Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
I hope that you all have had a wonderful holiday season. I did. I came to Tarawa, the main island. We had Christmas as a mission and I was able to Skype home to the world's best family!!! I love them so much!!! They are fantastic. Also, prayers are answered. I prayed for the Skype call to work -- it usually doesn't for my mission. And it did!!! I am soo happy!!! It was great!!! I love Christmas.
The best part about Christmas is that we are able to refocus on what is truly important in life. CHRIST!!! He is our light and our life. It is through Him that we can do all things. We can feel joy, we can overcome all things, we can feel peace. I know that He lives, and that He loves us!!! He is our Lord and our Savior!!! I hope that y'all remembered the most essential part of CHRISTmas, because it makes the season so much more joyful. Because He is born for us! He is born to save us from our sins. He lives now. He leads us through His prophet, Thomas S. Monson. Christ is alive. Truly. He was born for us, He died for us, and He arose again for us!!! I love Him and know with all of the fibers of my being -- my heart, my soul, my mind, my body -- that He loves me and He loves all of you!!! I am grateful for Christ and for Christmas.
For New Year's Eve, our mission ate dinner with the President of Kiribati. It was amazing. They had traditional Kiribati dancers and singers. A traditional Kiribati feast -- the whole pig and everything. We all received flower crowns and whatnot. It was an enjoyable experience. I am grateful for the New Year and for the president's recognition of how beneficial the church is for his country and for his people. Wherever the church goes, the country is blessed. I believe that. The gospel uplifts not only those who hear its message, but also uplifts those that they come in contact with and their country.
We received training from our mission president and the president of the Pacific Region of the Church. We learned that we must set goals and work to achieve them -- fitting for the New Year. And that we must declare the gospel with a voice of rejoicing! The gospel is joyous and happy!!! I am glad that I have been blessed with it in my life!!! I know that it is real! It is true!!! It leads to true happiness and peace. I invite you all to enjoy the power the gospel brings through striving to increase your faith everyday, every minute. I have seen it work on my mission. I know that it is real and true and that it truly works.
Also, I learned something amazing! One, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actually and truly is God's kingdom on the earth today!!! It is His kingdom! Like His kingdom is established in these days!!!! How amazing is that?! Also, I learned that the name of the City of Enoch was Zion. So, if we are building Zion, we are striving to be like the City of Enoch! How amazing?! How great a responsibility! That is awesome!! I hope and pray that I fulfill my part in preparing God's children for the Second Coming of His Son.
Keep the faith!!! Lets go save souls (missionary work, temple work, fellowshipping, etc)!!! We got this! We cannot lose, the Lord is on our side!!!! Love you all!!!
Let's build up Zion!
Hurrah for Israel!!!
Love,
Elder Weenig
 |
| Our Christmas tree with Elder Kennedy (Evansville, Indiana) |
 |
| I love the bananas. They are small but tasty |
 |
| P-day -- boat ride with the members |
 |
| Island sunset |
 |
| Cutting coconuts |
 |
| Shower hut and shower bucket |
 |
| Weaving roof pieces |
 |
| World War II wreckage |
 |
| Dinner with the president of Kiribati. We are wearing the crowns we were given as guests. |
 |
| Christmas dinner |
 |
| Marshall Islands Kiribati Region missionaries with President and Sister Halecks (President of the Pacific Region of the church) and President and Sister Larkin |
 |
| Skypeing with the family |
