Called to Serve - Suva Fiji Mission: February 2015

Week 8

23rd February 2015

This week I have had many chances to get to know and come close to some of the members.

My favourite is this single mum named Sister Teresia, she has 3 kids and she is so bubbly, happy and kind hearted. She speaks so soft, her two little ones 10 and 7yrs are awesome. Her daughter the 7yr old I named Mereana. Her oldest boy is a bit like Jacob when he was 13. I feel close to them because her family reminds me of ours.

She is a very poor women they live in a house the size of a kitchen, no furniture just a matress plenty of stocked water bottles and some school supplies and clothes. They use a candle for a light at night. She told me she was the black sheep in her family so she moved away, many nights her family go hungry but she doesnt go out and beg or ask for food she tells her kids the same. All they do is sit at home close their door and pray and God always provides her a way she says. She told me she is blessed to have her children, have them in school, have a home, have a firm testimony and to have the gospel in her life. She was such a testament to real faith!!

The other two families are two old couples I met Brother and Sister Yaquru and Brother and Sister Ratuluke.

The Ratuluke's are funny, they are old Fijian couple but are full of life and happiness. The husband saw me and went crazy happy, telling me to come in and take a seat... whereas my companion sat on the floor lol. They are so funny and cheeky. The husband understands the gospel so well, he has a heart condition but it dosent stop him walking the 45mins to Church each week. His wife wants to be baptised and so I will extend the invitation for her to be baptised this week.

Brother and Sister Yaquru are just as crack up only they act like their teenagers, Sister Yaquru always makes sure I'm okay and always makes jokes to me during chuch about people lol I love these guys :)

I love my mission more and more each day. Its hard but worth it.

Quick picture before the storm comes!

Week 7

16th February 2015

I am an official representative of Jesus Christ here in Fiji. After receiving news of the area I would be serving in, President made plans for us to be moving out to our areas ASAP. I caught 4 buses and a taxi to my apartment with my new companion Elder Tomasi (Thomas) from Provo, Utah. We came to the flat dropped my stuff and went out to work straight away. We went and tried to visit some families but none were home, we did talk to one family though. They're not members, we've taught them one lesson which is the restoration. They seem to be interested but we're not too sure yet. We are still getting to know them, there are the parents Tarai (Father) and Iva (Mother) and their 6 children ages from 5 - 16yrs. The Fijian people are so welcoming, every-time we walk somewhere they always give a big hello and offer to feed us or offer us some lemon leaf tea, members or non members.

We went to the other side of the island to visit a investigator who was supposed to be baptized 2 months ago but he keeps putting it off so we visited him and just talked about baptism. He embraced our message but were still not sure if actually embraced our message lol. His name is Isimeli (Ishamel) he is about 54yrs lol. All through our lesson he kept hinting to me about his niece who is 18yrs as well. I mentioned I was from Australia and that I was planning to go to BYU Hawaiii after the mission. He kept saying "Hey! my niece want to go Australia, you take her yeah? then it was ... Hey my niece want to go to Hawaii, you take her yeah? and then as we left the house he said ... Oohh yes thank you, hey you say goodbye to the pretty girl too aye?" I was trying my hardest not to laugh, the niece was embarrassed as heck lol.

Fiji is wonderful, when we are out and about I don't really think of home or family or the MTC. I noticed though as soon as we get home and I step inside, homesickness and all the feelings of missing the MTC and home and the family come flashing back to me. The first moment I arrived in my flat, I wanted to cry because I missed home so much but I held back the tears. I have woken up so homesick!!! I wake feeling so sad, depressed, nervous and worried oh my goodness. I really miss seeing everyone everyday, the happy smiles and laughter in the MTC. The planned out routines, gym time with everyone. Just being in the MTC was such a privileged that I miss so much. Its so hard not to think of home, but I am reminded though that it is only my 4th day here in the field not even my first week. I am reminded that I must think about the work and how to do it, and try my hardest not to think about home. Each day the homesickness doesn't feel as bad as it did the first day but I can still feel it. Seems like everything when I'm in the flat triggers me to miss the past.

But I have to keep pushing forward, and remember the things I know, which are my family will be okay. I must keep the faith that they will okay. I know that Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson and all the other prophets are men of God. Thats something I have really come to know since being here in Fiji. How great all those prophets are like Wilford Wildruff, Brigham Young, John Taylor etc. Their stories are all inspiring. I know that God loves me and will provide for me and my family. I must remind myself that this is a marvelous work that I personally have being called to do. (I pray for my family, the missionaries I knew in the MTC and all my loved ones DAILY!) ... Somtimes during the day I can't get my head around how I will last here for 2 years lol but my companion reassures me that I can do it!

Just letting you know though my camera is broken, Idont know what is wrong with it. I woke up and went to turn it on and now it wont turn on. I tried putting new batteries in but yeah not too sure. Really annoys me.

I can feel it though with each day I am able to love the mission more and more. I just hope everyday that Heavenly Father thinks I am doing a good job, I do want to do a good job for him, my family and me. Well that bout sums up the Fiji Mission experience so far.

I had my first Sunday here yesterday, the chapel is located on the upstairs of our apartment lol. Only the branch president and his family plus one other family of 3 showed up to church. Our area has SO MANY members but they are all less active. Transport is a major problem for members thus why they cant get to church. The other problems are that members are involved more in culture rather than religion. Religion is just a here and there social thing for them, not that important to them I guess anymore. So there is heaps of work to be done.

My companion is pretty cool, he talks SOOOOOO softly!! I have to constantly say "huh" so he can speak up lol but he is a really cool guy. I like him, he's being out here for 10months, his Fijian is pretty good and so he teaches most've lessons, I just share testimony and spiritual thoughts etc in Fijian. I can feel my testimony growing though especially about prophets!

At the end of the day I wish I was home, but I know those types of feelings will soon pass i hope and I will be more involved in this work. I said to myself once I wish I could have being apart of the miracles that happened back during the Mormon pioneers days, but then a thought told me "You are apart of the miracles that are occurring now here in Rakiraki Fiji" I love the mission at the end of the day and I must endure what I have been called to do.

I apologize if my message this week isnt so spiritual and all they you might be expecting family and friends but that has being my experience so far but know it will change as I keep going in the work. LOVE YOUSE ALLL with all the sincerity of my heart!!!!!!!! I shall speak to you next week Monday. LOVE YOU!!! au lomani iko OXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Elder Lemusu