Malake

It was a good week this week. We were able to make it over to Malake a few times. That's the island that is in our area that we take a boat over to. It's just like one of those little motor boats that the family used to drive at Redfish Lake. Or as the Fijians call them the Fibas (Fiberglass). We aren't actually allowed to proselyte over there, but we just go and if anyone wants to take the lessons they just go to the Member's house there. It's really cool because 75% of the members there kids and they just do missionary work better than I ever could back home by inviting their friends to come to church. Samuela Sivoi (Noqu Yaca) and Joji are 2 young boys we teach there who are on date.

Our branch has so many women and children but only 5 active priesthood holders. That is the big struggle. They want to become a ward but can't until they increase that number. We are just trying to work with the less active ones and it's great to see the ward members who go and minister to them.

A little more about my area, it's in the West Zone which is the hottest of the 7 zones. There's the West, North, Nausori, Korovou, Suva, Suva North, and Independent. It's the Sugar cane capital of Fiji because of the weather. There's tons of Mango trees here and we are really close to the ocean.

We had exchanges on Saturday and now we have no more food at our flat and our truck is out of Kilometers for the Month and we're both almost out of money but it's good. Just part of the experience. Have a good week everyone.

Elda Gwilliam

Juice stand. If you find the right guy you can buy cigarettes under the table also.

 Malake boys (+1 Girl) Samuela is on the far left and his older brother is 3 from the left. 

Boat ride to Malake with Elda Brigton

You jealous yet mom??

Exchanges in Ba with Elda Horton. 

Moce Moto Bitu, Yadra Ma'e na Ma'e

Well of course right when I leave Naitasiri there's crazy flooding there. That's just unlucky for me I guess. But yeah it's been really rainy in pretty much all of Fiji. I've been transferred to the RakiRaki area. Rak City as they call it. It's in the western part of Fiji and it's pretty hot out here. That's okay though I've always preferred the heat over the cold anyways.

My new companion is Elda Pakofe. He's from Kearns Utah but was born in Tonga. He's only been in Fiji for about 3 months now. He's a great guy.

The area is beautiful. Right next to the beaches and there are lots of resorts here. The work is pretty good here as well so let's go get it done! There's a branch here and it's the only one in the west but the Stake President has been working with us to turn it into a ward! The members here are great!

But It's also a pretty city area here. We live in town and it's weird being able to buy whatever we need whenever we want. We sit on couches here and speak in English if we want to but I try not to. We have a few Indian people who we are working with so lots of changes! They also eat with forks and stuff here so first time they put that in front of me my hands were shaking because i'm not used to it... It's much easier for me to eat a fish with my hands than with a fork. Still in a driving area though.

The dialect here is pretty fun. It's pretty much if a Utahn spoke fijian and then change it a little more. They drop all the t's and the K's are like an "H" noise sorta. This is where the language really starts to get interesting. I see the occasional person from Naitasiri here though so I still get to break out that Vosa VakaNaitasiri. They also say the Fijian equivalent of "Good Morning" all day long here which threw me off at first. It was like 8:00 P.M. and some guy told me good morning. Just the weird Regional stuff. Well enjoy the long email.

Kalouga'a 'iko

Naitasiri boys at Savutoa

Savutoa

When your companion isn't afraid to drop $35 on a resort Pizza...

Got to see Brother Eroni at the bus stand when I was just about to leave Suva! It was awesome to see him because I didn't really get to say goodbye to him. I was throwing my suitcases in and he just ran over and gave me a hug. 

One more of the Waitaqolo Gang

Boso Lada

It's winding down to a close here in Naitasiri. It will be sad to say goodbye but everyone tells me to come back and visit with my wife. They all think i'm married right now so sorry to my wife whom I don't know about.

We've had a pretty good week. Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays are really hard for work here eckspecially when there is a rugby tournament going on. Fridays everyone is in their teitei to gather produce and saturday everyone is in suva to sell their produce. Sundays is truly a day of rest for Fijians and they love reassuring that fact with us.

Sova has been progressing very well. She bore her testimony this last week about how the devil tempts her so much when she is with her non member family, but she knows that she has to stay strong. It's pretty cool to see people grow so quickly in the Gospel.

We get to go to General Conference this Sunday and it might be in Fijian so we will see how that goes. One of the members in our area is one of the translators so we might be hearing his voice! Fun stuff

Anyways next week when I email I might know where I'm getting transferred, but its all good no matter what happens. Love you tons and have a great week!

Elda G

 Everyone in this kid's village kept calling him pregnant when they saw this pic.

It's that time of the year

Na iVola i Momani