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)