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