Diwali Party Hai?

Bula

This week we were able to open up a new village! Ever since Isaia got baptized in Nakasa, it opened up that whole untouched side of the Bay. We went with a member to visit his father in the village Natua. Close to Nakasa, but all these villages are untouched! Never before have the missionaries visited any of these villages! It's an honor and feels awesome to be able to be the first.

It was also Diwali this last Sunday. Our under us neighbors invited us and they kept taking pictures of the white people at their party. Flex Mada. Elder Burge and Elder Tipene were with us because they are going to Labasa so they dropped by. They love to eat sweets (In the trays) and they are all very good! My favorite was a ball of condensed milk with sugar and something else. Kamikamica dina

Right now we are back in Taveuni. Rode the boat over here and got to lie down on the top of the boat because there weren't many people. Luxury.

Well loloma yani sara vakalevu. sota tale next week.

Elda Gwilliam

Sights of Savusavu, including some Diwali house lights. 

 The lure they use to catch the fish on the boat to Taveuni

 Kids from Nakasa

 Diwali with our neighbors. 

Tobo!

Well just realized I forgot my SD card, so no pics this week sorry.

But it was a good week regardless.

We finally got to watch General Conference which was good. Had lots of less actives there which was good. One of the Families that we taught came which was good. It was all in English and the wife doesn't know a lick of of English but she still had a good time so that's good.

We had some funny experiences with some of the other people we taught. Just the other day we tried to visit a man so we stopped on the main road near his house. He sent his older daughter out to tell us that he was in the village for church, so we decided we'd try somebody a bit back down the road. So we drove up a little where there was an easier spot to turn, and as we were driving back he was walking on the road towards his farm with his farming equipment in hand. He  just looked at us with these wide eyes and almost turned around back towards his house.

But the work goes on. We have Zone Conference tomorrow which is always a hoot. I think we are all getting a Mega Burger from Waitui's so I'm pretty hyped about that.

Well Sorry for the shorter email, but I promise I'll send pics next week.

Elda Gwilliam

Fiji Air

We had a good week this week! Some progress was made with Taniela and Loa! We invited a member to go with us who is good friends with them and then read 3 Nephi 18 together and invited them to take the sacrament. They came next Sunday!

We found a couple of cool people this week! It's awesome how accepting everyone is here of a visit. You can go to 95% of the houses here any they will let you in. The hard part is just to have them accept the message.

Well love you all a lot! Sorry for the shorter email this week, hope the pics make up for it

Elda Gwilliam

Nadi Intl. Airport from the sky

The Western Highlands from the sky

Malake Island (The one we proselyted on in RakiRaki) and RakiRaki from the sky.

Reservoir view of the Savusavu bay from the ground. 

Coqa

Well just got back to my area after being out of it for a week so not many highlights this week. Got to stay with the Hindi Elders while I was waiting for my next comp coming from Rotuma. There's only one flight a week that comes from there but it was good. Got to learn a bit of Hindi. Jeewan kei roti ham hei??

Then my companion flew in on Friday. Elder Reese from my intake! He is awesome and we've already got into the swing of things. Sad to be leaving soon

On another note we got crashed into on Friday. Me, Elder Burge, and Elder Tipine were in the car and stopped to let a man cross the crosswalk and got nailed from behind by a man waving at some people off to the side. He didn't have license and it wasn’t his car so he will be in some trouble and was freaking out. Felt bad for him. No injuries though which was good.

Well that's about it for the highlights. Met a man from naitasiri and got to veivosaki vakanaitasiri which was nice.

Loloma Yani

Elda Gwilliam

Normal Hindi program member meal

Normal Fijian program member meal 

Uncle and his farm. He's 75 and still works it every day

The damage to our Hilux

Transfer Calls

Bula

It was a superb week. Elder Hibbert got transferred, so I get Elder Reese! We are in the same intake so that is awesome!

We had a pretty normal week workwise, got a full week which was a relief.

Got to go with Elder Haderlie before he heads off to America.

We have been working with a few less actives that are showing a lot of progression! One of them says she will come to church next week and drag her husband if she has to! That really gets us excited here!

Sorry for the shorter email but it was a pretty normal week!

Loloma Yani

Elda Gwilliam

 Derrick and Nadia drinking some coolshakes

 Me and Elder Haderlie with Isaia (For some reason Fijians are always smiling until the camera comes out.)

 Isaia's house, where it all started

 Elder Hibbert with some of the boys. When we mentioned taking a picture, 2 of the 3 boys went and brought out new shirts and the others started to wash their faces haha

Parataisi Vuni

Another awesome week here in Hidden Paradise! Started off with exchanges in Taveuni! I got to go with Elder Ramos and we had a great time! Taveuni exchanges are a little bit different than a normal exchange so I'll diagram it out a bit
Monday:
7:00 Leave the flat
8:45 Arrive at Natuvu Wharf and hop on boat
11:00 Arrive in Taveuni and P-Day with the Elders there
Tuesday
District Council and proselyting time
Wednesday
6:30 Leave flat and walk towards wharf. (and hope a taxi comes by in the morning)
7:30 Boat Leaves back for Natuvu
9:30 Arrive in Natuvu
11:00 Arrive back to Savusavu

So that's how that goes. The boat ride back was a little interesting. Very Rough seas and the boat was rocking. Randomly mid ride the boat stopped and a Fijian man pulled this 4-5 foot massive green fish out of the ocean. (They had 2 fishing lines attached to the back of the boat.) And proceeds to club it to death with a rod. Then one lady lost her breakfast, and an Indian Auntie sitting across from me proceeds to throw her body towards the railing and almost loses hers as well. Eventful ride for sure.

Then we had some nice proselyting time in our area. Still no contact from Sherran. We saw her and waved but no progress with her husband yet.

The Rugby world cup is starting on another note! Toso Viti Toso!!

Elda Gwilliam

View from Vinesh's House!

Salt Lake Road

Comp pic from The Salt Lake

Pot of Gold

White Leper Bears Stirring Testimony of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Fijian!! [not clickbait]

It was a good week. We were able to spend a day in the Nabua area. It has been closed for a bit now so we went to go check up on it. We stayed overnight and it was fun!

While we were there we were just kind of visiting some of the other villages in the area because it was pretty much a one day whitewash and we taught a few people outside on some benches. We shared a scripture and halfway through my portion I realized that one of the people there was videoing. We were joking about what they would title it if it went on YouTube hence the subject line. Leper because I had a massive cold sore on my chin.

We also got to go to Tukavesi for a bit and had exchanges with the Labasa Elders. And right now we are back on Taveuni. Seems like yesterday we were here but here we are again.

Sorry for the shorter email but the next one should have even more pictures!

Loloma Yani

Elda Gwilliam

Us with former Elder Kalougata. Just finished his mission a few months ago

 'aubale mata mai na sawana

Looks like we're fasting today Elder

Beach

The Nabua Flat

The Nabua church building with sign