Toso Vakamalua - 15 Jul 2018

Bula Vinaka Wekaqu, 

It has been a good week.  We had a truck this past week so the work was moving!  We were able to visit a lot more people each day and it really helped us in preparation for this coming week.  We have 3 baptisms coming up this Saturday.  All of our top investigators right now are so spread out, and its tough when appointments fall through.  With the truck we could see all of over investigators in a day and when things didn't work out we were very flexible to come back at another time.  Usually when we walk around it takes about 1-2 hours to walk from our appointments if the buses aren't reliable that day.  

These past two weeks have been some of the toughest times I've ever experienced on the mission.  There are many factors that play a part in these tough times, but I am grateful for them all as I am forced to grow and overcome. 

This past week we baptized this Rabian girl named Joetsy.  Her husband is a long time member who a couple weeks ago would've been considered inactive.  We started teaching her and she asked us during our 4th visit if she could be baptized.  However, this past week before she was baptized she told us how she had been lying to us.  She in fact, hated us, hated the lessons, and didn't want to be baptized.  She felt pressured by her husband to join the same church as him, so she then asked us for baptism.  She told us all of this because on Monday night she sincerely prayed to know if what we taught was true.  After her prayer she fell asleep and had a vision in her dream in which she was led on a path by two people.  At the end of the path they opened a door and on the other side was someone holding the Book of Mormon.  Before she stepped through the door she looked back and the whole path she had traveled was completely dark (mist of darkness).  She then told us she knew of a surety that everything we had taught her was true, and she started to love us coming over.  It took me back to witness someone become truly converted as she had.  After her baptism on Saturday she gave the greatest testimony I have ever heard a recent convert give.  It had me on the verge of tears.  This work is Great!

In other news, we hit up the farm with our recent converts and investigators.  It a good time.  We went to probably one of the nicest farms I have ever been to in terms of location and beauty of the area.  Although times have been tough it was an amazing week.  

I love this work and those that I serve.

Have a great week,

Love,

Elder Richardson 

The Makulu (Makoi, Naulu) District

Joetsy!!  Elder Billy and Brother Gonevakarua

Sa tiko ena teitei!  Cakacaka vakaukauwa

The view from the porch.  I will be coming back here to stay a night after the mission.

Dausiwa Dina.   True Fisherman 

Bau island off in the distance.

dauteitei.  Out here pulling some tavioka for the fam. 

Buddy!  Getting ready to hit the farm