"sleep of hell"

Hey! This week has been really fun and good!

Soo, the outer island is called Tabiteuea Meang(North). I'm headed down there with my new companion this Thursday, his name is Elder G(he does rubick's cube). Thanks! I think I'll have a great experience also!!!

Yeah that was a great chat that we all had! Nice to hear from you guys as well!!

Nice Sunday experience!

Thanks again for all you do and Dad and for both of yours example!!

Soooo, these past few weeks have been really fun! We've had 7 missionaries cramped in our tiny little house. We've got two beds, and then the rest of the missionaries sleep on the floor, on their kie (/kee-ay/). My old companion Elder H let me borrow his. I've been on the floor for three nights now. So, Elder H new companion, ELder D, arrived about 10 days ago, so I've been working with Elder C a lot recently. Haha, Elder C is awesome! He has two names: D C. No middle name. A couple nights ago he brought home a dog we found on the side of the road, gutted it, cooked it, and ate it. Enough said. Haha, any way, he's taught me a lot. I had somewhat of a quantum leap with the language working with him... A little backstory: when a new missionary is invited to share a scripture, or recite a string of words he already knows, it does very little for that missionaries language development. While I was working with Elder C, he made me teach entire lessons, and tract houses. I've had a lot of good experiences teaching, it's been really good. There are some really great people in Kiribati, and everyone is so friendly. We've had ton of conferences and meetings recently for the mission tour. President H spoke to us, he's the region president. The next day we got to eat dinner at the President of Kiribati's house. It was way fun! And delicious. They had tons of way good food and drinks, and they had cooked a pig on a platter just like you see on medieval movies. Last night we had a devtion with president H again. He's really great, He really stressed just how much is on the line, how important the gospel is. About how we, as missionaries need to go home and be faithful and do everything we are inviting people to do now. Even when trials come. About how our days are limited and we need to take opportunities to repent and change. I really liked his thoughts. I know that it's totally true. If we see that there is a change that needs to be made, something that is distancing us from God, there's no reason to wait. Satan knows that, and one of his temptations is procrastination. I know that NOW is the time to choose to be obedient, and the time to be courageous and bold for righteousness. I know that it truly is a "sleep of hell" to ignore the impact of our choices on our eternal welfare. I know we need to wake up, and deny ourselves of "all ungodliness". President H said "God does not forget his faithful servants" and I know that's true. If we put our trust and desire in Him, He will help us gain eternal life.

Thanks again! Ti a bo! - ELder Seffker

p.s. the pronunciation is going really well now!!! thanks for all of yours prayers, I've seen tons of blessings and miracles!

PS-it's crazy how my mission experience has lined up with a lot of details with my life. Like the live off the wilderness thing, learning a language, learning how to make tons of stuff (like I like to do) like hammocks/grass mats/etc. (haven't actually learned yet, but I'm going to in the near future). The architecture(tent houses) like how I wanted to build one. There's just tons of convenient things here that have evolved through the use of innovative/inventive/ people ha!

Have a good week! Love ya! - Elder Seffker