Lots of Mud and Muck!

This week has been very challenging, very rewarding, and very motivating to keep going in the work. We had exchanges this week with Rakiraki so that I could do the baptismal interview for a boy in Rakiraki. I went with Elder Patenaude and Elder Driso went with Elder Tay. Elder Patenaude is from Washington D.C. His father is from quebec and speaks french and his mother is of Jewish Descent. He's really cool and we get along really well. We faced a lot of opposition however on the day that we did the baptismal interview. The sky was pretty clear and still quite light when we left on our bikes. Suddenly, rain began to fall and the dirt road on which we were riding became a muddy field. My bike was sliding all over the road and I thought we would have to turn back. However, if we didn't do the baptismal interview that day, it wouldn't have been possible for us to come back to Ba when we needed to for Zone Conference. So we decided to press forward. Soon the mud became so thick I wouldn't ride my bike, but I just pushed it through the muddy street. Elder Patenaude too was unable to ride in the pretty bad conditions. We kept walking but eventually the mud clogged our tires and made it impossible to go any farther with the bikes. So we decided to hide the bikes by the side of the road and continue onward on foot. Dirty beyond belief and sweaty, we arrived at the house to find the boy and his family still awake. I did the interview and I felt sweet peace from the Lord telling me that the boy was ready to be baptized. The mother thanked us for coming and we then faced the daunting task of heading back. I thought, "There is no way we can make it back by nine o'clock and be obedient." Then as we found our bikes, we tried to clean off the tires so that we could ride home. They were so clogged with mud and grass that the brakes clung to the tires and would not turn. Resigning himself to carry the bike that would not turn, Elder Patenaude continued on carrying the broken bike. THe one I had still turned slowly. We were blessed to be able to flag down a truck, that agreed to take us home, even though we were dirty and our bikes were too. When we got home, I looked at my watch and the time was nine o'clock. The Lord really does provide a way for us to be obedient.

 

    One really big success this week is we had a less active man, Bro. Mateiwai, who has been coming back to church. This week the Stake President interviewed him and found him worthy to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. He was then ordained to the priesthood. We have been working a lot with his family. They are such wonderful people and his wife, also less active, is the relief society president. Yesterday we talked to them about keeping the Sabbath day holy and they shared a powerful testimony that they know that they need to come to church. We'll keep visiting them and I think it will be very effective.

 

Mom asked a few questions so I'll now proceed to answer those. First, My companion's name is Elder Tay. He is recently from Pocatello, ID. He has lived in Hawaii, Singapore, and Utah. He went to one year of college at BYU before he came on his mission. He is nineteen years old. He is a really excellent chef, and is actually thinking about going to culinary school after his mission. His father is Chinese from Singapore, and his mother is from the Phillipines. He is learning the language very quickly.

 

Ba is a really interesting area. It is more dry here and hot then the Eastern part of Fiji. There is always something burning around here because there are farms everywhere, but that is why people call this the burning West. The ward here has been struggling a lot. One year ago, their bishop died suddenly. There weren't very many worthy priesthood holders, so the stake took over the ward implementing the high councilman as the leader, although the stake president is really the leader of the ward. There are probably 200-250 members in this area but we only have about 40-50 come to church each week. A year and a half ago we had a really large flood that made it so members had to travel to a far away town for church. Transport is limited here and very expensive, making it difficult for people to frequently come to church. We only have one ward, but the amount of land in one ward is quite large. The work is slow here, because our primary focus in a lot of ways is in helping lift and nourish the ward that we have, before seeking out new people. However, we are still looking for those who are prepared to recieve the gospel as well.

 

The people in Ba are probably the most loving and friendly people I've ever met. Maybe that's why it is so easy for some of them to get offended. They welcome us into their homes and feed us. I just wish their actions always matched their kind words. Many will say they're interesting in learning about the gospel but really they dodge us and won't meet with us. There are a lot of Indians here so maybe I will learn some more Hindi. We'll see how it goes.

 

I am really looking forward to serving in this area because the people are wonderful. I know that the Lord has a plan to build and help this area.

I love you!
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

Two posts in one, because I forgot last week :D

(This week)
Cola Vina na noqu matavuvale kei na noqu itokani!

This week has truly been a remarkable week. I really feel like Elder Tay and I have been learning our area really well. I remember how much I loved Ba when I was hear before, and I still feel the awe and wonder of this beautiful side of the west. The people here are extremely friendly, in fact, a lot of times when we ride buses or carriers they won't let us pay. I know God blesses those kind people.

Elder Tay is a wonderful missionary. I don't know if I'm training him or if he's training me. He is very wise and helpful in our companionship. I am really glad that we will be together for at least 12 weeks (because of the new training program). He is also a very good cook! He cooks stir fries and all sorts of delicious things. His fijian is pretty good for just getting out here. He can share his testimony really well and he honestly can share about almost all of the missionary lessons. We have been doing a lot of studying together (because with the new program we now do two hours of companionship study), which has really helped us to become better missionaries.

We met a lot of our recent converts, less active members, and active members this week. They are all endowed with that wonderful Ba friendliness, but I can tell that this ward has been through a lot. A little over a year ago the chapel here was completely flooded from the Ba river. It took months to clean out the chapel and to make it so that members could come to church here. In the meantime, members travelled the one hour bus ride (and however long it takes to travel to the bus) to another town called Tavua to go to church. Shortly after that the Bishop became very ill and died. After that, one of the high councilman of the stake was charged to look after the ward until a new bishop could be called and set apart.

In light of that, a lot of members have stopped coming to church and the saints here have been through a lot. It's our job as missionaries to seek out those who are not coming to church and help them to rekindle their testimony. We also have to strengthen the members and try to find and teach investigators. It is a tall order, but I have felt the guidance of the Holy Spirit more in the last two weeks than perhaps ever before on my mission. We haven't had to wonder what to do or where to go. We have been guided in the right paths and led to the right people.

One less active family that I was so happy to find is the Mateiwai family. I had heard about them when I first came on the mission. They are a family of true faith and devotion and they were extremely strong in the beginning of my mission. I'm not really sure what happened but for some reason or other, they have drifted away from church and they are struggling a little bit now. We searched for their house all last week, and were able to find it on Sunday. As we met with them, the spirit told me and my companion to help them desire to enter the temple. They are such good people, and they truly do desire the blessings of the temple. As we chatted with them, I just felt so comfortable with them, like we've known each other for ages. Bro. Matewai is truly a great man, and I honestly believe he will be a leader in this church. We will continue to meet with them about once a week and I feel confident our efforts will pay off.

I love the people here. I think that is honestly the thing I will remember the most for the rest of my life. True, we live in a truly beautiful picturesque land, but I will never be able to forget the kindness and faith of the people of Fiji and Tuvalu.

I love you all! I hope that you are all doing well!

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission








(Last Week)

Bula Vinaka,

 

This week has been a week of growth and blessings! I will admit my last few days in Tuvalu were an absolute blur, it all happened too fast. Then suddenly I was on the plane back to Fiji. The people were so generous and gave me such wonderful gifts for going away. It was raining the day I left ,which isn't that common in Tuvalu. It was as if the island of Tuvalu was shedding the tears for me that day. As I left, I felt a feeling of peace, hope and determination. I know the elders that are there will do a great job.

 

I then returned to Fiji. I was only in Suva for one hour when I flew from Suva to Nadi to meet with my brand new companion. His name is Elder Tay. He has lived in Singapore, Hawaii, and recently in Idaho. He went to BYU before his mission, but I won't hold it against him. (I'm just kidding, but how about that game?!) I actually was a little sick that day and the next, I think mostly because of travelling, it may have been a continuation from my sickness the week before.

 

Elder Tay is an extremely good missionary. He already has really good patterns and he is very knowledgeable both in the gospel and in a lot of other things (including cooking!). I'm really excited to work with him. He is really good to work with. We have to do an extra hour of study for the first twelve weeks as part of a new training program in the mission. I am really excited for it! I think it will really help Elder Tay to learn some things I was not able to really learn. We had training on it last week and we have been doing it for a few days now.

 

Ba is still beautiful. I really love the people here! They are so friendly and so wonderful! One of my favorites is Sister Ratu. She just talks to everyone and she is fluent in English, Hindi, and Fijian. She is so funny and when I first saw her on Saturday she was so happy to see me again!

 

There is word on the street that they will soon put a senior couple in the west and most likely they will be situated in or near Ba. I'm really excited for their help. Senior couples help so much in the mission! Elder Sherry is a former institute teacher and one of the other missionaries in the mission was actually in his institute class. They're from Oregon. They come next month.

 

Well I love you all! A lot of you responded to my email last week, so I'm going to try to email back! 

--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission

Nothing lasts forever... except marriage in the temple

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

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

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

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