Had an experience today that again reminded us of the cultural differences here. Naomi Waka attended the Samabula ward today. It was great to see her. When we were trained in SLC for PEF, she was also there training as the new Pacific Area Coordinator of PEF. She is in Fiji to do genealogy with her sister. It seems she has quit her job. When I asked her why, she said that she was just in a rut--a less than 15 months rut. She seemed to have lots of ideas about what to do next, but no real plans. She is not particularly worried about having an income nor about where she is going to live. Typical Islander attitude.
I taught the lesson in Relief Society today. I was not happy when I read the lesson the first time as I felt it was really a priesthood lesson. When I read it the second time, I wondered how I could teach a lesson when I was the bad example of that lesson. I prayed and prayed all week, but did not write the lesson until Friday night and Saturday. I actually finished it this morning. I had trouble getting discussion to begin with, but it got better as the lesson progressed. I love the sisters of this ward; they are great women--daughters of God. At the end of the lesson, I asked them what they had learned that would make a difference in their lives. No one answered. I waited. Repeated the question. Waited again. Finally I said, "This lesson has been a failure if the Holy Ghost has not been here, and if He has been here then He has whispered to you what you need to do now because of this lesson. I was absolutely amazed at the response from these sisters. The class actually went over time, because so many sisters shared what the Holy Ghost had told them. Powerful!
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