Jan. 7, 2015

     Our great friends the Roths from Savusavu wrote and asked us to do a favor that they knew would be difficult. They sent specific instructions, address included, and asked if we would try to find a man who is in an old folks home and needs a new wheelchair. We were delighted when she wrote his name Roop Chand. Yes, it is our Roop we go see and play with once a week. Rex got the needed signature & stamp, and we emailed a scanned copy that very day back to the Roths and sent the original back to them yesterday with the Zone Leaders. The order had been in since August, before we got here, but it needed the extra verification before they could move on it. It will still be a while, but when the wheelchair comes, they will bring it up, and the four of us will deliver it to him. That made us smile a lot!

     Brian and those who love the gym would be impressed with the young men here. We see them playing rugby or soccer in soccer fields along the road, and most people here walk miles a day. Groups of young men, probably in their twenties, walk along the road as we drive past. They are tall and lean with perfectly toned muscles bulging on their arms and legs. They look as if they live in a gym, but it is from working hard and playing hard. I can imagine any team in the US would love to have them, but they do it all here just for fun.

     I was sick three days last week with sore throat, fever, dizziness, congestion, sneezing, and cough. Ironically, I had felt a little overwhelmed last Sunday, and Rex had given me a blessing. Even though I was sick when I woke up the next day, I must say it is the most pleasant sick I have ever known. I had the symptoms, but really not the pain or discomfort as I would have expected. It came and passed unusually easily. It was a little hard on Rex to have to stay home with me. He loves to be out and about, but he did a splendid job taking care of me. The fourth day, we drove out a couple times to take missionaries to Siberia, get the signature for Roop, and drive the Elders home.

     While I was down, Rex did go out into the yard and check on his little plants. We have had 3 meals so far from the long beans he planted just before Christmas. They are delicious.The cucumbers are getting blossoms, the tomatoes are up again. (It seems some little rodent likes to eat them,) the pumpkins plants have just popped up, and one of our banana trees has a big bunch of baby bananas coming. It is so fun to see how well things grow here in Fiji, and we don't have to worry about frost or watering them. 

     Today we were able to attend Zone Leader Training here in Labasa. It was spiritual, motivating, and uplifting. One emphasis was doubling the number of investigators the missionaries visit and creative ways to find people. Our district came up with the idea of having a juice or lemonade stand in town. They likened it to Christ and the Woman at the Well with the living water.

      Sister Harward was struggling with the heat so we broke off from the Elders and went with them to an air conditioned Chinese restaurant called the Banana Leaf. We had a good visit. They are amazing people with such energy and spark. Their testimonies radiate. When they arrived here, they hit the ground running! In their 3 weeks here, they have made an incredible difference. Besides MLS, he is a counselor in the mission presidency.

     We had just enough time when we got home today to make brownies, Facetime Brian and Chelsey, and get to the youth and young single adult activity. We had the most fantastic turnout ever. It was hard to count in the outer shadows of the field, but we guessed at least 27 youth. Dad had numerous games planned, but the bulk of the youth wanted to play basketball or volleyball (simultaneously) on the Church playground behind the buildings. Another small group was playing touch rugby off to the side. The youth organized their own pick up volleyball game where two teams played to seven, and the third team watched. After each game, the loser sat out, and the winner stayed in. The Elders loved the volleyball. They were all smiles. They even turned on the lights so they could continue playing when it got dark.

     While they were playing outside, we had table and chairs set up so a group of us could play the card game Golf inside. Seventeen year old Oliver wants to be a doctor. He told me he thinks of the game Golf all the time even at school and asks all his friends if they play it. We had a great time. Instead of keeping score, we just note who wins each hand. That way everyone gets to win, and it doesn’t matter if people are coming or going between hands.

     Later a group came in, and we played Smile if You Love Me and Situation, which Sharon had taught us. Everyone loved the brownies and the cold water, and Lily St. John brought bread with honey butter and pop. Every crumb and drop were gone. The Sister Missionaries brought three young girls who were investigators who asked if they could bring more of their friends next time. Yes, indeed.

     We took the Sisters home, and Rex and Heitonga put together a puzzle, actually a wire bookcase that had numerous parts, but no instructions nor picture. There were only a couple pieces left over.

     We love you all!

Long String Beans Rex planted and are just starting to produce.

This is what a banana blossom and baby bananas look like. Our very own from our yard.