I got conjunctivitis

Well yeah it was a good week. Lots of traveling and planes but i'm finally back to the area. While I was travelling my eye felt a little weird and then next thing you know doctor Ishaq told me I needed some medicine soon or i'd need an IV. So yeah it looks like someone sucker punched me and i'm just going to start a rumor that's what happened and see how far it goes.

It was an awesome experience yesterday for Isaia's baptism. Afterward members were just hyping him up and he asked us when the best day for us to come back to his village was because he has people in mind to start visiting!

He had a nice thought that he bore his testimony about. He said that too many people get caught up about the name of the church or nicknames like Mormons or LDS and don't even focus on the church itself. Too many people see those mormons and don't even give them a chance when they don't realize what the church is actually about! Really honestly all we missionaries try to do is help. We don't come to your village to burn down your church and take your money. We just want to help.

We've had a few Americans coming to church who also do humanitarian stuff in Savusavu and they got thrown right into the deep end with an after baptism feast. It made me realize how far i've come with food in general. Looking over at them just looking at their massive plates with items including sea cucumber and pig with the hair still on it as I had tomato sauce on my fingers as Rourou was falling out of my mouth while I licked a bone clean. The mission does things to you.

The Waitui m e g a  burger. Only 6 USD. 

 Savusavu reefs from the sky.

Brother Isaia's baptism! peep the eye. 

More plane

Kwaca na Vatu

It's been a great week. New area, new work, and new people.

Transfers were interesting. Got to ride a plane alone which reminded me of my travels to Fiji. Only a 40 Minute quick ride. My new companion is Elda Haderlie. He's from Wyoming and a hard worker. Lots of nice beaches here.

The work is good here. We have a few people on baptismal date for this month! Way crazy stories here. It's a way great area. The work has been slower in the past but my comp and his last companion really boosted it.  Hope to keep up the Hard work.

Sorry for the shorter email this week. I'll get more pictures and stuff for the next week.

Loloma bibi

Elda Gwilliam

Last area from the Air. Malake island is the weird triangle looking one. 

Me and my last comp. I look like a stickfigure. 

Plane

Mai RakiRaki, Nanuma tikoga

Well, President called this morning. I'm already going... That was unexpectedly quick. But it will be fun. I'm off to the SavuSavu area in the North Zone! I've heard it's the hidden paradise of Fiji. They also have a different dialect which is great.

But the highlight of the week was definitely the visit of the prophet! I got to see almost all of the people from Naitasiri again which was awesome! Brother Eroni and Sova weren't there when I walked past at the end and they were rushing the missionaries out so I didn't manage to see them which was sad. But another day!

I'm sure the church has already posted about what the visitors talked about but i'll just share some highlights.

      Sister Gong talked about the importance of an Education and the doors it can open.

      Elder Gong talked about Faith and how the small things today make big changes in the future. He even rattled off some Fijian and the crowd went WiLd. "Dua na gasau." -Elder Gong

      Sister Nelson taught about how ALL of life's questions can be answered in the scriptures. Obviously some questions can't be answered in this life but many can be. Including questions about work, family, and pretty much everything else. Just give it a try!

      President Nelson taught about scattered Israel and how we are fulfilling prophesies whenever we testify of Joseph Smith or Josefa Simici as they call him here. He also talked about the importance and the miracle of the Book of Mormon. Without it, there would be no gathering of scattered Israel.

Well I know that Russell M Nelson is a prophet of our loving Heavenly Father and everything that he says is for us from God. There was a quote somewhere from one of the older prophets that went something like, "If me or any of the other prophets tried to say something contrary to the will of the Lord, he would remove us from the position before we could lead anyone astray."

Then we got to sing the Fijian Farewell song and that was awesome. It's talks about saying goodbye but also remembering the fun that you had. Very nice song.

Working in Wailoku while waiting for the prophet.

Me with Elda Ormond one of our hosts while in Suva. From NZ and leaving in like 4 days.

That's more like it. Also found out that my companion knew where the grave was the whole time but just thought it was funny that I was taking a picture next to a random grave. Couldn't be mad though because that sounds like something I would do. 

The Fiji Suva Mission

 

 Fun picture from the event. I'm sure some professional photographer got it better though. 

Road Trip

So sorry for only pictures. We are leaving for Suva soon so in a rush.

Thought this was the grave of a Fijian Cannibal Udre Udre who ate almost 1000 People but it turns out that it's just some random Indian Man. The search goes on. 

Barbasiga's twin brother. They look the exact same and both have barbershops in the same town. He had a duck in the box he was going to eat for dinner but I couldn't get a good picture. 

Loloma Street

 Me with a Family from Rabi. It's a part of Fiji, but they speak Kiribati there. 

 The bay by DuaDua Resort. 

Sa 'Ara na Yadra brasss

Great week this week!

We were able to baptize Joji and Sivoi! We had a rough time with their interviews seeing as the Zone Leaders are an hour away and we have to wait for boats and all that jazz to get to Malake but it worked out!

We were supposed to baptize Alipate as well but he fainted when he tried to leave the morning of his baptism and has fainted whenever he tries to go to church. His family thinks someone cursed him... Good thing we have the Priesthood.

We are on that Fasting grind here in RakiRaki. We don't get fed too often by members and they messed up our support payments for this month so we ran out of money very fast. I've scavenged the cabinets a few times and managed to find an expired package of instant noodles I ate raw and made some cracker peanut butter sandwiches with some old crackers we found. Couldn't tell what was creamier, the PB or the cracker.. It's all good though we'll just contact the mission office and hopefully work things out.

Shout out to all the Tina's on mothers day yesterday. One woman told me she constantly travels back and forth between Suva and RakiRaki (4hrs) to take care of her 45+ year old sons. One of them is sick  and the other gets worried when she's gone so she goes back and forth to restock her one son's flour and to nurse the other back to health. She said it's just because it's her responsibility. Thanks moms for all you do!

Love ya all

Elda G

Me and Elda Horton waiting for Interviews with Pres.

Brother Wilson. Kai Rotuma living on Malake. He's pretty much all the boys' dad there. 

Some of the Newest members of the church!

10 Days!

Sivoi's younger brother Jo

Kai Muslim

Well just wanted to start off this email with some quotes just so you guys can get a taste of the real Fiji experience.

"Elda you very fat." -The 1st Counselor in the Branch's wife

*Comments on my strong handshake* "Very strong, must be American. In my last life I was in the US Army. Just one of my beliefs." -Random Indian man on the street

*Elder Horton tells the kids to guess how old I am* "Muslim!!" -Fijian Child

So yep stuff like that is what I get the chance of experiencing daily on the streets and in the Villages of Fiji.

But yeah it was a great week. We managed to get some more investigators at church this week, and if all goes well we should have 3 baptisms plus one ward baptism this upcoming Saturday. 2 Boys from Malake and one 15 year old boy from Naivuvuni.

The Prophet is coming soon! Every time I think about it I get really excited. It's going to be awesome. Something like that definitely needs spiritual preparation for the best experience!

Have a good week everyone!

Elda Gwilliam

Back on exchanges with Elda Burge

When a prompting isn't enough to urge you to go to a house and Heavenly Father has to point it out even more.

Wonderfully Spiritual institution next to our flat. 

 Fijian Bus

Malake in background

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.