Talofa kaiga!
As I expressed to Dad last week when he called, we ran out of water this week. Tuvalu water supply relies on rain and it had been probably a month since we had a good rain storm. This whole week we had the opportunity to bathe in the lagoon, and we still had a little bit of water for toilet and enough for drinking. It felt really nice to bathe in ocean water. My companion was super excited because truly not very many missionaries are allowed to do that. It was a good week, and luckily we got water back yesterday, from a nice rainstorm that was truly heaven sent.
This week was really good! I was really grateful for the plan of salvation this week. We had two separate investigators whose parents had already died who asked what happens to them. We shared with them the hope that the Plan of Salvation brings back into our lives. One of them, a boy of 13 named Pelisa, heard my talk last Sunday and remembered that I mention that my dad had been sick. He asked if he was still alive. I told him he was, that after surgery he got better. He asked how he had been sick (it's not rude to ask questions like that here, plus we're pretty good friends so it was good) I told him cancer. He told me his mom had been sick with cancer too, that she had two surgeries but in the end she died. I felt very sad for him, but I knew that there will be a time when he can see her again. How great is that?
We then had another investigator whose parents both died within three years of each other. She asked if God was punishing her. We told her no, that in this life we experience hardship and trial as a way for us to learn. We told her that God had a plan for her and that she would be able to see her parents again. Some religions teach that life just ends at death, but she didn't like that, and neither do I. A loving God wouldn't just give us this time and then say ok, well good enough you're over. We existed before we lived here and we will exist for an eternity after this. We watched conference this week and I was really touched by Elder Scott's talk about his wife. How he shared that those who are married in the temple can be together forever. I was really touched by the love he expressed for his wife.
Speaking of that, We watched conference and it was amazing! I really loved the Priesthood session and it made me want to understand better the doctrine of the priesthood. Just like Elder Uchtdorf shared. I will study that and I hope it will help me better magnify my calling in the Priesthood.
Also while watching conference I saw 3 people I know. Brother Saunders (my seminary teacher) was conducting the Priesthood choir, I believe Megan's cousin, Peter, was singing the spirit of God, and I think I saw Lori Hayward in the Tabernacle Choir. Did she really make it in?
This week wasn't the best for numbers or anything, although something wonderful is that of 26 recent converts, 25 of them came to conference yesterday. We still have the one that we are working with her family to come to church, but I am really happy with the branch's work to keep those 25. I think as we continue our efforts, we will see miracles here in Tuvalu. We already have!
Thanks for your emails of love and support! I am happy and safe!
Much Love,
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission
No comments:
Post a Comment