September 11, 2023

 Bula Vinaka Everyone,

This week has been such a great week.  We've done some fun and different things and of course, it's been another wonderful week at the temple.  
We had the couple we told you about last week over for dinner along with their aunt.  What a great couple.  We found out that he has a very large farm.  He only grows taro and then sells it to a co-op.  I think he must do very well.  On Sunday mornings, he gets up really early and takes his big farm truck and goes around the branch and picks up everyone for church.  He has to make several trips.  It's the only way that many of them would be able to get there.
Transportation is a big problem for a lot of people here in Fiji. Most of the patrons come either by bus or taxi. (Mostly bus)  I guess the government used to give those that rode the bus as their only means of transportation a $75  monthly pass to use.  The new government cut it down to $25.  One widowed sister comes every day to the temple to work.  That $25 only covers a day and a half of her bus fare.  She has no means of income, so I don't know how she lives.  Lynn and I have started picking her up and bringing her so she can save her bus fare.  We have decided to donate a little money each month to President Lesuma to use as he thinks.  There are so many people just like her.  She is so grateful and we're glad we can help in a small way.
We were told that the temple would be closed on Thursday because of a national holiday, Constitution Day.  I guess there's a new government and on Wednesday they cancelled the holiday!  Only in Fiji!  If that happened in America there would be riots in the streets.  So the temple was open, but it was a slow day because they couldn't book online because it was supposed to be closed.  That night we went to such a fun place with the senior couples or Twilight Zone as we're called.  It was right on the beach at Pacific Harbor.  It was beautiful.  They had a delicious buffet and program.  There were dancers doing Fijian dances and fire dancers.  The highlight for me was having Lynn go up with some other men and learn a Fijian dance.  I'll attach the video if I can make it work.  It was so funny and it was good to see him come out of his comfort zone.
We had Sister Wright from the general primary presidency, Sister Spannaus from the general young womens, Area President Meurs and his second counselor, President Yaggi, visiting Fiji. On Friday they came to the temple to watch some baptisms.  They brought the students over from the LDS college [high school] dorms.  There were probably about 50 of them.  They came at 4:15 and didn't leave until 6:30.  It was so awesome and those visiting seemed really touched by the sight.  President Yaggi recognized Lynn and I because he was the Ogden Area Mission President and had seen us at the Ogden Temple.  It was fun to talk to him.  But it was a crazy night at the baptistry.  We ran out of sizes.  We couldn't keep up with the wash!  Some had to either wear really big or really small jumpsuits.  Those of us working were pretty tired and hungry when we got done.  So we invited them over for pizza along with the cleaning crew. Some of those poor kids have to take two buses and a boat to come and go.  Because we were so late with the baptisms, they were going to be super late getting home, so they joined us too.  It was so much fun.  One girl said it was a night she would never forget.  I don't think they get pizza often.  We had 4 huge pizzas and there wasn't one piece left.  
On Sunday they had a combined Sacrament Meeting to hear the general authorities speak.  It was amazing.  It felt like a preview of conference.  We  met the Wrights.  They were so kind and easy to talk to.  Just like an old friend.  Sister Meurs sat next to me at church and she was so genuine and humble.  It was a great experience.  They seem just like us (one even forgot her temple recommend)!
Today was a great day.  A return missionary that serves at the temple has become really good friends with Lynn.  He has been wanting us to come out to his island.  So today a group of us went out to Bau Island.  We drove to the boat dock about 45 minutes from where we live and caught a boat.  It was a small boat they held around 15 people.  The boat ride was only around 5 minutes and then we arrived at the island.  It was a tropical paradise.  There are no roads, no cars, no stores, no dogs, only houses.  It's very small.  If you go to Google Maps and look it up you can see the houses and what it looks like.  Our friend, Pita's dad, took us on a tour of the island and told us its history.  Until some missionaries came and converted them to Christ, they were cannibals!   I think I wouldn't mind living there for a month.  It's right on the ocean, so quiet and peaceful.  Loved it!
Sorry this is so long, but we had a full week.  We miss everyone at home and the things that they are doing, but we feel so blessed to be serving here with these wonderful people.
We have been asked to speak in church on Sunday.  Ben, I'm using your cow story.  I hope they get it here because we've been asked to speak at another ward the next week and I hope to use the same talk.
Best wishes to you all and know that we love and miss you.
Love, Lynn and Kay

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