Area 2, Week 24 - Waila, Fiji 2/16/14 New Companion Elder Arthur

Dear Family,

This week was a really rewarding week for us. We did have lots of things happen to us that were really exciting and really great. Well as for me, I am doing great. I did have my second son move out of the house and move to Vanuwatu. It was a really sad thing to do but he had to do it. I remember when he first came into Waila, I could tell that he was depressed a little bit and did not really want to be in Fiji so close to his family. But after a week or so, he changed. He told me that I told him something that changed his whole thoughts around. He was serving here for a reason and he was wanting to find that reason. By the end of 7 weeks, he did not want to leave and he was depressed that he was leaving. 

One night, when Elder Koroinamua was showering, I got a call from our district leader saying that he was going to be leaving Monday at 12 o'clock. I said "okay, I will tell him," and hung up. When he came out, I told him that he was leaving and he did not believe me. I told him that I was telling the truth and he still did not believe me. So he called the district leader back and asked him himself. To his surprise, it was confirmed of what I said. At this moment, it was the saddest thing that I have seen in my mission. When he finished asking the question, 3 seconds later, his mouth dropped and his expression was an expression of discouragement. He was so bummed that he was leaving. After the call, he looked at me and said, "I do not want to leave, I want to stay here with you guys". It was a sad thing but he knew this day would come. So he packed all his stuff and then on Monday, we had to leave him and he flew off to Vanuwatu to start his real mission there. I miss my son. He was awesome and a great missionary.

Another big thing that happened this week is that we were so busy with getting Elder Vimahi his visa for America. For almost 3 days, we were up in Suva at the American Embassy or at the mission office trying to work out his visa. He had one small problem but they fixed it all up and as of right now, he has his visa and he is just waiting on getting his plane ticket that they are going to purchase in America. So I think that he is going to be leaving me pretty soon and that I am going to be getting a new companion.

Oh, speaking of a new companion, I am going to be getting a companion this afternoon. On Saturday night, they called out transfers and an elder Named Elder Arthur is going to be coming to Waila. I think that my days in Waila are coming to an end and I do not want them to. Waila is a great area and there is work, all you have to do is find it. If you look for it, you will find it. Then once you've found it, you have to work for it and keep it up. That is the secret to missionary work. Find, teach and then work for it.  

I also had the opportunity of shaking the hand of an Apostle of the Lord. Neil L. Anderson came down to Fiji and all the missionaries got together and we all had one big meeting with him. He is truly the Lords servant. You can just see it in him when he speaks and the way he is. It was a great experience to meet him and shake his hand.

As of right now, we have 3 baptismal dates set up. We have one baptism for the 9th of March and them we have 2 set up for the 23rd of March. We are looking and planning on having a really good month in the month of March. We found them all towards the end of January and they are progressing really good as of right now. We are so excited to see the work start moving here in Waila. That is one of the biggest things that I have learned here in Waila. It does not depend on the skill that you have, it all depends on how much you are willing to work and how far you can go with trusting in your Heavenly Father. I have learned a big lesson here in Waila and I know that it is for a reason why I have been put here. The missionary work is the work of the Lord so it has to be controlled and directed by Him.

I want to share an experience that we have had this week. We were teaching one of our investigators that has a date set for the 9th of March. During this past week we have focused on teaching him about the importance of baptism and why it is important for him to be baptized. During this lesson and before the lesson, we both had a good feeling the he would accept our date. We had it all planned out and we knew that he would accept. In a later visit, we asked him to be baptized in Febuary and he said that he would try. So we had no clue what he was going to say. But during the lesson we talked about faith, repentance, and baptism. He understood 100 percent and then when we asked him to be baptized he accepted. He told us that as he was reading from the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 31, He said that he needed to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized just like him. He said that he was baptized when he was a child but not like him. He said that as he read this scripture that he felt that it was right for him to be baptized.  So during that visit, he accepted and he is very excited to be baptized. Then later on in that week, He told us that he wants to serve a mission just like us and just like what his friend wants to do. I know that Heavenly Father has prepared this young man to hear the gospel. I also know that we are the ones to help him finish his learning about what he is supposed to do in this life to receive eternal life.

Everything is going good here now. We are getting the opportunity to meet many new people and talk to them about the special message that we share. We also have good and meaningful work that we are proud of. We are doing really good and we are really seeing the blessing come from our Heavenly Father. I can testify once we have faith and put our trust in him, that is when his support and help comes. I have seen it in my mission and I invite all of you who are reading this to do the same, have faith and but all your trust in Him. He is there and He is living. I know that He lives and that this is the church of God. 

I love you all very much and miss you all so much. have a great week and stay on the straight and narrow path.

Love,
Elder Grotepas

Elder Vimahi with some scary lookin boys

This is dinner. Roro with fish and kasava.

Practicly eating leaves, roots, and some fish. YUMYUM

Elder Moulton

Elder Anderson accepting his Tabua.

Me and Elder Vimahi going to the culture night for Neil L. Anderson

Look what we found

Area 2, Week 23 - Waila, Fiji 2/10/14

Dear Dad,

Hey thank you for the letter. I am glad that you are all doing good and I know that everything is going good with me also.  Elder Koroinamua did leave today at 1 o'clock to go to his assigned mission. It is hard to leave one of your sons. I know that is is going to do wonders there in his assigned mission of Vanuwatu. That is pretty much the big news for the week.

My health is really good. 

Like today, it is so hot. You cannot even walk in the sun for more that 3 minutes and be tired. We walked about 2 hours on Saturday in the blazing hot sun and by the end of the day, we were exhausted. We got in the flat and went to bed. We were pooped.

Well the work is going good here in Waila. We have a total of 2 baptismal dates as of right now and we are planning on giving out 3 more this week. Oh yeah, we are going to be having Elder Neil A. Anderson come down to Fiji on Friday and Saturday. The whole mission is going to be getting together to meet him. It is going to be way sweet. We get to shake the hand of an Apostle of the Lord.  Going back, we gave a date out this week to a man named Anarae. His wife is a member and she wants him to take here to the temple. We taught him this week about the story of Joseph Smith and he almost started to cry about it. I could see it starting in his eyes. Then at the end of the lesson, we asked him to be baptized on the 23rd of next month and he accepted. He knows already that the church is true and that it is the true church of Christ. He is really excited to be baptized and he is awesome. We had 2 come to church and he was one of them.

We also have one more named Jobe. I told you last week about him also. We have not given him a baptismal date yet. We feel that we need to teach him about the importance of baptism before we decide a date. He accepted our invitation but said he would try. But this week we taught him about the whole 1st lesson. He really likes it and he read form the Book of Mormon. He is progressing really well and is doing great. We are planning for him on the 9th of March. He has been now 2 times to church.

We also have 2 brothers taking lessons, L___ and K___. I think that they are really good. One of them is going to be hard because he smokes and said that he has been in prison multiple times. The other is great. He does not do anything bad and he is a good kid. He is only 24 years old and is going to college. So we are working with these couple also. 

We have a couple more that we are just waiting on. They left their home and we are just waiting for them to come back home. But the work is going good. I know that we need to keep finding though. I know that if we stop this, by the end of March we are going to go back to what we were before and having to find more people to teach. 

Know that I am doing really good. Nothing to worry about. I love it here and I do not really want to leave even though I am really missing the food from back home, this week it was donuts. Man I miss those Madbrooks donuts.

I want to let you know that I love you very much. i know that the church is true and that the work of the Lord is hastening. This is the work of the Lord that I am doing. Keep your chin up and remember the advice given in Jacob 6:!8 (or somewhere around there, I forgot the verse) "Oh be wise; what more can I say?"

Au lomani iko tamagu!!

Love,

Elder Grotepas

Dear Mom,

Thank you for your letter this week. I always love to read your letters. They are so eventful and I know what is going on in your life. Mom, I want to let you know that I am doing fine here in Fiji. I love that last thing that you mentioned about the missionaries. I know that there are a lot of members that do not know how much the missionaries need the members help. I know that if it were not for the members help, the work would be so hard. Also I think the all the missionaries would go hungry. Most of the time when Elders and Sisters go out, they have no clue how to cook and even sometimes how to take care of themselves. I am so grateful that you are helping the missionaries.  Every time the members help us we feel so relieved and some of the pressure is taken from us. I have to admit that we have lots of pressure on us and the members can really help. I am grateful that you are helping them and I wish that the whole church would understand this also.

The hardest thing is when you ask a member to help you and then they call you 10 minutes before and tell you that they cannot make it or even they do not even show up at all. It is so frustrating because we need their help to move the work of the Lord.

Well just like last week, I have been craving something from America. One day, I forgot to grab the phone when we left and right as we were about to leave I went back in to grab it. As I walked into our flat, I smelt donuts. To be exact, Madbrooks donuts. I told my companions and they just laughed. I could not get those out of my mind. I miss those donut runs almost every Saturday to get some donuts. This ws probably the worst thing that happened to me. I hate it because it makes me want to go home and to get trunky even though I have 11 and a half months. By the way, who's even counting?

Well I will let you read the letter that I wrote today that explains about the work here in Waila the past week. We did have a really good week and we are going to have a busy week this week also. Elder Vimahi had to have a medical check up today for his visa to go to america and then on Thursday, we have to go to the American Embassy to get an interview from the High Comissioner from there. Then on Friday we have a fireside with Neil A. Anderson, and then on Saturday all the missionaries in Fiji are getting together to have a meeting with him. So we get to shake his hand and it is going to be sweet.

I am sorry but I do not have much time today to email today. We had a busy day with Elder Vimahi's medical examination. I just want to let you know that I love you and miss you so much. You and the family are like the world to me. I know that this church is true and that everything we as the missionaries do is the work of the Lord. Just like what you said and was testified to you today.

Keep your chin up and stay strong. STAY FRESH.

Love,

Elder Grotepas

Sorry I cannot write one for the blog. You can take parts from all the letters to make one. Sorry.

Left to Right: Elder Koroinamua, Vimahi, Grotepas

Hot dog dinner. YUM. Long time

Us doing Service. Me, Elder Vimahi, and Elder Wilson (DL), also with some members and 2 investigators.

Service Day

Lunch with the Waila Boys

Left to right:  Joeli (member), Wajo (member), Elder Grotepas

I was pleasantly surprised to find this great article on LDS. org today while preparing my Young Women's lesson for Sunday.

Fiji Students Say Thanks for New Computers by Cleaning Towns

TAILEVU, FIJI — 

200 students from the Ratu Kadavulevu School in Tailevu, Fiji expressed gratitude for 18 new computers and two printers donated to their school by going out into their community to pick up rubbish.

The computers and printers were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Church leader, Elder Taniela Wakolo, said the clean-up of communities near the school was suggested so the students would be able to “give back” after receiving the new equipment.

“We see these young people as our nation’s future leaders, so we want to encourage them and help them to get all the education they can get, and also have a strong desire to help others,” Elder Wakolo said. 

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Students from the Ratu Kadavulevu school, YSA and youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints clean the streets in the Nausori and Korovou communities. 21 November 2013© 2013 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

“These computers will help with their education, but we also encourage them to think outside of themselves and to roll up their sleeves in making their families and communities better and stronger.”

The lesson was not lost on 15 year-old student Isoa Qeleni.  “Participating in community service has taught me the importance of keeping the environment clean and to live a clean life.”

The school students joined with youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in donating a combined 800 hours of community service as they cleaned the towns of Korovou and Nausori, starting at the communities’ health centres.

The principal of the school, Mr Beniamo Tawake, was visibly moved when receiving the computers on behalf of the school.

“I have felt sorry that our students never had the opportunity to learn from a computer,” he said. “The computers and printers will certainly make a difference in the students’ learning and in their lives.” 

Carpentry teacher, Mr Jioji Talairatu, said this was the first time the students had participated in this kind of activity. “This was a great opportunity for the students to clean up their community and to work with youth of the Church.”

In a hand-over ceremony with staff and students, Elder Wakolo paraphrased Latter-day Saint scripture, “We believe that when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in the service of our God [Mosiah 2:17, The Book of Mormon].” 

Area 2, Week 22 - Waila, Fiji 2/3/2014 New Companion Elder Vimahi

Dear Family,

Man, it has been a long time. It feels like I have not emailed you all in a while. Our leaders changed around our P-day because they had planned a temple trip for all of the Nausori Zone to attend. Because of this, they moved our P-day because the temple is a P-day activity. So we had a regular day yesterday along with our Zone Training Meeting. 

As for me, everything is going great. We had a really good week. We did not get to teach very many lessons because we were so busy but we did have a very successful week. It seems like our ward is really feeling the missionary spirit and is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their friends. We got about 2 new referrals this week from the ward that are interested in what we have to say. Both of them have attended church for the past 2 Sundays with their less-active friends that are starting to come back to church. It seems like the work is really picking up and we have invited about 3 people to be baptized in the past 2 weeks. We are really getting lots of work, and like I said last week, I can really see how the Lord is helping us out here in Waila. We have shaped up a bit, changed our obedience, and now I can really see the change in the area. I have a testimony of being strictly obedient now. I did not at first but now I can really see it. 

I did have a really big thing happen to me this week. First of all, when we were at our "Train the Trainers" meeting this week, Elder Koroinamua had to speak to president concerning his patriarchal blessing. He said that as he was talking to him about that, President also mentioned that he was 1 out of 4 missionaries that have received their visas to go to Vanuwatu!  He said that he might be leaving this week or if not this week, next week. So he told him to get ready because he might be leaving pretty soon. That was the first big news and secondly,  I have gotten another new companion!  This was a big ol' shock to me. Yesterday, we were inside of our Zone Meeting and the Assistants called the Zone Leaders and told them that I will be getting a 3rd companion. So by the end of the meeting the Assistants were calling me and telling me that they would be there soon to drop him off to us. So they came and dropped him off. His name is Elder Vimahi.  He is from the second most beautiful island of Tonga.  He is about 11 months out on his mission and he came from the mission that got destroyed from the typhoon in the Phillipines. He is going to be waiting here in Fiji for a little bit to get a visa to go to some other mission. He does not even know where he is going. He also said that his parents have moved from Tonga to the great and safe city of West Valley City, Utah.  Elder Koroinamua and him just speak Tongan to each other. It is weird because I have no clue what is going on and I get confused.  I don't quite know what is going on with me and my companions. I guess I am a visa waiter companion!

But, we did have a really good week this week. We were finally able to see the family that we have been teaching for a while, the Methodist family of four. It has been about a month since we have been able to see them. We had a really good lesson and I could really feel the spirit testify to the father what we were saying was true. We taught him about the priesthood authority and why we need that to be baptized. I don't think that understood it very good from the first time we introduced it, but now he really does. We told him that the way he can know this is true is knowing that Joseph Smith is true and he did restore the priesthood to the earth. Then to know that he is a true prophet, he needs to know the Book of Mormon is true. He said that he has really slacked in his reading and he knows that he has to start. So he promised us that during the week that he would read the Book of Mormon with his family every night. We promised him that he will know if he does this and that it will help him in his life.

This week we had one investigator come to church. It was the husband of one of the members in the Waila Ward. I know that he is building his faith is Jesus Christ and is seeing the importance of this church. At first when we met him, he told us that he did not really want to change. He was doing this to make his wife happy. But he has been to church three times and he has also gone to a combined Family Home Evening with most of the members there. He is starting to build relationships in the ward and he is really growing in his faith. We are going to try this week to find him a date to shoot for. I know that this will help and encourage him to read and pray to know for himself that this church is true.

It is weird for me to think that I do not have that much more time on my mission. This week I have really been pondering on what I can do to more better improve myself to become that most effective missionary. I know for first that I need to keep my mind centered on my mission and not think about what I am going to do when I get home and what I am going to eat. haha!  I really want to finish strong and finish with power. I know everyone can finish strong on everything they do. One of the Christlike attributes is Patience. I know that I have really had to work on this on my mission but if we can have patience and can endure things well, we will be blessed from on high. That is a really good promise and I really want that. So I encourage all of you to do the same thing. Whatever you are going through, endure it well. There will come a point when it will end and you will be blessed. 

I know that this church is true and I am doing the Lords work. I love you all very much and miss you all very much also. I hope and pray that you all will have a great week and that everything will go smooth and as planned. Have a great week and much love from the small beautiful island of Fiji.

With much love,

Elder Grotepas

Me and Elder Small. HAHA. Brother Small our ward mission leader.

Left to Right: Elder Koroinamua, Grotepas, Vimahi, and Wajo (member).

Us at Family Home Evening last night.

Look at that tan line.

This is what happens when you get two Tongan's as companions and they give you a haircut! 

Area 2, Week 21 - Waila, Fiji 1/25/14

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing up there in Utah? It sounds like that everyone is doing great and is having a great time. I know that for me, everything is going great and that I am doing well. Nothing is really new with me except that I did pass my year mark of my mission. I have really reflected back on that past year of my mission and I really pondered if I have done the best that I could have done. I know that I have less than one year now and the time is just flying by. What am I going to do in this next year to change? to improve? grow more spiritually? serve my companion more? I know that there are lots of things that I know I could have improved on the past year. One thing that you said in your letter mentioned this past year of my mission. It really triggered my thoughts to start pondering on the past year. I know that this year is really going to have to count. I know the language pretty good and I know what I need to do as a missionary to become successful. During this next year, I feel that I need to change and become the best missionary that I can!

This week kind of went slow for me because I was waiting for 23rd of January because it was my year mark. I know that I have been thinking lots about home and what I am going to be doing when I get home. I know that this is not what I am supposed to be doing, I still have a long time left. I think this is why it took so long, I was getting trunky. I have changed that all around now. We worked as hard as we could this week and we did have a really successful week. We were able to have 13 lessons and but were not blessed with anyone coming to church. But one big thing that did happen this week is that we were able to have a baptism for a young 12 year old girl named Lavenia Delaibau. The baptism went really great. It is good to finally see our missionary efforts here in Waila. It was great to have a baptism and see her and her sister go into the waters of baptism and be forgiven of all of their sins. Shortly after the baptism, she bore her testimony and it was so powerful. I have never seen a young girl like that with such a powerful testimony. She knows that she is doing the right thing. Same with her sister. She had a great testimony also. I do know that as missionaries, we are simply not just baptizing, we are converting to last. Not to go less-active after 4 weeks, but to stay active and build relationships with the quorums and the members. I have changed my attitude on that also. She is just not a baptismal date but she is a soul that I helped come unto the church.

This event was the high point to our week. This was a very rewarding event and built my testimony even more that what it was.

We were also able to find a couple more people to teach. We found one 16 year old girl that wants to learn more about the church and what we are all about. We met this member named Sister Cavasikula and she said that she lives on the same road as we do. I have always thought that all the members lived close to where we were. But we scheduled a day to go see her and see how she is doing. We went to her house on the scheduled day and as we were talking on the porch drinking juice and eating muffins, she told us that there was one girl inside that wanted to take the lessons. We were more than happy at this. We told her to bring her on out and we will introduce the church and what we have to teach. She told us that she had been going trough some tough times and that she needed some help. We testified to her that this church can help her. That help that she needs can come through Jesus Christ as we trust in him. She was really excited and wanted us to come back. We scheduled to meet her after church. We also invited her to the baptism of Lavenia. She told us that she would come with the member but when it came Sunday, she did not end up coming. So we are going to try really hard to see her again and get her to come to church with some young women.

This week I had something that was pretty scary. I thought that I was going to be stabbed. We were walking down this road called Lal Singh. We walked passed this guy and Elder Koroinamua said "Kaisai." (hello in Hindi). Then I also said it because we thought he was Indian. I don't think that he liked it so he turned around and came back over to us. The first thing he asked was where I was from. I told him that I was from America. I then in turn asked him where he was from? He said that he was from America also. I asked " What part?" This is when he got all defensive and flashed his knife at me. He was holding it in his hand along with a coke bottle. At this point, I told him I just want to know. He said that he is from San Francisco. He also told us that he was drunk at the moment and that he wanted to buy us lunch. We thanked him very much for his offer and he said okay. Then he moved his hand with the knife really fast and put the coke bottle to my chest. I thought that he was going to stab me when he did this. It was a big relief that he did not stab me at that point. Eventually he put it in his pocket and I tried to get away as quickly as possible. He wanted us to go with him. He even wanted us to come to his party. But we told him we have to go and he finally left. This was probably one of the scariest things that have happened on my mission so far. Fiji is really safe but lots of knives and big machetes.

We were also able to meet one guy that just got married to a member. The wife wants him to take the lessons and I think that he is just doing it for her. We met him on Sunday and then we set up a time that we could see him during the week. We were able to see him and teach him the introduction lessons about what we teach and what we are going to do. He seemed to like what we taught but when it came to the end, he said that he was Methodist and that he kind of wants to stay it. He said there is only one God and it does not matter which church name we are under, we will still receive eternal life. I think that as we teach him and as the wife helps him out, she is a temple member, he will really change. I think it will take time but the spirit will work with him in his life. We just need to work out with him if he can get the day of Sunday off so that he can come to church. It is going to be hard for him to receive the witness it is true if he does not come to church. He is a good refferal and we are going to be working with him over the next couple of months.

Another refferal that we received this week did not go too good. He came to church the past Sunday and even went to a ward party the day before. We set up a date to go see him on Wednesday. But on Tuesday he got kicked out of his house because he got in a fight with the landlord over a coconut. He took one coconut for his dinner without asking the lady. She saw him do it and she got mad and kicked him out. So he moved and we were not able to see him. This guy was golden. He really wanted to learn more about the LDS church. He was always over at the members house right next to them watching rugby. It was a bumber for the week to see this and that a golden investigator left our area. :(

This week has been a really good week for us. It was really rewarding and a lot of  good things happened. We were able to meet some people on the street and they said that we can come meet them. It seems like we are getting people to teach but a lot of them are moving or become less interested. I can see the Lords hand in putting people in our path. He is helping us out. We just need to keep everything organized and keep all the people square. I know the Lord is helping us and is with us. That's all we need to do, Trust in the Lord.

I love you all very much. I miss you all very much as well. I hope that you are all having a great week a

nd that everything goes good and smooth for you all. I know the church is true and that I am doing the Lord's work here in Fiji. I love it here and am loving my mission.

Thanks for everything.

Stay Fresh.

Love, 

Elder Grotepas

Baptism

Left to right: Elder Koroinamua, Miriama, Lavenia, Tomasi, Elder Grotepas

  Photo taken at our meeting for trainers and trainees

 

Area 2, Week 20 - Waila Fiji - 1/19/14

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing up there in freezing cold Utah? I hope that everyone is doing great and that everyone is healthy and not freezing to death. I know for me, it has been a really good week. It has been a really rewarding week in many different ways.  I have been feeling a bit under the weather and have kind of pushed myself a bit too hard and I am pretty much out of energy. Good thing it is Monday to relax and get that strength back to my body.

This week we had a lot of really cool things happen to us that was a big help to the work here in Waila. It seems like the start of the week was just another usual week for Waila. We went around talking to people and no one wanted to hear what we had to say. We had a few appointments fall through that we really wanted to see. Those people are ones who we were really focusing on this week and we set some goals to help them progress. When we went over to see them they told us that they were busy and that we were going to have to wait until next week. It really broke my heart when we were not able to see them.

But it seemed like it all changed on Friday. As we were doing our weekly planning, Elder Koroinamua and I committed ourselves to work hard and to start doing every possible thing we can to change this area. In the next couple of days, as we were talking to people, it seemed that everyone we talked to was willing to hear more about what we are about and learn more about the church!  So we were able to set up about 7 return appointments with people to teach them more about the church!

Then the day came, yesterday (Sunday), that we really did see the Lords hand. Man that day was a great day for us and I was just so happy. We were able to get about 4 referrals from our members and they are really interested in the church. They are even more interested than the people that we contacted on our own. One of them is from a member that is going to get married this Thursday.  The guy she is marrying is not a member and she wants him to take the lessons. He seemed somewhat interested and we are going to work with him. We also received another referral from a member. This referral just moved into the apartment that is on the side of their house. He is always over at their house because he does not have very much because he is new to the area. He is really interested and he even went to a ward party on Saturday. Then we got two from another member for a 12 year old boy and 10 year old girl. I think that this one is going to be a bit tougher. We have to get permission from their parents to see if we can teach them. It is better to baptize families rather than just the kids. So we are doing great here in Waila! I have seen lots of blessings and the work is moving again after a while of slow time.

We were in one lesson this week with a new investigator that we picked up. His name is Ken. Ken is the coolest guy in the world. He is so nice and so friendly. He runs the neighborhood where a lot of our members live and a lot of the members are less active. We are hoping that by helping Ken, it will help all the others.Our lesson went great.  I have to admit, that we were in the lesson a bit to long because we were just talking and he wanted to talk about his life. I have learned on my mission that this is what you have to do. Talk to the investigator to gain that relationship with them and they are comfortable around you.  As we began teaching about the church, we reviewed what we were going to teach him and asked him what he was looking for. We asked him where he saw himself in 10 years. He said that the past years have been tough and that he really wanted to change his life around. When he shared this story with us, I really felt that he wanted to do something in his life to change. We testified that this is what he needed and that we are a sign that he needs to change his life and grow closer to Heavenly Father. He is a great investigator and I have faith that he will change and be baptized. 

I was also able to go on splits this week with an Elder named Elder Gunderson. He is from the brand new intake that came in last Monday. It is always fun to see the new Elders and see how they act. They are generally hesitant and shy. They have no clue what is going on and they have the deer in the headlights look. It is so awesome. They always grow up and do great. Elder Gunderson with be a great missionary!

I know that this last year of my mission I have really got to make it count. I need to put in 150% of my power. Just like what you said "Are you entertained, or changed." We need to all have changed when we come back and I know that only way you can do that is through strict obedience to the Lord's commandments and Missionary Standards. I am going to change more than what I have already changed up to now! I encourage you all to take the challenge also. Set goals, plan to achieve them, and then accomplish them!

 We can reach a ripe old age and look back at our live and wonder, what could I have done different. I could have achieved so much more. That is what I invite you all to do, Live life with no regrets.

I love you all very much and miss you all.

Love,
Elder Grotepas

Photo (1 of 2) of all missionaries in Nausori Zone.

It is from the Colo i Suva activity Monday 6 January 2014

Photo (2 of 2) of all missionaries in Nausori Zone.

It is from the Colo i Suva activity Monday 6 January 2014