Phone call to Elder Payne and new photos!

We did not receive an e-mail from Elder Payne this weekend but we did get to talk to him on the phone!

Jeffery is enjoying his area in Guam.  He said that there are a surprising number of people on Guam that speak Chuukese and other languages from the other islands.  His companion is Elder Rice from Burley Idaho.  Elder Rice will complete his mission in December so Jeff thinks he will be the one to send Elder Rice home.  Jeff will be able to e-mail much more often because the Internet in Guam is way more reliable in Guam!

Jeffery has to get used to Guam, his last island Uman was only a mile across and he could walk around it in no time at all.  Plus there weren't very many modern conveniences (like Taco Bell and McDonalds).  Jeffery's first two purchases on Guam were at McDonalds and Taco Bell.  As Jeff would put it, ha ha ha. But he is determined not to re-gain all the weight he lost in his first areas.

One of Dodie's former co-workers, Justin, and his family now live in Guam and they were able to contact Jeffery and his companions.  They treated the missionaries to some New Mexico enchiladas!!  So much for keeping the weight off :)

And Justin provided us with some great pictures!

Elder Payne transferred to Guam just in time for typhoon Vongfong

September 28, 2014

Dear family,

Hey, so transfers have come around and I have been transerred to Guam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will email the letter I was going to send snail mail.  I wasn't sure what the Internet on Guam was going to be like, but it is super fast and I will be able to e-mail every week. So for snail mail and what nots start sending it to 620 W Route 8 Barrigada Guam USA 96913.

October 5, 2014

I have already talked to the zone leaders in Chuuk and if the packages you sent arrive in time they will bring them to Guam with them this weekend and if not they will send them to me.  So far it has been good and there are tons of cars and MCDONALDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha but I havent lost all this weight in Chuuk just to gain it back  here in Guam so I am going to work out hard core. 

Hey so the typhoon has already past.  It passed at like 4am this morning with little to no damage whatsoever. We had to stay inside last night and we were going to stay in today too but President Zarbock lifted it because they say Guam is safe. So here I am emailing you guys now.  My companion, his name is Elder Rice, he is from Idaho and is done with his mission in December.  He is super cool and a super good missionary.  I was super sad to leave Chuuk but Guam is super cool and full of super prepared people.  Oh and I am in the Dededo South area.  I will attach a pic from google earth.  Well hope the "inquiring minds" are now satisfied haha.

Love you all
Elder Jeff Payne

Elder Payne's general location in Guam

Missionaries in Guam - Elder Payne 3rd from left on front row.

Typhoon Vongfon headed toward Guam

Elder Payne's letter to the Academy Heights Ward - Primary Children

Dear Primary!                                                             September 11, 2014

First, here in Chuuk we greet each other with 'Ran Allim'!  I am sorry that it took me so long to write back to you guys.  It has been quite busy here teaching the people of Chuuk about Jesus Krist and everything He did for us.  I love it here in Chuuk.  It is hot but it rains a ton here so sometimes it gets a little colder, ha ha.

I have eaten dog, but other people usually save it for birthdays or other special occasions.  Some other things I have eaten, octopus (in Chuukese - nipatz), shark (poko), turtle (pwapwa (with long A sounds)), coconut, and crab (amatang).  We eat tons of bananas and drink lots of coconut water.  I love coconuts!

The people here really love and respect the missionaries and they really love Jesus and want to do what he wants them to do.

I will end with my testimony.  I know that this church is true and that God's Priesthood or His power and His authority to baptize and act in His name is in this church. That means that this church, Ewe Mwichifenen Jises Krist ren Aramas mi Pin non Fanson Spodon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is the true church of Christ, me wa apasa ekkei mettoch fan itan Jises Krist, amen.

Love Elder Payne

Elder Payne and Chuuk Primary Children

Elder Payne and even more Primary Children

Sunset in the State of Chuuk, Micronesia

The church building on the island of Moen in Chuuk

Beautiful Chuuk Lagoon

Typical hike to visit the people on the island

Elder Payne visiting the children on the island of Uman

Fish and rice for dinner.

Letter from Uman

Dear Family,                                   Sept. 10, 2014

Super sorry for not "snail mailing" recently, it has been long busy days here in Uman.  I am doing good, just working and trying to baptize all of Uman...  That plan is moving slow but will happen at some time, Ha ha.  No, but really, Uman is a cool place.  It is interesting having a whole island as my area, ha ha.  Kind of makes me feel like a missionary way back in the day when they had whole countries or states as their missions.

Well chuuk is still the same except for President Zarbock is really cracking down on mission rules.  All the missionaries in Chuuk came in for a Zone Conference where the president reminded all the missionaries of the rules.  It was way super good because wee needed the reminders.  It's been hard to hard to keep the schedule.  Also socks are extremely hard to wear because they get dirty and destroyed fast.  Now the zone is being very obedient and it is bringing huge blessings (still not sure what blessings come from wearing socks, but there must be some, ha ha).

Change of subject... Christmas is coming! It hasn't gotten any colder here, which is definately wierd and makes me miss the different seasons.  No change in seasons means there isn't a break from mosquitos, but that's life here in Chuuk.  Mom asked what I want for Christmas, and thinking about it, maybe ties and pictures would be about it for this year (of course food and candy will always be gratefully appreciated).  I am very excited and nervous for my first Christmas away from home.  Excited because I get to spend Christmas here in Chuuk, nervous and kind of bummed that I don't get to spend it with all of you guys.  But I do send my love with this letter, ha ha.  I will call from a cell phone at the appointed time, ha ha, no early call this year so I can talk to you guys with no osukosuk (problems).  I wont even try to skype because it was too stupid last time.

Well I will wrap this up with my testimony of obedience.  I know that blessings only come when we obey.  If we are disobedient we do not receive blessings, it's as simple as that.  There is not grey lines in this principle because you personally know what is right and what is wrong.  When you disobey no one is responsible but you. You made the choice and that is beautiful and comforting to me personally because that means that even Satan in all his power can do nothing to "force" you to sin.  The choice is always yours and God will not let any temptation come to us that is too much for us to say "no" to (see 1 Corinthians 10:13).  I love the gospel  and I love our Lord and Savior.

I love you guys and always pray for you!

Love Elder Jeff Payne

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Home in Uman.

Jeff's source of electricity - solar panels outside the apartment charges the batteries during the day.

Multi-purpose furniture.  A bed and a table.  IKEA eat your hear out!

Elder Fermanis preps the firewood.

Elder Payne cooking rice over a fire (they were out of propane that day).

Elder Payne on P-Day relaxing.

What's for dinner?

Let's eat!

Elder Payne in Uman.

Pictures from Zone Conference - September 19, 2014

Jeff still hasn't had a chance to send us an e-mail since being transferred to the island of Uman.  But President Zarbock posted some pictures from the Zone Conference they just held.

We are still waiting for any letter via regular mail.   But it great to see him!

Thanks President Zarbock we love the pictures!

The Elders practice teaching and role-play different scenarios.

Elder Payne studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Just a little break from their studies.

They hold Zone Conference at the Chuuk Blue Lagoon Resort.

Chuuk Zone - September 2014

Elder Payne Transferred to Uman

Jeff wrote a short e-mail this week to let us know he has been transferred.  His new area is the small island of Uman.  South of the island of Weno.  His new companion is Elder Fermanis who is from New Zealand.

He will only be able to e-mail us about once a month.  Continue to send regular letters to the main Chuuk Zone post office box:

Elder Jeff Payne
P.O. Box 861
Moen Chuuk, FSM   96942

We had sent Jeff a package a while ago and he let us know that, "The Red Robins Salt is like gold here".  He is in need of some new pants because he has lost a lot of weight.  Something more sturdy like Dickies.  We will have to get them in the mail - they might make it to him by Christmas.

That's the report for this week.  The rest of this week's e-mail was just answers to other personal questions.

Stay tuned...  He promised a 'big letter'.

Super good Sunday!

HI family,                                                      August 10, 2014
Well this past week was good. It was nice and long and full of miracles, and to be honest at this moment I can't remember most of this week right now. But it was good and we had a bunch of miracles happen on Sunday which is where I will start. But first the BACK STORY!!!!!!!! (said in Doofenshmirtz voice haha). 

So we didn't go get anyone for church like we usually do because it has been a little bit of a sonap (or waste) because no one we go to pick up comes to church. So we just head to church and pray for people to come.  We get to church and nobody from Nantaku there so we are a little disappointed. But we understand it is because it's a long walk. Then as church goes on KK arrives, she is the less-active lady that we have been trying to reactivate, and NONO! An investigator that lives next door to KK. We were a little surprised but happy. Then just after KK and Nono arrive some other members walk in with another investigator named Patrik! We hadn't been able to see Patrik all week because school started and he has been busy.  We had asked Jovanah (one of the coolest members in Nantaku, who is about 18 and knows perfect English and somehow knows how to teach the Gospel really well) if she had to go up and get Patrik and she said he just came down (because he lives up above Jovanah) all ready to go to church and Patrik said "when does church start?" and just ended up walking with Jovanah and her family. Haha Super awesome! Then sacrament meeting ends and Elder Simpson and I are teaching the youth class this week and as the youth class is starting ANOTHER investigator shows up with her cousin! She is super strong in the church. Haha. It was a super good Sunday so far, then ANOTHER miracle! An older lady we just saw the day before and invited to come to church, she CAME! She was way late and church was over, but she came and that is what counts. She was super sad that church was over but she said she would try really hard to come next week and try the church out. It was a super good end of the week.

So this week is transfers and I am pretty sure I am staying in Nantaku, but I will write a snail mail for it and let you guys know what happens.  otherwise you wont know till next Monday mwahahahahaha!

Ai tong ngenikemi!

Love,
Elder Jeff Payne

Dear Dad,
So it is good to hear that the SD card with photos made it to you guys. I worry about it a lot when I send them. The kids with machetes? we were probably up on the mountain cutting grass... "with machetes!" you say? Yes, that is how we cut grass because there are no lawn mowers in Chuuk for some reason. And mom has missed 2 weeks of emailing me and for some reason mail has been kind of slow recently. Speaking of mail I have sent a box to ami (y'all). You will have to wait to get it to know what is in it mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Well love you all.
Love,
Elder Jeff Payne

The Elders at the lighthouse (?)

Snail Mail letter from mid July

Dear Family                                                                              July 19, 2014

I have had a super good week this past week.  So Monday was P-day of course and nothing happened except for e-mailing and even then I didn't get a single e-mail from you guys! What the heck?! What happened?  (we don't know what happened - we know that we have sent letters REGULARLY - both digital and analog versions)

Tuesday we were on exchanges and one of the Elders in Sapuk came to Nantaku with me.  His name is Elder Ladore and is is from Pohnpei and doesn't know very good English but he speaks super good Chuukese.  Chuukese and Pohnpein are really similar.  It was a fun day, then we got one more day together because the District Leaders decided to go one more day.  Then we all switched back on Wednesday night at District Meeting.  It was cool to talk with Elder Ladore he is a super good guy.

Thursday we did missionary work... to be honest I don't remember what happened Thursday or Friday, my bad.  But I can remember some cool things that happened last night.  We were walking home after a super busy day and we are passing the hospital.  Both Elder Simpson and I get the feeling we needed to visit a member who was in the hospital with her baby.  So we go up and talk to her a little bit and give her baby a blessing. As we turn around to leave and there is another member there in the same room with her kid!!  She is a super strong member from Sapuk Branch and she is crying.  She then tells us that she asked the Sapuk Branch President  to send someone to give her son a blessing.  Nobody ever came and she was praying that somebody would come.  Then we show up and are able to give her son a blessing.  We just got back from visiting her again tonight and her son is doing super well.  Tonight he was smiling and laughing and looked a ton better.  It was a huge miracle that has really strengthened my testimony of the Priesthood and always striving to use it to bless the lives of others.  It is real! and the power of it coupled with the Holy Ghost is super gechekun!  Of these things I know and say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Al tong nyeni Kemi micnisin!  or "I love towards y'all" is the direct translation of that.  Ha ha. But I do love you all and pray for everyone back home and wish the best for you all.

Love, Elder Jeff Payne

Along with this letter he send an SD card with some new photos.  I'll attach a few to each blog entry in the coming weeks.

Elder Payne and one of the Primary Children.

Another one of Elder Payne.

Elder Payne and children - possibly hunting for something.

Elder Simpson

That's child with a machete!  And they are still hunting...

Anybody need a new desktop background??  Awesome sunset in Chuuk.

July 27th letter

Dear Family and Friends,

Well here I am sefan (again) writing another email home, haha.

Well to start, this week has been a long one. It started with a long P-day and ended with a long Sunday. I am just going to do the highlights of each day.

Tuesday- We went and met with a less-active member named KK, there we are teaching her neighbors and they all really like the gospel message even though the church they currently go to really doesn't like our church, haha the true church for the win! haha. Their names are Fifian, Nono, Viper (but in Chuukese it is pronounced more like Fiper), Fifani they are all really cool.

Wednesday- We had a baptismal interview, the iterviewee's name is Sia and she is late 20's I would guess, and has a little daughter named Sasa and they are in a part-member family where her sister is a member.Sia just hadn't been baptized yet. So she got interviewed and she is already to go to be baptized.

Thursday- We went up to see Jay, and had a super good talk with him and he said he wasn't quite ready for baptism and he isn't sure what he is missing but we have taught him everything that we can. All that is left is for him to "pull the trigger" for lack of better wording. He is ready. But wasn't baptized this past week.

Friday- We went around inviting people to the baptism. We told Sia and her family that we would meet them under a mango tree to head out to the Mwan chapel to the baptism. Everything was set for a good baptism.

Saturday- We wake up and get ready to have our first Baptism in Nantaku. We get all ready then the missionaries truck in Mechitiw  wouldn't start and so Elder Simpson and I had to call the Zone Leaders for help. So the ZL's agree to help us. We head out to the mango tree that we were going to meet Sia and her family at and... Sia wasnt there?!? We asked her sister Meinani where Sia was and Meinani says Sia's mom said she couldn't be baptized because she had already been baptized into the Catholic church!!! What the heck! Oh well we try for next week.

Sunday- We get all ready and head out to walk with Sia and Meinani and their family. So we usually walk up the mountain and walk with the members the half hour to church. When we get to the church and it is kind of quiet which is very unusual because the congregation consists of women and childern and are very loud. haha So we walk up the hill to the church and only one member is in the church and she is from NANTAKU!!!!!  haha But it is okay because we started church an hour late and only had half of our normal congregation. Even so, Sunday was super good. Then went out and taught in the rain it was a great day.

Well gotta go love you guys.

Love,
Elder Jeff Payne

Letter to Kristen and Young Women Values in Trukese

Dear Kristen, July, 15, 2014

How's Albuquerque! haha  Sorry, just had to poke a little fun at you every once in a while, haha.  Well you wanted to know a little about the people we are teaching so here you go...  But first a few things I have seen in Chuuk:
1.) Women and teenage girls understand the Gospel better so they are easier to teach.
2.) Most men don't think alot about religion. some work. Some drink, smoke and chew betel nut.
3.) Teenage boys are kind of the same as men and sometimes get in fights.
But that seems like it is the same way anywhere in the world. And that's kind of what I am working with.

On to some of the people who are investigating the church...

I will start with Mackido and Bananas.  Mackido is in her early 30's and live in this cool government building that the government built then left it there.  She and Bananas live there.  Bananas is an 8 year old boy and yes, his name really is Bananas, haha. I think it's awesome!  We are teaching them and if we can get them to church they can be baptized. Both of them like the message of the church.

Well I better let you go and get back to the X-Box, haha! Love you Kris, be good and don't grow up too fast.

Love,
Elder Jeff Payne

Jeff also sent a copy of the Young Women values in Trukese:

WE ARE DAUGHTERS of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him

WE WILL “STAND as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

FAITH
DIVINE NATURE
INDIVIDUAL WORTH
KNOWLEDGE
CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
GOOD WORKS
INTEGRITY
AND VIRTUE

WE BELIEVE
as we come to accept and act upon these values,
WE WILL BE PREPARED
to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive
the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation

See https://www.lds.org/young-women/personal-progress?lang=eng

Zone Conference Pictures

Dear Family,                                   July 9, 2014
Well I have been doing super good this week. first though yes I am emailing on a Thursday but it is because the new mission president is here for Zone Conference tomorrow. So p-day (preparation day is when the Elders do laundry, chores, and stuff) is today. So this week has been super good we have been talking to everybody all the time it is really surprising how not awkward it is most of the time haha.  But we have been good and we have been teaching up to 30 people a week and have 11 people on a baptismal date and we are hoping they all come to church so please help us in prayer haha.   Well we didn't do anything for 4th of july.
That state fair parade I marched in during high school was awful. It was cold, I stepped in horse poop the whole way, and my feet hurt aaand we didn't get anything for it, so the whole thing was sonapanap (or a complete waste) haha.
Awww man, Cochiti Lake sounds like it was good and I wish I could go swimming, but oh well I will survive for 18 more months haha.

Well I love you all and pray all the time for ami (or y'all is the closest thing in English).

Love
Elder Jeff Payne

P.S.
Hey dad how come no one told me Jay destroyed his longboard!!!!! hahahahaha I am so proud! haha Sorry I think it is super funny haha can you try and send me some pics?  I want to see the extent of his injuries, and I have some advice for him as well. When you have those, "Aw crap" moments, as we call them, to just bail from your longboard. It is better to bail and try and roll it out than to slide into ant hills haha. Tell jay that I am giving him permission to take the bearings from my longboard and use them haha but the wheels and trucks and deck are still off limit haha.
Love you guys!!

Elder Peck, Elder Payne and Elder Simpson learning from President Zarbock.

The Chuuk Zone - July 2014

President and Sister Zarbock

June letters from Chuuk

Combined a few e-mailed letters and one written letter from June.  Also snagged a few photos from Sister Obray's FB page.


Dear Family,                                                           June 30, 2014

Well sounds like it was a good couple of weeks.

It sounds like Jay got the most out of EFY this year and it sounds like he had a really soul searching experience as well (and how many numbers did he get this year! hahaha).

And sometimes it is really difficult to see the blessings of certain situations, haha, trust me I know. But ultimately it will be for our benefit all we can do is take it one step at a time and stop every little while and look and see if what we are doing is what the Lord wants us to be doing because  things happen for strange, unknown reasons that will present themselves in the future.

Thank you for the Harrison's address! I have needed some variety in stories ;) haha no offense

That is super cool about Sister Berger's sister haha. Luckily I am not crossing rivers all day, just sliding around in the mud haha.  While we are on the subject how are the Bergers doing? How is early morning seminary going this year? haha I remember those tired mornings well, haha. But I also remember the things I learned (most of them) and looking back I am glad I went all the time because I learned the stories and the spiritual backdrop to them as well.  It helped that I had the best teachers in the world! (Sister Harrison and Sister Berger!!!)

Love
Elder Jeff Payne



Dad,                                                                      June 30, 2014
Hahaha, sorry for no written letter last week.  I sent a letter just the other day. Oh and I just got the other SD card today.  I noticed it was sent a while ago *use sidie pwata* (I dont know why) it took so long to get to my hands.  I will send the one I have now as soon as possible.  I am doing fine and I don't know the new mission president yet.  We don't get to meet him till next week, haha, because he lives 600 miles away.  We only see him once every 3 months.  I will let him know to keep up the FaceBook page.  I am pretty sure he will but I will let him know anyway, haha.
Love you Dad!

Letter received via regular mail

Dear Family,                                                            June 26, 2014

I hope everything is going well for you guys!

Mom and Dad - How's work going?  How are Jay and Kris doing?  Are there any new crazy fun things you have done?  Is my car still in front of the house, ha ha.

Jay - How are things going? Have you gotten a job yet you old fart, ha ha.  How did EFY go?  I want details, not just "it was good".  Any fun new games come out?  If you get a job you can buy your own X-Box One, ha ha.  Do you have any cool longboard stuff now?  If you want, you can have the bearings out of my board, ha ha.

Kristen - How are things going with you?  How is soccer training going or was it volleyball... shoot Va menuki (I forget) ha ha, sorry. How is Cocoa doing?  You should e-mail me a video of Cocoa doing something, ha ha.  I kind of miss that dog, only a little!  Hey Kris I haven't gotten a letter from you in a while or any pictures either, What the heck!

Hey tell the Shingles to write me.  I miss hearing their adventures, ha ha.  And tell Dan and Rochell and the kids to write me.  Speaking of which, did they sell their house and have moved yet?  If so, send me their address so I can write them.  Do you guys know what Dalton's plans was?  When you guys see Carrie and Marlin, ask Kelly if she ever got my letter.  I sent it a long time ago.  Then tell them to email me.  How is Ian doing? Tell him to email me.

I know with out a doubt that the Ewe Mwichenfenin Jises Kraist ren Aramas mi Pin non Fansoun Soponon mi ennet me Wa Sinei pwan Joseph Smith i emon soufosun Kot me Va fakun sinei ewe Puken Mormen ni ennet me Ewe Puken Mormon mi pwan eu Kapasen Pwarata ugun Jises Kraist.  Va Sinei, apw Va fakun senei Kot me Jises Kraist, ra tongei Kich, va fakun tongei kich!  Va apasa ekkei motoch fan itan Jises Kraist, Amen.

I love you guys and always pray for you all the time.

Love,
Elder Jeff Payne


June 15, 2014

Hey, I did get the jacket and shoes you sent, but one of the instant breakfast packets opened and made a big mess in the box. I am super grateful for everything that has been sent.  Tell Jay to have a super good time at EFY and to meet tons of girls and get ALL THE NUMBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also go for and look for the spiritual experiences as well because those are what you will remember and will influence you the most, haha, unless the girl lives in New Mexico then you might remember her but really remember the Spirit.
Love you guys,

Love,
Elder Jeff Payne

The Chuuk missionaries seeing Elder Obray off.

Jeff at the Chuuk airport.

Sister Obray posted this picture of the Spam aisle in the grocery store.
Jeff wasn't kidding that they use a lot of Spam!