Pictures

Molikai Island

Aloha my family! 

This week I have some exciting news, I am being transferred from Makakilo city! I am going to the island of Molikai. I asked president Bekker if he thought there were people I was meant to teach there, and he said he knew there was. So I have accepted my fate of being banished to an outer Island . It is a little heartbreaking saying goodbye to the people in Makakilo city. I have a strong love for the members and the people we are teaching. I know the people we have baptized here were people I was sent by God to teach. All the people we have baptized ironically have found us. As my comp says: "sometimes we have to reap with all our might..., but sometimes the wheat is so ready it thrusts itself on our sickles."  That's the definition of this current area. T

here is so much work that the work is finding us. For our Samoan ward we just got 4 new children we are teaching whose family wants them to get baptized. I unfortunately wont be there to teach them, but I just like to marvel how ripe the field is here. I hope my new area is just as ripe (despite having a small population). I am content with my work here I feel I have found all the people I have been sent here to help. A piece of my heart remains with them, especially the children I have taught. (I don't know how hard it is to keep in contact with these people? Is it pretty hard?) I have the thought in my mind the kids I am teaching might play a role later down the road in my life. 

Here is a little more info on my next assignment. I will be covering half of the island of Mulika, there is only two wards on island and it use to only be covered by one set. But now there are 4 missionaries, and we will all be living in the bishop's basement. There are not a lot of people on island so I don't know how we are going to fill our time. I also heard a rumor it is approved for missionaries to go hunting with members as long as we don't handle guns. (Not sure guess I will see) so it will probably be an old school adventure on island. 

We had a baptism on Saturday his name is Brandon, he is a celestial guy. He has special needs. But he has a strong desire to be baptized. He was approved to be baptized by president Bekker. Almost every time we meet with him he says that he sees Jesus when we are with him. He keeps asking when he is getting a nametag like us as well. So I decided to give him one of mine when I saw him on Sunday (except the magnet part). I told him to hold onto in until he could get one for himself. 

I am excited for the next adventure in my new area. There are so many people I am sad to leave behind. But I hope I can finish my mission back here. Love you guys, ofa atu!!!

Elder Esplin

*Hello.....1/23/19

                    

                    Hey
                   Guys!

I am late again, but that is good because I can share with you what I found out yesterday. Yesterday was our last district council of this transfer. The topic was to focus on discovering our purpose on our mission. I had offered a commitment last District council for everyone to write down why they come on a mission, why they stayed and what they have learned and finally what God wants them to learn on their mission. So I followed up. It was cool hearing the district talk about experiences they had during the week of lesson God had wanted them to know.

We also had a miracle baptism on Saturday, the Girl's name is Rylee. She is 10 years old and very smart. She has a very special spirit. We had previously had not seen her in about a month+ but me and my comp had been praying for her, last week. I remember praying really hard Wednesday night that we would not lose her. Because she was someone that saw the light, and she really wanted to be baptized. The next day as me and my comp were planning we got a call from their fellowship's saying that they wanted her to get baptized that Saturday. So we made some preparations to get her baptized. It was a very       tender baptism the spirit was really strong the entire time. At one point the primary children sang,

 "families can be together forever" I looked over at her mom and step dad, the step dad who looked like a former gang member had tears in his eyes. We later learned the mother was so touched that she went home and cried. The mother was not a fan of the church at first but I pray we can teach her soon before they move to the big island. 

    

In other news: president Bekker told me I will be leaving and that I will have some sort of assignment! It makes me kind of nervous because he never tells missionaries beforehand! But I think the people I was sent here for are all settled now, I think it's time for me to move on as sad as it is. I am just really grateful for the time I had here in Hawaii's desert! I have learned so much here and I have come to love the people so much. Especially the children like the two I baptized (titian and Gerald) and Rylee. I think if I were to see a theme on my mission it would be that the lord had placed a lot of children in my path for a certain reason. There is something very special about all of them. It's funny we did not even find them they found us, as the lord prepared the way for them! I got to make sure that I keep in touch with them as they grow up. 

Sorry this is late, busy, busy week. If president is serious about me getting transferred I better start packing. It's sad, I would have happily stayed here half my mission, but I guess 5-6 months is how long i am needed here! 

KC I wanted to wish you a happy birthday! Congrats on passing you Board. Every now and again I think of how you have survived the chaos of becoming a dentist. It helps me realize I can do anything if I have enough motivation. I also remember a few of the mission stories you have told me, I hope I can get plenty of stories like that when I get home! Love you man and happy birthday!

-Elder E 

Ps my hair is receding more, so probably by the time I get home I wont have much left!!!

Hey Guys!

Time just keeps flying by, I just realized this morning that I am now almost at my half way mark on my mission! I remember last year at this time I was finishing my papers.

This week we had a lot of great lessons, and we saw a few miracles as well. There is one lesson that was particularly special, it was with the man named Gabor who is from Hungry. So some more backstory on Gabor: he is 55 and when we met him he had recently become homeless. For the last few weeks he has been living in his smart car at the church. This Sunday the stake president had to kick him out of the church parking lot once and for all. He was devastated because he had nowhere else to go. So we had to go and pick up the pieces. So we took Gabor and found and empty classroom and talked with him. We let him rant for a long time, it's weird back home I would have tried to consult him and find solutions for his problems, but since I've been here on my mission I've learned to listen. 

We listened to him for quite a long time. After he had vented, we transitioned into the restoration we invited a member to sit with us. His name was brother Cobian. (He is a spiritual giant and he is only 23). At the end of the lesson we each were going back and forth bearing witness to Gabor, the spirit was in the room. After the lesson we talked with Gabor he wasn't sure where he was going to go or what to do. Then I had a thought I remembered I had a stack of quarters in the car. So I decided to give it to him. He said that it meant more to him than if a person gave him a million dollars. I don't think I will ever forget his words. 

The spirit has been working on him a lot since we have been here with him, he has started reading the book of Mormon. He has even read a few chapters on his own. 

I hope that we can get him a baptism date, he keeps telling us he does not think he can "be a mormon" but every time we visit him he seems more open to changing. 

So Kirk is still feeling weak? Will he begin to gain his strength? Or is he still sick? I am glad he is out of the hospital. I am glad to here Kenzie got married, whats the guy like? 

Love you guys

Elder Esplin 

(Bottom pic is our district) 

Crazy start to the New Year

Wml 

Brandon 

Lightsy 

Martinez 

Jo 

Hey family! I apologize for not writing last week, we had a pretty hectic new year's, we were on our feet all day. But luckily this a-Day is a little different. 

This week was very blessed, we had a lot of prayers answered in little ways. This week we had focused on finding at least 3 new people. This is a goal I have been really praying for. Me and another elder were able to find a guy on splits. We caught him by his car he was holding 2 coconuts so he gave us each one. And went back inside to grab another for himself. We shared a scripture with him and he seemed very warm about having us come back. 

Later in the week our ward missionary leader in the Samoan ward took us out to do visits. He literally knows everybody in that part of the island with his help we will 5 new people to start teaching this upcoming week! 

And the final miracle we had trying to find people was when we were in a neighborhood checking out some leads we had in the area we decide to visit a random members house... and coincidently they want to start 

Coming back to church. They reminded me a lot of Kirk and Michaela! They are a pretty cool couple! We have the father's mother a blessing and we shared a message with them, and helped them dedicate their house. They have strong testimonies and they know they need to come back. So we plan on visiting them more frequently ( they are going to make us authentic Mexican food this Sunday!) 

This was a good lesson to me. It told me that God wants us to help all people we come across not just nonmembers, I believe he led us to knock on their door. 

Everybody here is excited to do the work this year! We had dinner yesterday with Bishop Ho and talked about the work. They are a missionary super couple, they really like me and my comp, he wants to work with us weekly now and do splits!!! With his help we are going to always has a packed schedule. 

One last thing we taught a family this week that was less active. We taught their granddaughter about baptism. She looks like a Samoan molly! She is a quick learner and had lots of energy. Hopefully we will get the family back to church. The wife really wants to come back but just needs a little nudge.

Love you guys! I am doing great, I will include Kirk in my prayers, maybe we could do a family fast for him..? If that is a thing. 

Love you all 

Elder Esplin 

(Hike today)

(Martinez family)

Aloha Familly

Hey guys sorry my letter is late...again. I can explain. I had to wake up at 5 to go on a really long hike which was exhausting, then we went bowling and played chair soccer so by the time to write letters I was dead tired . 
But I went to bed at like 9:30 last night and I am feeling a lot better now! 
This was our last P-Day before transfers, so we lost 3 missionaries on Tuesday. Which is always sad. But, it is part of life, we may lose the presence of a person in our life but we will forever have the impression they make on us. I am staying in Makakilo city. With my "Son" (new comp) so I will be spending Christmas with him. We have a lot of ambitions for this transfer, we want to see a lot of miracles this transfer and we are willing to work hard for it! We are having a baptism this week, which will be the 4th person I will have taught who will be baptized. We also have 4 other people who we know are going to get baptized soon! Plus this Sunday we met a man named Braden who has started living the word of wisdom, and told us he wants to be baptized as well!!! I am so happy how well the work is out here I wouldn't mind staying in this area for 9+ months if possible. 
Sorry for that tangent but I am really excited that I am staying for another transfer. 
Me and my comp are seeing the Lord's hand quite often as we are working. Like the man named Braden we mentioned. Last week we were praying really hard to find someone to teach. We hadn't found a single person despite our efforts. But then on Sunday Brandon walked up to us and told us he wanted to be baptized. So we are trying to be more focused as a companionship, so that we can make an impact in our area. 
A small tender mercy we had this week was when we were visiting a person we were teaching named Emmerson. He is a samoan, who is very friendly. He loves hearing stories! We told him about the 2000 stripling warriors and he was very interested in hearing more war stories in the book. As we were talking he mentioned he has been praying the last 2 weeks for help. His family is not very rich so they have been just barely getting by. But he said that he has been blessed by God by having sources of extra income pop up in his life. I asked him When that started and he said it was when we started coming by. He then said that was probably a sign that meeting us was what he needed to do. We want to invite him to be baptized, but he works sundays but hopefully we can get him and his girlfriend's family back to church! 
Sorry again my letter was late, right now we are super busy and it's hard trying to manage all the work we have so P-Day we might be playing a little too hard 🤪. Love you guys I got your and kc's package thank you so much it is sitting under our tree (made of plastic spoons)! 

#1 what I plan on looking like after my mission 

#2-3 seals we were by on our hike (I actually laid 3 feet away from the baby one in pic 2. I also tripped near #3 and it growled at me!)

#4 at star bucks with Tanya (we baptized her two kids) 

#5 my comp fell "asleep" during comp study 

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Aloha Mom, sorry I did not write on Monday, it is a funny story. I was playing soccer in our  church's gym and I was chasing the ball which was headed towards the wall so I stuck my foot out to snatch it but ended up running into the wall flat footed. I heard something pop and now it's pretty swollen. It's been getting better, the swelling is going down and I have good mobility in my ankle so I think it's just a bad sprain not a fracture. Its kind of fun I am walking on crutches now. People are a heck of a lot nicer to missionaries when one of them is crippled. Maybe all missionaries should walk on crutches ! Besides that I have been taking things easy, getting some rest. I think by Thursday the swelling will all be gone. I think this is a cool experience I never realized how hard it is to function with only one leg. It makes the simplest task pretty hard. It makes me appreciate having two legs. This weeks been quite an adventure I have still been able to go to appointments which is a huge blessing. 

Love you guys! I am doing great! 

(If dad has any advice for an ankle sprain please let me know. I'm doing the basic care "R.I.C.E. acronym but any other techniques would be helpful!) 

Attachments area

Aloha Mom, sorry I did not write on Monday, it is a funny story. I was playing soccer in our  church's gym and I was chasing the ball which was headed towards the wall so I stuck my foot out to snatch it but ended up running into the wall flat footed. I heard something pop and now it's pretty swollen. It's been getting better, the swelling is going down and I have good mobility in my ankle so I think it's just a bad sprain not a fracture. Its kind of fun I am walking on crutches now. People are a heck of a lot nicer to missionaries when one of them is crippled. Maybe all missionaries should walk on crutches ! Besides that I have been taking things easy, getting some rest. I think by Thursday the swelling will all be gone. I think this is a cool experience I never realized how hard it is to function with only one leg. It makes the simplest task pretty hard. It makes me appreciate having two legs. This weeks been quite an adventure I have still been able to go to appointments which is a huge blessing. 

Love you guys! I am doing great! 

(If dad has any advice for an ankle sprain please let me know. I'm doing the basic care "R.I.C.E. acronym but any other techniques would be helpful!) 

Attachments area