Talofa everyone!

Talofa everyone!

So first the wonderful news! We have moved our baptism to September 24th and we will be having seven baptisms then and four more in October. There are still more people that could be prepared but that is our plan at this point. We got authorization from President Klingler for Elder Momoisea to do the baptismal interviews for those who are prepared. It was a wonderful thing! I hope that I don't get transferred before the 24th but nothing is certain.

This week we went to ask Eti's family if they would get baptized on the 24th. They were supposed to get baptized on the 13th of Aug along with one of their daughters who just went back to boarding school. At first when we were talking, Eti wanted to wait until the family could be baptized all together. Then his daughter talked to the mom and she turned to us and said, "Well, he can wait until December, but we want to get baptized in September." I was blown away! It was so ironic, because before it had been Eti who said, "WEll I don't know about these two, but I am going to get baptized."

This week we had some ups and some downs. We had nine investigators come to church and we had some new people come to church who might become investigators. On Friday, Saturday and Thursday, all of our appointments fell through and it felt like no one wanted to let us in to visit with them. (I know that is how missionaries feel everywhere else in the world, but it was a new feeling to me.) I think it was a test of our diligence and faith to see if we would keep doing what is right.

We had branch council yesterday and I was really glad that I have grown up in the church. I feel like I understand how things should run because I have had a really solid example of how the church ought to run. We planned a branch activity for the 24th with our baptism. I feel like we get better every time we do it.

I hope all of you are well and that you have a great week.

With Love,

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission