Father in Heaven hears our prayers and answers them

People keep quoting conference but I haven't even heard it yet! Can't
wait to read it. We get it when it comes out on the magazine.
Yeah the J are gonna be leaving soon :/ They were so awesome. They
were such a great support to the missionaries here. They were always
so friendly and welcoming in Tarawa. And on the outer island, they
always put such a high priority on getting our needs sent out
promptly. They were so awesome!
This week: sooooooo, yeah things were way good with Elder L. I
look back and am amazed at how much I was able to learn from him in
just 4 short weeks or so. Well, Wednesday morning we got a message
from the Js saying I'd be transfering the next day and that we
needed to confirm my plane ticket. We were way suprised, but it was
good and went well. I got on the plane the next day, flew to Tarawa,
slept there the night, and flew  to Butaritari the next morning. So
yeah, here I am in Butaritari now, haha. It's interesting because I
was on one of the most southern islands, Tabiteuea Meang, where it
hardly rained, and where the southern accent is really strong. Well
here it rains like every day almost, and often multiple times. Clouds
are constantly over head. This morning was actually the first time I
noticed that the sun rose to the right of how I sleep, and not at my
feet. I was disoriented. Also the road runs east to west here instead
of north to south, it's way disorienting. Any way, I'm with Elder
Hk here. He's one transfer older than me. So yeah, we're both
learning a lot. It's really good though. This past month my language
has really sky rocketed, it's way awesome, and a huge blessing. It was
awesome to be back in Tarawa, it's like a different place when you can
understand the people more. Any way, yeah. we're both learning a ton.
Elder H is awesome, and he's a great senior companion. He's able
to go at his own pace, and not get frustrated or discouraged, which is
a way good attribute to have in our companionship, because we both
have a lot of learning to do haha. Butaritari is awesome. It's
wayyyyyy green. Like I was way surprised at how green it here. Like
you get on the road and look forward and there's just so much green!
Any way, yeah it's way pretty, tons of awesome plants. There's almost
kind of like a japanese garden sort of feel to it. Just so much green.
The chickens here are different, haha. Some of them are small with
awesome patterns. Some are like straight sleek black, like a crow
almost. We sleep on a two story buia. It's literally like a tree
house. When we had church yesterday, the place where we taught the
primary literally was a tree house. We had to climb a tree to get into
it, it was way awesome. We got sort of a mini maneaba near our house,
my companion studies there, there's a hammock. I study in a buia that
hangs over the ocean. It's way awesome. There's like a little latter
to get up into it. Me and my companion are really attacking the
language, haha. Elder H is way awesome cause he's way focused on
the mission. We speak in the language whenever we can. Any way, yeah,
kind of a big change. There's also tons of mosquitos here, so we have
to sleep with a bangabanga (mosquito net), also we sleep on sticks, so
that's a big change as well. The floor for most buias is just tons of
palm leave stems lain parallel (the stems are way firm and made of
wood, but they're straight, unlike just any random stick), and tied
down. And then there's a grass mat that goes over the top of it and
that's what I sleep on, it's actually pretty comfortable. Also,
motorcycles are approved here, so we rode on one yesterday because we
hold sacrament at the other end of the island also, and it's takes
like four hours aparently to get there by bike, so yeah, we
motorbiked. I think we've got it figured out and stuff now, at first I
was super sketched out because we didn't seem to have the balance
figured out. But we've got it now and we were blessed to be safe. Any
way, prayer is definitely real. It can bring comfort and peace. I know
that our Father in Heaven hears our prayers and answers them. I know
it's important to pray and to ask for His help continually. Love you
all! - ELder Seffker

resistance to temptation isn't a skill, it's a choice

 It's always warm and sunny! It has
been raining quite a bit lately though, which has been kind of nice!
Something to do with the location of Kiribati: we hardly get strong
winds. Sometimes there's a breeze, but they don't have hurricanes or
cyclones or anything. We're right in the middle of a tectonic plate,
so yeah, they don't get earthquakes or tsunamis either. Which is
great! Interestingly enough, as you know, we're right in the middle of
the ocean, and yet somehow we're in somewhat of a drought :/
Any way, sounds like things are good back at home! Any construction going on? ;)
This week has been good. Definitely been helped through my trials and
seen miracles! Thanks a ton for the prayers!!! I'm seeing a lot of
growth! Any way, seriously though, thanks for the prayers. They really
do help! Let's see, yesterday we ate at Ms again, sea turtle
again as pretty much always. I think my stomach is building a
resistance to sea turtle!! ;) Because it doesn't seem to upset it so
much any more. We were waiting at one of our investigators houses,
T ha, and he pulled up on his
motorcycle with two sharks lain over the side! They were probably
about 5 to 6 feet long in my judgement. And like 200 pounds each. any
way, we ate them for lunch two days later. They've got a fishy flavor,
but they're really good with curry. We actually saw some big miracles
this week. haha, it's not so much a tradition in Kiribati to baptize
kids right as they turn eight, considering people don't really
remember their birthdays here. Well, we received two referrals. One
went something like this: "He hasn't been baptized yet (comes to
church every week). You haven't been baptized yet have you? Kid: no."
So yeah, we just need to teach them lessons and so forth. Well, any
way, have a good week! Here's a thought: resistance to temptation
isn't a skill, it's a choice, and it begins with choosing to read and
pray each day. I know that if we do our best to follow God's counsel,
we don't need to fear! Because all He asks is that we do our best each
day! Well, love you all, see ya!! - Elder Seffke

the power is in you to do good

So this week has been pretty good. My language is progressing which is
good. I'm working to listen closely to what they say and I've grown a
lot in actually understanding them. It's crazy how much language
learning has to do with just being exposed to it continually and
consistently. There are some missionaries here who don't even study
the language, and yet they've come to be pretty functional and can
understand people. Cause a lot of it is "behind the scenes" so to
speak, it has to do with your mind just subconsciously picking up bit
by bit. Any way, it's still very necessary and useful to study though,
because things like verb conjugations are easier to pick up if your
mind has a head start by seeing them on paper before you hear them
being applied by speakers.
Anyway, we've been blessed a lot this week. Me and my companion have
continued to see blessings, we've come to understand each other better
as well and become more unified.
Recently I've been thinking a lot about a talk I heard where a guy
talks about how a  spiritual confirmation can be, and is perhaps more
often, the absence of a No as opposed to a Yes. That goes right along
with a scripture in D&C that I think I've already shared here before:
something like: 'the power is in you to do good... a servant who has
to be compelled in all things is slothful... you should do many good
things of your own will...'. Any way, I love how there's so much good
we can do in this life, and so much we can do to continually improve
ourselves our situations and to help others. The possibilities are
limitless.
Any way, some other thing that's happened this week: Me and my
companion have had the opportunity to help teach someone english
recently. It's really great. We'll see how it goes though.
Yeah other than that. Those two kids are progessing nicely. We've got
some other investigators: Taba, and Ta who are progressing
towards baptism as well. We're still teaching them right now. We
taught T about the Holy Ghost a few days ago and he related this
story were he'd heard a voice guide him as well. He's really receptive
to the things we teach him, it's way awesome.
Well that's it for now, ti a bo!!! Thanks for all your prayers!!!
They're very appreciated!!! Love you all!!!
Ti a bo!!! - ELder Seffker

It's a choice

Haha, it's great here, so different here! You guys'll love it! Sounds
like the weather is great! That's crazy how quick the year is going
by! You don't really notice here. It's always warm and sunny! It has
been raining quite a bit lately though, which has been kind of nice!
Something to do with the location of Kiribati: we hardly get strong
winds. Sometimes there's a breeze, but they don't have hurricanes or
cyclones or anything. We're right in the middle of a tectonic plate,
so yeah, they don't get earthquakes or tsunamis either. Which is
great! Interestingly enough, as you know, we're right in the middle of
the ocean, and yet somehow we're in somewhat of a drought :/
Any way, sounds like things are good back at home! Any construction going on? ;)
This week has been good. Definitely been helped through my trials and
seen miracles! Thanks a ton for the prayers!!! I'm seeing a lot of
growth! Any way, seriously though, thanks for the prayers. They really
do help! Let's see, yesterday we ate at M again, sea turtle
again as pretty much always. I think my stomach is building a
resistance to sea turtle!! ;) Because it doesn't seem to upset it so
much any more. We were waiting at one of our investigators houses,
Tokiauea (/toe-key-ah-oo-aye-ah/) ha, and he pulled up on his
motorcycle with two sharks lain over the side! They were probably
about 5 to 6 feet long in my judgement. And like 200 pounds each. any
way, we ate them for lunch two days later. They've got a fishy flavor,
but they're really good with curry. We actually saw some big miracles
this week. haha, it's not so much a tradition in Kiribati to baptize
kids right as they turn eight, considering people don't really
remember their birthdays here. Well, we received two referrals. One
went something like this: "He hasn't been baptized yet (comes to
church every week). You haven't been baptized yet have you? Kid: no."
So yeah, we just need to teach them lessons and so forth. Well, any
way, have a good week! Here's a thought: resistance to temptation
isn't a skill, it's a choice, and it begins with choosing to read and
pray each day. I know that if we do our best to follow God's counsel,
we don't need to fear! Because all He asks is that we do our best each
day! Well, love you all, see ya!! - Elder Seffker

On 4/10/17, harry and Patti seffker <seffkerp@msn.com> wrote:

Jared how was your week? I'm so glad that you are feeling more confident in

sharing the message regardless of your ability in the language. I'm sure you

have seen so much growth in doing so. I am so proud of you. I love to your

bike analogy and riding with no hands. We just can't be afraid to fall. The

Lord will surely hold us up.

Well our temple marathon was a great success. Tuesday we went to the Brigham

city temple, Wednesday the Logan Temple, Thursday was bountiful, Friday Salt

Lake, and Saturday was ogden as normal. I was thinking today and marveling

how much revelation I received this past week. His love for me is sure and I

can feel it. I can also understand more of the plan of salvation and his

eternal plan for everyone of his children. I felt clearly some messages that

needed to be taught to our family and in my Sunday school class. I love the

temple and feel of its power!!

Yes so we could be there at the end perhaps they can release you from the

mission field through a call from our stake president or you can still be on

your mission and we can be your companions. It's up to your mission

president and you and what will work best. We don't mind either way we are

just happy to come. I suppose we will fly into Tarawa and go to the Mission

home. I can notify and arrange with president Larkin to make sure everything

will lineup.

I'm so happy you got of those packages. There still two that you have not

received. One has jerky and letters and the other is Easter. It sounds like

you are receiving them 4 to 6 weeks after I send them. ❤👍

Everyone here is doing really well. Dad has been working hard and the yard

looks beautiful. It has been raining so much and everything is so green.

It's not like some springs with the grass is still half dead from winter

it's all very lush green. All of the fruit trees are blossoming and the

spring flowers are everywhere. Yesterday however was kind of crazy weather.

We had hail and blossoms blue all over the place. But today there is no sign

of the storm. The sun always rises!!

The kids go back to school this week. Johnny and melissa are doing track.

Melissa is doing distance and Johnny is doing sprinting and hurdles and long

jump. Scott and Melissa went to a steak dance last night. Scott danced with

Melissa one dance. They're good friends!

We all miss you but are filled with faith and prayer in your behalf. This

morning as we were leaving for church Jacob said I miss Jared! I will help

them write letter to you later today. I know my prayers ascend to heaven and

God hears. I pray for you to witness miracles as your faith is put to

action!!

I love you so much. Press forward son

Mom

Sent from my iPhone

just don't be afraid to fall

 It's so awesome to hear all the progress
that's going on!!!!! I was just talking to someone about how unending
our opportunity to grow is. I've come to learn that if you're not
growing as you used to be, it's not because you're approaching
fluency, but because you're not trying as hard ;) That's definitely
something I've been learning!! ;) I think at the beginning of my
mission I had some goal in the back of my mind to: really work hard to
get fluent and then find other areas to focus on. Hahaha, but I've
definitely come to learn that fluency is more of a journey, not really
a destination.
I'm not sure if I've ever had a monumental confirming witness as is
sometimes the case. But I've definitely had tons of little ones that
continue to build my faith in it. I know it's true, and as my study of
it and my testimony grows, I definitely see it's influence in my life
and my need for the strength it offers.
Work is great. I can just FEEL my desire growing ;) haha, really
though. It's crazy how good PMG and other missionary examples,
expectations, stories in the scriptures are. And how much we can learn
from them!!! The growth available to us is so unending! Motorcycles:
not yet approved :/ but fortunately, our bikes our pretty sufficient
for our area right now.
SOunds way awesome all of the things you guys are involved with and
the good week end you had!!!!
Thanks for your support and example!!!! You guys are such a great
example in gospel living and raising the family in righteousness!!
This week has been really good!!! I'm working hard to open my mouth a
lot more, and it's going well!!! I can't help but share an example
from my companionship, it's awfully cheesy but it illustrates my
efforts so nicely: My companion was riding his bicycle no handed the
other day. My last two companions have possessed the same skill, but
personally I was never too interested then, nor was I now.
Nonetheless, I asked him any way: "what's the trick to riding like
that?" his answer: " just don't be afraid to fall. The bike is gonna
go like this either way (wobbling, swerving a bit)". I tried it. it
actually kind of worked. It was interesting how the bike kept going
even though the ride was kind of rough. I related it to my language.
Sometimes you've gotta just open your mouth and do your best. The ride
might be rough, but it still gets the job done. THat's the only way to
aquire the skill any way. You've gotta just open your mouth, you'll
make mistakes, but you'll get better. Any way, I know that we need to
continually work to do our best in everything, and to grow. Especially
in the commandments, and our church and family responsibilities. A
quote I recently heard somewhere "every day is part of eternity" it's
definitely true. If your plan is to do better tomorrow, you may as
well just do what you can today also. Because today and tomorrow are
all part of eternity, and if our plan is perfection, we ought to be
making progress on that path. Any way, I know that the church is true.
I'm grateful for my opportunity to serve here. I'm grateful for this
gospel. I know that prayer is super important, as well as scripture
study. I know that those things will keep us on the right course. Love
you! - Elder Seffker

help eachother grow!

This week has been good!!!!
New companion is from Idaho!!!! His name is Elder ln. He's an
awesome missionary!!! Anyway, it's crazy how much I've learned from
him! It's definitely such an important decision to choose the right
companion throughout life!!! Seems like you can either help each other
grow, or you help each other fall away. Any way, thanks again for all
of your support!!

 Love you!! Have a good week!! - Elder Seffker