YSA Baptism, YSA Graduation (aka Wedding)

This week, we attended our first Fijian LDS wedding.   The young couple were two of the Young Single Adults from our institute and from our Lami 2^nd Ward.   Talanoa met Sariah at USP and were married in the Fiji Temple this past Thursday.   We attended the reception afterwards.  

The new bride and groom uniting Fiji and Kiribati

Notice the beautiful Tapa Cloth behind the bride and groom.   We met the lady who created this work.   It is truly an art. 

Congrats to Talanoa (Villiami)  and Sariah

Sister Peterson getting her groove on at the wedding

Off to the Philippines for Mia

On Thursday morning, we said “moce” to our Maria (Mia) Cagicaucau.  She is off to the Philippians for her mission service.   The institute will not quite be the same without her – it will be much quieter!   Really, we love her and will miss her.

Note the green school uniforms.   Each school has
their own colours.  Hmmmm. . . .

They do not call it "trash" in Fiji.  It is "rubbish".   It was "rubbish day" at the LDS Primary School next door to the Institute on Thursday as well.   We found these youngsters making a game out of throwing the rubbish in the dumpster.   They have quite the system of “throwing and tromping”  the rubbish down.  

On Friday, we had other unique blessing of our mission experience by participating in the baptism of one of our YSA’s.   Lario Kalounivale started attending our institute about six weeks ago.   Since the missionary sisters were teaching him, they let him know he could choose who baptised him.   When he approached me with his request, I was surprised that he would ask me to do this.   made all the frustration and time all worthwhile.    And, I am grateful for this blessing of being able to use my priesthood in furthering their spiritual journey.   Each one attended the NT class where they gained a greater love for the Saviour through attendance and participation in our classes.  

Lario Kalounivale

Sister Rich and her Companion from Tonga

When I inquired “why me?”   He let me know that he had gained a stronger testimony of the Church while attending my New Testament class.    What an honor.   I was very humbled too.   I have struggled these past two semesters teaching the New Testament.   It is not that the subject is difficult of undesirable to teach – it is due to the fact that the teachers manual is so outdated and complex for YSA’s who are either new to the Church or investigating it, that I needed to create a whole new lesson each week.

The baptisms and Lario and Leyah Dobui made all the frustration and time all worthwhile.    And, I am grateful for this blessing of being able to use my priesthood in furthering their spiritual journey.   Each one attended the NT class where they gained a greater love for the Saviour through attendance and participation in our classes.   

After Lario’s baptism, we took he and several other YSA’s and two sister missionaries out to dinner to Café 30.  

They loved it, and we loved hosting them.  We continue to receive blessings as we associate with these choice young adults.  They are our kids away from home.

This week, we also attended a mission conference with Elder Haleck of the Seventy and Area Presidency in attendance.   

Missionaries Love Their Pictures Taken

This was only a small conference.