Week #16:Elder Jacob Buhler's Letter to the BYU Mens' and Womens' Soccer Team (He Was A Member of the BYU Mens' Soccer Team) Describing Life in Kiribati

Sent Tues 11/04/2014

Hello all! I would like to start off by saying I haven’t seen or talked to a white person in weeks (My companion is full Korean and did a year of pre-med at Cal Berk before coming on the mission) so it’s really hard trying to imagine all of you right now.

I am on an island called Marakei inside the independent and sovereign republic of Kiribati with the only electricity coming from solar power. And really only enough for a light to hang from the buia (raised house made out of coconut branches and wood foundation and leaves). Everything cooked over fire. Since coming here I have had … let me think … raw fish, fish, lots of rice, eel, raw clam, breadfruit and coconut in every possible way, crab, lobster, lobster poop (Elder Kinm tells me it’s not but I watched him open the shell; it was definitely poop), papaya, etc. It’s pretty consistent with being drenched by either rain or sweat at all times. During the day there are lots of flies and night mosquitos. But it is so beautiful. We bike here on these crappy bikes that are like tanks along the dirt road that circles the island, takes 1½ - 2 hours to bike around island if you don’t stop. We are the only missionaries here and we sleep on the floor on mats called kie’s. All of our water we drink/shower with comes from rain water. We wash our clothes with well water. Our house is pretty nice given we live in chapel house. We have fans that work for 1-2 hours then die. Lizards and cockroaches and sometimes spiders and flying things of all kinds are a constant presence. Our shower is pressurized, but it takes drinking water so we take short showers. We have desks and a roof and walls so life is good.

OK, now hopefully I don’t bore you by listing all of that off. I tried to think of stuff you might want to know about lifestyle. But anyways, I love the people. The mission has literally been the most humbling experience. Everyone here has so little, and I kid you not they would starve rather than not feed us. We have done lots of service for people here too, helping scrape out coconut meat, helping refloor people’s buias when it goes rotten by finding, skinning and tying the branches together a certain way. It’s hard to write really cool, long experiences because I don’t have a ton of time right now (got to go bike and facilitate FHE a few villages away), but watching people change through the gospel is the most beautiful thing. The language is way faster here, but I understand a lot of what people are saying. Unless it’s a bunch of kids yelling all at once or a really anyone talking really loud. My conversational is slow but alright. My lesson speech is way better. I am constantly praying for God to help our investigators and a great amount of my time is spent thinking about how I can help our investigators more. That’s why I like Elder Kim, because he likes to form a relationship by actually talking to them.

The work has really picked up here ever since I got here – that’s what Elder Kim said. We had 25 lessons last week, which is a ton for an outer island I hear. I had my first baptism on Saturday – 5 people, 1 19-year-old daughter of a Catholic missionary, and a group of really smart kids as far as Kiribati is concerned. 8-12 who are always asking me questions, which getting a Kiribati person to ask anything ever is impossible. So they are my favorite and when we are in their village for service, FHE lessons, I work really hard with them that they understand and live the gospel, which they really already do. They have read a ton of scriptures, but there is a problem with less actives here and I don’t want that to happen to them. I am working so hard trying to do the best I can with all our investigators, but especially them. We had to walk like 1/8 – ¼ of a mile into the lagoon to do the baptism dodging sea urchins as we walked out there. And it rained that day and we were a little late, and the sun was going down. Something about sunset here – THE greatest thing. They are absolutely gorgeous. They are National Geographic, or like a Billabong t-shirt. I love watching sunsets, and you all know how much I love movies and I say this out of a 100% sober and sound mind. The night of the baptism I saw the most beautiful set of scenery I have every seen in my entire life as I turned to look back once we got to the deep enough part of the lagoon. The tender mercies of the Lord are simple and profound. No words could sufficiently describe. And after a long day of work we bike along the really big dirt runway for the plane and turn out our flashlights and just look up and witness the grandeur of God’s creations. The stars shine ever so bright and the moonlight ever so tenderly lights the coconut trees and is truly remarkable.

I go home exhausted every night. I love my mission. I love the people, and I have yet to have a bad day. Roughish moments, but 3 biggest regrets of those reflecting on one’s life. 1) I wish I would have spent more time with those I loved. 2) Wish I would have lived up to my potential. 3) Wish I would’ve let myself be happier. Happiness is right now. It’s in the tender mercies of the Lord. It’s realizing that there is something higher than self. “In contrast to the institutions of the world to know something, the Gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.” –Dallin H. Oaks- I challenge you all to find your own happiness, but I testify that through the gospel you will find true happiness. I love you all. Because of you, yes you, I find myself the whitest person on a very primitive island sharing the gospel and loving it. Happiness is right now. Find yours.

Elder Buhler

Weeks #13-#16: "I Love it Here. Wouldn't Want to Be Anywhere Else."

Dear Family,

Part 1 – Mon, 11/24/14 4:11 p.m. written – will send tomorrow.

I received your package and 4 separate envelopes on 11/22/14. Packages like that don’t get sent out until the Sr. couples have time, but usually within a week. Don’t worry about me. I am alive and well. Appreciate the food. But not even kidding you, the flavor is overwhelming. Diarrhea of course is pretty constant here. I am fine though. Not tons of paper left in my notebook so I split the letter to you and the mission president in half. Hope you have received my first letter by now, and I also sent my BYU friends outlining life here. Tell Bear; Britt should have it. I had lost weight, which I was stoked about. I look at that box and see it all coming back. My normal breakfast was Sunshine (powdered milk) Milo (chocolate powder) Weet Biks (can only be described as those really dry flakes with no flavor inside Honey Bunches of Oats) mixed with water and some sugar and bananas.

Thanks for letters Mom, Bear, Dad, Gardners. Any news on my mish friends and Justin! Also I have really liked the talks (Gen. Conf) and the letters of support. Don’t send heavy things while I am on outies that I would have to fly in. We only get so much. Food is good. Love you guys a lot. Love the work too.

Please don’t send a letter a week. At most please do 1 letter every 3 weeks or put your letters from every week into the same envelope to send every 3 weeks. I love you guys, but I have been trying to really focus on the work. I love you guys. Just really trying to embrace things here. Life is good though. Very simple. Elder Morley was spot on with my peanut butter. I definitely kept the jar after it went empty to remember (single tear) until it grew mold then I cleaned it out and that’s where I keep my spoon. Pretty basic here lifewise – teach, talk, eat. I can speak pretty well. I mean I sound white, but I can teach and interact. Complex thoughts and new stuff is obviously not there yet, but if you can teach that’s all that matters right? I left most of my learning language books on Tarawa but it’s because I wanted to learn mostly by listening, speaking, asking questions, and writing in my notebook. Mostly just practice when we are  biking to and from places to myself.

Love the people. We have had unusual success here. Not stereotypical outie. I am doing great though, My iPod died 2 weeks ago so I hope you sent it. Please J I really like the hymn Brightly Beams. Definitely won’t be in by Christmas time. A big group of mish come January 1 so we will see. But I love it here; wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I rely on prayer a lot. Strength and success comes from God. Just know I am fine. Focus on Josh; he needs it. I will write as often as I can afford. But at least I will write when mails gets sent out here. Love you all. If you want to hear more look at the letter I sent to my BYU friends. Please don’t email Pres., I want to stay an outie if possible. Way better than Tarawa. I don’t expect to be back in earlier than Christmas at all.

I will buy a new notebook this week so don’t worry Mom. Don’t try to read into the letter; there are no hidden messages or cries for help I promise J Love you.

Love you all,

Elder Buhler

Part 2 – written Tues 11/25/14 7:40 am

Life is pretty basic here. All electricity is solar. Just straight chill. Sunrises are the bomb here and the stars are so pretty. Biking home from the west at night over the air strip is the bomb too.

Still not that  great at sitting cross-legged. I have bruises like stripes across my feet from the coconut fronds on the buias (houses/huts here). Missionaries are really respected on Kiribati so don’t worry. I’m safe. Elder Kim is chill. He’s Josh’s year in school. Definitely like an onion though with all those layers and such. Tell Drake I probably won’t get to email him before he heads out so good luck and to email me.

People are awesome here for the most part; really helpful and love to joke. Not rushing anything language wise and such; don’t want to go crazy out here. That would be unfortunate. I pray for people from home a lot, especially you guys. Sundays are fun because the land is like a circle and we start at the chapel and do a full on sacrament meeting with 30 or so people (Elder Kim and I spoke last week – power of prayer through trials) then we go around and do 4 more sacrament meetings (praying, pass sacrament, 1 of us conducts, the other other presides and gives a thought). Approximately like this: 1 – 30ish; 2 – 30ish; 3 – 4ish; 4 – 7ish; 5 – 3ish as far as people per sacrament. People feed us and it takes the whole day. On Fast Sunday everybody comes to the chapel.

Bananas here are way better than back home. Smaller, but really sweet. Wake up every morning without an alarm clock between 6-6:30. Went back to bed a few times, but never actually got up later than 6:50. Hard to explain life here. More one of those things you have to be here for. Once the sun goes down everything shuts down. We just go to dinner and chill with members usually.

Hope this letter answers some of your questions. I find it quite difficult to write letters. Hope everyone is doing well. Also, the P.O. Box here is 400 not 406.

Well, that’s about it for now. I’m sorry if I sounded ungrateful/sharp with my comments on the other paper. I just really want to work hard. I love you guys a lot, but the people here deserve nothing less than my best and if my mind is home there my heart will be too. Hel. 5:8. Hope you guys know I love you. Talk soon. Got to sleep.

Elder Buhler

Weeks 11 & 12 - WE FINALLY GOT A LETTER!!!!

Dear Family:

Not sure when this will get to you (and if you have sent anything at all I haven’t got anything from you, but it’s ok, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me) but I thought I would give you a sign of life.

Love the mission, everyone is super friendly and in my limited language I say hi to everyone I see, the food is actually pretty good these days. Not sure if that’s because I have submitted to the will of the island or if it’s actually that good. Brief summary of things I’ve eaten in last 5-6 days of being here. Lots of fish and rice, coconut, bread fruit (in varying forms), crab, lobster, what I swear was lobster poop but they say was meat, clam (that stuff is so chewy it’s a weird texture too), dried fish skin, eel (surprisingly good but really bony), etc. I try at least some of everything.

Our house is nice as far as outys go. We bike everywhere and I’m telling you, my life has become one big sweat. But I love biking. Roads are pretty good compared to how I thought it would be. I love biking around the whole island because we get to see everyone and we get to be surrounded by coconut trees, the ocean, the lagoon. Far too often I find myself looking down at the road to watch for bumps in the road when I should be enjoying the view in my current moment. Nothing beats biking home after a long day (and by long, I literally go home exhausted sometimes) and biking along the airstrip (flights only come W, Th, Sat) and looking up at the stars. There are so many stars. Feeling the sea breeze, and listening to the ocean while cruising down a dirt airstrip after a day in the service of the Lord.

Elder Kim is a super chill dude. He’s really good at the language and it sounds cool because of his Korean accent. Wants to become a doctor and did a year at Cal Berk, pre-med. He’s not as open as I am though. Sometimes you have to peel back the layers.

The people here are so awesome; they are so dang humble. They give you everything they have – their food, their house (more accurately a hut. Everyone lives in a raised hut thing called a buia – well basically everyone), and their time. I am just trying to do the best I can to bring everyone closer to Christ. Right now my speech isn’t there, but I’m trying to talk to everyone so at least everyone knows I’m friendly and want to share our … excuse me His … message with them.

I won’t write letters often – even receive them often – but know I love you guys (I’m writing in the journal Cassie gave me from Bolivia right now), and I can honestly say in the almost 2 months of being a missionary I have yet to have a bad day. Confusing times, but no bad days. Happiness is right now. We just have to find it. Where it’s in a sacrament meeting of 5 including us or our biggest one of 36 (we facilitate 5) the spirit is present. Our message is simple as Elder Bednar said. We invite all to come and see.

Elder Buhler

Week #10: Still No News

Dear All:

Still no word from Elder Buhler this week. Please continue to send snail mail to him. He will love getting the mail all at once!

Here is the address again:

Elder Jacob Buhler
P.O. Box 400
Bikenibeu, Tarawa
Republic of Kiribati
Central Pacific

As soon as we hear anything, we will post it.

Kim Buhler, Elder Buhler's Mom

Week #8 and Week # 9: Elder Buhler Would LOVE Snail Mail

Dear All:

Jacob has been assigned to Marakei, Kiribati. He has no access to internet there. I will post a letter once we receive one by snail mail. If any of you would like to send him a letter or card for Christmas, I'm sure he would LOVE it.  It costs $1.15 to send a 3 page letter and $1.98 to send a letter 4-10 pages long.  His address is 

Elder Jacob Buhler
P.O. Box 400
Bikenibeu, Tarawa
Republic of Kiribati
Central Pacific

I met with a missionary who served as AP on the Kiribati Mission and returned home in January 2014. He said the mission conditions on the outer islands where Jacob currently is like the Disney movie, "The Other Side of Heaven."  

Also, I will be sending a care package to Jacob on November 1. If you would like to give me something to send to him, please let me know. I'd be happy to include it with what I send.

Love, 

Kim Buhler, Jacob's mom 

Week #7: Elder Buhler is Going to Marakei!

Countrymen,

Well I have been here for 4 days now and I just got assigned to work in Marakei, which is an outer island and one of the few that still doesn't have internet. So this will be my last group email for awhile. Super pumped though! To immerse myself in the culture and stuff. Don't know much about it though, just that there is lots of crabs and no email. There is no timetable for my return, but I actually feel pretty safe here so no worries. I will be able to receive handwritten mail though, so it would be awesome to receive some if any of you have time.

Here is the address:

LDS Mission
PO Box 400
Bikenibeu, Tarawa
Republic of Kiribati
Central Pacific

Well anyways I will tell you what it's like here. I actually love it right now! I stay with the Zone Leaders and so we have a dinky little van and the room we sleep in has a/c. But I won't be living that way for long. I love the kids, they are always running after you and naked or clothed are always hugging your legs. Super chill, we have already given probably like 10-15 lessons while I have been here. They are not crazy long, and they always ask about me so I begin by introducing myself and I have come to learn to bring pictures with me, they love it! I can understand the general ideas of lessons usually, the vocab is hard to distinguish since they sometimes slurs words and speak really fast and also kind of mumble, which is the hardest one for me because even when they're saying things I know I still don't understand them! I would say 80% of the time I say the opening prayer and then either during the middle or end I kind of say a few thoughts of my own and testify. But the coolest thing is yesterday we were at a lesson on Tuan te Itiaki (Law of Chastity) and Elder Raika was talking and I was trying to figure out what I would say about that, when suddenly out of the blue he turns the lesson over to me. Like the entire lesson. I had never taught it in English or Kiribati so I was nervous, but this was the type of moment I was hoping for. E. Trussell told me he would fill in the gaps and just to go for it. I only had to ask what the word for sex was, wene ni bure (the laying sin) and then I slowly went to work and it was super tough, but I found out after that the message was conveyed and most of it made sense so that was super cool. I also had my first dinner here. It was for the Bday party of this old lady with one leg. They textures were super weird and I gagged a few times and tried everything except for the sausage, because I don't even eat it in the U.S. and I can only imagine how awful it would be here. The food is super bland or has weird flavors. I tried sheep, chicken, fish, cabbage, papaya, raw fish with this curry sauce, rice, and some sort of drink. The food is definitely going to have some getting used too. And apparently that was some of the best food I will ever have. And I won't lie, it was pretty awful. Lessons are in this run down neighborhood hut thingies and I am awful at sitting cross legged.

Loving it here, I am already way close with the ward here on Tarawa. My favorite family has this 13 year old girl that thinks Jared is cute. And i'm super stoked to be headed to Marakei, this is me signing off. For an unknown amount of time. Ready to get to work for real. Tiabo Ngkami!

Elder Buhler

HE ARRIVED!!!

HE ARRIVED!
"Hey mother, I love you so much and the family. We landed about an hour ago and we are just about to start figuring things out. It's awesome here, super excited, the ocean is so pretty! Super excited, I'm fine don't worry about me. I will email Monday, that's my Pday. Love you and I will talk to you more then."
He was met by other missionaries. He meets his mission president on Sunday who is traveling 413 miles across the ocean to meet him!

FC Rangers, Now Serving the Lord!

As a Vietnamese mom, I thought playing sports was a waste of time. I wanted my children to concentrate on their academics. That's funny considering now that both my boys play college ball. Yes, I was THAT mom who called Coach Scott Mitchell & told him Josh couldn't come to football practice because he didn't meet the family required GPA (3.9). Years later, I realized I was wrong. Playing sports was one of the best things all my kids did. It taught them how to be a team player, how to delay gratification, and that to gain a skill, like playing the piano, or learning complex math problems, it took time. Today I got this picture from a team mother. Our boys were on Utah Rangers FC and played soccer together. Now, they are playing for the Lord's team as missionaries in different parts of the world. I'm grateful for the role sports have now played in my kids' lives

Week #6: I'm Leaving on Tuesday!

Hey friends, well I stoked to say that I leave on a few days!! Which is good because all I eat here now is the rice ( showing love to my ancestors, ya dig?) haha mostly because I am so sick of the food here. I am stoked for my two year diet of fish and rice! haha well funny language story. So since i'm DL I am the one who kind of gets class going and part of that is reading from the white missionary handbook. So a few days ago I forgot my book and my teacher said, "Enga am boki mitinaire ae mainaina? (Where is your white missionary book) and I looked him straight in the eyes and said what I thought to be "I maninga e n te auti," (I forgot it in the residence) but he had this look of sheer horror on his face so I said it again with more conviction, honestly thinking my pronunciation must've been off. But then I realized what I had said and I said "Tiaki!" "Tiaki!" (NO! NO!) I won't tell you what word I used, but I basically told my teacher that "I am gay in the residence." That made for a VERY UNCOMFORTABLE moment for both of us! Hahahaha oh it was a good time. But anyways I am just super stoked to be headed out soon.

A scripture I found the other day that I really like was Luke 22:32. Basically telling us that when we become converted it becomes our job to lift up those around us. Including less actives, those who have fallen away, those who are struggling, and even those who don't know about the gospel yet. Last night we were skyping members in Kiribati (Which is the name of language as well as the country) and we all shared our testimonies with him and then asked him to share his and after that I committed him to share his testimony with a non member. The spirit was super strong, at least that I felt, and the cool thing is I will see him next week so I can follow up! I was always scared to talk doctrine/share my testimony with nonmembers, but I realized how profound of an impact it can have on a person. I have talked to SO MANY people whose lives made a huge turnaround and contribute part of their conversion to a sincere testimony from a friend. I know we all know people that are struggling, and sometimes all they need to hear is "Ya know, God loves you."

Well anyways my flight out of SLC departs at 8:15 P.M. and I couldn't be more excited. Packing straight stinks. But I know it will be worth it. Kiribati is going to be so incredible!! I literally can't wait to get there. But I am going to be really sad when my district has to split up when we arrive. We are all super close. Have deep talks and are just really good friends. I honestly feel like lifelong friends. Including the sisters. Especially Sister Nena, who is this 25 year old little teeny Micronesian lady that is so cute (mom cute) and funny. We have the most interesting relationship. I call her mom, because she's ya know kind of like my mom (she even taught 4th graders for 3 years before coming on the mish) so she always treats me like a 4th grader in a super playful way. But since i'm District Leader she calls me mom also. It's pretty casual here. And leaving our branch president, President Willes, will be super hard too. He has been the greatest example to me. I honestly love everyone here. But i'm ready to head out to the field!

Sorry there isn't much to write about this week, and it's a little more on the serious side. Everything has been same old same old here with the departure date looming, but within the next couple of weeks I feel like I will have a good story or two! Can't wait to have airport food, not going to lie. But I am thankful for all the letters, treats (especially from the grasselys, so good), and prayers that have been offered for me. I appreciate you all. Utah it's been real.

"Happiness is right now, if you don't realize that now, you'll always be wishing you were somewhere else."

Love,

E. Buhler

WEEK #5: Elder Buhler Got His Travel Plans!!!!!

Dear Everyone:

Hello one and all, I would just like to start off with I got my travel plans today!!!!!!!!!!!!! YESYEYSYEYSEYSEYSEYESYSEYYESYES, We leave Oct 7 at 8:15 P.M. to LAX then we fly to Fiji, then arrive in Kiribati on Oct 9. Couldn't be more excited!!! Cause actually we just Skype taught this lady from Kiribati last night and most of the time had idea what she was talking about, which I was kind of bummed about at the time, but now that I look back on that it is absolutely wonderful, because that means that I still have a lot of things I need to work on! Like right now I'm so pumped about leaving, I mean I love the MTC, but it's time to get out of here and teach! Well for the first few weeks, probably won't be contributing much to lessons, but still! Getting better at the language, I am always trying to push myself, but I sound so American when I speak and it is kind of depressing. But I have grown so much in the language in the last 2 weeks it's honestly incredible.

Ok a quick side note, I can not emphasize enough how much prayer has helped me in my life. I have had so many of my prayers answered, not always in the way that I want/expected, but still just so good. If there is any advice I can give to anyone it is to prayer more often, and more wholeheartedly. God wants to here from us, that's why he gave us prayer. He gave us the ability to speak with him at anytime, and in anyplace! Think about it, the Supreme Creator of anything and everything, wants to help YOU! Literally blows me away.

So today I got to be companions with Elder Weenig (Love him) because all the guys in my district were gone. Elder Young is from Australia so he got to go to do a session at the SLC temple with all the other internationals. And then E. Aliksa, Carrington, Morley were all at choir ( they get to sing in the Priesthood session of Conference next week) So we have just been doing our own thing all day, super chill.

But ok then Elder Weenig wanted to alter some of his shirts so we went to the dry cleaning place at the MTC and they referred us to the front desk people, who then gave us a pass to go off campus!! I don't think I have felt more uncomfortable then when I walked off MTC property to go to the Dry cleaning place. Walking down 900 East and seeing New Heritage and all of Provo was so weird for both of us (he went to BYU in the Spring and Summer terms) and we talked to these girls at the Dry Cleaning place, which was weird. And when we were walking back to the MTC we were walking and on the other side of the road was this beautiful girl running the other way. I don't know if I have ever had a more uncomfortable reaction to an encounter with a women (even from that distance) because I let out an audible yelp, and so as we walked by we both had heads turned in the complete opposite direction making sure we both stayed pure, continually asking each other if the other had looked! Elder Weenig and I experienced the outside world. Which was super weird, I am just excited to get out of here!! Love my dudes in here, and I feel like it's really boring to tell stories about the MTC, but I bet everyone has similar ones.

But what everyone should do is send me mail and packages before I leave, and I guess after I leave too. But I also want to thank Britt and friends for sending us the cookies, and my mom for the Einstein Bagels. I started a thing with the guys in my district where every night we read two verses each in our Kiribati BOM (Because D&C and Pearl of Great Price can't be translated), and now it's expanded to most of the Marshallese Elders and all the Tongans and Fijians Elders. It's pretty official now, we start with a prayer and then we go around reading a verse at a time in our separate languages and each read two verses and then I assign someone to give us a spiritual thought. It's my turn tonight. But honestly the Spirit is so strong in that room every night, and then if I have treats I share with everybody. I love my Zone.

But anyways, no scriptures this week because I frankly forgot my BOM, Journal, Notebook all back at the residence, but I am so excited to serve the Lord, yes it's been hard. and only one quote, from Sanctify Yourselves by my boy Jeff H.

“To every man there comes …that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing unique to him and fitted to his talent. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour.”

I hope I can be prepared when my moment comes.

God Bless,

E. Buhler

Week #4: Elder Buhler Is Having the Time of His Life!

Approximately day 23 here in the MTC and i'm starting to lose my ability to speak coherent English, my vocabulary has been taking a dive. Which makes me really sad, because language is so much more beautiful and eloquent when using a wide variety of words. The "cools, awesome, and sweet" are so boring. But in other news my language has been coming along really really well! I can formulate my own sentences and respond to questions during lessons pretty well now. I mean obviously it's still pretty basic, and when I reach the field I will get straight up wrecked, but for now i'm pretty content with where I am at! I have become pretty good at just sitting there and learning a concept or a set of words and picking them up, the other day I kept repeating the first vision, and it took me about 35 minutes but I got it down! and the other day we were speaking only Kiribati all day and I felt actually kind of ok about it! But it's not because of me, I know that for sure. The gift of tongues literally has been saving my life. Except for I can't roll my r's my tongue isn't quite that gifted I guess!

Funny story, I go to the mail office to send a letter, and I looked the guy straight in the eye and said "will you letter this for me?" and I have never seen someone so utterly confused. I felt really stupid, but i realized pretty quickly and we laughed pretty hard about it.

Also I wanted to make sure I thanked the Frixiones and I think the Keenes and Grassely's and actually a few other people who sent packages but didn't leave a note for there sincerity! My zone loves it, I am really good about sharing it all. And especially the Frixiones, your smore thing mixed with peanut butter is the bomb!

Well anyways i'm District Leader now. Which is cool I guess. I get the right to....NAY the privilege of obtaining the mail for my district as well as going to meetings on Sunday while everyone just chills. But it's still kind of cool. 

Something I started up in my room is reading from the Kiribati BOM every morning and night at least 2 verses each and then at nights somebody gives a quick spiritual thought. It started with the guys in my district and now has extended to the Fijians, some of the Tongans, and Marshallese. You can feel the spirit so strong in the room, and hearing these absolutely profound thoughts from kids your age is literally so humbling. I am in the presence of spiritual giants here. Most have gone through a lot to get here. There is also this Elder that is going to Fiji who is from Kiribati, so he helps us with the language so that's been super helpful.

Watched the Restoration movie on Sunday night and the Spirit was so freaking strong, it was like whoa. Nako tongo. And it's crazy how I had seen that video a bunch of times, but this time seemed like an entirely different movie, I got so many different and better things out of it! 

Few quotes I really liked, they weren't exact, but they could probably be looked up for exact quotes and some are a probably what they sounded like they meant to me.

"The Lord calls us in our weakness, but qualifies us for his work."

"God speaks to us not spake, we have more need of revelation now than ever."

"We will oft question how, but it shouldn't matter when we already know why."

and there is this part where I was so close to straight crying my eyes out. Joseph Smith Jr. is taking care of his dad and he says "You have watched over us our whole lives..." and his dad says, "That's what Fathers do." and literally that was the most tender moment. I can't imagine how heartbreaking that would be. 

Oh also on Tuesday RICHARD G. SCOTT CAME TO THE MTC TO SPEAK TO US!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was fan girling so hard. It was hard to take notes with stuff he was saying, because all of it was literally spiritual gold. And the greatest part was, 95% of his 40 minute or so talk ended up being personal answers to prayers I had given. The other 5% was conjunctions. But for real it was so good, I was writing stuff he was saying, and then all of a sudden I had this feeling that I should write what I was feeling instead and so I just started writing what I was feeling and I had never written so quickly fervently and with passion. I felt so spiritually edified. A few quotes from my main man Richy G!

"Don't just have a good mission, have a BLAST!"

"Stop praying to confirm your own desires, learn to listen to what God would have us do, and pray for the strength to do it."

"Answers to prayers come in 3 ways. 1. Through peace and feelt at rest (Yes) 2. Unsettled feelings, stupor of thought (No) 3. We might feel nothing...here we must excercise faith. Always proceed with a trust in God because eventually through fasting and prayer it will become a #1 or #2." 

"Prayers aren't always answered in the time/way we anticipate, but they come when we need it the most." -David O. Mckay.

Yeah so I love it here and we got this white dude that's a Nazi of a Zone leader so that kind of sucks. Our last white zone leader frequently swore, and this one is just awful to be around. So I love the islanders that much more. Way more loving.

In short just wanted to say I am beginning to feel like a missionary, and more than anything I love my chill frisbee seshs at the field by the temple with my Elders, i'm actually getting pretty good too! I also run over there around the field, because I refuse to be fat. In closing I just want to say I appreciate you all so much for being apart of my life. 

No scripture reference this week, hope to have a few more next week.

Tiabo Rimwi

Elder Buhler

Week #3: Loving the MTC Experience!

Hello all, just sent like a ton of pictures to my mom to post on my little blog thingy, elderjacobbuhler.blogspot.com so if you want to see a day in the life check it out.


First off, congrats to my boy D Wattykins! Love that dude to death, and I can't wait for him to begin serving!!

Well I just got back from the chillest of frisbee sesh's over on that field by the temple, today was the most beautiful day. I love it here, so dang much. My district consists of 5 elders and 3 sisters. Elder Carrington, Elder Morley my companions and then Elder Aliksa and Elder Young. Sister Tiatia, Sister Lowary and sister Nena. But I feel like I am progressing really well in the language, I am beginning to think and dream in Kiribati, so that's actually pretty dope. We have started doing tons of mock investigator roleplay things that are pretty tough, on wednesday we have two of them and the first one was so bad, like SO BAD. I had the worst headache and felt sick and we just rambled as a companionship, but then the second investigator we had we freaking killed it!! I definitely knew it wasn't me teaching. The Spirit was like, "Yo Elders, let me take this one, you've done enough I GOT YOU!" and then literally everything was free flow, I was understanding most of it, and I was using fluent sentences, I mean they are still basic sentences, but I am using words we haven't learned yet because I try to study on my own sometimes. So it opens up the discussions even more. Hope that doesn't sound like bragging at all, because literally that lesson was all taught by the Spirit. I am like the crappiest missionary, but I boast of the strength of my God. They told us to gain as much knowledge as possible which I am definitely trying to do. 

We were doing some personal study the other day and we found some pretty accurate scriptures. What we call the MTC cafeteria scripture, and what soon will be our entire mission scripture.

Jerimiah 4:19

LOOK IT UP! I was literally crying when I read it.

But also Elder Young was reading in Alma and he got to 

Alma 12:21-22

Once you read it read on....

Basically Alma is having a stand off with some dude and the dude says something in verse 21, and the the first sentence of two from verse 22 in laymens terms, at least we think is, if you would just SHUT UP for two seconds I would tell you!! You had to be there, but ya know sometimes Prophets can get some sass too. I mean it would kind of stink knowing you are a prophet of God and you are trying to save everyone and at every turn people keep questioning you. Bet it would be pretty frustating

But on another note there have been so many awesome quotes from speeches given here at the MTC. I usually write down quotes, because I think they are so interesting. Here are just a few and some are from prophets and stuff, but still way good.

"You don't need to know everything, you just need to be an example"

"When you are on the Lords errand you are entitled to his help"

"Mission is where you find out what Atonement and Jesus Christ Means to you"

"Gospel is the best gift you can offer and receive"

Beginning with the end in mind will help you choose your path"

"You need to earn your name"

"Circumstances don't make the man. It reveals him."

"Reconvert yourself each lesson"

"If you don't get an answer to your prayer, don't stop asking"


So yeah, I mean I haven't had any completely sucky days, but I have had rough patches in my days, but I can't emphasize this enough. A humble Prayer to your Heavenly Father can solve anything and everything. I don't sleep very well here, but I love it here. Well except the food, the Temple Cafeteria every week gets me so emotional, it's so much better than the MTC food. I refuse to get fat so I run basically everyday. Scott Heatons Dad gave a devotional here the other night and it was super good, I thought it was so good because he barely did any talking. He just got converts who used to not believe in God come up and tell their story, through guided questions. The Spirit was so strong. We are started to get pounded with lessons. It's like God is saying, yeah so now that you are going to get comfortable you can handle 6 lessons right? But it's good because that's how the field will be like.

I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but our teacher went deaf in one ear from a virus he caught while he was there. We have two teachers and they have told a bunch of crazy stories. But basically pretty often we will drink water with ants or worms in it. Just because it's from members and we don't want to offend them. But that's just one of the weirder things that we will do. They told us that Kiribati is supposed to be the hardest place in the world to reach.

But that's it from me this week. Again check out the pics on elderjacobbuhler.blogspot.com the pics on there are a mix of people from my district and the marshallese district, but our zone is the bomb even though I don't have pictures we have the Tongans, Samoans, Fijians, Marshallese, and Kiribati.

Love you all, please write me. 

Getting handwritten or homemade stuff is the greatest thing.

Elder Buhler

Week #2: The Temple Cafeteria is the The Greatest Place

Yo what up crew!!! The MTC is the greatest place, actually scratch that the temple cafeteria is the greatest place, like honestly it is the greatest reprieve from the food here. I feel like the food there is ordained from God. For real my testimony has grown so much through those waffles. hahaha. But so much has happened this week, at first I was getting my butt kicked by the language, but then I have actually been doing really well with it, well as well as I feel like I can be. I can't roll my R's very well and I already have been messing up my english. But in Kiribati, I feel confident doing a prayer and testimony, and doing a very basic first lesson. But my zone here is the bomb. I can't figure out how to upload the pictures here yet, but they are pretty great I think. The MTC truly is the greatest place.

Hahaha funny story. So I usually do a pretty good job with just being like oh that sister is cute/ not even looking at them. "Don't lust after the Harlot Isabel." But anyways. I was walking out of my building that I have class in and I saw the most beautiful sister. Oh my gosh... and then as she was walking by and then she said something in French. I melted. She was looking so right!...righteous ;) so very spiritual. She's the one, let me tell you, that's the one you wait for. 

But other than that little 20 second sidetrack, the MTC has been awesome, I feel like I am learning really well and even though it comes slow, the spiritual growth is incredible. My companions are awesome, they want to work really hard, and I have been practicing up on my australian accent. But it sounds more like John Lennon. But it's awesome my companions are the bomb, I mean they aren't the most talkative guys, but every lesson we all have three different approaches that work really well together, plus we win all the language games we have in class. So whats good!! I have so many stories and experiences that I don't really don't know what to share with you. My zone is really awesome, and my district is the freaking bomb too. I continue to see my friends and work really hard. I get really tired during the personal study so I often drop whatever I am reading and fall asleep in the same motion. Hopefully that means I am working hard...but anyway I learn so many new things every day and if anyone is thinking about serving a mission, I admonish them to do it. You grow so much, and I honestly am at a loss for words with what I would want to share with you. I appreciate all the love that is being sent my way. I have the utmost faith in the lord and although we may face trials we can always turn to Christ. Mosiah 4:9. He sees the big picture and knows how it feels to be and face the same trials we did. The experiences here and friend I have here are literally priceless. I know this is kind a crappy email, and the only thing I was able to share this week was about a girl. But there is just so much that I don't know what to say, and with only a moment left, and at a loss for words I would just like to say that I love you all so very much. You made me who I am today, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I am here to share the gospel. Alma 5:49. I have been so happy my entire life, with a few hiccups, but now the people of Kiribati need to here the message. So even though I feel underprepared, don't have the resources or skill set. I am going to learn and give it everything I got so that DC 84:85 can happen. "The spirit can't draqw from an empty well" as Elder Young said. I have learned more about myself in the past week in a half then at any time period in my life. I love the Gospel. Literally love it. No matter what happens in the church or my life etc. I know that man may make mistakes, but the Gospel is the truth. I hope to hear from all of you again soon, if I wasn't able to respond to your email, get my address from my mom and send me a letter.

Congrats to Kayci Griffin on her call to Chile. You're going to straight kill it!

I found out that when we ship out that I will stop in Hawaii for the night, so I am hopeful that I will get to see elder Park. I am trying to figure out how to upload the pictures we took today at the temple, and I will try to get it to work. But until next week...

I ataia bwa e kouau te ekaretia aio ao maiu Iesu Kristo ao Te Atua. I ataia bwa e kouau abotoro ao te burabeti ao kiraki iroun tamnei ae raoiroi n aran Iesu Kristo amen I love my mission. Like literally love it. I miss home, but I can't go home until I can bring the knowledge of their eternal home to the people of Kiribati.

I tangira kam

Elder Buhler

Getting Some Pictures!

Today we have had the pleasant surprise of getting 2 pictures of Jacob! He looks so happy and full of the Spirit in these pictures. Thanks to Perry's mom for sending the picture!

We are so grateful that Jacob has had such wonderful friends growing up. He ran into some of these friends at the MTC.  We only wish that Justin Botcherby were at the MTC in Provo as well!

Mission Photos

We were able to take Family Photos before Jacob left, and we also took some Missionary photos of Jacob.  He didn't want any "Cheesy Mission Photos" so this is what we got.

We are so thankful to Photos by Kimber for these lovely photos. We love our family, and we love our missionaries!

Week #1 Hurrah for Israel

So basically you are the entirety of the emails that I figured/know. Fridays are my P-day. And I will be writing generally sometime between 1-4 I think. So I am just kind of going to ramble for a while because I don't really know what else to do. Been in the MTC for a few days now, and to sum up my thoughts on day 1...AAAHHHHHHHHHH! That's a pretty accurate description of what my mind was doing at the time. Everything is so fast and scheduled here, but honestly it is hard and the days are long. But I really do love it here. I'm in the cutest tripanionship there has ever been. Me and my two gingers, Elder Morley and Elder Carrington both from Utah. The other two elders are Elder Young from Hawaii and Elder Aliska from Hawaii. They are generally pretty quite, but we had a nice bro talk today and for me it was like, these dudes are the bomb. Honestly have been through so much. We also have 3 sister missionaries, but they kind of do their own thing. So yeah my district is tight. I am senior companion, which in the MTC basically means you have to follow the rules just like everyone else. I like to think of it like HS student council, you have a title, but no real authority. I have already had some pretty spiritual experiences and have already seen the Spirit work in my life in so many ways, seeing the gospel and scriptures and phrases I have seen a million times take on entirely knew meaning. 

It's also been really cool, because in the first few days I have seen SO MANY people I know. Elder Critchfield, Elder Manwaring, Elder Weenig, Elder Stone, Sister Frederickson, Chris that lives in the Belmont with Josh Hunter, a few people from my YSA ward at BYU, Elder Whitlock, Elder Jensen, Elder Gardner, and Elder Perkins to name a few.

Seeing Elder Gardner and Jensen was like the best day ever! I love those guys so much, I made my companions and I come eat lunch with them and Elder Perkins (Love that guy too), and we literally just talked and it's times like those that you realize you are a missionary and you can only talk to them for like 20 minutes before you have to go. We took a picture mom, on I think owens camera so email him if you want that picture. I also kind of ate lunch with Elder Whitlock, and he is killing it. Idk what it is, but you can just tell by talking to and looking at him that he is ready to head out into the field. He got mad at me for reasons connected to his good ol' GF rbing. But it was in good fun. Elder Perkins led me around the first day and it was so good to see that guy. He is so freaking nice to me and honestly the man. And mom I want that picture you took of us, and if you could send that picture to my friend Elena that would be great. 

My zone is freaking crazy and fun because it's the islander one with Kiribati, Marshall Islands, and Samoa. So lights out isn't even a thing I feel like. It's pushups, rap battles, singing and just having a good time. Gym time is my literal salvation because as much as I love my gingers, they are the most obedient missionaries of all time and stay within about 15 feet of me at all times. So gym time I get to talk to someone super chill and who I knew before in Elder Weenig, or Sweenig as he is more commonly called. We just run around the track and talk about life. He is such a chill dude and I literally love my running time with him so much. We can see BYU from there so that and going to the temple are the weirdest things of all time, like I just feel weird thinking of life outside the MTC. 

The language 2 days in is pretty tough, I feel like I can't make noises like that with my mouth but I know that if I do my best and take the yoke of Christ upon me all will be good. Ngai Arau Elder Buhler, is my name is elder Buhler, and the "NG" is said like the "NG" at the end of song and then ai. So it's pretty weird. Our teachers are really nice and are coaxing us through the process. One of the teachers Elder Birrell, I think is how you spell it. Is deaf in one of his ears from a virus he contracted while he was there....But it doesn't shake my convictions and testimony one bit. The next two years are going to be freaking hard. I know that because the first few days have already been hard, but super rewarding. I meant to bring my preach my gospel, which is where I keep most of my notes to the lab, but I forgot it. 

Some of the rules here are wack. I know they are for our good, but they keep getting mad at me for saying bros, dudes, my dawgs, friends, and guys. 

"You are Elders"  the mission Presidents wife said.

"Do you know where those you call guys are? They are at home dating your Girlfriends." I thought that was pretty funny. 

For me the hardest thing is trying to balance studying hard and knowing when to just chill. I feel like everyone told me if you work your hardest then you are a successful missionary. But all my companions ever want to do, which is good is personal study, language study, and plan. I already feel like in the first two days I am driving myself into the ground. Sleeping at night is weird, because I am exhausted, but can never sleep. So sometimes I am just exhausted, but I don't want God to think I am being a wuss so I just keep going and if I ever shut my eyes, it's because I'm meditating. 

A thought that I was thinking about when reading the quotes at the back of Preach my Gospel chapter 1 is something about how we have the thing they (investigators need). So I don't know I think the two things I have said the most here is "I love you Elder Morley" and "We are here to learn to preach the thing that everybody needs, they just don't know it yet." Which is why I think I am here on a mission. Literally there are people out there whose eternal salvation hangs in the balance. So I think that's why I try to keep working hard and sometimes have to "meditate" to power through. I feel like I have already begun to say things that I know that as incredibly talented, intelligent, and good looking as I am ;) just playin momma, are not of my own design. The Lord is speaking through me and by the spirit I am making manifest of them. 

I am bummed that Sunday is like the busiest day and unfortunately naps are nonexistent. The food isn't bad and I have been eating a decent amount. Lots of bananas, and I figured that I would be losing tons of weight anyway and I use gym time pretty effectively, and I don't feel fatter, but I guess that may change. Still have yet to cry, which probably isn't a good thing. I feel like one day I am just going to lose it over a some bad tasting powerade and everyone is going to be like what the freak is going on with this kid. 

I only have a few minutes left and I apologize for the long email, I literally have been typing every thought I have had. The weird thing is that there is so much more I wish to say. There is a scripture that says it better than I do. Maybe I'll find it and send it to you.

All the Elders I mentioned are freaking killin it, you can definitely see the change in the Elders about to leave. Whitlock, Jensen, Gardner, Manwaring, and Perkins. They have the light of Christ about them and they are going to rock it in the field. Not sure who I am going to eat lunch with when they are gone. When I sit alone with my companions, it's basically silent and I feel so uncomfortable that I constantly drink my powerade so I can step away for a moment. But truly I have a great district, especially my companions they are so freaking spiritual and they want to work hard, and I hope to keep up with them spiritually. 

I miss you all, you have all prepared me for these next two years. I'm glad most of us in this thread are doing the work and being where we need to be. The Computer I am at doesn't have an SD card adapter so I guess I won't be sending any pictures. But I haven't taken that many anyway and they are kind of blurry.

Email me!

This is the place I need to be and I really do love it here even though it's hard.

With Christ ye shall never fail

Elder Jacob Buhler