When I was 19 years old I left my home in Plano, Texas to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For nearly a year I served in Evansville, Indiana where I met a community of almost one thousand people from the Marshall Islands that would change my life forever.
The first Marshallese family I ever met was when I was on the westside of Evansville, Indiana. After we knocked on the door, the family invited us in to pray and study the scriptures. I actually didn’t know where the Marshall Islands were, but they showed me pictures and videos of the beautiful Islands and taught me about their culture. The husband and children could talk with us in English, but the wife had trouble understanding. I thought about how I wanted to be able to talk to the whole family and I spent all day thinking about this amazing family I just met. After a lot of thinking and praying I decided that I would learn the Marshallese language.
As I started to learn and meet more of he Marshallese people in Evansville my life started to change. I noticed I was happier and more kind. They helped me so much as I tried to learn the language and laughed with me as I fixed my mistakes. They love to joke with the missionaries and each other. One of the first things that I noticed about the Marshallese people was how much they loved God and each other. The people were so helpful while I was trying to learn their language and it was so much fun to learn. They treated and helped each other like family.
I also learned how important music and singing was to them. One of their favorite songs to sing was “Did you think to pray?” and today it is the only song I still know how to play on the ukulele. They always amazed me with their natural talent for music.
My favorite memory of the Marshallese people in Evansville was going to my first kemem. I didn’t even know what a kemem was, but I soon learned that we were celebrating a child turning one years old. Historically it is one of the most important Marshallese celebrations because of high infant mortality rates. Although it wasn’t my birthday at this kemem, the Marshallese treated me and the other missionaries as honored guests and served us a meal that tasted so good I’ll never forget it. We danced, played games, and listened to live music. I even did a little dancing myself which I would never do, but I felt so comfortable with the Marshallese people. I actually used to be a very shy and closed off person, but because of the Marshallese people in Evansville I am much more outgoing.
I am so very grateful for the opportunity to have been able to serve with the Marshallese people. I try everyday to be more like them,and I can say that my life is completely different because I met the Marshallese people in Evansville. I love the Marshallese people and they are all family to me.
Editor’s Note: Tyler is attending school at the University of Arkansas and now lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas. His help is greatly appreciated by ACOM and Chikin Melele.