Veisau Levu - 12 Aug 2018

Bula Vinaka Wekaqu,

Another great week out here in Fiji.  Transfer calls came this past Tuesday and I was surprised to hear my new calling.  As of Friday I have been serving as a Zone Leader in the Suva 2nd area with Elder Meeves and we are white washing, meaning we are both new to the area.  The past couple days has been extremely busy. We had transfers immediately and the first two days was us picking up and dropping off all the missionaries who were coming to or through Suva. 

When we got to our new flat it was a mess!  Total pigsty.  After the first night we learned that we had an extreme bed bug infestation. Always a good time.  We have spent  2 days deep cleaning the flat whenever we have a break from driving people around and learning our new area.  We have only been able to visit 1 investigator so far but I can already tell things are going to be good out here.  We are serving in a Fijian ward and it has been helpful for my language skills.  I am still struggling a little with the Fijian but my companion Elder Meeves is basically fluent. 

Elder Meeves.  He's from Orem, Utah.  It is official as of Saturday that he's half an inch taller than me.  He loves basketball and is gifted in many ways.  After our first night together I found out he was a big time sleep talker.  However, this is no average talk in your sleep business.  I heard some movements at night and look over to find him sitting up right cross legged and talking.  The first night he was speaking some Spanish, later on he dropped a couple Kiribati words.  Finished the night off a couple hours later with some math problems.  This is no exaggeration and it happens literally Every Night.  May get old, but for now I am enjoying it. 

Yesterday while looking for a referral we came across a group of men who were enjoying some beer on a wonderful Sunday afternoon.  We asked for their help to find the person we were looking for but they had no idea.  Before we left they asked us to share a message.  We shared a bit about the Church's foundation.  One man began to tear up, he told us he knew what we shared was true.  He had read the Book of Mormon before and knew it was true as well.  It was amazing to hear.

Our area is awesome.  There is a reason it was White Washed.  Elder Meeves and I are ready to change things up out here in this said to be "slow area".   Our zone is full of amazing missionaries and I can't wait to get to work this week. 

Have a good week everyone.

Love,

Elder Richardson

Farewell dinner week in Naulu.  Toganivalu family.

My companion Elder Latu.  Like a brother to me. 

Our Roast with some of the members watching.  The crowd is off in the back left just outside the photo. 

Feasting on the floor.  Some banana leaves as our plates.  Some fresh avocado and cassava for our sides. 

Ran into Big Bird's cousin in Cost U Less 

The new Comp. Elder Meeves.   First companion that's taller than me! 

Took Milika to the Temple.  She already has her Mission Papers filled out!

Picking them up...

...and dropping them off.

Farewell to my favorite family the Narayan's.