Thursday, December 2, 2010
A Note from the Blogger:
Hey y'all! It appears that I have been neglecting this blog recently, which is a real shame since Elder Wall's emails have been most excellent. Sorry for the sudden onslaught of reading material, but I just had to post them all. Jake has been an awesome missionary and we are ever so excited to welcome him home this evening! I don't think we've had a ton of readers on this site, but for those who have frequented it it- thanks. I know that Jake appreciates the many people who have supported him throughout his mission.
November 29, 2010 - What a note to end on!
This will be short, sweet, and simple, just like the amount of time I have left on my mission.
I am in Suva as of this morning, but it has been a crazy week. We were on hurricane warnings and there has been some crazy storms. I have had plenty of times where I was worried about making it home on Thursday, but things are looking good and I am so excited.
This week we spent a lot of time in Labasa and then had some very interesting experiences where I literally stared death in the face, but I came off conqueror. So thank you all so much for your prayers and your love.
I love you all and I am so so excited to see you all on Thursday. I've got a great story to end my mission with so prepare yourselves. See you Thursday.
Love,
Elder Wall
I am in Suva as of this morning, but it has been a crazy week. We were on hurricane warnings and there has been some crazy storms. I have had plenty of times where I was worried about making it home on Thursday, but things are looking good and I am so excited.
This week we spent a lot of time in Labasa and then had some very interesting experiences where I literally stared death in the face, but I came off conqueror. So thank you all so much for your prayers and your love.
I love you all and I am so so excited to see you all on Thursday. I've got a great story to end my mission with so prepare yourselves. See you Thursday.
Love,
Elder Wall
November 21, 2010 - Crunch Time
Well I cannot believe how fast this week shot by. I swear it was over in like one day! This week is the last week I have proselyting, so hopefully I can get something good accomplished.
This week was good, but it feels like we were running errands and dealing with problems the whole week and got nothing done. We were in Taveuni til Thursday, which was good. It was really good to see everyone again. I miss them all. They are all doing well, so I was happy.
We came back to Savusavu and had to deal with a bunch of junk cause we moved flats. We got to burn an old crappy couch though and that was a blast!
The area here in Savusavu is really struggling. They are having some issues with drama in the branch- too many people being offended for things that are not meant to be offensive, too much pride, and not enough forgiveness. It is really sad to see. But we had some good talks with some people and hopefully we can help figure out some problems and get the Branch back on track.
This week we are doing some training with the district leader in Labasa and will spend some time there. Then we also have a funeral in a small branch deep in the jungle that we are going to go help out with. So this week we should be pretty busy, however it is not looking good for us getting a lot of missionary work done. I guess that is just how it goes sometimes.
Next Monday I go into Suva to have concluding interviews and close up all my missionary things. I get to have dinner with President, attend a temple session, and then I am done. I fly home on Thursday. I cannot believe how fast time has gone.
Well sorry this email is short but I really don't have too much to talk about. See you all soon. Much Love and Prayers are constantly flowing your way.
Love,
Elder Wall
This week was good, but it feels like we were running errands and dealing with problems the whole week and got nothing done. We were in Taveuni til Thursday, which was good. It was really good to see everyone again. I miss them all. They are all doing well, so I was happy.
We came back to Savusavu and had to deal with a bunch of junk cause we moved flats. We got to burn an old crappy couch though and that was a blast!
The area here in Savusavu is really struggling. They are having some issues with drama in the branch- too many people being offended for things that are not meant to be offensive, too much pride, and not enough forgiveness. It is really sad to see. But we had some good talks with some people and hopefully we can help figure out some problems and get the Branch back on track.
This week we are doing some training with the district leader in Labasa and will spend some time there. Then we also have a funeral in a small branch deep in the jungle that we are going to go help out with. So this week we should be pretty busy, however it is not looking good for us getting a lot of missionary work done. I guess that is just how it goes sometimes.
Next Monday I go into Suva to have concluding interviews and close up all my missionary things. I get to have dinner with President, attend a temple session, and then I am done. I fly home on Thursday. I cannot believe how fast time has gone.
Well sorry this email is short but I really don't have too much to talk about. See you all soon. Much Love and Prayers are constantly flowing your way.
Love,
Elder Wall
November 14, 2010 - Mobster to Mormon?
Well this week was really good. I spent the week with Elder Cooper in Kadavu and it was really great. Everyone was so excited to see me again and it was like I never left. We just went right back to how things were when I left. It was so nice to see the people I love so much again!
I was a little disappointed in the progress in the Branch; not much has happened with the Branch since I left. They haven't had a single activity since I left. So I talked with the Elders there and hopefully they will get things working with the branch. I think they haven't focused too much on the branch work so it has suffered a little bit. Elder Cooper is great though and I had four days to drill my ideas into him so hopefully he can take a few of them and get things progressing again. But it was so nice to be back it felt like I was back home again. I love Kadavu so much!
Ratu Lasarusa and Bulou Rogo, the chief I baptized right before I left, is so strong. He is awesome. They are doing so so well and I am so happy for them. It was really great to be back again. I love all the families there so much!
Then on Saturday, I went from Kadavu to Viti Levu, then straight to Savusavu and then today we just took the boat to Taveuni. So I did a lot of traveling this weekend. It is really good to be back in Taveuni as well. I am excited to go and see some of the old people I loved here too. Elder Allen and Elder Tupou are my companions here. It has been good so far. We came to Taveuni to do a training for a new district leader. It will be good.
This week was good and it was so great to go to Kadavu. It was good to go back and see that I truly did serve with all my heart, might, mind and strength on that little island and all the people love and remember me for it. I had some very sweet reunions with the branch members and some investigators as well. It was so awesome.
One quick cool story:
This man named Save is a straight-up hustler. He is like the mobster of Kadavu. We used to always sit down and talk to him. I always just did it because I thought he was a cool guy. Anyway the elders have been teaching him and he testified to me that the Book of Mormon is true. It was incredible to hear that from a man I never ever would have guessed would say that! I hope he continues progressing and changing. I think that if he gets baptized, President Monson is going to have to do the interview. But that is the power of the gospel and the conversion power of the Book of Mormon.
This week we also have two greenies we were taking to their areas. It was fun to see their wide eyed enthusiasm and to know what they have ahead of them. Boy do they have a lot to learn, but it will be so great for them. Well I think that is about it for this week. I love you all. See you soon.
Love,
Elder Wall
I was a little disappointed in the progress in the Branch; not much has happened with the Branch since I left. They haven't had a single activity since I left. So I talked with the Elders there and hopefully they will get things working with the branch. I think they haven't focused too much on the branch work so it has suffered a little bit. Elder Cooper is great though and I had four days to drill my ideas into him so hopefully he can take a few of them and get things progressing again. But it was so nice to be back it felt like I was back home again. I love Kadavu so much!
Ratu Lasarusa and Bulou Rogo, the chief I baptized right before I left, is so strong. He is awesome. They are doing so so well and I am so happy for them. It was really great to be back again. I love all the families there so much!
Then on Saturday, I went from Kadavu to Viti Levu, then straight to Savusavu and then today we just took the boat to Taveuni. So I did a lot of traveling this weekend. It is really good to be back in Taveuni as well. I am excited to go and see some of the old people I loved here too. Elder Allen and Elder Tupou are my companions here. It has been good so far. We came to Taveuni to do a training for a new district leader. It will be good.
This week was good and it was so great to go to Kadavu. It was good to go back and see that I truly did serve with all my heart, might, mind and strength on that little island and all the people love and remember me for it. I had some very sweet reunions with the branch members and some investigators as well. It was so awesome.
One quick cool story:
This man named Save is a straight-up hustler. He is like the mobster of Kadavu. We used to always sit down and talk to him. I always just did it because I thought he was a cool guy. Anyway the elders have been teaching him and he testified to me that the Book of Mormon is true. It was incredible to hear that from a man I never ever would have guessed would say that! I hope he continues progressing and changing. I think that if he gets baptized, President Monson is going to have to do the interview. But that is the power of the gospel and the conversion power of the Book of Mormon.
This week we also have two greenies we were taking to their areas. It was fun to see their wide eyed enthusiasm and to know what they have ahead of them. Boy do they have a lot to learn, but it will be so great for them. Well I think that is about it for this week. I love you all. See you soon.
Love,
Elder Wall
November 7, 2010 - 3 weeks and counting...
Well first thing's first; I will tell you what my last three weeks are going to look like....
This Wednesday I will be going to Kadavu until Saturday to be companions with Elder Farley's companion while he is in a training. It will be so great to see everyone again. Then I just found out last night, after that I have been transferred to Savusavu to be a Zone Leader. It will be a whopping two weeks there then back to Suva to go home. I am a little surprised by the transfer but I am just gonna go and see if I can do anything in two weeks.
I found out that when I go to Savusavu I will be going back over to Taveuni on exchanges with the new district leader there to train him. Ha ha. So pretty much I am going back and revisiting every area I have served in. It has been great. So that is what is in store for Elder Wall the next three weeks. I am excited and time is going to fly by and I will be home before I know it.
This past week has been awesome! Leaving Tuvalu was hard but awesome at the same time. Monday night, President Niko threw a BBQ for my going away feast and invited the Teikauea's so it was really nice to have that as my last night in Tuvalu. When we flew out, ALL the members showed up to the airport and gave me gifts and said good bye. It was really cool. They gave me this crown thing made of shells and stuff and I had about twenty necklaces and things put around my neck, so I looked like King of Tuvalu; it was funny. I guess it is a thing here to make pillow cases to give to people, so I got like fifteen pillow cases with hand like crochet on them. I will never have to buy a pillow case again in my life. I love the people of Tuvalu and wish I could have spent some more time there; it was hard to leave.
We also came really close to missing the plane. Fiji had daylight savings time but they don't do that in Tuvalu. So the flight times changed and no one told us. Luckily the first counselor works at the airport and came to our house to get our stuff and check it in. If not, I would be extending my mission til after the new year cause the flights are 100% booked till after January. I am very grateful Bro Maumau saved us for that one. Ha ha.
Then we came to Suva and are staying with the Tamavua elders, which has been awesome. I have seen so many of the old members and recent converts I love. I am so so so happy to see how good all of my recent converts are doing! Luke who I baptized right before I left for Kadavu, got the Melchizedek priesthood yesterday and is going to be serving a mission next year! I am so happy for him. I cannot explain how happy I am when I meet all of these recent converts from when I served here and see them still strong in the church.
Another one from Wailoku that I was super excited about got baptized after I left as well. She was a golden investigator and I had a very strong confirmation during a lesson with her that she would be baptized, but then after that she had family problems and we had to stop seeing her. Then yesterday she came running to me in Stake Conference and said hi. She was baptized a few months ago and is strong in the church. I was so happy!
I have countless other stories of families that I built relationships with and reuniting with them was so awesome. It was cool to see so many people I baptized stay strong in the church. I am so happy. It has been an incredible week seeing them all again and seeing the great progression they have all made. It was such a good experience.
We also got a training from James A. Hamula from the first Quorum of the Seventy. As always with the general authorities, it was awesome! He compared missionary work to the things we learn in the temple in ways I had never even thought of. The man is a gospel doctrite for sure and just blew my mind with so many awesome insights and lessons. It was incredible.
I also had to bear my final testimony, which was crazy. I have seen so many elders bear theirs but I never thought my day would come. It was very spiritual but hard to do. I can't believe my time is almost up. Where have the last two years gone? Right now I feel like I am game for two more (although some days just making it to the next seems like an impossible task).
The Fiji Suva North Stake was also reorganized this weekend so we got to hear a lot from both Elder Hamula and Elder Wakolo from the seventy. They are both amazing and it was so good to hear from them. It was a great week and I loved seeing everyone again. I am excited to go see everyone in Kadavu as well. I am so grateful for the opportunity to see the fruits of my labors after they have had more time to develop. It really makes me feel good about the work I have done and things I have helped people to overcome and the difference it has made in their lives. Truly incredible!
Well I love you all. I think that about sums up my week. I am excited to see how this next week goes and then find out what is in store for me in Savusavu. See you all in a few weeks. Much love and prayers are going your way.
Love,
Elder Wall
This Wednesday I will be going to Kadavu until Saturday to be companions with Elder Farley's companion while he is in a training. It will be so great to see everyone again. Then I just found out last night, after that I have been transferred to Savusavu to be a Zone Leader. It will be a whopping two weeks there then back to Suva to go home. I am a little surprised by the transfer but I am just gonna go and see if I can do anything in two weeks.
I found out that when I go to Savusavu I will be going back over to Taveuni on exchanges with the new district leader there to train him. Ha ha. So pretty much I am going back and revisiting every area I have served in. It has been great. So that is what is in store for Elder Wall the next three weeks. I am excited and time is going to fly by and I will be home before I know it.
This past week has been awesome! Leaving Tuvalu was hard but awesome at the same time. Monday night, President Niko threw a BBQ for my going away feast and invited the Teikauea's so it was really nice to have that as my last night in Tuvalu. When we flew out, ALL the members showed up to the airport and gave me gifts and said good bye. It was really cool. They gave me this crown thing made of shells and stuff and I had about twenty necklaces and things put around my neck, so I looked like King of Tuvalu; it was funny. I guess it is a thing here to make pillow cases to give to people, so I got like fifteen pillow cases with hand like crochet on them. I will never have to buy a pillow case again in my life. I love the people of Tuvalu and wish I could have spent some more time there; it was hard to leave.
We also came really close to missing the plane. Fiji had daylight savings time but they don't do that in Tuvalu. So the flight times changed and no one told us. Luckily the first counselor works at the airport and came to our house to get our stuff and check it in. If not, I would be extending my mission til after the new year cause the flights are 100% booked till after January. I am very grateful Bro Maumau saved us for that one. Ha ha.
Then we came to Suva and are staying with the Tamavua elders, which has been awesome. I have seen so many of the old members and recent converts I love. I am so so so happy to see how good all of my recent converts are doing! Luke who I baptized right before I left for Kadavu, got the Melchizedek priesthood yesterday and is going to be serving a mission next year! I am so happy for him. I cannot explain how happy I am when I meet all of these recent converts from when I served here and see them still strong in the church.
Another one from Wailoku that I was super excited about got baptized after I left as well. She was a golden investigator and I had a very strong confirmation during a lesson with her that she would be baptized, but then after that she had family problems and we had to stop seeing her. Then yesterday she came running to me in Stake Conference and said hi. She was baptized a few months ago and is strong in the church. I was so happy!
I have countless other stories of families that I built relationships with and reuniting with them was so awesome. It was cool to see so many people I baptized stay strong in the church. I am so happy. It has been an incredible week seeing them all again and seeing the great progression they have all made. It was such a good experience.
We also got a training from James A. Hamula from the first Quorum of the Seventy. As always with the general authorities, it was awesome! He compared missionary work to the things we learn in the temple in ways I had never even thought of. The man is a gospel doctrite for sure and just blew my mind with so many awesome insights and lessons. It was incredible.
I also had to bear my final testimony, which was crazy. I have seen so many elders bear theirs but I never thought my day would come. It was very spiritual but hard to do. I can't believe my time is almost up. Where have the last two years gone? Right now I feel like I am game for two more (although some days just making it to the next seems like an impossible task).
The Fiji Suva North Stake was also reorganized this weekend so we got to hear a lot from both Elder Hamula and Elder Wakolo from the seventy. They are both amazing and it was so good to hear from them. It was a great week and I loved seeing everyone again. I am excited to go see everyone in Kadavu as well. I am so grateful for the opportunity to see the fruits of my labors after they have had more time to develop. It really makes me feel good about the work I have done and things I have helped people to overcome and the difference it has made in their lives. Truly incredible!
Well I love you all. I think that about sums up my week. I am excited to see how this next week goes and then find out what is in store for me in Savusavu. See you all in a few weeks. Much love and prayers are going your way.
Love,
Elder Wall
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