10-21-2018

This past week has been really great. On Monday we got to go up to The North again for exchanges with the Savusavu Zone Leaders. They are doing so awesome up there. While in Savusavu we met with one of the people they are teaching whose name is Joape. He has been through many trials on his journey toward baptism, but the Elders in Savusavu along with President and Sister Ford(one of the coolest senior couples)have been a great support and kept a hope and faith that he will be able to be baptized to start his journey down the covenant path. AND Just this past week Joape was able to take that step and be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a great opportunity to see how the gospel has blessed their family as Joape has prepared for his baptism over the past few months.

Savusavu is beautiful. I feel so bad that I didn't take too many pictures, but I do have a couple that I'll send down below.

While there we were able to participate in a handing over of a water tank to a small village near Savusavu. It was donated through LDS Charities and there was a ceremony of the Church giving it to them. It will support an entire community and a school with clean water for many years. That is the great thing about the gospel. It is more than just the spiritual things. I love the verse in Mosiah 2:41, because it help us see that the Gospel blesses us both spiritual, but also temporally as we keep the commandments attached. 

Me and Elder Tu'ifua have seen many miracles in our area this past week. The highlight of the week was Bini, one of the people we have been teaching, accepting a baptismal date for Nov 17th. We were so happy for her and she is so excited. She has grown so much through the gospel and it is such a special thing to see. When we extended the invitation she actually looked at us and said with a really big smile,"You really think I can get baptized?" In church yesterday the ward really helped us out as they have just taken her in as one of their own.

 

Last week we had the opportunity to host 23 Methodist ministers who came for a visit and to learn more about our church. No one totally knew what to expect because this is the first time this has happened, but it turned out to be such a cool day!! They took a tour all the different facilities here at the temple compound. The best part was at the end of the tour we went up to the temple waiting room and watched a video about temples. The Spirit was so strong and it was definitely a highlight of my mission and a day I won't ever forget. Throughout the day we mixed and mingled among them and answered questions that they had. As we took them into the mission office they were very interested and asked lots of questions. One things that they liked the most was that as missionaries in the Fiji Suva Mission we are called to serve all over Fiji and even in other countries near by such as Tuvalu. It was really cool because of the 6 missionaries there(The Suva Zone Leader, Sister Training Leaders, and us) we together spoke 8 different languages. Fijian, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Maori, Hindi, Samoan, Tongan, and English. They found that very interesting and cool. They were all super respectful and nice. Yes we have differences, but was special to be able to come together with a love of Christ and a knowledge of Him as our Savior and build upon those things we do have in common. This was the overwhelming feeling throughout the whole day. Here is an article that was posted regarding that day. 

 

 

https://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/methodist-theological-students-visit-church-service-centre-in-fiji

 

 

Alex, Derril, and Isaac are all preparing good as well. We are visiting them as much as possible as we work towards their baptism next week. They are really good kids and love the gospel.

 

One of the pictures sent below is a pretty funny story. So we were in a shop and there was this Indian guy who I started talking to in Hindi. He then pulled us back into the back room and was excited to introduce us to about 15 Indian woman who work as seamstresses there. He turned out to be the boss of the store, and we all talked and just had such a fun couple of minutes. They were all just so shocked that we were speaking Hindi. Sister Ford who was with us made sure to take a quick picture haha.

 

Anyways. We've got to head out. We are leaving to the West today for some more exchanges and so that's going to be really good. Love you all and thanks for the prayers. I know the church is true. Heavenly Father is continually reaching out to us, His children, in love. I see it everyday. I know this church is true. I love you all.

 

Elder Hess