Week 60
22nd February 2016
I suppose I should tell you all that yes I am safe, and well :) It's not my first Hurricane in Fiji. Maybe my second or third. This one, you could definitely tell was one of the worst.
The land here is destroyed, floods everywhere, trees the size of homes being washed down the rivers, blocking main roads, power lines fallen.... It's a mess everywhere. Friday we all began to get worried because that's when we could all feel the wind picking up, the sky turned black and the rain was non stop. But our leaders told us that the Re dedication would continue on as planned. Saturday morning, all missionaries were picked up in missionary vehicles and taken to the Samabula Chapel in Suva (which is right beside the temple) This was a time of great excitement, because all the missionaries in the mission would be there.
The person i hugged was my younger - big cousin Jimmy-Lee or Elder Roberts hahaha.... It was a sweet & happy reunion ;) one that I know Elder Roberts & I have being looking forward too for a long time now. As soon as we spotted each other we hugged each other & gave a loud cry '' CUZZZZZ!!! ". I think what was the sweetest part of our reunion was we Elder Roberts approached me to give me a Hongi, think that's what really made me tear up inside. I miss my cousin, at the moment he is on the boat back to Vanua Levu, unless it has being delayed due the weather. I'm not too sure honestly, power is out so we can't call anybody. Phones dead...
Saturday, everyone could feel the excitement. Missionaries greeting each other, shouting & what not. Haven't had a gathering like this before ever in Fiji, Suva Mission. All missionaries than were told to proceed to the chapel were we would await the arrival of President Henry B. Iring and Elder Quentin L. Cook. Everyone kept poking the heads up to look at the door to see if he had come yet, all the missionaries looked their very best. All the Tongan Elders/ Sisters wearing their Ta'ovala's. Samoan Elders/ Sisters wearing the Ula's. All the Missionaries from the North had tapa stitched into their sulu's. Isa.. how I miss the North :)
It was a great & joyful reunion, and a historic event for the FSM. President Henry B. Iring and Elder Quentin L. Cook arrived and entered the chapel. As we all arose to welcome them, I realized President Iring is really TALL!! and Elder Cook is way more bald than he looks in General Conference lol but their words of wisdom, were beautiful. I think what I admired the most was what President Iring said "I was a bit worried coming to Fiji, even though a Hurricane was approaching" He said that as soon as he landed in Fiji and off the plane, the Pacific Area presidency began to ask him "Should we call it off? " But President Iring was not worried at all. I learnt a lot from him, I loved how he related to us speaking of how even HE! gets tempted, he finds it hard to have the Holy Ghost with him every day, He gets tired etc. He spoke about how he is old and getting tired is much more faster than it was before for him, but he finds strength in the sacred calling he has. He encouraged us to just keep trying, keep trying. There is so many thingsIi loved about what he shared with us in that Chapel, but I cannot tell you them all because it would take to long and well I haven't had time to gather my thoughts yet...
After the special time with President, buses lined up outside the chapel to take us missionaries to the Vodafone Stadium, MAN WAS THAT A BLAST OF EXCITEMENT!! Us Elders singing proudly Fijian Hymns and songs as we patrolled through Suva towards the Stadium. Everyone knew who we were haha... We arrived at the stadium, the Celebration began early because of the Weather becoming very dangerous, the 'different Meke' was awesome, us missionaries thought we would get in trouble from President for yelling and screaming in excitement but when we saw him doing it we all went crazy hahaha. One Elder, his names Elder Nabuti from Kiribati was HILARIOUS going nutz in excitement and of course us Poly missionaries made a racket all right hahaha. I began to cry to be honest as the meke began, I've missed dancing and performing so much it reminded me of Heilani back home, not only that though it was so beautiful so see the stadium PACKED and everyones happiness for the temple reopening!!! The Fijian National Youth Band was the very first performance and led the march of all the different dance groups BOYY!!! THEY SET THE TONE, felt like I was watching the movie Drumline!!!! hahaha I went crazy, I'll be honest :)
The Celebration was cut short due to winds becoming way dangerous, and a Curfew warning was put out, meaning people need to return to their homes and stay there. No one is to go on the roads or anything... The Youth skipped to the final performance and everyone left. All us missionaries left to catch the buses to return back to the Chapel and then disburse from there in mission vehicles. I SAW THE MEMBERS FROM TUKAVESI!!!! man we all cried when we saw each other!!! I didn't think I'd see them because the leaders wanted missionaries out of the arena and on their way home, so things were slightly hectic. Winds were crazy!!!!! and rain felt like rocks.. Got back to the Samabula Chapel & then disbursed from there. We were riding home and came to a halt because a coconut tree had fallen in front of us, all 20 Elders got out of their trucks (we were all split up into 4 trucks, one behind the other) and we pulled together to lift and move this giant tree of the road in the rain and wind. It was a main road and there was no other way around. It was a beautiful example of unity.
My companion and I returned home, to find out house flooded, power out and so we got to work trying to salvage our things together. Spent half the night trying to do what we could, everything was soaked... Sunday the bus never came to pick us and the members up to go see the re dedication. We were told the Curfew warning was still on and the re dedication was cancelled due to the weather. The Hurricane itself had passed but the rain was still bucketing down and the wind a little bit too. So we ended up spending Sunday morning cleaning our house, we got a call at 11ish from one of the missionaries saying that the Re dedication is on!!!! My companion and I freaked out, we had already missed the 9am session and 12pm session would start soon, the next and last session is at 3pm. We had no way of getting to the Stake centre of where it would be shown. As far as we knew the other missionaries were already there -.- my companion and I same time had the same thought ?? THE BIKES!!!!! The stake centre is way far!!! like maybe Brown plains to Sunny Bank Hills. We left home as soon as possible, made to the stake centre in one hour only for the members there to tell us that it wasn't being shown there because the power was out in Naursori (Name of the city/ area) it was only being shown in Suva because the power was working there apparently -.- My companion and I rode through the heavy rain, strong winds, hills and flooded roads only to told that -.- LOL!!!!! members were shocked that we rode all that way and once missionaries found out they called us and are calling us LEGENDS. Only the missionaries in Suva watched the re dedication -.- The Hurricane took out the power and made call connections way hard so, that were the problem was for a lot of missionaries and members. But we were told they will replay the broadcast next Sunday, so hopefully power is back on by then..
And so well now, we are here in Town. There is still no power, no buses working. Only taxi's, we arrived to Town and thankfully power is on so we can email home!! MIRACLE!!! President Iring is still here, the youth that didn't get to do their performance on Saturday, got to do it today. We wanted to go but its again a problem with telling people due to power and connection failure here at the moment. I didn't really worry about me in the Hurricane, what I was mostly worried about was the members. The sacrifices they have made to be here, especially those who traveled from Tuvalu, Rotuma, Lau, Vanua Levu and Kadavu. Now when they return home their homes will be gone and destroyed. Vanua Levu I miss that land so much... This week I'm not too sure if we will get a lot of lessons but, I am looking forward to the service to be done :) my companion also will be leaving, he is being sent to his mission in Australia, Adelaide. My new companion arrives today, I'm going to miss him. So many memories, spiritual and funny ones too hahaha Isa... This weekend sure was one to remember Family and friends... Please dont pray for me but pray for the people of Fiji. I saw the news this morning as I walked past a news agent, the news is all worried about the tourists, but what about the people who live here. Homes destroyed, lives gone, memories obliterated... Pray for them Family :) I'll be praying for Tukavesi, Nabua, Tacilevu and the people of Fiji everywhere :))
It was also a Spiritual weekend, beside the weather and the many things that occurred, but there are an array of things to be thankful for Family. I am grateful to have seen my cousin, Elder Roberts, to see he had arrived safely to the Celebration. To see the faithful members of Fiji come to make history together and rejoice in the opening of Heavens doors, that being the Temple. Grateful I am to have seen the member of Tukavesi, Nabua, Tacilevu and Vanua Levu, their beautiful spirits join together with the Saints of this wonderful Church here in the Land of Fiji. I am grateful to serve a mission to experience, see, learn, meet, hear or the many miracles here in Fiji. How blessed I am to be in Fiji at this most important time, how blessed I am. I agree with President Halek's words, the Lord wanted us to be here at this specific time in the History of Fiji.. I know the Gospel to be true, I know it to be the missing peace in our lives when we feel alone and tired. I know it to be the peace, strength, healing and love we sometimes yearn for in life. It has blessed my life in more ways than I can imagine, being able to serve a mission. I am grateful to have being here to witness a Prophet and Apostle come and speak to me and speak words my soul and heart needed. It was so surreal, I still can't even believe that I saw Henry B. Iring and Quentin L. Cook. I love Fiji, it is a part of me, he has blessed and created miracles in my life not only here in the mission but at home with those whom I love deeply, And I share these things with all of you in the name of my father's son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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