August 2024

 

It's Time to Say Goodbye

Farewell dinner  in the home of the Temple President and Matron

Top: Sister & Elder van Workem, Pres. Kama, Pres. Lesuma, Steve, Pres. La'ulu, Elders Walk & Williams 
Bottom: Sisters Solomon, Sheffet, Kama, Lesuma, Mickey, Sisters La'ulu, Walk, Williams

The presentation of our family name on a Tapa Cloth by Ned Taito at the Fiji Country Office

Our office buddies sang Isa Lei, the farewell song. I cried.

Then there was Lunch!

Sister La'ulu, Venina, Sister Staples

Elder Duncan and President Qoryoa

Sister Duncan, Elder Duncan, Romulus, Sister Sawa

Sia, Anna, Queenie, Elder and Sister Boehm

Sammy, Walter, ?, Isaia and Mele Racava in the back

Michael and Sister La'ulu

Fanny and Maya

Elder Wilson, Elder Gerkin, Mickey & Steve

Our Last Sunday at the Suva First Ward

There was a baptism . . . 

. . . And a potluck lunch after church services

Far Right: Rachel Aitu and Margie Levaci

Some final Goodbye's

Sister Baivou was sad to see 
us leaving.

Seine just happened to come
by the office on our last day

Then it was time to get on the plane!

Bittersweet:

Happy to be heading home.

Sad to be leaving so many friends behind.

Suva to Nadi

Nadi to Los Angeles

July 2024

 

The Fijian members of the church were very thoughtful and aware of our USA Independence Day. There were two celebrations in different areas of the Fiji Country office.

Our July 4th party included "light refreshment" and party favours. We were also treated to Patriotic music and games. 

Mickey, Shreen Acosta, Irene Lesuma

Shreen Acosta, Mickey, Steve

When we were here for our first Fiji Mission in 2019, we taught a Temple Preparation class in the Suva 1st ward. Shreen Acosta was one of our participants, and she was a little irritated with me when I kept trying to follow up with her when the class ended. One day she turned to me and said, "Sister Hinkson, when I'm ready to go to the temple I'll let you know!"  On Sunday, 14 July, she told me she was going to the Temple for the first time on Tuesday 16 July, and invited Steve and I to be there. We were so delighted. She said, "You were part of my journey/" 

A landmark day on our mission was 19th July. I gathered up all my sewing stuff (machine included) and took it to Rachel Aitu. Her daughter is 16 and  is showing some interest in sewing, but the machine she was using died. When I heard the story, I immediately knew where I needed to park my Fiji machine. I'm so glad it has a new home where it will be useful to someone until it dies!

Steve and  I were asked to participate in the career fair at the LDS College. We had a planning meeting on Monday 22 July. The Fiji Ministry of Education representatives, church facilities managers (FM), the school principle and her staff (Cheryl Bahn), and two missionary couples gathered around a conference table to go over plans for the event. They have invited all the high schools in the greater Suva area to participate and bring their year 12 and 13 students to the campus. The event was scheduled for 26th & 27th July. After we met in the conference room, the group decided to take a look at the campus. I got separated from the group, so was waiting for them in the administration office. I decided to go out to meet them, and I missed a small step at the entry, and fell! I went full length onto the cement, twisting my left ankle and bonking my head in the process! I immediately had a great deal of attention all around me! The best thing that happened was immediate application of ice to my ankle. A trip to the hospital for x-rays reassured that no bones were broken. Miracles have blessed me, because all the bruising evidence suggests a significant sprain, but the healing has been amazingly rapid. Only one detail that most of you might not know: walking on crutches while wearing a skirt is quite difficult!

Waiting to get X-rays

A very kind lady brought leaves from her 
"healing tree" and wrapped my ankle for 
the first 2 days. I've now experienced the healing 
miracles of "Fijian Herbs"

Well, injured or not, the project continues! We were in charge of making 200 "snack" bags that contained a bottle of water, a granola bar, a piece of fruit (apple or orange) and a napkin. They were to be handed out to the vendors during the 2 days of the Career Fair.

First order of business: gather supplies and get some help!

Assembly line following the 
Country Office devotional

Many hands make light work

We had 200 bags assembled 
in 30 minutes

Then to transport:

Elder Bryan was part of the team!

Several students helped us get the 
boxes into the music room for 
safe keeping until the big event

After we distributed the bags on Friday, we had 5 left. 

Pictures from the Career Fair, a 2 day event: The final count was 2000 students in 2 days.

Back: Rachel Aitu and Ned Taito
Front: Steve, Mickey, Sister Klomp

I got a tour of the school farm. This was in the 
greenhouse with Ed Ramen

Students in the display hall

2000 students from the Suva area participated 

Elder and Sister Klomp

Thursday 25th July was our final gathering with our English Connect 3 students. We spent 14 weeks meeting with these young people weekly. We sure love them!

Final day with EC3 students

Some other pictures of events in July----

Steve and I organised the senior couples dinner at 
the Eden restaurant

Seine Rasiga and I went out to lunch on her
last day working in the Country office.
She is studying to become a lawyer.

Back row: Sister & Elder Van Woerkom, President Kama, President Lesuma, Steve, President La'ulu, Elder Walk, Elder Williams.
Fromt row: Sister Solomoni, Sister Sheffet, Sister Kama, Sister Lesuma, Mickey, Sister La'ulu, Sister Walk, Sister Williams

29 July we were invited to go to the Temple President's home for a farewell dinner with the temple missionaries. We had a great dinner and a lovely evening visiting and sharing testimonies.

That wraps up July.

Love,

Steve & Mickey Hinkson

June 2024

 

We had passed this sculpture in Sigatoka many times, but on our June trip, we heard the story. The local rugby team is the Sigatoka Stallions, and the stallion's footrest (which I always thought was the world), is a rugby ball. Once I knew the story, I had to get the picture!

On June 2nd we went to Korovou because a group was graduating from their Self Reliance class, Education for Better Work, and we were invited to the event. 

Sister Livini and Steve

We stopped in Nasinu and picked up Edward Raman,
who was the Nausori Stake representative for 
the graduation

Sister Bulavou (far left) was the course facilitator, and Sister Livini (far right) is the Stake 
WSR representative, who organised and 
supported the group.

Later that day, we were asked to present our health slides to the dorm students at LDS College. Prior to our presentation Elder and Sister Bryan asked us if it would be OK for the students to practice the musical number they were singing for Stake Conference the following week. We felt so privileged to be an audience of 4 (just us and the Bryan's) as they gave a beautiful performance of the hymn. We got video of it, but it won't load here, so I'll have to go on picture memories.

Dorm Students at LDS College

Singing "Behold, the Wounds in Jesus' Hands"

Our opportunity for family "colorvata" came while Chris and family were here!

While Chris was here, matching
shirts 

I wanted to get in on the fun
as well, so I made a skirt. 
Unfortunately, Chris was already
gone by the time we could
have taken a picture

Chris and Heidi

In June, we said goodbye to the Seeholzer's. They served as our office couple for a year. They were replaced by the Wilson's, who also became our new next door neighbours!

Elder and Sister Seehol

Elder and Sister Wilson

On June 19th Sister Walhstrom called me from Savusavu to report that she was having headaches every day. We reviewed all the usual stuff that can cause headaches, and made a plan. The next day, her companion called me to say that Sister W had passed out during morning studies and had fallen out of her chair. She remained unconscious for about 2 minutes, and then woke up and was fine, except for the headache. I had them go to the Savusavu clinic immediately to get her checked out. The doctor there gave her some migraine medication, which cured her headache, but did nothing to settle our fears, so Sister W and her companion flew to Suva the next day to begin the process of getting her medially reviewed. For the next week she and her companion were the guests of President and Sister La'ulu in the mission home (cushy accommodations) and we did the rounds for the medical testing. Sister W has not had any other issues since her initial syncopal episode, including no more headaches. She was cleared to go back to full time missionary work on June 27th. I'm so glad she didn't have to go home!

Sister Walhstrom and Mickey

The 3rd week of June, Steve and I were able  to take a few days off to go to Sigatoka. We stayed at the Fiji Hideaway, which was the first resort that we stayed in on our first mission. We went on an excursion called EcoTrax. We had such a fun time! The carts are fitted with bicycle parts and set on the narrow gauge railroad tracks of an abandoned sugar cane train line. They have pedal power and a motor! Here are some great pictures from our day . . .

One of 4 bridges on the route

We were in the first cart,
leading the way!

The guys bringing up the rear!

Lots of great scenery along the way

This is called the "Tunnel of Love"

On the right is the thatched roof of the chief's bure.
The only structure in the village that is allowed to be 
on higher ground is the church (in this case, Methodist)

The senior couples often get together on Saturday evenings and go to a restaurant for dinner. We take charge in rotation. One Saturday in June the Walk's decided that we should sample the street food hot sandwich vendor. 

The vendor grills
beef mince, chicken, 
and pork mince

We were all fascinated by the process

Buns are a full sized loaf of bread. One sandwich 
was ample for the two of us!

Cheese and sauces are added.

Mickey and Pam Klomp

We had a beautiful evening for the event. 
Rulene Walk (foreground) is very serious
about her selfie!

Other events in no particular order:

There is a new McDonald's in Nausori. It is across King's Highway from a big mall that has a Burger King. This is the 4th McD's on the island, and the first one with a full service drive-thru on the Suva side of the island. Sister La'ulu and I decided to treat a couple of missionaries and ended up in line for over 30 minutes!

The Sunday that we went to Korovou, Elder Sheffield (the tall one) and his family came to services, and decided to stay for our presentation. Elder Sheffield had gone home and then returned with his family. His father is a doctor, and as they traveled to the various locations that Elder S served, they were involved in 2 medical incidents in the villages. Elder's Dad had a very eye-opening experience about what the Ministry medical care can offer. It was delightful to visit with them.

June 22 was Seine Rasiga's birthday. The office staff always does a good job of recognising milestones. Seine works part-time as the receptionist, and also is attending law school. She's a sweetheart!

That's it for June! We love serving in Fiji. We love the restored gospel. We are grateful for this opportunity.

Love,

Mickey and Steve Hinkson