3-10-18 I walked into a gold mine

Welp. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, aye? I suppose that is indeed when the Lord decides to throw his whackest curve balls.

Let me just recap the week simply and briefly, because I don't have all that much time again. 
The beginning of the week started out pretty normally, the Labasa sisters are doing way-too-good work and I had to interview like four people between Tuesday and Thursday for their baptisms on Saturday. We visited heaps of people and found a good handful of people as well. We had planned to go to Naduna on Thursday nightto set a baptismal date for George. Thursday morning, we went to a member family's house for service. As Elder Tavake painted and laughed and talked to each other, we received a phone call from President Higgins. 

Curious, I answered the phone. He immediately started asking me questions about the new area that had opened up, and how the work was going there. I got really excited sharing how the unit was quickly evolving into a branch, how well ours and the sisters' investigators were progressing, and how excited I was to see the progress of the unit in the near future. He seemed overjoyed at the news, and thanked me for the great work we were putting into the area. He shared with me how appreciative he and the branch members are of our diligent efforts. And thus, he built me up before he tore me down. Here I am, ecsthatic with the success we're seeing in Labasa, when President suddenly says in a much more grave tone "Well, Elder Ishibashi, I'm sorry to say that that is not the reason I called you this morning..."

... U'oh...

"I'm calling to let you know that an emergency transfer involving in the Hindi program is in the process, and you are involved. Elder Ishibashi, I need you to come down to Nausori to be the zone leader of the Nausori zone."

Being a district leader overwhelmed me. There were days I felt the responsibility was much too heavy for me to bear. Being in charge of nine other missionaries mortified me, as I'm sure I shared before. It came at such a shock that I have no idea what President said to me after that, except that he had prayed long and hard about the decision to have me placed in that position, and that Elder Hess would be my new companion. When he asked to speak to Elder Tavake to tell him who he'd be receiving, I definitely handed the phone over crying haha. I felt the heaviness of the responsibilities of a zone leader hit me like a wall all at once. Elder Tavake helped significantly, which I'm SO grateful for. He helped me to realize what a great growing opportunity this would be for me, and that I'd be ending where I started my mission! What a huge blessing that has been already, but I'll talk more about that later. I received a call from my mate, AP Green, several hours later and he told me that I was expected to fly out the next morning at 11am. I had one afternoon to go and vakamoce all the families I'd grown closest to in my brief time there, wash and pack all my clothes and study materials, and I was on a plane back down to Vitilevu the next morning. There to greet me at the Nausori airport was Elder Morgan, who I was replacing in Nausori. It was a really tender reunion, given it had been well over a year and a half since we were together in the MTC, and I was the last from the intake he hadn't yet seen. It was awesome to see him and to meet Elder Hess. 

Elder Hess is from Utah, my first Haole companion since Elder Sinden in Colorado! Elder Hess is awesome, way easy to get along with, super down to earth, and just overall a really pleasant guy to be around. Two things, however, stick out to me most. 

First of all, he's a work horse. He does not like to waste time whatsoever, every single minute of the last four days have been work or sleep. He's so driven, and LOVE it. I'm so happy be have my head buried so deep in the work that I don't have to worry about all the other things. We've been doing really well at getting the things that need to get done done and managing our time wisely so that the entire plan we set for the day is executed expertly. The second thing is that Elder Hess's Hindi is impeccable. He's only been out for just over a year, and he has significantly better Hindi than myself and all the other non-native Hindi elders who've been out longer than him. It comes out beautifully and fluidly, he seldom ever has to think before it comes out of his mouth. His structure and conjugations (the hardest things to get down) are near perfect, and he has a very impressive vocab. He's already taught me so much, and as honestly embarrassing as it is that my Hindi seems primary compared to his, I'm taking this as a great learning opportunity. He's always so patient and willing to help, too. 

OH, I don't think I shared this when it happened. I actually have not been removed from the Hindi program, because when transfers happened two weeks ago, the mission announced that Nausori Hindi would be the very first Hindi Zone Leader area established. And so, I feel so blessed to be a part of this groundbreaking happening. My Hindi will continue to progress, and I have no doubts whatsoever that my Hindi will be SO much better coming home than it would have been had I died in Labasa. Anyways, again, the last few days have been very hectic but awesome. I'm back in my very first area and in my very first flat. It was so cool seeing so many familiar faces in church yesterday. Funny enough, when Elder Morgan told people I'd be coming, most of them said the same thing. "Oh, Elder Ishibashi... hm, is that the short one? Fat? Shy?" Just a reminder, in Fiji, it is never intentionally rude to call people fat. Fat is literally just an adjective and if you're fat, you're fat and you know it. If you don't know it, you're about to. I love that, the short thing is different but I overlook that (get the pun? Haha I want to grow... but I'm almost 21... so I'm done... ugh). Well, I'm back, and guess what? Now I'm just short. 

When I started here, we covered the Waila and Nausori wards. We've also tucked the Naulu ward under our wings, as we get a lot of work done there as well. Herbert, Sister Ramen sends her love. I only met her briefly, but she's awesome.

Yesterday was great and so busy. The missionaries here have been KILLING it. I walked into a gold mine. We have three baptisms on Saturday, two next week, and four two weeks after that. Our district is annihilating the work in their areas. 

It occurred to me how much of a baby I was to think so lowly of this calling. I've been praying in thanks more than for assistance for the immense blessings I've received over the last few days. As hard as it will continue to be, I'm SO excited and blessed to work in such a degree, and be with Elder Hess, to be back in Waila, and to be working with such awesome people. 

I got sent HEAPS of emails (mostly pictures from U'i, thank you sis!), so I'll go check those out and we'll be heading out soon. 

Know I'm in great health and spirits, I'm SO, SO happy right now. I hope you're all doing great, awesome to know about Lehia's victories in Judo! Lehia, I'll let you know, I never won by ippon, only ever by pin. The fact that you won by 2 ippons is SICK, keep it up! Also, I couldn't see the video because this computer won't let me, but I'll see it eventually. I love you guys so much, have a, incredible and blessed week! 

Khyaal rakna! 

Elder Ishibashi