One year Baby! / Sent July 30, 2018

 One year ago from today, I was already in the MTC. One year from today I will be home! (Actually, I may be on the plane home, but same thing really). I hit the one year mark this Thursday and that was pretty crazy honestly. I still feel like I just started. I thought that for this email I would just send some fun things that have happened during the year.

    I got to serve on both sides of a little island named Tahaa, and I now know almost every active member (and a whole lot of other people) by name. Tahaa is my second home!

    I have given blessings to lots of great people, sometimes with very hard Tahitian names. The longest one was " Hiotua Teahui Tuiroaomatautuiahitihuamaiturae Clovis". We had to write it down.

    I have eaten a lot of new foods, including Taro, Breadfruit, passion fruit, Dragon fruit, Manioke, and lots of different types of raw fish. Sashimi and poisson cru are delicious. Fafaru was not easy to get down.

    I have read the book of Mormon two and a half times in French, and I have almost made it to the end of second Nephi in Tahitian. (Just finished Isaiah!).

    I had to take a boat to get to my zone conference for my first 5 transfers.

    Multiple drunk people have tried to hug me. None of them have ever succeeded, but one of them was very persistant.

    I have taught lessons sitting on the ground, on a coconut, on a broken cement post, on broken chairs, on plastic stools, and standing. (Almost every lesson is taught outside).

    My first companion, who was with me for only one transfer, started a year before me. My next two companions started only one transfer before me, and the other three all started after me. I have learned a lot by trial and error. (And of course the help of the spirit).

    Well, there you go! This year has been amazing. I had a great chat with Elder Brown last night talking about the mission so far. Has it been hard? Sure, I guess, but honestly I have been so happy and it has been so fulfilling that I don't really look back on it as being hard, I look back on it as being great. I am by no means a perfect person, nor a perfect missionary, but I am trying, and I can honestly say that I look back with no regrets. I am so excited for another year of life as a missionary! I am going to do everything I can to fulfil the mission that God sent me here to accomplish. I love this gospel and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that it is through him that all is possible. I love you all and have a great week!

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