Come What May, and Love It (Samabula Area, Week 4)

Cool overlook of Suva Harbor from our area

Bula vinaka tale!

It's been quite a week, to say the least. Miracles are never ceasing - the work just keeps progressing here in Samabula 2nd! Elder Kanongata'a and I are doing really well together. Some people thought that this area was "dead"; I don't think that they really looked at it through God's Eyes (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/through-gods-eyes?lang=eng).

Eating with our investigator, Sisa (left) and the Ravosai family

Sister Ravosai is from Tavua!

This little girl goes by the nickname "Pretty"

Just really quickly, cause I have to go soon, I want to share a few experiences from this past week. One of them we had just happened after church yesterday. Bishop Sautu introduced us to a couple who had been coming to church and apparently, they're an extremely less-active family that has made a comeback to the gospel recently. Bishop asked for us to reteach them the missionary lessons, but as we talked, we learned that the wife was baptized 5 years previously but never confirmed (given the gift of the Holy Ghost). Her records were never entered into the system as a result, and now the responsibility falls to us to re-baptize her, as per church policy. Hopefully, before the month is over, she will be both baptized and properly receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which, according to John 3:5, is an essential part of receiving our salvation in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father. The sister, Sofaia Matanatabu, has family problems related to her church attendance, but she doesn't care - she told us that she's making a stand now because she knows that the Church is true. Her faith and courage is amazing.

One big thing I learned this week was about facing trials with faith. According to Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles a few years ago, we need to let whatever happens happen and just "love it". I'm working on that right now - it's transfer week (officially) and I don't know what's going to happen. But "come what may and love it".

Love you! Loloma yani mai Viti!

Elder Barnaby

Fiji Suva Mission Picture with Official Party for Temple Dedication - 20 February 2016

 It was a day never to be forgotten