Investigators who rock!

Talofa oku kaiga mo oku taugasoa!

It is such a sweet blessing from Heavenly Father to be a missionary in Tuvalu. I was really worried that having spent nearly two months in Fiji, the people of Tuvalu would be less prepared to recieve the gospel. Boy was I wrong! I prayed every night for Heavenly Father to take care of my investigators and members here in Tuvalu, and I felt in my heart, "I will take better care of these people even than you can, so don't worry about it." He really did take care of them. We now have thirteen investigators that we will be preparing for baptism in October. Unfortunately, I probably will be unable to be here for the baptism. It doesn't matter though, if I'm present or not, as long as we get them all there.

One particular case is with a lady is named Hetagi. Before when we taught her, we had committed her to baptism but I had thought she said yes just because she didn't want to hurt our feelings or something. I didn't sense real commitment, but when we came back, Elder Momoisea and I went to visit her and within the first ten minutes she asked when she can be baptized. We were very surprised and excited and explained that we are planning one in October (we still don't know the day because we don't know what day you'll be coming for sure yet.) She was sick this week and unable to attend church but I feel confident she will come next week.

Another one is Loia. I think I've mentioned her before. We have been teaching her since April and she only came to church once. Well, Elder Momoisea and I decided we would do everything we could to help her come to church and we decided to walk together. While we were walking, one of the members picked Loia up so she could get there faster. She told us later that she really enjoyed church and she even walked home with another investigator named Moeava.

Moeava is a boy that is nineteen and he drinks and smokes, but he really wants to change his life. Before, I don't know if he was that committed, but now he is excited. He told me, I really want to change my life, please keep coming. He has quit smoking for a few days now, but smoking is a hard thing for many people to quit. He's strong though, his faith is strong in Jesus Christ.

There are so many others that are so ready to be baptized, we just have to finish the lessons and wait for the interview. Michael and Ue, Eti's family, Jo, Hetagi, Loia, Moeava, Nauala and Lilo, and Molesi and Tom hopefully will get baptized in October. I'm so excited for them!

I really love the people here in Tuvalu! It makes any hardships that we might face worthwhile because I know I will get to see them and to help them.

I know this church is true! Have a great week! I love you all!

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

To Tuvalu, by boat

Talofa at last! We are back in the small island country of Tuvalu. It was kind of a different way to see it coming from the boat. It's funny because Fiji has beautiful mountains and the islands are towering over the sea, but Tuvalu is very flat and the only way you know it is there is because you see the coconut trees growing on it.

Travelling by ship was very interesting! We called the boat on Monday and they said, "No boat, high winds." Well on Tuesday the Fiji government told the boat to either set sail or they would have to pay a hefty fine. Well, if there's anything that motivates people around here it is money. So the ship got ready and we set off around nine o'clock at night. It was kind of sad to see Fiji disappear in the distance as the Boat's engine powered us away towards Tuvalu. The next day we saw lots of the islands of Fiji that I've never seen before and we saw flying fish. The flying fish were some of the most graceful creatures I have ever seen. They would just jump out of the water and then glide across the waves until eventually they would sink into the water.

Being on the sea was a very humbling experience. Even though the sea was quite calm for the most part, I realized that those waves could turn violent and crush us if God willed it so. I realized that we truly were in his hands. It is a nice feeling to be rocked to sleep by the waves. I didn't get sea sick, because I took some sea sickness medicine.

Arriving in Tuvalu, we were unable to leave the ship because we were supposed to have bought a return ticket on the boat or else we can't stay in Tuvalu. Well we stayed on the ship for a while and then finally President Niko came and bailed us out so that we could get off the ship. It was really funny now, but at the time it was kind of stressful.

I felt like I had come home when I arrived at our flat here. Things were the same pretty much, although tomorrow my friend from New York is going back to America and some others have left for various places. Eti and his family are still coming to church waiting until they can get baptized. So is Michael and Ue. The work is wonderful here, and I am so excited to really dig in this week.

We will be here until October! That means I will be assigned to Tuvalu 10 months and will have stayed here for about eight. That's a lot longer than President Ostler told me I would be here, but I am happy. Perhaps I will be here until I die. I don't think so, but I thought of Ammon this morning when I thought of how long I had been here.

Well, sorry it's short, but I'll try and write more next week.

Loving you all,

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

Still in Fiji!

Bula bula and bula! I am still in Fiji and I am losing my mind! Not really, but I am kind of frustrated that we are still waiting for our boat and nothing has happened. We call them almost every day and they say oh maybe tomorrow we will leave, maybe tomorrow. I was talking to a Tuvaluan lady yesterday at church and she was like, "Oh it's just Tuvalu Time." Fiji time is one thing, and Tuvalu time is another thing. So when a tuvalu boat meets a Fiji wharf, time gets multiplied by a 100. So we'll probably leave for Tuvalu in September.

This week was really good though. We had a baptism in Suva 1st ward! Her name is Mele and she's from Tonga. I actually didn't teach her, but she seemed so happy after her baptism and she seems like she'll do a lot of good.

We had some really nice dinners this week. One was with a missionary couple from Southern California named the Taits. They are such nice people, they were teaching some of the fijian kids how to count in base five and things like that. They help the teachers at the LDS school here in Fiji. They are both retired teachers themselves and they are really good. Another great dinner was with a Fijian lady named Sister Dhatt. She's married to an indian. She's from my old Suva 3rd ward and she is a good friend who offered to make me dinner. It was so cool!

One good thing about being in Suva still is that I've gotten to know President Klingler and Sister Klingler better. Sister Klingler is absolutely fantastic. She loves to bake and is always making cookies or cinnamon rolls. She is a retired piano teacher too. She reminds me in some ways of Jeanette Stephens like how she plays the piano and how excited she gets about certain songs. She told me, "If you're still here on Sunday, I want you to sing at a fireside for me." So I agreed. She pulled out this perfect arrangement of This is the Christ and we practiced a little and we sang it yesterday. I'm surprised at how my voice has matured and gotten better as I'm growing up. I'm able to hit higher notes with more confidence and I still have my low range. I haven't sung a lot out here, I mean apart from hymns and things, it was nice to sing.

President Klingler is also a singer and he is such a good man. He is quiet and decisive and when he speaks I feel the spirit so strong. He is a man that I would really like to be like in many ways. He is really good to his wife and really loves the Savior. When I think of the Klinglers, I think of deep devotion and love for the Savior. Sister Klingler was telling me about the Baptism song from the primary hymn book and she just got tears in her eyes when she said, "I really want to meet John the Baptist. Just think of meeting the man who baptized the savior." She's a really good lady.

I was really happy with my companion this week. There was a day where a lot of missionaries came over to our flat and were all sleeping. We call that moku siga in Fijian (moh-ku sing-a) wasting the day. My companion noticed that I was restless though, and he said let's just go. So we walked to our appointments and I was so happy that he didn't waste time that time.

I've recieved a lot of mail this week which was nice! I finally saw pictures from NaTasha's wedding. I also got a birthday card from Granma. Oh also! There were some pictures from the Clinton 15th ward the other day and that was really nice, I think it was from the CTR 5s or something like that.

Well I love you all so much! The Church is True!

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

Still Bula

Well Bula!

I'm still in Fiji! Our boat was supposed to have left last wednesday but it got postponed until thursday, and then friday, and then today. Hopefully, we should be shipping out in a little over two hours. I really had to learn patience because there was nothing we could do about it. I felt really disappointed because I feel such a sense of urgency to get back to those people and resume our important work with them. I know though, that the Lord's will is done.

I did go to church in Suva 3rd yesterday, which was nice. Unfortunately, my favorite family is still absent, the Raos. The kids come, but the parents are both having issues. I just keep praying for them and I won't give up on them. I love them far too much for that. One of the investigators, Ana, a Tongan girl did come to church though. We were teaching her after church and she said that she asked her parents to be baptized and they said no. They also told her it was her choice. Yesterday we retaught the restoration and I felt so much power and truth in the things that we taught, I know that the Holy Ghost was bearing witness of the things we shared. I know she felt it.

This week I was able to read a lot from past editions of the conference liahona. One apostle I have always admired is Joseph B. Wirthlin. So I searched out his talks and read them. One that particularly helped me was a talk entitled the Abundant Life. One sentence he said that hit me like a rock was "Make of your life a masterpiece." I thought of this brief time we have on the earth to be with our friends and family and to prepare to go back to our Father in Heaven, and I desired that more than anything. That I could make of my life the most that it has to give. I love being a missionary, even though some days it is hard. I don't ever want to go back to who I was before. The great thing is I don't have to. I realize I won't be sharing the gospel all the time when I get home, but I will continue in the dilligence and obedience I am trying to acquire in these short two years.

I love his talk about kindness, and come what may and love it. There is also one about death entitled Sunday will Come. That one really bore testimony of the reality of resurrection. For just as the savior was risen, we too will rise from the grave.

I really love my companion Elder Momoisea. He is really funny and really laid back! I think we will get along really well in Tuvalu. He's nervous about learning Tuvaluan, but I know he will do a great job.

I love you so much and thanks so much for the package!
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

Cola Vina!

This week was a really good week, but it is really tiring to be out of my area. I have kind of bad news. My companion, Elder Poleka, is pretty sick and won't be able to return to Tuvalu. He had an ear infection or something a few months ago and it never healed completely. He probably will need surgery, but that kind of surgery is not available in Fiji. So I don't know what will really happen with him. I will be going back to Tuvalu with a new companion, Elder Momoisea, another Samoan. I think I'm destined to serve with every Samoan in the mission. We will be going back to Tuvalu at the end of the month by boat. It takes three days to go from Fiji to Tuvalu by boat.

I was in Ba this week for the first two days. It was fun and I was sad to leave. Then I rode a bus from Nadi to Suva. Let me tell you! Long bus ride! I had to ride alone too, because there were no other Elders coming from Nadi to Suva. Luckily, there was a member on the bus who I knew his family. We talked a little bit and he even bought me a soda. It was like the Lord still provided me a companion even though I thought I would travel alone.

Then I was able to serve in my old area, Suva third for two days. I went and saw the Rao family. I think I sent some pictures of them home. I love them so much, but the parents have stopped coming to church. So I went to visit them and I just felt a lot of sadness and stress when I went to their home. I feel bad for them, but I hope they will go back to church. That undoubtedly helps those kind of problems. It was really strange to be in Suva 3rd again. There were people I honestly had forgotten. It is so strange to go back to the past.

Then I served in Lami for a few days. I really like it in Lami and I got to serve with my old friend Elder Ethington. He came to fiji with me. We went to a town called Navua one day and I really felt the Lord's help again when he sent a taxi driver to us who was driving from Sigatoka to Suva. Elder Ethington already knew him too. What a blessing!

Something I was reading today was Joseph F. Smith's story of when he had a dream that he was in a dreadful rush to get some place. All he was carrying was a small bundle and he came to a large house. He saw a sign that said bath. He went in and bathed and then opened the handkerchief to reveal white garments. He then put them on and entered into the house to meet the prophet Joseph Smith. President smith said, "Joseph you are late." He replied, "Yes, but I am clean -- I am clean."

I thought of how much I have learned about repentance on my mission. We go among the sinners as missionaries. Among people who have committed a variety of sins. However, the process is the same for all of them to become clean like the dream of Joseph F. We have to be cleansed through the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Just as it says in 3 Ne 27 I think it's verse 19. No unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God. We must repent and be baptized and become clean in the blood of Christ. Through the atonement of Christ we can become without spot. I feel like I have learned how to do that better on my mission. I also have learned to take of the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenant. A sister said something that I thought was perfect. She said, "I don't have to be perfect to take the sacrament. I just have to do it with a humble heart and a spirit of repentance." I thought that was absolutely perfect. I have felt the cleansing power as I have prepared and taken of the sacrament. Repentance is real, and we can become clean.

I love you so much! I hope you have a wonderful week and a wonderful day!

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

New Mission President!

Cola vina! Sa kuci koto? Yes, that is fijian and it's pronounced (Tho- la). I'm back in this wonderous land. The land of jungle and so many people. I was honestly devastated to come this week because I just feel such a strong connection to my rock in the sea in Tuvalu. I really want to go back there and keep working. I think though that I can even help the work here in Fiji.

This past week was President Ostler's last week. He left the day that Elder Poleka and I arrived in Fiji. President Klingler came the day before I believe. Maybe it was before that. On Friday, we got to meet with President Klingler briefly and just introduce ourselves. He and his wife are absolutely lovely people. They have been serving for many years in the Mesa Arizona Temple as ordinance workers. I really would like to visit that temple when I get home. Anyway, We had zone conference yesterday and I was thoroughly impressed by President Klingler's dedication to the Lord as well as his sweet wife. They both served missions. He went to Paris, France, and she went to Minnesota and Wisconsin. They're both from Montana but they now live in Arizona, I think in Mesa. If you have questions about them, please feel free to ask me!

This week I have been stationed in Lami. It is one of my very favorite areas in Fiji because it is so beautiful! The people are wonderful here too. I've found out that I remember Fijian better than I thought. The Lord is helping me a lot. I have mostly been serving with an elder from my MTC district named Elder Ethington. He is from Salt Lake City. He always speaks a different dialect of Fijian from the West, so that's where the greeting comes from today! It has been good serving with him. On Saturday, we went to another village, far from here called Navua. It is a small ward with a lot of problems in the ward. The church is still growing there, and we met many good families that gave us a warm welcome. It reminded me a lot of Wainibokasi because it is far from Suva and the towns and the way of life is so much simpler. There are huge trees too! They make me think of Africa! Elder Ethington told me, when he served in Western Fiji, he often thought, am I in Fiji or in Africa? There is so much diversity in this beautiful little island in the sea!

I received a lot of mail this week! That made me really happy! I read it all in one day, because I was so excited to recieve it! It will take me many days to write back however!

Well I am nearly finished with my credit, so I had better go! More next week! I love you all. I know that this work is true. Most importantly I know that Jesus Christ is our saviour. One scripture that Sister klingler shared yesterday was in Alma 31:5. I invite you to read it and see how it applies to you. I really enjoyed it!

Love you,

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

Sorry I posted this so late!

Hello everyone!

What a marvelous week it has been! It rained quite a bit this week, especially on Saturday. The kids all had boards that they would run and slip around in the puddles. It looked like a lot of fun! It reminded me of snow days back at home how all the kids get all there snow gear on and go sled around. I miss the cold weather! Not that much though...

This is just a news report to everyone! I am going to be huge! Elder Poleka and I go to the gym here in Tuvalu almost every morning. We bench press, squat, powerclean, and all the good stuff. Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt myself. Elder Poleka can lift like 6 times as much as I can... but eventually I am going to lift like him maybe. I really do feel good though, with us walking everywhere and lifting weights I think I am going to get pretty toned, not that it matters. It would be nice to be stronger though, so people don't have pity on me and try to get me to eat six full plates every time I eat. (that is an exaggeration, but not by much.)

Honestly though, this week was really amazing. We had some real progress with some of our investigators. There's three boys, Molesi, Tom, and Likilua (the ones that asked us for the Tuvaluan pamphlet), that we have been helping to read the Book of Mormon. This week we committed them to baptism in August. Two of them even came to church. They're doing really good and I think they really identify with Elder Poleka and Me because we're about the same age as them.

I am always amazed at the impact of the Plan of Salvation when we try to teach it simply and with the goal of eternal life in view. We were teaching a recent convert and one of our investigators who isn't really progressing this week. When I asked Sister Ilau, the recent convert, "What is the purpose of our time on Earth?" She said, "To recieve Eternal Life." I thought what better answer than that. I think they really connected to the atonement when we taught that though, because Sister Ilau later came up to me and said, "The lesson you taught earlier was really nice, thank you."

We also showed a leadership training from the First Presidency to the branch this week. I think it will help them a lot. I was really tired afterwards because it ended late. But at least we got a cake.

As of this week, I have been a missionary for one full year. It's hard to express what a mission is like. I once said it is like being squeezed through a tube, because it can be so uncomfortable sometimes. I think I have met with all of my greatest fears on the mission, most of which were not things, but feelings and situations. Sometimes I just stop there and forget the other part, but I have left out the greater part if I just say that. Being a missionary is so amazing, it is like training for the bigger race of life in just two years. I feel sometimes as my trainer, our Heavenly Father, pushes me to the limits. He puts on that 20 kg weight on both sides and says, "You can do it." He always helps me though, and then afterward I feel like I have climbed a mountain and I see the beautiful view of eternity as I see people make everlasting covenants at baptism and as I see people change there lives so someday they can be an eternal family. The joy that one feels as a missionary is inexpressible. The love that I feel for these people, for my companion, and for my family right now, is beyond anything that I had ever felt before. I feel as if I am doing the most meaningful thing I have yet done in my whole life. I love it, even though it is hard.

I love you all! I know this church is true! Last night we had a fireside where some of our recent converts shared their precious testimonies and it really strengthened mine. I know that this is Jesus Christ's Church. I love him, he is my saviour and because of him I can inherit eternal life.

With Love,
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission