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