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

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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

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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

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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

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Give your broken heart to the Lord

Bonjour!

This week was really hard. Last Sunday one of our members said something that I just loved. And on Sunday, when all was well, I was all nods and yessss that is so truue! So this week the Lord put me to the test.

She said, «Give your broken heart to the Lord and a smile to the world»

This week my heart broke. Tuesday we got dropped by two people. Then Wednesday morning we made some more phone calls to schedule lessons and get dropped by even more people. At that point we were feeling it, but doing ok. We went out to do some porte a porte and then happened to see one of our amis. She is one my favorite people, full to the brim with love and gratitude since the first day we met her. I pray for her constantly. I love her. And when we saw her she was ice cold, mean and full of distrust. She scolded us, called us liars and a whole number od things that cut really deep and were so very unexpected. As we walked away from her house I felt some of the deepest hurt I've ever experienced. I wasn't angry with her, it just filled with with sorrow that she had closed herself off to the truth and the BLESSINGS of the gospel. 

Long story short. This week was really hard. Almost all of our amis dropped us or rejected us. 

But i can testify that prayer is a true communication with a loving Heavenly Father. Prayer heals us. Through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ we may be healed. We are never alone. I felt very alone at that moment after that experience, but I was so very mistaken.

please never underestimate prayer.

On a lighter note, last Monday we had the unreal and DELIGHTFUL joy of playing VOLLEYBALL with a bunch of enormous Walisians and Tahitians. I was dying of joy. All these enormous islanders just kept walking out of their homes and joining us. They are so legit. 

Love you all!!
I promise I'm doing ok now by the way!
Soeur Evans

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Miracles Abounding

Bonjouuuuur tout le monde! Salut ma chere petite famille et tous vous
chers amis aussi!

Well I'm currently in Noumea once again. We have a reunion de zone
tomorrow so we had to come down today. And I will be honest, it is
really hard to leave our secteur so often. I feel like we just abandon
it and leave those people hanging, even when its just for a couple of

Just a Walk Along-- photo from Soeur Gunn

days. This work and these people are too important. Hahah we were
tempted to just ask to skip the meeting so we could stay up in
Bourail, but alas, it is important to be spiritually edified and
instructed so here we are.

Just heard that all missionaries in Vanuatu who are almost done with
their missions have to go home early because of a lack of housing in
Vanuatu. We were so protected from all of that, but it is quite the
experience to be right on the edge of this natural disaster. There are
lots of Ni-Vanuatu who live here and have families who are now living
in the churches over in Vanuatu. I am incredibly grateful to be here,
to be safe, and to be able to stay out. Keep sending your prayers
their way, they certainly need it.

I'm gonna try to give a bunch of different stories this week. My
fingers are happy with a keyboard as opposed to the regular tablet, so
maybe I'll even write more. Oh lala who knows :)

First things first. HIGHLIGHT of all highlights! Guess how many amis
came to church yesterday?!?! Not just one. Nope, not just two. THREE.
Three amis came to church! And this might seem like just another
Sunday to so many others, but it was the most incredible blessing and
straight up miracle for us. We have been here for 5 months. Five. And
have invited people to come to church since day one of those 5 months.
And yesterday, we had 3 separate amis come. Two of them just came for
the first hour, and one of them stayed all three hours! The Spirit was
filling our little storefront and I was overcome with gratitude and a
gentle confirmation of the truthfulness of this Church. I was sitting
there, praying for these dear dear people to feel the Spirit testify
and warm their hearts. And I can't speak for them, but as for myself,
I felt all bubbled up and full of joy all Sunday long. A calm, sure,
steady comfort, along with a deep joy. Our church service is simple.
Just 12 of us in a storefront bearing testimonies and studying the
scriptures together and sharing our love of the Lord. But it is GOOD.
And it is TRUE.

During our lesson with one of our amis who came (he is incredible and
the most solid ami of all time), he offered the closing prayer. And in
it he expressed thanks for Soeur Gunn and myself. For our constant
smiles, for the joy and light and hope we radiate. He thanked Heavenly
Father for us and said that when he sees those things in us, it makes
him want those things too. He wants to feel that same joy and light
and hope. Moments like that make it all worth is. What a beautiful,
sweet, humbling experience. I am eternally grateful to be these
peoples' missionary. To be one of the missionaries that served them
and cried with them and loved them and led them along the path to
eternal life. How blessed I am.

That same day we had gone to visit one of our other WONDERFUL amis.
She studies and searches the scriptures between every visit so that by
the time we teach something, she's already read all of the references
about it. Oh sweetness. Well out of nowhere, we and Soeur Gunn felt
like we were supposed to teach the Word of Wisdom. Hahaha we didn't
even have our D&C with us. It was just a prompting. So, of course, we
taught the Word of Wisdom, using the Bible and the Book of Mormon. And
our ami started to share a story. She said that when her 25 year old
daughter was born she stopped smoking. YES. But then recently with
stress she suddenly started smoking again. Oh no. And THEN. She said
that the day we showed up, the FIRST time we introduced ourselves to
her, she stopped smoking. She just stopped. Just like that. Fast
forward a few months and many lessons and for the first time ever we
teach her about God's law of health, including not to smoke. God
prepares His children to obey His commandments. There is always a way
prepared that we may accomplish the commandment that is given us.
Miracles everywhere.

Another ami, who read the ENTIRE Book of Mormon in one night, is doing
superbly. Hahah ok, I forgot to mention her last week. But that
happened. This week she said that after we leave she replays the
lessons in her head all week and finds answer after answer to all of
her questions. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has ANSWERS. We must search,
but as we search, we will find.

We went with one of our members this week to go visit a less active
woman. We'd never met this less active, but had talked to her on the
phone and gotten directions to her home. All we knew was that is was
on a dirt road and we had to "cross some rivers". So off we go with
our member knowing it will all work out despite knowing essentially
nothing haha. Long story short, after legitimately off-roading it for
an hour on mountains and cliffsides, and crossing three rivers, we get
to a point back in the mountains where we are completely lost. We had
called the member basically every 5 minutes asking for more directions
as we came to other turns and rivers and all. But suddenly our member
was frustrated, we were lost and the only thing around the base
directions off of was trees and rocks. Hahah not great. Soeur Gunn,
bless her, asks if we can say a prayer. And as we open our eyes from
this prayer, the less active member came walking down the hill in
front of us. Miracle. She had walked an hour to meet us because she
knew we were lost. These people are STARVING for visits.

Then after we finished our lesson with her, we try to leave. But her
neighbor had locked us onto the property. He'd put a lock the size of
a grapefruit on the gate and then hid in his house. So we were
trapped. We called the police and finally after 3 hours of waiting,
the lock got cut and we got to leave. There is always opposition.
Don't let it stop you.

The Lord is so endlessly good to us. We had a million cancellations
this week and almost no lessons. Everyone else (aside from these
miracles) avoided us or ignored us or cancelled. But in between it
all, the Lord rained His bountiful blessings upon us.

I will never stop being grateful for this mission. My life is changed.
I am changed.
I love you all,
Soeur Evans

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Here and All is well

Saluuuut!

Ok, first things first, I am totally and completely safe. Don't worry in the least  about me. The cyclone hit Vanuatu real hard and was devastating over there, but over here we are totally fine. Our darling member from Vanuatu heard news from her children (who still live over in Vanuatu for the moment) and their house was completely destroyed. Both members and nonmembers are living in the chapels over there. From the three days I was in Vanuatu it doesn't surprise me that they had so much destruction. Houses are so very simple and fragile over there. It breaks my heart thinking of all of them, but I am sure they are humbly and happily going about rebuilding. People over there are so very joyful and bright and self-reliant. But they will definitely be in our prayers. President Brewer is now not only caring for 3 countries, 6 districts, hundreds of missionaries and everything else of a mission president, but now also the destruction of a cyclone. Incredible.

As for us over in New Cal. We got restricted to our homes on Saturday by our leaders, so no missionaries could go out. We about went crazy being locked away from the people of Boruail for that long. There was some crazy strong wind and some wild horizontal rain, but aside from that we're fine. A couple times I looked outside and went, "I feel like were living Hurricane Katrina footage" with all the palm trees bending and rain blowing in every which direction. But honestly it was not bad at all. No damage or anything, so we'll be continuing work as usual.

Ok, as for the rest of this charming week! Highlight reel.

We were walking along my favorite back country road on Wednesday. It's surrounded by fields and cows and is less busy. Well were walking back from trying to see an ami when a little car pulls over in front of us. Hahaha and over here in Bourail the little cars are usually crammed full of local men that are sometimes a little questionable. So we were a little weary, but kept walking cause, well, there is work to be done, and we walk past the window and what do you know it's an inactive brother who is now totally active. Quelle joie! Well talks to us for a little and tells us about how he's going to get a calling soon (he's in another ward) and all and my heart was so full for this brother and his incredible spiritual progress. After a few minutes he continues on his way, apologizing that he couldn't drive us because he was a man alone. Me and Soeur Gunn keep walking and try to go see an inactive sister. Well she didn't respond so we turn and continue to walk. At this point we are really quite hot, we both forgot our water bottles, and no one will respond and all of our exposed skin is bright red and burnt. So we keep walking. And then we see that brother's car coming back down the road. And he pulls over next to us. And he pulls out two ice cold bottles of water and gives them to us. And then continues on his way with a friendly wave and " oh c'est rien!" Sometimes all it takes is a little bottle of water to be reminded that we are watched over. That our little prayers of, "Father we're a little tired and a little thirsty and trying our best out here, please help us." We were heard and answered. This brother was an angel in our lives. It sounds so simple I'm sure. But that act of kindness filled me with so much love and joy and lifted my entire day. Sometimes it takes so little to be an instrument in God's hands. Never underestimate the kindness that you offer to others.

We went to meet our new neighbors the other night. Just bring some banana bread, introduce ourselves and leave. And then they invited us to dinner. Hahaha so we had an impromptu dinner party with our Tunisian neighbors. They are legitimately from Tunisia and she showed us her wedding album and then we discussed religion (they're Muslim) over homemade couscous. It was dandy. We are, tragically, killer awkward in social situations.

Yesterday was the most uplifting, instructive Sunday. Our member from Vanuatu doesn't speak French, so every Sunday we translate for her. And whenever we see her we do our best to fill her with love for the week. We are the only ones at church who can communicate with her aside from other missionaries who speak English. But oh how grateful I am for this sister. She is a ball full of light and joy and FAITH. When you translate, she whispers little scriptural insights and testimony into your ear. Well shed had a hard week and just has a hard life at the moment. Long story short, we were blessed to have a Sunday witnessing the branch surrounding her with love, across all the language barriers, and the power of humble priesthood holders acting as servants of the Lord. 
Well the whole day got me really pondering and meditating. And I've learned a lot of things, but something I really internalized was my gratitude for a Church and leaders and teachings that have encouraged and supported my role as a woman long before I understood its value. How grateful I am to know the worth of nurturing and loving and caring. These words that are so looked over and almost mocked in the world. Nurturing. But I can tell you, I finally get it. I'm finally starting to understand. Read "the Moral Force of Women" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson. He says so beautifully what I am beginning to understand so much more profoundly.

I have officially been with Soeur Gunn for SIX MONTHS. And how blessed I am for that. My heart hurts when I think about transfers. We are not looking forward to it. 

Love you all. Be an angel in someone's life. Everyone has a role they can play. Everyone can bless someone's life. It doesn't take anything enormous or grand to help Heavenly Father share His love.

Love you! Please oh please send your prayers to Vanuatu. 
Soeur Evans

Trees blowing in Cyclone PAM 3-2015

Compare this to the photo with missionaries standing in stream

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