So we baptized 4 people last week. It was great. It was a family of 6, the mother was already a member, but she grew up in Raivavae, and she became inactive when she was really young. Well, she got married, and then when her husband was extremely sick, and actually, due to a disease, was in a coma and she thought he was going to die. In fact, the doctors took him off life support and said that it was finished, and that he would pass on soon enough.

That's when he had a vision of a man and a woman who were pushing a cart of something. they asked him to follow them down a tunnel. there were two tunnels, and the one where they were going down was black and dark. He decided to go down the other, which had a tiny light at the end of it.

He explained that as he got closer to it, it came closer to him, until it got big enough to completely engulf him and surround him. That's when he saw a room that was perfectly white with tons of throne-like chairs, which, as he understood, were for angels. They were all empty, and as he looked across them, he saw a man standing in front of them.

He told him to come over and witness the marks in his hands, and then he told him that there was no place for him there, not yet anyways. Then he asked him if he was ready to come back down. He said yes.

And then he woke up from the coma and all the doctors could not explain it. He said that he didn't even believe that he was about to die, but the only think he has as proof was the word of his wife and the doctors.

But after he recounted his experience to her, she remembered the Church, and sought out the members. Then we came in, taught their family, and baptized their 3 daughters, the fourth being too young, and the father.

So yeah, that was a pretty cool story. things like that don't happen very often.

Feb 26, 2009
I got a call yesterday that I would be transferred to Tautira tomorrow.
Mar 1, 2009
Yeah, its pretty much like the islands, just a little bigger and more inland. But whats weird is that there are waves! It's soo wierd, because there's usually a coral reef around the whole island; but there isn't around us. So it's pretty cool. But yeah, really big sector, and really natur-ey. Not as much as the backside of Raiatea, but whatev. Its close to the islands ;P
My new comp, Elder Firiapu, is from Papeete, and he's been out just a couple months more than me.
Mar 10, 2009
In my new area, its really tough. The area is pretty much the whole presqu'ile, and that includes Tautira, Pueu, Taravao, Vairao, Fenua Aihere. All of that is ours, and its really hard to contact all that. Yes, Teahupoo is in our area. It IS far from what should be our area, but its ours as well.
Elder Firiapu:

so yeah, it looks as if the rumors are that its either me or elder hales the next assistant. i sure hope its not me. ;P by all logics' finding, that's true, its either me or him. that would mean 5 months in Papeete after this sector. but don't worry, rumors are rumors, and i wont say that its truth or not.

anyways, everything is going well. tons of changes, but all of them are small. I'm not gonna lie, for being one of the most industrial cities here, Faaa doesn't change at all. drunk guys, bad words, graffiti, raeraes, criminals, car accidents. nothing really changes here in Faaa. maybe that's why it drives everybody nuts here.

anyways i hope you all are doing great back home. i love you all and i wish you all the best.

Excerpts from Tamas letter:


yeah, this week was relatively slow here. it seems that there's a storm coming in. they say that in the time to come, there's a tsunami warning. of course, i don't trust it completely. yeah, superstitions, or maybe superstitions, who knows. but apparently the president here came out saying prepare. so yeah

it is getting pretty dark skied, but other than that, nothing really. and, yes, i want to see a GOOD storm ;P

other than that, there's really no news. just some mission drama of which we need not talk about. I've definitely changed a little, but its still a long long road. dang. but i can say that i understand God and Christ a lot better, and they've definitely showed me who i am and what i need to do. if any progress has been made this week, it was that.

So yeah, been a long time. i got to train a new kid for about a month. elder tatarata. but....yeah, Transfers! guess what? not transferred!

yeah, tatarata is going to the Cook islands at the tend of this month. Elder Hauata is now in Tubuai. and me and Haws.... are still here!!! and im training another person. Elder Timo. its kinda wierd, hes family, just distant. its wierd, such a small world here.

anyways, i gotta go. Love y'all!

~~Tama

its been a while.

so yeah, the email has been freaking out for a little while, and i cant really recieve emails for some time. thats annoying.

other than that, ça va, Faa'a. Its ok here, not really amazing. Its kinda dangerous riding bikes here. Its like riding bikes on the freeway with a bunch of drivers-ed kids without the instructors. its kinda bad.

But its ok, danger is my middle name! ..... its actually michael, but that sounds kinda stupid. Tama Danger Shutts! thats much better.

~~TDS

i was sitting in church the other day, and i noticed that
every time the congregation would get a little loud, they'd
hold up a sign that said Reverence please. hah, what an
oxymoron.

anyways i love you all, and i promise more next time.