Sister Vermeeren in Taveuni is an amazing photographer. I am including the first batch of classic pictures she took of classic Fiji:

 

So proud of their horses. This is a champion.

A new way of baby sitting.
The mother wanted to make sure her son was cared for
and not making a big mess while she took a shower!

Yesterday we completed a challenge we had set for ourselves. Brother Chetty had shown us a Christmas Card with a picture of Brother and Sister Brown who had baptized his family, and he asked us if we knew them. After all, they are from the States living in Utah. We had no clue, but said we would try to find them. We checked dexknows and asked relatives and friends all to no avail. Finally I jumped the gun and signed up early for Returned Missionaries from the Fiji Suva Mission on Facebook. A few had served at the same time, but no one knew where they were or had any contact information. Finally, after two months, the man who served as their mission president messaged me on Facebook. I don't know how he even saw my post after that much time. He gave me their email address that was current in 2013. I wrote, and they replied. It was them. They are well and sound amazing. Not only did we connect the Chettys with them, but also the Prasads whom they had baptized. She made me my favorite dish to tell me “Thank You!” The Chettys, Prasads, and other members who knew them got to Skype with them on Sunday after church. We are ecstatic that we were able to help get them connected again.

Hope you are all enjoying the New Year! It’s a good one!

Love you! 

Just catching up:

The day before Christmas Labasa city was really busy. Just before the bridge was a dirt lot where farmers brought their goats, chickens, ducks, etc. to sale. I had to stop and take a few shots:

They brought their prized livestock in pickups.

Animals here are staked out and taught to lead from birth.

This farmer has his ducks all in a row worth at least $20 US dollars each!
The one turned backwards must be a Woodward!

We usually see these chicken and ducks running loose all over people's yards

We found the original Billy Goat Gruff. Look at that beard!
He would sell for at least $250 US dollars.

These are prize goats. The two in front are cuddled together. 

A new restaurant just opened. Our friends had eaten there; and, being impressed with the food, were excited to take a group of us there.

We were in the mood for chicken, and the picture looked good.
As they served all the others first, the dishes looked delectable,
and our friends were pleased with their choices.

These are 7 of our 8 pieces of chicken. Notice the size compared to the tablespoon. 3 pieces were parts of backs. Hopefully we were the first customers who had ordered chicken pieces.

There was one chicken breast for me.

I must admit, I might not have put my best foot forward as a missionary. When they brought the plate out, my first words were, "You're kidding me, right?" When the manager came back later and asked if everything was okay, I said that what they had brought us looked nothing like the picture. I told her that in the future, they needed to give their customers the whole chicken pieces as shown in the picture, not chopped chicken bits. She came out later and apologized and said the cook was cooking us a little more chicken. I told her twice that they didn't have to do that, but she insisted. They brought us two chicken legs. They were tiny, but they were whole. I went in after and told them "Thank you!" I hope they take my advice on the portion size, or they might get in really bad trouble with future customers. 

Our friends didn't say anything out loud, but I could tell by their body language that they were embarrassed and thought I was rude and not becoming a missionary. I was just trying to help keep the restaurant out of trouble.

     Saturday morning we made another big cookie sheet of brownies as requested by Alvin. He and his older sister were baptized. The missionaries had almost called it off as Cyclone Ula was still threatening, but it was a most glorious day! I love baptisms. I love the spirit there, and I love to see how proud the parents are to watch, even though they aren’t members themselves.

     Just before the service started, Alvin asked me, “Did you bring enough brownies?” I assured him I had. What a sweetheart!

     Near the end of the treats, we noticed Oscar, a nonmember next door to the church, was taking apart his huge portable carport that got blown over in the storm on New Year’s Eve. Rex went and helped him take it apart. He seemed happy for the help.

     Rex decided we should be more prepared in case the cyclone struck. The Elders helped him put plywood on the windows at the landlord’s request; we bought a new propane tank for cooking; we filled water bottles and filled the truck with diesel; and we shopped for groceries. While we were in town, we ate at the Chinese Restaurant. I wish we could bring that place home with us!

     In the last store, we noticed a white lady shopping. She seemed intent on what she was doing so we went past without speaking to her. Later I went back over by her to pick up an item. She saw my name tag and quickly approached me. Lois Smith had been praying that she could find the missionaries to give her daughter-in-law a blessing in the hospital. They are from New Zealand. Her son and Jade had come to Savusavu to attend a wedding, but Jade had gotten deathly ill, and they had raced her to Labasa in an ambulance and done surgery. She had a tube on each side draining fluid off her lungs, and she was in extreme pain when we arrived with the Elders. He son is less active, but was very kind to us. The mother was relieved to see us there, but still very concerned. Rex gave Jade a beautiful blessing.  Lois came to Labasa Fast and Testimony meeting today and sat by us. The insurance is talking of having a doctor from New Zealand fly up to treat her, and then take her back to New Zealand. Lois felt it was a tender mercy that she had found us. She was right. We don’t usually shop at that store. 

Alvin and Bernadette Erasito got baptized January 2, 2016

Their mother came. They all loved the day and the treats.

Rex helping Oscar

Our Missionaries  (with one boy extra)- a fun group

Elder Sieberts helping cover the windows. Gotta love him!

The Elders made short work of covering the windows with plywood.
They are always willing to serve.

We love you!

    The Nakawakawa Branch stayed, and we enjoyed our New Year’s Day at the church with them. We helped a few adults with Family History and gave their branch counselor a flash drive to take. It included the Self Reliance classes, information, and videos so they could view them without Internet. They had volleyball, basketball, and soccer games going most of the day. To entertain those not playing, Rex made two huge bowls of popcorn, one to eat in the afternoon while watching “Frozen” and the other to enjoy after dinner while watching “Money Making Morons.” There was a lot of laughter. They were a great audience!

     As we were cleaning up, Pita stopped and got really serious. We still have four months left, but thinking of that, he said, “I don’t want to see you go. I don’t want to say goodbye.” That brought a few tears. We love Pita and Nakawakawa.

Working on Self Reliance and Family History. This man leads his branch in both. He is an Electrical Engineer but chooses to stay in his village and farm to help Pita build the church there.

We love the children from Nakawakawa

Rex was proud of this action shot. We couldn't believe that they could play all day long!

     

     We celebrated New Year’s Eve with a three branch party including the Labasa, Seaqaqa, and Nakawakawa.  President Bull and the Relief Society are appreciative that we bring the mission’s huge rice cooker, fry pan, and supplies for making and serving the dinners.

     Rex was asked to give a spiritual talk to start off the evening. Later he performed with 3 other missionaries and was given the compliment of being a “Master Comedian.” We caught it on video. Sister Petero sewed 10 dresses for their branch’s dance performance. I was more than impressed. The food was delightful, and upon request, I made my record of treats– 3 double batches of brownies plus a double batch of chocolate cake to help celebrate Siwani Chetty’s 11^th birthday. There was plenty of entertainment and plenty of food. We had a major rainstorm, a precursor for Cyclone Ula. Near the end of the meal, Rex and I had to make a run to take the Sisters home. On our way back, we saw a huge lightning strike that hit ground. Immediately, all the lights in Labasa went out. As we entered the church, some were leaving, but many still stayed. President Harward had asked Rex to deliver Christmas presents to President Bull and President Pita Vakalala. As luck would have it, he had just given them their presents that night so they had them with them, flashlights/floodlights. President Bull put his up on top of the door in the kitchen, and we had enough light to have a romantic end of the meal. It was like eating by candlelight.

President & Sister Petero. He is Branch President of Seaqaqa as well as a counselor in the district presidency. She is one of the most intelligent people I know and a master seamstress. 

Sister Petero sewed all these dresses plus her own dress and two shirts for the dance performance.

The Chetty family - Shiwani's 11th birthday. Sweet of three branches to celebrate with her. They bought a cake to share with everyone. We sang Happy Birthday & she blew out the candles.

President Richard Bull. We are impressed with his dedication and all that he does.

We will be helping these three young ladies with their missionary applications.

Jone and two members of Naduna. Party time!

Our Missionaries. Crazy how quickly we can fall in love with them.

Alvin Erasito, Elder Luatua, Bernadette Erasito, Swastica, Oliva

We were elated to meet Sister Naidu's mother. She came to help with the meal.