August 24, 2016
We have been busy this past couple of weeks, going with the
elders and sisters when the visit in-active members in the area. We get the
introduction to them at that time and then we make appointments to come and
visit them later. Most have a family with children, some are young and others
are older. We give lessons, usually by way of videos we have found on LDS.org and they love them. We aim at the children first, because if we can help them
get a desire to attend, mother's will follow and then we pray for the father’s, that they will want to return also. Many times we see mothers with children walking the roads going
to church, any church, but not many fathers are there.
We have had rain for the past two weeks, almost nonstop, and
our garden has suffered the consequences. It has drowned, rotted in the ground
or whatever else might happen to crops with so much rain. And this is the dry
season for them. Today we have sun, blue skies and I don’t see clouds in the
sky, but it can change in a short period of time.
This quote was shared by Nila Briem on Facebook; “We are all
faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible
situations.” She didn’t have an author but it is a wonderful thought and we
know in the church, that, if we are in tune, we will see these moments for what
they are.
We were very fortunate Saturday of having spent the day
with a senior couple, Elder and Sister Clark, here working with the Fiji Ministry of Health. Here in Fiji the area medical personnel are very territorial about the medical needs of the people. They do not like outsiders coming in and start doing their job. That is why Elder Clark must work with the Ministry of Health, Area Nurses, and the local nurses when doing the education and screening. They are
working with them to educate the people about the problems of diabetes. 30% of
the Fijians have diabetes. They perform 2-3 amputations daily in the hospital in
the city north of us, Labasa. They gave a presentation in Tukavesi Village on how they
can help reduce the sugar in their bloodstreams. The people in this village
were quite knowledgeable about it how they can live healthy. But with traditions and customs many do not seem to be using what they know to make the necessary changes for better health. The ladies were talking about healthy eating and zucchini entered the conversation. We had some zucchini bread in our lunch for the day, so we shared it with the ladies and they liked it very much. Sister Roberts is
going to give them a baking class in making zucchini bread and they are going to teach her some of the native Fijian dances.
A young sister came to the doctor to ask if he could visit her mother in a nearby village. He explained that he was not allowed to do that without the permission of the area nurse. But after some pleading we finally consented to visit her because it was on our way to the next village.We then visited Sister Whippy that had her lower right leg below
the knee amputated a few weeks ago. Sister Whippy has her
granddaughter taking care of her. She is only 10 years old. When the nurse took
her blood sugar it was about 400. Since she had had an amputation due to
diabetes, they called the area nurse and she asked if we could get her to the hospital
ASAP. We had to go to Naweni Village to screen all those who wanted screening,
but particularly those that had been tested years ago and were of concern to
the medical people. That took about 1 ½ hours. We then went back to Sister
Whippy and checked her blood sugar again, it was now over 400. We put her
into the truck and drove the 45 minutes to the hospital to have her admitted. By
the time we got there, her reading was over 600. She is still in the hospital today, 5 days later. Today we visited her and her sugar was up. They are having a difficult time getting her regulated.
When we were in the MTC, Elder Bednar spoke to us about coincidences. He explain that if we listen to the Spirit we will always be in the right place at the right time. For Sister Whippy, we know that we were there at the right time and had the ability and expertise to help her.
When we were in the MTC, Elder Bednar spoke to us about coincidences. He explain that if we listen to the Spirit we will always be in the right place at the right time. For Sister Whippy, we know that we were there at the right time and had the ability and expertise to help her.
We had just gone through a similar experience with Cassandra
in Phoenix. Blood sugar very high and three nights in the hospital. She missed
the first 3 days of school at her new school, but she felt good enough and
wanted to get to school on Thursday. She came home very tired, so she just went
to bed. Friday was much better and no one would have known how serious she was
when she was admitted to the hospital.
Miracles happen to us every day, change your perception of
what a miracle is and you’ll see them all around you. (Jon Bon Jovi)
Our mission president traveled to the island of Rotuma, several
hundred miles north of the main islands. There hadn't been a mission president
visit that island for over 10 years. It is such a remote island that his wife
was not able to travel with him. He traveled with Brother Vito Qaqa, from the facilities department of
the church. They were expecting to be there for 4-5 days, but we have had rain
every day for the past two weeks and more. Some days the rain is just a mist and
other time it is a torrential downpour. When it was time for their departure, the
grass runway was so wet and boggy, the plane could not take off. This
postponement went on for 4 days. Their next option to get back to Suva for the
new incoming 24 missionaries was to take a three-day boat trip. Finally, they
received word that a plane would take off. They rushed to the airport and
waited for a boarding pass. There were over a dozen people waiting for the
flight, but the plane only could carry 6 people. President Layton and Brother Qaqa were two of the
six to get on the flight. He related the following story when he returned.
“After Branch
Conference on Sunday, the spirit prompted me to go outside on the porch and
visit with Aleksio Jone, a non-member who had been investigating the Church for
10 years. He shared with me his story, including how he had been spared from
death 3 times, and felt that his life had been preserved for a purpose. During
our visit I felt prompted to invite him to be baptized during the week. He was
quiet for a moment and then he said “yes” he would be baptized. He said he knew
the Church was true and planned to be baptized in 3 years. As I interviewed him
a couple of days later it was obvious that he had been well taught by the
missionaries. During the week he went to his village meeting where he had not
been very supportive in the past and asked the village members to forgive him
of his faults and if he had offended anyone. He truly showed a changed heart.
Thursday morning the Branch gathered together to witness President Farpapa’u
baptize him in the ocean.”
The work of the
Lord goes on in Fiji. The missionaries are finding, teaching and baptizing
those that repent and want the gospel in their lives. We teach Temple Prep
classes, and yesterday help 17 of them board a ferry for the 12-hour boat ride to
Suva so they could enter the temple. They will be receiving their endowments
and families will be sealed for time and eternity. Attached is a picture of a
family in an outer village that we had to pick up and take to the boat, because
of the holiday and no buses were running. We were also fortunate enough to
make contact with their son, who is attending BYU-H. We informed him what was
happening with his family. He was so happy for them.
Aleksio Jone
Aleksio Jone baptism
Naweni Village - Fijian love to cook. Stir fry at it's finest
Naweni Village Diabetic screening
Brother Sepo's family boarding the ferry for the temple
Vunavesi Group
Sister Whippy and granddaughter
A new friend for Sister Roberts
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