12-11-16 Awesome visits and incredible people.

Namaste, hamar pyaari aur bahut julum pariwaar!!

This last week has been a pretty average week, not much to recap on to be completely honest, but there were definitely some highlights!

Actually, let me skip back to several weeks ago, something happened that I decided to share. Two transfers ago, Elder Mong Yen and I attended a dinner appointment with a family in the Nausori North zone. There was a bit of uneasiness and contention within the part-member family while we were present, so it was honestly a bit difficult to feel the spirit as we shared a quick scripture and thought before we left. The family consists of an active and faithful member (whom I had never seen/met prior), their inactive spouse and several adult non-member kids. Because of the unpleasantness of that visit, I felt a bit uncomfortable about returning to that home again any time soon. Days and weeks went by and we never saw the family again. They didn't sign up to feed us after that, so we never really felt obligated to go and they left our minds. A few weeks ago after a fall-through appointment, Elder Hariprasad and I were walking down the hill when the family popped into my head out of nowhere. It occurred to me that they lived nearby, and I haven't seen them since, meaning they might need some encouragement of some type to go back to church. Though I'd been in that particular area once before, I was easily able to find the house, like something was guiding exactly to where I needed to go. When we arrived, we were greeted by the member. Everyone else in the family was sleeping or not present, so we were able to share something with the member alone. In this time, the member expressed to us the countless trials and tribulations they face every single day. They expressed the difficulty of surviving in a part-member family, especially with a testimony so strong as theirs. Then, they shared their testimony. I have a very strong testimony that the Lord does visit us in our afflictions, and their testimony definitely strengthened mine. I have an amazing life, the few "curve balls" I've been chucked throughout my life and throughout my mission have been nothing compared to the challenges this faithful servant of God faces every day. Her faith and testimony built my faith and testimony in that visit, and I can hardly express my appreciation to the Holy Spirit for guiding me to that home that day. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Spirit lead us to that house, not only because she needed us to visit her, but because we needed to visit her. This is my little testimony insert, that missionary work is impossible without the guidance and presence of the Spirit  To be honest, it's not even difficult to teach and convert without the Spirit It's IMPOSSIBLE. We human beings do not convert people, no matter how long or hard we try. The Spirit is the only force in existence that can manifest the truthfulness of the gospel to those lost sheep of the fold. We, not only missionaries but all children/servants of our loving heavenly father, are simply vessels for this Spirit  The Spirit is not just important, the Spirit is essential. The Spirit is everything, and we are so enormously blessed to have been able to obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost when we were baptized and confirmed members of God's one true church. 

Several days ago, we visited a couple of young women whom we haven't been able to visit in a while. One of them is a bit lacking in English, which is way good for me as I attempt to teach her in as much Hindi as my tongue will allow. We plan on inviting her to be baptized very soon, as she continues to soak up the doctrine we feed her. The other had just expressed to us a desire to serve a mission, and has asked us to come by regularly to teach about mission preparation! Given that this stake does not provide a mission-prep class (not to my knowledge, anyway), that's something I'll definitely try to pitch to the stake presidency. We've just had about four young men and women leave this stake to serve missions, and I think a mission preparation class would be really good for those planning on heading out next! It was a huge help aid to me. Anyways, we look forward to visiting them next week and conducting an actual lesson haha. Last time, since neither of them have really met Elder Hariprasad, we just played "two truths and a lie" to get to know one another better and played a game related to a gospel principle. I'll explain the game after this letter, it's pretty good fun.

On a side note, games are an EXCELLENT way to teach kids, I've noticed. I looove using all these different gospel-related games and tricks on kids. For one, it keeps the kids engaged the whole time. Also, kids tend to learn best by seeing and doing rather than by listening. When they see the game and play the game, THEN we relate it to a gospel principle, it makes this principle physical and optical, and thus easier to understand. 

Other than that, this week was pretty chill, pretty normal. Awesome visits and incredible people. Oh, Friday was Elder Hariprasad's birthday! We spent that day proselyting, because Elder Hariprasad is the man and doesn't slack for no one or no day. I baked boooss as brownies that night. Mom, I don't know if you're still planning on opening your bakery any time soon but this is my resume for application:

I baked good brownies without your help. In a microwave. In Fiji. With five ingredients. 
(I am resourceful)

I'm also your son and I need money. Please hire me. I love you. 

ANYWAYS I think I'll go and get my hair cut today before I go play with my missionary friends, as well as reply to some emails. Our zone in the MTC was so close, we still keep in contact with each other regularly. Two weeks ago, a mass email was sent out to our MTC zone by Elder Satuala (shout out to my brothers and sisters in the Nukualofa, Tonga mission) congratulating everyone on a successful and well-worked six months! Traditionally missionaries burn a tie on their six month mark and a shirt on their year mark, but I'm on the hunt for ties so I wasn't about that. One of my shirts are filthy so I'll just hold onto it until June. 

NOW, to address the letters:

Mom, the Lord does visit those in their afflictions, haha. That does sound tough, with the doubled work load and lack of ability to see dad for lunch anymore. IF ever the work load and/or stress might seem overwhelming, just remember that eternal truth: You have these tough responsibilities because the Lord knows you can handle them, AND because the Lord knows how you as an individual and our family can benefit from these responsibilities. It might take some time to adjust, and it might even be frustrating at times, but perseverance and faithfulness in this time of hardship will bring forth such sweet and fulfilling blessings. I love you mom! 

Dad, I'm doing well physically and spiritually! The work is running smoothly, we've had several people accept the baptismal invitation over the past few weeks, so we look forward to following up on those people! Also, please give the Bourne 'ohana my aroha!

Kala'i better be winning my school's races with those arms, otherwise waste. I'm SUUUPER proud of him though, holy smokes. Isn't paddling the most surreal feeling? Being out on the water and just being kahi me ka moana? My paddling days will be days I honestly will never forget, SOAK it up. Paddling really built my testimony that hard work and perseverance brings forth such rich and fulfilling rewards. There really is no feeling like finishing a race hard and strong, after months of ruthless training, and knowing that you were the first to cross that line out of a dozen other wa'a. That burst of joy in well earned victory is incomparable. One of my favorite things about paddling is also that it's a group effort. No one person on the crew is ever credited for having won the race. The wa'a is one unit, every paddler doing their part to accomplish one goal. The paddler doesn't win, the wa'a wins. The teams wins. 

Continue to train ruthlessly, build your body AND YOUR MIND stronger and faster every day. Listen to coach Grant and coach Anna. They're brilliant, they work really really hard for you folks, and they love you heaps. Tell them I love them please! 

You're a smart boy, you know what they say. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (Tell Makana I love him too)

I'm glad Lehia is still always on the prowl for i'a and adventure, haha. Yous are making me miss the ocean so much more!

Penina, you're so big! And SO beautiful! Goodness gracious, you've grown like crazy since I've left! You're looking less like a little girl and more like a young woman every time I see a new picture of you! Love you gorgeous girl!

OKAY, so with the skype thing. I personally would really like to see 'Io, but I also really want 'Io to have his personal time with yous. If possible, maybe we could do it this way: I skype yous for however long, and maybe 'Io can jump in before I leave, then yous can have your personal time with him. Just a suggestion, but just know that Elder Hariprasad and I have agreed that 4pm is a god time for us t skype. Apparently, Banglore, India is in the same time zone as the Philippines. But yeah, I'm not entirely sure what to do, I'm totally open to anything you's come up with. My primary focus now is trying to figure out WHERE we'll skype, as finding a computer to skype with will be difficult at that time. Please let me know the details of everything and we'll finalize details next week! 

OH, one thing. I will be sending my video for Herb next week Monday, and I think 'Io will be sending one as well. Completely up to yous whether you want to show it in the slideshow or to Herb personally, as long as he sees it haha. 

Okay I'm out of time, I love you all so much and I'm so glad everyone is doing well!

Have an awesome week, my awesome family!

Ham aaplogke bahut bahut pyaar karta hai, au lomani kemudou sara vakalevu, ke aloha no au ia kakou!

Moce!

Aaplogke vinaka duadua larkaa,

Elder Ishibashi

Microwave brownie recipe (takes 15 minutes to make, for the kids when they're sad and home because ALL their appointments fell through and it's raining too hard to proselyte) 

4 eggs

1 cup melted butter (I saw better results substituting margarine for better, but up to you)

1 cup flour

1 cup cocoa 

2 cups sugar 

Maybe even chuck some chocolate or peanut butter chips in there. It just occurred to me that Fijian sugar is different from American sugar, so it might not turn out the same but go for it anyway. 

Mix the eggs and butter well, add dry ingredients and mix well. Chuck in the microwave for 6-7 minutes. 

GAME:
Elder Mong Yen called this game "black magic", but I'm trying to come up with something a little more kid-friendly like "pens". 

So this is how you play Pens. You tell the Indian child "Too aaj, humlog kali maangta raha ek game kele. Tumlogke paas chaar pens hai?" The Indian child will excitedly run off somewhere and return with four pens. You take the four pens and arrange them in four different random as ways, explaining that each arrangement of the pens represents numbers one through four. As you're explaining, you'll tap group/table next to the pens with the number of fingers that that arrangement represents. For example: You can arrange the pens like an E, tap the ground with one finger and say "This is one." You can rearrange them into the letter W, tap the ground with two fingers and say "This is two." You can rearrange them into two other shapes of your choice, saying those other two represent three and four. How you arrange them does not matter at all. After explaining the game and making sure they understand, you arrange the pens in a way that you didn't before. Then, you tap the ground next to the pen arrangement with any number of fingers and ask them what number that particular arrangement represents. Whatever number of fingers with which you tap the surface, THAT is the number that the formation represents. The arrangement of the pens never matter at all. Sometimes, I like to pick all four pens up and just drop them so they're oddly spread out, then ask "What's this?" Make sure you're sly with the taps, don't make it too obvious. I love the look on the kids' faces when they catch on, when that light clicks on and they start laughing their heads off. I like to relate this to recognizing the spirit. Every day is faced with new choices and new challenges. Sometimes, when we come across these challenges, we get lost and don't know what to do. Now the Holy Ghost doesn't yell at us. The holy ghost is calm and comforting, so we have to look for it and listen to closely to it. The reason the game is a bit difficult to catch onto is because the player is looking a the wrong thing. They're looking at what's right in front of them, what's in plain sight, but not at the small things that really matter. When they look for the small things, they learn how to play. When we seek for the spirit and listen for it, it will speak to us and we'll know how to "play" this game of life.