December 10, 2023

Greetings from sunny Fiji,

We have been having beautiful weather.  It's rained a few times during the night, but it's mostly been very nice.  We can't believe the humidity.  We go for a walk and come back soaking wet.  But the thing is, that we keep sweating even after we stop.  I've been going around 6 in the morning to avoid the heat.  It's hard to believe it's almost Christmas with this weather.  There's not a lot of decorations either, but we did go into Cost U Less and they were playing Christmas music.  We have decorated our flat a little.  The grandkids all traced their hands and wrote messages on them and we put it on the wall like a tree.  We love it.  We also had a member here make us a nativity.  It is beautiful and will be a wonderful keepsake and reminder of our Fiji Christmas.
They did put up a nativity on the temple grounds.  It is up on the hill, so it really stands out.  The only thing is that there are no lights, so you can't see it at night.  We had our ward Christmas party on Saturday.  They prepared a lovo dinner and they read the account of the birthday of Christ from the Bible and we sang some songs.  
We have had two couples from Kiribati, the Abwa's and the Morei's, who have been here for six weeks to train as ordinance workers.  They have learned so quickly and have been such a help to translate for the groups that come from Kiribati.  They are going home this week.  We will really miss them.  I have been asked to be the assistant shift coordinator on Thursdays at the temple.  Sister Vavalo, the shift coordinator, was gone last week and will be gone this week.  That means I had to make the schedule.  It took me a while and then when I got there, half the workers didn't come so I had to redo the whole thing!  It will be nice when she comes back and I can just help her.  
We had a good week at the temple.  We had lots of missionaries that were here for zone conference Friday and Saturday.  They bring such a wonderful spirit.  This week will be good because we have a group from Kiribati.  We also have FSY here in Suva this week.  Youth are coming from all over.  At first they were planning on around 800 youth, but there are now 1500 coming.  They are flying them in from all over and have had to open another venue.  Emily Belle Freeman arrived today and will be here all week.  Supposedly, baptisms are part of the program.  If we have all 1500 come to the temple, we will be BUSY!!!  I hope they do.  That would be so great.
Last night we had a ZOOM fireside for all the senior missionaries.  It was a wonderful meeting.  Sometimes it is hard, but we are so thankful that we have been sent here.  I know I have said this before, but we love the people.  They have taught us so much and my testimony has been strengthened so much because of them.  Christmas here is different, but we could all learn from them.  They spend Christmas together as families, eating and enjoying one another.  There has been no mention of Santa or gifts.  I don't think we need to give all of that up, but I like the focus they put on Christ and family.  Hope you all are enjoying the pre-Christmas festivities.  I know it's busy, but so so fun.  Enjoy every minute.
All our love, Lynn and Kay

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