Area 1 - Week 15 Nasinu, Fiji 6/16/13

Dad,

Thank you for the letter that you have sent me. I always like to hear what you are doing. You are never doing nothing. That's just how you are.. It sounds like work is going good.  Also how is the economy going? Is it getting better or worse? What are the gas prices? Are they still the same or are they going up again? It is also good to hear about all of the missionaries going in. Is there any new news on who has gotten a call or is leaving. I read about Steiner and I remember that same time I was in his shoes. I was way nervous and sad that I was going to be gone for 2 years. But it is all good. The 2 years goes by way fast and you will wonder where the time has gone.

Well this week has been a good week. It is just a normal week for a missionary, eat, sleep, study, and teach. This week we had a ZTM. That is where the whole zone gets together and has a meeting. We have one of those every month. It was really good and I learned a lot. This week we were trying to get some more investigators. We got a couple and we are going to get a couple more this week. They seem like they are going to be good  Everyone here always lets us in because they know that we are spreading the good word of God.

Well we are going to have a baptism this week on Saturday. Alisi is going to be baptized! She is doing really great. She told us yesterday that she was thinking on going on a mission for herself. She asked us,"Why are all the returned missionaries here in Fiji going inactive once they get back?". Here in Fiji they have a big problem with that. They always come back and they go inactive.

Ana and Neitani are doing really good. Neitani got the priesthood yesterday at church. He did not pass the sacrament because he did not wear a solid white color shirt. It had colored stripes. But next week he is going to be able to pass the sacrament. All is really good with them.  We are still going over to see them.  I know they are going to miss me when I leave because they really like me and Elder Ishibashi. That is what I think is a big problem also with why a lot of RC go LA. The missionaries that taught them are gone and they miss that presence of the ones that taught them.  The new missionaries love them but not in the same way.

Well with our other investigators, it is going good. We are still teaching them and trying to get them to know about the gospel. It is just getting them to come to church. That is the hardest thing he is getting them to come to church. Also another big thing is having them be married. We are working with a couple people that are waiting  to be married.  I don't really want to give out names. I will on a couple people because I know them good. . We are on the 3rd and 4th lesson with alot of people. Lots are keeping the commitments that we are extending but not coming to church like I have previously said.

With the lady form the other island, I have not heard of anything. Violet said that the cheif would allow it for the missionaries to come to the island. But I don't know if they have gone over to see them or what. I will ask today and see if they have and I will let you know of that next week.

Well this week I have learned alot about the gospel in my studies. I am in the Doctrine and Covenants now. Man there is so much that you can learn about. Today I read form 20 to 32.  I did not really know how much information we get from the scriptures until I actually started reading them. I encourage all of you especially Trevor to start to get in the habit of reading. I did not really do it before my mission and that would have really helped me out a lot. They are really powerful and there is a lot to learn from them!

Well I want to let you all know that I love you very much and miss you all very much. Thank you for everything that you have done for me and are doing. You are always in my prayers.

Love Your Son,

Elder Dallin Grotepas

Heidi,

Well everything here is going really good.  It is different being with a different companion. I really liked Elder Ishibashi and he was a good Elder. Now Elder Nawaqasema is with me and he is also a good Elder. He is teaching me a lot on how to be a good missionary. I hope that by time I leave him that I will be able to take some of his traits with me as well. I am teaching him some English also and he is teaching me Fijian, so it works out pretty good.

With that question you asked me, "By honoring the priesthood, what blessings do you receive?"   Think of how have you benefited from Dad having the priesthood in the home? How does the house feel from other houses that you go in where they don't have that blessings in their homes? I know for me it feels a lot better at more at peace. You are able to have Dad give you a blessing when ever you need it. The definition of the priesthood is the power of God. So with that being said, Dad is able to have that power of God. That power that we hold can do anything. God is so powerful, more than you can think of. So how you benefit from it, is you are able to be around that power of God whenever you need it.