Be Wise!

Week 30

27 July 2015

Well this week I had a lot of Fall through appointments ...A LOT!!! We only had 6 lessons the entire week and it was very annoying not being able to teach. All I want to do is share a lesson with someone but we didnt really get a chance. People have their free agency though, I know there was a lesson to be learned though so me and my companion are thankful for the lesson and experience.

My zone leaders are telling me that I might be taking a leadership position soon in the mission?? I don't know about that haha ... I think they're just trying to play with me... the Fobs lol. But they said that is it very possible I train someone in the next transfer which is a bit scary but yeah...

Was a good Sabbath day yesterday though apart from a slow and torturous week. We taught priesthood class as usual and we did a temple prep class as the members are preparing to go to the temple in the coming months. Its so exciting and wonderful to see their excitement and love and desire to go to the House of the Lord and especially do work for their families. They love that!!!

Apart from that, my week has being very slow and not too exciting. I was reading in the book of Jacob this week and there was a verse I really loved. Jacob speaks so simple and plainly and really strikes the people with his words. I love him!!! He says in chapter 6 verse 12 "O be wise, what could I say more" its so simple. Be wise its as simple as that. Be wise in action, in word, in thought, in deed and in everything. Because each day we gain and lose light or Revelation or inspiration or whatever you want to call it ...but its true and we must be wise as to what we do otherwise we can lose the spirit just like that!!

Well thats all, be safe and be well. Always think of the temple when you're down because it will always make you smile. :) To Be...Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal 2 Nephi 9:39

Love you

Elder Lemusu

Fiji Suva Mission #SMILE

What is success?

Week 29

20 July 2015

Well an experience I want to share today is on the topic I have come to understand, which is Demanding too much of yourself. This week we were teaching this group of 3 sisters. Makalesi 19yrs, Pou 16yrs and Leba 14yrs. We have being trying to sit down with them for ageeess now but they are always busy doing stuff for their parents because their parents run a Kava Business. And of course Kava is Tapu to missionaries. And their parents aren't always home so we can't exactly go inside their house and teach them. We find that something is always stopping us from teaching them, They call my companion weird because he doesn't talk, whereas me they like because i make fun of them and all. (Polynesians just have that instant connection where you can just immediately form a relationship/ friendship with them.)

We finally got to sit down with them because their grandparents were home. We sat down and were hoping to be able to have a good introduction lesson and explain our purpose as missionaries. But they started doing their own Lotu devotional (FHE sort've thing) Everyone began praying loudly at the same time trying to out do each other with their words and voices and we knew the spirit wasn't there. After about 10minutes of their praying it was over and we just had a chat because we didn't want to be rude and just leave. I felt so frustrated because we, well I had being really hoping to make these girls investigators but just wasn't happening. I went home that night really frustrated and annoyed.

I woke up the next day and spoke with my companion and we talked a lot about it and the work also. And I realised I was expecting too much of myself. I was expecting perfection of myself and forcing it too much on the work. Was expecting to much of myself to speak the language, to teach the lessons. Without even realizing that the main motives behind me doing that was so I could get a baptism, so that I could be like other missionaries who in their area's were getting baptisims and causing great miracles to occur and my area of Rakiraki. Though with a reputation of one of the hardest area's in the mission I felt like it wasn't going anywhere and I wasn't working hard enough. Perfection or a missionaries sucess is not judged by how many baptisms you get, it is not judged by miracles or great visions and amazing spiritual lessons.

Though they are all good things and are things we strive for as missionaries. I am only me! Elder Lemusu, I am not any other Elder. And to me the way that I define my success as a servant of the lord is by this revelation I was given this week gone " A soul is worth more than a number on a Baptismal percentage board. If a person can see the vision and understand the blessings of the truth from this work in their own lives. Then I have achieved my purpose as a missionary of the Lord." 

Perfection takes time and will not be achieved in this life but only in the next life. Through the Atonement in this life we can prepare to become and be made perfect through the blood of the only Begotten son. The Atonement has the ability to change and change the hearts so that people may change themselves. God dosen't just change people because they ask, he works from the inside out. He changes hearts so that they may change their actions. Whereas the world changes the outside while the inside still remains the same. Though beautiful on the outside, the inside still lingers.

Love!

Week 28

13th July 2015

Just want to talk about some thoughts I've had today about Language. Its very hard learning another Language other than your own but there is a language that is common amongst people but not really understood or used as much as it should be. Something I learnt from District Meeting was "That if you not in this work for Love, than what are you doing here?" 

Today I wish to share with you about language. Being Polynesian, people would have picked up many words in various languages. Like Talofa lava, O a mai oe? or Aloha, Ia orana etc. But Iwant to talk about another 2 languages that are not used very often in our lives. They are the Languages of Love and the spirit. Talk about this with your family and see how you can use and speak these languages to others around you :) Learn it, Live it and Just Do it :)

Elder Lemusu

#FSM2015_2016

Big Lessons Learnt

Week 27

6th July 2015

Well we have big plans with my new companion again, Elder Delfin from Guam. Plans such as at least 2 member presents, arranging dinner appointments with the members to establish relationships and help them be interested in missionary work, see our investigators at least twice a week. Think about our investigators and their individual needs. Help out the Branch president where we can so that he is not left so burdened doing clerk work with our branch clerk, less actives and his 2nd counselor also. Helping the men receive the priesthood and perform the ordinances involved such as the sacrament firstly. 

I love this area so much, it has so much potential. Many missionaries see this area as hard. But I have learned from this area that the worth of a soul is great in the sight of God, no matter how far they live or if their progression is slower than others. The worth of a soul is great and though Rakiraki has proven in the past to be low numbers in terms of baptisms etc. A soul is more precious than a number. These people are real, with real questions, desires, experiences and pains. I love them, truly I do.

Man, if I could I would serve here my whole mission but I know that will not be the case. This past week was a hard week, and learning to have patience. It was hard, because of my companion. I felt like I was on holiday this past week, no lessons or work done properly and effectively. Coming home after 10;30pm but that is all I will tell you because according to missionary rules im not really supposed to tell you things like that lol. I have learned a lot from my past companion. He taught me a lot, patience, Humility, caring sincerely about investigators, he taught me to love and be charitable and also to forgive. He taught me that I don't want to be disobedient because it does not feel good at all and I desire to have that feeling of success and accomplishment that only comes with following the spirit and missionary rules and obligations. I'm thankful for that experience though so very very hard mentally, physically and spiritually sometimes I know it was for a reason and I needed to understand those attributes of the Saviour and apply them to myself to have further success in my mission.

Please keep praying for me because I need all the help I can get to do this work. I have a potential just like everyone of Gods children and I want to reach that potential or standard and be the best I can to do this divine work of saving souls.

Just came back from a big day. Ended our day at a Welcome home Party for a missionary Sister.

(L-R) Bui, Marama, Loela, Esta, Daniela ... I've gone black lol soz I look horrible