Elder and Sister Chandler, then serving in Pohnpei, wrote the following blog post
(http://chandlersinpohnpei.blogspot.com/2014/03/we-are-stake-what-miracle.html)
So many exciting things have happened on our Island in the past few weeks. Our little Island became a stake on March 16th, 2014. The outpouring of the spirit was evident everywhere. Over 1446 were in attendance. We now have a wonderful stake presidency, with a clerk, executive secretary, and High Counselors. We have 5 wards, 3 branches and 3 groups. What a blessing for this wonderful Island. A Patriarch will be annouced soon to make the stake complete. We thank President Mecham for his tireless efforts to complete the necessary work to qualify us to become a stake. We had 89 saints who met in Herriman, Utah, (return missionaries, Pohnpeins living in US and a return Mission President), who enjoyed a direct wire feed, to be a part of this great event! Conference weekend we enjoyed the blessing of having Elder Whiting, Elder Nash and his wife, along with Brother Turley from the Historical Department, President and Sister Mecham, and President and Sister Dale West in our home. They came to share a meal with us before hopping on the red-eye flight back to Guam and Utah. Thank you Brethren & Sisters for sharing your time with us.
Seminary and Institute is winding down for the year, but the students are amazing in their attendance. One day we had 48 students in our High School seminary class. It was the day the Holy Ghost had prompted a lesson to be given on the Book of Mormon. The day before, with 40 in the classroom, we talked about the Holy Ghost. We discussed how to recognize the promptings and how to merit His loving kindness to us. Both days were spirit filled and we were once again so grateful to be a part of this wonderful work on this Island. Miracles happen all the time here and we love being a part of all of it. Some days it just does not seem real that we are really serving here.
Baptisms continue to come each and every week. Some with tears streaming down their cheeks, so grateful the missionaries found them. Sharing our testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ with others is a blessing that we cannot even express to you.
We just had a quick visit from our seminary and institute leaders from Guam, Japan, and South Korea. It was a blessing to have them discuss the challenges we face here. Just to know they understand more about the culture, the love of the saints here for the gospel and the sweet tender spirit about them as they go through life trying to live the Gospel.
It was enjoyable to have them meet with our teachers and feel of their love.
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| Stake Conference |
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| Beautiful choir from Kitti Branch (28 converts singing all baptized since we got here, except one) |
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| President Kalio(right), 1st Counselor President Hadley (middle), 2nd Counselor President Redes (left) |
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| Elder Nash & Whiting serving water at our meal |
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| Elder Kim and Elder Tapua with new convert! |
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| Elder Tapua and Elder Kim at recent baptism |
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| Elders Kim, Tapua, Afaulo & Becraft |
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| Painting Scripture/Prayer rocks in seminary |
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| Josephine and her Choose The Right rock |
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| Rod Eric CTR reminder |
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| Ivaloni our Class President painting herself |
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| Relief Society Birthday Celebration Pohnpeian Style |
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| Dancing is so much a part of the festivities |
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| Elder Chandler commented "I am so happy today" Just watching these islanders makes one happy! |
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| More Scripture Mastery Games! They love it! |
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| Far back student in a white shirt is Bishop Nicerio on a visit to Pohnpei |
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| Elders Matalolo and Elder Vause helping every day! They are the reason we have so many coming now! |
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| I love my kids! |
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| And this one TOO!! |
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| Elder Kim and Elder Tapua chowing down! |
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| Carlee's Birthday/Retirement party |
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| Elder Barrus and Elder Taule'alo |
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| New Converts! Happy! Happy! |
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| Sister Ioana & Sister Komra with their new converts |
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| Elder Gardner & Elder Johnson with their new converts |
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| Pohnpei District R.S. getting ready for General Authorities arrival |
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| Beautiful fruit baskets for their Hotel Rooms |
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| A beautiful receiving line for them at the airport |
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| They were so touched by the singing "We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet" |
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| Sister Mecham touched also by the singing |
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| Combined Missionary Zone conference two days before conference. |
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| Elder Cook has simple walked his socks off!! |
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| Elders Rice, Bunn, Hansen and Holt enjoying home cooking, Sister Chandler style |
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| Elder Bunn & Elder Matalolo always helping |
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| Native warrior dances for our visiting authorities and their wives |
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| Their dancing is so beautiful. What stories they tell! |
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| Notice the simple costume. Made jungle style |
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| Seminary kids performing for the visiting authorities! |
We continue to love our mission. We are almost 10 months down and time is flying by. We miss our family more and more as time goes by. We just received pictures of all the girls old enough to attend the Women’s Meeting and they were all having soooo much fun together. However, they were missing one very important someone. ME!! We do love and miss them so much. We love you all. May your lives be filled with peace and happiness.
Michael Dowdle (president of the Micronesia Guam Mission, 2006-2009) wrote: Devan, shortly after we arrived in the MGM in 2008, the Lord revealed to me that we would soon see not only a stake in Guam, but one in Pohnpei as well. Our main task was to search out and train the leaders the Lord had already chosen to lead the people of these islands to stakehood. I wrote down this revelation, and it is a cherished part of my memory of our time in Micronesia, and a testament of the great love the our Father has for his children of the islands.
ReplyDeleteim very proud of what we have done so far....im a member...and wish the whole world could knw......i love this work...........grateful to be a member.......My name i Rockson Hebel i was pabtis in 2013....and proud and eager.......to be with my family in the celestial kingdom....
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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