Good morning Mama! I got the package that you and dad sent and I also got a delicious package of pumpkin bread from Aunt Julie. So, this week is our LAST WEEK at the MTC (THANK GOODNESS) we started to learn how to "contact" in Tahitian. This is possibly the most difficult thing I've done in my life. In French it is so easy. So contacting is where you greet a random srtanger on the street and you try to get them interested in the Gospel and ask for their address and phone number and set up a time for a lesson. A possible opening line would be something like this... Ia ora na! E aha to oe Huru? E mau missionare maua i te ekaresia a lesu mesia i te feia mo'a i te (restored. I can't remember the word for it. It is very long) evanelia no lesu Mesia.
Woof! Crazy huh? I'm glad that Alec and Whitney came over to visit. How is family? Tell Tristan good luck for me down in St. George, they will do awesome. Tell Justus he doesn't hinaaroo (need) to worry about those stinky girls. I absolutely love the Nativity that you sent. I was so excited for when we fly into Tahiti because I would be able to see it from the plane but, I then realized that it is going to be about 5:00 in the morning when we land there. GUH! that is o.k., maybe I'll get to see it on a transfer.
Well I need to go switch my laundy now. I love you all so much. Can't wait to here from all of you!
Much love,
Elder Fitzsimmons
So far this week, I've been getting very, very nervous about going to Tahiti, because of the language and such. We know how to communicate about the Gospel, but that is it. I've been wondering if I'll have the experience like in the best two years"that's not the language they taught me at the MTC!" AHHHH!
When I get there, I'll tell you where my assignment will be. How cool would it be if I was put on Bora Bora? I don't care where I'm assigned at all. They are all God's children. E mea oaoa i te evanelia si lesu Mesia ia vau. The Gospel of Jesus Christ makes me happy).
Look at me! I have three months under my belt now! It is CRAZY how fast that time has flown. I am so exited to be with the people of Tahiti.
Ua here au ia oa! E parau mau to Buka a Moromona e i te ekalesia ato'a! Ua here au i tei nei ekalesia! (I love you! The Book of Mormon is true and the church also! I love this church!)
Stay safe and don't forget to floss!
Elder Fitzsimmons
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Mama!
Hello again! So, official travel plans, I depart from the MTC on November 2nd and leave for the airport at 4:30 p.m.. It's almost time! I'm excited for the warm weather, but just thinking about all the snow that will be here soon breaks my heart. All of our zone that came in with us left Monday and today. It was difficult to say goodbye to so many friends at once, but we all got each others contact info. so we can catch up after the mission.
How are you mama? Any new news? When does Tristan leave for St. George? Tell Justus to tell those girls to stay away! hahaha. I would love a phone card for the airport.
I have yet to be called up to give a talk on Sunday, it kind of bums me out. I've prepared all these small talks in French and Tahitian, and I haven't gotten to use them yet.
We were talking with one of our branch presidency (he is new so I can't recall his name right now) and he was telling the Elders that after a month we will lose about 20 lbs. SWEET! He said this is because of all the biking that we will be doing and all of the fruit and rice and fish. I've been running and lifting weights every day here, but no weight loss. Because of the food here, everthing is fried or covered in gravy. So no need to worry about me being unhealthy.
Tell Tristan and Justus that I love getting their letters. They always make me laugh. How is Mary Jane? How is dad doing? How is the ward?
Thanks for the CTR rings mama! My instructor said that the kids that I teach will love them!
Well, I have to get going, I have lunch and then a haircut today! I'm kind of freaking out about it a little because it is my first one that hasn't been from mama.
I love you all so much I can't wait to hear back from you.
Ua here roa vau ia oe!
Love,
Elder Fitzsimmons
Hello again! So, official travel plans, I depart from the MTC on November 2nd and leave for the airport at 4:30 p.m.. It's almost time! I'm excited for the warm weather, but just thinking about all the snow that will be here soon breaks my heart. All of our zone that came in with us left Monday and today. It was difficult to say goodbye to so many friends at once, but we all got each others contact info. so we can catch up after the mission.
How are you mama? Any new news? When does Tristan leave for St. George? Tell Justus to tell those girls to stay away! hahaha. I would love a phone card for the airport.
I have yet to be called up to give a talk on Sunday, it kind of bums me out. I've prepared all these small talks in French and Tahitian, and I haven't gotten to use them yet.
We were talking with one of our branch presidency (he is new so I can't recall his name right now) and he was telling the Elders that after a month we will lose about 20 lbs. SWEET! He said this is because of all the biking that we will be doing and all of the fruit and rice and fish. I've been running and lifting weights every day here, but no weight loss. Because of the food here, everthing is fried or covered in gravy. So no need to worry about me being unhealthy.
Tell Tristan and Justus that I love getting their letters. They always make me laugh. How is Mary Jane? How is dad doing? How is the ward?
Thanks for the CTR rings mama! My instructor said that the kids that I teach will love them!
Well, I have to get going, I have lunch and then a haircut today! I'm kind of freaking out about it a little because it is my first one that hasn't been from mama.
I love you all so much I can't wait to hear back from you.
Ua here roa vau ia oe!
Love,
Elder Fitzsimmons
Friday, October 19, 2012
Change of travel plans!
Mama!
Change of travel plans! Today I received my travel plans and I leave for Tahiti October 31st! Tell everyone if they want to hear from me before I leave that they need to write soon.
Much Love,
Elder Fitzsimmons
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
Hello once again family and mama!
It has been a wonderful week! Last Tuesday for the devotional, Elder David A. Bednar came and talked to us. One of the coolest experiences ever. Other than that, nothing much new has happened other than we are teaching full lessons in both French and Tahitian right now. Sometimes it's difficult to think in one language and then shift to the other. Just because they are so different. But I LOVE them both so much. I was reading my Patriarchal blessing yesterday and I came across a small part that I never remembered reading before. It said that he (President Ellsworth and God) bless me with the courage to open my mouth and what will need to be said will fill my mouth and that because of this people will trust me because they will know that what I am telling them is right. I can't begin to tell you how true and real this blessing is. So many times in our lessons my mind goes blank. Even though I've prepared so well. I say a quick little prayer in my heart to ask God to help me fulfill His will and BOOM, I open my mouth and suddenly French and Tahitian is coming out. Sometimes words and phrases that I don't remember learning.
How is the family doing? What is new in Lehi and the world? How are you mama? I told Whitney that she needs to come visit you with Alec. Less than three weeks and I'll be in TAHITI! That is if we get our Visa's...We still haven't heard anything about them yet. We are all a little worried. I'm so excited to get to Tahiti and serve all of the beautiful people there. This is going to be such a blessing in my life. Oh, I'm also so proud of Bryce! He wrote me and told me that he is starting the process to put his papers in! WOOT! It is very possible that the trapezoid (me, Kyle Newbill, Paul Struthers, and Bryce Fueston) could be sharing our Lord's Gospel to the world at the same time! That would be so cool. What is even cooler is that Tristan and I could be serving together at the same time as well.
Thanks for everything that you all do. I love you all and can't wait to hear back from you!
Keep your baptizing hand strong
Love,
Elder Fitzsimmons
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Hello again Mama!
How are things going? I'm still loving it here at the MTC. Not much to report, other than we are starting to understand the Tahitian language. At first, it was the hardest thing I've done. It is a completely different way of thinking and now that we know how it is structured, I love it! Every night we sing together as a district from the Hymn book in Tahitian - like five or six songs. Last night our last song was Love at Home and all 13 of us were shedding tears. The Spirit was so strong, it was incredible. Speaking of the Spirit, this last Sunday was Fast Sunday. It's the same as the regular testimony meetings at home except...... It is in your mission language. At first I told myself that I wasn't going to get up and bear my testimony, and with 10 minutes left I had a huge prompting to get up. So, like the obedient missionary that I am, I went up to the front and in French and Tahitian bore my testimony of the Restoration and the power of the priesthood. I was also prompted at the end to tell the story of when Dad and I gave Scott Hicken a blessing at the hospital. I don't know why, but I went ahead and did it anyway. I know that this is the true church and it is the only church with God's restored priesthood. I also know that the Priesthood can work miracles.
I love you all and can't wait to hear from all of you, especially brothers.
Well, I'm off to choir rehearsal for the devotional tonight. (Fingers crossed that it is Elder Holland!).
Love you!
Ua here au la oe!
Elder Fitzsimmons
Hello again Mama!
How are things going? I'm still loving it here at the MTC. Not much to report, other than we are starting to understand the Tahitian language. At first, it was the hardest thing I've done. It is a completely different way of thinking and now that we know how it is structured, I love it! Every night we sing together as a district from the Hymn book in Tahitian - like five or six songs. Last night our last song was Love at Home and all 13 of us were shedding tears. The Spirit was so strong, it was incredible. Speaking of the Spirit, this last Sunday was Fast Sunday. It's the same as the regular testimony meetings at home except...... It is in your mission language. At first I told myself that I wasn't going to get up and bear my testimony, and with 10 minutes left I had a huge prompting to get up. So, like the obedient missionary that I am, I went up to the front and in French and Tahitian bore my testimony of the Restoration and the power of the priesthood. I was also prompted at the end to tell the story of when Dad and I gave Scott Hicken a blessing at the hospital. I don't know why, but I went ahead and did it anyway. I know that this is the true church and it is the only church with God's restored priesthood. I also know that the Priesthood can work miracles.
I love you all and can't wait to hear from all of you, especially brothers.
Well, I'm off to choir rehearsal for the devotional tonight. (Fingers crossed that it is Elder Holland!).
Love you!
Ua here au la oe!
Learning Tahitian
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Hi Mama! How are you this week? We have officially finished learning French and we started learning Tahitian yesterday! Tahitian is such and awesome language. How is everyone? How is Dad feeling? How is the marching band doing? I just want to get out of the MTC and out to Tahiti! I love it here but I know it well be so much more awesome out there. So about general conference: they are not having a missionary choir this time because they had one for the last time because David Arche- however you spell it was here. Poop. Oh well. I am sorry that this letter is a little shorter than usual, the computer was freaking out and wouldn't let me log in. How is Lehi?, and MaryJane? Tell brothers hello from me and give them a big hug. I love being able to go to the temple every week to do temple work. Be sure to play some Queen for me in the kitchen. It is so cool always having the Spirit with me.
Tell Justus Congrats on his cross country meet! That is cool that he is doing so well. Tell Tristan good luck at his marching band competition. They will be great this season.
I love you Mama
O thanks for the hand soap and the licorice!
Love Elder Fitzsimmons
Hi Mama! How are you this week? We have officially finished learning French and we started learning Tahitian yesterday! Tahitian is such and awesome language. How is everyone? How is Dad feeling? How is the marching band doing? I just want to get out of the MTC and out to Tahiti! I love it here but I know it well be so much more awesome out there. So about general conference: they are not having a missionary choir this time because they had one for the last time because David Arche- however you spell it was here. Poop. Oh well. I am sorry that this letter is a little shorter than usual, the computer was freaking out and wouldn't let me log in. How is Lehi?, and MaryJane? Tell brothers hello from me and give them a big hug. I love being able to go to the temple every week to do temple work. Be sure to play some Queen for me in the kitchen. It is so cool always having the Spirit with me.
Tell Justus Congrats on his cross country meet! That is cool that he is doing so well. Tell Tristan good luck at his marching band competition. They will be great this season.
I love you Mama
O thanks for the hand soap and the licorice!
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