9-16-17 Mission tour was awesome

That was fast! Won't be too long, we had more stuff to do in town this morning (mostly replacing Elder Tui'one's stolen property). But the last few days were awesome! 

Unfortunately, I done goofed and left my notes back home so I can't share anything from mission tour or stake conference in as great detail as I'd like, but I'll try! 

Mission tour was awesome, we were accompanied by Elder Haleck of the Area Presidency who presided over both mission tour and the conference sessions. We received a lot of trainings based on treating our investigators as people with struggles, strengths, and weaknesses, rather than numbers on a record. We learned how to address their strengths and weaknesses and how to teach them accordingly. I can't remember any particularly strong impressions I received but I know there were heaps, we left mission tour edified and refreshed after a hectic last few days haha. The Saturday session of stake conference was excellent as well, and a big focus of the conference was missionary work. I feel like every insight was so vital and helpful for the members to see the importance of this great work, and I feel strongly that the member support will blast up after that session. The Sunday session was actually really interesting. I'll be completely honest and say I don't remember what a majority of it was about. When Elder Tu'ione and I showed up, the Hindi Elders in Lautoka asked us to help in translating the talks into Hindi as they're given. We were all given headsets and others were given out to people who'd rather hear the messages in Hindi. There was a classroom where several people were stationed with headsets and microphones to translate the talks into Hindi as they were being given,and everyone on the same station would be listening in on the translation. Our job was to listen in and evaluate the translation; to see if they were correct and simple. Because most the translators were speaking pure Hindi, I couldn't even understand half of the conference and decided to tune out. Elder Fonua (the other senior Hindi elder) and I, along with an Indian youth, decided to just translate amongst ourselves. I was honestly able to learn so much more as we discussed vocabulary and listened to the young boy translate the talks more simply. What I collected at the end, as Sister Higgins addressed the congregation, is that patience is such an important Christlike attribute that people often overlook; whether we're trying to develop the attributes ourselves or wanting others to develop them. When we have that earnest and patient heart, the storms have less power over us as we can be assured the storm will settle as we endure it well. We're also sure that when the storm does settle, we'll walk out stronger and appreciate the peace that comes with holding fast and strong to our faith in Christ.

I've also been humbled in a very different way. Like I said, we have no neighbors, and thus nobody to bother with noise. We had two other sets of missionaries over Friday night so travel into Lautoka for conference would be easier. We got a little over excited over several rounds of trump-10. Mom, remember when I got a little over excited at a wa'a regatta on Saturday and forgot I had a musical number the next day, so I woke up Sunday morning sounding like I'd been smoking for the last 60 years? That's where I'm at now. I haven't had to speak a lot since conference, but I'm really hoping my voice is better by our appointment tonight, and that by some miracle I can project the message confidently without wheezing or squeaking. I've gained a stronger testimony of the importance of reverence even when people aren't around. I see it as a tender mercy that this didn't happen the night before a full proselyting day, but this definitely won't be happening again. 

Dad, thank you so much for the scriptures. What you said applies to me directly, I feel horrible about the way we senior missionaries reacted to the game on Friday night in front of our trainees. However, I'm very aware that THAT was indeed my fault, but I'm trying to humble myself and I'll be putting extra effort into showing Elder Tui'one how to appropriately represent the Lord as his servant in public as well as in private. Training is stressful already, but my faith is in the Lord that he'll consecrate my works and my efforts as an example to a young missionary as I go about his ministry in humility, reverence, and genuine love for the people who surround us. 

I'm so glad everything is going well back home! 

OKAY I have to go, I love you guys! Have a blessed week!

Khyaal rakna,

Elder Ishibashi