November 3

Stake Conference began today. Priesthood was at our Samabula (sawm awm bula) chapel. The session started at two o'clock and lasted two hours.  The adult session began at four.

We heard from our wonderful Stake RS president and Primary president. It is interesting that the Stake RS president is also the YA advisor in her ward, she works full time at the LDS College as an assistant principle, and has two YSAs living with her that are not her own children. Sister Miawiriwiri (my weary weary) is, indeed, a remarkable woman.   Sister Qaqa (ngawn gaw) is also remarkable but for different reasons.  She is the one who listened to the missionaries first, kept listening until her husband joined.  In fact, she said that he told her to tell the missionaries he was not home when they would come, but "I could not lie.  I had small children.  I did not want them to see me lie."  She has had 11 children, and has fostered many relatives children.  Right now she has two Korean children who live with them because their father asked.  He felt that they would be better off in Fiji in the church schools and  in an LDS home.  So the Qaqas took the children for him.

It is such a privilege to be among these great women.  It is a privilege to be a woman and I am grateful to be one.