1-14-2018 Kaise hei hamaar pyaari parivaar!

Kaise hei hamaar pyaari parivaar!

First things first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

I love you soooo much and I'm SO glad you're safe and in good health right now.
You really are the greatest mom anybody could ever ask for, and I know you doubt that sometimes. Nobody's perfect, we definitely could've been better kids growing up haha, but nothing can rid me of my knowledge that you are exactly the woman that was predetermined in the preexistence to mother this family. Our family has unshaken faith in this true, restored gospel. You have two returned missionaries (one on the way [soon]), two married in the temple and sealed to their families for eternity, and a total of seven kids who know the love of a Heavenly Father. You've been my caretaker, my shoulder, my support, and my example for almost 21 years. This family wouldn't be what it is and I wouldn't be what I am if it weren't for the incredible, faithful woman that you are. I love you so much mom, I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

This has been a very interesting last week/ few days.

We got calls on Tuesday. Now at this point, I thought one of two things were going to happen.
(1) I'd be called back to Nasinu to whitewash train a new missionary in the Hindi Branch that was just organized, or (2) I'd be staying in Nadi and following someone up. I really wanted to stay because we've really been receiving a lot of referrals and seeing a lot of success that I looked forward to carrying on with. I just didn't want to go to Labasa, because it's so isolated from other missionaries and not a lot of English is spoken there. 

When the call from President came, the first thing he said was "Well, I'm sorry to inform you that we'll be taking you out of the beautiful Nadi Hindi area." (Well, shoot) "Now Elder Ishibashi, we need you to pack your bags, because we're gonna be sending you aaaaall the way-" (...no...) "-to Labasa!"
SO, I immediately began the always-sad vakamoce process. I loved the Nadi ward and Elder Tui'one, but my place is being taken by Elder Lee Chip Sao, who I hear is a great missionary, so I trust that Nadi and Elder Tui'one are in good hands. 

I flew out Friday morning and landed on Vanualevu 45 minutes later. Being here, I'm really excited because I'm certain I'm gonna come off with wayy better Hindi and the people here are wayy nice. I also thought nobody here would know who Herbert is, given he's never set foot in the North, so this would be my first area he's never really served around. HOWEVER, Herbert apparently cast his legacy TOO FAR I was wrong. My companion told me that when he told one of the members that I was coming, she said "... to be with you?" Yeah! "... but he speaks Fijian." Nope, he speaks Hindi, and he's coming up tomorrow to be my companion. "No, he went home a long time ago" I served around Elder Tavake in Nadi, so he knows about Herb, so he corrected the woman and she understood. Given that she was brought up in Labasa, hooOOW does she know Herbert?? Herbert planted way too many seeds out here, I'm telling you. 

Anyways, I love Elder Tavake. He's from Draper, Utah, and is my fourth Tongan companion in a row. My Tongan is better than my Samoan at this point. He's wayy crack up and is super dedicated to the work. I'm really excited to work with him here for the next transfer or two. His mom was brought up in Waikiki, I don't know if you know any Mataeles from that area but I reckon it's worth a shot asking if yous might know her haha.

The last few days have been consistent of visiting members and investigators, all of which are awesome and I love them. I'm here leading the Labasa district, which consists of four areas: Nakawakawa, Seaqaqa, Labasa Sisters, and Labasa Hindi. I still haven't met with the Nakawakawa or Seaqaqa Elders yet because they weren't able to come down for district meeting yesterday (yes, district meeting is on Sunday here due to travel complications), but everyone will be coming down this weekend for district conference on Sunday. 

I'm serving in my first branch, and the Labasa branch is great. The members are all really sweet and were so warm and welcoming yesterday. SO stoked to be here and work here for the next four months before I finish. I reckon this is my last area. 

Nothing else to report really, this has already bit a long report haha so I'll start responding to other emails. I love you guys, SO HAPPY you guys are safe! And SO HAPPY for RACHEL! How lucky is that?? I know she's just up in the clouds right now, but why is everybody leaving RIGHT before I get home? They're leaving when they're supposed to, I guess. Give her my love! 

Know I'm happy and healthy here in Labasa! I love you guys so much, have a great and blessed week! 
Khyaal rakna,

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I wrote this first but I didn't want my letter to start on a bad note haha.

I got the biggest scare of my entire life. 
I got three emails notifying me right off the bat that Hawaii had received a missile warning. 
I am aware of the nuclear threats that have been made recently between the American and Korean leaders, and I have low key been fearing active execution.

I was praying before I even opened the emails, but all confirmed that the warning was a false alarm. 
I can't imagine the hysteria and the fear stricken into everybody's hearts in that moment of panic. I also can't help but be a little upset at the carelessness of the Civil Defense for allowing something like this to happen, but it must have been a blessing in disguise. Proper preparation is SO important. This is something beyond a hurricane or a tsunami. Please be prepared. I love you guys so much.

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