1-8-17 Namaste

NAMASTE hamar bahut julum pariwaar!!

MAN what an awesome week it's been, UNFORTUNATELY I don't have a lot of time today. We have combined qito today with the Suva North zone, so everybody's meeting up early today. WAY stoked, should be onst. ANYWAYS a bit of a recap on my past week!

Qito with my new zone was awesome, it rained a bit beforehand so rugby on the field was dirty, splashy, and heaps of fun. Everyone seems to get with one another which is nice, and almost everyone participates! That night we had dinner with a senior couple and a recent convert. The recent convert's name is Aaron, and he has an incredible testimony of this gospel. The senior couple, the Clarks, have been transferred to Waila ward! I'm sure they'll love it. We had spaghetti and garlic bread followed by pineapple upside down cake and ice cream. I had hot snakes for DAYS that night but in my opinion, totally worth it. It was a nice deviation from the nightly chicken curry and roti (not that I could ever get sick of that, I don't think so anyway. We'll see in 17 months). After dinner, we were able to share a scripture. Elder Datoon let me lead that lesson, and I decided to share Moroni 10:7-8 accompanied by 1 Nephi 3:7. Aaron gave some excellent insight on those scriptures and shared his testimony of the truthfulness of their contents. Wonderful night!

We held an awesome district meeting on Tuesday with my new awesome district! The district consists of: 
The Nasinu 1st ward (Fijian ward) elders, Elder Arietta and Elder Larsen 

By the way, I get heaps of people from the Nasinu 1st ward approaching me saying they knew and loved Herbert and Elder Grotepas haha. 

The Nasinu 2nd ward (English ward) sisters, Sister Tupaea and Sister Pea (who just started her mission this transfer)

The Nasinu 2nd ward Hindi elders, Elder Ishibashi and Elder Datoon

We just did some activities to get to know each other a little better and had some great insights on the importance of teamwork and unity. Sister Tupaea's insight included something I really liked, turning the word TEAM into an acronym. 

Together

Everyone

Accomplishes

More

Sister Pea also included something I liked, #IF

The idea of it is like, IF I go out and find then we'll find someone to teach, someone who's ready and willing to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts. IF I do all three hours of study diligently and sufficiently, I'll be more prepared for lessons and more susceptible to the spirit's promptings. IF I eat better, I'll be more alert, energized and thus productive throughout the day. ALL of these are acts of faith, that if I do this thing that I'm supposed to do, I will receive blessings. She also turned IF into an acronym. 

Increase

Faith

I testify that obedience and diligence will undoubtedly spawn blessings.

The rest of the week was mainly consistent of work, all day every day. I LOVED it. There's enough work in this area to stay busy all day every day, which is awesome, but as people pass their recent-convert dates and complications arise for several investigators, we're starting to see the importance of finding as we teach. We will definitely be doing heaps of finding over the next week. 

Two manini inconveniences came up this last week, but we're working on it as swiftly as we can. We discovered that two woman we teach, both of whom were dated to be baptized this coming Saturday, are not legally married to their husbands. Both are absolutely golden. They both have strong testimonies, they really want to be baptized and they attend church regularly. The marriage thing is the only barrier, and unfortunately, it's a really difficult barrier to overcome. One woman, Shayal, has talked about marriage with her husband before, so her issue isn't huge. The option of marriage is definitely there, only they haven't been together very long, so they feel it's a bit rushed to decide right now. We invited her to watch the Together Forever DVD with her husband, and we'll check up on how that went tomorrow. She has such a sweet and genuine spirit and such a strong belief and faith in Jesus Christ. The other woman, Sunita, is not yet divorced to her first husband, so this could present quite an issue. We all together are praying and fasting that everything will work out. Sunita's faith is incredible, as is her desire to be baptized. Her desire is evident through her faithfulness to the gospel and her keeping the commitments, and I know that Heavenly Father wants her to be baptized just as much, if not more. While we are doing everything we can for these two strong women, I suppose it is important to realize that Shayal and Sunita WILL receive the opportunity to be baptized in the LORD'S time. All blessings though, for sure.

DON'T FORGET TO THANK THE LORD FOR THE TENDER MERCIES. EVERY SINGLE LITTLE ONE. I've seen such a spike of joy and gratitude as I've done this is in every single prayer I say lately. I promise the same for yous!

In response to the letters:

Dad, I'm all good! In fact, I'm better than I've been in quite a while! Don't worry about me, I'm working hard, speaking Hindi, and trying to work out every morning. Strong mentally, physically, and spiritually! Socially, still working on it, and what better time to improve that than on a mission aye? 

WAY happy for Kahi and Kealoha! Give them my aloha!

WAYYY proud of Kala'i! OH MAN! You see Kala'i, the paddling team, they suffered last year. I mean they did pretty good, but not half as good as they could have. Do you understand why? That year, they did not have an Ishibashi on the team. This year is the year Kala'i, the year to destroy. You've been placed on the team to do what I couldn't do. And I mean, I did heaps. Like HEAPS. I pretty much made the team, really. Anyways, you can and will do more. Please give my aloha to coaches Grant and Anna, and GONGRATS ON BEING CHOSEN TO GO TO STATES! You will carry the team, just train your face off and stay committed. As well as keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy however, keep up with the good missionary work I hear you're doing. Stay strong in your faith and I PROMISE that you'll see those blessings pour into your athletics. 

Give Makana a pat on the back for me and give my aloha in bear hug form. 

Good for Lehia, honestly the Waipio camp outs were always my favorites. Did you get to work in the Lo'i? Swim in the waterfalls? Waipio valley just seems to have this comforting and rich spirit to it, and it's an excellent place and opportunity to reconnect with your heritage. Mean how you got to cook rabbit!

WOOO Jeremias!! Good on that boy!

I'm so glad and blessed to know that all is well back home, and that yous are all trying to increase your faith and love for those around yous.

WELP, I have to go. Elder Datoon and I are in great health and greater spirits! He's honestly the man. I hope yous all have an incredible week! Work hard, be safe!

Au lomani kemudou sara vakalevu,

ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai,

I love yous all so much! Take care, and kalougata tiko!

Elder Ishibashi

On a side note, I got a few emails from people who were concerned about the earthquake that take place here. I didn't feel a thing, neither did anyone we talked to, there doesn't seem to be any damage anywhere in Fiji that I've heard about, so it must literally have been nothing haha. No tsunami either, not even a rise in the tide. All goods here, as always in Fiji. 

In case you saw it and was wondering. It says Ishibashi.

Currently (camera still isn't working, sorry! Only way I can get pictures is on my camera memory alone)