MAN, what an interesting, uplifting, and WET week it has been.
Monday was a good day, like any other P-day except it was raining HEAPS. It was also way cold and I didn't feel like getting sick so my district pretty much spent that qito period in the chapel talking story, singing and playing music.
We didn't have district meeting on Tuesday, because Zone conference takes its place in the week when we have it. Tuesday was spent in Baulevu seeing several families and inviting them to invite people to church on Sunday.
Wednesday was WAYY onst, holy smokes. This year's Christmas combined zone conference took place in Raiwaqa. It's actually pretty incredible how the whole spirit of the room just changes, almost thickens, when President and Sister Layton walk in. We were first addressed by the new missionaries in the zones, those who have come in over the last two transfers. Afterwards we were addressed by the dying missionaries, those who will be going home in the next two transfers (zone conference happens every three transfers). One of the departing testimonies that really stuck out to me was given by Elder Lemusu, who dies next week. He shared his pre-mission experience with returned missionaries. He never wanted to serve a mission, and always doubted when the returned missionaries said 'It was the best thing I've ever done, best two years of my life, it changed me.'
"I served a mission to prove them wrong. I came out, I served the people, I worked hard, and I proved myself wrong."
-Elder Lemusu
After several trainings, we were treated with an amazing lunch, and then we were privileged to hear from President Layton. President gave an incredible training on the undeniable love of our brother and savior Jesus the Christ. He talked about Jesus in Gethsemane, and how He asked our Heavenly Father if it were at all possible that this pain could be lifted. He asked Heavenly Father if there were any other way that this price could be paid, BUT as much unbearable pain as he was in, he was still willing and able to drink from that bitter cup. He went through such horrible pain, even to death, to save a world full of saints and sinners. What a testament that God loves EVERYone. No matter where you are, what you're doing, how big or small your wrongdoings are, you have a loving Father in Heaven who gave His beloved son to the Earth to die for you. A question arises at this time of the year during the Christmas season for us: What is the greatest gift that God has given mankind? Heaps of various answers come up. Families, this Earth, our lives. Yesterday, I received my favorite answer as I approached a family with this question, and one I couldn't agree with more.
"His son, Jesus Christ."
President Layton also talked to us about how Heaven must have felt on that day that our brother Jehovah would come down to Earth to be born as a human child, beginning the atonement process. All of us in the spirit world, who wouldn't receive our physical bodies for another two thousand years, but knowing that we would be born in the age of resurrection. Knowing that the gates of heaven would be open and waiting for us at the end of our Earthly lives.
We think of Christmas as a time to remember Jesus Christ for his Earthly birth, which ultimately lead to his atonement, which was truly the greatest sacrifice that ever took place on Earth. However, we don't often think about the sacrifice that took place in Heaven on Christmas Eve.
I think about my leaving on my mission, The tears that were shed and the words that were said before I left my home and family to serve the Lord for two years. My last embrace with mom and dad before I boarded that plane to O'ahu.
Then I think about the final embrace of Jehovah and our Heavenly Father before He would go down to be born of Mary. Both new exactly what was going to happen. Jesus would be born. Jesus would establish His father's church. Jesus would suffer. Jesus would die. Then he came down so it could all happen.
Mom and dad, you gave me to Fiji for two years to the possibility of dog bites and tape worms. God His son to the Earth for 30 to the inevitability of cruelty and death.
Words cannot be said to express the gratitude I have for the sacrifice of my Father in Heaven and my Brother, Lord, savior and redeemer Jesus Christ.
After President Layton's incredible training, we watched Finding Dory! I thought it was wayy funny, but also wayy sad at times. My district loves the beluga whale and it's become a thing to just touch our heads and go WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO when we can't find something (we're all black belts in misplacing important things).
Anyways, zone conference was outstanding and honestly gave me an entirely different view of Christmas.
On Thursday, our zone had interviews with President Layton which was accompanied by a storm. My interview went really well, and President Layton expressed to me that I would be entering senior companionship soon! After Thursday, the rain did not stop. In fact, it got worse and worse. Because of the heavy rain and lack of taxi and bus availability, we were homebound from Thursday to Saturday. Something incredible happened on Sunday morningthough.
We've been housing several companionships at our flat because theirs got flooded out. Yesterday morning as I got ready for church, I heard Elder Mckee say, almost fearfully "What the heck is that??" pointing out the window. We all looked out the window and saw something we hadn't seen in what seemed like ages. The sun. Patches of blue sky. It really was pretty miraculous. We walked to church without a drop of rain touching us, and enjoyed a good twenty minute sacrament meeting before heading out to work. Sacrament yesterday was really short and pretty much consisted of the sacrament only, because of the flooding in the homes and everyone (of the ten people that showed up) needed to go back and tend to their homes and families. Not a drop of rain fell until Elder Hairprasad and I had finished seeing everyone we needed to and went home. It really is like God just put his hand over waila and caught the rain in his cupped hand.
However, as soon as we got home, God seemed to have turned his hand over. Our road, within an hour or two, flooded with about two feet of water. Last night, the water flooded into our property and reached our house porch. We could literally take a boat from our front door to the cafe we're in front now. It's craaazy flooded right now, worse than I've ever seen. Small streams have turned into raging rivers and rugby fields have turned into lakes.
Definitely an interesting experience, but that was my week! Now to address the letters:
Glad everyone is doing well and getting married or preparing to get married and whatnot! I expect to come home to meet just heaps of new little babies of people I was in the YSA branch with. So glad to know that the missionaries in the ward are working hard and being successful in their work! Wow, seven families!! That's super impressive, I'm actually way interested to come home and know the details of the Hawaii, Honolulu mission. There's so much more behind missions than I even thought about before I came out. Please give my aloha to the current missionaries in baked-goods form, like brownies or cinnamon rolls or something. Christmas time is hard for missionaries, as I've so rudely learned lately haha.
MAN, those fishes look good! And so do the babies, Fia is looking bigger and cuter every picture that comes in! Keep em coming!
Welp, we're heading out now. I've come to the assumption that the problem must be my camera, because this computer will not allow me to send the video. Instead, I'll send a little part and ask that you read it to Herb and Jazmine.
PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ABOUT THE SKYPE DETAILS ASAP! I'll check in every now and again before Saturday. Sorry I had to do it the day before your Christmas eve.
I love yous so much, and thank you for everything! Have an incredible week, and if everything plays out right, I'll see you folks on Saturday!!! Or Friday I guess.
Ham aaplog bahut pyaar karta hai, aur marautaka na kerisimasi!
Aaplogke larkaa/bhaiya,
Elder Ishibashi
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