September 24, 2017

I only have time to send a couple pictures this week! Sorry! Things are so good though! I'm loving it here:)

Pictures:

1. Walking in one of the settlements 

2. Dogs of Fiji. It's pretty sad sometimes how rough they're looking! Also random side note... we got chases by 4 dogs yesterday and I hit one with my new umbrella and the top broke. 

3. This is little Jason! He is a stud and I call him nogu yaca bc of my middle name!

4. During service went and got some coconuts!

5. Good looking district!

6. Repping Brazil at dinner!! Let's go! I hear Neymar is killing it at PSG! 

7.With some of the YSA from Suva 1st! 

-- Elda Hess

September 17, 2017

Kaise?

This week was good! Loving it here in Fiji! Honestly it's a dream being able to live here for 2 years!

We are trying to enjoy the nice cool weather right now because from now on every day is going to be getting hotter and hotter! The seasons are the opposite of Utah and so that's kinda cool! It's also cyclone season coming and so it's going to be raining lots! I bought a new umbrella this week called the "Better Brella". It opens up upside down haha! Number one recommended from members and so yeah! Okay sorry that was random haha!

This week we have been doing lots of work! Elder Hariprasad and I have both lost weight in the last 2 week because we have been walking everywhere! We hardly ever even bus so it's pretty exhausting! 

We found a broken down wheelchair on the side of the road and we asked if we could have it from the owner, and he told  us to come back and so we are really excited and hoping that works out! That would means that Kala would be able to come to church:) We would definitely need to fix it up first, but we are hoping we can do that this week! 

We met one lady this week and she is really cool! She is a way strong hindu and she has a massive hindu idol in her front room, so we didn't have much expectation in the beginning, but we have now met with her twice and it's awesome! We have already become close to her and it's great! Sometimes it takes a couple times for a hindu meeting a Christian for them to start to understand that we aren't just really weird people running around trying to drag Indians out of their beliefs and culture! It's amazing to see that barrier break down and to help them realize that we are people just like them!

One amazing thing about the Hindi program is we are able to teach every day about who Jesus Christ is! It is so special to help people understand the very fundamentals of the doctrine of Christ. Especially what he has done for us! Everyday I am so surprised at how many people here know so little about Jesus Christ!! And so I really feel blessed to be a part of them learning of their Savior:)

We got to go to a wedding reception on Friday and it was awesome!! They were sealed in the morning and then the reception was that night! Fijian receptions are lit! They go all out! It was a member from Suva 1st ward named Api! They rented out the whole vodafone arena! If you don't know what that is look it up on Google! Half of Suva's population was there it felt like! Tons of food and yeah it was just a great night! 

Yesterday we were walking to the hospital to give a blessing and we saw George's wife from Labasa!! She is from the middle of nowhereon a completely different island, and yet I saw her in the middle of Suva!! She screemed when she saw me! Then she ran up and kissed me on both cheeks haha!! It's been about 3 months since George died but she looks happy and so that made me really happy! She is staying with her son right now and so things are good! We hurried and took a picture but it didn't take on time so it isn't good, but I'll try and attatch it!  

Alright well I don't have much time but this week has been good!! Thankful to hear from you guys! I know the Church is true! Missions aren't easy whatsoever, but they are worth it!! 

Hum aaplog se bohut pyar khare hei! 

--

Elda Hess

Pictures:

1. With the Kama's for dinner every Monday night! 

2. I am the shortest one out of these guys!! 

3. Me and Elder Tony and Elder Latu(most humble missionaries in FSM)!

4. Elder Tony my dad!! 

6. Wedding!! The Masi they are walking on is 3 thousand dollars... Fijians go all out! 

7. Cheeky kids from Suva 3rd ward! 

8. Ay me and George's wife!!

September 10, 2017

This week has been really good! It was transfer week and so I got a new companion!! His name is Elder Hariprasad and he's the man. We are really excited! This is his last 6 weeks on his mission and so it's pretty exciting. 

Elder Mounga went home last week which was crazy. I was really sad to see him go because we became really good friends in just a short 6 weeks! 

Yesterday in church Kumari was able to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost! It was such a special experience! He was there to church 40 minutes early and sitting on the front row. We showed up and felt such a warm spirit as we greeted him. He had a big smile and said,"Aaj hum sakta Pavitra Aatma mille, na?" or "I am going to be able to receive the Holy Ghost today, right?" And then after the ordinance he was really happy and said,"Abhi hum Bagvan ke pyar lage hei" or "I feel God's love right now". I am so grateful to be a part of this work here in Fiji. I just want to give my all to the Lord and this cause! 

This week we found out that a family named the Lata's are finally going to be able to be baptized. They have been being taught by the missionaries here for 3+ years, but just yesterday they let us know that everything is all goods! We are really excited!! 

It is my mom's birthday today!! So shoutout to her for being the best mom out there. Thank you for always being there for me! Especially these past 7 months:) LOVE YOU!

Okay love you all have a great week!

-- 

Elda Hess

September 3, 12017 lots of pics (Kumaris baptism, service project, etc)

Aaplog Kaise? 

How is everyone! Things here are so good!! This week was great! 

I really love it here in Suva! We have a really big area which actually overlaps with 3 other companionships, but it is good because we always have a new place we can go finding! 

We got a referral from the church this week on Tuesday and so we called the number up and met up with him to give him a Book of Mormon! Turns out he is married to a member from Australia and want to learn more about the church. It was awesome. Such a good first lesson! We also gave his mother a blessing because she was really sick and yeah it was just all around a really good start to the day! 

Straight after that we did some finding around his house and ended up finding 5 new investigator! All the new investigators are Indian which is huge for us, because finding Indians is what we decided to focus on this week! Also during finding we came across a less active family who we hadn't met yet, and so we invited them to church! Well they ended up coming yesterday! Since Feb missionaries don't focus on less actives anymore, but we were guided to them for a reason and it was really great to see them there on Sunday! 

On Thursday we went and did some service with the Zone Leaders and the Suva 4th elders! It was awesome! That is what a couple of the pictures are from! 

Saturday was Kumari's baptismal service! It was a little stressful in the morning leading up to it, but it ended up going really good!! This was the first ever baptismal service which was completely in the hindi language, according to our Bishop and Mission President, and so it was awesome to be a part of! President and Sister Higgins came to it and so it was really special to have them there! I had to give talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost super last minute because of a late fall through. I was a little nervous before because it was in Hindi in front of President Higgins, but it actually went really well:) Kumari was so excited to be baptized, even if it doesn't seem like he is from the picture haha! He had been waiting for that day for a long time! Along with receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost! 

Random story! On the way home from church we had a drunk man try and fight us haha! It was pretty crazy and got a little sketchy for a minute, but everything turned out okay in the end! No matter what situation we get put into I feel a strong protection from Heavenly Father! We just have to make sure we are trying to stay out of bad situations, but for some reason we have gotten into quiet a few lately! 

I finished 'The Book of Mormon' again recently and it was really special experience for me! I know this church is true. I know that this is where I am supposes to be right now, and I am loving it.

I love you all so much and am really grateful for all your support! So excited to hear about everyone leaving on their missions, and also all those who are returning! 

Have a great week! 

Dher pyar Fiji se! 

Pictures: 

1. This is Nemani and he is a skux!

2. Masu ga.

3. Traditional 'pointing in the distance while holding a sele' pose!

4. @ service! 

5. Love the Kumar family!

6. Kumari's baptism with President and Sister Higgins!

7. Elder Roberts, Larsen, Mounga, Me, Rogovakalali, and Aisa!