Area 3, Week 3 - Tavua, Fiji 4/27/14

Ni sa bula vinaka na noqu matavuvale,

How is everyone doing this week?  I hope that everyone had a good week and is doing good. As for here in Fiji there is nothing really much new. All the kids here in Fiji are on a 2 week break because their first term just ended. So there are lots of school children running around enjoying their break.

Currently we are not in our area. We are in our District Leaders area. We are going to be here in Ba for 2 days and then tomorrow night we are going to head back to our area in Tavua. The reason why we are doing this is because we are going to be having a Zone Meeting in Nadi and we are too far away to travel there today and tomorrow. So we are having a good ol' time in Ba with the Ba elders and also the Rakiraki elders.

As for the work here in Tavua, it is going pretty good. There is nothing really much new in the work. We were able to find one more investigator that looks like she will progress. She was a referral from one of the members here in Tavua. She said that she is going through some things in her life that are a bit hard and God is blessing her at this moment. About one year ago, she had one of her twins pass away due to an illness. While she was at the hospital, a white man came up to her and wanted to help her out because of what had happened. He asked her if she could take him to her house and show him what it looked like. The lady's house was a bit run down. All is was was a small room made out of tin. He told the lady that he was going to build her a house for free and she would not have to pay anything. At this point, she and her husband are living in that new house happily. So this member wanted us to go over and just help her notice and feel what the Lord is doing for her at this time. To help her know that she is known and really loved and there is really someone looking out for them. But she looks like she is going to be pretty interested in the lessons and learn lots.

We only have about 2 investigators that are progressing right now. One of them has a baptismal date for the end of June, and the other one is one that we just met a week ago that is doing really well. She has lots of questions and she truly is interested in learning about what we have to say. Her mother was a member but never told her that she was a Mormon. When we went back over, she was asking us some questions. She also said something that stuck out to her when she first met us. She told us a little bit about what she believes about God and how he answers prayers. She was saying that a couple weeks before we came over, she had a question pop into her head, "What do I need to do in this life to have eternal life in the next life?"  She said that she really did not know what the answer was. So she kind of forgot about it for a week or so. But then, we came over to her house and shared with her that there are many things that we need to do in this life to receive that eternal life. So she was really interested in what she had do and that is why she wanted to listen to us in the first place.

We then went on teaching her about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We testified of everything we taught and then she asked us a question "Does it talk about what we have to do in this life to get eternal life?"  We told her that it did and invited her to read from 2 Nephi 31 and then to pray about it. I could tell the the spirit was helping her and telling her that this is true. She promised us that she would read. We set up another date for 3 weeks after that date because she is going on vacation to Suva for a while. So we are hoping and praying that she will read and the Holy Ghost will still be with her for those few weeks.

I think that the biggest thing that happened to me this week was me changing the way I studied. My whole mission I have just read just to read and say that I studied. But finally I have realized that there is more to it. You need to study with a question. This whole week I feel like I have learned so much and my knowledge has grown about how the Church was started and how it fell. I can now testify on studying and how to do it.

I now love to do my studies even more. I did before but now I am really getting a lot out of it.

I want to let you all know that I know this church is true. God is the father and Jesus is the Son. Through them we receive the knowledge that we need in this life to return to live with them. IF we listen to them, they will guide us in the direction that we need to go. I invite you all to listen to those still small promptings of the spirit, really listen to them. Just like dad's Jimmy club, we need to pay attention to everything not just one aspect. I know that Jesus lives, this is the true church. I love you all very much and I am really looking forward for Mothers day when I get to see a lot of you again. 

You all have a good week and stay fresh.

I love you all.

Lomani,

Elder Grotepas

Our chairs in Tavua 

One of Brother and Sister Vauvau's kids

This is a Bure with Elder Tonumaipe'a

Left to Right: Elder Tonumaipe'a, Elder Grotepas, Viliame, and Sarafina (investigator)

Tabua (whales tooth)

I thought that dad would like this. This is a picture of the Vatukoula gold mine in Vatukoula, Fiji. It is huge, and this is the main place people work here in Tavua.

Area 3, Week 2 - Tavua, Fiji 4/20/14

Dear Family,

How is everything going there in Utah? I hope that everything is going fine and that everyone is healthy. I also hope that everyone is having a good start to their spring and is enjoying life. I know for me, I am loving it here. I have to admit that I was a bit down at the start of the week because I had to leave the area of Waila that I had been serving in for 7 months before coming to Tavua. It was a hard change for me, like I said last week, but now it is all good. I love it here in Tavua.

One thing that I want to say about Tavua is that it is extremely hot. There is a saying here that over on this side of the island it's "The Burning West." I did not really think that it was going to be any hotter than it was in Nausori. I thought that it was way hot there. But now since I am here in Tavua in the west, I can testify that it really is the burning west. 

The landscape is a lot different here all so. There are more mountains here and there is not as much green. Most people think that Fiji would just all be green and palm trees, but it is different. That is what I thought also before I got here. It is really dry here and does not rain too often. Every night it rained back in Nausori and here it has only rained once. So it is a lot different that what I have been used to.

Another really big difference here is the language. They speak the Tavuan dialect of Fijian. Everyone pretty much knows that dialect that I have learned but when they speak to each other, it is always in the dialect that I do not know so I have no clue what is going on in their conversation. It is going to take a little bit of time for me to learn that dialect.

We live right in town. It takes us about 10 seconds for us to walk from our house into town for us to shop and eat out if we want to. So it is really nice that we are really close to everything.

The ward here is good. It is not quite the same as the Waila Ward and what I have been used to. This area is a lot different and is still in the developing process. It is a ward here but we are struggling in keeping it that way. We have about 50 members that come to church every week. So I know that we have lots of work to do here in Tavua with the members. I know that we need to gain a relationship with them and help them out the most we can and I know it we do that it will in turn lead to refferals/trust and after that, baptisms.

As for my companion, he is a great elder. His name is Elder Tonumaipe'a. He is from the wonderful area of Australia. He is 19 years old and he has been here in Tavua for the past 3 months. Before I came here, he was serving with one of my old companions in the past, Elder Moulton. It looks like they had a lot of fun together and moved the work along here. It was really cool to see what they have done here to move the work forward. But Elder Tonumaipe'a is a great Elder and I know that I am going to get along with him just fine. We have not had any disagreements. We are like two peas in a pod.

As for the work, it is going good. We are struggling with the investigators. They had 3 investigators that were going to be baptized tell them that they were no longer able to take the lessons because their parents changed their minds on what they were doing. So we are in the process of looking for some more investigators. I am going to try to apply the same things that I learned in Waila here. See if we can get the work here moving and help the ward.

We do have one investigator that has a baptismal date right now. Elder Tonumaipe'a and Elder Moulton found him through a member and he wanted to change his life. The Elders went over and he really liked it and wants to be baptized. The only really big problem is that they were not married but they are still living together. So this week, we had the opportunity to help these two get married to help them accomplish this step in their life and to help him so that he can be baptized. So this week, we got to act as witnesses for their wedding. I thought that I would never do this is Fiji, act as a witness, but I did. I helped someone take that big step in their lives. It was a lot different that a marriage back in Utah. All we did was go in one room and a guy spoke to them and gave them a little counsel to guide them through their marriage. After that, they signed 2 papers and they were married. It was a really cool experience and I will not change it for anything.

Well that is pretty much for the work that is going on here.  We saw quite a few less active members this week and we are tying to help them and also to strengthen our ward. I am still a bit confused on everything here because it is all new. I know that this week will be better. We are going to get out there and find those ones that are ready to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know that we are only going to be able to do this it we have the faith is Heavenly Father to guide us and show us what we need to do. I know that that is one of the biggest things that I had to learn in Waila and I know that it is what I have to do here in Tavua to move the work along and help the members her do their part in serving also. I know that missionary work is really the work of the Lord. This is the place that I am supposed to be and I am also called here for a reason. I need to find that reason and magnify it. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.

 I thank you all for everything that yous have done and are doing for me in my life. I love you all very much and I miss you all tons. Have a good week and keep your chins up in everything that you do.

Love,

Elder Grotepas

Area 3, Week 1 - Tavua, Fiji 4/13/14 New Companion Elder Tonumaipe'a

Dear Family,

How is everything going there in Utah? I hope that everything is going fine and that everyone is healthy. I also hope that everyone is having a good start to their spring and is enjoying life. I know for me, I am loving it here. I have to admit that I was a bit down at the start of the week because I had to leave the area of Waila that I had been serving in for 7 months before coming to Tavua. It was a hard change for me, like I said last week but now it is all good. I love it here in Tavua.

One thing that I want to say about Tavua is that it is way hot. There is a saying that over on this side of the island it is "The Burning West". I did not really think that it was going to be any hotter than it was in Nausori. I thought that it was way hot there. But now since I am here in Tavua in the west, I can testify that it really is the "Burning West."

The landscape is a lot different here also. They are more mountains here and there is not as much green. Most people think that Fiji would just all be green and palm trees, but it is different on this side. That is what I thought also before I got here. It is really dry here and does not rain too often. Every night it rained back in Nausori and here it has only rained once. So it is a lot different that what I have been used to.

Another really big difference here is the language. They speak the Tavuan dialect of Fijian. Everyone pretty much knows that dialect that I know but when they speak to each other, it is always in the dialect that I do not know so I have no clue what is going on in their conversation. It is going to take a little bit of time for me to learn that dialect.

We live right in town. It takes us about 10 seconds for us to walk from our house into town for us to shop and eat out if we want to. So it is really nice that we are really close to everything.

The ward here is good. It is not quite the same as the Waila Ward and what I have been used to. This area is a lot different and is still in the developing process. It is a ward here but we are struggling in keeping it that way. We have about 50 members that come to church every week. So I know that we have lots of work to do here in Tavua with the members. I know that we need to gain a relationship with them and help them out the most we can and I know if we do that it will in turn lead to referrals/trust and after that, baptisms.

As for my companion, he is a great elder. His name is Elder Tonumaipe'a. He is from the wonderful area of Australia. He is 19 years old and he has been here in Tavua for the past 3 months. Before I came here, he was serving with one of my old companions in the past, Elder Moulton. It looks like they had a lot of fun together and moved the work along here. It was really cool to see what they have done here to move the work forward. But Elder Tonumaipe'a is a great elder and I know that I am going to get along with him just fine. We have not had any disagreements. We are like two peas in a pod.

As for the work, it is going good. We are struggling with the investigators. They did have 3 investigators that were going to be baptized that  were no longer able to take the lessons because the parents changed their minds on what they were doing. So we are in the process of looking for some more investigators. I am going to try to apply the same things that I learned in Waila for here. See if we can get the work here moving and help the ward.

We do have one investigator that has a baptismal date right now. Elder Tonumaipe'a and Elder Moulton found him through a member and he wanted to change his life. The elders went over and he really liked it and wants to be baptized. The only really big problem is that they were not married but they are still living together. So this week, we had the opportunity to help these two get married to help them accomplish this step in their life and to help him so that he can be baptized. So this week, we got to act as witnesses for their wedding. I thought that I would never do this is Fiji, act as a witness, but I did. I helped someone do that big step in their marriage. It was a lot different than a marriage back in Utah. All we did was go in one room and a guy spoke to them and gave them a little counsel to guide them through their marriage. After that, they signed 2 papers and they were married. It was a really cool experience and I would not change it for anything.

Well that is pretty much for the work that is going on here.  We saw quite a few less active members this week and we are tying to help them and also to strengthen the ward. I am still a bit confussed on everything here because it is all new. I know that this week will be better. We are going to get out there and find those ones that are ready to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know that we are only going to be able to do this it we have the faith in Heavenly Father to guide us and show us what we need to do. I know that that is one of the biggest things that I had to learn in Waila and I know that it is what I have to do here in Tavua to move the work along and help the members her do their part in serving also. I know that missionary work is really the work of the Lord. This is the place that I am supposed to be and I am also called here for a reason. I need to find that reason and magnify it. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.

I thank you all for everything that yous have done and are doing for me in my life. I love you all very much and I miss you all tons. Have a good week and keep your chins up in everything that you do.

Love,

Elder Grotepas

The Tavua Elders

Crossing a river to go to Nasivi Koro

Elder Tonumaipe'a with some cheese bread

Area 2, Week 31 - Waila, Fiji 4/6/14 Last week in Waila :(

Ni sa bula vinaka na nogu matavuvale lomain,

Man, we had a really good week this week. I don't really know where even to start. Well I will just start out by saying that I am doing fine and nothing is really new with me as far as any health issues.   It was not the most rewarding or most teaching week but we were able to talk and find a lot of people to share the gospel with. We are a bit down on the investigators here  in Waila so that was our main focus this week, finding and testifying. We were able to find a couple of new people to share the gospel with. 

The sad thing is that I am not going to be able to see these people or teach them any more. We got the sad phone call on Saturday night around 10 o'clock saying that I was going to be going to a new area called Tavua. It was so unexpected. We knew that there was going to be a transfer because our District Leader Elder Wilson is going home this week. So we thought that it was going to be a small transfer with only a couple of missionaries moving.  I was so bumbed that I was going to be leaving Waila. When they said my name, it was like someone stabbed me and all my happy went away. I felt so bad after I hung up. I have become so close to every member here and especially a couple members of the Maiwiriwiri family and Aca Small. Man, I am going to miss them and miss this area. Isa lei.

I have to admit that even though it was a good week it was also sad at the same time. I never thought that I would get so close to people other than my family. Yesterday was the last full day that I was going to be in Waila and I was saddened. Everyone said that they were going to miss me and they thanked me for the work that I am my companions have done. It was a really sad day.

One of the memorable experiences that I have had on my mission was yesterday. I will never forget what happened. One of the members of the Waila ward got up and bore her testimony in the Fast and Testimony meeting. She thanked me for everything that I have done. Then all of a sudden, she broke into tears and really thanked me for everything that I have done for her. Because of me and my companion, we helped her start her eternal family. This is the wife of our most recent baptism of Anare. When she started to say this and tear up, it brought tears to my eyes. It really testified to me of what we are really are doing. I am not here just to change my life and to go home and say "I am a returned missionary", it is something else more spectacular and rewarding.  It is helping people like her have the opportunity to live forever with her husband and children. Not just her but everyone.  It really hit me this week, I am really here to help these people. So, that is what I have to do, find everyone that I can to help them experience this same feeling.

We had a member of the ward tell us this week that on his mission, he did not pass one house with out knocking on it. He said, I know that there will be one day that I am going to be held accountable for what I did. Someone might come up to me and say, "why did you not come to my house. You were right there. You did not do what you were supposed to."  It really hit me because it is true. There will be one day when that will happen. I will be judged for the work that I have done here in Waila. I know that I have helped lots of people here and I hope that Heavenly Father is pleased with all that I have done. 

It was also sad this week to leave one of the best members in the world, Jiobe. It was sad. We taught him a lesson yesterday and it was a really good lesson. We taught him about testimonies and how no matter how small or simple they are, we still need to share them. We shared with him the movie,  "A Man Without Eloquence". I knew that the spirit was there and it really did touch him. At the end of the lesson, he shared with us his testimony and it was one of the best testimonies that I have heard. It was so simple and eloquent. Then, I shared mine. I have to admit that it was so hard to share my testimony because I was so emotional. I did start to cry.  I told him that this could be the last time that I share my testimony to him. After that, the emotions kicked in. It is like what I said before, this could be really the last time I see him in this life. I got so close to him and now I have to leave. That could be the last time I even talk to him. 

This was another really hard thing for me this week. But I know, I will see him again someday, maybe when he goes on his mission. But we will talk through facebook.

I have to admit, that I have had a good time here in Waila. I am really going to miss it and I am going to miss Elder Arthur. Even though we had our differences we got through them and were good. Every companion that I have had I would like to thank them for everything that they have done. Especially my trainer Ishibashi for teaching me the ways of missionary life. 

This is pretty much my week. We did do a lot of finding this week. We were out of investigators so we went looking this week. We did find a couple but we are still looking. No really good stories of weird things that happened to us. Pretty usual week this week. 

I did get stung by one really big bee. We were working on the missionary farm at the Maiwiriwiris house and I got bit. I was cutting down some tall grass with, guess what, a big cane knife. As I was going, I went into a place where  there were a couple of bees and one of them came out and bit me right in the head. I went running around like I had just been lit on fire! It hurt pretty bad for about 1 hour or so. That was about it for funny things this week. 

But I want to let you all know that I know that this church is true. Everything about it is true. I really did love all the people in Waila and I know that I will love all the members and people in Tavua. I know that this is the Lords work.

I love you all very much and I thank you for everything that you have done for me and are doing. Have a great week this week and STAY FRESH!!!!

Loloma,

Elder Grotepas

Me with Anare and So Ratucava

Me with Victor and Vince

Last day in Waila with some members....

Last Day in Waila with a few members

Me with Elder Singh cook'in some curry

Area 2, Week 30 - Waila, Fiji 3/30/14

Ni sa bula vinaka,

How is everything going? I hope that you all have had a good week and that every one is still staying healthy and warm. It sounds like you did have some cold weather this week at the start of Spring. I know that this week has been a good one for us and that everything is going good. It is still the same here, lots of rain and lots of hot! The weather has not changed one bit. It is still way hot. The moment you wake up and leave the fan, you start to sweat. But, it is all good. I just think about how much more hotter is my wife going to be if I keep this up. That is what is pushing me along here in Fiji. HAHA

No, but this was a really good week for us. We did get to have one baptism this week for a man named Anare. We had a combined baptism with the Elders that are working up in the units of the Waila Ward. They have a family of 5. So we had a good day on Sunday. During the start of the week we did have a little bit of a problem where we were going to have to cancel the baptism and move it to another day. I am not going to go into much detail about it what happened but we were about to cancel it. But then we had to sit down with them and share about how this gospel or the choice that he is making to be baptized will affect them for the rest of their lives. It might be hard right now to to wonder if we all are ready to be baptized but if we do know that we are ready to do it, then do it. This is going to help them out in both of their lives. We told them that in a year from now, they will be able to go through the temple to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity. Not this life only, but the life to come.

This week we did have a little bit of a hard time with finding new investigators. I know that it is kind of hard to find those ones that are ready to hear about the restored gospel. We were able to receive a couple of referrals from members that might be good to teach. All of the investigators that we have now are being baptized. We have about 1 or 2 that are progressing right now. We have one baptismal date set for one of them for the 19th of April. Then the other one we want to start coming to church so that she can see of what we are about. She is the mother of a member that is wanting to learn about what her daughter is doing and what she is teaching her grandchildren. She seems open to what we have to say but she is just wanting to listen. We felt this week that we need to set heavy church attendance invitations this week to her so that she can start to feel the spirit of coming to church and so that her spirit can feel like it is at home with all of her spirit brothers and sisters. I can feel a strong spirit with her as we are working with her. I know that she will accept the Restored Gospel one day and receive the blessings that she has been promised and can live with her family forever.

This week also we met with this man that is from the Porterhouse Church. We have met with him one other time and all he wanted to do with us is teach us instead of us teaching him. He wanted to pretty much prove us wrong and tell us that we are wrong. He called us and said that he wants to meet another time. So when we went over there, he had a lot of questions. We gave him a book that explains a little bit about the church and he had a lot of questions about that. He first started with the priesthood and then we ended up on the 3 kingdoms of glory. The lesson was a little bit hard because it was all over the place. But we told him that we have an order to teaching our lessons that will help him understand what we have to share. It was a big eye opener to me this week of how important it is to teach to their understanding. If we don't, they are going to be like that with lots of questions and cannot move on until we have answered their questions. 

But other than that lesson, we had good lessons this week. We did get to find one new investigator this week named Vilikesa. He is a refferal from one of the Young Men in our ward. When we went and met him, he seems a bit interested in the lessons. I think that he will listen for a little bit but want him to know we are not there to force him to take the lessons. I know and saw that there were many people that lived in that house. I know when we came in, they all went outside. Next time we are going to invite them in to see if any of them are interested also. You never know, that could be the reason we got that refferal to go to that house. There may be others in that house that are being prepared by the Lord at this moment. That is what we have to do, share with everyone that we can. It might change their lives, we never know who is being prepared at this time.

At the start of the year, we had an member of the Seventy come to Fiji and give the missionaries a goal to reach. He gave us the goal of getting 100 baptism in the month of March alone. That is much higher than any month that they have ever had in Fiji. The top month in the past was about 50. But as of last night, one of the last days of March, the whole mission has had an outstanding 123 baptisms in the month of March alone!  We almost tripled the amount from the highest in the past months. We had about 47 baptisms in the past week alone. When I heard that we were at 123, I was shocked. I couldn't believe it!  We made it to our goal and I know that it only happened because we trusted it the Lord. That is what the Seventy said, "This will only happen through your obedience and trusting in the Lord to perform miracles." This mission is doing good and is moving the work right along.

That is pretty much my week. I am sorry if there is not that much stuff. I don't really know what to write about. It is kind of hard to remember the week. Just like what you said, it is going by so fast. Pretty much, we do the same things: sleep, eat, study, walk and teach. I know that there is not very much but I hope that you know that I am doing good and that I love and miss you all very much. Know also that I am doing the Lords work and this is where he wants us to be. 

I think of some of the missionaries here, they dont get the chance to email their parents for about 3 months because they are on a far away island where there is no email. Or even when dad was on his mission, it was all done by letters. Now it is so fast and does not take 4 weeks to get home.

Know that I know that this is the true church and everything about it points to that it is the true church. This week, I was able to finish the Book of Mormon again. I finished it in the English language and also in the Fijian Language. I took me about 5 months but I finished reading the whole thing in a whole different language. This really grew my testimony that no matter what, the Lord helps us, even in learning a new language.

I was thinking right after I finished it in Fijian, how did I do this? I have only know Fijian for a year and I can already read a book?  I think back to French class in Jr. High. I took that class for 2 or 3 years and all I remember is "Bonjour."  I have known this language for 1 year and I am somewhat fluent but still far from it. Heavenly Father does bless us with gifts if we are really seeking it. I know that he has helped me in learning this language.

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, even in the Fijian Language. It testifies and talks about the same things. This church is the Lords kingdom here on earth. Always follow the gospel and its teachings and we will be blessed with crowns in his kingdom that are waiting for us.

I love you all very much and hope that you all have a very stupendous week this week. With all my heart, I want to wish you all good week.

Love, 

Elder Grotepas

Some of us missionaries in the Nausori Zone

The Toga District.

Left to Right: Arthur, Va'ai, Higa, Wilson, Grotepas, Vole

Me and THE MAN Anare

Our big group baptism of six!

Left to right: Joeli, Cyril, and Jiobe.

Some of the Ward members getting dinner ready for the ward party

Some of the faithful men of the Waila Ward

Brother Bir

Sister Nathan and her daughter Gloria

Us with the Mema'ofa Family