Really Tough Week

Week 26

29th June 2015

This week was hard... very hard. We had less than 3 lessons this week total and I was very frustrated and sometimes found myself getting upset. I love these people so much but my companions idea of missionary work is totally different from mine, he lets his emotions and feelings get the better of him and they influence how he does missionary work. 

Its hard having to have a companion like this. Really it is. I have sought the Lords help many times and I know he is helping me and speaking to me but my companion however just does his own thing. Its sad, really sad having to help him when there are those out in the field (people I love so dearly I cry for them). Recently I assessed how Jesus Christ did it? How he showed compassion and love to others. He is so powerful and knowledgeable and yet many time he lowered himself so that others would prosper and learn, change and grow. He chose to humble himself and step back.

I reviewed the counsel my father gave me one time "Everything starts in the home, not outside".  I thought about that I came to a understanding that whilst there are those I love and need help. There are those souls that need saving, there is a soul right in my own house that needs help and that is my companion. I though about the parable of the 99 sheep and the one that strayed and how much I cried when Jesus Christ left those 99 sheep and went after the one that needed help. I know that I need to leave those people I love, those members, recent converts, less actives and investigators especially and focus on helping the one here at home. Its so hard, truly you cannot imagine how hard it is to leave these beautiful people I love so much and want to help so much. To leave them and help my companion, my brother and this soul and son of God.

There have being times where I have said to myself Why? that seems to be the biggest and most common question we can ask God. Why? and I asked him that question. Why do I need to help him? He is a missionary who is almost finished his mission and I couldn't understand, because its not my problem he needs to sort this out but as I read a Scripture in 2 Nephi 33 I realised if I do not help him as his companion -  meaning I am responsible for him. If I don't help him than I will be held accountable and my garments shall be found with spot at the last day. I know what I must do and boy is it hard, but as I listened to a talk from Jeffery R. Holland I learned that Salvation is not easy nor was it meant to be a cheap and quick experience. Trial is for us to understand that we are weak as mortal beings in this small and short life. (Ether 12:27) And because we are weak we have a constant need for his help meaning we need to be submissive and humble and come unto him as children and accept his will and desire for us. (Mosiah 3:19) It may not be our desire but it is his and in the end we do benefit and he awaits to bless us. 

Baptism

Week 25

23 June 2015

1st Baptism, Brother Isimeli Rokoseu

Short and Sweet!

Week 24

15 June 2015

Today we recieved the greatest news of all, concerning the re dedication of the Fiji Suva temple on the 25th of Febuary 2016!!

I am so excited and so much more willing to bring everyone unto Christ for this specific special event omgsh!!! I am so happy haha.. 

Last week we had zone conference and the topic was the book of Mormon we reassessed the story of Lehi's Vision and what a journey that was!!! It literally applies to everything in life if you think about it. 

Im under alot of pressure as the longest serving missionary in my area but all is well -  Im loving the work. Big things to come for my area trying our hardest :D 

Thats me goooiiyss!! Love to you all!

Learning Patience!

Week 23

08 June 2015

This past weekend I got to learn about humilty and patience. Patience with my companion and especially the members. The members and the Branch President rely on me so much, and it is so stressful when you have to take care of sacrament, teach priesthood in Fijian and try and keep the class energetic and not let everyone fall asleep. Make sure people are keeping the chapel clean and the list goes on. All I hear is Elder Elder Elder!!! or Lemusu, Lemusu Lemusu!! lol!!  At the end of it though, all the stress and pressure and many other things I have to think about,  I do love this area and am so thankful for it because I know I will be leaving soon. I have been here for a while  so I know my time will come to leave soon.

This past Saturday, I was confirming a appointment with a member to have a lesson with his investigator friend. There was a language barrier but we understood each other a little bit over the phone. We took the hour bus ride out to his village to have the lesson only for him to yell at me and say that he was busy and for him to repeatedly say to me "Lemusu, your the reason for my headache today".

While feelings of frustration, anger and discouragement ran through me I tried to hold it together. I am a missionary and I'm not wanting to get sent home anytime soon for going off at a member. His 20yrs old R.M daughter Koto told me not too worry and helped me a bit. My companion not knowing what was going on. 

After that appointment we were an hour late for every other appointment afterwards and members were calling me to say "Time is important".  While I tried to apologise and they understood my situation I couldn't help but feel discouraged still and I just wanted to pack up and go home for the day. My companion still not understanding what was happening kept being his chirpy happy self (fresh off the boat dude) .. I said to myself why is he happy, did he not just see what had happened with the member yelling at me and other members cancelling on us because we were late??

At the end of the day I told my companion how I felt and he said plainly and simply in his broken English "My last companion is my last area, member always yell at him even though the problems was not his fault but people just wanted someone to blame. The answer Elder is Humility".  I  couldn't understand what he meant because my pride and stubborness and hunger for justice was blinding me. But a few minutes later I understood. Humility is not a way of weakensss but showing that even though you are not in the wrong, we must be humble and take things on the shoulder and not to the heart otherwise if we take everything to the heart than Satan will find it easier and easier to target us until he shoots the right arrow and our heart stops all together. We must be humble even when the fault is not our own.

I learnt about Humility this week and patience, often we think the thoughts "ohh come on?? come on!!! hurry up already" we do not realise that those thoughts are complete selfishness and only thinking of us and not others. We often demand solutions immediately without realizing that Patience is needed. 

Patience is a virtue that learnt over time and the ability to not give under pressure of stress and refrain from getting angry etc. 

"Life is full of difficulties, some minor and some of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of our challenges for one and all. our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges forgetting that the heavenly virtue of patience is required" -Thomas S Monson (PMG-Patience)

I met Brother Kumar who has just returned from his mission in Brisbane, Australia!

Quick Hello!

Week 22

1st June 2015

Sorry Family, no time to email you all this week we actually have a lot of appointments today. Apologies. Will write you all next week. I'm well and Love to you all.

Elder Lemusu