Rex Wrote: Pictures at the end.  I love being in Fiji. I got to experience 42 hours of birthday. The first day when it was my birthday in Fiji, the Harwards came up to get their truck serviced and brought me a little homemade decorated birthday cake. They brought me a ribbon that said, “Happy Birthday to Me.”

They said, “Not a lot of people would wear this, but you’re the kind of guy who would.”

I replied, “Yep” and I put it on for the rest of the day.

Sister Harward had a migraine so she stayed home with Betty while we took the truck to be serviced.

Instead of going out to dinner, we bought take out from the Chinese Restaurant and picked up fresh lettuce on the way home to go with our homegrown tomatoes for a nice salad. We enjoyed a great dinner at our flat. We had no candles to put on the cake or do Nener Nener. Betty suggested we light a burner on the gas stove and have me try to blow that out. We all laughed but didn't do it. The thought was good, though.

After dinner, we left the girls again, picked up Elders Mong Yen and Kumar, and drove to Naduna to meet and train the group leader on how to run Sunday meetings in a group. He’s the one who likes to break for Primary after partaking of the sacrament. Jone wasn’t there on time. We called, and he said he wouldn’t be there for an hour so we visited VJay, one of the Naduna members while we waited. President Harward trained and Mong Yen translated. At the end, when Harward asked if he had any questions, Jone asked how many from Naduna could go to the temple. President Harward says everybody who prepares and gets worthy to go. Jone grinned from ear to ear and was so happy!

We had been having so much fun that when we said goodbye and Harward checked the time, it was 5:30. We had forgotten to pick up the truck. Ascos was closed, and the truck was locked inside. Sister Harward said she really needed nausea medicine. We drove to town at 6:25, but all the stores were closed. We told them they could stay the night, but Sister Harward had to get home to take her medicine for heart and high blood pressure. We offered for them to take our truck and said we could switch Sunday when we met on the way to Nakawakawa, which would have worked perfectly, but President Harward had left his cell phone in his truck. Before they left, even with a migraine, Sister Harward insisted she cut my hair, and my eyebrows, of course. Then we sent them home in our truck to take care of Sister Harward, and Brother Harward drove back the 1 ½ hours the next morning to pick up his truck and trade back. It all worked beautifully, except we couldn’t pick up the Elders and keep our dinner appointment with Chettys. It turns out Brother Chetty paid the transport for them to come to dinner and to get them home.

The second day of my birthday, we went swimming in our own personal spot of the ocean. I wore my sandals instead of fins to go snorkeling. We had a glorious time, and it was almost time to get out when I went out farther and stood up in a section that had about a foot of silt in the bottom. I got off balance, and stepped back. My sandal stayed, and my foot came out. I stumbled back a couple steps before I got my balance. I wasn’t too worried because my sandals float like corks, but the sandal didn’t come up. It was stuck in the mud. I stomped around a while trying to find it, but nothing. I tried snorkeling to find it, but it was too dark to see. I had Betty stand in one place as a marker while I looked all around her. I searched for almost an hour. The only thing we got was a really bad sunburn for Betty, who was wearing her swimsuit. (We didn't notice it until hours later.) She tried to make me feel better by saying I needed new sandals anyway so I get new sandals for my birthday.

We ended the day by going with the elders to teach a discussion. We love to do that.

The highlight of the 42 hours was talking with family at home. They are our joy.

Thanks to everyone for all your emails and calls.

Love you!

After Rex's haircut. Sister Harward does a good job.

Enjoyed cake & ice cream after dinner.

Happy Birthday to me!

It was weird looking out our barred windows to see no truck.

Practicing for the camera

Snorkeling is relaxing

Love you from Fiji!

Now we just have to get Betty's sunburn better. Neither one of us even thought of sunburn, but we didn't plan on being out that long, and it's heading into the hot season.

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.