July 25, 2023

Happy Pioneer Day!!

Hope you all have a fun day.  I've heard how hot it is.  Hope you can find a way to cool off.  Not much going on this week.  It was a little rainy most of the week so we didn't go out too much.  It was a busy week at the temple.  We had a group from Vanuatu, but a lot of locals came too.  One morning we even had to bring chairs into the session.  That has never happened before.  One afternoon there was a dad and two daughters doing baptisms.  They were from Texas.  I'll tell you about them just to show you what different lives some people have.  The older daughter was a member of a choir that had members from all over the US.  The family (the mom and younger brother were also with them) had been in Fiji since July 7.  They were leaving that afternoon for Australia where the choir would put on a concert.  They were then heading to New Zealand.  They were going to be gone for like 6 weeks.  They said it was a good time for a long trip because they were in the middle of moving.  I figured somewhere in Texas, but they said they were moving to Portugal!!!  They said their parents both had the feeling that they needed to move there.  So from here they were heading to Portugal.  It's hard to wrap your mind around it!
Sunday we went to another ward.  We went to the Lami Ward.  It's about 15 minutes away from us.  Beautiful chapel in a perfect setting.  There were 3 of us couples and they asked us to say a few words.  You know how much Lynn and I love that!  But it was fun and we'll probably go again.  We went down to the port because there was a cruise ship docked for the day.  We would have fit right in.  All the passengers seemed to be as old as us!
One of the pictures I'm attaching is of me and a 12 year girl from Vanuatu.  We bonded when I stayed with her as she waited to go in and be sealed to her family.  It was quite a long time.  The last night they were here, she gave me the scarf I am wearing.  These people are so kind and appreciative of everything, they would give you anything even if they have to go without. They have so little, but are the happiest people you will ever meet.  I am learning so much from them.  
We did have some sad news.  You have probably seen it on the news or read about it.  A senior couple serving in Vanuatu (the Carvers) were in an automobile crash and Sister Carver was killed.  They had just been here helping with one of the groups a few weeks ago.  They were such great people and were doing so much good. We were looking forward to having them back.  Lynn and Elder Carver connected because he is related to the Carvers from Plain City.  He didn't know much about them because his family had lost contact with them.  He was flown to Australia to recover.  It's hard to imagine what their family is going through.  Maybe keep them in your prayers.  
It's transfer day tomorrow so there are missionaries staying in the dorm here until tomorrow when they get their assignments.  There are 18 new missionaries coming.  Tomorrow will be a fun day.
Just want to end by saying to give your loved ones lots of hugs and make sure they know how much you love them.  You never know what life has in store for you.  So just know that we love you all so much and appreciate the examples you have been to us.  Have a wonderful week.
Love, Lynn and Kay
These are wheelbarrow taxis.  If you need a ride around town, hop in and they'll take you wherever you want to go.  Don't think we'll try one!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

November 19

Image
Happy Thanksgiving!!! Thanksgiving is not celebrated here, but that's ok because we have visitors coming on Thursday.  We can't wait!!!!  It's going to be such a wonderful week.   As I wrote last week, we had a cyclone warning.  It didn't hit until Wednesday night.  We didn't really notice it because it was in the middle of the night.  There were pretty high winds and rain, but not too much damage.  By noon, the sun was out and it was a beautiful day.  I don't know if it was because of the storm, but we had the most amazing sunset.  We met an elder getting ready to leave for the Ogden, Utah mission from Fiji.  I hope he makes his way out to Plain City.   We had some missionaries for dinner.  It's so fun to have them.  Such strong boys.  There were three of them because one was leaving in the morning so he was staying with the two others.  On Wednesday, 6 missionaries were heading home-...
Read more

December 3, 2023

Image
Happy December! Can't believe it is December.  It doesn't feel like December here.  It is pretty hot.  Hard to get in the holiday spirit when it's 85 degrees.  Didn't send an email last week because we were busy with family from home.  We had such a great time.  Such a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving.  We did so many fun things.  We went out to an island and spent the day snorkeling, relaxing and enjoying each other.  It was a beautiful place and a good way to start the week.  We stayed at the Wyndham Resort.   It was beautiful.  Lynn and I stayed there before and the kids loved it too.  We went ziplining through the rain forest (first time zip lining for me).  So fun!  Ate Thanksgiving  on Sunday.  I even found a turkey!  It was really pretty good.  We went on a hike through Colo-i-Suva National Forest.  Fun waterfalls and pools to swim in.  Monday was...
Read more

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Image
Good Monday (Fiji), Sunday (home), Had a great week at the temple.  There was a group here this week from Vanuatu.  A small island about 1200 km from Suva.  They came late Monday night and stayed until Saturday.  They stayed in the same complex where our flat is.  We were able to work with them quite a bit in the temple.  They all took out their endowments and then were sealed as a family.  There were probably around 30 of them.  Their little kids are so cute.  They would watch for us to come home from the temple and then run and give us big hugs.  One day I was able to get 2 of the cutest little girls ready for their sealing.  They were so scared--different place different faces and different clothing.  But the sealing was beautiful.  Their dad is the branch president.  He's probably only around 30.  They are building a temple in Vanuatu.  Hopefully they will set the example for other saints on...
Read more