4-27-18 To obey is better than sacrifice

Kaise hei! 

Got back from self-reliance class a bit late, and we're meeting as a district soon to picnic by a nearby waterfall for p-day, so I'll be a bit brief.

This last week was way good! Found HEAPS of people to teach by trying something we've been finding a good groove in. As I said, we dropped a fat lump of our non progressing investigators, and we dropped several more last week. As we sat in the chapel parking lot one afternoon deciding what we should do, Elder Hess felt impressed that we needed to see a couple of ward members, just to check up on them. We visited each one, shared a message with them, and asked if there were any people on that road or anybody they knew that might be interested in taking the discussions. Every family referred to us at least three other families, either neighbors or close acquaintances. Visiting with each of the families referred to us, we found that they were all golden and ready for the lessons. We're beyond excited to follow-up on them! That night (Wednesday), our dinner appointment fell through, leaving us with a couple of hours to spare in the night before our appointed time to be home. We called several investigators asking if we could come by, but nobody was free at that short notice. Stumped, for a short moment, we bowed our heads in prayer and inquired of the Lord what we should do (because being home too early sucks). We both felt impressed that we needed to go and visit with more members, despite the lateness of the hour. We thought of several families in a certain area and made way to them. Each family had someone ill or injured in the home, and each asked for a priesthood blessing on the afflicted. We were blessed with the opportunity to bless four members that night, and we came home feeling accomplished and edified. 

One of our most promising investigators right now is Sonu. He's 23 years old, is studying accounting at Fiji National University, and works at the Cocacola factory. He's such a pleasure to teach because when we speak, he's so engaged and he listens intently to all of the new teachings. He also asks really good questions (an indication of interest and desire to understand and know more). He's accepted the invitation to be baptized and we're teaching him tonight. WAY cool and down-to-earth man, with such a humble and sincere spirit. He came to church for the first time yesterday, too! 

Zone conference on Thursday was awesome. The downside of being a zone leader is that you have to give the same training three times and you don't get to receive the other trainings by the other zone leaders or STLs. Our training, however, went really well. Given that we were training on cultre and the principles of learning a new language, Elder Hess came up with the idea to wear our shirwanis in representation of our embracing the Hindu culture. I think it helped get the message across of how important it is for us to embrace the culture, customs, and lifestyle of those we serve. When they see us making an effort to adopt the way they walk and the way they talk, the things they eat, and the way they think into our own lives, they'll be more willing to help us more fully understand how we can become like them in our mannerisms, behavior, and speech. It was so much fun, haha. We also received some excellent insights from President and Sister Higgins as well as the APs. One particular insight from President Higgins that stuck out to me was about Saul and Samuel in 1 Samuel:15. Saul was appointed by the Lord through the prophet Samuel to be king over Israel, and was given a simple task to prove his loyalty to the Lord and to the kingdom: Go to the nation of Amalek and wipe it out. Destroy everything that they own, everything within sight, and leave nothing behind. No man, nor woman, nor child, nor ox or camel. Saul gathered a number of men to accomplish the task, and made way to Amalek. He did as was commanded and slew every man, woman, child, and unclean animal he could find. Of the clean and favorable animals however, he took for burnt offerings unto the Lord. When Samuel and Saul met again, Saul confidently explained that he had successfully performed the commandments of the Lord. Saul responded with something along the lines of "... I hear sheep and oxen. What's that supposed to mean?" While trying to justify his actions, Samuel simply and boldly stated to Saul how in sparing the best of the flocks, he sinned in the sight of God still. Samuel explains "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the rat of rams." As a consequence, Saul was denied his kingship and the Lord's blessings.

Sometimes, we cease to fully obey the commandments of the Lord because we think we understand what He wants us to, and act according to our own understanding. In reality, the commandments are very direct and very simple. Blessings are promised in their purest form as we follow and obey them exactly. 

I have to head out, but really quickly, we attended a SICK fireside last night in Suva. We were addressed by Elder John H. Groberg, or Kolipoki from The Other Side of Heaven. It was an incredible fireside that helped me understand more fully why we receive hardships and how we can allow them to mold us into the people God needs us to be. I left my planner in the car (again, sorry, as well as my camera) but I'll go more in depth about the fireside when I have my notes and more time next week. In closing, I remember one quote from Elder Groberg "Heavenly Father and the Savior never does anything to us to torture us or get us down. They only do things to help us. That's all they do." Everything we receive in this life is for our benefit or the benefit of those around us, whether we see it in the very moment or not. When things happen out of our control in our lives, we can rest assured that it plays a part in the plan God has established for each and every one of us. 

Gotta go, but I love you all! Have a great and blessed week! Glad everything is going well back home, can't wait to skype you all soon! I had the horrific realization yesterday that I only have two more sabbaths in Fiji before I leave. Agh. Love you all so much, see you all soon! 

Khyaal rakna,
Elda Ishibashi 

-Zone conference