Education, Testimonies, Revivals

Sorry that this one is for a month, but we do get busy here. We have been given some new assignments that will keep us busy and challenge our resourcefulness.

We are now facilitators for the Self-Reliant program here in the Savusavu area. We work with missionaries that will be going home in the next 6 weeks and work with them on the first 6 lessons in the manuals. The program allows for differences in abilities, education, etc. and it can give assistance in helping them prepare for education upon their return home. Check the Self-reliant program out on LDS.org or on your apps for Gospel Library. It can be a help to you as your children prepare for life after the 12 years of school.  We have also started a class called self-reliance in one of the villages with the members, although this program is open to all. They want to find something they can do to earn more money. Prior to submitting missionary paperwork, potential missionaries must have $195 Fijian in the branch account. This is 3 months the costs of a mission.

We visited Dreikeniwai, a small village, for Sacrament meeting today. As usual we were asked to bear our testimonies. The members are so humble and accommodating to us when we come. It is also the village where the District President lives, but he was in Savusavu, our “home” branch, changing the branch presidency. Our relief society president grew up there and owns the house the members meet in. Her husband did a year ago and they put a tomb in their front yard.

Sister Roberts and Sister Rabuka (owner)

Ready for Sacrament meeting

Jackie bore testimony that we all have something special that we can do. It may not be the “big” things that are considered great to do, but we all have a work to do here; that our Father in Heaven has designed especially for us. Through these trials we learn and grow and become more obedient and submissive to the promptings of the spirit.

Told the story of the two pots, one pot was cracked, and water leaked out and fell upon the flowers on his side of the road. Jesus Christ knows our “cracks” and has promised that He will make our weaknesses strong. We only have to be obedient and be better today than we were yesterday and better tomorrow than we are today. As long as were a moving forward in a positive manner toward the ultimate goal of eternal life, we are successful.

Tonight I went with the Elders to talk to an investigator. He was with his wife and child looking for work here. He is from Labasa, a town north of us. He was baptized a while back to the Assembly of God church. I not sure what religion he was prior to his 1^st baptism. I met him at church today and didn’t know he was not a member. But he is staying with a member. He is very smart and inquisitive about what went on in church today. Who knows what he and his family will do but the message was that we have a way for him and his family to be happy in this life and be together as a family after this life.

Sunday night we went to a village and attended a village “revival” that is hosted by the different churches in the area. The hosting preacher gave a grand sermon, all in Fijian so we didn’t understand a word. But he was loud and it reminded me of the Neil Diamond song, “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show”. Then there is a village picnic outside the building. We had to miss the picnic due to a need to take the sacrament to a blind sister that cannot get to church. The Elders take her this each week. She was so humble and had such a strong testimony. She seems so positive, even with all the difficulties she is going through. We met her a few weeks ago in Savusavu, when her niece brought her to town to shop. Her kindness and sweet, happy disposition was so uplifting.

Dancing

Singing

Praying