11-19-17 Happiness greater than I ever thought possible

Kaise!!

Sorry the letter's so late today! For P-day today, we hit up a beach in Sigatoka called Natadola. I'm trying to get somebody else's camera for pictures, it was heaps of fun and sooo beautiful!

This last week was pretty awesome too. We had zone conference on Thursday. One thing that stuck out to me particularly was a training given by President Higgins at the opening of zone conference. He talked about how he and Sister Higgins were invited by the Korovou zone leaders to accompany them on a P-day hike up Mount korobaba a few weeks ago.When they agreed, they expected the hike to have a nice pathway winding up the side of the mountain and to be able to enjoy the cool breeze in the Fijian heat of the day, looking over Korovou from the face of Korobaba. When they gathered at the foot of the trail, however, they found that the reality of the hike would be something different than they initially anticipated. It had rained the day before, so the dirt trail had turned into ankle-deep mud that seeped and settles between the tree roots, leaving a frame of roots about six-inches off the ground all along the way. In addition, the entire hike up was wayyy steep and through thick jungle. There came a point where the entire zone had abandoned President and Sister Higgins (the west zone would never do that, President) and they fell behind on the trail. They talked about giving up and heading back down the mountain and just waiting for the zone to come back down, but decided to go up just a little higher before deciding again. They went higher and higher bit by bit until they heard the voices of the missionaries not far off. When they reached the peak and were reunited with the zone, they were able to witness the "fruit of their labors". The view from the peak of mount Korobaba, as well as the company of the missionaries, was incredible and very much "well worth the strenuous effort". He related it to the mission. Reflecting back on how I viewed the mission before I came out, I honestly thought the biggest obstacle that lay ahead would be casting devils out or being attacked by something/someone. I thought I had the confidence to talk to anybody I wanted to comfortably by the time I left, and that I'd be able to get along with any companion the mission put me with. Every trail has an ingrown root you may trip over, but that's just how trails are. I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park, and I knew there would be heavy rain. However, I didn't anticipate the lightning, the hail, and the flooding. The mission is hard. People won't always want to hear the message or care that you have feelings too. I've had companions that pressed buttons I never knew I had and tested my patience in ways I've never been tested before. I've only ever wanted to come home once, but on the more difficult days, I catch myself just wishing the time I do have left would fly by. President's training reiterated something very important and relevant to me, and I know that it's true. When I reach the end of my mission and look back at the last two years of strenuous effort, I'll be able to do so and say "It was all worth it." Over the last 17 months, I've wallowed in what must have been among the deepest depths I've descended to in my life, but on the other hand, I've experienced happiness greater than I ever thought possible, for myself and for other people. A lot can happen in six months, so I'm interested to see what the Lord has in store for me as I progress through the remainder of the mission. It'll be hard, but it'll be worth it.

The rest of conference was also really edifying, a lot of good insights about how to strengthen our relationship with and gain a relationship of trust with the ward counsel. We haven't been able to meet with our ward mission leader for about three months, so I was a little salty as we went about the insights on how important the ward mission leader is in the work, but I got a humbling little smack in the maka when I found out on Sunday that he holds three other callings in the ward. We're working on strengthening our relationship with the members.

Tomorrow, Charmaine (James's sister) will be interviewed by Elder Jackson before her baptism on Sunday! We've been able to meet with the family three times a week, which has been wayy helpful. Charmaine is definitely opening up to us, which is really nice, and she seemed to have heaps of fun with the kids at church yesterday. I'm stoked for her baptism!

We were able to find a good handful of people last week that I look forward to following up with this week. It's Elder Tui'one's week 11, which means that he's the senior companion! I'm excited to have this breather and to see him in action as a senior. It'll be a good week!

In other news, I goofed again. I forgot about thanksgiving for the second year in a row, but thanks for the reminder, dad! Man, I'll be missing yous too, but that's a cool opportunity for Nina to be able to fly over to Utah! Is that the youngest any of us have traveled to the mainland? Please give my love to Uncle Juney, I didn't even know if Uncle Dan was sick or anything. I only veeery very vaguely remember meeting Uncle Juney once, but it's so nice that he has that desire for all the siblings to be reunited for the first time in how-many years. You guys have safe travels and have a good time in Utah! Just a side note, I've been receiving some light promptings (that I've lowkey been trying to ignore) that I need to settle in Utah. Eat lots of Chick-fil-a and Krispy Kremes for me while yous are there, those are two very particular things from Utah that I miss a lot.

I'm SO happy to hear about the boys' passion for paddling and their progression! I'm so stoked to see my YAKKED little brothers. I'm seriously just trying to come home buff so I can blend in with the rest of my brothers for the first time ever. I've gained a lot of weight over the last few weeks due to kind members and stress-ice cream. We also found out that they recently made a rule where missionaries can't work out at the gym in the morning anymore, so we haven't been going. Know I'll definitely be hitting those push-ups and cinder-block dumbbells hard for the next six months, though. WAY sick that you're a stroker, though, Lehia! I didn't have the stamina for that, it takes a lot to stroke the crew, and how sick that you're in the same wa'a as Hoku! La'i, it's funny how something you love can motivate you to do something you're a little less-than excited about. Honestly, paddling is the only thing that motivated me to get good grades in school. Here's the problem, though: I did terrible in school, so I'm REALLY scared how my schooling is gonna go from here on out haha. Do well in school so you can be confident that you'll find a good place in life after your mission. What seat are you, btw?
I do highly recommend Judo as a follow-up sport for the season, though. SOO much fun and a really good sport to learn discipline and respect for your opponents.

Thanks for all the pictures of the babies, glad everything is going well back home! I don't have much time left and I have heaps of emails I need to respond to, so I'll leave off here. I love you guys so much, have an incredible, blessed and SAFE week!
Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hei!

Khyaal rakna,

Elder Ishibashi