April 25,2016

I’m sorry it feels as if we have dropped off the map. Life was crazy preparing for our 3 daughters to come to Fiji. Several days before they came, we were in a tropical depression. There was pouring rain, flooding, and the forecast showed no break in sight. The whole first week they would be here was predicted to have 100% solid rain. Since the Labasa airport has no lights to help the planes land, if it is raining hard, or the pilot can't see through the clouds to land, the protocol is to circle and fly back to where they came from without landing. We have seen that happen many times. When the girls landed in Nadi on the other big island, the lady said the flight to Labasa had not been cancelled yet, but there was a good chance it would be. She would let them know. The girls were praying hard on their end, and we were praying desperately on ours. We had seen firsthand the flooding and the damage. President Bull said he had gone out at 1 AM to rescue his fishing supplies. The tide was so high that his boats that were tied down were starting to fill with water and his freezers that held his fish were starting to float away. It rained hard all night, and it kept raining in the morning. We kept praying. We hadn't heard any news of cancellation so we drove to the airport at noon. The clouds had parted and the rain had stopped. They said the plane was on its way so we waited. We visited with a man who had been waiting at the airport since 7 am. His flight had been cancelled. Instead of flying straight to Suva. He now had to fly to Nadi and then to Suva. The girls arrived right on schedule at 12:15. As always, when blessed with the Lord’s tender mercies, we said a prayer of thanks.

Since they arrived April 17, it has been nonstop fun and games. They have been laughing and playing a great deal of the time. Those who have been following them on Facebook have seen a few of our adventures. I love watching them interact with one another, and it is priceless seeing them serve and interact and teach the people here in Fiji. With the time change and the rigorous schedule, even Becky dropped in bed really early the first nights.

During their week here, they have met many of our members. Brother and Sister Vosa are new converts. They invited us to Sunday lunch, and we stopped at their home right after we picked up the girls at the airport and dropped their suitcases at our flat. Talk about a feast. They are fantastic cooks! They kept saying, eat more! The girls could hardly eat the ice cream they brought for dessert, which is pretty unusual for our daughters! They love ice cream! They had a party dancing with the girls. Rex said it reminded him of Lucy trying to dance with the chorus line. It was hilarious! Besides that, Sister Ana and her mother are tailors. After the meal, they took measurements to make the girls new outfits while . Yeah, right? We bought material Monday and delivered it to them Tuesday, and they had their outfits ready for them to pick up on Friday. So cute! We love that family.

Monday we took them to meet all the people at the Ashram, the old folks home. It was a little disconcerting as we arrived. There were two police vans full of people, and I could see the one we call Mona Lisa looking out the window. We parked the truck, and I went to see what was happening. We were told the Ashram had been evacuated because of the flood water. The residents had all been taken to higher ground and were now being brought back. They looked so hurt, helpless, and disoriented as the big policeman literally carried them back into the home. Finally, their wheelchairs arrived, and then we were finally able to play with them. 

The girls fell in love with them, especially The Little One. Becky played with her and even gave her a white flower to wear in her hair. They had brought 4 new Toss Up games we played with and then left with them, along with the one we already had. It was even harder than I thought it would be to tell them goodbye for the last time. The girls were even crying.

Later Monday, while I was teaching keyboarding, helping Bernadette, Lucy and Delilah Vosa, and Salesi, the girls played volleyball and basketball with the Elders for P Day and went visiting members Wednesday. So much laughter. Everyone loves them!

Tuesday we went to Savusavu. They loved the beautiful drive. It was raining a lot of the time, but it was great. It just made everything look greener, and the waterfall across the valley was the biggest I have ever seen it.

We stopped at a District Activity to drop off a few things. They were at a rich person’s mansion and private resort. They let us go out and walk the beach. What a joy. It was low tide. The girls wanted to walk out a few blocks to a little island with three palm trees. They went running off and giggling like little children. I watched them. They were making really good time. Then the rain started coming, and I could tell it was going to come hard. I gave the high sign, and they came running back, but not before they were dripping wet.

We took them to the Captain’s Table where they met the Roths and the Harwards, our wonderful friends. They could see why we talk so highly of the senior couples. Next the girls went shopping; but we had little time, and many of the stores were already closed. We got home to Labasa in time to let them see what a wonderful job President and Sister Bull do with the Young Single Adults. They invited us to have dessert and visit. Roxi showed off her waving eyebrow trick. She said Daniel Bull could do it even better than she could! I don’t know if that is possible. Then Rex and the girls taught them a little about melodramas. They had never heard of such a thing. Rex told the story from years ago of how Rose had come to him with tears in her eyes and said, “Do you realize I am 5 years old, and I have never been a heroine in a melodrama?” Rex wrote a mini 5 minute melodrama the next day, and the kids performed it for the video and played it on the TV for her. She giggled with joy. Upon hearing the story, Silvia Colonata said she was over 20, and she had never been a heroine in a melodrama. Rex resolved to fix that situation.

He later found a spontaneous melodrama and let Silvia and some of the others perform it before we left Labasa.

We are in Suva. We go to the temple this morning and start flying home this afternoon. We will get to Salt Lake Tuesday night and stay with Rose a couple of days to catch up on some grandchildren.

We are so excited to see everyone.

We will be reporting our mission in Franklin on May 15. Words cannot express how much we have loved and been touched by serving this mission to Fiji!

Our joy is full!

Love you!