1-21-2018

Kaise hei parivaar!

First off, HAU'OLI LA HANAU E KUʻU KAIKAINA A ME KUʻU MAKUAKANE MAIKA'I LOA!!! Maika'i no au i keia la, mahalo e papa! 

Appropriately, the men of the house. 

Thank you, dad, for the incredible example of hard work, perseverance, and brimming love for everyone around you that you've been to me and my siblings over all these years. In addition to my experience mom shared with you upon your release as bishop, there countless other things you've done for me and taught me as a father and as a bishop that you'll never know, because of how deep and sacred they are to me. As I went about my journey to becoming worthy to serve a mission, I felt awkward that the process had to be directed by my bishop-dad. I've thanked Heavenly Father countless times since for the blessing of having been able to apply what I learned on that mountain that day in real life, and I was thus able to witness and gain a testimony of the raw, incredible healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I love you so much dad, and I appreciate the excellent example of a father and a husband that you are to us.

Best of luck on that new calling, and I hope you had an incredible birthday!!

Kala'i, I remember the last request I whispered into you ear before I got on the plane. "Take care of them." I remember very vividly the new sense of responsibility I felt as I watched 'Io get on that plane. It was suddenly my turn to be the great example to you guys; to be the priesthood holder of the home when dad was away at work or fulfilling his bishopric duties. I feel so blessed to know that the family is doing really well and even growing physically, mentally, and spiritually. I'm so blessed to know what a great example Lehia, Nina, and all your friends have at home. I'm so glad you've already made the decision to serve a mission, and right after you graduate! As I go about my mission, I become more and more certain that the experiences I've had will bless me and those I work around for the rest of my life and theirs. Just a reminder: Just because you're big, doesn't mean you automatically know how to fight. Just because your biceps are as big as my head doesn't mean you can knock me out, there's just a significantly higher chance of that happening when you actually hit me. I don't know if you're still tryna be able to beat me up when I get home, but remember that. Also remember that if you HAVE been boxing, I haven't boxed in a long time and you're a foot taller than me now so take it easy. I love you so much man, have a great birthday!!

Not a lot of time today, but that's okay because I don't have ALL that much to report. Man, the people here are SO nice, no wonder they call it the Friendly North. 

I'm loving Labasa, I've only ever met really great people so far. Our investigators and members are so pleasant to be around and make the work so much nicer. 

Yesterday we had our Labasa district conference, which was awesome. I couldn't understand most of it, given that most of the addresses were delivered in Fijian, but I understood and loved the talks given by President and Sister Higgins and the senior couple, the Czieps. 

Sister Cziep's talk spoke to me particularly, she likened the story of the tortoise and the hare. We are often like the hare, thinking that everything is all good and we can chill and drink and be merry for tomorrow we die and not have to worry about the race because we can repent later. However, we know how the story goes. The hare gets a (literal) wake-up call when he awakes and realizes that because of his carelessness and arrogance, the tortoise beat him to the finish line. We need to be humble and prepared for the end, especially since we don't know when it'll come. "Now is the time for men to perform their labors."-?

The rest of the conference was awesome. Because of the conference, for which almost all the missionaries in the zone came down, we've been housing 16 missionaries over the last three days. Luckily, we have a really big flat. Unluckily, the house looks like Winston came back for round two, so we're setting a day aside this week to clean and beautify the flat before the landlord returns from vacation and inspects it.

Speaking of the nice people here, we had a dinner appointment on Thursday night with a less active family in an area called Saiberia. We got to the area a little early, so we decided to go for a walk down the road and have a language study before dinner. As we walked, we heard this lady saying "Eldas! Ao (come)! Ao!" from her humble little home on the side of the road. Elder Tavake looked more closely at her and noticed that she works at a breakfast spot they hit up all the time. We walked over and she invited us to sit with her on this big wooden platform thing built around a tree in her front yard. Elder Tavake took the lead and sat on one side of her, and she patted the spot on the other side for me to sit. I didn't want to make it awkward, sandwiching her between us, so I kindly just moved around them to sit next to Elder Tavake on the other side. What I didn't realize: That platform was obviously pretty old, and Elder Tavake and I are two pretty hefty guys. As soon as my butt began applying pressure to the platform, I kind of just felt the thing melt underneath me. And then the rest of it followed. In about three seconds the three of us were sitting in a pile of rotted wooden planks. Not one of my prouder moments on the mission, but she just laughed it off and invited us in the house. We're still waiting/hoping for her call for us to come back and build her a new platform. I felt wayyy bad but the family was so nice and pleasant to sit and have a laugh and lesson with. We'll be returning sometime this coming week. We also met with heaps of other people Elder Tavake and Elder Morgan met with before I came. Oh I don't know if I told yous, I replaced Elder Morgan here in this area, which sucks because it is the second time I missed him by just a few hours. I've already met countless people that loved him like their own son or brother, so I'm happy to be able to see his legacy here. Anyways, he did heaps of good work here and we're looking at a really good transfer! 

We'll be heading out soon, but know that I'm happy and healthy! I love this work and this district so much, SUCH a helpful, humble, observant, and hardworking district. I feel honored to be able to lead such a great group of elders and sisters. 

Please also give my love again to the Stephens family.

Thank yous so much for the pictures, so happy to know all is well back home! I love you all so much, have a great and blessed week! 

Ham aaplogke baut pyaar karta hei, khyaal rakna!

Elder Ishibashi 

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