Elder Jarrad Larsen: "O te le malamalama" means I don't understand

Malo soifua le aiga!

How goes it? As you well know, my week was full of brand new....newness.... I don't think that is a word. I am forgetting my English, for reasons that I will explain. I think that the best way to format my letter this week will be to give detailed responses to all of your questions. Soooooo here we go!

"You can't do that to Elder Larsen! You just can't!"

It has been an interesting week, but I do know that the call was inspired. Yesterday, before church, Pres and Sis back were at the chapel to attend a different ward's service. I talked with them a bit, and Sister Back kept on telling me that she worries about me all the time. She also shared an experience that I think is pretty neat. She said that as they were doing transfer planning, she kept saying "You can't do that to Elder Larsen! You just can't!" Then Elder Tito piped in "We can. Elder Larsen's dad served in a Samoan ward on his mission in New Zealand for two transfers, and baptized my mom." Sister Back said that with tears in her eyes. I don't know exactly the reason why I am called to serve here in this ward, but I do know that Le Atua o le Tama Faalelagi Alofa has a plan for me here. I am already loving it so much.

We communicate with very simple English, or even more simple Samoan

Elder Tuua, my new companion is awesome! We have been having so much fun together. He is from the Island of 'Upolu in Samoa, and lives apparently close to the airport. He came into the mission when I was in Liverpool. He actually was trained by Elder Naidu (see video with the duck and the cow and Elder Naidu cracking up). He came in the second transfer that I was in Liverpool.

Elder Tuua does speak a fair amount of English. The reason I have been forgetting vocabulary is that generally speaking, Elder Tuua and I communicate with very simple English, or even more simple Samoan. Man. It is so funny! Hahahaha we laugh probably half of the time we are together. Either at a funny mistake that I make learning Samoan, or at a joke that one of us tells.

Elder Tuua has been a member since 2005 (he is 22 now). He, from what I understand, was baptized with his sister, following which his family witnessed a tragedy. Elder Tuua's parents have both passed away, so he was taken in by a member family in his ward. In his adopted family, he is the 2nd and last to serve. Youngest of 11 (not sure if that is adopted or biological). His mission means so much to him. It is an opportunity for him to serve the Lord. He has such great faith and love for Heavenly Father, which is manifest in the way that he prays, the respect he gives for sacred things, and his strict obedience to the commandments of God. He is quite an example to me.

Elder Tuua from the Island of Upolu, Samoa.

Elder Tuua was able to fix a lawnmower using the parts of an old used bike

Elder Tuua is very smart. Some missionaries borrowed a lawnmower this week that belongs to us and basically were frustrated that it wasn't working and more or less smashed it (while another missionary videoed it), and Elder Tuua was able to fix it using the parts of an old used bike. Apparently, he just watched his bro fix engines. The man!

My soa (companion in Samoan) is helping my Samoan heaps!! It is amazing how much you can learn when you know nothing. Yesterday, in Fast and Testimony Meeting, I bore my testimony in Faasamoa. Elder Tuua helped me to prepare for that. I also have learned how to say simple prayers in faasamoa. I am learning new vocabulary every day, and trying to pick up the grammar. What a big job that I have ahead of me!! But Elder Tuua has been so helpful. Thank goodness Pres Back was inspired to put me here in this wonderful ward with my wonderful companion!

Elder Tu'ua, smiling.

My first week here has been quite interesting. But amazing at the same time! Guess what? I think I forgot to mention it last week, but Elder Wu and I both got transferred out of Bankstown, which was really confusing, because the work was going so well. Weeeeelll.... I found out why! Elder Wu was called to be an Assistant! How cool is that?! So now, there are 4 assistants, they take turns on traveling assignments around the mission and working in the office. So, Elder Wu and Elder Tito are not comps, but what a power-house they have up there in the office! Hahahaha! You asked how it is without zone leader assignments. And it is honestly great! I am able to focus 100% on the work and the language. To be quite honest, I think that my zone leader assignment was much easier than learning Samoan. But it has been rewarding.

Campbelltown is a goldmine for missionary work

Campbelltown is a goldmine for missionary work. When missionaries work hard and efficiently, so much good can happen here. That was the idea. This area has apparently been pretty dead for over a year, so President decided to take action. Elder Tuua has been here for six months. He is awesome. They recently had a baptism. At the same time, the work was still slow. One rotten egg will ruin your meal! Nothing implied! President thought that putting two hard working missionaries together here in this ward will be key, one who speaks the language fluently, and the other to foster diligence and obedience. I have other specific assignments as well. Apparently the 4 other Samoan units in our mission have a palagi (white missionary) in the companionship too! The Backs are probably having heaps of fun! Hahahaha just kidding :)

We travel around on foot, which suits me fine, except when we have appointments to get to on the other side of our area. It is a great place to walk and talk to people, because the people are so prepared! For example, we stopped and talked to this one lady sitting in the park, testified of the plan of salvation, and she came to church with us. She actually doesn't speak Samoan, so we hope to take her to the palagi uarota (English speaking ward) next week. We are able to teach and baptize English investigators into other wards, which I thought was cool!

"O te le malamalama" means I don't understand

Other than that, it has been fun meeting all of the members. It always brings a smile to their faces when I say things in Samoan. I bore my testimony in Samoan on Sunday (Aso sa). My comp helped me to prepare my testimony in Samoan. They loved it! Hahaha it was awesome. After sacrament heaps would come up and start speaking really fast in Samoan, following which I would reply "O te le malamalama" which means I don't understand. Sometimes we would enter the homes of members and while my comp talks in Samoan, I would struggle to keep my eyes open. We get fed heaps here! Man, so much food! Heaps of taro and cocoa samoa. Hahaha.

We are in the process of building up our area. Hopefully next week I have good things to report.

One thing that made me laugh: one day as we were walking, Elder Tuua taught me some words. Quite literally potty language. Hahaha. What was funny was combining it with the vocabulary that I had previously learned to ask someone for assistance to use the toilet. Hahahahahahahh! Elder Tuua and I laughed hard for at least 5 min. straight. Bwahahaha! Good times!

Kaysie: You have a boyfriend????? What are you doing!!! (this was a joke; for anyone that knows Jarrad's sister, she does NOT have a boyfriend, thank you) You are supposed to be prepping for a mission! (seriously though, what are your plans??)

Mojojojo: That would have been cool if you got to do a bio on JRR Tolkein! Bethoveen is the man too!

JJ: Good work with the bball!! That is awesome! My companion is from Samoa. :)

Ezra: Great job, buddy!!!! That is sooo coool! You made your first shot!!!! I like that people think it is funny when I speak Samoan.

I love you guys heaps!! Thanks for your prayers, your words of advice, and everything!

Manuia le vaiaso!!

Elder Loseni (my Samoan name)