March 20th, 2016

My Birthday Week
This week was really good. Finally back in my area doing some work. The situation in our flat still isn't ideal. We don't have running water and the water we do drink is just from standing rain water that is pretty nasty. We manage though.

Monday- Had an awesome P day and I went 1v1 with the Aussie and I beat him. We went and had tea and crackers at Sister Maiwiriwiri's house. It was a good time.

Tuesday- We stayed in Somosomo because we had no way to get back to our area. We went on splits with the Elders here and they showed me around a little. They are pretty lucky because they can actually go to the store if they need something haha.

Wednesday- We went back to our area. The whole district went down and we did some service in Navakawau. People there were so grateful that we're there to help. They have lost everything and I feel so blessed to help them out..

Thursday- Elder Howard and I went proselyting. We went and saw a woman who is a pioneer for the church here in Vuna. She is missing both legs and she has such a strong testimony. We got her a wheelchair so hopefully she can get to church now. On the way back Elder Howard broke his bike.... Today was our first day using them...

Friday- I had one of the best lessons of all time today. We went and saw a less active member lady. Her house is destroyed from the cyclone. We shared a message about the restoration of the gospel. She then explained how her and her husband had be arguing about Joseph Smith's experience. I felt the spirit so strong as I testified to her that he was the chosen prophet to restore the gospel in these latter days. After that she also bore a moving testimony of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is true.

Saturday- Sat in the flat all day because Elder Howard was ill. The water that we drink isn't the best... Especially after the cyclone. Although he was sick, there were some guys who came a played guitar and sang near our flat. It was a good pick me up.

Sunday- My birthday. It was a wonderful day. Probably the best birthday of all time. I woke up and it didn't really feel like my birthday but that was okay. As we went to church, the chapel was filled. It was so full that I had to sit on the ground. This was the best gift of all. Later that day as we went to the Somosomo area, Elder Amisone had got cakes made and bought ingredients for Sister Lokotui to make me a traditional Tongan drink called Otai. It was delicious.

All in all, it was a good week. Things here are hard, but I know that I am growing and becoming the person our father in heaven needs me to become. I know the gospel is true and I hope I can be a strong enough person to help the Fijians who are in need.

Au sa vakavinavinakataka na noqu Kalou. Au taleitaka vakalevu sara na noqu kalotu. Au lomani na noqu matuvuvale. Rerevaka na Kalou ka doka na tui

My birthday cake, check out my name tag.

Getting ready to send Elder Dunn to a new area:(

Elder Dunn and me.

My birthday treat, I will try and get the recipe, delicious.

March 8th, 2016

Cyclone Winston

biggest storm to ever hit the southern hemisphere

Hello everyone, it is nice to be back. These past few weeks have been quite and experience for me. The missionaries from all the islands in the Fiji mission traveled to Suva for the cultural celebration and re dedication for the temple. On Feb. 18, I traveled from Taveuni island to the island of Vanua Levu. After that we bused to the dock at the southern part of the island and took another boat to Viti Levu and stayed with missionaries throughout Suva. 

On Feb. 20, we woke all woke up and were about to head to the Samabula chapel to hear from President Eyring, Elder Cook, and some members from the 70. Right as we were about to leave, a mass text was sent out to all missionaries warning us to stay indoors and get to a secure location because there was a class 5 cyclone warning. I had heard nothing of this storm before this so I was quite shocked. After about an hour and a half, President Eyring and our mission president decided that we would be okay to all come in to Samabula. After that we were able to hear from these men. This was the highlight of the trip to Suva. What an experience. I know for certain that these men are called of God and that they only speak truth. After this we all went down to Vodafone Arena to watch the cultural celebration. It was supposed to be in ANZ stadium but because of the weather, we had to do it indoors. It was a great cultural event and they performed traditional dances "meke". They had to end it short because of the weather but it was still a good event. When we went outside, there was more wind and rain than I had ever before seen. It was insane. Fiji shut down for the rest of the day. We all went back to flats and chapels and hunkered down for the rest of the storm. The next day we saw the damages that cyclone Winston had provided. It wasn't very bad in Suva, but I heard that my area in the southern part of the Taveuni island got the worst of the storm. 

We were stuck in Suva for the next while because all of the docks and boats had received some damage. We waited with the kids from Taveuni until we could get back to the island. They heard what had happened to Taveuni and were all really scared because they didn't know how their family/lives would be when they returned. We were eventually able to return to Taveuni and when we got there, it was something I will never forget.

We got to Taveuni and we got all of the kids back to their villages and to their families. They were so excited to see their families and they cried for a long time. This made me realize how important my family is. There houses were all destroyed. The whole island looked different. We immediately began working with LDS charities and LDS helping hands and provided food, water, and clothes for all those in my area. Although these people didn't have much to begin with, and now all they had is ruined, they are still happy. How can these people be happy in a situation like this? I am amazed at their faith and their strength in such trying times.

These past few weeks I have only been doing service. Helping to rebuild houses, provide water, food, and other necessities of life. Elder Dunn and I got back to our flat and surprisingly it was still standing. All of my stuff inside was on the ground and was ruined. Apparently the tide was in our house because our flat is right on the beach. People say that this was the worst cyclone ever recorded in the southern hemisphere. The stories from people that were there are unbelievable. They saw 70 foot tsunamis and were hunkered down in there houses, but they had faith and were helped from God. 

It is a miracle that all the missionaries were in Suva and were safe at the time of the cyclone. I am so very grateful to be here and I know that I have a work to do. I know that as long as I am am faithful, God will not let me fall. Times could not be harder, but I could not be happier, because I am serving. I hope all is well at home. I love you all and hope for the best. Trust in God and hope for a better world.

E dina na ituvatuva ni Kalou. Au lomani kemuni kece. Au vakavinavinakataka na noqu matuvuvale kei na loloma kina. Kua ni rere, vakabauta ga. 

Loloma levu,

          Elder Jones

No signs of a storm here.

This is almost every house in my area.

The Australian government helps us out with much needed supplies.

March 2nd, 2016

March 2nd and still no word from Ri

Here is what I can gather from the senior couples blog. I will try and interpret the best I can. It looks like they repaired the dock so that the jetty can get the much needed supplies to the island which was one of the worst hit. He has spent day in and day out, sun up to sun down doing service which has been anything from delivering supplies, repairing water sources, delivering water which is in much need. They have been in a water drought for over a year. This did not help. Through all of this one thing is evident, the people of Fiji are still smiling. They didn't wast anytime cleaning up or helping each other. They share what little they have with everyone and still mange to be happy. They are so very grateful for the church and how quickly they have come to their aide. I am so very thankful for my son and his efforts to help on every level.  I love him and the day I finally get to talk to him will be one that will go down in the books. 

Look at my son, and Elder Dunn I am so proud.

They have worked so hard to help the loving people of Fiji.

Bags being put together to be delivered.

104 people living in this house right now. There weren't very many houses left standing.

The clean-up crew

The damage is unbelievable.

Day in and day out trying to get food, water to the people.

February 28th, 2016

Another week goes by without hearing From my son

Here is what I know through his senior couples blog. Riley is serving the wonderful saints of Taveuni. It was hit hard and damaged a lot, but not their spirits. Riley is in a spot to do some amazing things to help the people of Fiji. The dock has been destroyed and so the initial food stash they brought is now almost gone. The senior couple stated that they hoped it gets fixed quickly. They are now starting to help with the relief efforts. I am not sure what that includes but I am so glad that he is surrounded by such loving people. Am I worried, heavens yes, am I a little scared for what is to come, yes. Do I have enough faith to see this out? We shall see, I have often times thought of myself as not very strong, but I have gotten this far right? Any way, keep the prayers coming for all involved. Love you all.

Water detail

Working very hard to replace water which is in high demand right now

This is Rileys partner in crime right now, Elder Dunn

The food is starting to run out, I just can't imagine

This is the churches water tank, it was one of the tanks that could be repaired.

February 21st, 2016

Cyclone Winston category 5 with Catastrophic damage/Cultural Celebration

This post  is written by Kristi, I have not had any contact with Riley since last Sunday. I know that he is safe but I am still worried.

At 2am saturday morning I received a letter from Rileys mission president stating that Riley was accounted for and that he had been trained in disaster procedures.  He then proceeded to tell me that the storm was bearing down on them as he was writing this email.  He stated that there was no power and that he didn't know when it would return. He said that the country has been declared a disaster area. People have lost everything and the clean up will be extensive. He said that they would not let any Missionaries return until it was absolutely safe to do so. 
As a mother I am completely overwhelmed by all of this. I have tracked the storm, I watched the footage when it hit and I have seen the pictures of the damage.  Riley has only been in his new area for about two weeks. The island of Taveuni is where he is and they have not heard good or bad whether the people on that island are safe.  I can't help but feel so relieved that Riley was in the process of making his way to the cultural event like 5 days prior to the storm. All of the missionaries but two were in the same place at the same time when it hit. This is the true definition of a tender mercy. Here are some pictures of everything. I hope I can hear from him soon. 

This is a famous tree in Fiji they call the tree of life. Split right in half. 

I actually screen shoted this video. The angel Moroni did not move in this powerful storm. What a powerful picture.

February 19th, 2016

The long trip to Suva to join others for the dedication of the Fiji Temple (written by Kristi through my eyes and the pictures from the sweet senior couple that oversees Ri)

Riley is very far away from the main island of Fiji. It took him a very long time to get to the celebration.

They are off to Bucca bay, Then an hour an a half bus ride to Savasava, Then a 17 hr boat ride, another hour or so on the bus, then they will arrive in Suva!  

February 14th, 2016

Back to Suva for the cultural celebration it will take me 10 hours by boat but it will be worth it

Time to entertain

Elder Dunn getting checked out, the doctor told me I might need reading glasses some day. Hahahaha.

This is the famous bike. We rode them and they were broke so we gave them away.

Me and Elder Dunn filling out papers for the doctor to look. 

This week has been awesome!!! Elder Dunn has been sick all week but it hasn't been too bad. His coughing has only kept me up a little. Things get rough sometimes, but I just try to keep my head up.

We are heading to Suva this week and I just checked who is hosting us and the people hosting us in the Lami area. That is Elder Otene, my trainer, and Elder Grey, one of my favorite Elders from my intake. I am so excited. We are catching a small ferry from Tav. to Vanua Levu and then from Vanua Levu to Viti Levu. I am so excited. Hope I don't get sea sick on the 10 hour boat ride to the main island. It gets to the dock at 3 a.m. I am sure I will be tired. Hahaha

This week was full of crazy stuff. We tried riding the bikes again but they were broke and we didn't want to ride them back so we just gave them away. Bathing in the ocean is good but sometimes we are sick of it so we bathe under a little pipe that is from rain water that is in some lodge near our flat. We have power only for a few hours a day I already told you that, but the main part about that is it just gets so blazing hot and we don't have a fridge which sucks too. I miss cold water to drink.

We actually caught a few rides from some trucks passing on the dirt road. One guy stopped for us and we started booking it to his truck and when we got there Elder Dunn jumped in the bed of his truck. When I put my foot on the tire to get in, he started driving. I landed on the edge and almost fell off but instead I just face planted into the back of the truck.

We helped out with the eye doctor thing at the school and got some referrals. He checked my eyes and apparently I am a little far sighted. He said I'll probably need reading glasses when I am 35 or so haha I guess we'll see.

Yesterday we caught a rat. We cornered him then he charged me and I trapped him with a bucket. I felt like a champ.

Every night when we walk back from our flat, it feel like I am walking through a cotton candy machine. There are so many spider webs. I guess that is what you get when you walk through the jungle. Also, I think this might be the only place where I have been more annoyed with the flies than the mosquitos. As we walk, Hundreds just land on your back and on your head. God knew I needed to learn patience and this is a really good way.

This area is really challenging mentally. I know that it is hard but I know that God is shaping me into the person he needs me to become. The hard times shape us into better people. No matter what you are going through, just hold on and God will bless you.

Elder Jones over and out......

Kua ni rere. Vakabauta ga.