While driving around, we have lots of time to look at cows and bulls just off the road and examine their horns. There is not usually a place to pull over and take a shot; and I'm not even tempted to get out and take pictures of the massive bulls with the biggest horns. It's calving season, and many of the cows have just had or are just ready to have their calves so the farmers keep them close to the road. Here is just a sampling of the unique horns we see.

These  reminded us of horns on Gerald's wall.

Perfectly up!

One this way. One that.

Both curved down

One forward. One down.

One forward. One up!

Fijian clothes hanger outside Rest Home

Hut built for shade & family lounging outside Salabogi Home

Rex's tan line & dots on his foot from holes in his sandals
The Rest Home grows much of its own food.
I loved this candid shot.

Yesterday, Sunday Sept. 27 was a great day. We greeted those at Labasa and then went to Naduna for the meetings. It was a good thing we were there. The group leader still has a “new way” of doing it. They had regular Sacrament Meeting until after the Sacrament. Then without a word, they picked up their chairs and started going to classes. Rex stopped them in mid stride and told the group leader they needed to finish the Sacrament Meeting first. Rex offered to speak. He stood for a moment, thinking of what to say, and then gave a powerful talk on Baptism, Holy Ghost, Enduring to the End and preparing to go to the temple, using Nakawakawa as an example and challenging them to go on a temple trip with the Labasa Branch in the spring. It couldn’t have been better.

Then he asked if the group leader wanted me to speak. Since Sister Bulewa from Naduna had just died, I talked of how fragile life is. That we must teach our families to hold to the Gospel so we can be together as a Forever Family in Heaven. We must do absolutely everything necessary to make that happen. We must set a good example, keep the commandments, and always pray and give thanks to a loving Father in Heaven. We must hold tight to our beliefs and never let go of the Iron Rod. Then I bore my testimony.

Later, since I had mentioned the Iron Rod, Rex brought up again the story of helping with Franklin 3^rd Girls Camp. The girls were blindfolded and told to hold onto the rope course that represented the Iron Rod and not let go, no matter what. Rex tempted them to let go of the Iron Rod by telling him there was a huge snake on the trail, and saying he would lead them around it. A few of the girls listened and let go. He led them away and just left them standing there. Stacey, our granddaughter, was at Franklin’s camp that year. She held fast to the Iron Rod with all her might. No matter how much he talked, he could not convince her to let go. He was a proud Grandpa on a Grandfather-Granddaughter date in the mountains. It is an experience he treasures.

At 5 PM, we had a Missionary Fireside. We showed the first few minutes of the Uchtdorf talk called “Lift Where You Stand” showing how if we all work together, we can help the branch and Missionary Work succeed.

Then we broke into three groups for 10 minute sessions. Since one of our main assignments is helping clean up the records, we were going to have them help look at the records and give us info on those who had died or moved.

Our first group of ten had only 2 members. The rest were nonmembers brought by Manasa, the Chief’s son. Rex had to think quickly. First he had them solve a riddle about cannibals and missionaries trying to take a boat back and forth across a Parana-infested river without the cannibals’ eating the missionaries. Since Fijians used to be cannibals, it seemed appropriate. Next he had them form a human knot and untie it, teaching problem solving and team work. Lastly, he told the Duck Food joke. They loved it all.

Our next two groups helped with the records first, then did the cannibal riddle and human knot. It worked well.

For refreshments, we dipped ice cream cones. One thing for sure. No food was left over! They even ate the crumbs!

I am feeling better, and we are loving it here in Fiji. The people are amazing!

Keep the Spirit Strong!

We love you!

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Not only was it literally beautiful with perfect weather, palm trees, flowers of all varieties and all the sites of Fiji; but we also had two baptisms. One boy is 11, and the other is 18. The second is a friend of Manasa Vunibola, the chief’s son. The sisters taught these two boys. Our sweet Sister Fiu was transferred and flew out the day before they were baptized. I felt a little sorry for her not being able to see it; but the smile was ear to ear on the face of Sister Elias, straight from the MTC. How would it be to have 2 baptisms the day after arriving! I always love the baptismal program, the messages given, the testimonies, and all the smiles. It is incredible to see how living the Gospel brings light and joy into their lives. It changes their whole countenance! Love it!

Sisters Aumua,& Elias, Elder Mong Yen, Oliver, Jone, Elder Kumar
As you can tell by the shadows, the sun was shining brightly! 

Later that night, we went to share a birthday party with Sylvia and her family. She is 18. There were balloons, cake, and lots of people. It always humbles me to see how these people who have so little give us so much. 

As is the custom, they had the “sweets” first. After singing “Happy Birthday,” blowing out the candles and eating the cake and pop, they served a huge dinner. It was delicious, and they even had watermelon that costs a fortune these days. $15 American for a 20 lb melon. I enjoyed it thoroughly. They were so accommodating. They even gave us chairs to sit on and spoons to eat with. The rest ate with their fingers. They say they can mix the food and get better flavor that way.

Sylvia with the Elders. We loved sharing her special night!

We spend a lot of time shopping in Labasa. This is our favorite grocery store.

Sister Salabogi sells from her own table at the market.

We buy all our produce at the market except potatoes, carrots, and apples, which they don't sell there. These people bring their produce on Saturday and sell on tarps on the side of the real market.

This is cassava. It takes a year to grow.
They peel it, boil it, and eat it instead of potatoes.

 Only one bridge crosses this big river in Labasa.

Looking off the bridge towards the market. Notice all the fishing boats. They have a fish market as well as a produce market where people buy fresh fish. They have to continually scare away the flies.

Sunday, Sept. 20, Rex wrote: I went to church alone for the first time on our mission. Betty had a low-grade fever and dizziness, and she didn’t want to get anyone else sick. Our plans had been to go to Seaqaqa for their branch conference. They were going to have a pot luck dinner afterwards. We had bought all the fixings for a beautiful lettuce salad; but since Betty didn’t go, I went to Labasa seven minutes away instead of Seaqaqa a half hour away. It was a good thing that I went. Besides enjoying the regular meetings, I gave them a printed announcement congratulating the six ladies who had graduated from our business class and announced a new My Foundation and Education for Better Work class starting soon. I stood in on the confirmation of the Chief’s daughter. I helped scan in yet another document for Rahul Prakash, who is still trying to get into BYU Hawaii. I gave a blessing to a sweet tiny old lady, and talked to Lucy and Arieta Bulewa to ask how we can help them now their mother is gone.

Then I went to Branch Council Meeting. They congratulated us on the beloved youth activities and the business class. They talked about how to reactivate the recent converts who are not coming.  They are going to have Visiting Teachers and Home Teachers target these families first. They want to give everyone jobs, but they need them to come to church so they can ask them. They are giving names of 20 Prospective Elders for the missionaries to visit. (I called the Elders later and told them we would be happy to help drive them around, since they don’t have a truck.) All in all this new Branch Presidency has hit the ground running and wants to do all they can to support the members and get more members to church.

In the first two weeks as Branch President, President Bull has already had a Branch Party, has had to address Sister Bulewa’s death and has comforted a mourning mother. Sister Dyer lost her 40 year old daughter to a heart attack and had to go away to her funeral. President Bull did another amazing thing. Sister Salei Prasad had been in and out of the hospital for about two months, near death, very weak and struggling, waiting for someone to do surgery in Labasa to put new batteries in her pacemaker. The team they made her wait over a month for finally arrived, but they said they didn’t do pacemakers. President Bull made all the arrangements and paid to send her to Suva. She has had the surgery and is doing well. The branch is in good hands. We will do all we can to support our new presidency.

At the first of our mission, we helped the Chief clear grass off his field, and his little daughter helped us for over an hour with a big smile and without complaint. A while ago, her mother, who is a nonmember, asked the Sisters to teach Nomai. They did, and her baptism was Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. Her brother Manasa Vunibola baptized her. He is one of our favorite Returned Missionaries--Young Men's President, Young Adult Leader, & Mission Prep teacher . 

Manasa Vunibola, Sister Fiu, Nomai, Sister Aumua, Mother.

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Good food to celebrate afterwards including banana bread made from our tiny bananas described below:

Our last batch of bananas grew straight up instead of over.

.

Definitely not the correct way to grow. Notice the scroll in the middle. This is how banana leave form. When they are new, they are beautiful and perfect. As they are blown hard in the wind, they get shredded.

When the bananas got too heavy, they fell off the tree. We were surprised and happy that they were finally able to ripen. They are perfect and so sweet! That's where we got the "hand of bananas" we sent earlier. We have eaten them and used them in smoothies.It took 21 of these tiny finger-sized bananas to make 2 batches of banana bread.  

 Friday, Sept. 11, we spent most of the day bringing supplies and helping preparing food for the Branch Family Home Evening to say Thank You to President St. John who was just released. Rex played games with the children including ring toss and Pussy Wants a Corner. There was also volleyball, basketball, and rugby for everyone in conjunction with the Youth activity. We love to watch the parents join in. Then we had a Family Home Evening  to show how it is done. We had a song, prayer, Rex gave the lesson, and President St. John was presented with a new mat to say Thanks. Then another song and prayer followed by more games, activities, and a wonderful meal. There were over 150 in attendance. We loved it.

Elder Woodward & Kumar with Primary Children

Remember Sister Singh who was approved for a PEF Loan but decided she needed to be home to raise her niece. This is the little one she sacrificed for, the branch sweetheart, Eleonoa, called Noa

Elders with Branch Youth

Elder Mong Yen with member, including a lady from Naduna and Brother & Sister Chetty.

Sister Marica, Elder Mong Yen, Sister Dyer & her grand daughters

Betty & Mong Yen

Elder Mong Yen, President St. John & Elder Kumar

Elders with the branch youth

Elders with Primary Children

Elders with Brother & Sister Reo & baby

Sisters Salabogi & Dyer

My Kelly Kumar that I help with keyboarding. 

Most people here eat with their fingers, but we use forks.

Preparing for the meal, Sister Marica has chopped cabbage and grated ginger and is now peeling garlic. These women are strong and work tirelessly.

Sister Reo cut all these carrots in perfect long fine strips for the Chicken Chop Suey.  She is as quick as a machine.

The casava was cooked outside over a fire. Sister Reo, Joana, and Sister Naidu. will put it in this box to serve

This sweetheart was a big help. These ladies learn young to serve and work hard.

In Nakawakawa, on our way to Pita's house, we saw an actual Tarzan vine handing over the road. It looked big and strong enough to hold a truck!  Okay, maybe not a truck, but a person could definitely swing on it!

Pita was the only member when he moved home to Nakawakawa. He taught his friends and  had missionaries come teach and baptize them. They had church meetings in his house.

When there were too many members, they moved to a relative's home right by the community center. He got called out on the carpet at a village meeting and chastised for bringing another religion into his village. That is why he had to build a chapel on his own land. The church helped pay for supplies. Members split their own lumber and did all the labor.

Pita's family in the chapel

The Sunday we were there, the truck was in Savusavu that usually brought members to church from the village down by the ocean. Church was postponed an hour while they walked. It's a far uphill climb.

I miss my grandchildren, but I love to be surrounded by sweet ones here in Fiji.

It gets dark here at 6 PM making it a long night for the Nakawakawa Elders who have no electricity. Rex hung a flashlight from the ceiling so this Elder could see to cook us the 3 chickens we had brought to share with them. They seldom get meat, since they don't have a fridge. Mostly they live on cassava and produce grown there. They say they eat lots of leaves.

The Elders gave us their flat with the mosquito netting, and they slept in the church. This is my twin sized blanket I was given here. I will be bringing it home.

After losing his first baby son, Pita was blessed in his Patriarchal Blessing that he would have a "beautiful daughter."

They love it when Rex loses in a game, lets out a loud moan, and pulls this face!

These trees on the mountain look as if they were sculptured to look like letters.

This bull walked across the road right in front of us. It looks blurry through our dusty windshield, but it was huge with horns. Notice the cement drain gutter on the side of the road It seems very dangerous with nowhere to pull off the road in an emergency. It is wide and deep enough for a cow to almost hide in. This big boy jumped it in one easy bound.