A Different kind of October :)

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. So much going on here on the islands of Vanuatu! Bed bugs on two different islands, dogs attacking rubbish cans spreading garbage, broken washing machines with no replacement parts, worms in water tanks for drinking, power and water being cut off, mold in missionary housing… and that is only this week.

The Meyers are new missionaries here. We actually worked with their son on the Mongolia project when we were on our last mission. Small world!

We finished the new water well at the Mele village chapel property! Worked with the stake president who lives in the village of Mele with a new well for his house, helped someone build a new roof that had multiple holes in it, (the family was rained on during storms which is almost daily), renegotiated housing lease contracts, and made some good headway on the other issues listed above.

Roof "before" pictures.

This is a piece of rusted out metal that was part of the roof. It was pouring rain that day but we were happy to complete this project.

On the island of Malekula there is a village called, Pinalum. The District president lives in that village and there is a chapel and a missionary quarter there. When I say “chapel” it is something very different than what we have in the states. It is basically a one room building that can have a sacrament meeting and most classes are held outside. There is also an open air covered patio type structure that can hold more people which is where District Conferences are held.

Pinalum chapel. The structure next to it are the toilets.

I’ve shared that power is a huge issue in most of these places and that solar is the only option. We have been working with the power company to try and get this village connected to the “grid”, which is incredibly limited. We got news that they will have this project completed by mid November. This means that we will be able to get a Starlink system there, as well as computers so that this area can become a center of spiritual strength on this island. Power and internet will connect them to all of the resources they need to move the church forward, as well as open up the educational opportunities for the Pathway program. This is a huge win! Things we don’t even think of back home are just not even possibilities in some of these remote places on a tiny island in the Pacific.

A nasty virus has been going around here, and a lot of people have gotten sick. It bit me too and I was down for several days. It took over a week to stop coughing. Joe did ok... miracle of miracle, he didn't get sick.

We are looking forward to watching General Conference this weekend. It is always the weekend after it happens in the USA on this side of the world. The reasons are for translation purposes as well as the Pacific islands are a day and a half ahead of America.

Our pickleball group before the Roses went home.

We have had several senior missionary couples who have gone home and a few new ones that just arrived. It’s always a good thing to have some new blood to join in the cause here on the islands.

In our branch, we are working with 8 people preparing to go to the temple in Fiji. The Vanuatu temple is being built but will not be completed until the spring of 2027 so members go to Fiji for a week at a time to attend the temple there. We have enjoyed teaching a “temple preparation” class that goes for 7 weeks. I also teach institute on Wednesday evenings. I have 7 students who are missionaries in their last six months of their missions. It is a new program with Pathway that gives them an opportunity to start school and create a clear educational path before going back to their home country. I referenced Pathway above, but it is an online college program that allows students from all over the world to be able to get an education. An institute (religion) class is part of the program. Most of my students are from different parts of Africa, one is from Fiji, and one from Vanuatu. Their back stories amazing…

Joe at a branch council meeting.

One student, Elder Mugisha is from Rwanda, Africa. His story is absolutely incredible. He was a Muslim, and joined the church only two years ago in 2023. Most of his family was murdered during the Genocide in 1994. He struggled a lot and tried to find meaning in many worldly things. Someone at his school introduced him to the Pathway program and he was able to enroll. He ended up going to a church meeting at some point with this friend and then started meeting with the missionaries. When he learned about the Plan of Salvation and that he could be reunited with his family members who had passed on, it resonated deeply for him and it changed his life. He decided to be baptized and six months later felt like he wanted to serve a mission. His father was very angry he joined the church and Elder Mugisha didn’t even want to tell him he had decided to go on a mission.

A few months before leaving on his mission to Vanuatu, his father could see the transformation in him and wanted to meet with the missionaries. He was able to baptize his father a week before he left on his mission.

This is only ONE story of many! The gospel of Jesus Christ transforms lives. We see it every day in every culture with the missionaries here. It is pretty powerful to be with so many people from different countries with very difficult backgrounds and histories and see the choices and sacrifices they have made to accept and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. When their eyes are opened and they get that it’s only through Him that peace comes in where there was none. The empty places inside are filled with joy and understanding and strength replaces fear and uncertainty. It doesn’t mean that things become perfect. Sometimes it’s quite the opposite, however the “peace that surpasses understanding” is very literal and a blessing beyond words when we turn to the Savior in faith…

Missionary house inspection! Actually it was the best I'd ever seen!

While bedbugs and solar issues are not necessarily inspiring, we continue to be inspired by the growth we see in the people here. So many good things are happening and the work is moving forward in big ways. We still are finishing up on several projects these last few weeks. It’s always a little unsettling as we finish a mission and go home. Lots of questions of what’s next, and what will we do? One thing I know is there are always a lot of good things to be involved in and lots of ways to serve. The Lord will continue to help us know what is next as we put our faith in him and his promises.

With the passing of President Nelson, I have been listening to a lot of his past messages. He has said, that the best is yet to come and that happiness comes from the focus of our lives on the things that matter most.

Still going hard…

We love and miss you all,

The Kwans