Toso Tiko - 20 May 2018

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."- Mark Twain.  

Good Afternoon Weikaqu,  

This week has flown by.  Tuesday was transfer calls, Elder Zenas and I will be staying in Naulu together for another transfer.  I am very happy about this.  We have started to become very close with a lot of the members and have progressed a ton with some investigators.  These next 6 weeks should be great.  However, unfortunately, we have had to say goodbye to the Naulu Sisters.  We previously shared the area with them and it was helpful in the work.  Now that they're gone we have to cover the areas they would usually work in and take over their investigators.   This week is really going to show Elder Zenas and I how this change will be since the Sisters only left 3 days ago. 

We had Stake Conference yesterday and it was very uplifting.  I hope everyone is hyped for this new era of Ministering.  I have realized that even as a Missionary visiting members, especially less and non actives is so important.  We are all on the path of progression and everyone needs to be loved and supported no matter where they are in their progression.  I have had a lot of fun working with the non and less actives.  It can be challenging to get through to them sometimes because they may think you're only there to bring them back to church.  Trying to work around this has been tough, but I've found just keeping it real with them and being myself has been the best method.  

We have had a lot of challenges this past week, but with persistence comes triumph.  These two girls, Ana (21) and her sister Loni (20) have been great investigators of ours but for the past 6 weeks getting them to church has been impossible.  We would always invite them and most of the time they'd accept, but when we would show up to pick them up they'd be gone.  Two days ago we saw them on the road and we invited them to Stake Conference.  After the invite I did my "keep it real with them" method and confronted on all the times the fake on us and don't go to church.  They explained and we gave words of comfort, they then promised they would for sure come with us this Sunday.  We showed up Sunday morning and they were waiting for us.  They had a great time at church and it was awesome to see them welcomed in by the fellow members.

Great Experience.

Have a great week,

Love,

Elder Richardson

 

Our Sisters came by to say farewell before they left the area. It was a blessing to have the help and support of Sister Taylor and Sister Judy in the Naulu Area. Loloma Yani

Stevie Wonder? If only he could play "Higher Ground."

​Our District Leader got bit by a dog on the way to our Baptismal Interview.  Lucky some of Fiji's Finest were on the scene. 

Sunday Lunch.  Miti (coconut milk, ota, onion, and parsley) my new favorite dish.  Great food everyday out here in Fiji!

Fiji Suva Temple.  I'll be going there someday

5 of these Elders are currently home. I was happy to be able to say some temporary goodbyes to some great friends.

Sister Ready! She is one of my favorite members. She has a great sense of humor and is always calling us to have us over. Shes about to leave to San Francisco this coming week. We're going to miss her.