4-23-17 Come at me, bus...

Namaste!

Man, what a week it's been! 

A tough week, honestly.

We went and saw a good number of people, found some new people to teach that we look forward to following-up on this week. Nothing significant, except a significantly difficult visit with Shryna. 

We had a good lesson with her about the ten commandments, and she soaked everything up like a sponge. Lately, she's been asking us to cancel her baptism because her 7th Day pastor keeps putting things in her head that God doesn't want her to be baptized LDS. At the closing at our lesson, she demanded that we cancel her baptism. In fact (and it was pretty funny), she wrote me a note on the spot and handed it to me with a bold request "Read it, and understand it!" 

I took the note and unfolded it to read its contents. It read: Cancel my baptism, I don't want to do it!

I just took my pen, wrote a little response on the bottom corner, and handed it back with a managed smile. This was my written response: No :)

She just threw her head back, dropped her shoulders, and groaned in frustration. We told her that we would continue to visit for the next few weeks, and COME May 13th, if she is still feels that she personally is not ready to be baptized, THEN we'll cancel (postpone?) her baptism. She shook my hand in a deal. Unfortunately, we may need to speak with the talatala ourselves, which is always uncomfortable but sometimes essential. Elder Mokie is a good example of being bold with love, he's always so patient with Shryna but never takes her sass or irreverence. I'm still learning, haha.

I read 'Io's letter from two weeks ago and just about died laughing when I saw that he was gonna be doing exactly what he didn't want to for the exact space of time that he didn't want to do it. What followed what he said though really inspired and hit me. The mission is tough, some days are full of disappointment and others of grief and disdain. That's something I'm certain all missions have in common, and I think it's just awesome that despite this, 'Io prays for difficulties. As fond as I've grown of humbling experiences, as I've experienced them, I've decided to just let them come as the Lord sees fit that I should endure them. To pray for them seems difficult for me in all honesty, but I have such a strong feeling that that's exactly what I need to do. I will do that over the next week. I expect there to be no exceptions for me, that I get a bus as well, but if I need a bus, I'll gladly take it. I also have such a strong feeling that this is precisely what 'Io needs to finish his mission off with the BANG he wanted, and what a glorious bang it'll be as he sets that example of a great missionary to his greenie and opens a vineyard for the Lord's work to take place!

I got heaps of pleasant surprise letters from people today, thank you all so much!

I had NO clue River was married!! He wrote me and shared with me some great insights on Elder Bednar's talk from conference that I highlighted last week. I really appreciated his wisdom.

I also got several beautiful letters from several beautiful little spirits (including my most BEAUTIFUL little sister) in the stake! Please give my thanks and aloha to Sister Naungayan for sending them out! I apparently was smiling noticeably wide as I read Nina's letter, because the missionary next to me looked at me and asked "Did you get into BYU??"

What an awesome article about Herb and Jaz! New York though? How long did Jaz live in New York? (Jaz lived in New York??) Welp, I guess the time will come where I'll get to spend time with my new siblings and niblings. Speaking of which, how are the buns in the ovens?? Do yous know Herb&Jaz's baby's gender yet, or are they waiting?? 

Kala'i, that's the one. Most important thing is to have fun, and every tried opportunity is an opportunity to try again. Keep up the good, hard work! 

WOOO those are some monsters, Lehia!! That's bigger than the mahimahi 'Io and I ('Io) caught when we went out on Brother Prudholm's boat! We never even got close to catching an ahi! Man that's a mean looking aku too, TOO good you! 

Please send a picture of Nina's new hair cut!

Mom, thank you so much for your fulfilling letter. I had other things written in mine before I read yours that I decided were selfish thoughts and meaningless troubles. I am working extra hard on being extra dependent on the Lord and accepting his will in all things. 

Dad, glad you're keeping busy haha. SO good to know what a service you're being to the family and the church in every way that you can administer it.

OH on a side note. So I checked on my blog, did I really get my call on April 12th? I thought this whole time that I got it on the 23rd, I've been telling people that it's my mission call anniversary. Whoops. 

I can hardly believe that it's already been a year since I got my mission call, seems like just 11 months ago! Jk but yeah, time really does fly. 

Welp, I'll be heading out now, probably get a haircut. Know you're all in my daily/nightly prayers. Not a day goes by that I don't thank heavenly father for the blessings I get from your prayers and diligence. I love you all so much, thank you for your letters and your love. Have a blessed week!!

Mahalo nui loa, vinaka sara vakalevu, fa'afetai tele lava, malo 'aupito, whakawhetai koe nui atu, domo arigatogozaimashita, bahut dhanyavaad, and thank you SO much for everything! 

Haam aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai hamaar bahut julum pariwaar!!

Khyaal rakna!

Pyaar ke saat,

Elder Ishibashi-Fiji

Fun fact: Did you know the wh in Maori is pronounced as f?? (so it's pronounced fakafetai) Had no idea, you learn a lot about the isles in the isles

 

-Sister Kumar (Joe's mom) takes excellent care of the missionaries. Tuesday nights are good/happy nights (her food is phenomenal but she's why I got fat again)

.

 

-Adrien says hello 

 

-TRY THESE. I thought a potato was a weird thing to put in donuts too but trust me, they're incredible. The ingredients may react differently in Hawaii so my bad if it turns out weird. If they do, I trust that mom would know exactly what needs to be done to perfect this recipe.

 

-We made a batch this morning and brought some for the district 

 

-Now

4-16-17 "Nothing draws you closer to the Lord, Jesus Christ, than a desire to change."

Namaste hamaar pariwaar wananavu sara!

Aaplog kaise hai??

Again, not very much time today because we're meeting with the zone leaders early so they can take us to the LDS college campus for combine qito with the Suva North zone. 

We watched general conference on Saturday and yesterday, and HOW awesome were those addresses? I wanna make this letter home especially fulfilling (I hope you'll find it fulfilling, haha) so I'll just share thoughts and impressions I received during the conference sessions! I brought my book this time.

I really liked in Elder Renlund's talk when he talked about how the savior handled the adulterer brought before him. He went on to say that, though the savior certainly does not CONDONE adultery, he did not condemn the adulterer. "Go, and sin no more." He simply implored her to change her life. Weekly, I work with people who either don't think they're ready or worthy to hold/exercise their priesthood or to be baptized or whatever. It's SO easy to see people's faults, and I reckon that's because every single living soul has them. Faults, whether physical, mental, spiritual, or social, often lead to feelings of shame and guilt, SO they draw their attention to someone else's faults so as to shroud their own. Regardless, every single one of us has our fall throughs and short-comings, but no matter how big or small they are, we are no less valuable in the Lord's eyes. As shared by Elder Joaquin E. Costa, there is not a soul on Earth who has not the potential to change their lives. Our responsibility as a part of this eternal family is to SEE this potential in everybody we meet and to HELP them to reach that potential. I loved his quote: 

"Nothing draws you closer to Lord, Jesus Christ, than a desire to change."

Everyone, being flawed and challenged, should desire to change, and what a great work it is; what a great work we've all been called to to help our faltering brothers and sisters to make that change and come closer to our savior.

THIS BEING SAID, I've come to see my need to repent. I'm not sure if yous have noticed that I've gotten into the bad habit of chastising people that don't do things the way I reckon they should be done. I'm really trying to humble myself and let the Lord humble me. I learned in conference that one who humbles themselves and asks for forgiveness/mercy is better off than they who rebuke those who need it. 

One quote I believe was shared by Elder Yoon Hwan Choi just reminded me so much of grandpa:

"When I get tired of walking, I could always run!"

It was also a nice little reminder that attitude really is everything. I've also gained a strong testimony out here that WORK is the antidote for being tired of or stressing over the work. How that works, I'm not certain, but it does. When you feel yourself slowing down or losing motivation, fight and work harder, and I testify that the desire to work will return even stronger. 

In the priesthood session, Elder Bednar shared something that hit home pretty good for me. He talked about how missionaries are not called to areas, they are called to labor. He emphasized the first two sentences on the call letter. My letter said this:

Dear Elder Ishibashi,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Fiji, Suva Mission.

I was called to SERVE, I wasn't called to Fiji. I was assigned to LABOR, IN Fiji.

He talked about missionaries who often get disappointed or discouraged when their missions get reassigned. To me, that's a pretty random subject to talk about on a world-wide scale, so it meant a lot to me that it was discussed because I could relate (even if it was for just six weeks). I've expressed my love for the Denver North, Colorado Mission and especially the Tallyn's Reach ward countless times to yous. I know undoubtedly that I was there at exactly the time I had to be. I was blessed with an incredible ward with such loving and supportive members. My companion prepared me beautifully for the trials I'd face for the next two years, and put it all into a goofy light that I could understand and know I could overcome. I've determined that I would not give up that transfer in Colorado for one in Fiji or anywhere else. I was called by our loving and all-knowing heavenly father to LABOR, first in Colorado, then in Fiji. Where we go does not matter, only what we do and how we do it. President Uchtdorf later said that we as children of God are entitled to nothing, so everything in our lives should/will happen according to the Lord's will. It reminded me of Gordon B. Hinckley's story from when he was on his mission in London. He wrote his father about the hardships and unfairness of mission life, especially in his particular area. He expressed a desire to leave his service and return home. In response, President Hinckey's father sent a letter with a very simple and very bold statement of advice: Forget yourself and go to work.

I've tried to apply this myself, and I've come to learn that when you humble yourself, fulfill your responsibility to the best of your ability and leave the rest to heavenly father, that he will consecrate your works and guide you. I hope some day to go about my missionary labor with my companion with the boldness of James and John and the diligence of Alma and Amulek.

This is the basis of my spiritual observations from conference, I REALLY liked it. As for the work, Shryna has accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 13th rather than the 20th. She's having a bit of trouble with her talatala (pastor), who tells her that she's 7 Day and should be baptized 7 Day at the age of 12 rather than 10. In this case, all we can do is invite her to continue to rely on the Lord and be sensitive to His promptings. I made it clear to her not to make a decision based off what Enosi says or even what we say, but to leave it entirely to God. She has such a sweet, genuine, and humble spirit. I reckon she'll make an excellent Young Women's President one day.

I'm glad everyone is doing well, thank you so much for the letters and pictures! Everyone is looking way good! Man, Nina's voice has changed since I've come. Now it's so mature, you don't even sound like a kid anymore! You're growing so fast and so beautifully, keep exercising that AWESOME voice of yours, it sounds so good! Then there's mom and dad looking like they're getting younger.

Please give my aloha to the Watson and Laie-Ishibashi ohanas!

I'll be heading out now. I love you all so much, have an incredible week! 

Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai hamaar pyaari pariwaar, achaa hapta raho!

Khyaal rakna!

Elder Ishibashi-Fiji 

 

-Reunited at zone conference! He got a bit taller I think...

 

-Post-conference

 

-So here's what happened...

I went to the front to put my camera with the others, and by the time I came back the group, the front-row had already been taken up. I pleaded for a floor spot, but my fellow missionaries had to break my heart and exiled me to the back row (where the Goliaths dwell). Now all of Fiji knows I'm 5'5.

4-9-17 Let the Holy Spirit Guide YOU

Namaste hamaar pyaari pariwaar!

Sorry, not much time today because we're trying a new internet cafe and it's leqa (problematic) as so I don't reckon we'll be back here haha. Anyways, there were a couple of nice things that happened over the last week, otherwise it was pretty average.

On Friday, we were able to go see Shryna again. What a blessing it was to hear that she had decided to be baptized at her current age! 

It was pretty funny, the lesson we planned to teach her was focused on the Holy Ghost and his role in the godhead. As we taught, I discovered that she had no prior knowledge of the Holy Ghost. Now Shryna is a smart girl. She has a great memory and that huge book full of things the missionaries used to teach her. FROM THIS I deduct that she was taught improperly, and someone being baptized in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost should have an understanding of the importance of that gift. I actually think it's excellent that Shryna has been given this second chance at baptism. She has the knowledge and a testimony, and the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to help her to solidify her knowledge and testimony.

Anyways, we very simply taught her that the Holy Ghost one of three members of the Godhead. He's our best friend, our protector, our comforter, and we've been able to feel him our whole lives. He's always been there influencing us, pushing us in the right direction when we need it and whispering words of comfort and guidance when we're low. He's a soft and gentle spirit, and though we may not (always) be able top hear his voice, we'll be able to feel him if we're attentive to his promptings.
Anyways, when she attended to her commitment to pray about baptism, she expressed that the decision just felt right. She felt comfort in her decision, like it was just the thing she had to do. 

When we told her that THAT was the Holy Ghost, she said

"... Ooooooooh. Huh, okay."

We committed her to be baptized on May 20th, but I think I may cut it closer to the 13th. She committed to coming to church and daily scripture study and prayer as she prepares for her baptism. Shryna is such a contrite Spirit, and honestly an inspiration to me. I may have some set plans for myself upon my return home, but I've committed to let the Spirit guide me in all big decisions both in and after the mission. It was, after all, the Spirit that told me in my heart that BYUH was where I needed to go rather than UH. I was blessed with that inspiration before the mission. What I love about Shryna is that she had a set plan for herself (to be baptized at 12) but asked the Lord for guidance anyway. She received guidance that went against her plan, and followed the guidance without hesitation. We need ALWAYS pray that we may be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I testify that as we pray and ask sincerely and LISTEN, that we will receive an answer. I testify that that answer is of the spirit, and it is the answer we need to follow. One piece of advice I've been following lately that has been blessing me in immense little ways is this: If you have a question for which you feel the need to inquire of the Lord, ASK. After you say Amen, don't immediately open your eyes and get up or go to sleep or whatever. Say Amen, sit there, and listen. Feel. Give yourself a minute to receive any personal revelations that the Lord may see fit that you should receive. It may not come after a minute or five or ten, as I've rudely learned, but I promise that as you continue to pray and live faithful to your calling that the answer will come.

Another reason I reckon you should all be praying hard for the Spirit is because you're all doing these awesome, adventurous aaaand poteeentially dangerous things. BE SAFE! The Spirit will guide you and protect you from all things and in all places as you pray and feel for His guidance.

HOUU THAT'S ONE MONSTER LEHIA. You gonna have to double ya game when I come home though because imma be eating all ya fish. You and dad looking healthy and in your zone out there on the water! I miss water...

LET'S GO KALA'I! You keep up that ridiculous training and self-discipline, it'll take you places your siblings have never been. The focus in the mission right now is for missionaries to discover what they want their legacy to be when they leave. For myself, personally, I don't care how many people I baptize. I don't care to have my converts remember me and praise me for bringing them the gospel, or to have a kid named after me. If I could help someone to truly and sincerely convert to the gospel that they might have the opportunity to bless their entire posterity by their decision, I believe I'll have served a successful mission. Kala'i, you're leaving a great legacy in school it looks like. You have a good impact on the people around you, and I'm so glad you're making the effort to be nicer to the kaivulagi kids. I promise you that if you love and respect them, their response doesn't matter. You did your part, you did what the Lord would want you to do. No matter how they respond to your love, whether positive or negative, you're doing the right thing. Keep being that beacon of light and example to your peers, Kala'i and Lehia! Again, pursue your interests, but prioritize the gospel above all. 

I'm glad mom is safe and unchanging in her methods of cooperation. I honestly used to tell myself that I won't hit my kids because of the way I felt when I was hit, BUUUUT some of the kids here man... 

Mom, I can't tell you how grateful I am for every smack and squeeze and pana you've graciously bestowed upon me throughout my life, because all those things have shaped me into the amazing and humble young man I am today. 

In all honesty, I've definitely gained a testimony that appropriate consequences is required when we break a rule, so we may learn WHY these rules have been set and the importance of following them.

OH I don't have time now and I left my notebook at home, but I was graced with a great insight yesterday at stake conference that I'll share next week. It's related to keeping the family strong and united.

Best of luck at the concert, Penina! Not that you need it, I reckon you have the natural gift of confidence. I like to reflect on the video mom took of you as you played the troll in that little Billy Goats Gruff skit at school. I think about the way you stood up there and just claimed that bridge in front of the whole audience. That was YOUR bridge, and you didn't just want the goats to know it, you wanted mom and your teacher and your friends' moms to know whose bridge that was. The confidence with which you stood up there and sang your part at your young age is inspiring to me, and I know that that gift will carry you very far in life! 

I don't reckon I need to wish mom good luck with the bass either, mom can/will literally do anything she puts her heart and mind to. But good luck anyways!

Please give my aloha to the ward, the family, and especially the Wheeler ohana. I honestly don't remember the baptism, but I remember the family. They're in my prayers!

Elder Mokie and I are in great health and spirits! We're still working hard and toward bringing the strayed sheep back to the fold.

I love you all so much, have an incredible and blessed week! 

Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai hamaar pyaari pariwaar!

Khyaal rakna,

Elder Ishibashi-Fiji

 

-Daily inspiration

 

-Met this guy at stake conference yesterday, he came down from Tuvalu! 

I saw him up on the stand in the choir and thought he looked oddly familiar. After everything he approached me, introduced himself and said "Elder Ishibashi sends his love!"

 

-Just stolen from his blog

... that height contrast though...

 

It's hard trying to be lowkey in such an open space

4-2-17 Kaise pariwaar??

Namaste, pariwaar!! Ham hope karta hai aaplogke paas raha ek julum hapta! 

Piche le hapta, kuch nahin hoige. Hamlog khali gharepe baita raha aur kana banais raha. Hamlog tora pariwaarlog mila, lekin dher nahin. Hamaar nawa saati ghare jae mange tabhesdo hamlog bahut kam nahin kare.

This last week was good, the new focus on baptizing converts alone (instead of focusing on less-active members) has opened a LOT of time for finding. Elder Mokie and I found some good potential over the last week and we've been working as closely as possible with our current promising investigators. I just discovered on Tuesday that it will be impossible to baptize Naresh on the date we set for him (April 29th) because of the upcoming stake and general conferences over the next two weeks. We haven't been able to see him to extend the date yet, but we'll try to see him and Shryna two times a week now. Now SHRYNA has an interesting conversion story (in all honesty, if you can call it that).

There was a story told in Nasinu of a little girl baptized in March of 2016. The water in the font was low, and the missionary asked to baptize her was VERY eager for her salvation. When he baptized her, the back of her head hit the bottom of the font and her hand didn't fully go under water. She came up crying, and when asked to be baptized again, she refused. She and her family never came back to church, and the girl never received the Holy Ghost.

We found Shryna when we were out with Raymond Koyamaibole one day, and he pointed out a house he said he used to visit with the missionaries. We visited the home and sat with Shryna and her mother. We had a good lesson with them and they gladly invited us back! Shryna and her mother seemed very comfortable with our presence and spoke of the great lessons they had with missionaries previously. Shryna seems to have remembered everything the missionaries used to teach and even had her own (HUGE) study journal filled with Book of Mormon verses and sections from the Friend magazine. When we left the home, Raymond told us that THAT'S the little girl that was improperly baptized and never received the Holy Ghost. I was filled with excitement to give Shryna this second chance at baptism. Elder Mokie and I visited her on Friday and we found out a bit more about her situation; what happened preceding/following her baptism. She told us that she had decided for herself that she would wait until she was 12 to be baptized. She personally feels that she'll be ready by then. When I asked her "Shryna, why did you decide to be baptized into the LDS church?", her response was shocking and infuriating. 
"I didn't decide. Elder _____ forced me."
Now the way she explained it, it was not an aggressive type of force at all. He simply and literally begged her to be baptized. Pleeeaase be baptized! Please please pleeeease be baptized! Using everything from sad-puppy faces to lolis to get this 9 year old girl into the waters of baptism. 
That absolutely broke my heart. 

She learned a lot about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, I don't doubt that she did have a testimony of the church. She still reads from her bible regularly and has personal prayers every night, often with her mother. However, it was less her choice to be baptized than it needed to be. It needs to be %100 THE CONVERT'S DECISION TO BE BAPTIZED. Decisions like that need to be between the convert and God, NO ONE ELSE. Man should never EVER get in the middle of someone's decision to be baptized or serve a mission or get endowed or get married. These are all saving ordinances (except missionary service of course), and God is the only one who should impress someone truly when in their lives they should perform these ordinances. Truly God does send people into our lives to help us to make the decision and bring us closer to our heavenly father; people to help us to the point where we should inquire of our heavenly father assistance we cannot receive from man. In the end, final decisions are between man and God and only between man and God. 

We invited Shryna to pray about whether or not she should be baptized now, and she accepted.

I testified to her and I testify now that if we ask our father in heaven with a broken heart and a contrite spirit whether or not we should perform the ordinances required for the eternal salvation of our souls, be us worthy and ready to receive an answer, we WILL receive an answer AND that the answer will be YES and NOW. The second coming is near, and NOW is the time to bring in the Lord's flock before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Shryna has requested more Friend magazines and another Book of Mormon, as all of her LDS study materials were taken from her room by a family member/religion student. She wants to learn more about the church and has even expressed a desire to return! I look forward to visiting her regularly over the next weeks. I see some great potential in her. 

Anyways, that was the highlight of the last week. Forgive me my rant, but I needed that out haha. We have some good work lined up for the next week! 

I'm so glad everything is going well back home! Thank yous so much for the pictures! Sorry for my lack of pictures, my camera is still being dumb. I'll get it fixed, no worries! That's actually something I forgot to kerekere from yous, a new SD card BUT there are some cheap ones here so not to worry. SO excited for stake and general conference! 

Alright we're heading out soon, I love you all so much! Thank you for your love, prayers, and support. 
Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai hamaar bahut julum pariwaar! Khali achaa kam karo aur apaan dostlogke pyaar dhekaue! 
Khyaal rakna,

Elder ishibashi-Fiji

3-26-17 Been a week

Namaste hamaar bahut julum pariwaar!! 

MAN, where to begin.

I guess I'm 20 now, aye? Funny thing is that transfer day fell on the 24th of March, so I was so preoccupied with other things that I forgot entirely that it was my birthday until the sisters called that night to wish me a happy birthday. It's good because I was able to focus completely on the work all day without the distraction of any selfish thoughts. I totally see it as a blessing!

Speaking of transfers, hamaar paas ek nawa sathi hai! I have a new companion!

Elder Mokie is from PNG and has been out for 22 months, SO it's anticipated that I will be killing Elder Mokie here in Nasinu! This means that either 1. I will be serving in Nasinu for the next three months and Nasinu will be whitewashed when Elder Mokie finishes, OR 2. I will serve in Nasinu for the next four and a half months, receiving a new companion after Elder Mokie for one transfer so that they don't have to whitewash the area. It'll definitely be an interesting next three months, whatever happens! I'm excited to serve with Elder Mokie here in Nasinu, his stories about PNG are crazy and we like comparing our cultures and languages. Imu in PNG is mumu, just so you know.

Yesterday at a lunch appointment with a family in the ward, Elder Mokie asked the father (served in the UN force for like 30 years) a question, to which he responded in full Tok Pisin (the national language of PNG. He was actually speaking the dialect they speak in Vanuatu where he was stationed, but they're close enough to where they're both understandable to the other nation). Another fun little fact, Tok Pisin is literally just a fob pronunciation of 'talk pidgin'. Just like Hawaiian Creole, Tok Pisin is just a mix of English, Hiri Motu, German, and several other languages of the people that have history there. Tok Pisin follows the sentence structure of Hiri Motu but chucks in random mix-plate words, like Hawaiian Pidgin follows the Hawaiian structure but we use words with Portuguese and Japanese influences. It really is a super interesting culture and language, I'm stoked to get to know more about it. Aside from that, Elder Mokie has a strong testimony of missionary work and I look forward to carrying out whatever work we can/will get done together!

Other than the several birthday celebrations put on by my awesome district mates and ward members, and transfers, the last week has been pretty normal. Leading the area over the last few days has been a bit difficult honestly, but I feel the Lord guiding me when I need it most. 

I'm glad everything is going well back home! Talk of the pohoiki ward camp made me miss Hawaii and the ward heaps, those camping trips have spawned some of my most treasured memories. I'm overjoyed that our ward is leading the stake in missionary work, but also a little afraid of the idea of our ward splitting. Please give my aloha to the ward!

Please send me Makana's email, I don't think I have it. Coincidentally, I've been asked to give a training in district meeting this next week on the benefits of serving a mission. I'm still compiling some of the countless reasons I can think of, but one I thought of that I reckon I could share with Makana is that it will bless him in unimaginable ways for the rest of his life. You learn independence, tolerance, patience, humility, diligence, perseverance, and countless other things in ways that you otherwise never could have. I know that's pretty vague, but I'll be more specific with him haha. 

U'i, thanks so much for the pictures and videos!!

Anyways, I'm heading out now. I love you all so much! Elder Mokie and I are in great health and spirits. Thank you all for everything, the birthday wishes and the prayers and everything else!

Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai, aaplogke hafta me kushii raho!

Khyaal rakna!

Elder Ishibashi-Fiji

  

-Courtesy of the AWESOME Koyamaibole family

 

-I tripped happy when I saw the Hawaiian!

 

-Fortunately my district is fams and they made me another cake 

 

-There is birthday cake all around, when there's love within the district 

3-19-17 When we submitted, we committed...

NAMASTE hamaar bahut julum aur pyaari pariwaar!

Not heaps of time today, sorry, but it's okay because not very much happened last week anyway. 

This week is transfer week, so I'm preeetty sure I'm losing Elder Datoon on Friday. I can't be %100 positive because transfers are never %100 predictable, we go where the Lord calls us to go and we serve whom the Lord calls us to serve. Whatever happens, I've promised myself and the Lord that I will serve with my %100 percent no matter where I go or who I'm with. As I progress through my mission, it's occurred to me that the time is coming for me to become a senior companion and an example of diligence, commitment, and love for the people I serve. This transfer is especially unpredictable, so I'm really looking forward to the call tomorrow! 

It's seriously been an absolute pleasure to serve with Elder Datoon in the time that I have, I sincerely believe he was the man I needed to prepare me for the rest of my mission. He's put me through ups and downs I've never experienced prior to my service, but those ups and downs have formed habits within me that will carry me through my mission and strengthen others as I share them with those around me. Please contact his family if you haven't already, and thank them on my behalf for raising such an incredible example. 

ANYWAYS, there's really only one thing I wanted to touch up on from the last week, and I feel that it's appropriate to tell it in story form. 

On Saturday, March 18, 2017, there was in instance in which four missionaries (two Elders & two sisters) decided to spend four hours at a birthday party during prime proselyting time.

"To be fair", the party started nearly two hours late, and they didn't want to be rude and leave the party before it began. The sisters later reported that they had to cancel 4 appointments due to the elongated duration of the gathering. 

Bottom line: They wasted four of God's hours. Plain and simple. They didn't waste the district's time, they didn't waste the zone's time or their own time, they wasted our heavenly father's time. They deprived their brothers and sisters of spiritual growth. They (ministers of Jesus Christ) sat at a birthday party eating cake for FOUR HOURS while others sat in the dark, waiting for the change in their lives they never knew they needed.

Not only did they show their lack of commitment to the work, but they openly showed a room packed full of people that missionaries have the time sit around for so long and do nothing. They publicly belittled the importance of our work and our calling by giving God's precious time to an event so insignificant and irrelevant to the building up of the kingdom of God. 

When we submitted our mission papers, we committed TWO YEARS of our short, God-given lives  to the building of God's kingdom. Not 5-6 days out of the week from 8am to 9pm.Two full years. We committed every single minute of every single day of the 18-24 months we've been assigned to serve TO SERVING. I will not lie and say that I get caught up in material things throughout the week, but I am praying and fasting to become as effective a tool in the Lord's hand as I can possibly be. I have a testimony that if you don't follow the missionary guidelines and use God's time wisely, YOU will not grow, nor will you be able to help your investigators to progress and genuinely convert to the gospel. 

As for everyone, you will reap what you sow. When we commit all our time and efforts to the work to which we've been called by God, we will reap the blessings we've been promised by our heavenly father. One who sows a good seed and nourishes it well is sure to harvest good fruit. One who sows a bad seed or none at all is sure to receive thorns or nothing at all. 

It's hard sometimes to keep the work and the people and the scriptures in my heart 24/7, but I testify that my efforts in trying to do so has greatly improved my ability to do so, and it has spawned countless blessings and miracles in my mission so far.

This week was a wonderful week full of finding new people. We have a beautifully bountiful list of people we look forward to following-up on this week. I have no doubt in my mind that these people were brought to Elder Datoon and I because he has noticed our efforts and determination to the work. What motivation it is to keep up the hard work! EVEN if these people are not baptized or even very interested in our message, I know that they were given to me to teach me something and that I could plant that seed within them and remind them of the light that dwelt within them their entire lives. 

I am in great health and even greater spirits, I see the blessings of your prayers and hard work from back home influence my every day life. I love this work and this gospel, and I love you all so much. Have an incredible week!

Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hai, hamaar pyaari pariwaar! Khyaal rakna, aur ingat kayo!

OH THANKS FOR THE LETTERS I'M GLAD EVERYONE IS DOING WELL I HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SEND THIS AND LOG OUT I LOVE YOU ALL THANK YOU!!

Elder Ishibashi-Fiji

 

-Sunday morning selfie 

 

-Suva zone conference

3-12-17 Virtue is living the gospel for the gain of others

NAMASTE hamaar bahut julum aur pyaari pariwaar!

What a week it's been!

To start off though, I'd actually like to take out of 'Io's letter from two weeks ago. 'Io and I have been talking to each other more regularly lately, even if it's just a few lines, but I'm super glad! I feel like before a few weeks ago, I hadn't heard from him in ages. Anyways, he shared with me his personal testimony on the importance of frequent self-evaluations. He invited me to regularly assess my teaching skills, my dedication to the work, and my drive. He bore testimony that if I consistently evaluated how a particular lesson went, what worked and what didn't or what I could do better, that I would grow heaps and quickly. I'll definitely be applying that this week!

I also realized that I don't read his email enough. I did last week, and he included something that really stuck out to me. He talked about an experience he had with an investigator, who gave an (for me personally, pretty reasonable) excuse for not coming to church concerning their family. Now, having lived with 'Io for like 18 years, I cannot for the life of me see my soft-spoken, meek and humble brother telling someone to their face that our message is more important than their family. After some reflection, however, it is true. As hard as it would be for me to be that bold, it is true. 

Everybody loves their family. Everybody wants to be with their families forever, which in all honesty is impossible without this gospel. Unless they are baptized AND faithful to the commandments of the one and true living God, they cannot enter the temple to perform the sealing/saving ordinances required to enter the celestial kingdom with their families. Unless they develop a personal testimony of the restoration of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and are willing to live the Lord's standards, they cannot (should not, anyway) be baptized.

It's occurred to me that we need to love our brothers and sisters enough to lay it out in front of them as plainly as we have to for them to understand clearly the severity of our message. I'm grateful for dad's guidance, that if we testify and speak boldly through the spirit, it will never be interpreted as offensive. I know without a shadow of a doubt that 'Io had the spirit with him as he made that statement, and that his boldness will be a huge blessing to him and others as he continues on with the work.

Anyways, this last week was good!

We had a companion exchange with the zone leaders from Thursday morning to Friday morning, and I was privileged to work with Elder Chugg in Nasinu. That day was almost entirely spent OYMing, which turned out to be super rewarding. We tracted a street I'd never been on before near our house, and were welcomed in by two families. Both invited us back to teach them more about how they can, through Jesus Christ, achieve eternal life WITH their families. Several other people were busy but asked us to return this week. This next week will be mostly consistent of following up on people we found last week and seeing their true interest level in the gospel. The exchange was really good, it gave me heaps of opportunities to try out and improve my Hindi and to lead lessons. Elder Chugg REALLY helped me to see the importance of setting specific return appointments and finding common ground with them on the first visit. 

The Hindi elders are all working closely together to develop a way to convince Hindus that the bible is the word of God. I honestly don't reckon it'll be too difficult, because they all seem to believe in everything. The Hindus' Krishna, the Christians' Christ, the Muslims' Allah, they're all the same God; simply presented different ways according the the background and belief of a particular culture. 

One good thing is that all these religions, though vastly different in most ways, teach the same basic standards of living peacefully among our brothers and sisters here on Earth. Treat others how you would like to be treated. Service those who hate you. Don't hurt people or animals unnecessarily. Take care of your bodies. Take care of your families. Take care of the land. These are just a few things that are taught among most denominations we come into contact with every day. I believe that if we can show those of other faiths scriptures from the bible that teach standards also taught in their own, that they'll be convinced that the bible is the true word of the same God we all pray to, worship, and love. 

I'm out of time, but in closing, I'd just like to share something from a lesson we had with a recent convert we work with named Aaron. Aaron is one of the most humble and intelligent men I've ever met. He ran unto some pretty huge trials several years back, and his story is an inspiring one. He took the hand of Christ, who pulled him through the darkest periods of his life, and he continues to hold close to the Lord as he faces the struggles of every day life. He is now regularly attending the temple and preparing to serve a mission. On Saturday, we sat with him and talked about virtue out of the Christike attributes section in the Preach My Gospel. We talked about the meaning of virtue, and concluded that virtue is entirely what's in a person's heart. Virtue is service others when no one is looking. Virtue is scripture study when nobody tells you to do it. Virtue is seeking guidance and personal progress for yourself. Virtue is living the gospel for the gain of others rather than yourself. It made me think about whether I knock on gates because my companion rags on me for not doing it, or if I do it because I desire their salvation. I think about whether I try to keep a positive attitude all the time because nobody wants a downer companion, or because I want to have the spirit with me as I teach. I'M OUT OF TIME I need to evaluate myself more and I know that if we ALL do that that growth will come quickly. 

I love you all and thank you all so much for everything! Thank you for the letters, glad everything is all okay back home!

HAM AAPLOGKE BAHUT PYAAR KARTA HAI, KHYAAL RAKNA!'

Elder Ishibashi-Fiji

 

-Happy for this guy 

 

-Service with the Koyamaibole matavuvale!

I think Sister Koyamaibole is Chochi Fong's father's sister or something. Sister Koyamaibole facetimed Chochi while we were there, and he was with Awe Miyasaki! It was way nice to see them! 

 

-Baptism of Tabokai Matang, and I was privileged to perform it! 

-Youth playing soccer after the baptism. Our youth invited Tabokai into the family with WIDE open arms, and I'm so glad that our ward has been blessed with a strong and united youth group to welcome Tabokai.

3-5-17 Not lost, just not ready.....

Namaste hamaar bahut julum pariwaar!! Aaplog kaise hai??

This last week has been a good one! Nothing suuuper out of the ordinary except a few things I'd rather not mention, but there were a few highlights! 

On Tuesday, we were invited to the mission home for an incredible zone conference! We were privileged to receive trainings from the Assistants, the zone leaders, and President and Sister Layton. All huge eye-openers and testimony builders, I honestly have a newfound appreciation for the closing doors and wave-offs we get daily. Now I recognize those as tried opportunities. 

Elder Datoon has gotten into the annoying/helpful habit of saying things like "They could be the ones" or "What would Jesus do?" when I'm hesitant to approach houses or people. These little remarks are normally met with "FINE" or "UuuUUGGHHH", but I've come to see that those remarks are only made to help me see the importance of approaching EVERYone. I do firmly believe that I was called here to find and bring back people I knew and loved in the pre-earth life, and I do firmly believe that the lord won't just hand them over to me. I have to be ready and willing to search for them. I also know without a shadow of a doubt that the lord would approach anyone and everyone to bring them the message of the Father. Though I have gotten heaps better at it, it is still uncomfortable for me to approach people, but I go and do it because I know that Lord would want me to. There will always, without fail, be people who are not ready to accept the gospel when we knock on their gates. Their will be people who will never be ready in this life time, but I've learned not to see unwilling souls as failures on my part or eternally-lost sheep. If we've spoken up and invited someone to hear the restored message of the everlasting gospel, we've done our part. They will either accept or decline. What follows the invitation is entirely up to them. However, the Lord has His way and His time for those who decline. They are NOT hopeless, just not ready. 

In conference, President Layton stressed a new importance of gathering the Lord's flock, and this came with a change in the mission schedule and key-indicators. 

One of the key-indicators linked to the new stress on finding is that missionaries will no longer focus on reactivating less-active members. Ward members are now entirely responsible for the looking-after and bringing-home of less-active members in ward boundaries. This will give missionaries more finding time and more opportunities to work with current investigators and recent converts. 

FAMILY. PLEASE look out for those who are less/inactive. Show them that you love them and want them to return to church, whether it's through inviting them back or something as simple as weeding their yard. Get the ward involved in letting those people know that they are not forgotten, and that they will always be a part of the ward family. 

A few of the changes include the following:

P-day is now from 10am to 4:30pm, which basically just means we start and end an hour earlier than before. This will allow for missionaries to have an earlier start to the day and have missionaries back in their areas earlier, so as to allow more proselyting time between qito and dinner. 

Weekly planning (previously on Fridays from 12-3pm) will be held on Sundays, opening Friday to be a full proselyting day. Sundays, which typically are less effective for finding anyway, will be shortened to three hours of proselyting due to the five hours used for studies and weekly planning between church and dinner. We're free to arrange that block however is most convenient for us.

Service can be done on any day between 10am and 9pm, no longer on Thursdays from 8-11am only.

I'm still adjusting to the changes, but they'll definitely be good for us and the work!

Anyways, I didn't bring my notebook from zone conference so I'll share something from it next week! 

Saturday was a really special day, and it turned out to be more-so than I thought!

Shreya had a beautiful baptism on Saturday. Lots of family and friends were in attendance, and wonderful talks were given on baptism and the power of the Holy Ghost. On Friday night, we received a call from Sister Chand saying that Brother Pillai would not be able to make the baptism the next day, and someone else would have to baptize Shreya. Sister Chand asked if it would be okay for me to baptize Shreya, and I gratefully accepted! I was able to perform my first baptism last week! WHAT a special experience that was, and it's given me a new hunger to find and baptize those who are ready and willing to learn of the Lord's plan. 

Anyways, it was a really nice service!

Elder Datoon and I continue to be in great health and spirits as we teach and preach and work as Fiji,Suva missionaries do. I'm loving my companion, my area, my ward, and the work!

In regards to the letters,

SO glad everyone's doing well at home!

Mom, thank you so much for your letter. That's a message I've become especially fond of sharing lately, that as long as we strive to the best of our ability to keep the covenants we renew when we partake of the sacrament, we will receive the blessings promised. As long as we always remember him and take upon ourselves his name, he will remember us and be with us always. 

One account that took place on Saturday night strengthened my testimony of what you said, about my mouth being filled when I allow for the spirit to humble and guide me. Elder Datoon asked me to lead the lesson with a less-active member we were visiting. I felt a sense of confidence and calmness when I was extended the opportunity that I honestly don't feel as often as I should. 

In zone conference, Presdent Layton told us that we could know when we're being guided by the spirit when we learn from what we say. I felt that on Saturday night.

The words seemed to pour out of me in ways that I've never expressed them before. I didn't get stuck this time, I didn't get scared or feel obligated to pass it over to Elder Datoon because I ran out of things to say. It simply felt like the feelings of my heart were rolling off my tongue smoothly and fluidly. No it wasn't in Hindi, but it was still a really special experience for me and I consider that an experience in which I was able to obtain the gift of tongues even if for a brief moment. I know that as I continue to genuinely and excitedly accept invitations to teach that my mouth will be filled and my remembrance will come to me in the time and place that I need it to. Thank you so much for reminding me of that, mom!

Dad, I'm glad you have the desire to help the Scouts! What a blessing it is for our boys to have you as a leader for them! REALLY make them want the opportunity to progress to Eagle, and do it with love. I didn't feel the drive because I felt forced by my leaders and they gave me reasons that didn't appeal to me or the future I saw for myself. Looking back, I definitely wish I had that drive and put in the effort to get my Eagle. Also a great growing experience!

That picture of Herb and Jaz is SIIIICK, I love it! Definitely printing that out and putting it in the trunky book. What is Jazamin really holding though, just curious haha. 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO SO HAPPY for 'Io! MAN it just reminds me that I REALLY need to fast more and further immerse myself in the work. I need all the help from home and on high if I want to get accepted as well (because I think it's pretty safe to say that my grades alone won't get me there). Just kidding. Anyways CONGRATULATIONS TO FILIPINO ELDER ISHIBASHI! 

Good to know that Kala'i and Lehia are enjoying and thriving in their activities! Both of you, never stop developing your talents! A missionary in the MTC gave me some advice he received from his band instructor in high school. 

"Don't practice something until you get it right, practice it until you can't get it wrong"

I don't imagine grandpa was one to simply suffice. Don't just be good, you don't necessarily have to be the best, but be GREAT and LOVE what you do. 

I'm glad Nina seems to be unchanging, except in her face, which really doesn't matter all that much because you'll always be my baby sister. I'm laughing thinking about the fact that we referred to Kala'i and Lehia together as "the babies" until Kala'i was like 8 years old. 

Thanks so much for the pictures, U'i! I can't wait to catch up with your babies on the things that happened in their baby lives over two years. 

OKAY I'm out of time, again, everything is all good here in Nasinu! Know you're all in my prayers day and night. I love you all so much, have a blessed week! 

Ham aaplogke bahut pyaar karta hamaar julum pariwaar! 

Kial rakna!

Elder Ishibashi-Fiji

 

 --Combine-zone qito feat. Suva zone "City slickers"

 

-Benjamin Kumar/Elder Reuben (Joe's little brother) was sent off to the Johannesburg MTC on Wednesday morning!

 

-NAAAAAANTS INGONNYAAAAAAAMA BAGITHI BABA

Hindi translation: UUUUUUUUUUS EK SHER HAAAAAAAAAIII UUS AUE HAI ABI

 

-LOOK AT THIS MILLIPEDE. THIS MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST BUG I'VE EVER SEEN, AND IT'S A MILLIPEDE.

 

-Fijian licence plate 

 

-Team lefty (yes, all three of them)

 

-Service w/ Sister Kotobalavu and sisters

 

-Elder Datoon dumped a bucket of water on Eroni and made him cry

 

-Baptism of Shreya Chand and Luisa Nacebe! Sister Nacebe asked Elder Datoon to baptize Luisa, and I was asked by Sister Chand to baptize Shreya! What a special experience! (I am aware of the grossness of my shirt and I plan on buying more soon no worries)

 

-Currently