1-22-17 This week has been a week of miracles!

To quote the sisters when they called in their numbers to Elder Datoon last night, 

"This week has been a week of miracles!" I am BEYOND ECSTATIC to know that it hasn't just been a week of miracles for me, but for my whole family!

NI SA bula bula bula magandang hapon po hamar bahut julum ohana!!

This week, I saw the difference between blessings and miracles. I guess it's not so much something you can see as it is something you FEEL. My prayers were longer this week, my heart was fuller, and my faith was tested more than ever. 

On Tuesday, I was privileged to give a training in district meeting themed on a part from President's mission email from the week before. It discusses the differences between an "elevator missionary" and an "escalator missionary". Very basically, the greatest difference between an elevator and an escalator is this: Elevators stop, escalators DON'T. An elevator opens its doors, lets people in, closes its doors, and begins its ascension. An escalator is always allowing people on and is constantly progressing. This is all about finding, and how we should NEVER close our doors to those who are potentially ready and willing to accept this gospel into their lives. We should always be finding, always be open and ready to share this great gospel to those to could benefit from its teachings (EVERYONE). It was a really good district meeting, and it seems as though our district really applied it over the last week! We're all really focusing on finding those who are ready, and we have a good amount of people who have invited us back to share more! What a blessing!

Sister Sunita is progressing wonderfully. In fact, she has kicked her current husband out of her home so that she could be baptized. Some may see that as a bit harsh, but I honestly see that as golden dedication, and even a miracle! She has accepted the invitation to be baptized on Sunday, January 29th! Apparently, the missionaries have been working with Sunita closely for a very long time, and I feel so blessed to be able to witness her long-awaited baptism! We're all way excited, she will be interviewed on Thursday by the zone leaders to determine whether the baptism can truly be carried out, and I have absolutely no doubts in my mind that her baptism WILL take place on Sunday, and the service will be beautiful. The change is Sunita's heart is so pure, and I can feel of the Lord's love for her as well as her love for the Lord every time we sit with her. What a blessing!

On Sunday after church, we stopped by a member's home to give some blessings to sick sisters. After the blessings, the mother of the small family told us that her daughter had just turned 9 and had not yet been baptized. She asked us to teach her daughter and baptize her asap, a request we GLADLY accepted! Shreya is SUCH a sweet and smart little girl! We went over several days ago and taught her the "five steps to heaven" (the five principles of the gospel). She understands everything really well and has expressed her desire to be baptized. What a blessing!

The next blessing happened just before we left the house, after the blessings. Shreya's cousin happened to be over, a young and awesome little boy named Kreesh. He asked us if we knew a boy named Arien. When I first arrived, we visited and taught Arien consistently. Arien is 12 and also SUPER smart and observant. Three weeks ago, when we arrived at Arien's house prepared to teach him with Benji Kumar (Reuben's brother, called to serve in South Africa), we discovered that Arien's house had burnt down. For two weeks we worried about Arien and his family, as we hadn't heard from him since. Kreesh told us that Arien is a friend of his in school, and that Arien told him that he had been taking the discussions. Together, they rehearsed the five principles of the gospel, the law of the tithe, and CATTS (word of wisdom thing we use with kids. Coffee, Alcohol, Tea, Tobacco, Say no to drugs)! Arien requested our number from Kreesh because he wants us over again! We asked kreesh to get Arien's address for us, and we'll be visiting with him again as soon as possible! Arien and his family are all okay and are living with family while they look for a new home. What a blessing!

These have been just a few of the countless blessings and tender mercies that were so graciously showered over us over the last week! This past week has truly been amazing. 

On Wednesday, Elder Datoon and I visited some of the homes of the Nasinu 1st elders for baptismal interviews. At the last home before dinner, I met a(nother) young man who knew and LOVED Herb. WHY, though, gave me a bit of a wake-up call. He told me that he loved Herbert because out of the companionship, Herbert was super social and open and HE was the talker. Now I spent quite a bit of time with Herb in my day, and he never really seemed way OUT THERE while we were growing up. I can only imagine Herbert had to leave his comfort zone a bit in order to get to that point, and he had to do it until it became natural. My goal is to be more social, become more comfortable around the people. My goal is to see people for who they really are: Children of my father in heaven, and thus my brothers and sisters. I'm sure that this will span great blessings!

Thursday is our service day, and we had a combined service project with the sisters for one of their investigators whose daughters are members. That morning, Elder Datoon and I rose a little earlier than normal, got on our service clothes, and taxi'd over to the chapel for a wake-up ball-up with the district! WAY fun and nice to have been able to get together for basketball before we separated for our service projects. The investigator we serviced, Sister Brown, is incredible and I'll share a bit about her later. 

Our district started a "Fast Friday" last week, and we'll continue to carry it out. I love the idea of fasting weekly, and I've already seen what has to be the results of these righteous efforts! 

Saturday morning, Elder Datoon and I decided to go for a morning run. One of two things resulted from this morning run, I'm not exactly sure which. Either 1. my thighs doubled in size overnight and have been sore since then because running is just THAT good, or 2. my thighs are swollen and throbbing because I haven't been jogging in like a year and now my body is scolding me. Anyways, it was way nice to go running and the pain was actually pretty nice. A burn I haven't felt in a while haha. 

Elder Datoon and I have decided to eat and live better. We've decided to drop fizzy drinks and sweets (unless offered by Indians, and it always is) and to run every few mornings. He's the man, I've already puffed up since I've been in Nasinu and We're about to shrink again. 

Elder Datoon continues to be a sick companion and excellent mentor to me. He has no problem kicking me (launching me) out of my comfort zone by making me find and lead discussions, and for that I'm honestly so grateful. Being with him has been so humbling and I've already learned and grown so much in our companionship. 

WELP that's been the week. That's been my week of miracles!!

NOW, in response to the letters...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

LET'S GOOOOO KALA'I!! I was straight up jumping around in my chair reading your letter! MAN I'M SO FREAKING PROUD OF YOU MAN!! I'm just overjoyed that yous did NOT let those cocky Kona-growns get yous discouraged. G, doesn't hard work, discipline and determine just pay off?? That's the one too though, NEVER ever get cocky yourselves. I'm glad yous good-gamed your opponents, it's sooo important to maintain unity not only within your own crew or team, but within the sport. Who's your stroker btw?? but WOOO LET'S GO, O'AHU! It's not Maui but STILL HOW COOL IS THAT?? All jokes but I'm seriously so crazy proud of you Kala'i. you don't even know. Whatever you do, stay humble and remember who you are and who you represent. Don't stop training your face off, be a great example to your team mates and a great help to the coaches. Kea'au isn't so bad a school after all, aye? To me, that's a testimony builder that the Lord will put you where you need to be and the time that you need to be there. Maybe getting out of Kamehameha was a bit of a downer at first, but you would never have been able to accomplish this incredible feat there. You would not have learned the things that you've learned, met the people you've met, especially that girl you're working with! Continue to be a great example to her and trying to bring her back to the Lord's fold. 

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! It's honestly crazy to think you're 16, your face says 14 and your arms say 20. I love you man, and I'm so proud of you. Never back down, never give up!

Dad, I remember Damien them. Man, I haven't seen Donovan in years! What a blessing that La'i was able to befriend in and invite him back! Please continue to work with them and try to bring them back, Damien was a really good friend of mine back in the day and it'd be WAY nice to see him as an active member at my homecoming! Also, good luck with Aunty Debbie and Uncllllllle Lito? Storm's dad, I forget his name, but good luck with them! And thank you for the tip on being bold! I will definitely keep that in mind as I go about my work this week. 

I'm glad everyone is doing well, and that work and school are going good!

Welp I'd better head out now, Elder Datoon and I are getting haircuts before qito and we don't have very much time left before it starts. I'll try sending photos, sorry of it doesn't work! 

Thank yous for your prayers, I feel them working on me every day. The blessings from our prayers collectively have been SO evident lately, thank you. 

I love you all SO much, thank you all for everything! 

I LOVE YOU DAD!

I LOVE YOU MOM!

I LOVE YOU HERB & JASMINE!

I LOVE YOU U'I & MIKEL!

I LOVE YOU LA'I!

I LOVE YOU LEHIA!

I LOVE YOU NINA!

I LOVE YOU JEREMIAS & FIA!

I LOVE THE ONE IN U'I RIGHT NOW! 

Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai!!! Have a great and blessed week! 

Aaplogke pyaari larkaa,

Elder Ishibashi

-Nasinu district boiiii (E.Ishibashi, E.Datoon, S.Pea, S.Tupaea, E.Arrieta, E.Larsen)

-Found this while on exchanges with the Zone leaders in Raiwaqa!

-Heavy rain don't stop the work of the Lord! (Except for maybe about ten minutes while we wait for the rain to die down under a roof of whom we don't know it belongs)

-Obviously spells "Nasinu"

-Nasinu All-Blacks

-"Sunday morning selfie!"

-Too hot 

-Mahalo nui loa, tutu!

1-15-2017 HAU 'OLI LA HANAU KU'U MAU MAKUA MAIKA'I!!!!

Aur namaste hamar bahut julum pariwaar!

This week has been awesome! Learned and felt a lot of new and super important things. 

To recap the week a bit, Monday was awesome! The two Suva zones got together and we had a mass qito. Wayy fun playing basketball and American football with the Suva North zone. That night, we had dinner with a family who'd JUST sent their son off to the England, Manchester Mission on Wednesday! He said he knew and really liked the first Elder Ishibashi (as well), his name is Elder Sumeet Chand. Way excited for him! He ran into some pretty tough roadblocks as he prepared to serve, but through his undying faith in Jesus Christ, diligence and perseverance, he was able to get everything done!

On Tuesday, district meeting was replaced by Zone Training Meeting! This ZTM was excellent, and I felt like it was almost set up for me, based off what I needed to know and improve on. A huge part of it was focused on finding, which is easily my biggest weakness. When I find, I typically feel like I have to get comfortable with the person before I start dropping doctrine and asking if we can enter their homes to share a message. Hey, how's it going, what's your name, what do you do. After those trainings and ESPECIALLY after being on exchanges with the zone leaders on Wednesday, I learned that ALL those things can be discussed IN the house. Makes more sense, really. Elder Datoon showed me a finding technique that seems to work 80% of the time with Indians, something he learned while on exchanges with Zone Leader Fitisemanu. It was really uncomfortable and new for me at first, but after trying it a few times and watching Elder Datoon do it, I feel a lot more confident about it.

"Hello! Kaise hai? Aapke din kaise raha? Too ha, humlog missionaries hai lds church se. Humlog ek message share karta hai pariwaar ke bara me, aur humlog kali mangtaraha jane agar humlog sakta ee message share kare aapke pariwaar ke sange!"

(Hello! How are you? How's your day? So yeah, we're missionaries from the lds church. We share a message about families, and we just wanted to know if we could share this message with your family!) 

Indians are bold and straight to the point, so the whole social approach doesn't seem to work.

Anyways, most of the responses to this approach have been warm yeses! When we're in the house, they're way open, kind and social. This will come in way handy this next week, as we'll be doing HEAPS of finding. 

On Thursday, we were privileged to be joined by President Layton in a lesson with one of our investigators. Sunita has been living with her husband (to whom she is not legally married, which is the issue) for about 3-5 years now. She and her first husband, who is unwilling to divorce her, has been separate for ten years now. Elder Datoon and I were not exactly sure how to handle the situation, so we asked President Layton to join us for a lesson with her. He'd met with her once before, and since then, she had not missed a single Sunday in church. Her Muslim brother also allowed her to attend church after speaking with President one-on-one, so we had a testimony that President has quite a powerful way with words. He was very bold as he told Sunita to do whatever it takes to divorce her first husband and marry her current one. The weeks or months it will take will be completely worth in the long run, as she will then be able to be baptized and sealed to her current husband. These couple of instances have made it really evident to me that I have to work on my conviction and boldness. Finding the line between firmness and rudeness however, I'm still trying. 

The rest of the week was just heaps of finding and the same ol' same ol' awesome visits with awesome pariwaars. I think dad will be pleased to know that I can make a killer fried rice now, ask Elder Datoon (if he says otherwise, let me know). 

MAN sorry I'm gonna have to cut this super short because I've been running into computer problems the while time I've been here. IN RESPONSE TO LETTERS:

I'M SO SORRY, YES I've received everything!! I feel like such a brat, I'm so sorry! Thank yous SOOO MUCH for the package! You may be pleased or scared to know that that massive bag of wonton chips did not make it four days, and thank you SO MUCH for them! Also thank you so much for the little snacks, Elder Datoon and I went ham on them and he thanks yous as well haha. Forgive me if you notice that I may not wear the tie for a while for two reasons. 1. It's SO nice and I have a way of staining or ruining ties and I don't want to risk anything happening to it. 2. It happens to be exactly Elder Datoon's favorite color and I see him eye it out every time he goes in the room. He has like four ties to match it, and I'm afraid of him kerekere'ing it off me. Again, THANK YOUS!! Also, please give grandma yet anOTHER hour-long foot rub and a BIG hug and kiss for me please, as I have received her card as well. I will ask Grandma about these foot rubs when I come home, and if she reports that these foot rubs didn't happen then I'll be really disappointed. Mom, the Hindi equivalent to "Au lomani iko" is

"Ham aapke pyaar karta hai"

Ham- I

Humlog- We

Tum- you (inf. when addressing children, friends, etc.)

Aap- You/thee (form. when addressing adults, the Lord, nanis, etc.)

Tumlog- Yous (inf.)

Aaplog- Yous (form.)

Pyaar- Love

Karta- Doing currently/generally

Hai- is/are/am

Bahut- very much

Finally, 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND DAD!!!

I don't have enough time (on my mission) to express to yous how grateful I am to both of yous for EVERYTHING you've done for me. Thank you both so much for everything I have and everything I am. Thank yous for everything you've done for me and for the way you raised us. Yous are better parents than any of us ever could have asked for, and I mean that fullheartedly. I realize that I shouldn't just be saying this kind of stuff when your birthday comes around, so I promise that I'll make the extra effort to express to yous how much I love and appreciate you both. I'm glad you both had incredible birthdays, and I hope yous have another INCREDIBLE week! 

I love you all so much, thank you all for everything. Elder Datoon and I are in great health and greater spirits, and we are excited for the work this next week has for us.

Au lomani kemudou sara vakalevu, 

ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai,

aloha no au ia kakou,

I love you all so much!

Aaplogke vinakaduadua larkaa,

Elder Ishibashi

PS I don't know if I've told you already but ELDER LEE CHIP SAO was called into hindi program! Like I predicted!! HA.

1-8-17 Namaste

NAMASTE hamar bahut julum pariwaar!!

MAN what an awesome week it's been, UNFORTUNATELY I don't have a lot of time today. We have combined qito today with the Suva North zone, so everybody's meeting up early today. WAY stoked, should be onst. ANYWAYS a bit of a recap on my past week!

Qito with my new zone was awesome, it rained a bit beforehand so rugby on the field was dirty, splashy, and heaps of fun. Everyone seems to get with one another which is nice, and almost everyone participates! That night we had dinner with a senior couple and a recent convert. The recent convert's name is Aaron, and he has an incredible testimony of this gospel. The senior couple, the Clarks, have been transferred to Waila ward! I'm sure they'll love it. We had spaghetti and garlic bread followed by pineapple upside down cake and ice cream. I had hot snakes for DAYS that night but in my opinion, totally worth it. It was a nice deviation from the nightly chicken curry and roti (not that I could ever get sick of that, I don't think so anyway. We'll see in 17 months). After dinner, we were able to share a scripture. Elder Datoon let me lead that lesson, and I decided to share Moroni 10:7-8 accompanied by 1 Nephi 3:7. Aaron gave some excellent insight on those scriptures and shared his testimony of the truthfulness of their contents. Wonderful night!

We held an awesome district meeting on Tuesday with my new awesome district! The district consists of: 
The Nasinu 1st ward (Fijian ward) elders, Elder Arietta and Elder Larsen 

By the way, I get heaps of people from the Nasinu 1st ward approaching me saying they knew and loved Herbert and Elder Grotepas haha. 

The Nasinu 2nd ward (English ward) sisters, Sister Tupaea and Sister Pea (who just started her mission this transfer)

The Nasinu 2nd ward Hindi elders, Elder Ishibashi and Elder Datoon

We just did some activities to get to know each other a little better and had some great insights on the importance of teamwork and unity. Sister Tupaea's insight included something I really liked, turning the word TEAM into an acronym. 

Together

Everyone

Accomplishes

More

Sister Pea also included something I liked, #IF

The idea of it is like, IF I go out and find then we'll find someone to teach, someone who's ready and willing to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts. IF I do all three hours of study diligently and sufficiently, I'll be more prepared for lessons and more susceptible to the spirit's promptings. IF I eat better, I'll be more alert, energized and thus productive throughout the day. ALL of these are acts of faith, that if I do this thing that I'm supposed to do, I will receive blessings. She also turned IF into an acronym. 

Increase

Faith

I testify that obedience and diligence will undoubtedly spawn blessings.

The rest of the week was mainly consistent of work, all day every day. I LOVED it. There's enough work in this area to stay busy all day every day, which is awesome, but as people pass their recent-convert dates and complications arise for several investigators, we're starting to see the importance of finding as we teach. We will definitely be doing heaps of finding over the next week. 

Two manini inconveniences came up this last week, but we're working on it as swiftly as we can. We discovered that two woman we teach, both of whom were dated to be baptized this coming Saturday, are not legally married to their husbands. Both are absolutely golden. They both have strong testimonies, they really want to be baptized and they attend church regularly. The marriage thing is the only barrier, and unfortunately, it's a really difficult barrier to overcome. One woman, Shayal, has talked about marriage with her husband before, so her issue isn't huge. The option of marriage is definitely there, only they haven't been together very long, so they feel it's a bit rushed to decide right now. We invited her to watch the Together Forever DVD with her husband, and we'll check up on how that went tomorrow. She has such a sweet and genuine spirit and such a strong belief and faith in Jesus Christ. The other woman, Sunita, is not yet divorced to her first husband, so this could present quite an issue. We all together are praying and fasting that everything will work out. Sunita's faith is incredible, as is her desire to be baptized. Her desire is evident through her faithfulness to the gospel and her keeping the commitments, and I know that Heavenly Father wants her to be baptized just as much, if not more. While we are doing everything we can for these two strong women, I suppose it is important to realize that Shayal and Sunita WILL receive the opportunity to be baptized in the LORD'S time. All blessings though, for sure.

DON'T FORGET TO THANK THE LORD FOR THE TENDER MERCIES. EVERY SINGLE LITTLE ONE. I've seen such a spike of joy and gratitude as I've done this is in every single prayer I say lately. I promise the same for yous!

In response to the letters:

Dad, I'm all good! In fact, I'm better than I've been in quite a while! Don't worry about me, I'm working hard, speaking Hindi, and trying to work out every morning. Strong mentally, physically, and spiritually! Socially, still working on it, and what better time to improve that than on a mission aye? 

WAY happy for Kahi and Kealoha! Give them my aloha!

WAYYY proud of Kala'i! OH MAN! You see Kala'i, the paddling team, they suffered last year. I mean they did pretty good, but not half as good as they could have. Do you understand why? That year, they did not have an Ishibashi on the team. This year is the year Kala'i, the year to destroy. You've been placed on the team to do what I couldn't do. And I mean, I did heaps. Like HEAPS. I pretty much made the team, really. Anyways, you can and will do more. Please give my aloha to coaches Grant and Anna, and GONGRATS ON BEING CHOSEN TO GO TO STATES! You will carry the team, just train your face off and stay committed. As well as keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy however, keep up with the good missionary work I hear you're doing. Stay strong in your faith and I PROMISE that you'll see those blessings pour into your athletics. 

Give Makana a pat on the back for me and give my aloha in bear hug form. 

Good for Lehia, honestly the Waipio camp outs were always my favorites. Did you get to work in the Lo'i? Swim in the waterfalls? Waipio valley just seems to have this comforting and rich spirit to it, and it's an excellent place and opportunity to reconnect with your heritage. Mean how you got to cook rabbit!

WOOO Jeremias!! Good on that boy!

I'm so glad and blessed to know that all is well back home, and that yous are all trying to increase your faith and love for those around yous.

WELP, I have to go. Elder Datoon and I are in great health and greater spirits! He's honestly the man. I hope yous all have an incredible week! Work hard, be safe!

Au lomani kemudou sara vakalevu,

ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai,

I love yous all so much! Take care, and kalougata tiko!

Elder Ishibashi

On a side note, I got a few emails from people who were concerned about the earthquake that take place here. I didn't feel a thing, neither did anyone we talked to, there doesn't seem to be any damage anywhere in Fiji that I've heard about, so it must literally have been nothing haha. No tsunami either, not even a rise in the tide. All goods here, as always in Fiji. 

In case you saw it and was wondering. It says Ishibashi.

Currently (camera still isn't working, sorry! Only way I can get pictures is on my camera memory alone)

1-1-17 HAAAAAAPPY NEEEWW YEEEAAAR!!

ISA LEI, 2017!

NAMASTE hamar bahut julum pariwaar!

MAN heaps of big news and not a lot of time, so forgive me if I jump around!

SO as I've told yous this last week was transfer week, and I was about 90% sure I'd be staying in Nausori with Elder Hariprasad for another transfer. On Tuesday, Elder Hariprasad and I were on splits with the Zone leaders when I received a call from President Layton. 

President Layton called me to the NASINU HINDI AREA, where I am currently serving!!

My companion Elder Datoon is Filipino from Toronto, Canada, and is an absolute BEAST. He's the man, hard/diligent worker, way chill, super patient and super funny. Elder Datoon was Elder Mo'unga's companion in the MTC! Last transfer, he just finished training Elder Christensen, who traded places with me in Nausori. Nasinu seems like an awesome place so far. Seems like a good amount of great work had been done before I got here, and I'm super excited to work with the investigators and members in my new area. It's a lot more city and hilly than I'm used to, so I'm still adjusting just a bit haha. BUT YEAH, I'm loving this new area and my companion so far, I see great potential for this transfer. 

Apparently, Herbert served in this area so heaps of people recognize my name and remember Herb! The Nasinu 1st ward elders (Fijian) and Nasinu 2nd (English ward, Hindi Elders and Sisters) missionaries all cover the same area with different targeted people, but heaps of people in my ward know Herbert from Nasinu 1st haha. Herb, give me family or individual names that you'd like me to visit and check up on! Cathy Brown sends her regards, as well as Una Moce kei na Inoke matavuvale. 

OKAY WELL sorry this one is so short but I have to head out. I actually just spent heaps of time trying to figure out what's wrong with my camera because files have been moved into it that's write protecting it and every time I delete them, they reappear right away. I sent what I could, hope you like them!

MAN it was a bit hard being away from home over the last two weeks but it's all good now, Elder Datoon is the man and this new area is a bit refreshing for me haha. Overjoyed to know that everyone had an AWESOME Christmas and a WONDERFUL New years celebration though! Dad, no talk about the food like that to me, your fault was so hard. 

It was pretty funny, we spent New years eve at the Fijian Elders' flat just talking story and eating. Elder Larsen just looked at his watch and was like "Oh hey. Happy 2017." We all looked, saw that it was 12:02am, and we're like huh. 2017. Well, now I can say that I came home next year! And 'Io comes home this year! MAN can't wait for those pictures, goodness. I definitely have my New Years resolutions, one of them being to stay committed to my resolution (because come on who still remembers them in February?). OKAY I gotta go, just know that I'm happy and healthy and looking forward to meeting new people in my new area with my new companion! 

Yous have an incredible week!

Au lomani kemudou sara,

ham aaplongke bahut pyaar karta hain,

and I love yous all so much! Until next week, moce!!

Elder Ishibashi

PS The Kumar (Reuben) pariwaar expresses their love to the new Ishibashis!

-Naiyaga matavuvale

-Singh pariwaar

-Kaiboi

-Flood cruising

-Intake vata from mission tour

-Fir milio, Elder Hariprasad 

-Found this guy crawling across the road?? Nowhere near a stream????

-In the flat 

-Driveway

-Just walking to district meeting 

Elder Datoon

Language study with a multi-linguist. This features (from top to bottom) Fijian, Kiribati, Hindi, French, and English. 

Here in Nasinu we preach the gospel and defy physics

12-25-16 MELE KALIKIMAKA!!

YADRA VINAKA NA NOQU MATAVUVALE WANANAVU SARA, NAMASTE HAMAAR BAHUT JULUM PARIWAAR, ALOHA KAKOU KO'U 'OHANA MAIKA'I LOA, AND GOOOD MORNING MY WONDERFUL FAMILY!!

This one will be short, given that I've only just spoken to you folks a few days ago, but I just wanted to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! I actually can't believe how fast this year has gone by, it's crazy. It feels like last week I was walking off the football field following my graduation ceremony. I can already see that 2017 holds such awesome events! Herbert begins his first year as a married man, maybe even pop out a keiki, I don't know. U'i definitely pops out a keiki soon, as well as Ketter. 'IO COMES HOME! I hit my year mark here in Fiji. Kala'i begins his upperclassmen year in high school and brings our paddling team to championships (again). Lehia starts, woah. Holy smokes. Lehia starts high school. I'm actually dumbfounded right now, how crazy is that??? You're starting the four most painful, stressful, nervous-wrecking, awesome years of your teenage life!! It doesn't have to be that, of course, and it won't be for you because you're a good student. Anyways, WOW! Penina gets another year older, healthier, stronger, sassier, and more talented in everything she does. What would this be, fourth grade?? Holy smokes!

What great things this new year has in store for all of us, and what great blessings these things are! 

Welp, it's transfer week! I don't know that that means anything for Elder Hariprasad and I, but we have several missionaries dying within my zones, which is sad. Curious to see what next transfer has for us! Hope I get to meet Elder Lee Chip Sao soon as well!

Last night we were able to spend a wonderful night with the Singh family, who'd never celebrated Christmas before! It was waay nice being able to spend time with them, enjoy their company and share a small game and message about the true meaning of Christmas. It was such a special feeling! We were also able to spend Saturday night with the Maiwiriwiri family, man I love them. Apparently, this is the first Christmas in over 20 years that they had no kids, which I imagine is pretty sad. Mom, Aunty Sia said that you were a smart women to have all your kids pretty well-spaced out so you didn't lose them all at once. You have at least another 10 years before Nina goes off to college or something, and by then you'll have heaps of grandbabies to keep you company (because we will all visit more regularly than you might actually be comfortable with, the way you raised us). Anyways, my Christmas weekend was really special thanks to the incredible families in our wards. 

SHUCKS, something I forgot to ask of yous on Thursday. If yous are going to Grandma's house today, PLEASE take and send me a picture of the whole family! If not, don't worry about it, just let them all know that I love them all SOO much! Also, don't forget to set some New Years resolutions! 

Okay I'm gonna respond to some Christmas emails I got then head out now. I hope yous all had a WONDERFUL Christmas, I know Herbert had an incredible and beautiful sealing session and wedding reception, SO HAPPY FOR YOUS!

Yous have a wonderful week, it was sooo nice to see everyone's face and hear everyone's voice again! Can't wait for mother's day already, haha! 

I love you all so much, thank you for everything. Have a blessed week, a Merry Christmas, and a happy new year!! 

Au lomani kemudou sara vakalevu,

ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai,

aloha kakou!

Dou moce, a hui hou kakou, aur fir mileo!

Elder Ishibashi

12-18-16 What an interesting, uplifting, and WET week

Namaste hamaar bahut julum pariwaar!

MAN, what an interesting, uplifting, and WET week it has been. 

Monday was a good day, like any other P-day except it was raining HEAPS. It was also way cold and I didn't feel like getting sick so my district pretty much spent that qito period in the chapel talking story, singing and playing music. 

We didn't have district meeting on Tuesday, because Zone conference takes its place in the week when we have it. Tuesday was spent in Baulevu seeing several families and inviting them to invite people to church on Sunday. 

Wednesday was WAYY onst, holy smokes. This year's Christmas combined zone conference took place in Raiwaqa. It's actually pretty incredible how the whole spirit of the room just changes, almost thickens, when President and Sister Layton walk in. We were first addressed by the new missionaries in the zones, those who have come in over the last two transfers. Afterwards we were addressed by the dying missionaries, those who will be going home in the next two transfers (zone conference happens every three transfers). One of the departing testimonies that really stuck out to me was given by Elder Lemusu, who dies next week. He shared his pre-mission experience with returned missionaries. He never wanted to serve a mission, and always doubted when the returned missionaries said 'It was the best thing I've ever done, best two years of my life, it changed me.' 

"I served a mission to prove them wrong. I came out, I served the people, I worked hard, and I proved myself wrong." 

-Elder Lemusu

After several trainings, we were treated with an amazing lunch, and then we were privileged to hear from President Layton. President gave an incredible training on the undeniable love of our brother and savior Jesus the Christ. He talked about Jesus in Gethsemane, and how He asked our Heavenly Father if it were at all possible that this pain could be lifted. He asked Heavenly Father if there were any other way that this price could be paid, BUT as much unbearable pain as he was in, he was still willing and able to drink from that bitter cup. He went through such horrible pain, even to death, to save a world full of saints and sinners. What a testament that God loves EVERYone. No matter where you are, what you're doing, how big or small your wrongdoings are, you have a loving Father in Heaven who gave His beloved son to the Earth to die for you. A question arises at this time of the year during the Christmas season for us: What is the greatest gift that God has given mankind? Heaps of various answers come up. Families, this Earth, our lives. Yesterday, I received my favorite answer as I approached a family with this question, and one I couldn't agree with more.

"His son, Jesus Christ."

President Layton also talked to us about how Heaven must have felt on that day that our brother Jehovah would come down to Earth to be born as a human child, beginning the atonement process. All of us in the spirit world, who wouldn't receive our physical bodies for another two thousand years, but knowing that we would be born in the age of resurrection. Knowing that the gates of heaven would be open and waiting for us at the end of our Earthly lives. 

We think of Christmas as a time to remember Jesus Christ for his Earthly birth, which ultimately lead to his atonement, which was truly the greatest sacrifice that ever took place on Earth. However, we don't often think about the sacrifice that took place in Heaven on Christmas Eve. 

I think about my leaving on my mission, The tears that were shed and the words that were said before I left my home and family to serve the Lord for two years. My last embrace with mom and dad before I boarded that plane to O'ahu. 

Then I think about the final embrace of Jehovah and our Heavenly Father before He would go down to be born of Mary. Both new exactly what was going to happen. Jesus would be born. Jesus would establish His father's church. Jesus would suffer. Jesus would die. Then he came down so it could all happen. 

Mom and dad, you gave me to Fiji for two years to the possibility of dog bites and tape worms. God His son to the Earth for 30 to the inevitability of cruelty and death. 

Words cannot be said to express the gratitude I have for the sacrifice of my Father in Heaven and my Brother, Lord, savior and redeemer Jesus Christ. 

After President Layton's incredible training, we watched Finding Dory! I thought it was wayy funny, but also wayy sad at times. My district loves the beluga whale and it's become a thing to just touch our heads and go WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO when we can't find something (we're all black belts in misplacing important things).

Anyways, zone conference was outstanding and honestly gave me an entirely different view of Christmas. 

On Thursday, our zone had interviews with President Layton which was accompanied by a storm. My interview went really well, and President Layton expressed to me that I would be entering senior companionship soon! After Thursday, the rain did not stop. In fact, it got worse and worse. Because of the heavy rain and lack of taxi and bus availability, we were homebound from Thursday to Saturday. Something incredible happened on Sunday morningthough.

We've been housing several companionships at our flat because theirs got flooded out. Yesterday morning as I got ready for church, I heard Elder Mckee say, almost fearfully "What the heck is that??" pointing out the window. We all looked out the window and saw something we hadn't seen in what seemed like ages. The sun. Patches of blue sky. It really was pretty miraculous. We walked to church without a drop of rain touching us, and enjoyed a good twenty minute sacrament meeting before heading out to work. Sacrament yesterday was really short and pretty much consisted of the sacrament only, because of the flooding in the homes and everyone (of the ten people that showed up) needed to go back and tend to their homes and families. Not a drop of rain fell until Elder Hairprasad and I had finished seeing everyone we needed to and went home. It really is like God just put his hand over waila and caught the rain in his cupped hand.

However, as soon as we got home, God seemed to have turned his hand over. Our road, within an hour or two, flooded with about two feet of water. Last night, the water flooded into our property and reached our house porch. We could literally take a boat from our front door to the cafe we're in front now. It's craaazy flooded right now, worse than I've ever seen. Small streams have turned into raging rivers and rugby fields have turned into lakes. 

Definitely an interesting experience, but that was my week! Now to address the letters: 

Glad everyone is doing well and getting married or preparing to get married and whatnot! I expect to come home to meet just heaps of new little babies of people I was in the YSA branch with. So glad to know that the missionaries in the ward are working hard and being successful in their work! Wow, seven families!! That's super impressive, I'm actually way interested to come home and know the details of the Hawaii, Honolulu mission. There's so much more behind missions than I even thought about before I came out. Please give my aloha to the current missionaries in baked-goods form, like brownies or cinnamon rolls or something. Christmas time is hard for missionaries, as I've so rudely learned lately haha. 

MAN, those fishes look good! And so do the babies, Fia is looking bigger and cuter every picture that comes in! Keep em coming! 

Welp, we're heading out now. I've come to the assumption that the problem must be my camera, because this computer will not allow me to send the video. Instead, I'll send a little part and ask that you read it to Herb and Jazmine.

PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ABOUT THE SKYPE DETAILS ASAP! I'll check in every now and again before Saturday. Sorry I had to do it the day before your Christmas eve.

I love yous so much, and thank you for everything! Have an incredible week, and if everything plays out right, I'll see you folks on Saturday!!! Or Friday I guess. 

Ham aaplog bahut pyaar karta hai, aur marautaka na kerisimasi!

Aaplogke larkaa/bhaiya,

Elder Ishibashi

12-11-16 Awesome visits and incredible people.

Namaste, hamar pyaari aur bahut julum pariwaar!!

This last week has been a pretty average week, not much to recap on to be completely honest, but there were definitely some highlights!

Actually, let me skip back to several weeks ago, something happened that I decided to share. Two transfers ago, Elder Mong Yen and I attended a dinner appointment with a family in the Nausori North zone. There was a bit of uneasiness and contention within the part-member family while we were present, so it was honestly a bit difficult to feel the spirit as we shared a quick scripture and thought before we left. The family consists of an active and faithful member (whom I had never seen/met prior), their inactive spouse and several adult non-member kids. Because of the unpleasantness of that visit, I felt a bit uncomfortable about returning to that home again any time soon. Days and weeks went by and we never saw the family again. They didn't sign up to feed us after that, so we never really felt obligated to go and they left our minds. A few weeks ago after a fall-through appointment, Elder Hariprasad and I were walking down the hill when the family popped into my head out of nowhere. It occurred to me that they lived nearby, and I haven't seen them since, meaning they might need some encouragement of some type to go back to church. Though I'd been in that particular area once before, I was easily able to find the house, like something was guiding exactly to where I needed to go. When we arrived, we were greeted by the member. Everyone else in the family was sleeping or not present, so we were able to share something with the member alone. In this time, the member expressed to us the countless trials and tribulations they face every single day. They expressed the difficulty of surviving in a part-member family, especially with a testimony so strong as theirs. Then, they shared their testimony. I have a very strong testimony that the Lord does visit us in our afflictions, and their testimony definitely strengthened mine. I have an amazing life, the few "curve balls" I've been chucked throughout my life and throughout my mission have been nothing compared to the challenges this faithful servant of God faces every day. Her faith and testimony built my faith and testimony in that visit, and I can hardly express my appreciation to the Holy Spirit for guiding me to that home that day. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Spirit lead us to that house, not only because she needed us to visit her, but because we needed to visit her. This is my little testimony insert, that missionary work is impossible without the guidance and presence of the Spirit  To be honest, it's not even difficult to teach and convert without the Spirit It's IMPOSSIBLE. We human beings do not convert people, no matter how long or hard we try. The Spirit is the only force in existence that can manifest the truthfulness of the gospel to those lost sheep of the fold. We, not only missionaries but all children/servants of our loving heavenly father, are simply vessels for this Spirit  The Spirit is not just important, the Spirit is essential. The Spirit is everything, and we are so enormously blessed to have been able to obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost when we were baptized and confirmed members of God's one true church. 

Several days ago, we visited a couple of young women whom we haven't been able to visit in a while. One of them is a bit lacking in English, which is way good for me as I attempt to teach her in as much Hindi as my tongue will allow. We plan on inviting her to be baptized very soon, as she continues to soak up the doctrine we feed her. The other had just expressed to us a desire to serve a mission, and has asked us to come by regularly to teach about mission preparation! Given that this stake does not provide a mission-prep class (not to my knowledge, anyway), that's something I'll definitely try to pitch to the stake presidency. We've just had about four young men and women leave this stake to serve missions, and I think a mission preparation class would be really good for those planning on heading out next! It was a huge help aid to me. Anyways, we look forward to visiting them next week and conducting an actual lesson haha. Last time, since neither of them have really met Elder Hariprasad, we just played "two truths and a lie" to get to know one another better and played a game related to a gospel principle. I'll explain the game after this letter, it's pretty good fun.

On a side note, games are an EXCELLENT way to teach kids, I've noticed. I looove using all these different gospel-related games and tricks on kids. For one, it keeps the kids engaged the whole time. Also, kids tend to learn best by seeing and doing rather than by listening. When they see the game and play the game, THEN we relate it to a gospel principle, it makes this principle physical and optical, and thus easier to understand. 

Other than that, this week was pretty chill, pretty normal. Awesome visits and incredible people. Oh, Friday was Elder Hariprasad's birthday! We spent that day proselyting, because Elder Hariprasad is the man and doesn't slack for no one or no day. I baked boooss as brownies that night. Mom, I don't know if you're still planning on opening your bakery any time soon but this is my resume for application:

I baked good brownies without your help. In a microwave. In Fiji. With five ingredients. 
(I am resourceful)

I'm also your son and I need money. Please hire me. I love you. 

ANYWAYS I think I'll go and get my hair cut today before I go play with my missionary friends, as well as reply to some emails. Our zone in the MTC was so close, we still keep in contact with each other regularly. Two weeks ago, a mass email was sent out to our MTC zone by Elder Satuala (shout out to my brothers and sisters in the Nukualofa, Tonga mission) congratulating everyone on a successful and well-worked six months! Traditionally missionaries burn a tie on their six month mark and a shirt on their year mark, but I'm on the hunt for ties so I wasn't about that. One of my shirts are filthy so I'll just hold onto it until June. 

NOW, to address the letters:

Mom, the Lord does visit those in their afflictions, haha. That does sound tough, with the doubled work load and lack of ability to see dad for lunch anymore. IF ever the work load and/or stress might seem overwhelming, just remember that eternal truth: You have these tough responsibilities because the Lord knows you can handle them, AND because the Lord knows how you as an individual and our family can benefit from these responsibilities. It might take some time to adjust, and it might even be frustrating at times, but perseverance and faithfulness in this time of hardship will bring forth such sweet and fulfilling blessings. I love you mom! 

Dad, I'm doing well physically and spiritually! The work is running smoothly, we've had several people accept the baptismal invitation over the past few weeks, so we look forward to following up on those people! Also, please give the Bourne 'ohana my aroha!

Kala'i better be winning my school's races with those arms, otherwise waste. I'm SUUUPER proud of him though, holy smokes. Isn't paddling the most surreal feeling? Being out on the water and just being kahi me ka moana? My paddling days will be days I honestly will never forget, SOAK it up. Paddling really built my testimony that hard work and perseverance brings forth such rich and fulfilling rewards. There really is no feeling like finishing a race hard and strong, after months of ruthless training, and knowing that you were the first to cross that line out of a dozen other wa'a. That burst of joy in well earned victory is incomparable. One of my favorite things about paddling is also that it's a group effort. No one person on the crew is ever credited for having won the race. The wa'a is one unit, every paddler doing their part to accomplish one goal. The paddler doesn't win, the wa'a wins. The teams wins. 

Continue to train ruthlessly, build your body AND YOUR MIND stronger and faster every day. Listen to coach Grant and coach Anna. They're brilliant, they work really really hard for you folks, and they love you heaps. Tell them I love them please! 

You're a smart boy, you know what they say. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (Tell Makana I love him too)

I'm glad Lehia is still always on the prowl for i'a and adventure, haha. Yous are making me miss the ocean so much more!

Penina, you're so big! And SO beautiful! Goodness gracious, you've grown like crazy since I've left! You're looking less like a little girl and more like a young woman every time I see a new picture of you! Love you gorgeous girl!

OKAY, so with the skype thing. I personally would really like to see 'Io, but I also really want 'Io to have his personal time with yous. If possible, maybe we could do it this way: I skype yous for however long, and maybe 'Io can jump in before I leave, then yous can have your personal time with him. Just a suggestion, but just know that Elder Hariprasad and I have agreed that 4pm is a god time for us t skype. Apparently, Banglore, India is in the same time zone as the Philippines. But yeah, I'm not entirely sure what to do, I'm totally open to anything you's come up with. My primary focus now is trying to figure out WHERE we'll skype, as finding a computer to skype with will be difficult at that time. Please let me know the details of everything and we'll finalize details next week! 

OH, one thing. I will be sending my video for Herb next week Monday, and I think 'Io will be sending one as well. Completely up to yous whether you want to show it in the slideshow or to Herb personally, as long as he sees it haha. 

Okay I'm out of time, I love you all so much and I'm so glad everyone is doing well!

Have an awesome week, my awesome family!

Ham aaplogke bahut bahut pyaar karta hai, au lomani kemudou sara vakalevu, ke aloha no au ia kakou!

Moce!

Aaplogke vinaka duadua larkaa,

Elder Ishibashi

Microwave brownie recipe (takes 15 minutes to make, for the kids when they're sad and home because ALL their appointments fell through and it's raining too hard to proselyte) 

4 eggs

1 cup melted butter (I saw better results substituting margarine for better, but up to you)

1 cup flour

1 cup cocoa 

2 cups sugar 

Maybe even chuck some chocolate or peanut butter chips in there. It just occurred to me that Fijian sugar is different from American sugar, so it might not turn out the same but go for it anyway. 

Mix the eggs and butter well, add dry ingredients and mix well. Chuck in the microwave for 6-7 minutes. 

GAME:
Elder Mong Yen called this game "black magic", but I'm trying to come up with something a little more kid-friendly like "pens". 

So this is how you play Pens. You tell the Indian child "Too aaj, humlog kali maangta raha ek game kele. Tumlogke paas chaar pens hai?" The Indian child will excitedly run off somewhere and return with four pens. You take the four pens and arrange them in four different random as ways, explaining that each arrangement of the pens represents numbers one through four. As you're explaining, you'll tap group/table next to the pens with the number of fingers that that arrangement represents. For example: You can arrange the pens like an E, tap the ground with one finger and say "This is one." You can rearrange them into the letter W, tap the ground with two fingers and say "This is two." You can rearrange them into two other shapes of your choice, saying those other two represent three and four. How you arrange them does not matter at all. After explaining the game and making sure they understand, you arrange the pens in a way that you didn't before. Then, you tap the ground next to the pen arrangement with any number of fingers and ask them what number that particular arrangement represents. Whatever number of fingers with which you tap the surface, THAT is the number that the formation represents. The arrangement of the pens never matter at all. Sometimes, I like to pick all four pens up and just drop them so they're oddly spread out, then ask "What's this?" Make sure you're sly with the taps, don't make it too obvious. I love the look on the kids' faces when they catch on, when that light clicks on and they start laughing their heads off. I like to relate this to recognizing the spirit. Every day is faced with new choices and new challenges. Sometimes, when we come across these challenges, we get lost and don't know what to do. Now the Holy Ghost doesn't yell at us. The holy ghost is calm and comforting, so we have to look for it and listen to closely to it. The reason the game is a bit difficult to catch onto is because the player is looking a the wrong thing. They're looking at what's right in front of them, what's in plain sight, but not at the small things that really matter. When they look for the small things, they learn how to play. When we seek for the spirit and listen for it, it will speak to us and we'll know how to "play" this game of life.

12-4-16 Oh what a week!

What an incredibly uplifting week it has been! 

This last Friday we had mission tour, which is basically like combined zone conference where we're addressed by a member of the seventy. This mission tour, we were addressed by Elder Craig A. Cardon, a member of the Pacific Area presidency! EXCELLENT trainings by Elder Cardon and President Layton were given that day in the Suva 1st ward chapel. Lately, President Layton has been stressing the use of a bible technique he invented, called the "Use their bible" technique. The trainings were about how to begin a first lesson by applying the "Use their bible" technique and how to most effectively carry out your message following the application of said method. Elder Cardon and President Layton are such giant examples of stern but loving teaching. Just to explain the technique a bit, the "Use their bible" technique is when you go into a house with an individual or family, get to know them a bit, begin with a prayer, and share something out of THEIR bible. I've used this technique several times, and each time it was executed successfully. It's so heartwarming, the look of excitement and sometimes shock and you ask to share something from a Christian's personal bible and they say "My bible? You won't share something out of yours?" It really is a genius approach, too. Right off the bat, the use of this method tells the person we're talking to several things about us LDS missionaries. One, that we are Christians, and that we also study out of the King James version of the Holy Bible. When they know that, they know that we share at least some of the same general beliefs. It's especially effective against strong Christians, because we're using something they're very familiar with and something that means a lot to them personally, and we're teaching them new doctrine from a book they've studied thoroughly for years. There are several directions we can go at this point. We can turn to John 3:5 and teach about what it means to be "born of water AND of the spirit". From their we can relate Acts 19, where the apostle Paul directs the Corinthians that they must be baptized again to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Or, we can head straight into Matthew 16:19 where Jesus gives Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. It expresses that Peter is given the power to bind things on Earth, and the thing will be bound in Heaven also, and whatsoever is loosed on earth is likewise loosed in Heaven. We can then relate families, why we have them and what a blessing it would be for us to be able to bind ourselves as families here on earth, and thus be bound in Heaven for eternity. We could turn to Amos 3:7 about the Lord God revealing his secrets to His prophets. If it was important for us to have a prophet back then to lead us and guide us back to our Heavenly Father, and God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, wouldn't it be important for us to have a prophet in these days to lead us and guide us as well? There are heaps of different ways that we could apply this method, but they all have the same aim, and that is to confirm two eternal truths to the people we use this approach on: That we have a loving Father in Heaven who wants for us to return to him, and that we can achieve that eternal life and happiness in Heaven with him AND our families by following the example of Jesus Christ and being baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. THAT is our ultimate goal with these people, to bring unto Christ by testifying, through the Spirit, of the truthfulness of this Church. 

I used to make a joke about this technique. We seldom find Christian Indians, as most in our area are Hindu or Muslim. Whereas the Fijian missionaries (a vast number of Fijians being Christian to some degree) can freely use the "Use their bible" techinque, we Hindi Elders instead have to apply the "Use their quran" technique. 

On a bit of a side note, I was listening to a talk Elder Hariprasad had on his USB yesterday. Not really a talk, it's the conversion story of a man named Bill Carpenter. He was a very staunch-in-his-faith Jesuit priest student, and also fairly young, when he was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The hardships and trials he faced in his conversion process are incredible, and I recommend listening to his story. It's pretty lengthy, but it actually kept me engaged the entire time because it's pretty funny as well. When you have time, definitely check it out! 

Just realized I skipped the whole week, but it was pretty awesome! We're teaching a new family who lives in a humble little tin-roof shack in our area. They have such a wonderful Spirit and they seem to have strong testimonies of Jesus Christ and a loving God. I say seem because they just speak lightning Hindi the whole time, them and Elder Hariprasad. I get lost a lot during the discussions, but the spirit is definitely there. We look forward to visiting them often and seeing how they progress! 

Not very much out of the ordinary happened this week except mission tour. Speaking of which, I was able to see some of my intake vata (missionaries I came out with) there! Mission tour was shared amongst four zones: Suva, Suva North, Nausori North and Nausori South. Elder Tiafala and Sister Nawaia are currently serving in the Suva zone, and Sister Otea is serving in Suva North, so I was able to see and hang out with all of them! Some exciting news for Elder Tiafala: He's going to Tuvalu! WAY stoked for him! On Tuesday, he's switching places with a missionary finishing his six-month period on Tuvalu. He's way excited as well, won't see him for another six months but I know he'll have the best time and get some good work done there. 

So yeah, that was pretty much my week! Now, to address the letters:

WOW! What a way to follow a year where we didn't have a tree at all!! It looks so beautiful, especially when surrounded by the kids decorating it! I miss those babies sooo much, I can't wait to wrap them up again one day. Man, I mean it would have been better that the centipede didn't bite anyone at all, but what a blessing that it never bit Fia. Thank you so much for the relation, mom! And also, GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW POSITION! Not that you need it, you're you, but still! Know I'll be praying for you to be able to perform at your best. 

Both mom and dad referenced that Elder Bautista part in 'Io's letter last week, so I took a look at it (also realizing that I don't read 'Io's letters enough). How incredible is that? How absolutely selfless, what an absolutely tremendous act of Christlike love Elder Bautista performed for his twin brother? I honestly almost teared up in this internet shop, what a monumental example. Thank you for that story, 'Io!

Okay I'm gonna end it here, I have to move to another computer to send pictures because I got a dumb one again. I love yous all so much and I'm glad everyone's doing well! Have an awesome week, give my aloha to my future sister-in-law for me please!

Ham aaplogke bahut BAHUT pyaar karta hai! Moce!!

Elder Ishibashi