One Year Mark Feb, 11, 2018

Sorry for being slack on my emails home. Past few weeks I have been trying to back up my pictures and it takes a long time when the internet is being very slow! But I am alive and doing so, so good!! 

Things here are amazing! It is probably my last two weeks in Suva (Knock on wood) and so we are keeping so busy to finish this transfer out strong! Some really cool things have been happening lately and I haven't been able to tell until now! 

Well one super cool thing that has happened is me and Elder Shin have started to translate the Book of Mormon into Fiji Hindi!! We have passages like Moroni 10, 3 Nephi 11, and 2nd Nephi 31, and we are in the process of doing an unofficial translation. But it is under the direction of our mission president which means if President Higgins passes it off, then we will be able to use it in lessons and stuff like that while we are waiting for an official translation from the church maybe in a few years! It is sooo cool to be a part of!

Yesterday (Sunday) we were a part of one of the most amazing experiences of my life! On Saturday we got a call from Sharmila, our recent convert, telling us that Bobby, her husband and our other recent convert, was sick and wouldn't be able to come to church. We told her we would come by after church to give him a blessing. We stopped by and were so surprised at his condition. He was not just sick, he was far sicker than anyone I have ever seen. He has Dengue Fever and hadn't sat up or eating in 4 days! It really scared me to be honest because I love him so much. He couldn't talk to well, but the first thing he said when we got there is,"I knew you my brothers would come." He told us that he knows God is in control and that his he will be able to learn from this trial. He has so much faith it's pretty remarkable. We asked him if he had faith to be healed and his answer was so powerful. He said,"I know that God can heal me and I have faith, but I also know that it is in God's time and I will understand even if I don't the miracle how I want to see it." It shouldn't have, but it shocked me how perfect his understanding of faith is. Elder Shin sealed the annointing, and then said the words,"By the power of the Melchizedek priesthood I command you to be whole." The Spirit was so strong and I had chills up and down my spine. After the blessing Bobby acting on his faith sat up and in the next few minutes we watched as his eyes turned from being blood shot red to normal and his body temperature dropping dramatically. After calling bishop and explaining the situation to him, me and Elder Shin unloaded our pockets with all the change the we had, about 18 dollars so that with his renewed strength he could get to the hospital right away and they could get a little food to try and eat on the way. I love the gospel so much! Also a side note to the story is that Bobby and Sharmila are planning and working to be sealed in the temple just a couple weeks before I leave back home to America. 

Roshni got baptized one week ago from yesterday and it was so awesome! She has so much faith, and one really special moment was after the baptism as we were sitting there together in the chapel and she started crying. I asked her why and she said,"I don't know, because I am not sad! I guess they are happy tears because I feel the happiest I ever have." Last night we had a tri-stake fireside and Roshni came with us! Elder Johansson our area 70 was presiding, and she was able to meet President Higgins and that was awesome! She mention about the function, that,"Our church has such different feel than any others." Notice how she said "our" not "this" or "your". She then said,"Other churches yell to feel something, but here it's quiet, but I can feel the Spirit the strongest!" Such a great testimony builder she was able to learn about what the Holy Ghost is and how it is what separates us from other churches.

This week we also had some really sad things happen. We found out yesterday that 3 of our baptismal dates are not wanting or willing to continue with the lessons. Maverick, Rina, and Jon. Maverick has backed out twice the day of his baptism and after many lessons afterwards we are having to drop him. So sad. It's always a really hard thing, but we have faith in the future! 

Okay some random and funny things!

We had a cat in our flat one day when we got home and so we fed him and now he hangs out outside our flat most days! It's way good though, because no mice!!

As I was burning my shirt the night of my year mark it didn't really burn like I thought it would! I guess it's made out of polyester and not cotton and so it melted onto my foot and now I have some crazy blisters on my foot leg and arm. Worth it for the picture though. 

Next Monday we will be taking a trip as a zone to an island called Beqa. We are bringing a pig and are going to roast it out on the island and have a feast! Going to be awesome!! But if we don't get to email, that is why! 

Due to time I will continue later with some things going on here! I can't believe Whitney is married!! So crazy! I wish I could've been there, but all is well! I love it here. 

Love you all! BYE! 

Pictures: 

1-2. Night of the year mark! 

3. With Elder Tougea and Elder Giles at a birthday party

4. Roshni's baptism last week:))

5. Happiest dog on earth hahaha he lives outside our flat

6. Day of my Whitney's wedding wearing the matching tie with the rest of the family back home

7. With Elder Tougea at the mission home for interviews with President Higgins

8. At the birthday party

9. HAHAHA 

10. Vijay one of our recent converts

11-12. This is what I'm known for here 

13. Birthday 

14. Elder Bowen working hard at service haha

15. Cute little girl from a part member family 

16. Diana one of the sister's investigators from the same family

17. Love this guy

18. Lusi in the blue is a recent covert and is so cool!!

19. Suva district after district meeting

20. Some cool methodist maramas

21-22. Super pretty sunset

23. After a recent convert lesson with Bobby and Sharmila

24. Lani Whippy who looks like my sister, but is fijian. She holds my hand and walks me around church on Sunday and its way cute. I think that she think I am her real brother because we look alike haha.

FIRST HINDI WARD IN FIJI!! January 28, 2018

This week was really good! I was sick most of it and so it was a little slow which was really rough, but there were some cool things that happened and so I'll quickly write about those!

Well this Tuesday we got a call from President Higgins inviting us to go to a meeting with the stake presidency to talk about the "hindi speaking unit" we are trying to start up! Well this meeting was so cool!! Instead of being a unit we found out that it is going to be a hindi ward! It has already been approved by Elder Johannson our area 70 now we just need to finish all the paperwork and it should be able to start next month! I am so excited!! I have been talking about this so much because it is so exciting for us and for all the Indian people here in Fiji! First ever hindi speaking ward in Fiji! 

We also have a baptism coming up this Saturday for Roshni!! She is so great!! Her testimony has grown so strong over the past couple weeks and it is so special to be a part of! She has given up coffee and tea recently which was such a big step for her but she isn't looking back!

I feel like time is moving so fast! I have been in this area now for 5 transfers and so I have had a lot of time to grow a love for the people here in Suva!! It is so excited to see so many people show their faith by joining the church, but it is also so amazing to see all of the recent converts continue down this path towards the temple. We have 10 or more recent converts that we hopefully will be able to go to the temple to do baptisms with before I leave the area! 

I love this work so much! I am so happy! I am excited for Whitney's wedding coming up! So crazy that she is getting married!! Really excited to see all the pictures! 

Love you all! Have a good week!

Pictures:

1. Hindi class at church

2. Our dog which smiles

3. All the hindi elders from around the area

4. With Kala after giving her a CTR ring:)

Birthday in Fiji January 21, 2018

This week was really good! Bobby and Sharmila both got baptized and confirmed this week and it was so awesome! I don't have a lot of time today, but one cool little story I'll share! After the baptism there was a Korean pastor from another church down in the area near Bobby's house. Well Bobby was just sitting around and this guys comes by and starts telling him his negative thoughts of of the church and how they have made a huge mistake! Well we stopped by a couple minutes after this all went down and Bobby shared such a strong testimony with us. One of the highlights of my mission!! "He thinks this is a man's church. I feel sad he doesn't know like I know that this is Christ's church on the earth today!! He should come to church with us so he can see for himself" Ahh he is so great! 

Hindi class this week was great! We have another 12 or more there! Unfortunately some left before I took the picture! But I'll send you the picture from this week too like last week! Birthday in Fiji

Fiji is the one January 14, 2018

This week has been so amazing!! First off I am staying in Suva and I am so excited because this transfer is going to be so special! We are really excited about all those we have been working with, but also a couple new investigators which are so awesome! 

Yesterday was a really good day! It was probably the busiest day of my whole mission! Saturday night me and Elder Shin planned for like 1 hour straight just writing down everything we needed to do! We said a couple prayers that night because we were so stressed, but God really came through for us like like he will if we are prepared and do our part! 

In Suva 3rd ward we saw so much success! We had the most people we have ever had to the hindi class! We had like 12 people there by the end, and we were missing another 8 or more that are almost always there, but were missing for either health problems, work, a funeral, or the weather! I was so excited that I hurried and took a picture or two before the class! As we were in ward counsel it was brought up multiple times that there are women in Relief Society and also men in Priesthood are frustrated because they are not able to understand, thus giving them not as much of a reason to stay for all 3 blocks and become more involved into the ward. I just was thinking to myself how these are things that can be solved one day when we have a hindi speaking unit, branch, or even a ward in Suva! It is so exciting to be a part of the work moving here in fiji with the hindi language.There is a good chance I will be leaving Suva sometime soon, and I want to leave it all out there before I go! There are too many investigators, recent converts, and members that I have grown to love with my whole heart that would benefit so much from it.

Sadly we found out this week that Cho and Ma moved to Lami which is out of our area:( The good thing is Elder Gygi is over there and he is going to help them pick up where we left off! 

Bobby had his baptismal interview yesterday! When people say "golden investigator" they are talking about someone that is way ons. Well Bobby is more than a golden investigator. He has the most faith I have ever seen out of anyone in my entire life. I really mean that! He has changed his entire life because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He has quit drinking, smoking, and instead has started good habits like reading the Book of Mormon, praying everyday and coming to church. I know he is going to do so much good in the church along with his wife Sharmila who will also be baptized this Saturday!

Maverick is also planned to be baptized this Saturday as well! We are super excited that the time is almost here, because it's been a long time coming! 

We are so excited about everything happening here in Suva! Life is really good! I am so happy to be able to help do the Lord's work here in Fiji! 

Love you all! Have a great week!! 

-- 

Elda Hess

Pictures:

1. Last day with Elder Larsen and Elder Worden

2. Funny one haha

3. Boys

4. My indian family in hindi class

5. Hindi class pt 2

6. New Zone Leader Elder Gaba from PNG

7. Isa Elder Larsen and Elder Bowen... legends haha

Living the Life in Fiji January 7, 2018

This week has been so good! Sorry I didn't send an email last week! We just got back from a zone trip to an island for p day so that is why we are getting on a lot later today! The island was super fun though! It's called mosquito island and we got to go as a whole zone! I'll send some pics below!

Sairoj got baptized on Saturday and it was so awesome! I'll send some pics below if it will work! She was so happy and so were we! It has been a long time waiting for her, but it was so worth it! 

Last week we met one of the coolest families in all of Fiji!! Bobby is the father and we met him down in Nanuku. We hit it off right of the bat because he said he recognized me from up in Labasa although we don't think we ever officially met! Well this is how prepared Bobby and his family are! After getting through part of our first lesson together they asked us,"How can we be baptized into your church?" Well that caught us a little off guard, but we were happy to explain how they can! We set baptismal dates with him, his wife Shivnil, his father in law Brother Sami, his son Justin, and his niece and nephew Sahil and Supria! They came to church 2 days after and stayed all 3 hours and loved it. Bobby said after church,"I felt something in my heart that I have never felt before. I feel so happy. I feel like I am home!" AND GET THIS!! He was looking for a job and we had promised God would help him find a job through his faith and diligence. Well the very next day he found the best job he has ever had in his life!! It is much much better than minimum wage and he was so, so grateful! He said that he knows that it was because he came to church and that even though it is a 7 day working job he told his job,"The only reason I got this job is because of God and so I can't work on Sunday." His boss was super cool and he now has every Sunday off from work! Bobby and his wife came to church again yesterday and they are so excited for their baptism on the 20th! 

So many other miracles happened, but because we were super busy today we don't have a lot of time! 

Love you guys! Hope all is well! 

Elder Hess

Pictures:

1. Suva district picture

2. Nice boat ride this morning

3. Pose

4. Me getting a coconut

5. Gotta love Fiji

6. With the coolest little kids up on Gittu

7. Saroj's baptismal picture

8. First group

9. Lusi's baptism