Lessons learnt and Miracles

Week 89

12th September 2016

Malo e lelei!!

Man, I don't know how many Tongan's we met this week lol, there are a lot here in Suva! They're way fun though. This week was definitely a better one than last week, we went to that area again, I told my companion don't worry about what happened we just go and continue our job.

This week was fun, having a companion who was in my intake or group when I came to Fiji, is awesome. We have fun all the time, smiling, laughing and doing the work of course. We were hoping this week for some more referrals so we could extend our teaching pool, and the Lord he did just that, he provided. Sunday, after sacrament meeting 2 Chinese men walk into the Chapel in really nice!! suits, black and white. I thought they were the men in black or something. A couple minutes late the Bishop called us into his office and sat us down telling us that these two men are interested in the church. They have heard a lot about the church and would like to know if they could learn more. Their names are Alan and Chow. They have being in Fiji for almost 5 years and will be here for another 2 years for work.

It was a big miracle. When they said they want to learn more I thought about the missionary movie  "The District" where the missionaries in that movie teach an Asian man, who eventually was baptized too. I was sort've in disbelief, my landlord in Tamavua was Chinese and he told me that in China they don't believe in God so the concept is hard for them to understand. As I have learned though, the Lord has proved different.

This Tuesday we have Zone conference, I think this is my 2nd last Zone Conference? after this I only have one left and that is where I will bear my departing testimony to the missionaries of my Zone. 

31st December 2016 is when I will be coming home! Flying back into Sydney, Australia. I'll be honest I am "Trunky" it's a missionary term to say I guess ready or excited to go home lol. But I know the task at hand and I want to finish strong and do all I can before I finish the race. We got a lot of dinner appointments this week, so I'm really look forward to that, not just the food but getting to know more the members of the ward. We have many Indians, Tongans, Kiribati, a couple Fijians and one Maori. Its funny the Tongans always give me a hard time it's fun.

I didn't end up giving my talk last week, I have being pushed back to the last week of the month, the temple President and his wife spoke to us instead yesterday. It was nice. 

After the incident last week my views have changed about people and I have been humbled very much so, as we met with more and more families this week as that is mostly where the work is for us. Not many Fijians living around, some but not a lot. I guess that is the learning obstacle for them, to socialize with others and for me to get to know better those I am unfamiliar with and such. Challenging but doable. 

Anyways, I do look forward to coming home, but not really to leaving my home of Fiji. Not too much else to report on this week though, Love you.

"It's Humility... aint it" - Reference to the movie "Best 2 Years"

Week 88

05th September 2016

"Its Humility... aint it" - Reference to the movie "Best 2 Years"

This week was a usual week, my first actual full week here in my new area. I have to admit though I'm struggling in this area. I'm finding the people here are just not friendly. I think the biggest challenge I'm facing is the whole English side of things. I want to be in a Fijian area, where we speak Fijian. We speak English a lot because of the different nationalities in our area and ward. 

Fijian people are friendly, loving and even if they do not like you or are in disagreement with you in terms of the missionaries they will let you know kindly but still respect you! 

Sunday was a nice Sunday, normal church, meetings, than teaching a Preach my Gospel class the Youth and YSA that will be leaving for missions soon. 

It was about 5pm now and we were going to visit one family, the way to go to this family is a bit sketchy but we went anyway. As we were on our way there a man asked me to sit down with him and his friends, they were drinking. He then began asking me "If you had a gift as a man of God, would you give to someone in need?" I replied "well yes of course, if it will help him than yes." He then asked for my necklace and I told I couldn't give because it was a gift from my mother. 

He then continued on saying that I favored my mother more than my God. That I serve my mother and my God means nothing. I began to feel very uncomfortable, as he began to laugh at me thinking his argument made sense, the woman next to him and others around began to laugh at me too. I tried to answer his argument, but he wouldn't give me the chance. 

I turned to my companion telling him, I wanted to leave because I was becoming very angry and upset.  We went around the corner where I could calm down.  My companion tried to talk to me and calm me along with another man. 

My companion took me away from the situation as more people were coming towards us to see what was happening, I knew we had to leave. So we did, we walked home and stayed there until I could calm down. I calmed down and we began to laugh and smile as a companionship. 

We went to our dinner appointment, then returned home again. I thought about this experience so many thoughts came to mind. I was angry because he made me look and feel foolish, and those around him believed it as they laughed. I was embarrassed and I wanted to embarrass him back but I knew I couldn't and that's what was frustrating. I asked myself "Why me" why did this have to happen to me? Then I remembered that, that same day I had received a talk from the Bishop to speak next Sunday on the topic of Humility. I remember asking myself "Humility? what can I talk about on Humilty?" hahaha well now I know I guess lol. Hard lesson but a good one aye.

God works in mysterious ways, teaches us differently too. Understanding is always the hard part of problems I find. Understanding is such a big part of life, I think we just don't realize it. 

It takes Humility and understanding to befriend someone who is different than you, or even the same, when you come across problems and situations we don't like. You need understanding in a marriage, companionship, when given instruction and guidance. What a lesson! 

Well we wont be going to that part of our area for a while I think, just until I feel ready to go there again which shouldn't be too long. We'll be back there this week :D Anyways but that is the week family. Hope you enjoy this interesting story :D Love you!!!

Photo Update

Week 87

29th August 2016