Makawao Maui-Week 2!

Well it has been a very successful week in Makawao.  We met most of our goals and we have a baptism for on Friday and… He wants me to baptize him! He has known me for like a week, but I'm not complaining.  He is a really solid kid.  He is 14 and had been coming to scouts with a friend for a while then they asked him if he wanted to learn the lessons from the missionaries and it went forward from there. 

We also have another girl with a baptismal date.  She is about 10.  She really likes the gospel and likes to read and have the lessons but has a few challenges getting to church as she must rely on family or members to bring her. She is set to be baptized on the 25^th.  She came to church last week with another member so hopefully she keeps coming.  We hope to help her family with the gospel too.

 

Well I think that's the progress as far as the work goes.  Me and Elder Tiakia are doing pretty good.  He likes to work which I am thankful for.  Our mission met Vision 100!  100 Baptisms in Hawaii for the month of May! Sweet! They want us to keep it going for June too.  We already have two baptisms lined up and we have a goal of 3 which I think we can do! 

I'm stoked to be here in Maui!  My zone is awesome.  My area is awesome.  The Members are awesome!  Our ward mission leader is also awesome.  He was just called a couple days after I got here but he was the ward mission leader in his last ward too, so he knows what he is doing.  He not only works/helps us and comes to our lessons but he even comes tracting with us! haha.  It was funny too because he would walk right up to the door in front of me and Elder Tiakia and pretty much yell "UNCLE", haha, if there was anybody in the house they had to have heard him, haha, it was pretty fun!  People in Hawaii call the older people Aunty or Uncle, even if you're not related.  I kinda like it because it is like everyone is family, except when I get called uncle then it just makes me feel old.. haha!

The End for this Week.

Elder Pincock (you can call me Bigbear) 

MAUI!!!

How did everyone guess Maui?  I had like 3 people guess that I would come to Maui! Is Cody Hawker here?! Where exactly is he?  I'm in Makawao, it is an awesome place.  It isn't a big city but I'm not way out in the boonies like I use to be in Ka’u.  I actually see other Elders and that's way weird.  I live in a four man pad.  My companion is Elder Tiakia (you say it like Siakia though).  He is from New Zealand and he is Poly so he is way funny and loves to do the work.  He has only been out one transfer longer than me so six weeks longer.  And I just passed my 5 month mark. (weird)

It is such nice weather here.  It's like 70 degrees every day and sunny.  The people are way nice,  I'm absolutely stoked to do the work here.  We still travel by car which is okay because at least we don't have to drive for hours to an appointment. One of the best parts is that Elder Vanhille, Elder Grover and Elder Katanuma from the MTC are in my zone! It's absolutely awesome.  I love those guys!  Oh and guess what else!  Elder Gardner (my first comp) is our Zone Leader!  He is awesome too.  He will be a great Zone Leader.  We talked for a while about Ka'u, he misses it a lot too.  That is awesome that Candice emailed you, she is the best, and I will be back to get my tie off of that pig on the wall! Haha

Now… as for our pad… I am a little disappointed… haha… no more queen size bed.  It's the top bunk for this guy now.  The pad is way smaller than the last one and pretty much all they eat are left overs which I am not a fan of so we went shopping today.  I went with Elder Allen.  He is from Kaysville.  He is a pretty cool guy.  He said he has 2-‘69 Camaro SS back home!  Jealous much!  Our District leader is Elder Austin and he is doing his best to keep everyone in order.  I am trying my best as well.

 

We baptized a girl named Kai (18) on Saturday.  Well her name is like 3 miles long but we just call her Kai.  She was stoked, it was really good to see someone so excited to be baptized.  She will be an awesome member.

Well, once again, I tell you all the church is true! I love it and I love sharing it.  You all need to make sure you are helping out the missionaries because missionary work doesn't happen without the members help.  Think about it… if you have any nonmember friends you should try to introduce them to the missionaries.

Well that is all.  I love you!

Elder Pincock

I Am Flying Off This Island...

Hey everyone!

I was right, I'm a gonner.  I’M FLYING OFF THIS ISLAND but I don't know where until I get my ticket. so I will fill you in next week.  I'm sooo sad to leave this place.  Have I ever told you guys I love it here…Because I really do!  But life goes on I guess and well I'm in Hawaii so I'm gonna go somewhere cool haha!  It sounds like everyone at home seems to be doing well.  Thanks Dad and Skye for writing me, I will reply to them today if I have enough time.  That's a bummer about Ryan’s injury and not getting to serve a mission.

I have no idea who's feet those are in the picture.. haha.. I don't remember anyone who wears converse that would stop by and those other feet look like every girl I have ever seen haha so my guess will have to be.... I don't know! haha so you are going to have to give me more clues…

Well as for the work this week, we killed it! WE GOT 100 OYMS (street contacts) which is huge! Me and Elder Gardner only got to like 50 and we were absolutely stoked!  We don't have any with a baptismal dates but they will come.  Of course I leave when the work starts to pick up here.  I'm so bummed to leave. I am going to have to go say goodbye to everyone.  It really feels like leaving home again.  The mission IS Ka'u to me.  I don't even know what to think, haha except I will be back though. I'm excited to see where I go next though.  I think it will be Oahu but I'm hoping for Maui, that would be rad!

Well Today was pretty cool, we went to the national park in Volcano.  IT was awesome.  WE got to walk through a Lava tunnel.  At first we only went through the part that is lit up but towards the end it goes further and but nobody wanted to go because we didn't have flashlights.  But luckily we went to the visitors center and I found a flashlight and so Elder Davis, Toki, and Brown and I went back and went to the end! It was awesome. It goes like 600 feet back.  I have some pictures.  I will send them today.  Sorry I have been kind of faking you guys out with sending pictures but they will come today. 

I'm pretty bummed to leave Elder Davis and Elder Toki, they are so cool.  Hopefully I will serve with them a little while down the road. 

I can't really think of any stories other than that, sorry, not much more happened. I do want to share that I am so thankful for all of your support and so thankful that I could have the chance to Serve my Lord and Redeemer.  It is the least I could do for someone who gave his life to help me in any way possible.  I love Him very much and I know that He lives.  Just as I live and you live.  He is always there to help us we just have to humble ourselves and take the help.  We can't do this on our own nor were we expected to.  If we could, then why would He constantly offer His help.  He knows us better than anyone and has been through our personal struggles, pains, afflictions, and infirmties.  I also know that I have a Heavenly Father who knows  and loves me as well.  He knew exactly where and what time to put me in this life.  I'm so grateful that he put me in the family that I have.  It couldn't have been more perfect.  When I look at the big picture and why we are here and where we are going it just makes sense.  I'm so thankful for the clarity of mind that this Gospel gives me.  It is so simple.  Do what He asks and you will be happy.  I says these things in the sacred name of our Savior Jesus Christ Amen.  I love you all and again I am so grateful for the support and the help you guys provide me with.

Elder Pincock

P.S.  I'll see you in Maui, haha, just kidding (maybe)

Happy Mother's Day Again!

Oh man, that was awesome yesterday!  It was so good to hear all of you!  We tried to have personal study afterwards... yeah right! Haha… that definitely didn't work.  This might be a short email because I kind of told you everything yesterday but today has been a pretty awesome Pday.  We went fishing with a guy named Brother Franko from Keaau ward, he was awesome.  I caught one, the first cast! Haha and then later I caught an eel! I took pictures so I will try to send those today.  I'm not sure if I will have time because we are still in Hilo today. 

Well, the work is going good, still a little slow but we continue to work on it.  The people we are working with are still doing well.  It is one of their daughter's birthday today so we might drop by and say Hi.  There were 2 of their family members that came to church yesterday even though one of the others was sick.  I was really happy!  They came with Kalu Oyama, our Ka'u Mother, haha They loved her cookies.  Have you guys ever had cake cookies?  They are sooo good.  Elder Brown showed me them.  They are just cake mixes but made into cookies.  Maybe you should look it up, haha. 

This could be my last week and a half here.  That's kind of sad.  Like I keep telling you I love Ka'u.  It is definitely hard to work in but that's what I'm here for, right? I don't think Elder Brown likes it as much as I do and that is a little hard because this place is like my home now.  Maybe he just doesn't understand. 

It's really weird to think that this time in Elder Gardner's mission (first comp) he was about to start training me, haha. That blows my mind because I often wonder if I could handle that... Haha

That would be way funny if I was sent to the area where Bronson's friends are.  Well, I'm not really sure what else to talk about. 

I love you all and I pray for you all.  The church is true and there is no way that it couldn't be.  I'm so grateful to have family and friends like I have.  

Don't be afraid to send me letters.  Oh and music :)

Elder Justin Pincock 

Woah! Mother's Day is this Week!

HAHAHAHA! That was the funniest letter ever that Skye wrote from long ago! Thanks for sending it. It pretty much made my day hahahahaha! 

Well first of all I will be calling on Mother's Day like right after church so 12:00 here, so I think like 4:00 there? So be ready!  It's gonna be kinda weird! I can't believe it's already Mothers Day next week!  

I got your package today Mom.  Thanks a lot! Haha… The Sing-a-ma-jig was the best part! And, of course, the P90x, thanks sooo much. The pictures were awesome too!  You guys are the best.  

Things are going pretty good this week.  We were able to find two new investigators.  One isn't very solid but is curious about the church and the other wants to get baptized but has a few situations that need to change first, much like everybody else here. So I guess we'll see what happens.  We have still been working through the less active/part member families this week.  We only have like 10 more on the ward list to go see.  We have been working pretty hard.  IT"S AWESOME! Elder Brown and I are working better together.  I don't really have any strange stories this week. We are still working with the other people who are trying to get to baptism that I told you about before but so many obstacles.  We hope their family members will help more to allow the baptisms to happen and really think of God's plan for us.  Some are really holding back their families from salvation! One of our newer members was supposed to receive the priesthood this past Sunday was unable to be there, so that was a little frustrating.  One girl we baptized a while ago is doing better but is not coming to church because her mom doesn’t bring her, but maybe she will feel the spirit and decide to go on her own soon.

Elder Toki is finally here!  He is awesome.  I'm really bummed that he took so long to get here because he is the best! Haha!  Way motivating and willing to work.  We finally got to set our goals for our district.  For the OYMs (open your mouth: pretty much just everyone we try to share the gospel with who is not a member) this week we were supposed to hit 50!  Which if you can remember I haven't done since Elder Gardner was here and we were so stoked when we hit it!   Lately we have been getting like 35-45 max!  Well guess what we got this week?!  61 Awesome!  We are still struggling to find people to teach, but it will come.  They are so close! I can feel it, except sad I might be going somewhere else in 2 weeks... That would be a bummer.  I love Ka'u.  I'm definitely coming back here when I am off my mission.  The people are so awesome.  Every day I just get closer and closer.  Some of them are like my family here, like Bishop Oyama and his family and Jerome's family and Makuakane's.  They are some of the coolest and loving people.  I Hope you guys get to meet them. 

Well that is all for today, I think.  Good luck with the home life.  I will keep you in my prayers.  Love you. 

TALK TO YOU FOR REALS ON SUNDAY!

Elder Pincock