TWO HANDWRITTEN LETTERS TO MOM, BUT IT'S TOO GOOD TO NOT POST!!

 Yesterday I went out to the mailbox.  I was sad we didn't hear from him by email this week.  Sometimes that happens if the other missionaries come from outer islands.  They only can email once a month so they get priority.  However, I received TWO handwritten letters yesterday via snail mail and so because this is my journal for his mission I am going to write them out.  Makes everything worth it!  :)  ~ Proud mom of Elder Saylin


OCTOBER 1, 2016

Mom!!  I MISS YOU! How has my mom been?.  It's hard only getting to talk to you once a week for a little bit.  I miss coming up the stairs every night to tell you that I am home.  I guess that the only thing better than that that I can tell you right now is that I am happy!  It's super hard out here at times, not going to lie.  I struggle lots with the language, it's superrrrr hot, days go by when nobody wants to listen to us.  But then I get these moments: I see the gospel making someone else's life happy.  I give them hope.  I bring them joy.  I help open their eyes.  I see them want to change their life.  I walk up to someone's hut to find them reading the Book of Mormon without us, or studying a pamphlet.  I understand some of their testimony.  With my broken Chuukese, I open up my heart to them.  Then I see them change!  When somebody sincerely says to me, "Thank you Elder Saylin," it changes my perspective on everything.  I no longer care about how many lessons we taught or didn't teach; I don't care if I'm awful at Chuukese right now.  I don't care how many people yelled at me that day, or how hot it may be.  Mom, when somebody says that to me the only thing that is going through my mind is a prayer to my Savior, thanking him SO MUCH for giving me this opportunity to serve a mission, and thanking Him for putting me in Chuuk to help these people. It makes everything worth it.  It cures my homesickness.

Niames, the last girl I baptized, is my favorite person ever.  She is seriously like a sister to me out here!  Having watched her change, and still come to church every Sunday is the best.  Last night, she studied the Book of Mormon for 3 hours!!  3!!!  Seeing her happiness and devotion to the Lord changes me.  It strengthens my testimony so much and makes me forever grateful for this chance I have to serve here.

I guess I wanted to write you to thank you, mom.  Withoutyou, I probably wouldn't be out here.  Thank you for your testimony and example you have been to me.  Thanks for always being forgiving and patient with me.  There is no other Mom in this world that is like you.  I'm SO LUCKY to be able to call you my mom.

How has everything been at home??  It's weird to be away from everyone this long.  If you ever want to print up pictures of everyone (Seth @ football, you and dad, girls' dance, the family hanging out, etc.) please don't hesitate to send some in the mail!  haha  I hope and pray everyday that the family is doing well!  Say hi to everyone for me!

Love,
Elder Saylin

OCTOBER 6, 2016    (SNAIL MAIL!!!)

Mom!
I got a letter from you today, and a package!  Thank you so much; you're the best!  The good you send keeps me alive (but no need to send ramen noodles.  haha We have plenty of that!  Maybe beef jerky?  The mac n' cheese is super good though. )  Your letter means so much to me.  I'm glad everyone is doing super good at home.

To answer all your questions:

6-7:30am :wake up, workout, breakfast, BUCKET shower

8:30-9:30am  Companionship study

9:30-10:30am 12 week training

10:30-11:30 Lunch

11:30am -6pm TEACHING

6-6:30 Planning

6:30-7:30pm Language study (usually goes two hours though)

8:30-10pm eat dinner and chill until bed  haha

So, yeah, we have electricity to see.  Our power goes out a ton though so we just use my flashlight.  It's kind of fun haha. People feed us sometimes.  Actually, only my branch president feeds us.  Other than that, not really.  Yes, we "grocery shop."  We go into town on the other side of the island and there's a few super ghetto stores where we buy food.  They're kind of like a small warehouse.   I'll take pics for you next Monday.  My district leader is Elder Floyd.  I love him.  We are the same person--hah, it's weird.  Our training meetings are for like 4 hours, but they are way good.  I'm with the other missionaries Monday for P-day, Thursday/Friday becasue that's district meeting and then exchanges.

Our church building is tiny.  Just and empty room.  We are lucky to have a building though because the outer island has church under a tent.  (Sounds fun to me, though!!!!)  We usually have anywhere from 12-30 people show up to church.  Never really know.  Branch President hasn't had their baby yet, but seriously could at any second.  They're still naming it Saylin, though!!!  Super excited!

Mom, I ate a whole octopus today.  The whole thing.  They didn't even cut it up or anything.  Just boiled it in some water and fed it to us.  So nasty, but I don't care about taste out here hahaa.  I really am Chuukese now.  If it's edible, I am eating it.

I've been struggling lots with the language.  It's hard.  ( No MTC training by the way!!~Jen)  Some days I want to give up, but I never will.  I have Heavenly Father on my side and I know He will help me.  I love my mission.  I seriously have the best mission in the world.!!  I love the people and everything I am learning.  I am SO blessed!  This church is true.  Not a doubt in my mind.

I love you, mom!

Elder Saylin