8-8-16 Love people like our Savior does.

Bula na noqu matavuvale wananavu!

Not much time to write today, which is really fine because I don't have veeery much to write about haha. Our investigators are doing really well and progressing. It's way important to keep in mind that things come at the Lord's pace and not ours haha. We met several people this week that seem interested and I'm excited to continue teaching them, see where things go! We've also received two pretty promising-looking referrals for this week by members, which is so great! We teach one tonight and one on Friday, can't wait!

The weather cooled down for a few days last week, which was SUPER nice. What's a little off is that when it "cools down", it gets COLD. When the sun wasn't blazing and pounding down on us for those few days, I was in my big coat all day haha. It was super nice, but if that was cold (it was apparently like 76), pray that I get sent out before winter. I will die.

Elder Sinden and I compared our bodies to what they were at the beginning of the transfer, and we both seem to have made some crazy progress! He's actually suuuper proud haha. What's crazy is that he always flexes by raising his arms and just letting his shoulders and wrists droop all lazy-like, but he flexed for real this morning and showed pretty huge biceps and pectorals that didn't exist yesterday. Apparently it isn't as impressive as when he first arrived, but still progress. I'm still trying haha, with you folks!

We went to one of our investigator's homes for some gardening service, and I caught a snake!! I'll be totally real, playing with that snake was one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life. It is a garden snake, so it's completely harmless. They're like skinks, and apparently this one was really young and small. It was pretty funny how the thing wrapped it's tiny little body around my wrist and tried to squeeze me and how it tried to bite me with its tiny little toothless mouth. I'll attach pictures, SO COOL! They're also super fast, it was a chore trying to catch that thing! I took a video you guys can watch in two years of me releasing it, but yeah AWESOME.

That might actually be everything I can think of right now concerning me, I'm doing really well! There is definitely lots of work to be done in Arapahoe (my area) and we're doing it to the best of our ability! The people here are incredible. I spoke to President Mendenhall briefly yesterday, who said that the whereabouts of my visa are still unknown but I should be here passed this transfer. No biggie for me, personally.

Dad, thanks so much for the letter! Holy smokes, THAT'S PROGRESS dad! And mom, WHAT?? You can't just leave it at "Oh, mom got a job. Anyways,-" I'm so happy for you mom, and I can't wait to hear about it! I'm just overjoyed right now that everyone is doing so great, the Lord is so good to me, it's incredible. It would be Lehia making those jokes haha, keep Book of Mormon studies up! I wanna read it with you guys when I come home! I mean, hopefully it doesn't take you folks two years to finish it but it'll be nice! I imagine it's easier to do it now, what with less siblings and less distractions. I'm so proud of you guys for starting that and holding to it! And Kala'i, if eating the fish helps you to focus on your righteous passions and endeavors, no need catch the fish. It is way fun though, js.

I'm glad grandma's doing well, give her a BIG hug and a BIG kiss and massage her feet for me!

Sick Mikel! Man, I'm so glad U'i's family is doing well! The pictures and videos of the babies she sends me is so refreshing, I love it! Keep em coming!

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY U'I!!! YOUUUU DA BEST OLDA SISTA I'VE EVER HAD! And the best olda sista I could ever ask for. I love you so much U'i, thanks for being mamma bear my first year in high school and for aaalways being so willing and thoughtful and loving. You have a great day, go do something awesome with people you love. Sorry your favorite brother couldn't be there to celebrate it with you, but I'll be celebrating your birthday here! I can, because it's P-day. P-day, B-day, same thing. I'll make you a little cake and eat it JUST for you. Foreal, love you sis, love your family so much, give them all big huge and kisses for me!

Alrighty well I better head out. ONE FAVOR. My I've discovered that I need my glasses more than I anticipated. IF POSSIBLE, please obtain and send me a pair of glasses ASAP. It's just handy when reading street signs or the ward directory or scriptures or what not. IF NOT, don't sweat it at all. If anything, I won't be here much longer and I won't need to read many street signs or whatever in Fiji, so just send me glasses with a Christmas package or something.

Alrighty I'm gonna head out, got a lesson with LeRoy in 45 minutes.

I love you guys so much, so glad everyone's doing well! Kids, school and church before anything else. Lehia, mish before fish. Do well! Mom and dad, I wish you both the best of luck with your jobs! Same with you Mikel! All of you, continue to be great examples to all those you come in contact with. Continue to be a great help unto everyone around you, and love people like our Savior does. I pray for your guys' well-being, safety, and happiness all day every day, and it seems to be working!
Again, I love you guys so much and thank you folks for everything.

Au lomani kemudou valevu, na noqu matavuvale wananavu sara dina!

Talk to you folks again next week, moce!
Elder Ishibashi

Side notes:
-Ran into an old couple from Oahu in McDonalds this morning! I saw the lady's UH hat and the man's SPAM shirt, they're old Japanese and the man just ate like an old Hawaiian man, so I asked if they were from Hawaii. Never got their names, but they spend six months in Pearl City and six months in Arapahoe every year. Summer in Colorado, Winter in Hawaii (smart), they own a house in both areas. Honestly felt really refreshing to have someone to speak pidgin to for five minutes!

-We moved a pile of about two tons of river rock for a lady on Saturday, and she posted about us on Facebook and Nextdoor! Basically said we were awesome, willing, hardworking, and she's glad there are still good people on the earth. She used the term Mormon missionaries, which I thought was awesome. Funny story, the members in the area read that on facebook so we got a lot of back-pats for that. The first time our ward mission leader read it to us in gospel principles in front of the whole class, I whispered "street cred" to Elder Sinden. Apparently, it wasn't so much a whisper, because the whole class laughed. It reminded me of that "I am a child of Allah" incident a few years back. Basically the same instance, both showing that I need to watch my mouth. You might be able to find the post if you can access the Tallyn's Reach Community facebook page or something, I don't know.

-BEAUTIFUL sunset, camera doesn't nearly do it justice.

-"This is why Elder Ishibashi doesn't make lunch."

-The story: I was on splits with another Elder. I tried to boil eggs. Took them out a few times, always a little yolky in the middle. We had to leave soon and I WANTED AN EGG, so I thought "What's the worst that could happen?" (Elder Sinden's signature quote, so funny) and I put three of them in the microwave. I was washing the pot I boiled them in, when this liiiiiittle explosion blows the microwave door open. I checked, and impressively, all three eggs were completely vaporized or splattered on every side of the microwave. I'm safe, the microwave is safe and still completely operational, so it's all okay. Tip for the youth: Don't put eggs in the microwave. Please.