbye, He is allowing me the means to see everyone I love before I go. One of our dear sweet amis drove all the way from Houailou an hour and a half away to see us when she got my message that I was leaving. Sweet tender goodbyes.

Today is SGs birthday so were going to the BEACH!!!! Yesssssss! Oh yeah! Bourail just got a car! Hahaha just in time for me to leave. But it is going to work miracles here, I am SO happy they got one. Such wonderful leaders who help us to keep His work progressing. 

Love you all. Thank you for your prayers and love and encouragement. This week we definitely felt the Lords help. Despite feeling like it was a horrible transfer in regards to numbers, last night we were surprised to see it was largely our best transfer yet. The Lords work will never cease. He keeps it rolling on, even when we sometimes feel the contrary.

Just heard from President Brewer again for the first time in weeks. What a blessing to be able to have contact from our inspired leader again.

Looove you all!
Soeur Evans

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.