Area 2, Week 7 - Waila, Fiji 10/27/13

Dear Family,

How is everything going? Everything in Fiji is going great. This week has been a really gloomy week as for the weather. Today is the only day that I have seen sunshine ever since Sunday of last week. It is now starting to turn into hurricane season and it is more than likely going to be rainy pretty much every day. If it is sunny during the day, then in the night is is going to pour. It really stinks for us because we have to walk through the rain, even though the rain is coming at us sideways.  But on the other hand, the other elders in our area say that they love it. They say that is is awesome because they don't have to walk in it!  They get to sit in the car with the air conditioning on. Sometimes they even have to turn on the heater when they get cold. They are really spoiled and we are not.

Sister Maiwiriwiri's son told us this week that the real missionaries are here in the islands. We don't have cars and rarely get bikes. In his mission, when he was the Zone Leader, he had a couple of missionaries that freaked out when they when their car tire went flat. He told them to change it and they said that they did not know how to do that. So he had to go over there and change it for them. And on the other hand, they had bikes that they could ride also. So he said that the missionaries in the States are really spoiled and the missionaries in the islands are the true missionaries. So that made us feel pretty dang good.

Well as for our week, we did really well. We had Stake Conference for the Nausori Stake and it was really good. They had some really good speakers on how we are not doing our home teaching and about kava drinking. They did not beat around the bush on these subjects. They were straight forward. One of them said that celestial people do their home teaching and the only way that we are going to live there is if we do our home teaching. So they really had a couple good talks there at Conference.

Also this week, I saw the Lord's hand in our work. We had one of our investigators tell us that she doesn't want us to come back and that we were not allowed into their house. We had with us a recent convert of about 3 months. This was his and my first time ever being told that we are not to come back. But since then, we have  about 5 new investigators this week that seem to be really interested. They have not heard anything about the church and they want to know more. So just like you said in your letter to me about being patient, I can finally see that the Lord is helping us in our work. That was a really big eye opener and testimony builder that He is really there for us and he is there when we need him. As long as we trust in Him and not get angry.  We must be patient,  He will help us.

One of our new investigators names is Miss Khan. She is a really humble lady that has already taken the lessons. She explained to us that she really liked the elders coming over in the past. It had been about 5 years since she had sat down and talked with the Elders. She said that she really liked the church and she felt a good spirit there. The only problem that she has is that she cannot really walk very good. So it would be really hard for here to get to the church and back. So we are going to try to see if we can get one of the members to try to pick her up for church. She seems to be really interested in the church.

This week we were also trying to invite one of our former investigators to be baptized. Elders in the past asked him to be baptized but they never really followed up with him. When we asked him if he would like to be baptized, he told us that he had already been baptized and that it is bad for some one to be baptized twice. So we are going to be working on him to see if we can have him pray about the church. We asked him to read 2 Nephi 31 and to pray about whether this is the true church of God.

The work here in Waila is moving along. It is moving at a slow rate. Not a lot of people want to really hear about the gospel. They are set in their religion. But I know that if we just trust in the Lord with all our might and put in a diligent effort, the Lord will help us in our work.

I really liked your advice that you gave me. It was just the thing that I was needing to hear. I remember that event just like it was the other day. I was getting a little bit fustrated because we could not find any investigators so that Elder Banks can get used to teaching. But today when I heard that it really touched my heart and I know now that all I have to do is to trust in the Lord and know that everything is in His timing. Thank you for that advice and reminding me of that event. It was a big help.

I know that the church is true and I am doing the Lords work. Thanks for everything that you have done and are doing. I love you all and miss you tons. Send my love to the family.

Love,
Elder Grotepas

Me driving a truck

his is the Toga District. Left to right: Elder Tamuera, Brower, Banks, Gloson, Tukia, Grotepas

District meeting lunch at all the Elders favorite restaurant, Lover's Point. 
The food is Chopped Sui and Fish and Chips.

Us riding in a carrier on the way home from Stake Conference.

Us eating at one of the members' home, the Bir's.
Left to right: Sister Bir, Jashniel, Jashveil, Elder Grotepas, Brother Bir, and Elder Banks.

Some of the Waila Young Men at Stake Conference

Elder Grotepas, Sister Danford, Jesse, and Elder Banks.

Dinner at some awesome members' home.  We have eaten at their house two times in the past week. 
We ate there again last night. We had hot coco and pancake balls.

Area 2, Week 6 - Waila, Fiji 10/20/13

Lomani Family,

Ni sa bula vinaka. I don't have much time to write this. I have to do a survey for President.

How is everything going with all of you? As for me here in Fiji, everything is going great. I have had a great week and I hope that all of you did also. I cannot believe how fast these weeks are going by. We are already on week 7 of our training. The training is only for 12 weeks. It is going by so fast. I guess time flies when you are having a good time and you have a great companion. I still cannot forget my trainer and what he did for me. I hope that I am making that same impact on my son, Elda Banks.

Well this week was a really good week. We don't have that many investigators that are really interested. We are still struggling because we started this area with only one or two investigators. Elder Banks and I did a lot of OYM's this week and had a good time doing this.

This was a pretty usual week. Sleep, study, teach, and eat. But this week when we were contacting, I had my first big "NO", while knocking on doors. We introduced ourselves as missionaries and gave our names and they said no and shut the door.  I was really surprised because I did not think that that would happen in Fiji. Now I can say that that did happen to me.

This week we were going to see a referral from one of our members. Her name was Tima. She had gone to church with a member family twice and she really liked it. She even went to General Conference and she watched all of the Sunday session. She really liked it a lot and wanted us to go teach her. So we set up a day that we could go see her. We also had one of the members plan to come with us, Allen. He is one of Tima's friends. But when we went over to pick him up to go to the lesson, he came out and said that we we cannot go over there. He thought that his mom called us and told us that we could nor go over. He said that the parents got really mad at her and told her that the Elders were not welcome to come into the house. Allen said that Tima was really sad about that. Her parents are really strong in their church and do not want to change. So this was a really big downer on our week because we thought that she was going to be a golden investigator. So I hope that eventually down the road the parents will let her take the lessons.

But the work here in Waila is still moving. It might not be going fast, but it is moving. We are working the hardest we can.

I know that I am doing the Lord's work here in Fiji. His work is moving right along in Fiji. I testify that Jesus is the Christ and the Redeemer of the world. Though him, we can be clean and return to live with our Father in Heaven. The church is true and the doctrines inside of the church are true. I love you all very much and pray for your safety.

Know that I miss you all and love you all very much.

Thanks for everything.

Love,

 Elder Grotepas

                          Us getting back from a lesson soaking wet because it dumped rain on us.

Area 2, Week 5 - Waila, Fiji 10/13/13

Ni sa bula vinaka,

How is everything going there in Utah? I hope that everything there is going great. I know that for me down here in Fiji everything is going great. This week has gone by so fast. Not as fast as the other weeks, but it went by way fast. We had the opportunity to watch Conference this weekend. It was one of the best Conferences that I have  ever watched. It was very inspirational and spiritual. The only bad thing is that we had to watch it all in one. On Saturday, we watched it for 6 hours straight and then on Sunday we watched it for 4 hours.  After that, we were both so tired. Those were some long days but also some spiritual days.

This week we have had a lot of meetings. We had a meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday that took up pretty much the whole day. One of the meetings was at the mission office in Suva.  After the meeting was over, we got to eat an amazing lunch made by Sister Klingler. We had spaghetti and noodles with a dish that was kind of like beef stroganof. It was so good. I always look forward to Sister Klinger's cooking every time we go up there for our meetings. The next day we had our meeting at our stake center with our whole zone. It went great and we had a good pizza lunch afterwards. After our meetings we went home to 4 more hours of studies. Those were both long but good days.

We seem to be getting more referrals from the members. I think that the members are getting to trust us and are starting to work with us. Also the Bishop is doing the same thing. He has given us a couple of names also. I think that a couple of them are going to be great. I think that this ward is great because every one is so willing to work with the elders. We are still waiting on a couple of members to confirm with us if they have someone to teach. They have said they do but they just have to ask.

A funny thing that happened to us this week is that on Wednesday, we were coming home from one of our lessons and it started to pour rain. It was raining so hard and we still had like a 25 minute walk until we were home. So we decided to take a short cut through a field. We forgot that it was pouring and the field would more than likely be very muddy. That did not even cross our minds. So as we were running through the field, we were slipping and sliding everywhere. I fell like 3 times while running through the field. Elder Banks left me in the dust, well mud, and took off!  He looked back and said that all he saw was me on the ground. It was so fun. By the time we got back to the flat we were soaking wet. Our bags were wet, our ties, sulus, and shirts.  The only thing that was not wet was our scriptures. What a blessing those did not get wet.

One thing that really hit me this week and was a big eye opener for me was during conference. There is a young boy in our ward named Allen. On Sunday, he was there watching it with us. He would not leave our side. Then on the last session of conference, he sat by me. He was right next to me, his leg touching my leg close. He kept putting his hand on my shoulder and he actually feel asleep on my leg. He is now like our little buddy here in the Waila Ward. As he was doing this, I though to myself, what kind of thoughts are going through his mind. He must really like and look up to the Elders. Then I thought of my childhood and how many Elders or Sisters that I knew that served in my ward.  I realized that I do not even know even one name of a missionary that has served in our ward. It really opened my eyes to think on what kind of influence this has on a young child that wants to serve his mission. He knows the missionaries personally and gains a relationship with them. I cannot even imagine what kind of affect this is having on his idea of serving a mission. I know for me, this kind of relationship would have made me want to serve a mission more when I was younger.

That was pretty much my week this week!  Thanks for everything you do and are doing.

Love, 

Elder Grotepas

I really liked this quote from Conference:   

Called of Him to Declare His Word

by Elder Randy D. Funk Of the Seventy

"The Lord instructs His servants to be humble because the process of being made whole spiritually begins with a broken heart. Think of the good that comes from broken things: Soil is broken to plant wheat. Wheat is broken to make bread. Bread is broken to become the emblems of the sacrament. When one who is repentant partakes of the sacrament with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, he or she becomes whole. As we repent and become whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we have much more to offer the Savior as we serve Him. Yea,come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him."

(Mom)  I got this wonderful email with photos today from a member of the Waila Ward where Elder Grotepas is serving:  

Howdy to the Grotepas Family this is Brother Small from Fiji and your son is serving in our ward and we are grateful to have your son in our ward and we grateful for his decision to serve a mission. Well as you know he's training Elder Banks and they are doing great. Elder Grotepas is an awesome elder and is funny too. Working with them is great.  We love Elder Grotepas and his companion they always bring the spirit in our home.

Well will keep yall in touch!

Brother Small (totally oppisite from small)

Area 2, Week 4 - Waila, Fiji 10/06/13

Lomani Family,

How is everything going up there in Utah? Everything is going great here in Viti. Well, I have got to admit that this week has gone by way fast. It seriously feels like the other day was Monday. I cannot believe how fast these weeks are going by. I also cannot believe that it is already Conference time already. I know that you all have already watched it but we have to wait for a week before we are able to watch it. We are going to be watching it next Saturday and Sunday. I bet that it was so good and you all learned very much from it all. I hope
you are going to apply all the things that you learned.

This week we had a big Stake Musical Fireside. It was so awesome. I am going to send you some of the pictures today that some of the kids took there. That is how to get sweet pictures, let the kids go around and take pictures. It was way sweet. I have to admit that I like the Stake and Ward parties better here than I do back home. The Fijians don't really care about what they look like and do.  They will do whatever and they wont be ashamed. Like for the party, every ward did a dance and everyone that was there from the ward went up to the front and danced. It was so cool.  We had a unit from Lomaivuna come down and they were the ones that performed the dance and represented our ward. The only thing is they need like 15 members up there and only 3 came. But on the other hand, we had about 16 investigators come,  so they were the ones that did the Meke (dance). The kids were all about 12 to 16 years old. There was also like two 6 year olds that did the dance with them. We also had a couple of the youth from our ward perform. I hope that when I get home I will be put into the young mens and be able to teach all of them this dance and do it for the ward with everyone with their shirts off and grass skirts. HAHA

Another really cool thing is that Elder Banks and I were able to teach a Methodist Talatala (preacher). Some of the Elders that were here previously had contacted him but we went back to meet him. We also got to talk to someone else that lived there in his home. It is cool here in Fiji on how introductions work. A lot of the people here just want to talk. We had one of the district presidents tell us that the first thing that we need to do with Fijians is to talk and get to know them. We need to develop a trust with each other. We do that by just talking and telling stories. Elder Banks told me that he really likes how I like to "talk" to the people before we talk to them. He really likes this process on how we get to know people here in Fiji.  But going on with the story, this lady that lived in the home was way funny. I was making her laugh and she was making us laugh. Well Elder Banks was just laughing because I was laughing. He had no clue what was going on and what was being said. We asked the Talatala if he would read and pray about the Book of Mormon. We promised him that if he did this with a sincere heart, he would know. I don't think that he is really going to change but it is worth a shot. He is really stuck on the things of his church. I know that if he would just open his heart and read the book a little bit, he would know for himself. We are not going to push him, but only invite him to do this.

Also this week, we had a really good lesson with one of our investigators. Her name is Elenoa and Mere. We were teaching them about Christs' church and the Apostasy. I think this lesson was good and the spirit was there. We had already taught her about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Earlier during that day, Elder Banks and I were learning about how to ask inspired quesitons. And during that lesson, we did just that. We asked a question and she froze was silent for like 45 seconds. I knew that my Fijian made sense so I was just going to see what she would do.  We knew the spirit was working on her.  When she finally answered she said she did not know.  We told her to read and pray to her Heavenly Father which of all these churches are true. Only He can do that. She seemed really touched and I think experience really changed something in her. I think that this lesson was a good lesson for both me and Elder Banks.

But that was pretty much our week. I hope things are going good for you all.

Au lomani kemudou valevu. Au na veivosaki vei kemudou ena macawa mai ogo.

Lomani, 

Elder Grotepas

All of our ward/investigators getting ready for the meke

Me, Bishop Nathan, and one of the ZL's Investigators

Aren't they just so scary??

Me, Elder Banks, and Maika. This is at our dinner appointment last night.

Me with some kids at the party

Bishop's son and an investigator's son

I finally decided to take off my shirt here.  This is now what I look like!