"CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST"

 

The Sister missionaries enjoy a Christmas craft project.

 

The Senior couples enjoy preparing then sharing the food

complete with gingerbread cookies and candy canes.

 

The Elders enjoy showing off their Christmas gift.

 

At our last zone meeting we enjoyed Christmas in August.

Elder and Sister Terry provided food, fun and gifts for

the missionaries. 

 

Elder and Sister Terry served for two years as Member, Leader Support Missionaries

 Elder Terry helped with MLS and electronics while SisterTerry looked after

 the missionaries. 

They are loved and missed in Fiji.

 

Mosiah 2:16

Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had

spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast,

for I have only been in the service of God. 

"SUNDAY THEN MONDAY"

 

The supermarket is closed and the gate

 is locked because it is Sunday.

 

The local market is empty because it is Sunday.

 

The Meridian Store is the first business to open

in the world.  It is on the International

Date line.  It is bolted shut because

it is Sunday.

 

 

Six day a week you can walk down the streets of Nagara  and enjoy

exploring the shops and visiting with the people. But on Sunday

everything changes.  Nagar becomes quiet. The shops are closed

and the people are either in the church houses or

visiting family members in the village.

 

D&C 59:9-10

And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt

go to the house of prayer and offer up they sacraments upon my holy day;

For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay

thy devotions unto the Most High;

 

 



"BY SEA"

Tourists travel by Yacht

 



 

Fishermen prefer the Motor Boat

 

 

The Big Ship delivers "goods" and people to Taveuni

on Tuesday and Saturday

 

Every day at noon the Ferry delivers people from Buca Bay

to Taveuni

 



 

Sometimes  people fish from a boat carved out of a log.

 

 

Every morning at eight or nine but definitely by 10

 the Ferry leaves for Vana Levu

 

 

 Fiji missionaries travel on all of types of boats to tell God's

children that he loves them.

 

 

We have learned to enjoy traveling on crystal clear water

while breathing soft air that tastes like salt. 

On every island we are lucky enough to visit the people know that we are

" Mormons" and they

respectfully call us "Elder" and "Sister"

 

Alma 63:5

"And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceedingly curious man,

therefore he went forth and built him an

exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by

the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the wet sea,

by the narrow neck which led into the land northward."

 

 

"ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME"

Crossing Rivers one way

Or Another

Elder McFadden, Elder Inia and Elder Tukea trying to conquer

 the bush with a smile and a granola bar.

 

Traveling in Vuna is always an adventure.  The village shares a water tank where water is collected when it rains. .  The water is used for cooking, bathing and drinking.  There are several

copra (coconut) plantations in Vuna.  There are also cattle ranches and a resort called "Paradise"

Traveling in Vuna makes us feel like we are back in Idaho.

 

"HELPING HANDS"

 



 Working with President Lesume to provide a

restroom for the Vuna Branch
 

 Filling Sand bags for the restroom septic system

 

Enjoy the clear water in Matei

 

Worldwide "Helping Hands" project in Matei

 Sister Hill and Sister McFadden cleaning

Hibiscus flowers from a bush.

 

 Helping the Young Women,( Mele Fisher and

Angelina Mohamme) learn how to conduct music

 



Finding a way for members to receive proper

medical care

Fixing a fence in Somosomo with the Elders

from the Taveuni district

(Elder Magalogo, Elder Nawaheni, ElderGardner, Elder Tamuera)

Elder Tamuera cleaning chairs for the Somosomo Branch

 

Finding a way to provide water tanks for villages

in the bush with Elder Inia  and Elder Tukea

President Watakini and Elder McFadden providing

clean water to Vuna

 

Filling pop bottle and plastic barrels with clean water
to take to the Saints in Vuna

after the community well went dry



Helping the blind to see and a five year old

deaf girl, Luisa, get proper health care

 

Service

 

Missionaries spend at least one day each week giving service to the communities where they live. The missionaries fix fences and clean chairs.  They clear litter from roads and teach music.

There are no rivers on the south end of Taveuni so when the community well dried up

 we began spending allot of  time hauling fresh water to the missionaries and members there. We also helped provide containers to catch rain water used for cooking, bathing and washing clothes. 

( How strange that an Idaho problem is also a problem on the South Pacific island of Fiji.) 

We also spend time gathering and delivering coconuts to people in need.  Every part of the palm tree is used for something. The liquid and nut provide nourishment while the husk is made into utensils and twine. The leaves become coverings to keep insects off of food and are made into brooms.

Additionally, we watch for individuals with special medical needs then help them find proper care.  

However, our most important service is given to those who will accept a Book of Mormon from us and then will read it and pray to find out if it is true.

 

Mosiah 2:17

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom;

that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow being

ye are only in the service o your God."

 

 



SISTER TULIA'S FAITH IN VUNA"

 Sister Tulia and her granddaughter sharing lunch.

 



 Elder McFadden, Elder and Sister Kennerly

 

 Priesthood and Sunday School

 

 Relief Society

 

 Young Women

 

 Entrance to the Chapel
 

Restroom

 



Primary

Today we met Sister Nanise Tulia.  Sister Tulia lives in a very modest home on a small piece of ground near Vuna in Taveuni.   She has been a member of the church for two years.  It was hard for her to speak with us but she indicated that she understood everything we said.  A sweet woman in her 60’s.  Last year she donated her yard for the meeting house of the Vuna branch. Each Sunday her yard becomes the entire church house.  Priesthood is held under one tree.  Young Men go under another tree.  Young Women are under another tree close to the Young Men.  Relief Society has chairs and they meet under a different tree.  Primary gets the enclosed area for half of the time and then the children and their two leaders move into the house for the remainder of Primary.  Part of the yard became an open air enclosed deck with a podium.  This is where the members in the branch hold Sacrament meeting.  The sacrament is passed very reverently by handsome young Aaronic Priesthood holders.  The songs are sung without accompaniment and the talks are given without a microphone.  The spirit bears witness that this is the beginning of good things to come in the Vuna branch.

 

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 7:12

"Yea and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?  Wherefore let us be faithful to him."

 

 



S"HARING A MEAL"

 

Each member of the family helps prepare the meal. 

The men provide the food.

The women cook the food.

The youth clean and prepare a place to eat the food.

The youth also clean up after the meal.

Everyone has a responsibility and the results are delicious food,

(tuna fish, dalo, papya, carrots, chicken currey)

served on hand woven mats

surrounded by new friends. 

 

One day we met one of our friends, Jesse, on the road.  He walked by our

house each day on his way to work.  On this day he told us that his

job was about to end.  When we asked him where he would find work he said

"God will show me where to get food for my family."

 

D&C 89:11,12

"Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Yea, flesh also of the beasts and of the fowls of the air, I the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;"