It is Wednesday and I am starting to panic. Even though the blog is caught up, there is still so much to do in the institute before we go. We spent the entire day doing all sorts of little things that take time and are necessary, but that do not seem to amount to anything.
Jackson's took us out to lunch today as a farewell gesture. We are going to miss them. They are so delightful, and are so kind. We are very glad that they live relatively close to us in Utah.
Spent the evening doing family sealings in the temple. Scott is glad to have them completed. We were in the sealing room with only four men and about 12 women. Strange.
We went home afterwards and just relaxed.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
December 3
Went to the devotional at the Service Center this morning. It was interesting. We have not made a big deal of going home. We haven't wanted to think about; we haven't wanted to talk about it, so many people do not know it is here.
I was hoping that we would just get through the devotional and on with the day. As Elder Wakolo was talking before the devotional part of the meeting, he kept looking over at us. After doing that about four or five times he stopped and asked, "Elder and Sister Tennis when are you going home?" I told him we were leaving Monday.
"Next Monday?"
"No, this Monday." When he looked incredulously at me I add, "All missions have to come to an end sometime and now is our time."
I think he was inspired to ask that questions. He and all of the Service Center would have been embarrassed if they had missed saying good-bye to us. So the devotional was our testimonies. Scott does such a great job. He is spiritual, funny, poinient, and then spiritual again. Elder Wakolo invited us to be at the morning prayer on Friday so they can sing us the Fijian Farewell Song and have a little breakfast. Nice save, Elder Wakolo. Just another indication of why he is a Seventy and the manager of the Service Center.
Scott spent the morning in the baptistry with the YSAs. We now have 132 baptized members of our Paradise Ward. Pretty amazing for just 13 weeks and a class full of YSAs who are novices at family history work.
Spent the rest of the day working on this blog. Talking to YSAs in the institute. Asking Elder Jackson to give Scott a blessing, because he got dizzy in the temple and I am afraid that he has overdone it and is getting the flu I started to get on Sunday which did not blossom into full blown flu as Scott gave me a blessing. Delivering Susan Stanford her stuff out of our flat, picking up more food for the fireside, and fixing dinner for Maggie and Brendon.
We said good-bye to Maggie after the fireside tonight; She leaves on her mission tomorrow. She cried and cried when we hugged her. In every life comes people that seem to be familiar even though they are at first strangers. Maggie is one of those people in my life. We loved her instantly the first time she came into the institute. She is one amazing young adult woman. Our only consolation is that we will be friends for an eternity.
I was hoping that we would just get through the devotional and on with the day. As Elder Wakolo was talking before the devotional part of the meeting, he kept looking over at us. After doing that about four or five times he stopped and asked, "Elder and Sister Tennis when are you going home?" I told him we were leaving Monday.
"Next Monday?"
"No, this Monday." When he looked incredulously at me I add, "All missions have to come to an end sometime and now is our time."
I think he was inspired to ask that questions. He and all of the Service Center would have been embarrassed if they had missed saying good-bye to us. So the devotional was our testimonies. Scott does such a great job. He is spiritual, funny, poinient, and then spiritual again. Elder Wakolo invited us to be at the morning prayer on Friday so they can sing us the Fijian Farewell Song and have a little breakfast. Nice save, Elder Wakolo. Just another indication of why he is a Seventy and the manager of the Service Center.
Scott spent the morning in the baptistry with the YSAs. We now have 132 baptized members of our Paradise Ward. Pretty amazing for just 13 weeks and a class full of YSAs who are novices at family history work.
Spent the rest of the day working on this blog. Talking to YSAs in the institute. Asking Elder Jackson to give Scott a blessing, because he got dizzy in the temple and I am afraid that he has overdone it and is getting the flu I started to get on Sunday which did not blossom into full blown flu as Scott gave me a blessing. Delivering Susan Stanford her stuff out of our flat, picking up more food for the fireside, and fixing dinner for Maggie and Brendon.
We said good-bye to Maggie after the fireside tonight; She leaves on her mission tomorrow. She cried and cried when we hugged her. In every life comes people that seem to be familiar even though they are at first strangers. Maggie is one of those people in my life. We loved her instantly the first time she came into the institute. She is one amazing young adult woman. Our only consolation is that we will be friends for an eternity.
December 2
Spent the day trying to get this blog caught up, finishing the 'how-to' sheets for the Petersons. It took all day.
We had our farewell dinner with the Klinglers. They have been wonderful with us. President has allowed us to just do our job, but had always been available to help, give advise, and keep us moving forward. Sister Klingler is such a sweet person. She is the perfect mission president's wife. She works hard. She is kind and empathetic. She is spiritual and expresses that part of herself well.
We have connect through music. She is the one who really got me to start the Institute Choir for which I will be eternally grateful. She asked us to sing, gave me music, talked me through problems for which I had not experience to draw upon, and she let me come cook when I needed to be with other females. Perfect. We have developed a great love for them.
We ate. Had the opportunity to bear our testimonies. Was thrilled to hear Klinglers bear theirs. A wonderful evening even if it was really emotional for both of us.
We had our farewell dinner with the Klinglers. They have been wonderful with us. President has allowed us to just do our job, but had always been available to help, give advise, and keep us moving forward. Sister Klingler is such a sweet person. She is the perfect mission president's wife. She works hard. She is kind and empathetic. She is spiritual and expresses that part of herself well.
We have connect through music. She is the one who really got me to start the Institute Choir for which I will be eternally grateful. She asked us to sing, gave me music, talked me through problems for which I had not experience to draw upon, and she let me come cook when I needed to be with other females. Perfect. We have developed a great love for them.
We ate. Had the opportunity to bear our testimonies. Was thrilled to hear Klinglers bear theirs. A wonderful evening even if it was really emotional for both of us.
November 30
Last night after the dance, we were making sure that everyone had a ride home when someone told us we had a huge group of young adults walking home to Lami which is a more than 3 mile walk. We threw the two girls from Tamavua who needed a ride home and raced to find those walking to Lami. Sure enough there were 12 of them. We loaded them in the van and got them to Lami. Back tracked to Suva. While going up the road to Tamavua we ended up picking up another six young adults. The first we saw was a group of four who refused a ride, but told us there were two woman we did not see as we passed them who would want a ride. We turned around and they gladly accepted a ride. Driving up the hill once again, we noticed a young woman and and a young man who refused the ride. As we drove away one of the girls in the van mentioned that the two who had refused were "cuddling". Not good. When we got to the original four we had seen, I told Scott to stop. I then just told them to get into the van and we would take them home. Anirudh was in this group and he told us that he could not get in because the girl back down the road that would not get in the van was his responsibility. We told him to get in, turned around for the second time and went back down the hill. By the time we got to the "cuddling" couple, my inner mother had come out. I rolled my window down, pointed at the girl and told her to get in the van. Her eyes got wide, but she did get in the van. The boy lives just off the main road so he walked home. Turning around we started up the hill for the third time.
By the time everyone was delivered and we arrived home it was 2:00 a.m. We are really too old for this!
We were up by 7 a.m. to get ready for the service project at 9:30. Willie met us at 9 at the institute. We loaded all the fruit (six cases), the water, and headed to the Bowling Club for the kick off ceremony. When we got there Mr. Narayan told us that had done it at 8:00 and to just go ahead to Suva Point and start cleaning. We passed people in blue FMF shirts cleaning around the Suva Bowling Club. We saw 100 or more police men and woman cleaning the shore about half way to Suva point.
Seventy + YSAs, the Jacksons, The Qaqa family participated in the clean up service project.
By the time everyone was delivered and we arrived home it was 2:00 a.m. We are really too old for this!
We were up by 7 a.m. to get ready for the service project at 9:30. Willie met us at 9 at the institute. We loaded all the fruit (six cases), the water, and headed to the Bowling Club for the kick off ceremony. When we got there Mr. Narayan told us that had done it at 8:00 and to just go ahead to Suva Point and start cleaning. We passed people in blue FMF shirts cleaning around the Suva Bowling Club. We saw 100 or more police men and woman cleaning the shore about half way to Suva point.
Seventy + YSAs, the Jacksons, The Qaqa family participated in the clean up service project.
December 1
I was so tired this morning that I thought I would not be able to get out of bed. I am so thankful for a Sabbath day which is dedicated to the Lord and a day of rest. I really, really needed a day of rest.
Monika cooked us our last Fijian meal with fish, cassava, ota, lolo, fruit (mango, bananas) and plantains. Delicious
Hogges had invited us to dinner which was wonderful.
Monika cooked us our last Fijian meal with fish, cassava, ota, lolo, fruit (mango, bananas) and plantains. Delicious
Hogges had invited us to dinner which was wonderful.
Monday, December 2, 2013
November 29
Onny did not call last night until we were eating dinner with the seniors. So Scott told her to buy the stuff and we would reimburse her for it all.
This morning at 10 we were to decorate. We had asked all the committee to help, and Onny said she would get her friends to come also. When we got to the cultural hall there were only four women, and about three men. The men set up the chairs and the women decorated. They finished by about 3 p.m. I went over for awhile to blow up balloons and to take them cupcakes for lunch.
Scott picked up the DJ at 5 p.m. and had the food guys take all the food out of our office over to the kitchen. Once again Ulai came through. He had asked about five YSAs from Tamavua to help with the food. Nice.
At 7:00 there were five men at the dance not counting the five in the kitchen. At 7:30 we had about 10 men and two women. When it got to be 8:00 and we still had less than 25 in attendance, I was just sure that no one was coming. We ended up with about 150 YSA and did they have fun. One recently returned missionary told me his goal was to dance with every woman at the dance including me. What fun.
We served: punch, cake, twisties, bongos, and cookies. There was plenty as we purchased for 250. There was even food left over.
This morning at 10 we were to decorate. We had asked all the committee to help, and Onny said she would get her friends to come also. When we got to the cultural hall there were only four women, and about three men. The men set up the chairs and the women decorated. They finished by about 3 p.m. I went over for awhile to blow up balloons and to take them cupcakes for lunch.
Scott picked up the DJ at 5 p.m. and had the food guys take all the food out of our office over to the kitchen. Once again Ulai came through. He had asked about five YSAs from Tamavua to help with the food. Nice.
At 7:00 there were five men at the dance not counting the five in the kitchen. At 7:30 we had about 10 men and two women. When it got to be 8:00 and we still had less than 25 in attendance, I was just sure that no one was coming. We ended up with about 150 YSA and did they have fun. One recently returned missionary told me his goal was to dance with every woman at the dance including me. What fun.
We served: punch, cake, twisties, bongos, and cookies. There was plenty as we purchased for 250. There was even food left over.
November 28
Today is Thanksgiving. Scott taught his Mission Prep class. I love watching him with these future missionaries. He pushes and pushes and pushes. They memorize and memorize and he still pushes.
The strange thing is that they love it--everyone of them.
The other thing they love is that the class has the same routine every week. After the devotional, they spend about 15 to 20 minutes reciting the scriptures they have learned in the past and the ones they were assigned in the last class. They always get lollies (hard tack candy). Scott then quickly teaches them the next concept they will be teaching as missionaries usually bearing his testimony along the way. They learn from him, and then they practice teaching each other. He then gives them an assignment to go home and teach the concept to their families before the next class; most teach the concept in Family Home Evening. To conclude the class Scott always shows a segment of "The District II."
Class is the same week after week, never varying and the students love it that way.
Spent the afternoon shopping for the food for the dance tomorrow. We am so proud of Ulai. He had his list ready to go, his mother had found the cheapest places to buy everything, and so our trip took way less time than we thought it would take. Maggie, and Mariah went with us. It was fun.
We are hoping that Onny will call before we go the our Thanksgiving dinner and say she is ready to go buy the decorations.
The strange thing is that they love it--everyone of them.
The other thing they love is that the class has the same routine every week. After the devotional, they spend about 15 to 20 minutes reciting the scriptures they have learned in the past and the ones they were assigned in the last class. They always get lollies (hard tack candy). Scott then quickly teaches them the next concept they will be teaching as missionaries usually bearing his testimony along the way. They learn from him, and then they practice teaching each other. He then gives them an assignment to go home and teach the concept to their families before the next class; most teach the concept in Family Home Evening. To conclude the class Scott always shows a segment of "The District II."
Class is the same week after week, never varying and the students love it that way.
Spent the afternoon shopping for the food for the dance tomorrow. We am so proud of Ulai. He had his list ready to go, his mother had found the cheapest places to buy everything, and so our trip took way less time than we thought it would take. Maggie, and Mariah went with us. It was fun.
We are hoping that Onny will call before we go the our Thanksgiving dinner and say she is ready to go buy the decorations.
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