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

No Subject This Week

It was another great week!

We got to baptize Brother Akariva and his family this last Sunday! It was a really cool experience and he already wants to come out with us on member present lessons! It's awesome to see what the spirit can do when people have concerns. 3 weeks ago I didn't think I'd be here when they got baptized, but the next week the first thing they told us was how quickly they wanted to be baptized. Amazing stuff!

Zone Conference was this past week! Was great to hear the messages and feel the spirit. It's always a nice break and we learned a lot about asking inspired questions. I've never felt the language barrier harder than when I try to ask questions... It's good though.

Transfers are coming up which is exciting. The suspense is building even more than past transfer calls because i'm pretty much guaranteed leaving.

Was thinking a little bit about the Atonement this week. In PMG I read something (can't remember what) but it really made me think. It was talking about how repentance and forgiveness are related. It never really clicked with me before that, but when we repent we don't go back in time and take away Christ's suffering for our sins. It is simply him showing his love for us and forgiving completely the suffering we caused him. Grateful for the atonement in my life.

Kalougata Tiko

Elda G

The Walk to the River

Akariva and his Family!

Tavioka Teitei + Fiji Rain = Feeling Under the Weather

Well it was a rainy week this week. But it was still awesome. We did service in a TeiTei in the rain and got wrecked. Luckily it wasn't for too long and I only felt sick for the rest of the day.

We got Sista Sova baptized yesterday! She walked in the rain to the church building (45 mins) which was awesome! She bore her testimony and said that the adversary didn't want her to go but she knew she had to go. She is awesome and will progress great!

This Sunday we have a family on date. They moved in right next to the church building and haven't missed a day for about 2 months! The members have helped us so much with them. I thought there would be more problems and I was expecting to have to resolve some concerns, but last tuesday we went there and the first thing they said was, "We want to be baptized quickly." It shocked me but the Spirit works wonders. They are an awesome family.

Zone Conference is tomorrow which will be good.

Also my comp last night killed a rat with an iSele haha. I saw it walk under the crack in the door and I just pointed at  it and said something in Fijian (Can't remember what) and then he grabbed the blade, the rat tried getting back under the door and a few swipes and sparks later the rat was no more. Fun times.

Love you all tons!

Elda G

Wai Ni Mala Baptism

Me with "Big Mala"

Zone Leaders lost their truck and have the STL's car haha. The Elder in Passenger is the tallest elder in the Mission. 

Bro Seru (Unit Leader), Me, Sova and her son, Brother Eroni (Member who always goes out with us), Elda Hippolite

Sa Vou Lima na Macawa i Naitasiri

Bula Maleka na taciqu kei ganequ vakayalo

It was a great fifth to last week here in Naitasiri. We had a couple of sick days, which is just something that comes with the areas.

We have still been working hard with our people. Sova's baptismal Interview is scheduled for this Thursday. We have been working hard with her and She is very ready to be Baptized.

I got my Fijian Drivers License. It's pretty funny here. I was supposedly supposed to take a driving test but the lady just gave it to me.. It's good though to have gotten that out of the way and not have to spend any more days at the LTA.

Sorry Not too much of an Eventful week. Love you all!

Elda G

Na Vula

Just a Pic

My forever burden. Thinking of legally changing my name to G William

StAY oFF tHe ROaD

Obedience Brings Success

Bula Vinaka na Wekaqu Vakayalo

It was a good week this week. We had a few cool experiences with people coming to us to be taught. The first one was in the koro Navuniyasi. The son of one of the members there (Who by the way is 90 years old and still works on his teitei) asked the member we go with to come and visit him. We taught him a Lesson 3 and he told us that he desires to be baptized in water and the spirit. Never even met the guy before yet people still know who to go with if they have a question like that as long as they know you are going to help them.

The other was in the village where we have church. We were talking to a lady about where her son was, who is taking the lessons, and she said that he was gone but was going to be back on Sunday. One boy standing there proceeded to tell me he wants to take the lessons as well. Glad that people are comfortable with us.

The people here are all amazing. The members, the random people you meet on the street, everyone. I'm so glad I have 6 more weeks in this area and then off to new terrain. Thanks for the support and the love!

Elda G

Brother Malakai and his grandson Duwai. Cool guys

Bridge

Welcome to the Safety Zone

I don't actually know how to cook roti

Boy Ni Veikau

It was a good week this week. Some Viral infection has been sweeping though Fiji so we had to take 2 sick days but now we are getting back into it. Transfer calls are tomorrow, so we will see what happens. Exciting stuff. We got to visit some cool villages this week in the heart of the country. Way crazy places and way humble people. The work is great, and the people are greater. Love you all

Elda G

Father-Son lunch date

This Taro root was bigger than my head. Also sidenote, "A little bit off the sides" I said.

Nasalia Koro

Me with the Wai Ni Mala

Finally got a $7 Note