December 4

Spent sometime today shopping.  Scott and Suzanne rode around Suva.

Elder Hamula, our Area President, came to Fiji for two weeks on Friday or Saturday of last week.  We missed his first fireside because Suzanne's plane got delayed.  We were privileged to have him speak to just the senior couples at the Mission Home tonight.  To save Sister Klinger who has been hosting him and his wife, we all brought a part of the dinner that went along with the fireside.  A couple of months ago I had the non temple couples over to our flat for dinner after church.  I served BBQ chicken sandwiches.  Chicken in Fiji is touch.  I had reduced the cooking time in the crock pot to 2 hours.  It was delicious.  So I had been asked to do the meat.  I was glad to do it.

I put the chicken in the pots (we fed 37) at 4 o'clock thinking it would be done at six and forgetting that I needed to shred the chicken and reheat it with the BBQ sauce.  Duh!  So at ten minutes to six Scott,  Suzanne, and I are hurriedly shredding hot, hot chicken.  We walked into the Mission Home at exactly 6.  Then we waited until 7 to eat because Elder Hamula was interviewing missionaries and got behind.
I was so pleased.  While I was working in the kitchen, Scott noticed that Sister Hamula was sitting by herself.  He, of course, went over and sat down by her and had a great conversation.  Delightful woman.  I have been praying that we would have five minutes with Elder Hamula.  I am so afraid that all the YSAs will have to do without an institute again unless they replace us.  Sister Hamula asked Scott why we were here and he told her.  Later when Elder Hamula came into the room, I introduced myself as the CES missionary over the institute.  His reply was, "Yes my wife told me all about you and your husband's work."  She had to have left the conversation with Scott and gone right into the interview room to report to her husband.  Amazing.

Suzanne went with us.  Everyone was so kind to her including Elder and Sister Hamula.  Both of them spoke at the fireside.  He told us that our families would be blessed beyond our wildest dreams, because we are serving missions as senior couples.  He even said that if we had children who were wayward they would be back.  It brought me to tears.

It was so wonderful to look across the room and see Suzanne sitting (she chose to sit behind everyone), sharing this spiritual experience, and knowing that the blessings promised us included her.  I am so blessed to have children who want to come visit, and who are willing to make the sacrifice to get here.