March 2023

During the month of March we were happy to host Flat Amber. This was a project of our niece, who lives in Cedar City, Utah, and is in the 2nd grade. While Flat Amber was with us we were able to take her on a few adventures. We'll let her tell all her adventures in her own words:

 

The first trip was to Levuka on Orvalau Island. We left on March 10 and came back on March 12th.

You can just see the ferry 
approaching over Uncle Steve's
left shoulder

The ferry is a very nice boat with air conditioning, a snack bar, and lots of nice seats both inside the cabin and out on the deck.

Levuka is a town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau. Prior to 1877, it was the capital of Fiji, and a very busy sea port. Today the main business is a fish packing factory. 

This guard at the factory helped
us with some directions.

These police officers were
very friendly

                                                                                                                                                                                    

I finally met 
someone my own age
at the produce market.

There were lots of fruits and vegetables I didn't 
recognise, but I know what coconuts are!

The inside of the church is 
very nice, and a friendly 
lady told us they have services
there every Sunday.

There is a very old church tower
with a clock that stopped a 
long time ago. Uncle Steve
says it has  the right time 
twice a day.

The view from the top
was wonderful!

There are 200 steps to climb 
and I went up and down 
all of them!

Uncle Steve drove me completely
around the island (while Aunt Mickey
took a nap) 
We stopped to watch a rugby game.

This is Saula. He plants seeds in the 
garden, takes care of the family 
chicken, and he helped paint the 
bottom border around his house. 

Our next trip was to Naikawaga village on March 20, 2023. Most homes are made of corrugated metal sheeting. Most villages are small, between 40-60 houses. They have a church, usually in the center. Most of the time it is a Catholic church or a Methodist church.  Most of the people in the village belong to that church. 

Each village has a chief. The chief meets with the village council to decide on policies and project for improving the village. The chief and the council members decide if the missionaries can come into the village and teach people who are interested in hearing about the Book of Mormon and the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it takes many visits from missionaries and church leaders before permission is granted. 

Some villages have piped water and almost all have electricity. If the village does not have running water, they have large tanks to catch and store the rainwater.  The families of the village have been there for years. When relatives go to the city to live, they often go home to the village for weekends, holidays, or special occasions. The villagers depend on the land for food and the sea for fish. The main food crops are dalo, cassava, pumpkin, watermelon, pineapple banana, papaya, ginger, tomato, cucumber, and beans. 

We went to the village this day to check on some gardens that were planted a few weeks ago, and to see the new village infirmary that is ready to be stocked with equipment so the people in Naikawaga can have a first-aid station close to them.

The New Infirmary. The village
builds the building and church humanitarian
aid provides the medical supplies. 

The inside seemed pretty spacious
to me.

I love puppies! This little one
is 5 weeks old.

I got to check out the village 
transport truck. This transport is 
used every day to take people to
school and to work. Sometimes it
takes our members to church on Sunday

When we were in Suva (which was most of the time)  we got to go to a class of students who are my age (7). Their class is called Year 2. I'm used to calling it 2nd Grade! This is the LDS Primary School, so we all sang "I Am a Child of God". I loved meeting school-aged friends!

I was also able  to meet real missionaries, and some of the people who take care of the Mission Home, the Mission Office, and the Temple.

Sister Halle, Sister Amusson, 
Sister Hall and Sister
Taarau.

Michael and David--two very
important  people because they
can fix anything if it breaks!

The Suva Fiji Temple
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints

Elder Coleman and Elder Muhammad and some
boys in the neighbourhood who love to see them come
and go.

Our last trip was to Nadi to present self-reliance to 2 different groups. Since one meeting was Saturday and one meeting was Sunday we stayed overnight at a beach front resort called Crusoe's Retreat, and got a brief taste of "tourist Fiji". It was great, and I sure wish we could have stayed longer!

This was a great view of the Nadi area from the 
rooftop of our hotel. Nadi is on the western side of the island
and has a lot more agriculture, as well as many resorts
and the main airport, which is a hub for the entire 
Oceania region.

We were able to get a little
beach time. The water is 
clear and warm.

We took a walk very early on 
Sunday morning and met Jacobai, 
who was eating his breakfast. He wanted
to share it with me. 

There's nothing like a good hammock
to rest and think and pray. 

We sure enjoyed having Flat Amber with us during the month of March. She gave us many opportunities to explain to people who we represent and why we are here in Fiji. I know that she will become a great missionary herself one day!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly a blessing to us and all the world. The Book of Mormon is a wonderful resource to teach us about Jesus Christ and bless our lives with its testimony and witness that He is real, that He loves us, and that we can be blessed and strengthened when we read it.

Currently my favourite verse is Alma 37:37

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.