Cannibals eat Missionaries part 2!!

You don't have to read the following, if you don't want to.  Just keeping everyone posted on how Fiji is! 

In Fiji, there are still cannibals.  They legitimately eat people.  There are only a few of them, and they live up in villages by themselves--and the Fijians know where they are and warn the Missionaries. 
My companion was with one of his former companions, and went through one of these villages, and kept going even though the Holy Spirit was telling them to turn back and not continue.  The people invited them inside their houses.  There were no children in this village; only old people.  As my companion and his companion were sitting down in one of these houses with these people, half of the village was gathering firewood and rocks to kill them and cook them underground.  But, a Fijian who had been prompted by Heavenly Father to come in and save them, ran into the village and called out dramatically and frantically for the missionaries, and when he saw them in a house, he feared it might be too late.  The people were trying to keep the missionaries in and telling them not to listen to that guy, but to stay, stay, stay!  The Fijian that came to save them, ran in and pulled them out by their hands and dragged them swiftly out of the village.  He scolded them the entire way home.  They all thanked Heavenly Father, with all their hearts, for saving them.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture, but ! --> Our landlord painted our house GREEN AND RED, FOR CHRISTMAS!!!  It used to be pink.  We arrived home one day and were like..."Right property... wrong house. WOAH! WAIT!THAT'S OUR HOUSE!!!!" 

President Monson sent me a Christmas card!  I thought that was pretty cool!  He sent one out to each missionary. I love him!


We get swords in our mission!  We can chop off people's arms, we can cut down trees, we can mow our lawn with these, we can fend off mad cows or dogs.




I love it!! There are so many mosquitoes!!!  The other night, they were so thick and hungry.  I was sleeping, surrounded by my mosquito net, and they were all buzzing super high-pitched and desperate sounding.  They collect on the net, and I spray them with the bug spray I brought.  I love them.  Heavenly Father was so wise in creating them.  They're magnificent little creatures!  I'm amazed at them!  I am in awe at the thing Heavenly Father can do.  These mosquitoes were so thick and fierce, that I didn't even get out to go brush my teeth and floss that night.  My showers consist of slapping and spraying mosquitoes.. and sometimes I get around to actually cleaning myself.  But, the mosquitoes really are no thicker than they are in Virginia during the Summer.  


Truly when we're serving others, we're only serving ourselves.   When you serve selflessly and love and give your love and time and spirit for another, your spirit fills with light and joy and you receive more than you gave!  Heavenly Father is an acknowledger and eternal and meaningful rewarder of every good deed.  Learn to give yourself for others. Whatever we become here in mortality is meaningless unless it is done for the benefit of others.  Our gifts and talents are given to us to help us serve.  And in serving, we become like Christ.

We are here to help each other, to care for each other, to understand, forgive, and serve one another.  Anything we do to show love is worthwhile: a smile, a word of encouragement, a small act of sacrifice.  We grow by these actions.  We are where we need to be.  We are each receiving more help than we know.  Angels stand near us, waiting to assist us, rejoicing in our accomplishments &joys.  

Language

This week, all the natives, (members, non-members, missionaries, taxi drivers, investigators, etc.,) have been always been so surprised when I tell them I've only been here 3 weeks.  Last week, I was talking to a taxi driver while he drove us somewhere, and he thought I had been here 2 YEARS, and hardly believed me when I said I'd only been here two weeks.  He said my Fijian is native and fluent.  At first, I thought he was just being nice; but then everyone was having the same reaction and saying the same thing!  They are amazed at how well I speak.  The missionaries say that I speak ridiculously good.  I now engage just about any crowd or individual in conversation in their own native Fijian tongue.  I credit this all to Heavenly Father's enabling and strengthening power.  I credit it, humbly and gratefully to you.  Your prayers for me.  Your faith.  I credit it to Him enabling me to work hard, and in my loving to only be out of my comfort zone! To not be afraid to mess up, all the time!   The Lord will enable you, if you trust His love and work joyfully and patiently have perfect and full faith.  As long as you keep walking, you will get their; gloriously and triumphantly!  That's the promise of our lives here in mortality! 

The other day, I sang soprano, sang a Christmas song in Fijian, in front of about 1000 Fijians.  They were amazed and loved it! 


Our lizards in our house are like dogs.  They bite each other's heads playfully, they wag their tails, and they bark.