Area 4, Week 19, Naduna, Vanua Levu, Fiji - 9/28/14

Ni sa bula vinaka,

How is everyone doing this week? I hope that this week has been a really good week for you all just like it was for me. It has yet been another way fast week and I cannot really recall much that went on. It was just one of those weeks. Just nice and smooth.

I think that one of the highlights for the week was what happened at church on Sunday. We were able to have 32 people come to church. This was the highest attended service that I have seen in the Naduna Branch. The past high was about 27. I don't know exactly what happened but it was a really good thing to help lift our spirits out of the sorrow that we have been feeling. We had about 2 less active families come to church.

About last Sunday, we went over to one of our less active family's home to have dinner with them. We also prepared to share a spiritual thought with them. So, what do you think we shared with them???????  Well iw was none other than dad's famous "Jimmy Club!" I thought it was always weird when dad played it so much. But now I can really see what the point of it is. We then explained to them that you have to pay attention to hear the spirit. Some of us will just catch on quick, some of us need a little help to understand it, and still others just don't want to hear it at all.  We explained that we need to be listening and wanting to receive answers from the Holy Ghost and be willing to act on that answer. 

So we had a really good lesson with them. Then, this Sunday, they all came to church and the father of the house was able to bless his new born baby in Sacrament meeting. It was really cool to see this because I could tell that they really loved it and enjoyed it. I hope that they will continue to come and feel the spirit.

I read something this week that stuck out to me. It says in Moroni 10, we have to be praying with a "sincere desire". So I thought to myself, "what does it mean to pray with a sincere desire?" Later on in the talk it kind of explained what a sincere desire was. When you have a sincere desire to pray, you will do whatever is told of you to do. If you receive an answer that something is true (ex. if the church is true), you do it without hesitation and you follow that feeling. I think that most of the time people have that desire but when they recieve the answer, they get scared or think that it is not right for them to follow. I have to admit that it is a really hard thing to do but  we just have to do it. I invite you all to do the same thing, try to pray with a sincere desire and then follow the promptings.    

We were able this week to have a branch party that was a really big success. We had about 8 to 9 non-members come to the activity and see the chapel/members. We as missionaries did not really force anything on them. We just talked with them and let the members do the sharing. I know that it is better if the members do this because it is more comfortable for them to talk to people they know and not strangers. So we had a good turn out and had lots of fun.

We did get to see a few of our investigators this week but most of them were busy. So we just said hello and scheduled another date to go see them. Me and Elder Walls are wanting to make the branch stronger so we are going to be working more with them this next week. We are going to start mutual for the youth and hope that this will start bringing more of their friends into the church. We are trying to think outside of the box.

But I had a really good week this week. Time is going by way to fast. I think that these next few months are just going to fly by like nothing.      

Thanks so much for everything and I wish you all a good week. I know that the Lord lives and this is his church!

Love,
Elder Grotepas

Me with some of the young men in the Naduna Branch.

Some people that attended our Branch Activity

Me and a boy wearing the baskets that we made on our heads

Me and Elder Walls with President Setoki and Brother John

Area 4, Week 18 - Naduna, Vanua Levu, Fiji 9/21/14

Dear Family,

Hello, how are you all doing today? Is there anything new with any of you? What is the weather like there in Utah? I think that I forgot what the weather is like there in Utah. It has been too long. How is all of your health?  How is the missionary work going there in your ward?

Well as for me, there is nothing really new with me. The weather, my health, and pretty much everything is still the same as it was last week. Pretty much all we did this week was sleep, eat and teach. We were also able to take part in a meeting with our mission president to train us on our responsibilities of a District Leader. He came up to Labasa on Friday to have a meeting with all the District Leaders in the Northern Zone. This meeting was the first meeting that I have had since becoming a District Leader. Now I have actually learned my full responsibilities as a leader. It has been about 4 months since I have been a District Leader. It would have been good to have this when I first started. But it is all good. I pretty much knew everything that they taught us. But there were a few things that I can work on to become a more effective and loving District Leader.

The biggest thing that I learned this week that has really helped me in my mission is the aspect of being a good leader. One of the things that I learned this week is that I need to know all the needs of the  missionaries in my district. So that means that I need to get to know them and build relationships with them. For me, I like to be a one that is not the center of attention. I like to sit back and listen. I have learned that I need to do more than that. I need to be the one that welcomes everyone and make them feel comfortable. I know that at the start of my mission, I was a bit shy. I feel that my mission has really helped me on that. I can feel that within this District, we all have good relationships. We all know each other and are really comfortable around each other. It starts with the District Leader and I feel that I have really improved in this area. I read something that asked "How can you help someone if you don't know the needs of those you lead?" It makes sense because I need to know what they need. So I made a goal for myself that I am going to get to know each missionary a bit more so I can understand them more.

There are also many other ways that we can be a good leader. The person that we should look up to and try to be like is Jesus. He was the master teacher and the best leader. He had all the attributes and qualities that everyone needs to be a successful leader. I read quite a bit on this subject and I set a few goals that I can work on to be like Him. I know that this mission is preparing me for the future. What I am learning now is not going to be just for this mission but it is going to affect me after my mission also. President Layton said "This is preparing you to be leaders for the church in the future. You are our next Bishops and Stake Presidents." It is kind of a weird thought but it is true. We are going to be them. Crazy.

Well, other than that, it was a really usual week. We did not have anyone come to sacrament meeting. We were able to see a quite a bit of our investigators. Some of the appointments we set up fell through because they were busy. The cool thing was that even when they said they were busy, they said that we could take a rest and drink some juice together. So we were not able to sit down with them but we were able to build a relationship with them. I think that this is critical to missionary work. If you have no relationship (love), it will more than likely go nowhere. Like what it says in the scripture, "If there is no love, there is nothing." So even though we did not get to teach them something, we were able to get to know each other more and more. I felt that it was a really good use of our time even though it did not show on our numbers.

I think that many people think that it is all about numbers and quotas. But honestly, missionary work is not supposed to be measured this way. We should seek out the Holy Ghost help and help people in their needs. I feel that our week went really good and that we were really successful.

So our week was really good. My companion is doing really good. We have lots of fun together and have some good conversations. I am loving it here in Fiji and am going to be sad when I have to leave. I have figured it out, when I come home, we are going to eat on the floor. It is weird sitting at a table now. Maybe we should even get rid of all of our sofas to be just like Fiji (jkjk). But we did have a really fun and exciting week.

I know that God lives and that Jesus leads this church. This is the work of the Lord. I love you all and wish you all a good week.

Thank you so much for everything. I love you all very much. Have a good week.

Kalougata tiko kemudou ena nomudou i lakolako.

Love, 

Elder Grotepas

Area 4, Week 17, Naduna, Vanua Levu Fiji - 9/14/14

Ni sa bula vinaka,

How is everyone doing this week? I hope that everyone is doing good and that everyone had a good week and is doing fine. I know it has been another really good week here in Fiji. We were kind of busy this week because of transfers that happened this past week. That took up about 3 days of our week. We had to focus on getting everyone to their new areas making sure we everyone was with a companion. I was able to meet up with lots of missionaries that I have not seen for a while and also thank some for serving in the Labasa District because they got transferred. Both sides of the spectrum. So we had to drive to the airport and back like 6 times in 3 days. It was tiring.

But other than the busy-ness with all that, we did have a really good week this week. The first thing that I would like to tell you about is a man named Asook. He has got to be one of our golden investigators that we have found in the past couple of weeks. About 2 weeks ago, we contacted this man and when he first saw us, he was really hesitant and really scared to talk to us. He told us that we can talk with his grandmother that did not even know English. So we sat down and tried to talk to her with the little Hindi that I know. She ended up calling Asook to come over and sit with us. We talked a bit about Christ and what we did as missionaries. He liked it and even asked us if the Bible that he had was the correct edition and it was translated correctly. We told him yes and invited him to continue reading it. He then invited us to come back over another day.

So the following week when we went to see him, which was this week, we talked more about Jesus Christ and really focused on the Plan of Salvation and Atonement. I remember when we got to the Atonement part of the lesson, he really started to listen. As we were teaching him, a question came out of my mouth that really made him think. I asked him "What are some ways you can follow Jesus Christ?" He then looked at the ground for about 10 seconds then looked back at us. This is what he said, "I have to admit, ever since the first time you have come to my house, I have had a feeling that I need to follow what you have said. I feel that Christ is the thing that I have to follow in my life." We then testified that was the Holy Ghost and that he needs to follow that prompting. He said okay and said that he wants to learn everything that we teach and really understand everything before he acts.

This was a really cool experience for me this week. I know that God is preparing many at this time. This man has been through so much. He had to go to India to have a surgery on his head and he about died. We have shown him a light for his life and I know that he can see it because he felt it in this past lesson. I love it when these things happen because it builds my testimony so much.  He even asked us if it was alright if we put our hands on his head to give him a blessing of comfort to help him follow Jesus. We were so glad to give him one. The spirit was so strong there and I know that one day, he will follow the example of Jesus Christ.

We also ran into this same situation with one of our other investigators. We had a good lesson about what we have to do in this earth life to return to live with our Heavenly Father. We read from 2 Nephi 31 and emphasized what is to be done on this earth life. We invited him and his family to be baptized but he said he wants to learn more about what we have to share then make the final decision. So now we are just relying on the spirit to testify to them what we shared is true. I hope that it really is going to help them out.

I would like to share one other thing with you all that I thought was pretty cool. We gave a blessing to a man this week and when we were done explaining what we were going to do, he asked us "So, how much do I have to pay for that?" This question really stuck out to me. It made me realize that we do not have to pay for blessings. The power of God can bless anyone anywhere at anytime without price. The only thing that you have to do is to have faith. That's it. Simple as that. It also shows to us priesthood holders that we need to be ready in those times that people ask us for blessings.

I have learned that God's power is real and that it is free of price.  If we have the faith just the size of a mustard seed, it will work and we will be blessed. I know that this is the true church of Christ and that He leads it. He is also leading us missionaries to the people that are ready.

I am glad to write you all and I love you all very much. I wish you all a good week.

Love, 

Elder Grotepas

Area 4, Week 16 - Naduna, Vanua Levu, Fiji 9/07/14

Ni sa bula sia,

(Nee sa mb-ula see-a) How is everyone doing this week? I am glad that I have another opportunity to email you all and see how you all are doing. Also to tell you all a little bit about what has gone on with me during the past week. I hope that you all have had a good week this week and everyone stayed safe and sound. Also hope that everyone is doing good in school and is liking it.

The weather has changed a lot and is now more humid. I think that the weather is going to start to get hotter because we are coming into the summer season here. It is not like in America when it gets colder. The opposite. Everyone here in Labasa is still doing the same thing, cutting their sugar cane. I think that it is going to be like this for the next 3 to 4 months.

The people here are still the same, awesome! I am really liking it here and am going to dread it when I have to come home. They are just so nice and relaxed. It is so different from the lifestyle that I grew up in.

This week, we met some people in Savusavu that have been in Fiji for 7 months and they absolutely love it here. As we were walking through the town, two white people stopped us and introduced themselves. They said that they were from Salt Lake City, Utah. I was really amazed and I said that I was from Syracuse. They thought that was way cool. They said they were also members and always see the missionaries here. I was surprised. They also said that they just love it here in Fiji. They have been sailing around the world and Fiji is the best place they have been.

But as for our week this week, it was really good. We had a really good time. We had transfers this week but we are going to be staying here in Naduna. We are finally on a frequent 6 week transfer cycle. It used to be when ever we needed one, but now we are going to do it every 6 weeks. This transfer was a lot different from all of the previous ones we have had. President Layton has some different ideas. It seems like he is going to put leaders with the new missionaries. So, now once you are a leader, you are not always going to be. Wherever the Lord calls you, you go.

As for the work here in Naduna, it is going alright. We were able to have two nonmembers come to church this week. These two were the people that we ate bat with. We were also able to meet a couple new people that we  have shared the Gospel with. The work is still going a bit slow but we are coping with it. We are working hard and trying to find those that are ready. The hardest thing about this area is the lack of houses and the distance they are away from the chapel. I think now with the First Presidency changing the way missionaries do missionary work, it is going to affect Naduna. Here in Vanua Levu, they are going to try to make "centers of strength." This means that they are thinking of combining the Labasa Branch and also the Naduna Branch into one to make it a center of strengh. It will be a lot better if we can have one really strong branch before we go out and make smaller branches that struggle. So, I don't quite know for sure when and if they are going to do this but it is in the plans for Naduna. With this in our minds, we are still staying positive. We have been called here and it is for a reason. We are here to touch someone and I guess that we have not done it yet.

This was pretty much the big news for us this week. We still are going to work hard.

This week we went to Savusavu for a Zone Training Meeting. I was able to finish up buying all of the things that I wanted to take home from my mission. I think now that I am going to start to buy some stuff for all of you. What are some things that you all want as a gift from Fiji?

I really cannot think about stuff to write anymore. I think that I am going to start to write more about what I have learned that what happened to me. I am going to change the way that I will write you all. I feel that every week is just the same week that's why I don't have to much to talk about.

I want to share something that really touched me this week. Christ tells us that the first commandment is to love God, and the second is like unto it, love thy neighbor as thyself. So I was thinking this week, What are some ways that I can love God and those that are around me more? What can I do more than what I am doing now? I was reading this week and it said the best way we can show our love to God and other is the way we love him. This really stuck out to me. This whole commandment lies on this simple word/action "love". You think about it, if you do not love God, why would you follow the commandments or the prophets voice. How are we any different from those that don't follow?

So this week I really thought a lot about this and I am going to be giving a training this District Meeting on it. So I would like to invite you all to work on your charity to God and all those you come in contact with. I know that this will help you better follow the commandments and make you feel closer to God.

I want to share that I love you all very much and miss you all tons. 

Like this big (                                                                                      ). I hope that you all have a good week this week and stay safe. I know the church is true.

Love your Elder,

Elder Grotepas

Au lomani kemudou kece sara valevu. Modou yalomauta ena macawa oqo!!

Area 4, Week 15 - Naduna, Vanua Levu, Fiji 8/31/14

Ni sa bula sia,

How is everyone doing this week? It has been again another really quick week for me and I bet it has also been a really fast week for you all too. Well, as for the week, it went really well. We were privileged to have another Zone Conference with President Layton and he explained to us the new path that we are going to take as missionaries. I think that this is a worldwide thing, not just our mission. As missionaries, we are now going to be working more with the less active members to help them receive the blessings of the temple and have strong testimonies again. We are also going to be working closer to the chapel to make that area a center of strength instead of us working way far out when our branch is not even strong and struggling. So we are having lots of trainings on what we can do to work with better with this new path.

I am hoping that this new program is going to change a lot of the missionary work and help us find more success. I feel that this is going to have a really big impact on missionary work. The best kind of missionary work is the work that you get from the members. It is just common sense, if that is where the best work comes from, then we have to start at the bottom. The bottom is getting the members strong and them doing missionary work. The more people we can get doing this, the more effective we will be. So I feel that this is a really good idea for the church to do. Get to the roots and start there.

I was so excited because the Assistants told us that the Rotuma Elders were coming up to Zone Conference and that they would be staying with us for a couple of days. So, I thought that Elder Fonua was going to be coming up to stay with us. But when they came up, it was still the same ones and Elder Fonua was not there. We still had lots of fun with Elder Nawahine and Po'ana.

This week was to eat one of the coolest things in the world. We went over to an investigators house and inside of his house was hanging a bat. After we were done taking pictures of the thing, they asked us if we want to eat it and we said yes. So Elder Walls volunteered to kill the bat with a huge stick. Then later on, we went over and ate it. It was one of the most interesting tastes ever. It tasted just like it smelt, weird. There was not that meat on it but it was good. Everyone says that bats are one of the cleanest animals because all they eat is fruit and nothing else. They don't go around eating garbage and stuff off of the ground. Just clean fruits. So that was a bit upside of eating it. I will never forget this experience.

As of right now, we are still working on finding more people to teach. We have found a couple that we are teaching right now but they are not to interested. We did not have anyone come to church or is progressing towards a baptismal date. We are working on it. We are planting many seed and we hope one day they will pay of for future missionaries.

We had some really good spiritual lessons this week with a couple of our new investigators about the Restoration of the Gospel. There is just something about that lesson that just invites the spirit so much. The spirit is so strong in the room each time we talk about Joseph Smith and how he bought back the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has got to be on of my favorite lessons to teach simply because the spirit is there an it is true. It is really hard to explain the feeling that comes after and during the lesson but it feels great. We were able to have about 3 of those lessons and each one of them accepted our invitation to pray about what we had to share. So this week, we will find out what happens to them. I have faith that they will have done the things that we have invited them to do. 

Me and my companion are getting along really good and as a district we are getting along good. I feel that this is one of my most favorite districts I have been in. We all feel comfortable around each other and we have lots of fun. I am loving it here. I would not mind dying here.

I do have a testimony of this Gospel and I know that it has been restored back to the earth by Joseph Smith. My testimony has been solidified this week about this event and I know that it is true. Millions have testified and I am one of them. I know this Gospel is a blessing me and also blessing to you all in Utah.

I want to tell you all that I love you and miss you all very much. I wish you all a good week and that you all will stay safe and sound.

With much love, 

Elder Grotepas

The bat we ate for dinner

Elder Grotepas and Elder Walls

Elder Walls

Our district in Labasa

Northern Zone Conference