There were a couple of wonderful one liners at stake conference today.
"You can shoot the messenger, but never ever shoot the message."
The story behind it was that President Seru called Principal Salomone and asked him to do a really hard task. Brother Salomone had had a really bad day at work; he just felt that he could not do one more thing. But as soon as he said yes, his spirit became calm and prepared. He could have shot President Seru, but because he did not shoot the message he was blessed.
"Personal preparation for conference determines what one will get out of it."
As this talk was going on, I was reminded of the story of Joseph Smith in the School of the Prophets. It was at that time being held upstairs in the Whitney Store. Joseph had asked the brethren to spend time thoroughly preparing for the next session. All the men came washed, and dressed in their Sunday best. During the meeting a man, the Savior, came in and sat with the class. Afterward Joseph asked who had seen the man. Not all had seen him. As I sat contemplating this event, I realized that those who had not seen the Savior had come physically prepared, but had not prepared spiritually. Therefore they had not seen the Savior.
I wonder how many times I have missed wonderful, spiritual experiences, because I had not come spiritually prepared.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
November 2
Last evening we were planning on going to the 4 o'clock session at the temple. I like the early session, but last night I really felt that we should wait until six to go. Scott really wanted to go at four, but he agreed that we could wait. It was not until we got into the first room, that I realized that it was inspiration from heaven that we wait till six. It was a very small session so small that one of the senior temple missionaries was asked to be a member of the company. We were the only married couple in the room. What a blessing to serve my fellow temple attenders in such a way.
 |
| THE SUVA FIJI TEMPLE |
Got up this morning and went to the institute building to work. I feel like I am getting further and further behind and running away for the afternoon yesterday did not help. Rationally I realize that I am not juggling that many balls, and yet I can not keep them all in the air.
We drove all the way to Pacific Harbor to lunch at Baka Blues. It is Sister Whiteheads last request. They are leaving for home on Monday. I love their sheperd's pie, but the drive was made even longer because of all the time we spent in the car yesterday. Sister Wells, Sister Hogge and I ended up in the back of the van (there were 10 of us) which was nice. I also rode in the back coming home. This time it was Sister Limburg, Sister Wells, and I in the back.
No institute activity tonight as this is stake conference weekend and we want the men to attend the priesthood session.
Monday, November 25, 2013
November 1, 2013
When Robert was here, he and Scott along with the Jacksons rode the rapids on the Navua River. To get the the head waters of the Navua River, they were taken by taxi on a long, but very beautiful ride. Scott has been promising me that he would take me on that same ride. Today was the day. We jumped in the van around 9 o'clock and got back about 4:30. Such a nice day. Following are some of the pictures we took with their explanations.
 |
| THE JACKSONS AND YOURS TRULY I am not frowning, just squinting. |
 |
| THE LANDSCAPE The haze is from the humidity. |
 |
| SO BEAUTIFUL |
 |
| SEEING CLEAR TO THE OCEAN |
 |
| ONE MUST WALK TO THIS VILLAGE |
 |
| TULIP TREE |
 |
| ONE HOUR IN WE COME UPON THIS VILLAGE |
 |
| STREET SIGN OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE! This sign is in better condition than any we have seen in all of Fiji. From this sign one can not see any villages, and in fact, it took us about 15 minutes to get to the next nearest village. |
 |
| THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE FIJI WAS VOLCANIC |
 |
| VILLAGE CHILDREN AT A BUS STOP "Buses" out this far are just large open bed trucks with wooden benches and a tarp for sun protection. They go out of the village in the morning and come back at the end of the day. |
 |
| ANOTHER VIEW OF THE HEAD WATERS |
 |
| HEADWATERS OF THE NAVUA RIVER |
 |
| PLAYING IN THE NAVUA RIVER |
 |
| IT IS JUST A FALLEN BAMBOO STALK |
 |
| A REAL RUBBER RAFT |
 |
| ON THE WAY HOME Each of us commented how different the view was coming and going. Spectacular both ways. |
 |
| WATERFALL ON THE WAY HOME |
 |
| OLD ROADWAY--NO LONGER USED Looks Roman to me. |
October 31
Received and email from Chaya telling us about Tori's twelfth birthday. All Tori wanted for her birthday was to go do baptisms for the dead in the Bountiful Temple so Chaya and Rex went with her to the temple. She did five baptisms with Rex baptizing her.
When Scott and I read the email, we were filled with gratitude for such a valiant granddaughter. We are so grateful for her parents who have taken the strong, valiant spirit that came inside Tori and have not only watched over it carefully, but have gently guide it over the past twelve years. We are so proud of all three of them.
We finally had the carpets cleaned today. The first time in the 18 months we have served here. Yahoo!
When Scott and I read the email, we were filled with gratitude for such a valiant granddaughter. We are so grateful for her parents who have taken the strong, valiant spirit that came inside Tori and have not only watched over it carefully, but have gently guide it over the past twelve years. We are so proud of all three of them.
We finally had the carpets cleaned today. The first time in the 18 months we have served here. Yahoo!
October 30
Tonight's lesson in Eternal Marriage is one on temporal preparedness. I chose to focus the lesson on budgeting. It is interesting that when I asked the class who had savings accounts only 2 of the 18 that were on time to the class had a savings account. As an aside, one of the young adult men made the statement that savings accounts cost money and that one had to have a job to open an account. The rest of the class heard him, so I asked the class if that was true in Fiji. It is not. Nice way to start class
I created a little budgeting exercise. A family owes money (LDS Primay tuition, back rent, etc.) and needs to find a way to save or earn enough to pay their debt. I was shocked when many of the students decided that they would just cut a little out of the electrical bill and the water bill. They had no idea where a family is able to cut expenses and where they are not. In fact, one of the girls got so frustrated with the exercise that she said, "I would just move in with my family in my village and live for free." Finally we did the exercise as a class which was an eye opener to most of the students. We finally determined that it would take at least four months to pay the debt back.
"If this was your family, what would you do once you had pain of your debt?" I then asked. Only one student said that they would keep living on the tight budget so that they could put money in a savings account. Hearing their reasons for spending or saving was very interesting. I was so grateful for the words of the Prophets that have cautioned us to never live to the ends of our means--to always have money laid away for emergencies. It is a totally new concept to these Fijian young adults. They actually calculated how much money they would save in an entire year. They were really impressed.
Both Scott and I were amazed that not one of these Fijians thought to grow some of their own food to save money especially as many vegetables and fruits grow here without any effort on man's part.
The other day we got into some slow moving traffic caused by road construction. As we were driving down Edinburgh Road (the main road into downtown Suva from our flat) and I noticed a huge bunch of bananas in a banana tree just off the road. I started counting and by the time we had hit the bottom of Edinburgh Road (4 blocks) I had counted 13 bunches of bananas waiting for someone to pick them as the land they were on is public land. No one owns it. No one planted the banana trees. Free for the taking.
I created a little budgeting exercise. A family owes money (LDS Primay tuition, back rent, etc.) and needs to find a way to save or earn enough to pay their debt. I was shocked when many of the students decided that they would just cut a little out of the electrical bill and the water bill. They had no idea where a family is able to cut expenses and where they are not. In fact, one of the girls got so frustrated with the exercise that she said, "I would just move in with my family in my village and live for free." Finally we did the exercise as a class which was an eye opener to most of the students. We finally determined that it would take at least four months to pay the debt back.
"If this was your family, what would you do once you had pain of your debt?" I then asked. Only one student said that they would keep living on the tight budget so that they could put money in a savings account. Hearing their reasons for spending or saving was very interesting. I was so grateful for the words of the Prophets that have cautioned us to never live to the ends of our means--to always have money laid away for emergencies. It is a totally new concept to these Fijian young adults. They actually calculated how much money they would save in an entire year. They were really impressed.
Both Scott and I were amazed that not one of these Fijians thought to grow some of their own food to save money especially as many vegetables and fruits grow here without any effort on man's part.
The other day we got into some slow moving traffic caused by road construction. As we were driving down Edinburgh Road (the main road into downtown Suva from our flat) and I noticed a huge bunch of bananas in a banana tree just off the road. I started counting and by the time we had hit the bottom of Edinburgh Road (4 blocks) I had counted 13 bunches of bananas waiting for someone to pick them as the land they were on is public land. No one owns it. No one planted the banana trees. Free for the taking.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
October 29
This morning at about 3:00 a.m. I had an unexpected meeting with a centipede who had decided to crawl into bed with me. Centipedes are one of the ugliest of all of God's creatures. Just thinking about them gives me the willies. Here is the story.
In the night, I rolled over in bed and hit something prickly with my leg. It was like the feeling you get from a tag in the back of a shirt--scratchy. I remember rolling away and must have gone back to sleep. Later I rolled over again and this time in a half-awake stage I thought that I would just kick the scratchy tag on the sheet off the bed. The scratch was the body of the centipede that had crawled into our bed, and when my leg hit the centipede, he did not like it and decided to bite me. Needless to say, I yelped, jumped out of bed, and screamed at Scott, "It bit me; it bit me!" Scott is really good in a crisis. He jumped out of bed, turned on the light, and then asked me what happened. After I explained that something had bitten me, he carefully pulled back the sheet and there was the centipede hanging onto the side of the mattress. Scott got his slipper and tried to kill it while it hung there. We did not know then that centipedes are as hard to kill as vampires; one needs a spike to the heart before it dies.
Moving on, Scott gave the centipede a heavy whack with his shoe and the thing dropped off the bed and scurried under it. Although my leg was really burning, I ran and got the broom and started to sweep it back and forth under the bed. Nothing moved. We had heard that centipedes were really fast, but we have never seen one move before, so we had no idea where it could have gotten. Finally Scott said that we had to take care of my leg which burned like crazy and was starting to swell. He picked up the bedspread (which was on the other side of the bed from where the centipede was) to put in back on the bed and the centipede dropped onto the floor. The original whack Scott gave it must have hurt it, because it laid there just long enough for Scott to step on it. When he picked up his foot, the centipede tried to crawl away thankfully not very quickly and so he stepped on it again grinding with all his might. It quit moving.
We got on the internet to see how to handle the bite. It said to wash the bite with antiseptic soap and then to either heat it or ice it. Wash it we did. Heat it we did.
Scott got dressed and then he gave me a blessing which promised me that I would be fine and would be able to have a normal day. The bite would not interfere with our work.
Afterwards, Scott told me we had to go to the hospital. He was really worried, because we have had two young single adults who have ended up in the hospital from centipede bites. Well, I have been to the public hospital and I was not going. After a short discussion, Scott called the Suva Private Hospital which is technically closed at that hour and asked to speak with a nurse. He asked the nurse how to handle the bite, and she said to buy some kind of cream. At 3:30 a.m???? So Scott asked her what the Fijian's do for centipede bites. They cut an onion and rub the bite with it which is what I did. It took some of the sting away.
Scott went to bed, but I just could not sleep where the centipede's friends might come. I sat on the couch with my legs up reading and rubbing the bite whenever the sting got bad.
My leg quit swelling. I did not get the usual rash that comes with a centipede bite, and although the bite stung all day, the sting was not constant nor was it awfully painful--just enough to remind me that I had been bitten by a centipede.
Without being too gross, you can see he is pretty mangled, and that much of his insides are spread all over the floor. He was about six inches long.
In the night, I rolled over in bed and hit something prickly with my leg. It was like the feeling you get from a tag in the back of a shirt--scratchy. I remember rolling away and must have gone back to sleep. Later I rolled over again and this time in a half-awake stage I thought that I would just kick the scratchy tag on the sheet off the bed. The scratch was the body of the centipede that had crawled into our bed, and when my leg hit the centipede, he did not like it and decided to bite me. Needless to say, I yelped, jumped out of bed, and screamed at Scott, "It bit me; it bit me!" Scott is really good in a crisis. He jumped out of bed, turned on the light, and then asked me what happened. After I explained that something had bitten me, he carefully pulled back the sheet and there was the centipede hanging onto the side of the mattress. Scott got his slipper and tried to kill it while it hung there. We did not know then that centipedes are as hard to kill as vampires; one needs a spike to the heart before it dies.
Moving on, Scott gave the centipede a heavy whack with his shoe and the thing dropped off the bed and scurried under it. Although my leg was really burning, I ran and got the broom and started to sweep it back and forth under the bed. Nothing moved. We had heard that centipedes were really fast, but we have never seen one move before, so we had no idea where it could have gotten. Finally Scott said that we had to take care of my leg which burned like crazy and was starting to swell. He picked up the bedspread (which was on the other side of the bed from where the centipede was) to put in back on the bed and the centipede dropped onto the floor. The original whack Scott gave it must have hurt it, because it laid there just long enough for Scott to step on it. When he picked up his foot, the centipede tried to crawl away thankfully not very quickly and so he stepped on it again grinding with all his might. It quit moving.
We got on the internet to see how to handle the bite. It said to wash the bite with antiseptic soap and then to either heat it or ice it. Wash it we did. Heat it we did.
Scott got dressed and then he gave me a blessing which promised me that I would be fine and would be able to have a normal day. The bite would not interfere with our work.
Afterwards, Scott told me we had to go to the hospital. He was really worried, because we have had two young single adults who have ended up in the hospital from centipede bites. Well, I have been to the public hospital and I was not going. After a short discussion, Scott called the Suva Private Hospital which is technically closed at that hour and asked to speak with a nurse. He asked the nurse how to handle the bite, and she said to buy some kind of cream. At 3:30 a.m???? So Scott asked her what the Fijian's do for centipede bites. They cut an onion and rub the bite with it which is what I did. It took some of the sting away.
Scott went to bed, but I just could not sleep where the centipede's friends might come. I sat on the couch with my legs up reading and rubbing the bite whenever the sting got bad.
My leg quit swelling. I did not get the usual rash that comes with a centipede bite, and although the bite stung all day, the sting was not constant nor was it awfully painful--just enough to remind me that I had been bitten by a centipede.
 |
| THE CENTIPEDE |
Rest in peace ye fiend of the infernal pit! (This last was written by Scott. He is so funny)
October 28
In our meeting today, we asked President Sefeti to cover our USP Family Home Evening tonight. We gave him the treats. We ask Maggie to do the lesson. We already have an activity. We are so sad to miss FHE. It is such fun.
We wanted to attend the senior's FHE. It was held at the service center and was in celebration of Diwali. I know I have said it before, but Diwali is the biggest holiday here in Fiji. It is a Hindu celebration that goes on for five days.
Elder and Sister Updike was in charge. She made curry (which neither Scott nor I like) with lots of toppings. Sister Jackson and I made Raita. It is a yogurt based condiment for curry made of plain yogurt, shredded carrots, onions, and spices. Sister Updike also made the best mango chutney. I have asked her for the recipe.
The speaker was Hindu and explained Diwali. He was so hard to understand that I finally just gave up listening.
Oddly enough we had pumpkin pie for dessert.
After it was over, I wished that we had gone to USP for FHE.
We wanted to attend the senior's FHE. It was held at the service center and was in celebration of Diwali. I know I have said it before, but Diwali is the biggest holiday here in Fiji. It is a Hindu celebration that goes on for five days.
Elder and Sister Updike was in charge. She made curry (which neither Scott nor I like) with lots of toppings. Sister Jackson and I made Raita. It is a yogurt based condiment for curry made of plain yogurt, shredded carrots, onions, and spices. Sister Updike also made the best mango chutney. I have asked her for the recipe.
The speaker was Hindu and explained Diwali. He was so hard to understand that I finally just gave up listening.
Oddly enough we had pumpkin pie for dessert.
After it was over, I wished that we had gone to USP for FHE.
 |
| Standing, left to right: Elder Hogge, President Davis, President Klinger, Sister Updike, Elder Updike, Elder Whitehead, Susan Stanford, Frank Standford, Elder Jackson, Sister Jackson, Elder Wells, Guest Speaker, Elder Tennis, Elder Christiansen Seated, left to right: Elder Collins, Sister Davis, Sister Collins, Sister Klingler, Sister Limburg, Sister Newsom, Sister Hogge, Sister Wells, Sister Christiansen, Sister Tennis, Sister Whitehead. |
October 27
Today I taught the lesson in Relief Society. When I woke up this morning, I knew exactly how the lesson should go. I really did not need to prepare for or plan much. Who can say better than himself what President Monson said. In fact, I find that when teachers paraphrase conference talks that take more time to say what was said than the actual speaker took. I needed just to use the actual words of the Prophet (read by the sisters), and ask inspired questions. I knew I needed to ask sisters to tell the class personal experiences that went along with the lesson. I prayed as soon as I woke up that I would know who to ask. I prayed at breakfast that I would know who to ask. I prayed on the way to the church who I should ask. The names came to me during the open hymn. I looked around to see if the sisters were there and they were.
As sacrement meeting progressed, I became worried that I would not be able to get to all three sisters before they entered their Sunday School class and sharing personal experiences of this depth require time to think. As I worried, I told myself not to worry, but the worry kept coming back. I knew I could get to two of the sisters, but was worried I could not get to the third one. I chickened out. Rather than rush, I got two sisters the explanation sheets, and just gave the third one to Sister Jackson with whom we were sitting.
After the first sister gave her personal experience, I just thanked her and them went on with the words of President Monson. After the second experience, which was Sister Jackson's, I ask if anyone had an experience they wanted to share for that piece of the lesson. The sister that I had been told to ask and did not, stood up. She told her experience and the Spirit came so strongly into the room.
How could I have not done what I knew I should do? I know better. I am just thankful that Heavenly Father inspired her to share. All the experiences were good, but hers was the best!
As sacrement meeting progressed, I became worried that I would not be able to get to all three sisters before they entered their Sunday School class and sharing personal experiences of this depth require time to think. As I worried, I told myself not to worry, but the worry kept coming back. I knew I could get to two of the sisters, but was worried I could not get to the third one. I chickened out. Rather than rush, I got two sisters the explanation sheets, and just gave the third one to Sister Jackson with whom we were sitting.
After the first sister gave her personal experience, I just thanked her and them went on with the words of President Monson. After the second experience, which was Sister Jackson's, I ask if anyone had an experience they wanted to share for that piece of the lesson. The sister that I had been told to ask and did not, stood up. She told her experience and the Spirit came so strongly into the room.
How could I have not done what I knew I should do? I know better. I am just thankful that Heavenly Father inspired her to share. All the experiences were good, but hers was the best!
October 26
Sister Wakolo called me on Friday to see if I could teach Relief Society again. The teacher has lost her voice. I agreed to do it. I love teaching the sisters in the church.
It is Saturday night now and I should be working on the lesson, but I just can not seem to concentrate spiritually tonight. I refuse to prepare a lesson without the Spirit's help. I am not worried yet. I had a wonderful experience in the temple today. I was waiting for Scott in the Celestial Room, and because I knew it would be a long wait, I picked up a Bible to read. Scott and I are reading in Romans right now and so that is where I turned. As I was reading, I came across a scripture that was so perfect for the lesson I must teach tomorrow. I am so grateful. I can not count the times that what I have been reading in the scriptures relates to, enhances, or explains something I am preparing to teach. Heavenly Father's hand is in this work. It is such a comfort for me to know that He who knows all is in charge.
We only had about 15 in the building tonight. Here are the reasons there are so few: it is pouring outside, the Suva and Nausori Stakes are having their Saturday night sessions of stake conference, and there is a wedding reception. Although there are few here, it has been a noisy night which is probably why I can not seem to concentrate.
We have moved into the rainy season. It has rained most of every day this week. Boo!!! And although the temperature is only 26 it is muggy and feels more like 30. We are not looking forward to hotter, more humid weather.
October 24
All of the lessons went really well this week. We acknowledge that it is Heavenly Father's doings and has very little to do with us. He loves the young Fijians very much.
October 23
Talanoa is a returned missionary from Lami and a student at USP. We have repeatedly invited Talanoa to the Eternal Marriage Class. He has been an occasional attendee. In one class he let it slip that he was in a very serious relationship. We asked him to bring his girlfriend. She refused to attend.
It is Talanoa that asked if we could start a Family Home Evening Group at USP. Both Talanoa and his girlfriend, Sariah, faithfully attended FHE. Sariah also attended several of the Eternal Marriage classes.
After one class she asked if we could talk. I shut the door and she told me her problem. She has dated the same guy at home for six years. For eighteen months of those six years, she served a mission and is now here to Fiji attending USP. While here she met Talanoa and fell in love. She told the boy back home that she was no longer interested in him and therein lies the problem. She wanted advise on what she should do.
He will not let go. She has continued to email him (and would I guess talk to him on the phone). When I ask her why she had continued the correspondence, her reasoning was "to help him" because he still loves me and is having trouble getting over the relationship. He has also threatened suicide.
By the end of our conversation, she had decided to end all communication with the young man, ask her brother back home to be his friend and watch out for him, and to alert the old boyfriend's parents.
I can not help but feel sorry for the young man. He has spent six years waiting. What a waste. But I do have to say, that these long relationships are very common in the South Pacific. We have a sister missionary who has dated the same guy for five years. He proposed, but she refused so she could serve a mission. He is home waiting. Jimmy and Lillian have dated since high school. He has served a mission and she has served a mission. He is now waiting for her to finish at BYU-Hawaii.
October 21
The Service Center did not pick up our couch and chair. The clerk called this morning and I just told him to call them again. I called them also. I will be so frustrated if they lose the only burgundy leather couch in all of Fiji. Yikes!
Had a talk with Christina Sovasova today about parenting in Fiji. She said that she would just do what her parents said for her to do for the rest of her life. She is 30.
We had another marriage in the temple here. Eperama Rakatia and Jade? She is from Australia and was here for the Regional Young Adult Conference. They are getting married here, but are not living here. They will live in Australia.
We also got an invitation for Joseph Hussein's wedding in the Salt Lake Temple. He is marrying a sister missionary from his mission. They became friends and sweethearts on Facebook after their missions were over.
 |
| Joseph's Wedding Invitation It came via email. |
FHE tonight was just as fun as the rest of them. We have decided that this is our favorite activity all week. What a blessing.
October 20
Scott woke me up at 6 a.m. and I began to prepare the lesson for Sunday School. I had the lesson done, gotten ready for the day, ate breakfast, typed and printed the lesson at the institute and was only two minutes late for Sacrament Meeting at 10:00 a.m. Not bad.
The class was made up of the Johnson family (Brother/Sister Johnson, Valerie, Estelle, Lucelle, Gabrielle and Seta [a cousin]) who are new members of the Church, Ron Silas, and another man whose name I can not remember. It was so cute. When I asked the first question everyone sat and looked at me. I asked the question again in a different way and waited. I watched as Brother Johnson took a deep breath and answered the question. I could see the working of his mind which was that he is the patriarch of this family and therefore it is his responsibility to answer for his family. So cute.
I am not sure how well the lesson went, but I loved interacting with the members of the class. We had some great discussions, and wrote lots of stuff on the board--thanks to Scott being scribe.
The Johnsons are an amazing family. They met President and Sister Klingler when they stayed in a resort hotel that the Johnsons ran on the island of Kodavu (con dah voo). When they moved to Suva, Sister Johnson looked up the Klinglers and the rest is history. Brother/ Sister Johnson and Estelle, one of the twins, were baptized in August. Lucelle, Valerie, Gabrielle, and Seta were baptized in September. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes people so dramatically. Brother Johnson was really a drinker and according to one of the daughters so addicted to cigarettes that "if there was four dollars in the house and no food, Dad would buy cigarettes with the $4." He has given up drinking, smoking, and has assumed the leadership of his family. They are so faithful. They never miss church and come to all the activities. "By their fruits ye shall know them" is true of this wonderful family as well as the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
October 19
Tonight while the young adults were watching one of Scott's favorite movies, Remember the Titans, I was busily working on one of the two lessons I must teach this week when in walked the sister missionaries: Sister Lavatia (Samoan), Sister Vai, and Sister Sa. They asked if I would do them a favor. I said yes, of course, and before I even thought about it. They need me to teach the Gospel Principles class tomorrow in Sunday School. I quickly printed the lesson, and a talk by Elder Jay E Jensen on the subject--the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
After we had taken all the young adults home, I spent some quiet time to soothe my soul, read the lesson, and then read the talk. I am finishing and it is 12:45 a.m. I am hoping that Heavenly Father would inspire my mind as I slept.
October 16
The sister missionaries for the Samabula Ward are having another missionary fireside and so we have been asked as an institute choir to sing. They actually wanted two numbers, but I do not have enough regular participation to do two numbers, so I have turned the second number over to Sosi Nawatu. Sosi loves to sing and to play the piano. He can not read music; I believe he plays by ear. He is no longer coming to classes during the week, but he is in the institute most Saturday nights playing the piano and singing the entire night. He is excited to do it.
I have decided that the choir will sing Go Forth With Faith. My guess is that few if any will know the song which means lots of practicing. I will ask Sister Limburg to accompany us.
October 15
Got the strangest phone call today. Before I tell the story, I need to explain that I have a really hard time sometimes understanding Fijians and talking on the cell phone only makes it worse.
Today Ata called and she was hysterical. It is so embarrassing to say "what" over and over when someone is sharing emotionally. Finally I got the idea that she and Jacques has had some kind of a disagreement; and that when she ran into her bedroom, He had left her house and had not answered her repeated phone calls. She just kept saying, "I love him so much."
She wanted to know what she should do. She wanted me to call him; nevertheless I told her that it was not a good thing for me to intervene. I suggested that she give him some time to cool off, think things through and get back to her. She was not happy, but she agreed to give him some time.
Ata is only 19, Tongan, and the only person in her family that is a member of the Church. All of which are cause problems for her. He is a returned missionary and very stable, strong and mature. Things will work out for them.
I have said before that the YSAs love any/all American treats which are generally too expensive for our budget. Last week Scott found some soon-to-be expired boxes of Oreos which were pretty cheap for Fiji. We figured out that we could give each class member three of them and still stay within our budget. Three measly Oreos. The YSAs wee ecstatic! OREOS!!!!! The week before we fed them Fijian cream bread which is 1/3 of a long loaf of unsliced bread with a cream filling. They liked the Oreos better. Go figure.
October 14
Sister Jackson and I have spent the last two months looking for replacement couches. We really need to replace the little overstuffed couch that is falling apart and so uncomfortable. The green leather couch and chairs are still good, but are starting to be worn in some places.
We have been to Cost U Less, Courts, Subrail, Tapoo City, MHCC, Rups not just once but several times. We finally decided on just one couch at Cost U Less. When we met Lai there to show him which one, his first response was, "Is this all you want?"
"What?" I asked. He then explained that we have over $12,000 for couches, and art work. We had assumed that we were on a budget. Why, oh, why do these Fijians have such a hard time being specific?
So Scott and I have spent the last week going back to all the stores again. We have really specific needs. Matching blue carpet. Funny spaces to fill. Real durability. No recliners which is the rage here now.
After looking again, we found nothing and in desperation Scott and I went to the Service Center to ask Sulu and Sia where they would go to find a really nice couch. They mentioned all the places we had already been. Finally Sulu advised us to go to the Rups in downtown Suva. I really did not want to go. Rups stuff is so-o-o cheap and mostly Indian looking, but we went as it was the only place left. Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways.
There in Rups we found a lovely leather couch and two chairs that were in our price range and that would go fairly well with the carpet. It was a gun metal grey. Not my first choice, but considering the awful stuff we had already seen and no other choices available, it would have to do. As the sales clerk was writing up our order and giving us the LDS discount ($500), I bemoaned out loud that the color was not really what I wanted. He stopped writing, looked at me, and asked if I would be interested in burgundy instead of grey. Would I??? Duh! YES! Right there in cheapo Rups was the couch of my dreams. Thank you, Heavenly Father.
We now have two overstuffed chairs and two three/four people couches in our lounge. And what is as nice is that we have moved the two green overstuffed chairs into our office which makes chatting and counseling so much nicer.
October 13
Today we held our traditional dinner after the last session of General Conference. We love hosting these. We love the senior couples with whom we serve. Every one of them is so kind. They are all working hard in this part of the Lord's vineyard.
Because there were eighteen of us, we had to eat out of our laps. The men sat in the living room on all the soft furniture and the women congregated in the dining room on the hard chairs. How does that work??
I made BBQ chicken in the crockpot which is really good if I do say so myself. Moist and flavorful. The sisters all brought salads, and I made Mud Pie for dessert. I found the recipe in a ward cookbook; ward cookbooks are the very best kind as they are tried and true as well, and they use common ingredients.
We sat around chatting and then we asked what was each person's favorite conference talk and why; there were 15 different ones. It is interesting that even with the two talks that more than one person likes the reasons for liking them were different. I believe that is because the message of those talks in carried to our hearts by the Holy Ghost who tailors them to our needs. Another tender mercy from our loving Father in Heaven.
We ate at 4:30 and the last couple left just before 8 o'clock.
Because there were eighteen of us, we had to eat out of our laps. The men sat in the living room on all the soft furniture and the women congregated in the dining room on the hard chairs. How does that work??
I made BBQ chicken in the crockpot which is really good if I do say so myself. Moist and flavorful. The sisters all brought salads, and I made Mud Pie for dessert. I found the recipe in a ward cookbook; ward cookbooks are the very best kind as they are tried and true as well, and they use common ingredients.
We sat around chatting and then we asked what was each person's favorite conference talk and why; there were 15 different ones. It is interesting that even with the two talks that more than one person likes the reasons for liking them were different. I believe that is because the message of those talks in carried to our hearts by the Holy Ghost who tailors them to our needs. Another tender mercy from our loving Father in Heaven.
We ate at 4:30 and the last couple left just before 8 o'clock.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
October 12
We are excited to be offering another service from the institute building. We found when we got to Fiji that there were plenty of books and movie DVDs laying around the senior's apartments. At first we just passed around the books and movies; however, it caused problems. Finding a specific book or movie was almost impossible, so we have agreed to house all the senior books in one of the locked cupboards in the institute. Dear Sister Jackson has made a list of all of the books here and posted it on her blog for the senior missionaries. It makes it so easy for the seniors to drop in here and take a book. We do not check them out; we just tell them they have to bring the book back to get another book.
It is also nice to occasionally see the senior missionaries. I love the senior missionaries with whom we serve! They are some of the best Heavenly Father has.
It is also nice to occasionally see the senior missionaries. I love the senior missionaries with whom we serve! They are some of the best Heavenly Father has.
Monday, November 4, 2013
October 10
Today is Fiji Day. We are celebrating the independence of Fiji. Scott and I are working. Why? I am not sure I know, except neither of us can think of anything fun to do. Better work than be bored.
Happy Fiji Day!
Happy Fiji Day!
October 9
Had one of our young adult women come ask to speak to me. That is Fijian for "Can we talk alone with the door shut?"
This wonderful young adult woman (age 30) has been in a long distance relationship for about three years. He is in western Fiji and she is here in Suva. She has just come back from a visit home. While there the young man invited her and her friend to dinner. When she showed up there were other young adult woman also invited. Added to the awkwardness of the extra women, he avoided being alone with her. She is wondering if his feelings have changed. She wanted to know what she should do? I asked her what she wanted to do. "I want to be married." was the reply and she started to cry.
One of my soap boxes in Fiji is that parents here direct the lives of their adult children. They expect to be obeyed and are. These parents tell their children to serve missions, get a university degree, work for a year or two and then it is OK to think about marriage. Just like this lovely, totally committed Latter-day Saint woman, many young adult women here find themselves between 28-34, single, and wanting marriage. The problem comes with the young adult men who by the time they get all the things their parents want done don't want to get married anymore (there are over 200 single Melchizedek holders in Suva's two stakes), have fallen away from the church, or find a much younger woman who is willing to defy her parents and get married. I wept with her.
We decided that she needs to just come out and ask him where he stands. She will then know how to proceed. Her mother told her to break it off. She just can not be the one to shatter what she sees as her only chance at marriage and motherhood.
Because I am writing this way after the fact, I am going to write here the rest of the story. After two weeks I asked her what she had done about this relationship. With what could at best be called a sickly smile, she told me that she had called him just to chat. During the conversation he had told her that she needed to move on, because he was no longer good enough for her. He told her he was no longer active in the church and that she deserved more than he could/would give her.
We were in public when we talked. I was sorry we were not in a place where we could hug and cry. I do not know what is going to happen to her now. Not many men around from which to choose. Sigh.
This wonderful young adult woman (age 30) has been in a long distance relationship for about three years. He is in western Fiji and she is here in Suva. She has just come back from a visit home. While there the young man invited her and her friend to dinner. When she showed up there were other young adult woman also invited. Added to the awkwardness of the extra women, he avoided being alone with her. She is wondering if his feelings have changed. She wanted to know what she should do? I asked her what she wanted to do. "I want to be married." was the reply and she started to cry.
One of my soap boxes in Fiji is that parents here direct the lives of their adult children. They expect to be obeyed and are. These parents tell their children to serve missions, get a university degree, work for a year or two and then it is OK to think about marriage. Just like this lovely, totally committed Latter-day Saint woman, many young adult women here find themselves between 28-34, single, and wanting marriage. The problem comes with the young adult men who by the time they get all the things their parents want done don't want to get married anymore (there are over 200 single Melchizedek holders in Suva's two stakes), have fallen away from the church, or find a much younger woman who is willing to defy her parents and get married. I wept with her.
We decided that she needs to just come out and ask him where he stands. She will then know how to proceed. Her mother told her to break it off. She just can not be the one to shatter what she sees as her only chance at marriage and motherhood.
Because I am writing this way after the fact, I am going to write here the rest of the story. After two weeks I asked her what she had done about this relationship. With what could at best be called a sickly smile, she told me that she had called him just to chat. During the conversation he had told her that she needed to move on, because he was no longer good enough for her. He told her he was no longer active in the church and that she deserved more than he could/would give her.
We were in public when we talked. I was sorry we were not in a place where we could hug and cry. I do not know what is going to happen to her now. Not many men around from which to choose. Sigh.
October 8
I am spending quite a bit of time corresponding with our replacements, the Petersons. They are so excited to come to Fiji and work in the institute. They are peppering us with all sorts of questions. I have decided that Scott and I were really blessed when we came. We knew nothing. And yet, we packed well. We did alright.
We are very aware that having a replacement is a blessing from the Lord. The last couple who served here were not replace. We understand that it was five or six years between their service and ours. Sad. The YSAs deserve better.
We are very aware that having a replacement is a blessing from the Lord. The last couple who served here were not replace. We understand that it was five or six years between their service and ours. Sad. The YSAs deserve better.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
October 7
I LOVE FHE!!!!
We had our second FHE at USP tonight. All but two of those who attended last week were back and eight more showed up; that is 15 total not counting Scott or me. Loriza gave a great lesson. She is a Fijian Indian and in her last year at university. Agnes from Samoa agreed to do the activity and it was a really fun one. She divided us into two groups, gave one group the name of an animal, and we had to act it out hoping that the other group would not guess it. At first we were given three guesses, but after a while she realized it was too easy and so she only gave us one guess. One young adult woman was a koala bear. She just wrapped her arms and legs around one of the ceiling support poles. I laughed and laughed. One of our young men acted out a roach. He was so good scurrying from under our table to the curtains, along the curtains, and then out and under the opposing team's table. I laughed until I cried.
Our team won by one guess, but Scott says it was not fair as my animal was a unicorn and his team did not get it because there is no such animal as a unicorn. I laughed at him until the tears came again.
I made my famous banana bars and they loved them!
What a fun night.
We had our second FHE at USP tonight. All but two of those who attended last week were back and eight more showed up; that is 15 total not counting Scott or me. Loriza gave a great lesson. She is a Fijian Indian and in her last year at university. Agnes from Samoa agreed to do the activity and it was a really fun one. She divided us into two groups, gave one group the name of an animal, and we had to act it out hoping that the other group would not guess it. At first we were given three guesses, but after a while she realized it was too easy and so she only gave us one guess. One young adult woman was a koala bear. She just wrapped her arms and legs around one of the ceiling support poles. I laughed and laughed. One of our young men acted out a roach. He was so good scurrying from under our table to the curtains, along the curtains, and then out and under the opposing team's table. I laughed until I cried.
Our team won by one guess, but Scott says it was not fair as my animal was a unicorn and his team did not get it because there is no such animal as a unicorn. I laughed at him until the tears came again.
I made my famous banana bars and they loved them!
What a fun night.
October 3
Just a quick post to say how wonderful Scott it. This week he taught the FHE lesson, the Tuesday Intro. to Family History lesson, and the Mission Prep lesson today. And every thing he taught was wonderful and spiritual. I am not sure how he does it all, but he does. He seemed so relaxed in each lesson. I watched him adjust his lesson in FHE, and again this morning which is a huge indicator that the Spirit of the Lord is speaking and that Scott is hearing him.
What a privilege it is to work and live with him.
What a privilege it is to work and live with him.
October 1, 2013
I really try not to think about my leg, but I am sure that someday I will want to remember what happened.
We saw the surgeon yesterday, he was really flabberasted with the improvement in my leg because of the special sheets we are putting in it. He does not want to see me again.
The piece of the sheet we cut to fit in the wound has gone from the size of a fifty cent piece to the size of a large pinto bean. The edges of the wound actually look like skin now instead of bloody cells--growing cells. Only the pinto bean piece looks bad and is not up to skin level. The only time the wound hurts is when the nerves are regenerating. I am not sure how that works as the entire wound is numb. In fact my leg is numb an additional 1/2" past the edges of the wound. Sister Limburg tells me that it will take at least a year to get any feeling back and then I may never get feeling in some areas. Great!
The doctor says I am not allowed to get it wet yet, although Sister Limburg (mission nurse) says I should get it wet. Both Scott and I agree that we do not feel comfortable getting the water here in the wound. If we can't drink the water, it seems that it would not be good for an open wound.
Scott is changing the dressings for me; I am such a baby about looking at it. We have started putting vitamin E oil around the edges of the wound hoping that it will lessen the scarring. There is a very small piece in the center of the wound that is still not growing new cells. If it doesn't grow, I will end up having a divot in a divot in my leg.
Really I am OK with all of this. I am not in any pain. I can walk. I have my leg. Life it good.
We saw the surgeon yesterday, he was really flabberasted with the improvement in my leg because of the special sheets we are putting in it. He does not want to see me again.
The piece of the sheet we cut to fit in the wound has gone from the size of a fifty cent piece to the size of a large pinto bean. The edges of the wound actually look like skin now instead of bloody cells--growing cells. Only the pinto bean piece looks bad and is not up to skin level. The only time the wound hurts is when the nerves are regenerating. I am not sure how that works as the entire wound is numb. In fact my leg is numb an additional 1/2" past the edges of the wound. Sister Limburg tells me that it will take at least a year to get any feeling back and then I may never get feeling in some areas. Great!
 |
| The dog bite with the miracle stuff in it. We cut it exactly the size of the wound; the doctor did not. |
Scott is changing the dressings for me; I am such a baby about looking at it. We have started putting vitamin E oil around the edges of the wound hoping that it will lessen the scarring. There is a very small piece in the center of the wound that is still not growing new cells. If it doesn't grow, I will end up having a divot in a divot in my leg.
Really I am OK with all of this. I am not in any pain. I can walk. I have my leg. Life it good.
September 30
This morning I set out to bake cupcakes for our first FHE at the University of South Pacific. I made flyers for Maggie to put up all over campus. Basically we invited the entire campus to our FHE. Maggie had collected phone numbers for 18 LDS students earlier and had names but no numbers for two more, but Scott wanted to make sure that every LDS student was invited hence the flyers. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about the "food" part of the flyer. Pacific Islanders are big eaters and they come to things just to get food.
I had decided that I would make two batches-44-cupcakes; but Maggie called and when I asked her how many she thought would come, she was just sure that we would have at least 60 and maybe as many as 70. I was skeptical, but I really, really hate not having enough food, so I baked three batches of cupcakes-68. When Scott got home for lunch he just laughed at all the cupcakes. He did agree, however, that if I made just one batch more would come than I had cupcakes. Our kitchen supplies are limited and I had a hard time finding ways to transport them.
Well we had 12 show up which we thought was fabulous considering that most of the LDS students at USP never attend church here in Fiji. Scott gave the lesson, and I did the activity. We really had a great time; I think they did also. We gave each two cupcakes. We will use the remainder for treats for Tuesday's class.
We met in the Orange Lounge on campus not far from the bookstore. The lounge is not orange, but it is a funny shape. There are no chairs just built in seats along one wall. We had to scrounge mats to sit on which is very Fijian. All in all we are going to like FHE with the students.
I had decided that I would make two batches-44-cupcakes; but Maggie called and when I asked her how many she thought would come, she was just sure that we would have at least 60 and maybe as many as 70. I was skeptical, but I really, really hate not having enough food, so I baked three batches of cupcakes-68. When Scott got home for lunch he just laughed at all the cupcakes. He did agree, however, that if I made just one batch more would come than I had cupcakes. Our kitchen supplies are limited and I had a hard time finding ways to transport them.
Well we had 12 show up which we thought was fabulous considering that most of the LDS students at USP never attend church here in Fiji. Scott gave the lesson, and I did the activity. We really had a great time; I think they did also. We gave each two cupcakes. We will use the remainder for treats for Tuesday's class.
We met in the Orange Lounge on campus not far from the bookstore. The lounge is not orange, but it is a funny shape. There are no chairs just built in seats along one wall. We had to scrounge mats to sit on which is very Fijian. All in all we are going to like FHE with the students.
September 29
I woke up this morning and realized that I am really nervous about our first Family Home Evening at USP tomorrow. Nervous to the point of paralysis. Not knowing how many people I am going to have to prepare to feed just about does me in. If I make enough for twenty, twenty-one will show up. If I make more than enough, no one will show up. I so wish that worrying was a calorie burner. How wonderful it would be to lose weight every time I am worried.
It is the fifth Sunday today and we sat in a "State of the Ward" talk by Bishop Farpa'pau. We wanted to remember what he revealed and so I am going to reproduce it here.
At End of Goals for End of
2012 2013 2013
Melchizedek Priesthood 30 35 38
Aaronic Priesthood 9 16 16
Temple Rec. Holders 41 45 47
Couple Sealings 14 14 0
Missionaries 4 8 16
YSAs Attending Church 12 15 15
Convert Baptisms 4 8 16
Sacrement Attendance 107 120 185
Both Scott and I were just blown away by these statistics. Only in one category did we not meet the goals the Bishopbric set, and out of the eight goals, we exceeded them four times two by twice the original goal. Amazing. Our bishop is so wonderful. We are going to miss him when we go home.
It is the fifth Sunday today and we sat in a "State of the Ward" talk by Bishop Farpa'pau. We wanted to remember what he revealed and so I am going to reproduce it here.
At End of Goals for End of
2012 2013 2013
Melchizedek Priesthood 30 35 38
Aaronic Priesthood 9 16 16
Temple Rec. Holders 41 45 47
Couple Sealings 14 14 0
Missionaries 4 8 16
YSAs Attending Church 12 15 15
Convert Baptisms 4 8 16
Sacrement Attendance 107 120 185
Both Scott and I were just blown away by these statistics. Only in one category did we not meet the goals the Bishopbric set, and out of the eight goals, we exceeded them four times two by twice the original goal. Amazing. Our bishop is so wonderful. We are going to miss him when we go home.
Friday, November 1, 2013
September 28
It was a lovely boat with a canopy over the upstairs deck and a lovely downstairs deck. I had brought stuff to read and study on the boat while waiting for those who were snorkeling, because I still can not get my leg wet. As we were waiting to leave, I stood on the shoreline and watched the ocean. Big waves. The longer I watched the bigger the waves seemed to get. Standing there I realized that I would not be able to study because of the waves. After some agonizing, I asked Scott if it would be alright if I did not go. He was so good about it. He just went and asked for the money back for my ticket.
 |
| Scott on the Top Deck Making Friends |
 |
| The Boat Leaving Me Behind |
After the boat left, I felt guilty. Silly really, but there it is. I found a quiet place and sat down to study, but found that I just could not concentrate, so I moved upstairs to the lobby where three Fijian men were singing, pulled out the novel I brought, and spent the next two hours thoroughly relaxing. I love the way Fijians sing American music. Even when it is rock music it is soothing. Just another indication that Fijians are really a happy, relaxed people.
When the boat came back, Sisters Jackson and Christiansen told me that the ride was really rough. Rough enough to make them nauseated. In fact, some of the other passengers lost their breakfasts. I am so glad I did not go.
Lunch and the drive back was fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)