4-15-18 Humbling day

Kaise hei!

Boy. Aggghh boy. These last few weeks. It's lowkey been P-week because of all the weather, transport, and health complications within the zone that we had to tend to, but as important as ministering is, we were blessed to be equally productive in administering to the needs of our missionaries and progressing investigators. 

We probably had about three cyclones hit Fiji over a week, resulting in the flooding of several areas in our zone and the inability for those missionaries to return and work in their areas for several days. You know I used my new camera wisely as I tried to very thoroughly document cyclones Kala, Keni, and Josi. Hopefully all those photos and videos go through. I actually just remembered that I had a lot of missionaries requesting I send those photos to them, so I'll have to do that. Anyways, it was a bit rough having to transport missionaries back and forth between there areas (when conditions permitted) and safer areas (when they again riled up). Several emergency transfers within the zone also took place, resulting in the closing of two areas and the need for several trips between Nausori and Suva. However, everything is situated now, everyone is safe in their respected areas and the work is moving forward. The other missionaries in Waila have been shifted, leaving Elder Hess and I as the only missionaries in that area. With all their investigators and recent converts now under our care, our teaching pool and responsibility just doubled. I'm really excited to get to meet all those people!
I'll share more stories from the week with the pictures, but it has been a really good week. Elder Hess continues to be an excellent companion and mentor, I learn so much from him every day. I had self-reliance again this morning, and rest assured it's not making me trunky, it's just getting me really excited about what may lie ahead! I'm excited to start schooling again and looking for opportunities. I've been under this odd impression that I need to do something that I'm good at and will support me and a future family; whether I happen to like that something or not. Self-reliance has helped me to see the importance of finding something doable, something that will help me to supply the necessities of life and then some, and also very importantly, something that I like to do. When money becomes the only drive to get up, get ready, and go to work, it becomes a miserable process and one that drags over years that should be enjoyed. I'm still looking at my options, but my vision is a bit more clear. The migrate-to-Utah prompting is becoming uncomfortably strong, but I think I just need some Hawaii for that to simmer down.

It's been a great week and we're looking at another great one! 
You all be safe during the storm, but I'm glad everything is going well other than that!
'Io looks mean, haha. Is he doing siva?? That's way sick! 
I hope you all have a great and blessed week, take care!

Khyaal rakna,
Elder Ishibashi 

I forgot to mention MLC. I guess that'll tie into my other stories though.
We had MLC (Mission Leadership Counsel) on Thursday morning. It was WAY nice, all of the zone leaders and Sister Training Leaders in the mission reported to the temple Wednesday night, and whereas the MLC would usually attend a session, we were unable as the temple is currently closed for renovations. We were, however, allowed to enter and clean the lockers, dressing rooms, and font. It was a really nice experience. Anyways, we were gathered together afterwards in the mission home and given time to ask President Higgins anything we wanted about church doctrine or missionary work. I learned heaps from him and the other leaders. At MLC the next morning, we received trainings on how important the Holy Ghost is in the work, and how important it is for us to drop our "nets" (weaknesses, limitations) that we might be more effective followers of Jesus Christ. 
It was a great experience!

I also just realized that I left my camera at home and will not be able to send those photos today, so I'll just very briefly tell of the adventure we had on Thursday.

We left the house with the intention of taking the Navatuyaba elders back into their area, if the water over the bridge had gone down. We were also asked to take the Toga sisters back into their area if the road conditions allowed. From the main road upon approaching Navatuyaba's entrance, we could clearly see that the water had doubled in depth and a raging river swept 20 feet over the top of the bridge. Awestruck, given that this was the least flood-prone area of the most flood-prone areas in our zone, we decided to check the others. We were quick to inform the Toga sisters that it would likely be several more days before they could return to Toga, as we arrived to find little boats floating around the streets. This excited us even more to check out Naitasiri, it notoriously being the worst flooding area in the zone. The elders anticipated that the bridge just before their house would be completely underwater, but that we'd at least be able to make it to that point. We were blown away when we arrived at the first bridge only to find it, the highway, and the school yard beyond covered by 10 feet of water. This was in the midst of emergency transfers. One of the elders needed his things from the flat, as he would be flown to Rabi the following morning. The chances of him obtaining his belongings dropped almost to impossible, when the AP's gave us permission to take the boats shuttling people through Naitasiri. In short, the cyclone strengthened brutally while we were out on the boat and trails, but by the tender mercy of our father in heaven, we were able to obtain Elder Haderlie's property (safe and dry) and he was able to fly to Rabi with everything he needed. That journey took about five hours, and MLC service at the temple would start an hour after we returned home. We had to quickly shower and pack for our overnight stay in Suva with the other mission leaders. It was definitely a very interesting, productive, and humbling day.