The Return to Tarawa

Hey,          

I know it has been a while since I have written so here is a few updates from my life in Kiribati!                                                                                                                

 Elder Carrington and I went back to Tab South and it was AWESOME!  We had 4 way sweet people get baptized and 3 are potential Melchizedek Priesthood holders so that is awesome!  We then went back up to Tab North by boat and fished on the way there.  When we got there we were able to baptize a lady on Friday and then we flew out on Saturday!!  We flew where you may ask?  To Tarawa!!  So now I am in Tarawa with the West Zone Leaders for 3 weeks until my new kid comes from the MTC and then we will head back to Tabiteuea!! 

My new companion will be Elder Pratt.  I don’t know him but I believe he is from America.  I am pretty excited to get a kid. My last kid knew Kiribati so I didn't get the full experience but this next guy won't know anything so hopefully I can help him a ton. And since I am just going back to Tabiteuea it shouldn't be too bad trying to get the work started back up again since I know the people and such. The only issue is that with flights we might be stuck in Tarawa for a month before I can get another flight out. We will have to see how that will all work out.

As far as Tarawa goes there are 2 zones here, the East Zone and the West Zone.  I am staying on the West half of Tarawa so I am in the West Zone.  At first I just pretty much followed the Zone leaders around.  We have been running a ton of errands and we have been really busy.  It has been good though over all.  A few days ago we got another Elder here so now we can go on splits and such so we can actually get work done so it has been really good. 

One cool thing is that we are teaching a Japanese lady here!  So we teach her in English and she isn’t the best, but she gets most of it and can speak pretty well.  We are also learning some Japanese as well which is great.  The other people that we are teaching are all Kiribati people.

So, on Tarawa they speak Kiribati just like all the other places but they use a couple different words then what I am used to but you get used to it quickly.  The best thing about Tarawa is that they have a bunch more food and stuff than anywhere else.  A lot of it is store bought stuff but it is great.  When I first got here I was sick for the first couple of days but I am better now.  We have a fridge in Tarawa and power!!  The Zone Leaders have a great house with warm showers and air conditioning.  They have a car and it is just a luxury life out here.  HAHA compared to America it is not still good but it is way sweet for Kiribati.  We have also had a few Birthday Parties and a couple of dinners so I have been eating cake and ice cream and is it awesome!!!!

I got my package!!  Thanks a ton for all the food and the shoes and stuff!!  I don’t know how they fit.  I am trying to wear my old shoes until I leave back to Tabiteuea so they don’t get worn out while I am here in Tarawa.  I will wear them some day though.

 We have a new Mission President.  His name is President Larkin and he seems really nice!!  I haven’t talked to him much yet but I should hopefully before we fly back out.  He has a lot of good ideas for the mission and things are just way sweet.

 When Elder Carrington goes home he will be bringing 2 of my SD cards from the mission which have a ton of pictures and a bunch of videos and stuff so enjoy those!   Elder Carrington was a way good companion and I am glad that I could serve with him.

So, yeah there you go! Things are way good here and I hope you guys are having a great time at home.

Love you!

Elder Dinsdale

I love Tabiteuea!!! Even my forest friend!!

Hello,                                                         

   Well, we are still here in Tab North and it is great.  Are you really sending new shoes?  Thanks, if you want you can send more drink mixes and snack foods would be good as well.

Is there a big difference between Tab north and Tab South?

Tab north is way different from Tab South.  In Tab North there are probably like 5 or so people on the island that have cars which is actually a lot.  There are also a lot of motorcycles and bikes and such. There are some good stores as well here. The church at Tab North has been here a while. There are also 2 Branches and 2 Units. We currently live in the missionary’s house and so it is pretty nice. I have a bed so that is sweet.

Down in Tab South missionaries just got there last year so the church is just starting up down there. In Tab North it is a lot more organized. Our Branch president in the city where we live is sweet. He has served a mission and works hard so he actually knows what he is doing. (This is rare for all the areas I have served.)

How are the people there?

The people here are awesome!  There are a lot of teenagers wandering around.  In Tab North they seem to like to joke with the missionaries when we bike around which is different from Tab South.  I feel like we have a lot more respect down South. I am loving it here though!  Great people, great work and it is awesome!

How is the weather?

It is quite hot here. It doesn't really rain much, and if it does it is only for a few minutes and it stops. It has been like that for over a month. So quite dry but still really humid.

What do they grow there?

They grow coconuts, pumpkins, and mai (breadfruit) and just the usual Kiribati stuff.

How do you like Tabiteuea North?

Pretty much Tabiteuea is a freaking awesome place. It is a huge area that Carrington and I are working, but it is way sweet. 

Do you have any funny stories?

Funny story at least I feel like it is funny. So people ask what your talents are here. I have been telling people that in my village (home) when you turn 18 you take up your sword and your bow and arrow and you travel into the mountains and slay yourself a dragon. And that is how you prove you are a man. It is pretty funny because a lot of people believe me. People here see movies and think that is how things really are since they haven't ever seen anything but the ocean and coconut trees. This place is pretty sweet!!

Another story that I thought was funny but has to do with when I was not feeling too well one night… I will tell you though because I thought it was funny. So, I was getting sick the other day and it just hit me fast. I was in my house in the middle of the forest and I hopped off the stick house and ran into the forest to go to the bathroom. As I am using leaves to wipe a mentally challenged guy walks up to me in the middle of the forest. I am trying to get him to leave and I am explaining to him that I am pooping but he just said that it was all good. After a while I finally convinced him to leave. But it was pretty funny and quite odd at the same time.

Are you sick often?

No I am not sick often. That was the first time in a few months. And I am healthier now.  I have used my oils a few times that you sent me but Elder Carrington uses his all the time.

Do you have any other cool stories?

Another thing I forgot to mention is that when I was on the boat on the way here to Tab North I saw sea turtles and sting rays swimming in the ocean next to the boat. It was awesome! We also fished on the way here and got some sweet fish!

Do you have any missionary experiences that you want to share?

We taught a guy yesterday about the Word of Wisdom.  He has some issues with this as do a lot of the people here. He just admitted though that these things really do have control over his live.  He also said if he has a craving for something it just drives him crazy till he can get that thing.

I want you all to know that Satan wants us to need the things on the earth. The Lord tells us not to be tied down to things on the earth but to only be tied to the truth and to Him.

Are you glad that you are on a mission?

I have no regrets being out here. Serving the Lord is the best thing that I can be doing with my life right now so I am very happy to be doing it.

The internet is turning off so have a great week!

Love,

Elder Dinsdale

Flying In A Storm!

Hey,

What’s up?  I am on Tabiteuea North for about 2 or 3 weeks and they have internet so I will be able to email.  Then I am headed back down to Tabiteuea South.  Thanks for all the emails but there are too many to read right now so I am not sure what to write.  On Tab North the missionaries were Johnson and Ellis.  Now, Elder Johnson's time is ending this month and Elder Ellis is going to serve on Christmas.  So that is why we are here.  I am here with my companion Elder Carrington and can I just say it is sweet to serve with him.  We are going to be working this huge island just the 2 of us. This should be fun!!

 

How did you get to Tab. South and what is it like there?

We flew in on a plane while it was pouring rain.  The plane was jumping around like crazy and

we slightly thought we were all going to die.  But, I am alive so don’t worry.  When we arrived at Tabiteuea South we got soaking wet, but we eventually got to the place where we were going to stay.  We live in a 2 story stick house and we live on the stick platform above some members.  There is no internet, no cargo really (I don’t go hungry though), no rain water, but the best place ever.  We do not have electricity except for some solar power. 

What is this cargo that you refer to?

So the cargo brings things to the island like food, toilet paper, soap and just anything that comes from outside.  We heard that the cargo was going to be bringing very little here so we bought a bag of rice before it was all gone, but now it is infested with worms. Coconuts can never run out and there is always fish to eat.  There are some good fruits and pumpkins her for people to eat.

Do you get mail?

Mail comes pretty much if the plane comes, so about twice a week.

How are your clothes, do you need us to send anything?

I think I am good.  Clothes are doing great. shoes... well the bottoms just fell off mine Saturday but I tied them up and I don't need new ones.  I like these ones and they will last my entire mission.  That is my goal!!  Don’t worry mum, people here aren't worried about shoes.  I don’t think a single missionaries shoes are intact.     I just threaded a rope around them a couple times. They are stylish so don't worry it is all good!!  I already gave my crocs away to another missionary that needed them.  Please don’t send me a package because of this, but whenever you happen to send one next we just had some way good nutra-grain bars or something that was left in the house with like honey and chocolate or something. It was way good though and now I am craving them. Snack foods are always good.

Here is a little more about Tab South.

We have tons of sweet investigators and many of them have way sweet stories. When we head back down in 2 weeks about 4-6 should be getting baptized. We have an area down there where once a week we bike out to the end of the island and walk out on the low tide to a small island and teach some people there.  There are not a bunch of people in Tab South but there is a ton in Tab North.  We can see tons of stars almost every night and we can see Mars is clearly.   It is a great life and I love it here.  I am writing in a journal and taking a lot of pictures, so I will be able to tell you all more one day.  Tab South is great and I love the people here!

When are more missionaries coming?

In the end of August or about that time there should be a ton of missionaries coming in.  We need more missionaries so that will be good.

How do you communicate without internet?

We talk on a radio every Tuesday to tell Tarawa our stats and needs and such.

Have you eaten anything new?

I ate shark finally and it was quite good actually Mmmmm it was actually awesome!!!

It seems like home is awesome!  Thank you for the birthday package I liked it very much.  Tell Dad and Tom happy birthday for me.  Also Congratulations to Emily on graduating from USU. 

The internet is about to shut off so I will write more next week! Don’t worry, I am healthy and I love it here!  It is awesome!! 

Love you all,

Elder Dinsdale

Elder Carrington and Elder Dinsdale in Tab. North

My house on Tab. South

Beautiful Sunsets

Elder Ellis, Carrington, Dinsdale and Johnson at our house!