Long snail mail from Romalum

Dear Family,                                                                             July 27, 2015

To finally respond to the 4th of July letter, haha, sorry it has taken so long.  But now it's getting done so let's celebrate quickly before I get 'chipwang' and stop, haha.

So you want to know about Romalum, haha.  Well Romalum is nice, small, and really really hot because Typhoon Maysak blew down all the trees.  The people have a little different accent, but I like it here.  Romalum is fun, it is nice to have an island to myself again because it makes planning easier.  Just go out and pick left or right and see all our investigators on the way around the island.  By the time you reach the house again it is 6 o'clock.  We can rest, eat and plan some more, haha.  Elder Dann is super cool and has a fun British accent.  It's really funny because we have two other missionaries from Britain and they have different accents from Elder Dann but they all live within an hour and a half from each other.  I like it when all three of them are talking together.  Elder Dann is great and works hard.

As for our investigators, to start we are teaching a 13 year old boy who has been living with some members for a couple of years, he will be baptized August 8th (probably by the time you get this letter).  Another investigator is a 24 year old lady.  She was taugh by the missionaries a while back and came super close to being baptized, but her in-laws discouraged her.  But her husband left her so she is going to get baptized.  She is really cool and is planning on being baptized on August 8th too.  We have another investigator named Catleen, but she goes by the nickname ' Nechik.  She is an elderly lady that we ran into by chance. So... to quote Dr. Doofensmirtz .. BACKSTORY TIME!!  So, we went to go contact a referral from a member and after several failed attempts we finally were able to meet them.  We had a good Restoration lesson.  Well, Nechik just kind of sat in and didn't look at all interested.  So we just taught the referal and her daughter and then setup a return appointment.  When we got to the return appointment and the referal lady isn't there, she went to Foup.  So we just taught Nechik and she really liked what we had taught and accepted a baptismal invitation for August 15th.  She has been to church twice already and is working on quitting  cigarettes and coffee.  She is really friendly and funny and is working hard to be baptized.  Finally we have Junior who is an older guy that was also taught by the missionaries a while back and was close to being baptized.  He had to move to Udot because he was super sick and there was medicine that was available there in Udot. He recently came back to Romalum.  We were led to him trying to different guy we contacted on the road one day. So we started talking to Junior and found out he was being taught before and came close to baptism.  He tells us that he wants to start learning again!  He is on a baptism date for August 22, but needs to start coming to church again first.

Well those are the main people, but now on to my questions and wants, haha. Just kidding, I just wanted to say how grateful I am to all of you who helped me learn important Gospel Principles like tithing, fasting and fast offerings.  I have seen massive blessings come from fast offerings recently.  Aweiwei chok missionaries are supposed to pay fast offerings on funds we receive... Well I wasn't as diligent in the past and every month by the last week I had no money and not a lot of food.  So more often than not, the last week of the month was involuntary fasting week. Elder Dann and I have started to consistently pay fast offerings and we have found ourselves with more food for less money. So we still have an excess of food and money (we can even buy candy, haha). But seriously, fast offerings work and we do get greatly blessed for it. You just have to have some trust and faith.  Another thing that I have come to be grateful for is you guys helping me have opportunities to serve in the 'Same Ten People Club', haha. Here in Chuuk sometimes it is the 'Same two people club'... My companion and I.  But it has been a great opportunity to try to help more people and give more service.

Thank you guys so much for all that you guys have taught me so I can help my children learn the same things. I love you guys and I love this Gospel.  I am thankful to Joseph Smith and his being willing to go through what he did to bring the truth back to this Earth.  I am so grateful for the barrier our Heavenly Father has given us to use against Satan.  That barrier is the power of prayer.  If we pray every morning and night and frequently throughout the day, Satan can do nothing but try, and try as he might our Heavenly Father has given us that barrier and Satan cannot touch it.  I know this is true, fan itun Sises Kraist, Amen.

Love you all,

Elder Jeff Payne

Life in Romanum

Some news about Elder Payne and Elder Dann

1. They have fixed the house up that they live in so much. Fixed the porch bannister, painted the walls, cleaned the black mold, fixed the bathroom door so that it closes and locks, jimmy-rigged the electiricty (solar) to work in the daytime. They now have enough power for a lightbulb but only till 5pm when the sun starts going down. Thye have no way of storing power for use at night. They also fixed the screen bug door, cleaned all the glass blinds, cleaned out the 250 gallon water tank and lots of other small stuff. Some of those jobs are faciltities management jobs but it's quicker to do it themselves. All they need is a car battery to get enough electricity to basic things yet it's been over 9 months and nothing has happened. They need 6 car batteries, then they can store electricity and at least hook up the fridge. They are getting really sick of eating the same old dried and tinned food.

2. Elder Dann reports that Elder Payne is a GREAT District leader and they are going to be the best district in the zone

3. They have had to start washing their clothes by hand because the lady that usually does it is pregnant, infact, she just gave birth. They were called upon to go and give a blessing mid-delivery. I can just imagine Jared's face when he found he had to do that !!!

4. The other p-day they started digging a hole on the beach. It was about 6feet long, 3 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Then the Branch President came along and asked them to stop digging because supposedly in Chuukese culture if you dig holes without a purpose then typhoons come! Apparently there was a bit of a wind the next day and people started saying a typhoon was coming. Then on the Thursday the wind got really bad and they couldn't go out. The wlls and floor of their house was shaking and the ocean was rough. People again were saying a typhoon was coming. Just as well it didn't or we know who they would've blamed!

I just wanted to say how thankful I am that your son is Jared's companion. He went through a really rough patch.  Jared got really stressed and depressed about it. We were really worried about him. Then Elder Payne came along. Your son has been brilliant and just what he needed. He's so happy to be with someone who loves to work. Elder Payne is such a great missionary and example to him. We are not worried anymore Smiling face with smiling eyes




Thank you Sister Dann for the great letter!

Elder Payne on Udot island

No new letters yet. Still waiting for either an e-mail or snail mail.  Last official word from Elder Payne was in June. But thankfully FaceBook friends are posting pictures.  So we know he's alive and seems to be doing well.

We did hear that Elder Payne has been assigned the duties of District Leader.  Have not heard which islands are in his district.  We also don't know if he's living on Romanum or Udot. As a District Leader he will spend time frequently visiting Elders on other islands.

Thanks to the Elisons' for posting.

Elder's new home on Udot.  The original home was destroyed by Typhoon Maysak.  One room. No electricity or running water.  They cook on a one burner butane stove or outside on open file.

Eder White and Elder Payne enjoying a meal.  Tuna and canned corn.

The outhouse on Udot. About 25 yars from their home.  What else is there to say?

Chuuk Islands

Elders at Zone Conference.  

New pictures from Chuuk

No letters have arrived for some time since Elder Payne is assigned to Romanum.  However, his companion was able to send some pictures to his family.  I have grabbed a few.  Thank you Sister Dann.

There's home!

Riding in the truck. Notice the collapsed roof damage from the typhoon.

Elder Payne now on Romanum

Hi Mom!!!                                                                                                    June 6, 2015

So I have gratefully received the shoes today and have been "breaking" them in all day. They work great thank you very much.  Let me know when the backpack makes it to you guys, or if you have sent a new one already let me know when it should be here.

And saddly it is true I am no longer Elder Matavao's companion. I have been transferred to the island of Romanum and my companion is Elder Dann from England.  The switch acctually happened a week before transfers due to some extra changes that needed to be made in companionships. But ya, Elder Dann is a stud and we will do great on Romanum (or Romolom).

So Romanum is super cool and the people are awesome. There are a few that will be a challenge but other than that it is going to be the best ever.  So it literally it takes like 2 hours to walk around the whole island. About 4-5 hours teaching the whole way. So it is really really small.  It is kind rough looking which is sort of a bummer because I am sure it was a lot nicer before the typhoon. The family that we go to to help  us learn better Chuukese has a pet bat named Gerald. I will try to send some pictures of him, but we let him crawl around on our shirts, and he is down to just hang out and really likes to eat coconut. It's the best, hahaha.

I will be able to e-mail about once a month again. I think I will probably go home from Romolom. It is super crazy to think just less then 6 months I will be home, going crazy over hot water and blazing fast internet haha. But I am not getting "trunky" or anything because I will miss Chuuk like crazy and we will eat rice and spam on the floor with our fingers every so often, haha. I am sure you guys wont be happy about it but that is what will happen haha.

Well I love you all and pray for all you guys often and hope all is well in "normal people life" haha.

Love Elder Jeff Payne

Here is the small island Jeffery is on.  Looks like it is slightly longer than the airport runway on Weno

Mid-May letter

Dear Family,                                                                     May 17, 2015

Hey I am doing good. In Wichap things are going great. Elder Bloxham got back today and we are excited to have him back!  Haha, it was funny to listen to him talk about the facebooking with you all haha it was great.

Well I am strong and still alive and send my thanks to the Shingles for thier box it will and has been greatly enjoyed.

Sorry... Low on time and the other missionaries are tired and want to go home. So I love you all and wish the best for you all.  Remenmber to pray, read the scriptures and go to church because those things help us stay strong in our faith and will help us to grow and be sure of what we believe.

Love you all and uwie ai kapong ngeni aramasie menisin!

Love Elder Jeff Payne


Sorry for the delay in posting this update.  We did receive a package with various items (some gifts and some things he wanted to save).  The letter in the package was dated January 27th!!  Finally sent the end of May.  :)

Time for new shoes and backpack

Hey Mom,                                                                            April 26, 2015
So I have a question about my backpack. The zipper has separated from the bag. I took some pictures of it and will send those when I get a hold of a card converter, hopefully tonight. I also need some new shoes because the ones I have are falling apart and are currently half held together by super glue, haha.

Well I am doing good otherwise. We just had a baptism on Saturday the 25th. His name is Deno and he was the last one in his family to join the church. So now they all can work together to go to the temple and be sealed together for time and all eternity. I am super excited to help with that. Other than that it has been pretty normal. We watched a drunk guy get into a fight with this member named Ramon (the drunk guy lost). Then some other arguments from that. Very exciting stuff.

We have 7 new people to start teaching. Hopefully they will begin to progress towards baptism.

Love Jeff

We don't know what shoes he is talking about.  His Sunday shoes or the Keens we bought from REI.  If they are the REI shoes, I will be disappointed.   The backpack is also from REI.  They have a replacement policy that we hope to take advantage of.

Elder Payne's detailed typhoon report

Finally received a 'snail-mail' from Elder Payne today.  He gave more details than in his previous e-mail

Dear family, April 6, 2015

Well this last week has been quite eventful. It started with last Sunday March 29th when we were setting up for church. We were not expecting a big turn out because it was pouring rain and we had been hearing for the last three days that there will be a typhoon.  So we setup for church and we get a call from the Zone Leaders.  They tell us to have church but afterward  we are just to stay in the house and wait because the typhoon is going to hit.  So the first thing that goes through my mind was the'typhoon' that hit Guam and that I was in for a boring day.  But boy, this one was different!  The Hardy's had come down to do an Easter Sunday School and we had a whopping 2 people.  One girl that lives next door and one of the two kids that  will head out soon for a mission.  So no real church, but we watched a good video about Christ.  Then we tried to get the Hardy's out, haha.  They had got down to the church okay, but in twenty minutes 3 trees had fallen. They were of large size and would take more than two machetes  to clear.  So we walked the Hardys down to Neno where the Zone Leaders picked them up.

We walked back to the church.  At this time the wind had been getting stronger.  So we walk on and we reach the top of the hill with the big Catholic church.  Now, start that 'tornado movie' haha.  It was crazy.  The wind was blowing so freakin strong we watched trees bend to ridiculous angles and then break and fly away.  Also watched tin roofs fly away.  All this from the safety of this concrete church awning/porch.  It was way cool.

After a few minutes we jump back into the Hardy's truck and drive it back to the church. We almost make it back when this massive mango tree falls in front of us about 20 feet ahead. So we park the truck on sombody's land and made a run for the church.  We made it in time before the REALLY big wind and rain.

Around 4pm it began to die down and we ventured to step outside and look at the destruction. We didn't leave the church grounds but it was fun to look around.  For the rest of Sunday and the rest of the week our schedule was; wake up, study for 1/2 hour and work + work + work until you cannot work anymore. Take a nap, wake up, work some more.  It is extremely tiring to chop through a tree with just a machete.  The Chuukese people are really good at it and make us outsiders look stupid, haha.

Well that made up my week. Pretty exciting.  I wrote this letter by hand because I don't know when the Internet will be up.

Well, love you guys and hope you are all doing good too.

Love, Elder Jeff Payne

Here are a few pictures posted by President Zarbock

Chuuk Zone

Elder Payne getting a good meal at Zone Conference

Boats pushed up on shore after the typhoon

Letter from Elder Payne about the typhoon

Dear Family,                                                                                        April 13, 2015

I survived the typhoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This one was much more exciting than the one in Guam when I was there, haha. Well, I sent a big handwritten letter about the Sunday so I will just include info on the rest of the week. Monday: survey the destruction.  So the church is mostly fine just 2 breadfruit trees fell behind the church, one took out about 5 ft. of overhang and the gutters got trashed. The other tree fell and destroyed the church bathroom (which is a seperate building). Just the very top of the tree fell on our house so no damage to the house.  We then went out to Mwan to find out what the plan was because there was no cell service in Wichap. Pretty much everything got trashed, there were 3 huge mango trees across the road to the church.

Tuesday:  Start work.  We headed out with machettes in hand and started chopping up the trees that fell on the church.  Then started working on the Road because it became a top priority to get the Hardy's truck out. So we worked hard for a few hours that day and then went to check on the members. Only 2 houses got destroyed amongst the members and we quickly helped them put them back up.

Wednesday:  Kept working. About half way through the day I was exhausted and couldn't hold a knife anymore. So i took a nap that lasted about 4 hours then was quite hungry.

Skip to Sunday:  Food from the church arrived and we started handing out bags of rice and ramen to the members. That is what we have done up until today and there is still allot of work to be done but President Zarbock wants us to start proselyting again.  But we will still be able to devote a couple of days to working.

Well time is going to run out, love you all and hope the best for all.

Love Elder Jeff Payne

Man stands by an uprooted tree on Weno.

Photo of Maysak from the International Space Station

Typhoon Maysak Hits Chuuk

On March 29, 2015 Typhoon Maysak hit the islands of Chuuk.

We have not heard from Jeff yet. President Zarbock reported to the missionary parents the following day that all the missionaries were accounted for and safe.

We are hoping to hear from Jeff soon!

In the meantime...

Below are some descriptions and news posted by some of the missionaries on the islands:

Weather image showing Typhoon Maysak right over Chuuk.

The island of Weno is about 5 miles long. The airport is visible on the north shore of Weno.

Typhoon Maysak Notes from other Missionaries

Elder Bloxham provided the following information:
The outer islands were hit pretty hard. From what I saw in Weno, I can only imagine what the other islands look like. All elder's were still on their islands when the typhoon hit. Elder Hunter and few others who's houses were destroyed came in on Tuesday. The plan was to get everyone in Weno in the next few days.

The Udot and Pata homes were destroyed so those elders went to Romanum for a few days then were brought to Moen. Elder White and Maughan I think are in a tri with Elder Heim. They could be in Mechitiw now.

Romanum was not destroyed, sorry if my last post made it sound that way. Romanum is where the elders were sent who's homes were destroyed until the zone leaders could come get them on Tuesday. I know the elders in Udot and Pata lost a lot of stuff, if the house has open windows it is very possible lots of stuff got wet. That was the case with the Mechitiw house.

The Mechitiw home is still standing. The roof started to come up and lots of water and debris got inside but it's fine. the missionary house and the church in Mechitiw were some of the only structures still standing in that area. The members are living in the church now.

As of Tuesday the plan was to get all outer islands in Weno in the next day. I am not sure if that was suppose to be long term or not however. If their home is ok, they may have just been coming in to get food and water and then head back out to help on their islands.

We had heard from local's the day before that a typhoon was coming, but saturday night the baptist radio was saying the typhoon was not going to hit chuuk. we were not notified from the church (zone leaders) until the first part of the storm was already starting to hit. They texted everyone and told us to stay in our houses. Luckily, the worst of the storm didn't hit until after the eye went through, so everyone was expecting it at that point.

Sister Eliason posted this on FaceBook
I just wanted to post a note about the recent (March 29, 2015)typhoon in Chuuk. We didn’t know it was coming until Sunday morning when it was very rainy and windy. So we looked online and saw the satellite view of the storm coming directly onto Chuuk. Shortly after than we lost electrical power.

The storm raged for about two hours and then subsided. We watched our neighbor’s corrugated metal roof flap up and down even though it was tied on. We saw trees down. When it got calm again people were out picking mangoes from the trees on the ground. It was calm for about 1 ½ hours and we began to think the storm was over. However, it picked up again and quickly become much stronger than before. It was coming from the opposite direction. Pieces of corrugated metal were flying around. There was noise from all the wind. It was frightening.

We were in a cement apartment building. All over the islands people took refuge in cement buildings such as schools, churches. Many houses are made of wood and corrugated metal and many of these were blown away or flattened.

One of the long term effects of the typhoon was loss of electric power. Without electric power there is no running water because they need electricity to pump the water. There is no internet or way to communicate. Cell phones began to work within a day. Many businesses and apartment complexes here have generators. We had generator power most of this week for a few hours each day. Two nights ago we got full power again, but it occasionally goes off. We still don’t have internet, although some people do. Many places still don’t have electricity.

The missionaries are all safe. Two apartments were destroyed but those missionaries have been brought to Weno. They have been working hard to help clear the roads and check on the members. Yesterday we spent many hours in a crowded Laundromat with a group of missionaries washing clothes since it was the first day the laundry was open. People all over the island had all their belonging rain drenched.

I understand that 95% of the homes were destroyed. Even some of the concrete homes lost their roofs or a wall collapsed. The news indicated that 5 people died.

One of the greatest losses was the native food. Banana trees, coconut trees, mango trees (loaded with fruit), breadfruit trees are down. The mountainside looks quite devastated. Even the trees that did not fall down have lost many of their leaves and fruit. Many of the people here depend on this native food. It will take a long time for the vegetation to recover and supply the food they are accustomed to. Some boats were also damaged so this may affect the fishing.

I have been amazed at the resilience of the people. They seem to go on and rejoice in what they do have. We see many out cleaning up and fixing up. For many of them, things like electricity were not a part of their daily life even before the storm. There are many also who are devastated. But the Lord is in charge. Families and friends help each other. Flowers will bloom again. Bananas and breadfruit will grow again. We see children out playing again, and life goes on.

Two short letters in February and March

The Internet in Chuuk has been unreliable as usual.  

When Jeff was able to send a message on February 23rd this is what we got in answer to a couple of questions that were asked:

Dad,

Hey I did get the $20 birthday money but I havent gotten the SD card.

Love ya

That was it for the month of February. 

March 8, 2015

Hey Mom,

Sorry the Internet is still down at Mwan and so the Eliasons we kind enough to let us use their computers to send an email. So here I am.  Well I haven't been able to read any of your emails (or anybody else's) that were to me because I haven't been able to log onto myldsmail in forever. But oh well, I have faith that you guys are strong and healthy and no big problems have befallen you guys.  

So the biggest news here is yesterday was transfers and who'd have thunk I am going back to Wichap!!!!!!!!!!! The home land, the place of my birth, the place I had many difficulties and sickness in. I will now be able to go back do much better because I know Chuukese now.  But to be humble I am really glad to be going back because I feel that the Lord still has work for me to do in Wichap. I am going to try hard to find out what it is so that those that need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ can.  There is a ton of work that can be done and I am the blessed individual that gets to help it along.  well I love you guys and need to get off the computer because there are others that need to email home as well so there parents don't worry to much. ;)

Love Elder Jeff Payne

We were able to pull a couple of new pictures from other Elder's parents FB pages

:

 

Short Letter to Start February and Some Pictures

Dear Family                                                                        Feb. 9, 2015

Well I have not gotten your birthday letter with the money yet but it should be soon, haha.  I am doing good. Today we had a Weno p-day out on a little island called Pesiwi and it was super fun. I got super sunburned haha. So that will be fun over the next couple of weeks.

Some people we have been teaching? One is a couple named Churida and Sour, all there kids have been baptized but they have not. The wife Churida went through the Baptismal interview but didn't get baptized because her husband Sour didn't feel ready. But we are working with them and trying to help them.

Well love ya,
Elder Jeff Payne


We received an SD card with pictures.  Here are a few, but I will post more in the next few weeks.

Picture from the beach in Guam

Church building in Chuuk

Elder Fermanis (not sure what he's doing - Jeff didn't say)

Elder Payne - Back in Chuuk

Elder Payne, Eltereen, and Elder Kleven