Sunday, November 6, 2016

11-6-16 It is truly impossible to bask in the heights of life without first having wallowed in the depths.

Namaste hamar bahut BAHUT julum priwaar!!

It's been a pretty awesome week, I'll tell you. It's been quite a struggle without the truck, but this week we were able to visit several families we haven't been able to in over a month! Part of it is because the only window we had to visit was around Diwali time and all the Indians are busy at that time so yeah. 
ANYWAYS all those families are doing awesome and still holding strong. As always, great visits with greater people. The Naiagas are still awesome and we go over and read the Book of Mormon with them as often as time permits. Holy smokes the Book of Mormon is crazy man. Before my mission, I said I've read the Book of Mormon cover to cover. I've read the words anyway, never the story and the significance of it all. In complete honest, I finished the Book of Mormon in prayer and understanding when I was with Mong Yen, two transfers into my mission. 

Jeanette Maiwiriwiri teaches the youth class in Waila ward, and yesterday we decided to attend the class. Jeanette and three other YSA preparing to serve missions gave a wonderful lesson on gaining our OWN testimonies through self reliance. They related the parable of the ten virgins, saying you cannot rely on others' testimonies to teach and share. Growing up, I can't say I had a true and certain testimony of the Book of Mormon because I'd never read it. it was more like, Woah, he read the Book and Mormon and this happened, she read the Book of Mormon and she could do this, it must be true! AND, since reading is hard and time consuming, I never put the effort in to be able to do those things or make those things happen. We really can't rely on the testimony of others to carry ours, we NEED to put in our own efforts. Something I've been told by a member in Nausori a few weeks back, which I thought was harsh, but is true: You know how faith without works is dead? Well, the same is with a testimony. I testimony founded on another is weak in its foundation. A testimony comprised completely of bits and pieces of another will not progress. You MUST build your own foundation. Build your own walls, and then the bits and pieces of other testimonies can support yours. When I actually read the Book of Mormon completely in pondering and prayer, I was able to understand and appreciate the Book of Mormon testimonies I've heard so much more. A tip to the bebes: READ THE BOOK OF MORMON BEFORE THE MISSION. No, I didn't, but I promise you that it will prepare you more than anything can. I wish I did. 

One awesome thing I love about this gospel is that if you have a testimony of ONE thing, all other doubts diminish. That one thing is Joseph Smith. If you know without a shadow of a doubt that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of a loving and living God, then he DID translate and bring forth the Book of Mormon, which IS the word of God. The Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity ARE God-given laws and are absolutely required to be lived in order to achieve eternal life. 

I actually got really scared last transfer with Elder Mong Yen. We regularly visited a woman who had a really hard time with the "trinity", or belief that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are one personage. She was always loaded with heaps of scriptures that talked about their "oneness" (looks and sounds weird but that is in fact a word), and no matter what scriptures WE brought up, she always had one that said otherwise. This is the thought that scared me: In several verses, Jesus Christ is said to have been standing at the right hand of God. We take that quite literally, yet we tell these people not to take everyone the bible says so literally. I brought this concern up to Elder Mong Yen, and he simply said "Do you have a testimony of Joseph Smith?"
I said "Yeah, of course." 
"Do you believe he was a true prophet of God?"
"Yeah."
"What does Joseph Smith say about the trinity?"
"They're three in person, one in purpose."
"Is Joseph Smith a true prophet of God?"
"yeah."
"Then they are three in person, one in purpose."

That was a huge help for me. He dies next transfer, and I hope I get to see him before then. ANYWAYS, to go back to the tip, it's not so much a tip as it is a very strong suggestion: If you don't already, gain and build your very own testimony of the Book of Mormon and our prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord promises blessings for doing that, and I testify of those blessings. Since I've gained those testimonies for myself, teaching has become significantly less nerve-wrecking and more fluid. 

But yeah! It's been a refreshing week, getting to see those long-lost families. That was pretty much the whole week too, up until Saturday. On Saturday, we had a birthday lovo for our district leader's companion, Elder Lemusu, who turned 20! Actually he turns 20 tomorrow but we couldn't celebrate tomorrow so we did it early. It also happened to be their bishop's birthday so we had a combined party! We put chicken, fish, palusami, kasava and dalo in the lovo. Man, the feed was meeeaan. We also had 'otai, kill the mouth. 
But yeah, that was pretty much our week. 

NOW, to address the letters!
I am SO glad to know that aunty Roxie is okay, oh my goodness. I really can't believe how incredibly blessed our family has been in dangerous situations. Please give my aloha to the Tubbs 'ohana, give Aunty Roxie, Kirei, and grandma a good hour-long foot rub for me. Goodness, we Ishibashis are ridiculous man.

"The normal man would have fallen and died!"
But yeah, I'm overjoyed that everyone is in good health and spirits.

Dad!! Something I thought you'd be pleased to know. Since I've been here, my Hawaiian has been arising quite often! I'm remembering words I've forgotten for years, and I'm actually starting to understand the grammar and sentence structure much more clearly! It's weird. I listen to Hawaiian music and I start to understand the words! I think it must have something to do with having so many poly missionaries around all the time. Often times when we're together, we'll just say Oh, what's ____ in Tongan? How do you say ____ in Maori? And we all go around and say that word in our native tongues. Countless similarities! Elder Mo'unga speaks a bit of Tongan so he usually knows the word, Elder Levasa and Elder Lemusu speaks Samoan, Elder Paki and Elder Levasa speak a bit of Maori, I know Hawaiian words, and we all speak Fijian. Way sick! DEFINITELY learning Hawaiian AND Samoan when I get home.

Mom, thank you SO much for getting the personal card situated! It honestly has helped HEAPS in getting to the other side this last week. Also, thank you so much for the letters! I'm glad to know that everyone is all good, that Herbert was able to enjoy some time with the family and the fiancee and that EVERYONE and safe and healthy. Tender mercies of the Lord, definitely. I miss hearing yous sing so much! I can't wait to come home and be able to jam and sing with my brothers and sisters, I definitely miss that the most, BUT I've been blessed with brothers and sisters out here in the field that love to sing so I'm still exercising my talents. 

Penina, thank you so much for the letter gorgeous girl!! Goodness, did you type that all yourself?? That's seriously such a huge improvement since I've left! I can tell you're doing well in school! Keep doing well Nins, I love you so much! Yes, I heard about Lili, but it's okay because she's very strong and healthy where she is now! Make sure to maintain her grave site so I can visit when I return. Huh, Ihe must be getting old though. Maybe soon we can let him off the chain like we did Tia! 

Alrighty well I don't have much time left so I'll use the rest to those I haven't been able to get back to in a while. I love you all and know that I pray for yous every day, and the blessings of obedience and prayer have become very very evident to me. Yous be safe, continue to strengthen the spiritual bond with our father in heaven and our wonderful and beautiful family here on Earth. I apologize for the lack of pictures today, this computer is being dumb and won't let me connect anything.

AGAIN, ham aaplogke bahut BAHUT pyaar karta, aaplogke paas ek julum hafta!
Moce! 

Elda Ishibashi

Also, HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY PENINA!!! YOU AWESOME BIG GIRL, FULL BIRTHDAY LETTER NEXT WEEK!! LOVE YOU GORGEOUS GIRL, HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!!



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