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.