Dear Family,
Well we have had yet another really good week! The weather here is just the same. Actually this week, it was a bit hotter and more humid than the past week. We were also able to go to a different island just off of Vanua Levu for a District Conference. It was so cool to go to another island of of Fiji. I have only visited a lot of the main islands in Fiji. My clothes are all holding up really well. My health is good.
I think as you all ready know that transfers did come this week. :( It did not really turn out the best for us in Naduna. Both me and my companion have been moved out of Naduna. They are going to close the area for the Elders due to some issues that I do not really want to go into. It is nothing to do with the work, or nothing to do with us.
So, my companion Elder Walls has moved to Matei, Taveuni and I have been moved to another area back in my second zone. I will be going to a place called Burewai. The area will cover pretty much most of the whole eastern side of Fiji. I think that it has a Branch and 2 units underneath it. So we are going to be doing quite a bit of driving in the area. And yes, I am going to go back into a driving area. I think that my new companion is going to be one of the old elders that was here in Labasa when I got here. His name is Elder Bogaret and he is from Australia. I have a feeling that we are going to get along good and have a good time. I have a feeling that I am going to be dying in Burewai. I think that this is my last area and I am glad because it is all bush. I will have lots of fun.
I would like to share with you all a couple of things that really stuck out to me this week. So, here in Vanua Levu (Land Big in English) we have a senior couple named President Walker and Sister Walker. They are from Idaho and they are the coolest people you will ever meet. They are so nice and have such a fun and jolly spirit about them. I just love being in their presence because they are so fun. They called us on Sunday and told us that they were coming down from Savusavu to drop their truck off to get serviced and they said that they would like to go with us to see our Branch President to teach him and his family about the importance of Family Home Evening and how to effectively do it. So when the Walkers came down, they dropped off the truck at Asco and headed out with us to our area. To our surprise, President Setoki was not there so we were not able to sit down with them. But on our drive down there, I had a thought that we were supposed to go to another less active family. So another blessing came because we were able to act on this impression.
So, we drove to the Nakete's house to see them instead. When we got there, they were kind of surprised and said that we could come in and teach them. Oh my gosh, was the spirit in that lesson! President Walker started talking to her and she and her mother started to cry within the first three minutes of the lesson. He simply stated, "Heavenly Father loves you so much" and the spirit was already there. He was so powerful in his speech and words in that lesson that the Holy Ghost was the one teaching, not him.
He continued on talking about families and how they were called of God. They are central to our life and they help us fulfill our eternal purpose. He promised her blessings would come upon their family if they would just do FHE. It is a MUST, nothing should get in the way of FHE. So I thought back to my childhood and how often we did it. I feel that I could say that out family did this. I know that sometimes we would miss but we were pretty good. It is so important. I now have a stronger testimony of it and I cannot wait to have a family of my own to do this with. I cannot wait.
I have a testimony that a famliy that prays, sits, and teaches each other, stays with each other. The walls of our homes is what keeps that feeling of God in there. We need to keep that feeling in our homes and the only way is through praying together, reading together, and teaching one another. So I would like to invite you to do FHE every week, no matter what. Also to pray and read the scriptures every week as a family. I know that it will really bless you all in your lives and help build our family. Also to all those reading, do this with your families and I promise that you will have a stronger family. It is very simple.
There was also something that President Layton said to us at our District Conference that I feel inspired to share. He told us missionaries in the Taveuni Zone "I will be VERY disappointed if you go home from this mission and it did not change you and you go less active." It really stuck out to me. I know that there are lots of missionaries that come home and go less active. I know that this mission should change us for life and for eternity. I invite all you that have gone astray to come back, there is a way. This is where you are supposed to be and I know that anyone can change. Come back, and feel the love of God more in your life.
We had lots of good times this week. We left to go to a beautiful island called Taveuni for 2 days. We had to take a three hour drive and also a two hour boat ride to get there. We just barely got back so we are all tired. But is was the coolest thing ever. We got to meet Elder Coward from the Area Seventy. He is a way cool guy and talked straight to everyone. We need to follow the commandments and continue sharing the gospel to make this district into a Stake.
We had a good time this week. I am a bit bummed about leaving this area, but excited to go back to Nausori to see all the members from Waila. I am so stoked. But I do have a testimony of this Gospel. I know that it is true. This is the Lords church, He is the head of it. I love you all very much and miss you all so much. After this week, only 12 more weeks. Time is flying by.
Send my love to the rest of the family.
Love,
Elder Grotepas
Quote from Elder Coward:
"The main thing, is to make the main thing, the main thing"
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| Samu ready to go work in the teitei (farm) |
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| Me and Elder Walls helped move all 7000 kgs of fertilizer with Brother Colata and Tasi |
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| Elder Johnson, Elder Walls, and me on the boat to go to Taveuni #seasick |
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| Look at how blue the water is! |
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| The Labasa and Savusavu distircts in Taveuni |
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| Here are the trucks in the Taveuni District |
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| Taveuni Zone (new name for the Northern Zone) with Elder Coward |
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| Zone photo |