Week 62
07 March 2016
Ni Bula Vinaka Saka,
What a hectic week :) we hit a good 15 lesson this week, so many highlights from the week that I even brought my personal journal today so I can review my journal entries, to know what I should write to you all about.
We had 2 investigators attend church last Sunday. Our Baptismal dates for this month being Judi and Peni, both didn't attend church, which is really sad. Peni was missing all week so we couldn't sit with him this week but we got to see Judi on Friday and we had a very spiritual 2 hour lesson/ talk with her. Judi has being going through so family troubles, she used to live with Peni (Her cousin) but due the the family issues she moved out to another small village not to far. So we see them both at different times. Judi expressed how she just wants to leave this place and look for a better life for her and her son in Suva or Nausori town, the new home where she is currently staying she says the people drink and smoke marijuana a lot...
I felt kind of sad to hear she wanted to move away. My companion, thought that today's lesson wasn't going to be the usual lesson today's lesson was going to be a deep talk with Judi to see what we could do to help her. My companion went to share a story about, the purpose of families and why we cam here to earth. He spoke about how life isn't easy but it is possible to be happy through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Me, I felt to share a personal experience from my own life. I shared about my mum & how she too was a single mother, how she worked all night and all day to provide for her 4 children. Though things were tough for her because I would see her when she would come home from work, she was tired, she was sore & she needed someone to love her too. I told Judi about the times I would see my mother cry & how it hurt me inside to see that, but even through all the struggles we as children had and as a family. I knew God our Heavenly Father was there, he never left us but only molded us to be where we are now as a family. We aren't perfect & nor was our life perfect or easy but it was possible through always remembering the principles of the gospel and his teachings. I testified of Eternal families and that in order to reach Heaven, we need to do a couple things in this life before receiving Immorality. Just like in a job, becoming the manager or boss doesn't come immediate, it takes work and effort, that's the same with the gospel and life itself. I told her if she really wants to make a change in her life than baptism is the way to do and following Christ is how it can happen.
After the lesson, we organized with Judi to attend church. She said she would ride the morning bus but as i said sadly she didn't attend. We saw her yesterday and she waved but at the same time was trying to hide a little from us. It stung a bit but I know there had to be reason why she wasn't able to attend. I think we will share a scripture from the Book of Mormon which talks about how if we put the spiritual things in our life than we are able to have the blessing in our physical life. Thinks that is what she is struggling with at the moment, the physical troubles with her family.. Hopefully we can have a bit more success this week coming. She is pretty awesome!! :) Our investigators that came to church were the two baptismal dates we have planned for next month lol. One is about 70 years old, so we payed for a Taxi to take her to church :)
Well an update on the Cyclone, yes power is still out haha. Haven't had power for at least 2 weeks now, town has power though & its always packed with people trying to buy food due to farm damages and charging their phones and other electronics. School has resumed this week though so that good progress. I am so grateful for my time in the North in Vanua Levu, I learnt so much there, especially Fijian culture. This week I taught my companion how to make Coconut milk haha he was so shocked, he thought we just buy a can hahaha I told him "No, no i'm going to show you the real way lol" I've being showing him how to wash your clothes with out a washing machine hahaha its hilarious man!! Last week he fell of a bridge, and this week he fell of his bike FREAAKINNGGG FUNNNNNIIEEEESTTTTT THHHIIINNGGG EEVVVVERRR!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAH I was dying on the road laughing!! He tried to be cool and stand up on his bike & ride a little faster than me BUT then his chain gave way and his full slipped down because the peddle had no push. Funniest thing ever hahaha I love my companion, he is crack up as the funny Mexican.
But the highlight of our week I have to say was Sunday afternoon. Our Branch President told us on sunday that he wanted us missionaries to attend a church service in one of the outer villages at the Methodist Church. I was kind of shocked to be honest, its started at 4pm and we arrived at 3:30pm and met up with the Branch Presidency. They told us that the Methodist Church in the village of Vuci, invited us to come and talk to them about the Temple and its purpose. Many were interested! We were taken through the Village by the village man to a GIANT house where all the preachers meet before taking the stand in the church. We had a small meet and greet with the other Methodist Preachers and then a prayer and we moved over to the GIANT COLOSSAL MASSIVE Methodist church building. It was way nerve racking!!!!! shuxx but let me tell you though the Methodist have got their songs on point!!! they sang for us how many times during the church service and it was so beautiful!!! wow!! Our 2nd counselor lead the meeting, introduced us. A man from the village stood up to give us some words of welcoming and acknowledging our presence. Our 1st counselor started first talking about the Eternal purposes in the Temple. After him it was me, I was nervous but as soon as i got up there i was fine. I really feel and testify that the spirit was with me and assisted me in what i should say to those people. The main topic I wanted to talk to them about was this question "What is your happiness?" after introducing myself, Iposed that question to them and began explaining that the reason we came to this life and world was to know and feel happiness. The happiness in this life and the happiness with god are two different things. One eternal and the other limited. I told them the difference of the chapel and the temple and that the temple enables the happiness we know, feel and meet in the life can be made eternal in the temple so that is last not just for this life but in the next too. I expressed that my happiness is my family and so if that happiness was to end after this life than what was the whole point of coming to earth to but only know true happiness for a small time? if my happiness being my family only last here and not in heaven well then i agree with Elder Jefferey R. Holland "If my family isn't with me in heaven well truly thats not heaven for me". Speaking to the Methodist Members and bearing my testimony to them in their own church walls was amazing, fun and a heck of a experience. The Branch Presidency backed me up and added the testimony to the many that have being born in the world about the house of our living God!! It was amazing!!! after the church service they sang for us and we make our departure and waited outside to shake their hands and give out Plan of Salvation pamphlets and My family Booklets too for family history. IT WAS AWESOME!!
But yeah, well I don't have too much time to talk more but here are some pictures from this week and yesterdays Methodist experience. Today is combined Zones PDAY so the Zone next to us and our zone are combining to go to the beach for PDAY, im way pumped, we might do a haka before zone vs zone rugby. One of the Samoan elders got the a member to give him a guitar to borrow for today man should be a great PDAY!! :)) Love you Family and friends, take care and untill next week :D
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