7-8-16 Going to the Denver Colorado Mission until my Visa is done

BULA NA NOQU MATAVUVALE

So I received some bittersweet news from my district president yesterday and I'll expand on it later.

My visas have not finished processing, and will very likely not be finished processing for several weeks, AND SO, BITTERSWEET NEWS: Au na SEGA ni lako ki Viti! (I will NOT be going to Fiji!)

Not yet, anyway. Until my visa has finished processing, I have been assigned to a new, temporary mission: The Denver, Colorado mission! How cool is that??

I didn't think it was cool at all, when I received the news yesterday. I've been waiting for Viti (Fiji) for six weeks (really like three or four months) and then I get reassigned to a new mission for a time. At most, I will spend one full transfer there (six weeks). Depending on how long my visa takes to process, I could serve in Colorado between six weeks and a few days. I am bummed that I won't be able to fly out with my intake, and I am concerned about my six week max period without speaking vakaviti (Fijian) that I might lose it, but how awesome!??

I expressed my discomfort to Brother Siga (teacher), and he made me see just how incredible an experience it'll be. I get to serve in two missions, two countries! And I get to see these different methods of teaching, how the members and nonmembers interact with missionaries in two completely different areas of the world.

When I receive all my contact info about my temporary mission, I'll let you guys know for sure. Elder Hunkin's visa is also still processing, so he'll fly out to Colorado with me on Wednesday, July 13th at about 8:15am.

Anyways, I'll find out more about my mission and let you folks know if I need anything especially for my new mission that I might not be able to get myself. Full letter to come soon, I love you guys so much! Au lomani kemudou valevu!

-Elda Ishibashi

BULAAAAAAAAAA VINAKA NA NAQO MATAVUVALE WANANAVU!!

Oh man, oh man, oh man! What an interesting week! Whereas last week I couldn't find my journal with my weekly notes in it, I have come to the conclusion that I have in fact lost my journal so I again will have to go by memory on the events of this week. It's definitely in the residence somewhere because it's never left the residence, so it'll come up in the next few days as we clean the flat.

Sheesh. To be honest yesterday was so eventful and incredible that I can't really even remember what happened all week. My investigators! Vitu (Brother Siga) has quit drinking, repented of his sins, attended church three weeks in a row, has been taught every lesson and is getting baptized tomorrow! Luke Latidraiketi (Brother Heath) has also been scheduled to be baptized on Monday and has made excellent progress since we've first met him. I know they're not real but I'm preeetty proud of myself man and Elder Hunkin.

Tuesday night's devotional was absolutely wonderful. I think his name was Marlin K. Jensen, excellent talk on the importance of loving the people in the mission field and repentance. There is no doubt in my mind that all the men and women who have spoken during my stay here in the MTC were inspired by the Spirit to address all of the needs of those present. These men are called of God and it is so evident in the way they present themselves and represent the Lord.

I just looked through my camera and remembered SO much I have to write about haha. First off, I got my flight plans!! (Which is irrelevant now, but I'll get back to that) That was wayyy exciting to find in the mailbox haha.

Those came in last week Saturday, and that night, FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION! We did it Saturday night instead of Monday because people work on Mondays and whatnot. Anyways, that was soooo much fun. The fireworks were pretty lame because we could only watch from the MTC parking lot, so there was a huge building blocking the fireshow but we saw a few good ones shoot above the building. The best part was just being there in the parking lot at night with the whole MTC just celebrating, singing, cheering and taking pictures. I took a few and I'll include them, so much fun!

The musical number Elder Green, Elder Satuala and I performed went really well. We sang "Bear another's burden's" by the Moleni Brothers. We also auditioned in front of the MTC presidency to sing it at a devotional if possible, and we got on the yes list! (which is really the maybe list, and we were on the maybe list with about 10 other groups so eh. I don't like singing in front of crowds anyway) I got to bear my testimony, and all my district members followed me. What incredible examples, I can't wait to see them in Fiji again!

Which leads me to my next subject, fast forward to yesterday!!

In-field devotional. All day. Nine hours of classes and workshops. I did manage to stay awake through it all and it really was an awesome and super spiritual experience. TO THE GOOD STUFF THOUGH. During my first workshop, I was called to the travel agency. They told me that my visa has not been processed, and would not be processed in several weeks, SO I have received a call to a different, temporary mission. For the next six weeks (max), I will be serving as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Denver, Colorado mission! My main concern is losing a good amount of my Fijian as I don't speak it there, then jumping straight into Fiji vakavalagi-fied. I just know that as I do well in Colorado, the Lord will bless me however I need in Fiji. Another concern is that I might need a suit in Colorado, and there is no way I can tract or ride a bike or just be in my blue suit every day. It's so dodgy and tattered now, I might just need to buy a black suit coat. Whatever happens, how cool?? Two countries, two languages, two cultures, same gospel! I cannot wait, aggghh.

After the devotionals, my district did TRC (Teaching Resource Center), which is where we speak to a Fijian RM. There is no roleplaying involved, we're speaking to them as they are. A college student, a husband or wife with kids and a job, just a normal RM from Fiji. The purpose is basically just for the missionaries to share a nice little spiritual thought with these people in Fijian, as school and work and life can be stressful at times. Anyways, we got to TRC and was lead to the computer lab where we'd be skyping our TRC people. The girls were placed first and assigned an RM.

The RM: HERBERT. I was so frustrated. I asked the instructor if I could switch with them, he said no, which I understand. He said if it were up to him I could've, which was nice, but the staff told him not to let me talk to Herb. I couldn't even say hi in the background or yell so he could hear me. The trio was assigned next, then us. We got a suuuper chill guy named Brother Tuifina'i (?) I know that's not it but it's something like that. He's in school studying engineering (?), lives in Ogden, works for the Color Run and is engaged. He returned home a year ago and also knows Herbert. Super awesome guy, we shared a message with him about faith in trials and the pure love of our heavenly father. It was sooo cool being able to speak to him AND understand his Fijian almost entirely. After we bore our testimonies, he asked to bear his testimony, and he did, and it was beautiful. He wished us luck on our missions, and told us to do one thing especially: love the people, and I haven't a single doubt in my mind that I will. Just an incredible experience overall, holy smokes.

It was a little hard to focus with Herb's voice in the background haha (they just put a headset on the table for the mic and opened the audio) but we were able to get an excellent and spiritual message across. I feel that if I were to skype Herb, I would have been too distracted to share a good thought, and that I would have missed him more afterwards.

There is something so amazing about being able to express your emotions in another tongue, and to hear other people's testimonies in that tongue. I'm so grateful to be here. My time in the MTC is something I will cherish forever, so I can only imagine how Fiji will affect me haha.

Super funny, when we left TRC and met up with the girls back at the classroom (they finished first and head back early), Sisita Joni approached me and said, “ VOSOTI AU LEVU, OH NA NOQU GOODNESS NA NOQU CA!” (I'm so sorry, oh my goodness my bad!) I got confused and asked, “what's up?” And she responded, “I DIDN'T KNOW HE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO COLORADO!” I just had to laugh so hard. Apparently, what happened was:

They were just talking when Herbert asked if he was correct in that I would be going to Fiji on Monday. Sisita Joni, thinking that Herbert knew about my temporary alternative mission, said “No, he goes to Colorado on Wednesday.”

Herbert: Eh???? Koya sega ni lako ki Viti??

Sisita Joni: ??????.......!!!!!!!!!!! OI LEI

And so Herbert knew since yesterday haha, found out through my district sisita. Super funny how it all came up.

I'm so happy for Uncle! Please send pictures if you have them!! That is so so awesome that you guys are teaching him, I'm praying for him and Aunty that they'll be able to feel the Spirit in your meetings and to make manifest unto them, in their hearts, the truthfulness of the things you folks discuss. How cool will it be when 'Io comes home and he can talk to Aunty eh?? Keep me updated on their progress please! Mom, thank you so much for the talk! I haven't gotten around to reading the whole thing, I will today though, but what I did read was wonderful.

Tell how everything is at home! How's work for dad and Mikel? School for the kids? Child-loving for mom and U'i? I hope you're all in good health and doing well in all your different areas.

Anyways, I've been on for a while so I'll close it here. Pictures to come. Next time you guys hear from me, it'll be from some internet cafe or library in Denver! I've already been instructed by some missionaries to say what's up to their friends in Denver, if anyone in the ward or you guys know someone in Denver, let me know! I'll try to hit them up in my short time there.

I love you guys so much. Thank you guys for everything, I know that this is where I'm supposed to be and thank you guys so much for getting me to this point in my life. I couldn't and wouldn't have done it without you, and I already know that this is the single greatest decision I have ever made. I could not ask for a better family on the face of this Earth, who I know loves me and supports me in everything. I love you guys more than words can say. I love and appreciate my heavenly father and my brother Jesus Christ for their incredible sacrifices. I know without a shadow of a doubt that everything I have and everything I am is a result of this great gospel; this true gospel of Jesus Christ which was restored in these latter-day by the prophet Joseph smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know that God lives, that he loves us and knows us individually. I know that because he loves us, he has called a true and living prophet, which is Thomas S. Monson. I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded me, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they might accomplish that task. I love our savior, I love this gospel, I love love LOVE this work, and I love you guys.

Au lomani kemudou valevu, until next time, tukuna vei kemudou mai Colorado!

Moce!!

-Elda Ishibashi