Cool Article

Check out this link: (Cubby wasn't involved, but still pretty cool)

Missionaries Save Lives of Four People in Kiribati

Legends (Cubby letter 2/25/2019)

Alright so we had a bit of trouble getting onto emails, but we have finally succeeded.

So this week has been interesting. We decided to try something new and tracted all the houses in a village called Ubwantaman. Apparently it has never been tracted before. We actually had a decent amount of success there, contrary to our expectations of an all Catholic  village. I think it is because Elders have never stopped there before, and they were pretty curious as to why these random white people could speak their native language. I've also had a bunch of fun this week learning about the history of Abaiang from the people who live here, there was some interesting stuff. The rainy season has pretty much stopped, so we are sweating a lot more now, at the end of the day we always have a layer of salt on us. And our clothes are pretty gross, despite our best efforts. 

Ask all the questions you want, I'm  not sure what else to say.

I tangiringkami

Elder Cubby

 

 

They changed all the missionary email addresses to missionary.org. So when he emailed me, it was sent to my junk mail and I didn't see it until late Sunday night. So we didn't have a chance to 'chat' back and forth. I don't foresee us getting to actually talk regularly, I just feel fortunate to hear from him at all considering his living circumstances!

Goings On (Ben letter 2/22/2019)

This week at the MTC was just like any other. However, our fake prienten, Loana, is ready for Baptism. Colegul Meu si eu are going to commit her to a date next lesson.  I heard what happened this past week and that is so sad. I remember when Jack Briggs took Sams starting spot on the offensive line in the Super Bowl in 3rd grade. There have been many people I've known that have died in the way of suicide. And every time it just hurts way deep down. Then I think about how bad it hurts his parents, and how much they love him. Then I think about how much God loves him, and how much it hurts Him. We had a really cool devotional this week, and it was about how Jesus sees your potential. When he first met Peter, he had just been fishing all night and didn't catch a thing. He was probably sweaty and not in a super mood. And while he was cleaning his nets, Jesus asked if he could use his boat, to teach a congregation. But the point that was made was that when Jesus walked over to Peter to use his boat, He knew that he would one day be the president of His church. He knew that he would spread his name across the middle east and that one day, he would die for the sake of Him. Jesus knew what he could become, a celestial king. Jesus knows all of us in this way, an infinite love. We live in a fallen world. There is sadness, death, lying, stealing, cheating, whoredoms, and sickness. If everyone saw themselves in the way that Jesus sees us, we would feel purpose, and joy in that purpose. My job as a missionary is to help people find their purpose, repent and be born again. All these people I know that have committed suicide, I always wondered what I would say to them if I had the chance. I thought about this really hard during my sophomore year. But the thing I would say wouldn't be about life or death, of convincing them of something or anything like that. The only thing I could really say that could truly effect their life is are these words: God loves you. Although that would be awkward to say just like that, we can all help others feel His love through our actions. Being true disciples is the only way to show love, which is the most important thing for anyone to know. Although this will never solve completely any type of problem our fallen world has, it can help. I know that God loves us and knows all of us by name. I know that Jesus knows what we go through, our rough edges, our sadness, and pain. He knows Jack Briggs' pain, and his trials, and through His love and Atonement can make him a celestial king. Now for those of us that have a glimpse of these truths, it is our duty to help others, to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those in need of comfort. And if you don't get what I'm saying, I'm trying to say that everyone needs that, all the time, so treat all as Christ would treat them. Try and feel what Christ feels about us. Try to know what Christ knows about us. Try to be like Jesus in every deed and thought. That is why we are here on earth and why I am on a mission. 

Well, hopefully, that made sense because that's what I feel like my purpose is. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am enjoying learning more every day at the MTC. 

Te Iubesc,

Varstnicul Stanfield

 I had told him I was surprised at the mix reaction I was seeing on media about the new calling home change.  Mom's think it's great! but some think it's a bad idea....

Yeah, people that don't like the calling rule are just jealous and I'm not really seeing the downside to it. Maybe wasting too much time calling home? I mean if you're wasting that much time calling, then you didn't have the right mindset to be on a mission anyways. So really giving us time to call home is pretty much saying that they trust us more. I don't know maybe some people were so undisciplined on their missions that they think we can't handle it. Like I said in a previous email, the world is changing, and so the Church is going to adapt. Maybe the first missionaries would call us wimps for having air conditioning, writing mail, and not having to leave 5 kids and a wife behind. 

My brother Josh and his wife Erin and family moved to West Richland...

 

That's good to hear Josh and Erin are moving successfully, finally. I'm so happy they are moving back because they are so much fun, and though it was fun to see them once a year at state, this will be even better. When Ben and Steph moved back, they got the most help for a move I have ever seen, but it was also super ghetto if I remember right. Needless to say, the cousin club is not full of professional movers. So I'm sure with Josh it will be even more ghetto, and it will not surprise me if there are chickens and whatnot in random dressers. That's sad Grandpa still has the infection. Maybe cutting off an extra toe this time will help. Then he will have 2 toes that couldn't go we we we all the way home, which is quite depressing. 

I am not a Dragon (Cubby letter 2/18/2019)

Mauri oh!

Well this week has been quite superior to last week, due to the fact that we are no longer rotting in a house all day. We resumed our schedule of biking nearly 30 miles a day, which is just a little rough on our legs after a two week break. Also unfortunately, we had nothing planned because of our absence from Abaiang. But through small miracles and a whole bunch of tracting, we became even more busy than we could account for at times. It felt good to be busy again for sure, and I even kind of missed the feeling of sweating 24/7 while we were in Tarawa. Anyway a quick story, we tracted these two guys, about 25 years old, and they were Catholic. And due to the traditions of Kiribati Catholicism, they had never read any book of scripture before. So when we gave them two Ana Boki Mooman, they were pretty shocked, and actually pretty excited. They basically couldn't wait to study Christ for the first time on a personal level. Makes me realize how important scriptures are and motivates me to study them harder. That's all I can think of for now, hit me up with some questions 

I tangiringkami

Elder Cubby

 

The servers were down, so we couldn't video chat, so I called him. It was so great to talk to him! Mostly because he sounded so happy and excited about all the things he was doing. He explained the social and economics of the island he is on; Abaiang. Each area of the 23 long island has different subcultures. One village has been celebrating for a long time because they finally finished a catholic church they have been working on for years. Other areas are much less educated while others are more prone to drink. He said almost everyone 'chews'. But it's not tobacco, it's ground up Coral and it's addictive. He said a lot of them do not have teeth. When on Tarawa, he said his language skills were awesome, but as soon as he went back to Abaiang, he struggled again. He said it's because their 'accent' or way of speaking is a lot harder to understand. His companion is healthy now and they are working hard. He's excited about getting to talk to us more often. He said that it's common for the missionaries who have been out for a long time to get 'trunky' because the lifestyle wears on them and he worried that calling home, might make it worse. But he says he hasn't felt homesick at all, except a little around Christmas. He hopes to be able to talk to Ben when Ben is in Moldova. Their time difference will only be 10 hours. After an hour conversation, I looked up my long distance rates and found out that I had just spent $1.05/min! So I cut the little boys conversations short and next time we will video chat for FREE!

Tax dollars to waste (Ben letter/pictures 2/15/2019)

So as you can tell by the title, I'm am not the least bit proud of the Richland or Provo Police stations, as I have done 3 and almost 4 visa applications. We specifically asked each time to have the police clearance letter, but they have failed to do the correct one. At the Provo one, I asked them specifically for a certain kind, payed $20 each time, and at the end asked if it was the right one. Well, I'm going back another time, and hopefully my $20 doesn't go to waste once again. 

Also that was an interesting experience. When we went the first time, my companion slipped out of the van and got all wet from the snow slush on the street. Then when we went in there, everybody stared at us. And also some women were like wailing and were yelling for a restraining order asap. Then an old lady was swearing like a sailor when talking to a policeman, about how she doesn't care if the roads are slippery, if someone almost hits them on accident then they should be arrested. Anyways, we have to go back. 

So this week Elder Soares came into the MTC and gave a talk on obeying the laws and commandments, and what types of blessing you will get from keeping those laws. As for me, this week has been rough, but not emotionally. I have been sick the whole week, and yesterday and today I have had a fever, so I'm going into the medical clinic to get tested for strep throat. So that's lame. However, I went to all my classes and did all my duties so that was good. And it's a good thing I'm not missing class because we are still learning a lot, but it's just hard when I'm sick. A lot of our MTC friends left to their missions and got replaced by new ones. All of them are going to Portugal. And some Brazil. There are about 35 new guys on our floor alone, and most of them are cool. There is this one Mexican guy from LA, and he ran track. Nobody bothered to ask him how good he was. But I did. And boy is he fast. He ran a 4:10 in the mile and got a ton of full ride scholarships. Like LSU and good teams like that. Anyway, thought that was cool. Besides that I'm locked inside all day, so not many good stories to tell.

As for a spiritual thought, I got a priesthood blessing from my district about my sickness. Although I wasn't healed, it was part of my blessing that I would be able to do the work I needed to do, and learn what I needed to learn. So every time I go to class, I feel so much better and I am able to get what I need out of class, almost better then my normal self. 

 Anyway its pretty cool.

Love yall

Tai Iubesc

Varstnicul Stanfield

They changed the policy about calling home on Friday and a couple hours later I was skyping with Ben because Friday is his Prep Day (pday) in the MTC. We talked while his laundry was going. He wasn't feeling too great, but it was still fun to talk to him and see his companion. He is frustrated with his visa paperwork and is worried he might have to be reassigned until it comes through. Romania would be an option. So we're crossing our fingers it all works out.

Song 2 (blur) (Cubby letter/pictures 2/11/2019)

Well not too much happened this week, we are still in Tarawa. weird that you guys have been snowed in all week, we're going stir crazy as well. On Saturday, Elder Wright almost broke all the way and lost all the logic in his brain, saying that he is so frustrated that he can't do anything that he no longer wants to do anything. He then started complaining about we were going to church the next day and questioning doctrines. I think he wanted me to let him mope, but I started a doctrinal lecture about the natural and eternal laws of the universe to answer his questions. I think he was a little annoyed, but I am a missionary and I must preach. Anyways, we've done a lot of cooking this week because we are so bored. The highlights of the week were that I went on splits twice with Elder Angilau from my intake. We didn't struggle with the language as much as I anticipated, so I was happy with that. i am pretty happy with the way my language has progressed recently, but I shouldn't be content I suppose. Anyways, that's it for now.

I tangirngkami

Elder Cubby

I badgered him about pictures and asked about his companions health and if he was concerned about him. While a nurse, a lot of my patients had mini meltdowns. It can be really stressful, especially when you're so confined....

Also Elder Wright's leg is doing good, we might fly back to Abaiang on Wednesday

Elder Wright is still a solid guy, we're good friends. no I'm not concerned. And now his wound is just three big cuts where the puss oozed out.

pictures? and new senior missionaries and a new mission president.

Shoot, I totally forgot my camera so maybe not for awhile. I have a bunch but not any that you guys absolutely need to see by now. And yeah another couple came, apparently the elder amoungst them baptized pres Larkin. And I think it'll be about the same for me when he arrives, but I feel bad for whoever is the AP.

why feel bad for the AP's (assistant to the president)

The APs are in contact with the president constantly, so they'll basically have to teach the new guy how everything works. And the mission president basically runs the church here. so it sounds pretty stressful

What did you cook? 

Also to answer your question about cooking, we've made fried rice, a soup that I seasoned myself (The mission nurse complimented me on it), and some pizza. All I can remember.

But I did get some good pictures off of the Mission facebook page 

Tides out on Tarawa

Sister Larkin took this picture when he was writing his letter! SHORT HAIR.

Pigs on Tarawa

This is the contraption they make to get the sweet coconut milk/sap from the trees. Cubby says it can be really good or taste like vomit if it's not ready

 

Buna ziua (Ben letter 2/8/2019)

So this past week has been a very interesting week, as I now have arrived at The MTC. My district has gotten settled in and got into the groove of things. Especially my and colegul mea. Varstniul Robinson is a real life cowboy from the border of Utah and Wyoming. He was raised mostly by his grandparents and is extremely smart. Also he won State in calf roping in utah. Also he worked a lot of long hours wearing the whole cowboy get up, a revolver, shotgun and all. His grandparents own like 50,000 some acres. Anyway him and I have taken into our own hands to start going above and beyond because we are a little ahead of the rest of the class. We are now memorizing 40 nouns, 10 verbs and 5 adjectives a day, along with learning new grammar principles and verb conjugations in new lessons everyday. It has been quite hard to stuff it all in my head, but I pretty much study all day with coleg mea, so we are on top of it, and the language growth has been amazing. We also pray for Darul Limbilor just about every hour of the day, which is the gift of tongues. There was one time we had to teach our teacher in a role play about Jesus, and other Gospel messages. It did not go well at all. Our language we spoke was as good as it could be at this stage, but there was something missing. We did not have the Holy Ghost with us. What we said made sense and we didn't slip up on any Romanian words, but our message was weak because we were teaching, and not the Holy Ghost. When we aren't studying language, we are going to workshops, lessons, and devotionals to help us learn more. For anyone that doesn't know, we wake up at 6:30 am and go to bed at around 10:30. We usually have 2 language lessons at either end of the day that last around 3 hours. We have personal scripture study for 1 hour, and companion study for 2. We have a workshop for an hour and a half everyday and also language study time for the rest of the day. If you guys get the chance, watch the video about the first 4 missionaries that go to Turkey. Its pretty much like that except not as language based, and more English scripture study. Also tomorrow we are doing an English fast, that colegul mea and me wanted to do, so no English for 24 hours. Not everyone is super excited, but that's because they're lazy. Anyway on our floor live the Elders going to Madagascar, Italy and Brazil. Every District has a different culture but we all get along fine. I just feel bad for the Anziani (Italians) because they don't study enough, and that's gonna hurt in Italy. Also the food here is alright. 

For a spiritual thought, it's hard to narrow down what I have felt this week. But there has been one overlying message that I have felt, and will always be the message no matter who you are or where you are in life. That is that if you center Jesus Christ in your life, it will change for the better. You will see the people around you for what they are really worth, and that is a child of God. You will have better thoughts, be able to know how to help others around you and know what your purpose in life is. When you use Jesus Christs Atonement correctly, the knowledge you will get will make you change the way you act, think, and live, all for the better. I have a true faith that God loves me enough to send us his Son, Jesus, to die for you and me. And I cannot wait for the day that I get to meet Him again, and feel the scars in His hands and on His feet, and thank Him for atoning for my sins. Anyway 

Eu iubesc tu

Varstnicul Stanfield

I had asked him about basketball and exercise. He had told me before he left that he wasn't going to play basketball because he'd just get mad....but he did and I got a long and somewhat cocky answer. He is still COMPETITIVE Ben and so full of it!

So it’s been quite the week in the gym playing basketball this week. To make a long story short I have been on the shooting tear of a lifetime, pretty much making every shot I take so it’s pretty weird. I didn’t think there were any basketball players here but there are actually a couple. One went to a JC and is going to Utah state and the other is going to Rice. Then there are a bunch of others that played at horrible schools and have no scholarships so I don’t count them.  So when we played I usually just end the game by making 3 or 4 3s in a row, as all the games go to 7 and go by 2s and 3s. Pretty much the same game I grew up on, half court and everything. So I do have a reputation for being really good so when I went to play these guys there was a bit of a crowd. After they finally let me play, I just started schooling them. They are both not very tall, but still taller then me, but all they could do was shoot. Super easy to guard and they were skinny and slow so it was a lot of fun. Not only did I beat them I was messing with them. With the Utah state kid I dribbled between his legs and got a layup. Also I would tell them to guard me close and I would point to the ground so they were closer, then drain the shot in their face. Idk why but I seriously cannot miss. Anyway everyone gets super hyped and stuff, so these guys were getting mad I was beating them. On this one shot I blocked him right back into his face making him fall to the ground, and he called a foul. Everyone didn’t boo, but said stuff like all ball and the normal trash talk. But I said no fine its a foul....Anyway now he won’t play in the same game as me which is super lame. But everyone else likes me because I told em a c teamer should play basketball in Utah and maybe I would be on the jazz. 
Anyway that's the worst thing I did and I felt bad. But I mean that’s when I flip to sports mode so besides that nobody even knew I played sports until then....Anyway mom is probably worrying about me because it seems as though I am not changing....Everything has been really good in teaching in my classes. My language teachers are so awesome and different then I thought they would be. 

Ben was also impressed with his companions name: Tack Handley Robinson. He thought that was very cowboy sounding. 

 

Flaunting Clout (Cubby letter 2/4/2019)

Well it has been quite an interesting week. So for awhile Elder Wright thought that he had a boil forming on his leg, which is pretty normal, he's had like four. But unbeknownst to me, that thing just kept getting bigger and bigger and red and sore. until Thursday rolled around and I looked at it and it was super inflamed and red and it was spreading all over his leg. So I called Sister Kirk, the mission nurse, and we were at the Newerewere hospital in Tarawa like 6 hours later. Turns out it wasn't just a boil, they termed it an "abscess." They cut open the tennis ball sized bump on his leg and apparently stuff was just gushing from it for like 20 minutes. Yeah so he's technically on bed rest and I've been sitting in the AP's house with him since then. Basically the worst, but I have gotten a lot of Ana Boki Moomon done. But we are quite bored. They did let us go to church yesterday which was really nice, I got to show off my language skills to some other Elders in my intake, which was alright. A lot of guys just don't have confidence. Sister Kirk comes and redresses Elder Wright's wound everyday, and she told us that tomorrow a film crew is coming with her. Apparently they are making some sort of Kiribati senior couple promotional video, because a lot of people are scared to come here I guess, and right now Sister Kirk does basically everything. On the upside, before we left Abaiang, we got to eat puffer fish, which I was actually scared to do. I just ate a ton of rice first and waited for Elder Wright to eat some, and when he didn't die I ate some as well. Sounds funny but it was a very serious experience for me. It actually tasted good too.

Anyway for a spiritual thought, Being stuck inside all day, I've realized how much serving the Lord can actually make us happy. Sitting around for 12 plus hours a day basically sucks compared to it. Our Father in Heaven has provided us all with a way to work, and I can see first hand now that it is the real and true way to happiness.

anyways I'm healthier than Elder Wright at the very least

Elder Cubby

Puffer Fish - eating pufferfish is really risky! I told him he is not allowed to eat it again!

Told him we went out to Indian food before we left...

Dang I'm jealous of all the cool food you guys had. We've been living large at the AP's house actually, had cold cereal this morning, score. Ben's talk was actually really good, thanks for sending it.  

I asked more about Elder Wright...

He had a fever and what not already, I had to convince him to go in. he's on a bunch of antibiotics right now so it's getting better. sister Kirk got mad at us for waiting this long though, and basically told us that biking 20 plus miles a day was one of the worst things we could do for it.

He sent me some pictures of the leg, but I thought I'd better not post, since they it's not his leg. Basically it looked like a boil that was turning into cellulitis with red spreading down his leg.  

P-Day (Ben letter 2/01/2019)

Indeed today is my pday. (Friday) And yeah Jared (Kraus) is is the only guy I know here. Too bad grandpa is back in the hospital, but that doesn't surprise me judging on how he was feeling on Tuesday. Also sorry if things aren't spelled correctly, as I am typing on probably the worst keyboard of all time. I will get you pics next week.

Also, yes my companion, Farstnicul Robinson is legit. He is going to the same mission as me, same lang and everything. There are 4 other guys and 2 sora. so 8 of us in all. Robinson is from Farmington, Utah but really just from that area. His family owns 48,000 acres of land for cattle and he is one of the nations best calf ropers. He is 18 and my senior companion, but I'm happy he is my coleg because we have a same track mind. aka super hard worker and not much messing around. My district (aka romainans) goes as the following, farstnicul Beck from mesa Arizona, 19. Farstnicul Parish from Pocatello area, 18, zone leader. Farstnicul Valentine from Chyanne Wyoming, 19. Farstnicul Kutchinsky, Arizona 19. They are all super cool and fun, but not to mess around too much. Except Beck, he is really into the Soras, but actually not that bad.

My language hall and floor pretty much has the craziest mission calls, so they chose more serious people and the culture is good. I am sleeping good, except the first night because they fed is at 4pm an so we were so hungry because of the 15 hour gap of meals. I need to get a hang of the mtc more before I go buying stuff because I haven't had much time to do anything. Most people here are ok. But I am very happy and doing well in the language thus far. I did get your dear elder messages, thank you. Its kind cold but not bad, probably just 10 to 15 degrees colder than richland. E mail me back idk what else to say.

Love you, 

Ben

ps. Also this MTC has got to have cost over a billion dollars, no joke.

Not even Close Encounters (Cubby letter 1/28/2019)

Well an exciting week as always. We heard about transfers mid week, apparently a bunch of new outer islands got opened, so there's a better chance I can go to one down the road I guess. We moved into our new house from the hotel, which is great. The toilet isn't finished yet though. The tips of the island ran out of flour so for service we brought a 55 pound bag to a family in Takarano, the northernmost city. They made a ton of donuts with it (well basically just rolls that are cooked in cooking oil instead of in an oven). The lady up there, Taate, takes pride in making the best donuts on Abaiang. I have to admit, they are the softest. Apparently her secret is only kneading the dough in one direction, I'm not sure if there's actually anything to that, but it seems to work. In terms of the work, we found a bunch of new investigators in the neighboring cities of Aonobuaka, Borotiam, and Tebunginako. One old guy we started teaching actually had legitimate questions about the Book of Mormon and whether or not the line of authority was actually lost after Peter. I think he caught Elder Wright a little off guard, but we answered him pretty well. We found this one girl who had a baptismal date in Tarawa, but left the day before. She's pretty excited to be lessoning again. My language is having ups and downs, but I can say that I'm definitely getting the hang of it. We also found a store that sells a Thai brand of jam, the lettering on the cap was pretty interesting, making the jam look more high quality than it actually was. 

Now for a spiritual thought. So the old guy we are teaching asks pretty good questions, mostly about secular history, basically seeing if we're legit. But one day we returned and asked if he had any questions and he just looked at us and asked if he was going to be able to be with his family after he died. It caught me a little off guard. But we were able to answer that yes he would be able to. It was a good intro into the Plan of Salvation. It just reminded me that through the Book of Mormon, and through modern revelation through latter day prophets, we can receive answers to the questions of our soul, and also just have peace in our lives.

I'm healthy, I tangirngkami

Elder Cubby

How did you get the flour up there?

 And we just put the bag of flour on our bikes and rode, it wasn't too hard. 

What is the house like?

Our house is basically just one big room, Kiribati style roofing and walls, just with a shower that uses well water and a toilet

What have you been doing for church?

for church, ever since we've been going to Borotiam, we've been giving talks and lessons every week. I gave the lesson in Alma 4 just yesterday. And I conducted church in the Takarano unit as well, but it was just us and a family of four. We always bless and pass the sacrament

asked about politics...

And I havent really had any political discussions thus far, maybe because there is hardly a government here. People are actually really scared to talk about it as well.