Called to SERVE

Hello Hello all!

Missouri is great! It was pretty hot and humid the first couple of days but it has cooled down quite a bit recently. I've already been wrecked by bugs so this will be a nice transition into Fiji weather.

My trainer is Elder Richins from Morgan, UT. He is an awesome guy and I am excited to work with him for the next few weeks. On our first day here we visited the temple, liberty jail, and the Independence visitors center so it was a pretty jam-packed day! But Elder Richins and I got right to work on our first day. We do a lot of service here which is awesome. The members here are all super supportive and are really nice.

Sister Love (The Mission Presidents wife) told us that the average weight gain here is around 25 pounds and I believe that! Kansas City BBQ is amazing and we get fed by the members pretty much every dinner. VIGSKC is a pretty good BBQ joint in our town which is cool.

I showed up and my trainer had been teaching a few people for a little bit and we already have a baptism scheduled! How cool is that! I don't know why I got assigned to Missouri but I am super excited to find out in the next few weeks.

Working here has opened my eyes to how little I helped back home. Missionary work here revolves around members and referrals so I would invite you guys to get more involved. I know the Elders and Sisters would greatly appreciate it.

That is pretty much it from me! I am doing good and love hearing from everyone! Have an awesome week.

Love, Elder Gwilliam or William because pretty much every one here can't pronounce my last name haha

Sam with his companion, Elder Richins

Elder Gwilliam is Going Places!

A nice person sent me this pic of Sam from the airplane on his way to Missouri for his new mission assignment. Glad to see him smiling and ready to go! 

New Jerusalem Here I Come!!!!

Bula Bula!!! Na cava cake koli?? (The super incorrect Americanized way of saying "What's up Dog?")

'Twas a superb week. In fact, today is my last P-Day here at the MTC! Well I guess first off, I got temporarily reassigned to the Independence, Missouri mission!! I will be there for a transfer most likely unless my Visa comes within the next coupla days!! I'm excited to learn more about the Church's history and I know that I am supposed to be in MO for a reason! I'm excited for the next few weeks and I get two extra days here at the ole' MTC! Also, Pretty much half our zone is leaving on Monday so I will barely miss a new shipment of Fijians, Tongans, and Samoans!

The air has gone back to super smoky with all the new fires. At night we can see some of the flames and the smoke cloud is totally growing. Hope that get's all taken care of because I want to visit Fairview when I get back home!

We also got the opportunity to host this week as well! It was awesome for us to return the favor and be someone's first experience with the MTC. I even got to host Elder Skarda who went to Bingham! It was an awesome experience and made me realize how fast my time here is going. It felt like just yesterday I was being dropped off but it was actually over a month ago!

I have been trying to finish the BoM from the beginning during my time here and I am just about done! I have seen some crazy blessings in my life because of it and I challenge you guys to evaluate your study habits and see what you are doing well and what needs work! I know if you do, Heavenly Father will strengthen your weaknesses and allow you to have meaningful study time!

Sorry for the short email but it was just another week at the MTC haha. Love you all, thanks for the support!!

Elder Qilliame

The smoke on a *Good* day

One of my awesome Fijian teachers Brother Banks

Elder Cannon and a Fish-Eye lens

My second mission call!

Bula Vinaka Tacinqu!!

Hey all! It was a super amazing week here at the MTC!! Just kidding it's pretty much the same thing every day so it's not anything too interesting. We wake up, eat breakfast, go to class, maybe attend the occasional workshop, play some volleyball, go to bed, and repeat. We should be getting our flight plans today though so that is super awesome!! Tomorrow is the one month mark!! That is so crazy. I'm already 1/24 of the way through with my mission.

We had the opportunity to teach a Skype TRC yesterday!! We taught a man from Arizona who got back from Fiji a little while ago! So Kevin if you're reading this, thanks for being chill and bearing with us. It was funny listening to the little jingle that the speakers make while the call is going out. It reminded me of those times when we got to Skype Andrew in Russia and it's crazy to think now I'll be calling home pretty soon! Speaking of Andrew it was awesome to run into him on his way to TRC! Glad to know the outside world is still actually a thing and the second coming didn't happen or anything. We honestly probably wouldn't know because of how locked down it is here haha.

This week we got a nice lesson at choir about the restoration and the life of Joseph Smith! We were singing Praise to the Man and the leader is an institute teacher so it was bound to happen haha. But it's awesome to hear about how Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor, and Dr. Richards were able to seal their testimonies with their actions!! I definitely want to go back to Nauvoo sometime. We heard of so many miracles that happened in conjunction with that story and it really reaffirmed my testimony that God is in the details of our lives and he won't let anything happen to us that isn't supposed to happen. (So long as we listen to his promptings.)

Going along with my thoughts above it's comforting to know that Heavenly Father is still a part of our lives! Fiji missionaries right now have a pretty hard time with Visas. Something with the switching of visa coordinators and running on island time means that some missionaries don't get their visas on time. As I have been thinking about it though, I was thinking that if Heavenly Father could help Moses part the Red Sea and if he could help the Pioneers cross the plains, then I'm 100% sure that he could encourage some travel coordinator to get us our Visas. So that means if we don't get them then that's not a bad thing!! We are needed wherever we get reassigned!

I guess since I'm gonna be dipping out of the MTC pretty soon I should share my testimony ena vosa vakaviti.

Au via wasea na noqu ivakadinadina
Au kila na parofita dina Josefa Simici
Au kila e Bula Nikua na Parofita nayacaqu O President Nelson
Ni lomani keda na Kalou
Na iVola Dina na iVola I Momani kei iVola Tabu
E Bula O Jisu Karisito
Ena Yaca I Jisu Karisito, Emeni

Love you all, hope for the best.

Elder Gwilly

Note from Sarah: These are the only pics this week.  BROTHERS! I'm so grateful Andrew got to lay eyes on Sam for me and give hugs from us.  They are both huge blessings to our family!