Aaplog kaise hai, hamaar julum parivaar??
This last week was a really good, interesting, and humbling one!
On Wednesday, I was on exchanges with Elder Aisa in our area. The first humbling experience happened at our first lesson after lunch. It was intended to be a drop lesson, in which we basically leave them a pamphlet and our number and tell them that if they ever have any questions, they can call us. We'd been teaching Dipti and Choti, two mothers of large families, for a while and they seldom kept commitments. Prayer the way we pray is still a bit foreign to them, and thus difficult to adjust, so they were slow to pray. I realized that we'd never invited them to be baptized (it's very uncommon for us to extend the baptismal invitations early on in the lessons, as most Hindus don't know who Jesus Christ is/ have a very limited knowledge of Him and His gospel), so I decided to give it a try.
Given their apparent lack of interest in our message, I expected the answer to our challenge to be no. We based our lesson on baptism, and taught using the Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet. In fact, I was so ready for a no, that I kept the pamphlet on my lap with the pen ready to write our names and number as I extended the invitation. Choti silently put her head down in response. Dipti said yes.
The answer surprised me, and I set a return appointment.
When we left, I felt horrible. My faith was low and lacked hope for a yes, and I'm humbled that a yes to the baptismal invitation struck me by surprise. I'm working on going about my work more confidently in myself AND in the people I serve.
The second great and humbling experience happened just several hours later. We were to go and check up on a referral given to us by a missionary who'd previously served in the area, but a record was never made for this particular person. We went up the steps, knocked on the door several times, and received no answer. Elder Aisa noticed a young man sticking his head out the door of the ground-floor apartment and suggested we talk to him. We introduced ourselves, and this young Indian man seemed thrilled out of his mind that I (a Samoan with a Japanese name from Hawaii in Fiji) spoke Hindi! It occurred to me while talking to him how odd it really is. I, a Samoan with a Japanese name from Hawaii, learned Hindi from a Tahitian with a Chinese name whose first language is French, in Fiji.
ANYWAYS, Matthew warmly invited us into his house. Matthew is 18 years old and lives with his mom and 16 year old sister, Vashni. We sat down with Matthew and Vashni and talked about our purpose as missionaries. They seemed interested in everything we had to say. They both are strong Christians, but belong to no particular denomination. We found them in a time of thirst and longing. They're earnestly searching for the truth, and I honestly see having found these two to be a miracle. We spirit was present and very strong as we shared out of Ephesians about the foundation of the true church needing to be built on prophets and apostles. It was almost overwhelming as I testified that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a foundation of prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. We invited them to be baptized when they receive a witness that the things are shared are true, and they said yes. About halfway through the lesson, their mother came home, sat down, and listened. After the invitation was extended, she spoke to us and started asking several questions about our doctrine. She brought up several points about the church that doesn't make sense to her or that she doesn't agree with.
I'm pretty often received by people who try to find contradictions between our faiths bible verses, and instances like that usually throw me off and I can't feel the spirit. This time it was different, I felt confident knowing that the answer to/ evidence of every point she was bringing up was in the bible sitting on their nightstand. Though we didn't have time to answer her questions, we were able to set a return appointment with her children. We'll be seeing them tomorrow.
I'm sure it was the spirit that softened her heart, and prompted her to leave it completely up to her children whether or not we're welcome into the home again. They agreed to have us back. I feel so blessed that the spirit lead us to these two young people in such dire hunger for the message of the restored gospel.
Elder Mo'unga and I were blessed to see two of our little investigators in church yesterday! Elder Mo'unga and Elder Aisa found Jayden(9) and Danya(11) on exchanges a few weeks ago. They attend LDS primary school but have never received the lessons. They're always so excited when we come to teach and so observant when we do. We've set them on date for July 2nd, and I'm hoping I'm still in the area when that day comes! They seemed a bit lost in church yesterday, but they seemed to be welcomed warmly by our primary. Looking forward to seeing them again on Wednesday!
This week we were able to get a lot of good work done in the area, and we're excited to see what we can do over the next week!
I've definitely witnessed the importance of having strong faith and letting the spirit guide in times of need. Dad, I'll definitely try that instead haha. If I don't HAVE to have trials in order to learn humility, I'd rather have that, I'm just also willing to take whatever the Lord sees that I need to be humbled.
That hike looks MEAN! Why didn't we do stuff like that while I was in youth??
You boys look gooood in your overalls and cowboy hats! And that looks like a solid youth program, SO glad our youth is growing in unity and individually.
Lehia, you lolo head. That's actually suuuper funny to me because I see 'Io or myself doing the exact same thing if Kaulike told us that. Hearing Kala'i's story, I'm sure Grandpa was with you guys on that hike, and I bet he LOOOVED it. I can see Grandpa sitting on the wagon as the boys are talking about the bull, him chuckling and saying "Bumbai you boys learn" as he gets off the wagon to stop the animal before it even starts charging. Not only Grandpa though, I know the spirit of the early pioneers were with yous as well. Isa dad, I see the beard is coming back haha!
I'm so happy that everyone is doing well back home, and I feel SO blessed to know that everyone is happy and healthy and that U'i's babies are still fat, kolohe, and growing!
Thank you so much for talking to Sister Dalton for me, I would LOVE to teach her family or even have missionaries in that area teach them! I'm more than willing to help in any way, and you don't know how excited I am to be able to speak Hindi with her!
I'll be heading out now, just know that I'm doing awesome and loving the work! OH, YEAH man It's hard to believe that I've been away for a year. They don't kid when they say it flies, it's a bit scary thinking that I'm running out of time haha.
I love you guys SOOO much, you're always in my prayers! Please give my aloha to the Hilo Ishibashis, the Laie Ishibashis, the Watsons, and the ward!
Mahan rako, julum chiiij karo iis agle hapta me! Haam aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai!!
Khyaal rakna!
Elder Ishibashi-Fiji
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