It's amazing to see what the spirit can do!!

June 29, 2014

Alright Iakwe aolep!! This week was pretty exciting, definitely had some good experiences and learned a couple of things for sure, still a whole lot of frustrations at times and I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing but hey as long as I rely on The Lord everything will work out for the best. I guess the first story I'll tell is about one of our investigators named Ennah. She is around 30 years old and she is a really nice lady, her boyfriend is a member and they are working on getting married which is nice. She agreed to study with us at the beginning of last week and the lessons have been going fairly well, then we got to the lesson of Joseph Smith and the Restoration and she had quite a few questions. She didn't disagree with anything we were saying she just had a difficult time believing it. So anyways on Monday we were supposed to do a family home evening there with her and her husband, but when we got there she was really sick, both her and her daughter. They couldn't eat anything, they were dizzy and trouble moving around and were just not doing that well. So my companion and I went and gave them both a blessing and literally within 5 minutes, they were eating walking around and they felt as if they were never sick. The main question that she had about this church was where Joseph Smith received that authority from and if there really was any such thing. That experience was definitely an answer to her question, as she spoke I could tell that she was beginning to understand the truth of these things and the things that we were teaching her. After she recovered from her sickness the first thing she did was she went and watched the restoration video, and started asking her soon to be husband a bunch of questions. I really love this couple and they are doing well, plus they both came to church on Sunday and stayed for all the classes which is a feat in and of itself. So that was a huge blessing and definitely see miracles in this work. The second investigator is a man named Clay, who is probably one the most prepared people I've ever studied with. We just started with him last week, but he's very intelligent and understands a lot about the bible, which truly does help. Every lesson that we have with him, the spirit is always there, and as we were teaching him about the plan of salvation, he started talking about his father. His father was a religious man, but he didn't always keep the commandments and things like that, he was a smoker, and his son wanted to help him change, but before he knew it he had passed away. That experience set us up perfectly for the temple and the knowledge that he can do his father's work still, that it's not too late and there is a way to still help him. I have honestly never felt the spirit testify so strongly to me of my Father in Heaven's love for each one of his Children, it's amazing to see what the spirit can do. He also said that in the week that he has been studying with my companion and I, that he feels that he knows us better and feels more connected to us than he does his own son who he has known for 18 years. Now we're just trying to take all that and help him strengthen his own family and build that relationship with his son, and all of his other kids. But that was a pretty cool experience as well, and I've been having more and more of those lately. I've also had some of the best personal studies I've had lately and I've been focusing a lot on preach my gospel. The two cool things that I learned this week, were about service and success. I believe in chapter 3 lesson 5 it talks about service, and I love the first sentence in that section it says "one of the great blessings of the church is the opportunity to serve." That really stuck out to me because I've never really thought about it like that before, it's not that we have to do all these things, or we're forced to, it's that we are blessed to have the opportunity to do it. No matter if we're busy or we get tired or whatever, when we serve and fulfill our callings we are, first and foremost, allowing the Lord to bless us and help shape us into better people and more successful people. I really found that interesting and when we change our perspective, on service, and working and doing all these things, we serve because we want to and it does not become a burden. Then I gave my district meeting on being successful missionaries and one of the interesting things that I saw about success is that success stems from our desires, and there are different levels of success. If our desire is simply to just get through the day, and at the end of the day we got through it, okay I guess that was successful, you achieved the outcome of your desire. But if you change your desire and remember that desire, before you go out and work, or do whatever, your level of success will be vastly increased. If your desire is to go out and help everyone you come in contact with, and then go and do it, you will become a successful missionary, that's the key. You can be successful according to your own wants and desires, but in the grand scheme of things, that is not really success. We need to allign our desires with that Supreme Being that knows all, and then we will become happier than we can even begin to realize. Hopefully that made sense, because I thought it was a pretty cool study and I learned a lot!! But yeah let's see what else did you ask about.. haha this email is huge.. The district is doing well, the comp still is having struggles. I have just made the sad realization that I am quite his mom. I cook, clean and take care of him. The family from Wotje will be sealed sometime in December, most likely in Hawaii, if I could some how be there, that would be awesome! But I think that's all for now, nothing else I think, since I said a lot, but I love you all a ton and hope that all is going well back at home!
Lots of lovin'
From Elder Jordan Michelson

Mom's note
Jordan didn't send pictures for a bit they don't really go with this email but they are pictures and fun to see.

 Elder Michelson and his BYU football playing companion Elder Mafuli

 Elder Mafuli is from Samoa but is Half Tongan too. He is pretty artistic.

Loved this one!!!

I am half Kirabati and half Canadian hahaha

June 22, 2014

Tuesday was awesome, I got to work with Elder Ingalls!!!! It was awesome. I'll send you some pictures and stuff but that was pretty magical, I wish I could work with him so bad. He came from another island because he had to get some dental work done and then we got to work together because I was close to the Dental office. Then later on that night I went to a party with my Kiribati family that came back from Wotje for the summer, it was mama Bonnie's 49th birthday, and then also she made the announcement that as part of her Kiribati culture she officially adopted me into her family and I am now half Kiribati and half Canadian hahaha. It was really cool in all honesty. In terms of lessons and people and stuff, this week was kind of slow, but every single one of the lessons we had this week were just powerful, and we have a lot of people who are progressing and doing well. It's really not about the numbers or how many lessons you get, it's about changing people and inviting them to make that change. So that was a good lesson I learned from this past week, that sometimes just based on your numbers you feel like you're not accomplishing anything but then you begin to realize and see all the people that are doing well. As long as we are going out and trying our best based on the situation we are put in, so that was nice. What else... Oh the sister's had a baptism this week and also another set of elders in my district, so they are doing well. I was able to baptize the sister's investigators and I will send some pictures, because I got some pretty good ones this week, I think that's about all for the week, I love you all a bunch!
Lots of lovin'
From Elder Jordan Michelson 

This is from the island of Wotje

 Elder Michelson and Elder Ingalls together again

Sisters baptisms Elder Michelson got to perform

What I learned from a seventy 'Fake it until you make it'

June 8, 2014

Last week was a frustrating week but I will keep pressing forward. Sorry about not answering questions and then not sending any pictures. The place just shut down right after.  I guess I'll tell you a little bit more about this week, this week was really slow in terms of numbers and seeing investigators, however we had a zone conference with Elder Hamula and his wife of the area presidency and that was a really cool experience. Once again I also was able to interview with him, don't know how I have had the privledge of interviewing with two seventies now, but that was just awesome. Despite all the difficulties in this work and not being able to accomplish all that I think I should be able to, I have never felt the constant companionship of the spirit more than I have in this past month. It truly is amazing and it is amazing to see how the spirit can work through me and also through other's. I had been praying, before Elder Hamula came, to have some way to help us as missionaries become more mature and truly understand our purpose, because when I came back from Wotje, that's something that I saw was kind of a struggle.  Missionaries weren't acting like missionaries. Then Elder Hamula came and spoke on being sober missionaries and touched on literally everything I asked my Heavenly Father to help this mission with. It was kind of a humbling experience for me, to say the least, and I know without a doubt in my mind that our Father in Heaven hears and answers our prayer's if we pray with faith. So that's more or less the lesson learned from this past week, and hopefully we as a mission can make that change, rather than just being comfortable with who we are now. One thing Elder Hamula said that I enjoyed was "Fake it, until you make it" I really thought that was awesome that no matter what happens, if we're not good at something we need to fake being good at it until we become proficient at it. That truly can apply to anything we do in life, whether it's sports, academics, the gospel, whatever. I just thought that was good life advice, and have been trying to do that throughout the course of my mission, didn't really like singing so I sung. Now I can say I enjoy it. Didn't like talking to random people, so I went and did it, and now I can say I enjoy it. Just little things like that, but I truly can see the difference. I think that's about all for the week, I love you all very much and thank you for everything you continue to do to help me be the best missionary possible!
Lots of lovin'
From Elder Jordan Michelson

Best week of my life!!

Alright so before I answer any questions I just want to say that this past week has probably been the best week of my life. No word of a lie, I cannot begin to explain or even comprehend the things that I have learned in this past week. Elder Mafuli is the man and has taught me so very much. He taught me how to love, to truly love and how to be the best missionary and person that I can possible be. I don't know how to explain and I wish I had more time to write and just explain the things that I feel right now, it is truly amazing. Do you remember the movie limitless? That's kind of how I feel right now, like I honestly feel like I can change the world and that one person can make a difference, One thing that I really tried to focus on this week is being obedient and something that came to mind is Obedience is contagious, one person can make a difference and change not only the attitude of missionaries but the attitude of the other people and all those around him. I really love being a missionary right now and Jenrok is the best area that I have ever been in, in my life. The people are so welcoming and I feel like I already have a family there and I have literally been there for a week, so it's kind of cool and I'm grateful for everyone who has been helping me out. Remember that kind of shy kid that was afraid to be himself and didn't exactly know where he fit in? Well that kid is gone, I talk to literally everyone now, it doesn't matter big, small, tall, short, brown, white, whatever, everyone is now my new best friend and it's amazing the way that I see life right now. I know God has put me here right now for a reason, I know he has made me a leader for a reason and I know that I can do things I can't even begin to understand. I feel like that one small thing could change the attitude of the mission because frankly there has been a war between the islanders and the white people and I want to stop it. We're all on the same team and if we get united we will be able to do so much, because there is so much work to do here. I want to be the change and make the change, anyways so that's that. Sorry if that's kind of a lot to take in, but that's what I want to do. I think that's about it, so okay now to answer some questions, I have been cooking everything, I made taquitos, bbq chick pizza and breadsticks, pasta, meatball subs, chicken tortilla breakfast wraps and some breaded fish with fresh lime. Slightly different than the outer island food and I have so many stories and things to share with you I don't think I can share them all, but I have never had so much fun being a missionary. Plus since I've been here my district has had 4 baptisms and are just getting so much stuff done, it's incredible, I honestly don't think it's impossible to get like 20 baptisms in a month like it's awesome. 

Lots of lovin'

Elder Jordan Michelson

It's been a long 3 months

So I haven't been posting any emails because we haven't received any. I just got my first one late Friday night saying that he gets to call!! YA HOO best Mother's Day Gift ever. I didn't think it was going to happen but was very surprised! Of course I cried. He said he will start emailing regularly now, so hopefully this blog will get regular posts again.

Here are the 2 I got that I didn't post

Feb. 17, 2014

I'm gonna kill someone, the message didn't send uhhhh.... Well I'm
good life is good, and I don't even know what to say now. Okay
well let's see I guess we'll go to the condensed version, I was a
judge for a speech contest for educational week here in Wotje, that
was cool. They also want us to teach English at the high school so
we'll see about that. We have a phone out here, which is nice, but 
the service is kind of shotty. My companions name is Francis Va'aulu 
and he's the man, just a way humble nice guy. There's no priesthood 
out here, no branchnno branch president, no church building, no sacrament 
trays, like literally nothing. So it's kind of cool, we take the sacrament from
the same cup and just pass it around. People feed us all the time, and
that's nice, sometimes we'll get fish or traditional marshallese
cooking, which is cool. They love talking about food here, if
we cook it's like ramen and some sort of canned meat, so yeah that's
always fun...  at least there is food! Haven't exactly
picked up Kiribati yet because I don't have a book to learn it, but
the kids know Marshallese, so that helps. They are our most
progressing investigators, their names are Toantau and Uonite and they
should be baptized soon if we can get baptismal clothes. Sorry this email 
sucks and is short, but the computer deleted the
other longer one that I sent, which sucks... But yeah I'll tell you
all about Wotje either when I get back to Majuro or when I'm home.
I'm keeping a good journal :p but I love you all tons and thanks
for everything! Elder Tentau got his package and was apparently pretty
stoked! Thanks for your kindness and all that you do!
Lots of lovin'
From Elder Jordan Michelson

So this was the most painful process ever, I waited like an hour
and a half yesterday only for this not to work, and then waited an
hour today and finally got on, so this is a blessing that I finally
was able to sign into this ridiculous thing, oh my goodness I think
that was the most frustrated I've been on my mission.
Lots of lovin'
From your Son Elder Jordan Michelson

I'll try to answer your questions

January 26, 2014
So I don't have a lot of time so I'll try to answer all of
your questions really fast. We held church this week at our house, the
turn up was less because the high councilman who came with us left on
Saturday, but this upcoming week it should be better. We have
it at our house because there is almost nothing established here. No
branch President, no anything, my companion and I run everything. So
that's kind of exciting, gave the talks, blessed the sacrament
just did everything. We have some potential priesthood holder's here
and will try to give them the priesthood and get them more involved,
but interesting scenario to say the least. Definitely got a lot to learn and 
will grow a lot from this experience as well. The lady
who doesn't speak marshallese is an English teacher at the high school
here, the marshallese people, at least the students generally will
know a little english and also the other teacher's and a couple other
people have decent english so that's how she communicates. Her kids
are starting to pick it up, just because they go out and play with
other marshallese kids all day and they are also learning at school,
so we teach them in marshallese. Our days are fairly slow right now,
seeing as we only have a couple people to teach we tend to go to the
same houses and teach them and then go around trying to offer service
or just go and talk to people because that's kind of a part of the
culture, very welcoming friendly people even if they have no interest
in our message, if we really wanted to, we could force almost anyone
to study with us or whatever, but don't think that's going to do a
whole lot of good. The house that we live in now is fairly nice,
and the people who previously lived there just went and lived with
their family right beside them, so they stop by and kind of talk to us
and give us food and what not, which is way nice seeing as we have
nothing. I haven't cooked a meal forever seeing as we don't have
any cooking supplies and stuff like that, so that's fun. Hahaha canned
green beans for breakfast anyone?? That's kind of the way it
is out here. Well the way to get mail or whatever is the same,
just send it to the mission home, and at some point it'll get to me.
That's what happens with that. In terms of bugs and stuff, nothing 
too dangerous or anything, just kind of sketchy when you wake up 
in the middle of the night to see 10 cockroaches on the wall, so yeah 
gotta love bugs and spiders and stuff. I don't know how far from Majuro 
it is exactly, you could probably google that and check that faster than I 
can, it would have to be there somewhere. That should answer all the questions
and stuff, hopefully that's good. What else is fun that I have to say... 
had diarrhea for pretty much a week now... always fun, I'm sure that'll go away 
sometime soon though. We went and checked out some more cool Japanese world 
war 2 stuff, and got some pictures of stuff like that.  I would send pictures but that 
would probably take a millenium so we'll just wait on that one until I get back to 
Majuro. The work will come slowly and surely, we just kind of have to
set evening up and try to get things going out here, I'm sure I'll
have some good stories on that aspect of the work soon enough. But
that's all for now!
Lots of lovin'
From Elder Jordan Michelson

This place is ready, I can feel it!

January 19, 2014
Alright so I finally figured out how to write you back. The Internet is way slow, but this place is way nice.  I think I might have burnt my neck today, just randomly saying because we just kind of walked around the island today and tried to figure out where stuff is. There is quite a bit out here, and it was cool to see how prepared this place is, we had 23 people to church on our first Sunday, and we'll see if we can keep that up, we've located 6 or so members now, and this one family already wants their children to be baptized, so that'll be good if that can go through. The only problem with the solid family is that they don't speak Marshallese so when we held our service on Sunday she didn't really understand what was going on, but it's all good. We'll figure it out little by little, oh it's super funny how surprised some of the people are when they hear this white boy speaking in understandable Marshallese, the smiles on some of their faces is like priceless! My companion is Elder Va'aulu from Samoa he's been out for a while now, almost 2 years, he goes home at the end of March, so I'll get someone new at that point obviously. He's the man and it'll be awesome working out here, definitely different but still good.  Naw the dialect is relatively the same, they just speak way fast and stuff and it's a little harder for them to understand what I'm saying because my pronunciation isn't perfect to say the least, but hey, I do what I can and as long as I can get my point across that's all I really care about. I'm going to attempt to learn some Kiribati while I'm out here. That'll be fun starting from square one again but hey I learned one language so why not try to speak another? The family with the two kids they want baptized don't speak Marshallese at all, but they do know a little english, so that's nice we'll see how that goes. This island is sick, there's all sorts of world war two stuff on it that the Japanese left, and there's nice shady beaches and it's a really neat island. It's also a whole lot cleaner and the water is so blue... haha but don't worry I promise I won't go swimming :p I think that's about all for now, we're still just trying to get stuff established and figured out right now, so it'll be different for a bit. But this place is ready, I can feel it!

Lots of lovin'

From Elder Jordan Michelson (laddik in Wotje)

Moms comment

Usually we get emails on Sunday afternoon so when at 10pm we got this, it was a WONDERFUL surprise!!