July 26

I took the following pictures weeks ago, but forgot that I had them.  I did not keep track of this week on my I-pad as I had only enough energy to do what absolutely had to be done, so I am going to put the pictures in this day.

Out the window that sits over the kitchen sink is this.

 

Dead Tree/Bush??

I look at this every time I wash the dishes.  I have wondered and wondered why our landlord does not cut it down.  Monica is really great at keeping the yard around our flat looking nice, and so I could not understand why she left this dead plant.  Here is why.

This group of flowers started to show several weeks ago, and the end of three of the dead branches has the beginnings of these flowers.

Here is the end of a dead branch and the stem of the flowers.

The Dead Plant and the Flowers

July 24

The D&C lesson was on the Kirtland Temple Dedication.  I love Church History.  To expedite the historical portion of the lesson, I made a power point presentation.  I found one on the S&I website, but it was not quite want I wanted, so I borrowed some of the ideas there, found my own pictures, and created ten slides to tell the history of the Kirtland Temple.  It was fun to do, and it successfully gave the historical background in a succinct manner.  I, frankly, was surprised how much I remembered about making power point slides, and how easily the whole project was done.  I love technology--especially when it works for me.

We, of course, read the 110 section of the D&C and parts of the 109 section.  We looked for blessings asked for in the dedicatory prayer after which I gave the YSAs a copy of the dedicatory prayer for the Fiji Temple and we looked for blessings asked especially for Fiji.

It is interesting to note that Fiji was in the middle of a coup when the temple was dedicated on 18 June 2000.  Because of the coup there was no open house and, of course, no cultural celebration.  No large gatherings were permitted at that time.  If I remember correctly, President Hinckley was assured by the government that he could come and would be safe.  He was whisked into Suva, dedicated the temple in one very small session, and then whisked out.  One of the students mentioned that just like the Nauvoo Temple, the Fiji Temple was dedicated under a state of civil unrest.  True.  One of the blessing asked for in the dedicatory prayer was that Fiji would always have religious freedom.

Right now in Fiji there is a movement to limit religious freedom.  The movement wants to limit government recognized religions to Christian religions.  It does seem significant that 37.6% of the citizens of Fiji are Indian some of whom are Christian, but many are not.

Taught the Doctrine of the Gospel lesson tonight on prayer.  The entire lesson was just open ended questions.  We had the best discussion and it was very spiritual.  

July 21

Spent Sunday and today dragging.  I went to church and then went home to bed.  My cough is much worse and it hurts clear to my toes when I cough.  I have decided that I need to pace myself.  I will work, rest, work and rest.  I will not be ready to teach two lessons this week if I am not careful.

Elder and Sister Wells are on the road teaching and auditing for the next two plus weeks, so Elder Wells ask Scott if he would teach the Temple Preparation lesson on both Sundays.  I offered to teach the D&C lesson this week and next to give Scott a little relief.  Teaching three different lessons well is really difficult.

July 20

Spent all day yesterday--Friday--in bed.  I just could not get moving.

Today Brother, Sister, and Estelle Johnson were baptized.  The sisters had asked that the choir sing.  The YSAs are tired of singing the Tongan song, so on Wednesday we practiced singing Nearer My God to Thee acapella.  Because I have been sick and forgetful, I did not print the song for the choir until this morning.  Scott and I rushed over to the institute and printed the song.  It wasn't until I passed the music to Talica that she pointed out that I had printed the wrong song.  I had printed I Need Thee Every Hour.  We rushed back to the institute and printed the right song and in the process missed the baptism.  The worst part was that the original opening song had been I Need Thee Every Hour and they changed it because that was what I said the choir was singing.  The YSAs did a nice job singing Nearer My God to Thee and we had 18 singing which is amazing as the baptism was as 9 a.m.

It is nice to blame the forgetfulness on being sick!

The baptism was wonderful although the Sisters were sad.  The Johnsons are a family of seven--two parents and five children.  All seven plus a girl friend of one of the sons was to be baptized, but the week before the baptism five said they were not ready.  They have committed that they will be ready in two weeks; we will see.

An interesting story goes along with this.  Brother and Sister Johnson have been raising a young girl who is related to them some way.  However, when the young girl's grandmother heard that the Johnsons were being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she came a took the little girl away.  Sister Johnson told us that she felt that Satan thought if they lost the little girl, who is just like a daughter to them. that they would not get baptized. He was wrong. Sister Johnson is sure that they will get the little girl back eventually.  What faith.

July 18

Woke up sick--sore throat, headache, runny nose.  I made it to Scott's lesson which was fabulous, but by the time it was over I had had it.  I told him I was going home to sleep and would be back in about an hour.  He came home at 4:00 and I was still asleep.

I did not feel like I could go to the temple and cough and sneeze my way through the session, so I stayed home.  By 5:30 I needed out of the house, so I came to the institute to work.  Scott came to get me after he finished at 7:30 p.m.

July 17

Of course, the Doctrines of the Gospel lesson went well today.  When Heavenly Father writes the lesson, it is always great.

July 16

We attended the devotional in the Service Center this morning.  I am always amazed at how interested Heavenly Father is in the work we are doing.

I had outlined my lesson for tomorrow last week, but then over the weekend as I continued to study, I came to the conclusion that it was not what I should be teaching, so I wrote another lesson.  Today in the devotional, Sai (sigh) Balenacagi(bah lay nah thah ngee) gave the devotional.  Sai is a temporary employee for the Service Center and is a recently (less than a month) returned missionary.  Her thought changed my lesson back to the first lesson and after we got back to the office I had the entire lesson written in just a few minutes and those minutes were spent looking for scriptures.

July 15

Winter has finally hit.  Today the temperature was 24º C which is 75ºF.  I wore a sweater all day. I only brought one sweater, but the girls sent me another one for either my birthday or Christmas. I am so grateful for it.

We went to see The Lone Ranger this afternoon for family home evening.  Semi (Say me) Driso sat with us as he came alone to the movie.  After the movie was over we saw Lillian and Jimmy who were waiting to see another movie.  As we were talking about The Lone Ranger, Semi mentioned to Lillian and Jimmy that the movie was funny but "Sister Tennis laughed in all the wrong places."  I did not defend myself, because I did laugh in many places that no one else laughed and that is because the Fijians did not grow up on The Lone Ranger TV series like I did. Much of the humor was based on the old TV series.

After the movie we grabbed some groceries, ran home, and prepared for diner with the APs. One of the nicest blessing from serving this mission is that Scott and I are working together in the kitchen.  I am not sure that he would agree with me, but I love the give and take that goes into working in a kitchen with him.  I am awfully proud of him; he was never expected to help in the kitchen as a kid, and was always too busy to help as we were raising our children.  This is, indeed, one blessing that I would never have predicted and I am so grateful for it.

When the vegetables were washed and the meat on to cook, Scott and I along with Filipe went to Finau's house.  Finau is a creative genius.  She created the new designed for the plane tails for Fiji Airways.  We went to see her, because she also makes scripture totes. Scott wants one for his quad and I want one for my I-pad.  That her work is beautiful is an understatement.

We got home just in time to finish dinner.  As we were fixing it, Elder Jackson came to tell us that Filipe had our cell phone.  Scott had to hop in the car and drive all the way out to Lami to pick it up.  We live and die by our texting. There is no way we can live without our phone.

The Elders came five minutes after Scott got home.  I was just ready.  Nice.  They brought a stake missionary who is here to serve while he gets his endowments and then leave on his real mission.  He was a really smart kid from Vanua Levu.  He was so cute.  I had made cole slaw; Scott loves it.  When I passed him the cole slaw, he did not take any. After he saw Scott take a huge serving and then seconds, he decided he may want some.  He took maybe a tablespoonful. After he had eaten that he asked for more and actually filled half his dinner plate with it.  He admitted that he was timid about new food, but admitted that he really liked the cole slaw.  Good experience for his mission in the U.S. of A.  The elders stayed for the spiritual part of our FHE. They were sad to be able to stay; they have no discussions today, or for that matter, all week.

I like days like today busy, busy.

July 14

Today Scott and I went to listen to Vasemaca Nautu speak before she goes on her mission.  We were not aware that she attended a Fijian speaking ward.  It is hard to sit in a Fijian speaking ward, but we felt the spirit especially when Vasemaca and her mother spoke.  One may not be able to understand the language, but one can always feel the Spirit; He speaks every language.

We are saying farewell to one of the strongest spirits we have been blessed to know here in Fiji. Vasemaca loves the Lord and He loves her.  From the first day we opened the institute she came to everything: every class, every activity, every social.  And she helped. She saw what needed to be done and did it.  She is such an organized soul.  Lately she has not been coming because she was called to teach seminary to those in her stake who do not attend LDS College (high school).  She also got a full time job to help with expenses for her mission.  Although we missed her, we know she was doing what needed to be done, and in the end it was a blessing to be weened a little before she leaves.

Midday temperature in the house was 25º (Can I just tell you how excited I am to finally know how to bring up the degree sign!  Yah me!!!) Celsius which is 77º Fahrenheit.  I was so cold that I heated a damp washcloth in the microwave, put it in a plastic bag, and put my feet on it under all my covers.  We went for a walk tonight and Scott and I wore his two U of U hoodies.   Brrrr.

July 12

Exhausted.  Exhausted.  Do not know why.  Was up at 6:30 and went back to bed and slept to 8:15.  I would go lay down now, but I have to much to do.

We love our new roommates, the Jacksons!

July 11

President Davis called today to tell us that we had to cancel the YSA baptisms.  Someone who shall remain nameless--our old foe Pres. Volavola--had scheduled another ward's youth at the same time as we are supposed to attend.  I am afraid that we are going to live with this type of subterfuge until we leave for the U.S.

We fed Elder Hawks and his parents tonight at our flat.  The Wellses came and helped with the food.  It was a lovely evening for everyone but Elder Hawks who was sick.  I had made Elder Hawks favorite desert, mud pie.  I had to send a piece home with him as he could not eat.  The recipe for mud pie makes two pies, so after the Wellses and the Hawks left, I texted the APs "We have pie.  Interested?"  In less that one minute the reply came.  "Be there is 5 minutes"  When they showed up there were four missionaries instead of just the two APs.  Good thing I had not given the Wellses any pie to take home.  It was fun to watch them eat the pie and listen to their conversations.  The two extra elders that came are leaving the mission field tomorrow.

July 10

Meme Waiwiriwiri showed up for the class tonight at 4:00 p.m. and it does not start until 5:30.  She wanted to talk.  I live for these talks.  It seems that she has quit her job, because she wanted to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  She has no idea why she needs to not be working, but is moving on faith.  She is such a spiritually sensitive woman; one of my heroes here.

Taught a lesson on obedience tonight.  Sister Tufoga was sick, so I had her class also.  The room was full.  I just wish that the YSAs could come on time.  We had young adults walking into class the entire period.  In fact, the girl that we met on Sunday came with a friend as I was bearing my closing testimony.

I can not decided if they really are oblivious as to the time, or they are just coming for the social part.  Either way we want them in the institute, but it is still difficult to maintain the spirit with interruptions every five or so minutes.

July 9

We went to the temple today with Ame Recule (ah may ray thoo lay) who is leaving soon for a mission.  He only had his brother-in-law in the session with him.  His mother was at work as was his sister and brother.  I do not understand why so many of the Fijian members just go whenever and never worry about who can come with them.  He was, however, really excited to have us attend.

The session was also attend by six new elders and four new sister missionaries three of the sisters are palagi--non islander foreigners--and in this case have white skin.  That brings palagi sisters to a total of four. I ask one of the sisters how long she had been in the MTC.  Only six weeks!

I was at the veil with Scott.  Sister Davis made it happen on purpose.  I really needed it today. Somehow when Scott is there the meaning of what I am doing is so much greater.  Thank you Sister Davis.

Talked to Maggie's mom, Sister Vodo, after the session.  She told me that as the Relief Society president she had just dressed a sister for her funeral.  She was frightened as it was her first time. When they realized that the funeral was to be a Catholic one although the woman was endowed and her husband is a member, they had to just put her full packet in her arms.  

Scott's lesson today was on the organization of the priesthood.  He has struggled a little with the lesson. He had way too much material.  He has talked to Elder Edwards, Elder Wakolo, and President Davis trying to understand priesthood keys, who reports to whom, who is set apart as opposed to ordained, etc.

When he taught, however, it all came together.  Every student in the class was sitting on the edge of their seats wanting to learn exactly how the priesthood works.  When the lesson was just about over, Scott recapped by asking questions from the diagram he had drawn on the board.  The students knew the answers.

We took Ame home after class; he was still glowing.  He told us that his mother had him when she was 43 and that his dad is ten years older than his mom.  He brought it up, because he had seen the pictures of our grandchildren in our office.  He said that he had never known any of his grandparents.  Sounds like the States about 70 years ago.

July 8

I went walking this morning while Scott was swimming.  As I was walking, I cut a fellow off who was trying to pass me, when I moved over to let man coming the other way pass.  When I turned to apologize,  he began to walk with me.  We had such an interesting conversation.  He works at as a guard at USP.  He told me that he had left work at about 6:30 a.m.  He caught up with me at just before 7:30 and he had another hour and a half to walk before he got home.  I asked if he walked both ways to work every day and he does!  I would guess he makes between $75 and $100 dollars a week for five twelve hour days and a five hour walk each day.

As we were walking he noticed my badge and ask if I was worried about getting back to God.  I told him that I was living the best I could and ask if he was worried.  He indicated that he was and that is why he attends church.  I asked if he felt that his church was helping him get back and he hung his head and told me no.  I had no pencil, paper, nothing to take down his address, so I asked him if he ever saw young men with white shirts and ties who also had a badge like mine.  He said that he had.  I told him that the next time he saw one of those young men that if he would go up to them and say, "I want to know how to get back to God"  that they would help him.  Oh, I so hope he will follow through. I will look for him again and I will be prepared.

July 7

We visited the Lami wards today with the message "The institute is for you."  We met a girl today in the YSA Sunday School Class who is a clinical social worker.  We had never seen her before so our guess is that she has been less active.  She says she will come to institute.  Bishop Balenacegi's wife taught the lesson.  She told us that the mothers in their ward are worried for their children when they come to institute.  We told her that we make the boys walk them home, we take them to the bus stop, or we drive them home.  We hope she tells the other mothers.  As a side note, she was upset that we had not brought schedules, so Scott left class drove the 15 minutes back to the institute, got our schedules, and made it back before the class was over.

We had so much fun visiting with the YSAs afterward.  We wish we could have the same experience with the YSAs in the ward that speaks Fijian, but for some reason even though they all know English, it does not turn out so well.

We also visited Sister McGoon today as we were about half way to her house.  We had taken an envelop of money from some of the senior missionaries to the funeral, but we soon realized that giving it to her then was a bad idea so we took it out today.  She is staying at her daughter's home for now.  When I hugged her and told her how sorry we were, she just grabbed hold of me and sobbed.  She said that she had done alright until most of the family had left to go home, and now she is feeling the loss.  We were glad to be able to talk of Brother McGoon and ease a little of the sorrow.  We had a lovely visit with her and her son who lives in Belfast, Ireland.

Fijian are so generous.  They gave us two of the only three chairs in the room; Sister McGoon sat in the other one.  They also fed us lemon cake and punch.  They did not have any, just us.  Sister McGoon is a fabulous woman and it is a privilege to know her.

Scott and Elder Wells went home teaching while Sister Wells and I sat in our flat and visited.  They are wonderful friends.

July 6

This was the view from the front door of the Mission Office/Patron Housing tonight.  Sunsets and sunrises are so beautiful in Suva.

July 4

Once again Scott taught a magnificent lesson.  He gave the prospective missionaries in the class religious terms and ask them to define the terms for an investigator in a short dynamic way. Most of them had trouble which is common with words one has known forever.  In that case knowledge is inherent and it becomes really tough to come up with a definition.  On the other hand, some of the terms were just difficult enough that they had a hard time: exhaltation, immortality, salvation, redemption.  All in all the students really needed this lesson before they leave to serve their missions.

One of the great blessings of this calling is watching Scott teach these young future missionaries. He is so grateful to be a member of the church, so grateful for those who took the time to introduce him to the truth that he just radiates a love for the work and for the words of the Lord. I appreciate his knowledge of the scriptures.  I can paraphrase a scripture and he can tell me where to find it.  He is better than the topical guide.

We forgot to celebrate the 4th today.  How could we forget?

July 3

We had a huge class in Doctrines of the Gospel tonight, but most were from temple housing which means they are from Tonga, Samoa, or Kirabus.  We are glad to have them, but the Tongans have a hard time listening--they talk a lot and loudly.

I had the hardest time explaining why we do not earn the atonement.  I was shocked when I asked, "How many of you think you have to earn the atonement?"  Every hand went up.  I certainly was not prepared for the discussion that followed.  I told them that the atonement was freely given to every person who has ever lived on the earth and that what we earn is spirits that will be able to live with God.  I tried to restate it so they could understand, but finally, I just said, "You are going to have to trust me!  We are moving on."  Well the class and I moved on, but good old Jimmy Narayan did not.  He has everything ever printed by the church on his phone; he just sat and looked for something that would prove me wrong.  What he found was a quote that goes something like this: we do not earn the atonement, because it was freely given, but we do earn exhaltation.  I was proud of Jimmy.  When we got to a good place, he raised him hand and told the class that I was right and read the quote.  Nice.

Ended the class with a talk by Elder Bednar called In the Strength of the Lord.  I had the class read most of the talk and the discussion after was wonderfully spiritual.

July 2

We have decided that we can not have such a long day on Mondays.  We are both tire today. There were few in Scott's D&C class.  USP is on a three week break and most of the students go to their villages so our numbers are down, but we feel a need to start another institute council which is my job.  Scott will run the council if I will invite the members and do the treats.  I am good with that.  Our old council members but one are all on missions.

We are also praying to know what new things we need to be doing.  We both feel that there is something else we need to do before we go home.

 Six Fiji Parrotfinches

I found the following pictures in our camera. I took them early in June, but even though I am late putting them in the blog, both Scott and I want to remember them.  One day as we were walking from the Primary School through the parking lot we saw this on the lawn.  There were twenty or more of these little birds on the lawn pecking in the grass.

They are about three inches from head to end of tail feathers.

A Closer Look

One Fiji Parrotfinch

July 1, 2013

There is a wonderful brother who works in the temple.  We noticed him the very first time we went.  He has a 200 watt smile, and is very outgoing.  I don't remember if he introduced himself the first time we saw him, but Brother McGoon did it soon after I am sure.  He is also the one who along with his wife took us net fishing.  I can not think of one time we left his presence that we weren't at least smiling most often laughing.

Brother McGoon passed away last week and his funeral was today.  We love having a calling that lets us attend the funeral.  It is supposed that Brother McGoon had a heart attack; no one is going to check as he is 65 and in Fiji it just is not done.  On Thursday he was working with the LDS humanitarian kids that are here building toilets/showers in villages.  He works with them every summer.  He was laughing with the kids and said that he was going to sit down for a minute.  He walked over to a tree, sat down, and died with a smile on his face.  Really!

It was a traditional LDS funeral mostly.  His son who lives in Belfast, Ireland spoke as a representative of the children.  The Relief Society President spoke as a representative of the sisters in the ward and after a man spoke representing the village from which Elder McGoon came followed by the High Priest  Group leader.  Finally Brother Bahn spoke for the Stake. Everyone loved brother McGoon.  He will be missed.

Drove out with Elder and Sister Wells and Elder and Sister Hogge.  Of course Scott drove.  Bless his heart he does 98% of all the driving.  My guess is that in the 14 months we have been here he has been a passenger in a car less than 15 times.

Ate lunch at our new favorite restaurant ICrave.  After which we raced to several stores for food as we were the sister's dinner appointment early this evening--5:00p.m..  We finished dinner at 6 o'clock and then raced to the Suva 1st Ward to do Family Home Evening with the ward's YSAs.  We had been asked by Sister Tsakia and Sister Bechu to do it.  I taught a lesson on how music affects your body, health and brain.  It was interesting.  I told them about the teenagers in the late 70s who would take raw eggs to concerts and put them on the stage.  At the end of the concert the eggs were hard boiled from the music.  I am not sure they believed me.

Scott then did the activity.  He is so good at punting.  He had planned to do "Name that Tune" with the hymns, but of the 15 in attendance five were not members, so he switched the activity to musical chairs.  They fought hard for the prizes.  It was fun to watch.

We were glad to be asked to help because we met many new YSAs which is always good.  We were, however, exhausted by the time we got to bed.

I love days like today!!!!!

June 30

Elder Wakolo gave part of the combined lesson today in church.  I loved his message which essentially was that our very purpose for home and visiting teaching is to help members make and keep the essential ordinances.  This is part of the push for members to "catch the wave" created by all the missionaries that are or will be entering the mission field with the lowering of the age requirement.  For this wave of missionaries to be really effective they need member help.

Both Scott and I have felt such an urgency about working harder, smarter, and with more of the Spirit.  We need to be more active in reactivating the church's young adult and helping those that are active make and keep sacred covenants.  I do not know if time is getting short for this work, or if we are just "seeing" more of a need; it doesn't matter which, we just need to working harder.

June 29

It is so nice to have someone who likes to do what we like to do.  Elder and Sister Wells love rugby.  It is more fun to go to the games on Saturday with them.  At Albert Park where the rugby games we watch are held, there is a stadium like building.  It is about 100 feet long and about 30 feet wide.  The bottom floor is just one big open room as far as I can tell.  There are sliding glass doors on the field side of the rooms.  Upstairs are bleachers and that is where we sit.  They charge us $3 each to sit up there and because it costs we sit up there almost always alone.  The Fijians refuse to pay so they just sit or stand around the field.

We try to go to an early game and then we eat lunch with the senior couples after which we go home to prepare for the movie or activity at the institute.    

June 28

Two movies in one week!  We took Elder and Sister Wells to see Monsters University.  Scott generally does not like animated movies, but he laughed though this one.  We had a lovely lunch just before the movie and popcorn during it.  There goes my waist line.

June 26

Taught a lesson on the Atonement.  It is supposed to be one lesson, but I am going to make it two.  Tonight I taught about the actual atonement.  It is a hard thing for me to teach.  I just want to cry the entire time, because I am so filled with gratitude.  We had a wonderful discussion although the class was small.  I showed two of the church's videos that covered the Atonement. 

It is sobering to me and it was to those in the class to think about the huge sacrifice the Savior made for each of us.  The Spirit was really, really strong for which I am grateful.

We have two recently returned missionaries who look so much alike that I can not keep them straight.  It does not help that they both have American names; Ryan and Dan.

The same cupcakes that no one wanted last night went like hotcakes because I put chocolate icing in them.  Everyone wanted seconds.

June 25

Trying to save me work, Scott decided to go to the factory outlet for the "Sara Lee" of Fiji--obviously I can not remember the name of the factory.  We bought enough cupcakes to feed all three classes this week.

Tonight we gave the YSAs the cupcakes just as we bought them.  No one wanted a second one which is unheard of.  I even offered the students seconds and no one accepted, so I decided to try one.  UGH.  Flavorless.  Dry.  Scott thought it was funny; I was embarrassed.

I will buy frosting to put on them for the Wednesday and Thursday classes.

June 24

We attended the Worldwide Missionary training today in the Raiwaqa Building.  We were so uplifted. Here are some of my notes:

When we do our best, the Lord will not let us fail.  He is a God of miracles; we just have to have faith. Help is always available in His way which is so much better than we could ever foresee. His miracles come in His own time and in His own way.

Wishing will not make it so.  The Lord expects actions

Elder Nelson:  Love is the life and lubricant of missionary work.  Saving those who have wandered is just as important as finding those who have never heard the gospel.

Elder Packer: Live so you can abandon the script and teach trusting in the Spirit.  The revelations come when you start--you must begin first.  The word of the Lord came into my mind--always works when one is obedient.  Everybody is a teacher in the church.  The greatest teaching in the church comes from mothers.

Repent means to back tract to where one went off the path.  Then one can proceed to be better, to do His will and grow.  The challenges one will have will help one grow.


Worked hard the rest of the day so that we could go to a movie this evening.  Met Elder and Sister Wells who brought Sister Hogge (her husband had stuff to do), Elder and Sister Edwards, Elder and Sister Updike at Tapoo City's (a huge store) food court for a fast dinner and then we walked over to see Man of Steel.  I loved the movie until the final battle scene which went on forever and ever. 

I wonder if the final battle scene of this earth will go on that long.  It is so good to know exactly how that final battle scene will end because just like in the movies it is soothing to know that the good guy--The Savior--will be victorious.  The peace this knowledge brings can not be underestimated.
What a blessing it is to KNOW.

June 16

Guess who did not show up to sing today in church?  Lillian.  Guess who had to sing instead?  ME. I loved singing with the three young adults but hated is when we were announced as a young adult quartet.  I might feel like a young adult some days, but I certainly do not look like one! 

I actually saw Lillian at a fireside this evening and asked why she did not come to sing.  She just assumed that since she did not come to the practice on Saturday that she should not sing.  Sometimes I get too forceful, I am afraid.  I asked her who she thought would sing the alto part.  I watched her face and I could tell that she had really not thought about that; my guess is that she just thought that the other three YSAs would just sing without her. 

I do not know if I will ever understand how Fijians think.

In defence of Lillian, she had always done exactly what she said she would do.  This was just a little hiccup.  She is a wonderful woman and very reliable. 

June 15

Had two recently returned missionaries in the institute tonight; one got home on Thursday and the other got home yesterday, Friday.  I love talking to these guys.  They are always bearing testimony even though their mission is over.  It is so spiritually refreshing to be with them.  We also have a family of six YSAs who are investigating the church who came to play with us tonight.

Had another practice for the quartet that are singing on Sunday so that they could practice with Elder Jackson who will be accompanying them.  He is such a saint!  Well Lillian did not show for the practice so I sang the alto part.  It is these kinds of opportunities that I love about serving this mission.  Such a spiritual uplift.

June 12

 

I am not going to complain about choir ever again!  Last night was to be our only practice for the three songs requested for church on Sunday by our cute Samabula Ward's Bishop.  All the young adults stayed after class to practice, but none were willing to sing on Sunday.  It seems that one of our number is giving her farewell speech in another ward at the same time on Sunday and almost all the YSAs are going to attend.

 

So I determined to just call the Bishop and say "sorry"

 

However, after the practice while I was working in the library, Dad came in and said, "You have to come here."

 

In the classroom were two YSA men(Sosi Nawatu, and Livai Volavola); one playing the piano and both singing.  They were marvellous.  I mean really really good.  They will sing the song they were practicing for the prelude.  Two girls who were listening to them sing (Talica Milani and Lillian Rokobuli), volunteered to sing a hymn with them for the special number.  They even chose a hymn I can play.  We spent the next 30 minutes practicing.  The last time they sang the hymn I looked over at Scott and he had tears in his eyes.  The spirit was so strong.

 

Isn't Heavenly Father wonderful.  When we do all that we can, He will do the rest.  I am so grateful for His help.

June 11

Winter has arrived!  I have worn a jacket or a sweater all day.  We woke to a temperature of 24 Celsius which is 75 Fahrenheit.  Brrrr.  How 75 can be cold is beyond me, but I am cold and the YSAs that are here in the institute are all wearing hoodies, coats or beanies.

Tonight Scott taught a Doctrine and Covenants lesson on the events that will occur before the second coming of the Savior.  He had prepared for days for it.  He had the full time missionaries--Elder Olmstead and Filipe Vakalaloma--come help him, he had run all over Suva looking for a trumpet to sound the seven trumps.  I had a job.  It was to use the flash on the camera after the darkness came and during the earthquake.  Yes, we did have a simulated earthquake.  It was so fun.  It made those events seem more real and the discussion after was very animated.

Here is one of the pictures the camera took when I thought all I was doing was setting off the flash.

Moving under the desks during the earthquake

Huddling under the desks during the earthquake.

June 10

We are losing the Jacksons who are the Perpetual Education Fund missionaries. They moved into the institute with us in April after spending the first 15 months of their missions in the Emergency Resources Center (ERC).  They were  basically alone in this huge building in downtown Suva.  We have enjoyed having them here.  They bring in YSAs whom we do not see.  Because they are here, the institute is open from 9 o'clock in the morning until after we finish teaching generally around 8:30
to 9:30 p.m.  They are leaving a week from today.  It is fun that the new PEF couple is also named Jackson.  We are praying for a great relationship with the new Jacksons.

June 7

Generally Friday is a respite day for us.  We are so tired emotionally after teaching for three days that we just sort of "wing" Fridays.  Some times we study, some times we run errands, some times we just sit around and visit with the young adults that come into the institute.  It is the day we often feed the missionaries as we actually eat dinner at a normal hour on Fridays.

Today the Jackson's were out of the office all day.  Scott and I went to the institute, but he left to get pictures done for our missionary board.  I kept the institute open for any who needed help or the use of a computer.  After lunch I went back to the institute while Scott slept.  He hasn't been sleeping well lately.  This morning he woke at 3:00am and read for an hour and a half, came back to bed and slept until 6:30 am and then went swimming.

I was busily finishing some studying when I felt like I should lock the front door, so I did.  Just before 3:30pm I heard a knock on the front door.  I did nothing.  The knocking continued louder.  I walked to the windows to the left of the door and looked out.  There stood a very scarey, agitated beggar.  Of course he had a story about all the horrible things wrong with his life: sick wife, lost job, no money, unable to work, starving.  The longer he talked the more agitated he got.  I just turned went into our office and got the only money I had--a two dollar bill.  I opened the louvered window just enough to put the bill through and then closed it.  He was furious that I had given him a bill that can only be "spent" at a bank.  I kept telling him it was all I had.  I finally just shut the curtains, locked the back door which I had not be inspired to lock, and continued to study in our office.  Scary.  I am sure he saw me working and probably tried to open the locked door.  I am so grateful for the prompting to lock the door.  Having the beggar inside would have been awful.  Heavenly Father takes care of his missionaries.

Scott came at 5:00p.m.  and we worked together until after 6 o'clock when we decided to go for pizza.  We shopped after eating and did not get home until about 9:30.

June 6

Scott, as is tradition, had a mission prep student bear his testimony in class today, because it is his last class before he leaves on a mission.  Ephraim bore a strong testimony about repentance and what an honor is was to be called by a prophet to serve a mission which brought the Holy Spirit into the classroom.  Afterwards Scott asked the students if they felt the Spirit.  They all said that they had.  Then Scott told the class that with a testimony like that, Ephraim would not only save many souls in the California, Roseville mission, but would bless his own family and his posterity for generations to come.  When Scott finished talking, he looked at Ephraim and there were tears flowing down his face.  These Fijian youth are so strong, so sensitive to the Spirit, so willing.

No baptisms for the dead today as the temple washing machine is broken, so Scott and I decided to go to the 4:OO session.  After the session I had gone to change when sister Tilley came in and said, "Your husband wants you I the sealing room."

It was the Navua ward's night to do sealings.  It is very expensive and time consuming (one hour) to get to the temple from Navua, so there were not enough ward members to do the work.  Bro. McGoon asked Scott if we could help.  We could.  As Scott and I proxied for the parents, and Brother Vulavula proxied for a son, I was overwhelmed with the knowledge that God is no respecter of persons--that He loves all his children no matter the color of their skin, how much they earn, or how intelligent they are.  I had a hard time not weeping.

June 5

Our lesson tonight in Doctrines of the Gospel was on the Holy Ghost.  I used a talk by David A. Bednar which he gave when he was the president of Ricks College in 1999.  It made for a nice lesson.  He used a great object lesson in his talk and I wanted to use it in my lesson.  I called all over Suva for a tuning fork.  No one had any idea what a tuning fork even is.  RATS.  It would have made a wonderful object lesson.

Ate lunch with the Edwards.  They are from Kaysville and are here to teach seminary teachers.  They will spend three months at each church school in the Pacific which means three months in Fiji, three months in Kiribati, six months in Samoa and six in Tonga.  Better them than me.  Sounds exotic, but setting up a flat six times in 18 months is a real pain.

Learned that pianos here are not tuned with a fork, but are tuned with a pitch pipe???

June 4

I am not really sure when Timoci (Timothy) left Fiji for Guam.  I hate being behind in this blog, but simply cannot find the time to write everyday.  Neither Scott nor I have enough energy at the end of the day to write in a journal.  We go home after class and taking the YSAs home so tired that we change clothes as soon as we get home and go to bed.  So I am adding this here as it is important to get into our journal which is what this blog is---our journal.

As a review Timoci was one of our original YSAs.  He came the first day we taught and attended both of the classes we taught in the institute and every activity we held until he left on his mission.  He original call was for the Canada, Toronto mission.  He was to leave in November 2012.  His visa request was turned down twice by Canada which was such a disappointment for him.  There was a time when we feared he would just decide not to go on a mission, but through the ministration of our wonderful Bishop Farpa 'pau it did not happen.  His next call was to the Micronesia, Guam Mission.  Because Guam is a territory of the United States it takes months to get a visa.  So instead of going in November, Timoci had to wait for a visa.  Finally in the middle of January, the church instructed the employee in the Service Center that Timoci was to leave for the MTC in New Zealand in three days.  He went.  No visa came while he was there, so he had to come back to Fiji as a full time missionary waiting for his visa to Guam.  It finally came the end of April or the beginning of May. 

We had the privilege of seeing Timoci while he was in the Mission Office here is Suva the day before he flew to Guam.

With Timoci Tupua just before he flew to Guam

We are so proud of Timoci.  He put his whole heart and soul into his mission work here in Fiji.  We have been corresponding on an irregular basis and I would like to record some of the things he has written to us.  He is a man of great faith and we are aware that these trials before his mission have strengthen his faith and made him more fit for the work.

From the MTC in New Zealand:
"Every day that goes by...my testimony of my saviour is strengthened....my spiritual eyes have been opened....i am always uplifted and i love that feeling....i know that i will be able to experience more of this in my time here....sometimes i am challenged but i am grateful for the spirit that comforts me and gives me the strength to carry on....here obedience is something to always remember...and it does bring blessing....."

This after one week serving in Fiji (where he really, really did not want to serve):
"i am happy to serve the Lord in whatever vineyard he has called me to serve him."

From Ba, Fiji
"The priesthood is indeed the power of God....and can only work on faith.....i am so blessed to have this power, Sister Tennis."

Timoci (on right) and his first convert

June 3

Had a great time today listening to Scott talk to all our children and his mother.  Happy second birthday, Scott.  It was good to wish Kristin a happy birthday also.

We are studying Elder Bednar's book Act in Doctrine. It has been a nice experience.  We read to each other discussing as we go and then listen to the DVD that came with the book.  A lovely experience.