September 27

We had lunch with Maggie Vodo and Brendon Seila today.  Maggie had reserved the room on campus for FHE on Monday and we needed to see where it was.  When we asked where they wanted to eat, they chose the cheapest place around campus.  Not me!!! We ate at the Southern Cross restaurant on campus before we went to find the building.  I do not know what we would do without Maggie.  She is such a worker and supports everything we do.  We are grateful for her.

Maggie is leaving the 5th of December for her mission in Hamilton, New Zealand.  She will be a dynamite missionary.  Brandon served his mission here in Fiji.

Brendon Seila and Makareta (Maggie) Vodo

Our date tonight was grocery shopping at MH; afterward we went for a ride along the sea wall and then went home to watch a movie.  You know you are old when this kind of an evening is enjoyable.

September 26

We had signed up to help clean the temple after the Missionary Prep Class today.  It was an interesting experience.  After the Mission Prep class, Scott asked who was planning on going to the temple to clean only seven raised their hands.  We gave the class their treats, and Scott bought fish and chips for those going and for Joseph who wasn't in the class. While the eight of them were eating, I noticed that none of the other class members had left.  They obviously planned to just play at the institute instead of helping at the temple.  The mother in me came out and after talking it over with Scott, we just announced that we were closing the institute, so everyone could either go help clean at the temple or go home.  It was sort of an if-you-do-not-do-what-is-right-you-are-not-allowed-to-play.  Almost everyone (seven more) decided that they would help clean.

Because most of them had not brought their recommends, we ended up cleaning outside the temple.  Here are the pictures.

Cleaning the Roof of the Temple

Looking at the Temple Parking Lot
and Patron Housing

Ata Standing on a Ledge 

 

              

                  Suva Harbor from the Roof of the Temple

The Temple Compound 

Moronai on the Way to Visit Moroni

Almost Everyone Is Working

The Crew (left to right, top to bottom)
Luna, Wame, Tomasi, Seta, Estelle, Joseph
Moronai
Asenaca, Ravu, Ulai, Matai, Shanal
Francis, Lucelle, Rupeni  

September 25

Had a horrid headache this morning that would no go away even with Tylenol.  I guess I got so worried about the headache that I got one of my tension stomach aches.  GREAT.  I spent the morning in bed with two wet wash cloths one over my eyes and the other at the back of my neck.  Finally at about 1 o'clock I got up, showered, ate and trudged to the institute building.  I had promised the class a lesson on how to communicate effectively in a marriage and while courting.

I read the two lessons on this topic that I had given before, decided that a combination of the two would be best for this class.  I was finished writing and ready to teach by 5:00 p.m. which was nice as it gave me 30 minutes to relax and visit with the young adults.

We had 27 in class and it was a zoo.  We had put the tables away, and set the chairs up in as close to a circle as we could get.  I taught them skills and then had them practice.  A YSA would choose a number and that number was a topic of conversation for each pair.  Only one talked, the other practiced good listening skills.  After two minutes one of the pair moved and another topic was chosen and communication began again.  As they talked I watched and then gave them kudos or suggestions.  I am amazed at how good some were and how absolutely untrained the rest were.  One YSA male actually turned his chair so that he could not look at the person who was talking to him or to whom he talked.  After asking him twice to move his chair, I finally had to physically move it for him.  I even caught oneYSA listening to the conversation behind her.

They seemed to have fun and when I asked them what they had learned they had great answers. Hopefully it will help them in their associations.

September 24

I taught the Intro. to Family History lesson tonight.  It consisted mostly of how to fill out the different genealogy sheets e.g., how to write dates, place names, real names--the nuts and bolts of doing genealogy work.  Hoping to make it a little more interesting I made a power point presentation which had pictures.  It went fairly well.  At the end I challenged the class to get their family groups sheet (with them as a child, of course) completely filled out.  As incentive I have offered them a special treat next week.

Just as with any class, we have some who are just listening and doing no work, some who want to work, but are overwhelmed, and some who have already done research and baptisms.  I am hoping to bring those who are overwhelmed to a place where they can see the next step on their own.  I am not sure there is much I can do for those who are just sitting and listening except pray that the Spirit of Elijah will come to them.

September 23

Tonight was FHE with the seniors.  Hogges hosted it.  We had three kinds of soup and although I only tasted one, Scott--well everyone--said they were all wonderful.  I had Sister Whitehead's Mulligatawny Soup which is a curry soup.  It was so good, I have asked for the recipe.

The activity was very enlightening.  Each of us were to choose a favorite scripture, read it to the group, and tell why we like it.  Not only were we uplifted by the scriptures and the explanations, but it gave us a better insight into each senior missionaries personalities.

Nice night.

September 22

We went to church in the Nasinu wards today.  It is always lovely to visit wards, and we both love recruiting YSAs to the Institute.  We are always amazed at the YSA and adult faces we recognize and love.

Just after church we got a call from the Bedarra.  We had left underwear in our room.  We certainly could not just have them throw it away, so we decided to leave as soon as we got home from church.  We did not have time to fix the dinner that I had thawed in the refrigerator.  As we were changing I kept trying to think of what I could fix that would taste good and be fast.  Just as I was walking out of the bedroom, Monika downstairs knocked on our door with a dinner of fish, purple dalo, cassava, lolo, and ota.  What a blessing.  We ate and left.  We drove the two plus hours there, picked up the underwear which took two minutes, and then drove the two plus hours back.  To keep us entertained I read the scriptures and we listened to conference talks. 

Scott is so good to drive.  He never complains and, in fact, makes the drive fun.  I love being married to him.

September 21

I laid around the resort and read while Scott snorkelled this morning.  There was a free foot rub that came with the room which we did before lunch, and then we left for home.

When we hit Suva we shopped at the market, cleaned the vegetables and then went to the Institute for activity night.