Talofa soon to be Bula Vinaka! I am transferring this Thursday. I think I mentioned that there were rumors of change and it turns out those rumors are true. I am going back to Fiji on Thursday and then I am heading west to Ba. My new companion is a brand new missionary and I will be training him. I'm not really sure what to think of everything, but I know that the Lord's hand is in this. I know he will help me in this exciting and slightly scary new challenge.
I was kind of sick this last week on Wednesday with a little infection that has been going around the island. I just had diarrhea and I vomited once, but overall not too bad. I was still able to work that day and I am now feeling one hundred percent. I even went running this morning, but unfortunately the old tendonitis in my knee flaired up a little bit. I think that's what I get for riding bikes everyday! It's ok though, and I am really glad that my new area too is a biking area. I want to be in good shape when I get home from my mission. Mom and Dad get ready to walk everywhere when we come back (including in Tuvalu!).
Well we have seven people preparing for baptism in two weeks. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend due to the recent transfer. I'll admit I think everyone is a little disappointed and surprised, including me. It will be good though! We had the baptismal interviews for Nau and Lilo as well as for Eti's family and everyone passed! In the coming week Elder Momoisea and his new companion Elder Strong (I served with him before) will finish the interviews.
Something that made the transfer really hard to me is that a lot of the people we're teaching expressed that they had been hoping I would baptize them. One in particular was Michael and Ue. We were discussing when they would get baptized and Michael said, "You'll still be here in this month won't you?" I told him no I'm getting transferred this coming week. He started crying and said, "We had been hoping that you would honor us in baptizing us." It was like a knife to my heart.
Honestly, my last few journal entries have usually begun like this My heart is as bitter as gall that I must leave these people, or Today was a really hard day because I had to tell everyone that I'm leaving. It seems like adventures like this will last forever, but then suddenly everything changes. I have felt kind of in a daze ever since we found out. I was hoping to stay here until October.
Yesterday was a very sad, but rewarding last Sunday in Tuvalu. A lot of people came to church and especially my investigators and recent converts, I was very pleased. Then in Sacrament we began singing the branch's favorite song "Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning." I couldn't sing, because I was so emotional at singing their favorite song. They sing with such spirit and gusto. Then they allowed me to bless the sacrament. Then I gave my last testimony in Tuvalu. I sang a song, and somehow I was able to sing without becoming emotional. I then started talking and I could barely get out my I knows and my I believes. I just felt so much love for the beautiful saints in this corner of paradise.
We then had our last branch council meeting, and that was rewarding as well. The branch has improved a lot while I've been here, I don't know that it has anything to do with me. President Niko thanked me at the end of the meeting and it was really nice. I really look up to President Niko. He has been the branch president for 20 years and has never complained. The Ensign should come to Tuvalu and do an article on that great man of faith. If anyone asks your opinion, tell them that.
This new week will bring many challenges and many adventures, but I feel up to the challenge. It's interesting but I prayed that I would have an opportunity to train on my mission, but I never thought it would come so soon.
It's hard to believe it has been ten years since September 11, 2001. My thoughts yesterday turned to America and to those who protect the rights and liberties of our country. Yesterday was kind of a sad day for me, but I feel very peaceful and secure doing the Lord's work. I know he will protect me and guard me in his work.
Well I love you all, I hope you will have a wonderful week!
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission
9/4/11
Awesome investigators!
Talofa my friends and family!
Another beautiful week has passed in my island paradise of Tuvalu. It seems so slow at times, but then looking back suddenly I realize that yet another month has passed by. There's rumors that something is going to change here in Tuvalu within the next week (meaning transfers) but I don't know if they're true or not.
Our investigators are all progressing well. Those who are getting baptized in the coming month are so prepared! We should baptize them today! Not really, but we practiced the baptismal interviews and they are all so smart in answering the questions. I was especially impressed with Eti's wife Taiga and their daughter Teleia because they both fasted yesterday to help Eti to quit smoking. They are so stalwart! I am so glad that Taiga really prayed about the church to know if it's true. I was thinking about that today, how sometimes people in the church say that they have never questioned if the church is true or not. That isn't good! I was thinking about other people who are blinded by the truths they have believed their whole lives and they too never question. For a lasting testimony, we must question and ask with a sincere heart to God what is truth. That is a really remarkable teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I think. That we encourage people to ask for themselves to God, the giver of all truth.
Yesterday was Fast and Testimony Meeting and I bore my testimony. I don't know if I'll be here for the next one or not. So I thought I would take the chance that I had. By the way, I think that's how we should always be. I noticed that members of the church in Utah are less willing to use the sacred time for bearing testimonies than the saints here in the pacific. We should all burn with such testimonies that we cannot sit down in Fast and Testimony Meeting. Speaking of those who could not sit down, there is this wonderful family that is probably my favorite family in Tuvalu. The mom's name is Ilau and her husband recently came back from over sea. His name is Manumalo. Ilau is a recent convert and Manumalo is a returned missionary that sometimes doesn't feel very strong in the faith. We had family home evening with them on Monday. Well in Fast and Testimony meeting their three oldest children got up and bore their testimonies. I was so proud of their righteous examples to their parents. The best was when little Avonitele who is only six, got up and folded his arms all serious and bore a simple, but pure testimony of the truth. He'll be a missionary someday!
We have started teaching some new people who seem really good. One is Uikilifi and his wife Joyce. Uikilifi is President Niko's brother. He is a humble man who is brilliant in building houses. He recently built a new house for President Niko. His wife Joyce has come to lots of church activities and seems super interested, but we were unable to go to them because they live far from the main village. Luckily, we now have bikes which makes everything possible. President Niko's sister is Ue the wife of Michael and is doing so good too!
Elder Momoisea is a really good companion for me. He keeps me laughing and isn't too judgemental when sometimes I'm not very patient or I'm not very good at some things (like planning). I have learned how hard planning really is! We watch a lot of Preach My Gospel videos and everytime we do I think, man I am not that good at planning. But the missionaries we watched, also had some intense training on how to become better missionaries.
I hope you all are healthy and well! Have a wonderful week!
Much Love
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission
Another beautiful week has passed in my island paradise of Tuvalu. It seems so slow at times, but then looking back suddenly I realize that yet another month has passed by. There's rumors that something is going to change here in Tuvalu within the next week (meaning transfers) but I don't know if they're true or not.
Our investigators are all progressing well. Those who are getting baptized in the coming month are so prepared! We should baptize them today! Not really, but we practiced the baptismal interviews and they are all so smart in answering the questions. I was especially impressed with Eti's wife Taiga and their daughter Teleia because they both fasted yesterday to help Eti to quit smoking. They are so stalwart! I am so glad that Taiga really prayed about the church to know if it's true. I was thinking about that today, how sometimes people in the church say that they have never questioned if the church is true or not. That isn't good! I was thinking about other people who are blinded by the truths they have believed their whole lives and they too never question. For a lasting testimony, we must question and ask with a sincere heart to God what is truth. That is a really remarkable teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I think. That we encourage people to ask for themselves to God, the giver of all truth.
Yesterday was Fast and Testimony Meeting and I bore my testimony. I don't know if I'll be here for the next one or not. So I thought I would take the chance that I had. By the way, I think that's how we should always be. I noticed that members of the church in Utah are less willing to use the sacred time for bearing testimonies than the saints here in the pacific. We should all burn with such testimonies that we cannot sit down in Fast and Testimony Meeting. Speaking of those who could not sit down, there is this wonderful family that is probably my favorite family in Tuvalu. The mom's name is Ilau and her husband recently came back from over sea. His name is Manumalo. Ilau is a recent convert and Manumalo is a returned missionary that sometimes doesn't feel very strong in the faith. We had family home evening with them on Monday. Well in Fast and Testimony meeting their three oldest children got up and bore their testimonies. I was so proud of their righteous examples to their parents. The best was when little Avonitele who is only six, got up and folded his arms all serious and bore a simple, but pure testimony of the truth. He'll be a missionary someday!
We have started teaching some new people who seem really good. One is Uikilifi and his wife Joyce. Uikilifi is President Niko's brother. He is a humble man who is brilliant in building houses. He recently built a new house for President Niko. His wife Joyce has come to lots of church activities and seems super interested, but we were unable to go to them because they live far from the main village. Luckily, we now have bikes which makes everything possible. President Niko's sister is Ue the wife of Michael and is doing so good too!
Elder Momoisea is a really good companion for me. He keeps me laughing and isn't too judgemental when sometimes I'm not very patient or I'm not very good at some things (like planning). I have learned how hard planning really is! We watch a lot of Preach My Gospel videos and everytime we do I think, man I am not that good at planning. But the missionaries we watched, also had some intense training on how to become better missionaries.
I hope you all are healthy and well! Have a wonderful week!
Much Love
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission
8/29/11
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
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
8/22/11
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
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
8/14/11
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
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
8/8/11
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
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission
8/2/11
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
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
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