Sunday Best

Week 97

31 October 2016

In my eyes, I think we had a great week!! I don't care about numbers nor have I ever cared about the number of lessons or stats I get in my mission. I personally, the way I measure my success is by how well my investigators understand the gospel and how much stronger members become through my missionary service to them. I am about souls not numbers.  As I said though we had a great week!! My favorite day though of the week was Sunday.

This week we had Stake Conference. It was fantastic! The new Stake Presidency and stake leaders. The YSA choir, all the missionaries in the Nausori Zone and over 1,400 members in attendance. Due to stake conference, our little village of Navatuyaba was assigned by the stake to host the members from Naitasiri so that it would be easier for these members to attend conference. If you ever come to Fiji and ask someone about Naitasiri they will tell you that is the land of the "Kai Colo's" meaning the land of The highlanders. The people of Naitasiri, live in the interior/ mountains of the eastern side of Fiji. They are known to still live as the olden day Fijian, with no power, running water etc. I would call these people the Elders of Fiji in my own opinion, as they still are strong in Fijian culture and tradition. Over 100 of them came from the highlands all the way to our beautiful village of Navatuyaba. It was a very special time for the members here in Navatuyaba as they were anxiously excited to host their spiritual and physical brethren. Members prepared foods from their plantations, prepared their houses, cleaned the village etc. in preparation of their coming. They arrived Friday afternoon in the village, then a 2 buses came to pick them and our members to attended a all ages stake dance.

Everyone loved having them over, Sunday morning everyone got ready wearing their Sunday best and hoped on buses to get to conference. The conference was fantastic!! The talks we strong, powerful and touching. Hymns beautifully sung and lots of smiles and laugh as old acquaintances and family met up again. Us missionaries we're beyond happy seeing other missionaries we hadn't seen for a long time!! I was overjoyed as I got to see members from my old area of Nakelo. It was wonderful!! We went back to the village and had a nice Lovo or Hangi for lunch and then we went around visiting the Naitasiri members as my companion started his mission there and knew the members. So funny the conversations we had with the members, such a happy and fun loving people.

My companion wanted to take a picture with one specific family. A single mother of 7 children, who's husband died last year, my companion was really close with them. The members told us that they were staying all the on the far side and all the way inside the interior with a member family. It was far but the Nataisiri members told us to just ride in the bus with them because they will go pick her up to go home. So that's what we did, we saw her and got the picture. She cried seeing and saying goodbye to my companion again, it was a sweet moment. So was the moment of our members waving goodbye to the Naitasiri members. We didn't want them to leave. As we rode in the bus again after picking up the single mother member, my companion and I were supposed to jump off at the main road to walk back to the village but the driver didn't stop and so we got taken all the way to the main main road which goes to town and jumped off there lol. The Naitaisiri members just told us, just come with us to Naitasiri hahaha so funny being in the bus with them. My companion and I then walked for 2 hours back to the village in non stop rain, we reached the village drenched and with smiles on our faces. Why you might ask? Well serving a mission in Fiji there is never really a dull moment, it's just so fun :)

Apart from a fun and spiritual Sunday. We committed Sisilia to baptism and she said yes to the 10th of December to be prepare herself for baptism. She is very prepared! very willing, soft hearted and open about learning about the church. It helps to have a husband who knows the church well even though he is less active and to live with his family who are all strong members. She testified herself saying the church was true and she could feel as we share with her, that everything we share just makes sense. It was a powerful moment. Especially to have our best member present ever there as well Brother William Hawea :D.. We had 2 member families who are less active attend conference also which was terrific!! Things are moving well here in Navatuyaba and I hope that the area really doesn't get shut down. The member are preparing a small Birthday party for me so I am excited for that this Saturday. The bush really does suit me better than the city lol I am a bush Elder, I always have being right from the very start of my mission :D Its week 4 of this transfer now and I only have 2 more weeks and then I only 6 weeks left. Time is moving so quickly!! I can definitely say though I am appreciating more and more of serving a mission. It has definitely shaped me to who I am today.