Elder Grotepas : Area 4, Week 20 - Naduna, Vanua Levu, Fiji

Dear Family,

Ni sa bula tale. How is everyone doing this week? I hope that everyone is doing good and having a good time. The weeks are going by just so fast, but everything is good. The weather here is changing a bit. Pretty much this whole week it has been raining on and off. It will rain for a good 30 minutes then pause for another 2 hours or so and start up again. It is really good to see rain here because we have not seen rain for like 5 months and everyone is in a drought. Some of the villages here in Fiji have to shut off the water supply for a certain amount of time every day. You would never think that of Fiji because it is a tropical island but it is also like a dessert a bit here.

We are still having a bit of a hard time here in Naduna trying to find people to teach that are really interested. We are still working on finding more people to teach. We are trying to share the gospel with everyone we can. I guess that we just have to continue trusting in the Lord. I know that if we do that and try our hardest, (faith and works) we will be able to find those that are being prepared at this time.

I want to thank dad for telling me about the time in his mission where he used to youth to help the branch grow and to find more people for their missionary work. I can testify to the exact same thing because it happened to us this week also. I don't know why, but last week as I was sitting in Sunday School, I kind of got sidetracked and looked over at the youth class. When I looked at them, they were all just sitting there with no teacher (the teacher was sick) so they were just all sitting there with one of the youth teaching them. A thought came to my mind as I was looking at them. I think that I told you last week, "What would happen if we started a mutual night for these youth? How affective would it be?" So after that sacrament meeting, I asked the Branch President if we could and he said that we could absolutely do it. The youth have never had an activity the whole time it has been a branch.

So we planned out an activity for the youth to all get together and play a game of volleyball. We told all the youth to invite their friends to come and we would all play volleyball and have juice. All of the youth were way excited to have this. They even invited some of their friends. We had about 2 non- members come to the activity and about 8 youth made it to the activity as well. So we had a really good turn out. Then to our surprise, we had both of those 2 non members come to church this Sunday. They even brought their 21 year old brother to church. So we had a total of 3 non-members come to church. I was so happy because it actually worked. It really strengthened my testimony on the power of the youth. Now I can see why the church puts such a emphasis on the youth. They are the ones that are really searching for the truth because they do not have a solid testimony on their beliefs. Just like Joseph Smith, why would God show himself to just a 14 year old and not a 30 year- old wiser man. He loves the youth and knows them more than we can imagine. If we can get them to know the truth when they are in their youth, they will be stronger when they are older. I now have a testimony on the strength of the youth even though I am still a youth. I hope that this is where I can do when I get home. I would love to be put in with the youth so I can help them out.

We are now going to plan out activities we can do every week from now on. I can see the benefit of the deacons and priest quorum presidencies where I served to prepare me for this. Most of the things that we are thinking of doing here are the things that we did as youth back in America. I give thanks to the members and the time that I was able to help in this because it prepared me for this time on my mission. I never would have imagined the benefit of serving there.

We were going to plan on watch "17 Miracles" this week with all the youth but we found out yesterday that we are no longer able to get a projector. Man I miss those days at home where we would watch movies in the backyard and with the youth. I guess Fiji is a bit different. We have to think more outside of the box. We have a limited source of things because the church is still in it's infancy here. Any suggestions on what we can do with the youth here?

We were also able to have one of our members come out with us five times this week. He really loves us missionaries and says that there is never enough time to come out with us. Whenever we need him, he will be there. He will drop everything and come. He has it down. He knows what he has promised with his Heavenly Father and he is willing to do what ever it takes. I give thanks to him and also for everyone that goes with the missionaries. You all are such a big help to us and we thank you so much. I would really encourage all those preparing for their missions to go out with the missionaries for a couple hours. You will feel the spirit and help all those that they are teaching.

We had 26 to church, we only have one progressing investigator and we did not have any investigators to church. We are focusing on the branch itself to strengthen it. We are doing really good and I am loving it here in Naduna. I love Fiji and am going to be saddened when I have to leave it. It is like my second home.

I know that everything we teach is true. God loves each one of us and he has spoken to each one of this week (through Conference). If we follow the prophets voice, we are following God. I know that Joseph Smith restored the true chruch of Jesus Christ and we are part of it. I love you all very much and wish you all a happy week.

Love,
Elder Grotepas