Fiji wins gold!!!!

E dua na yabaki sa oti!!

Well, I hit my year mark this last week. It feels really weird. Time moves way slow some times during the mission, but looking back on it now it feels like it has flown by. This week was also very good because FIJI WON THE GOLD MEDAL! Hahaha we had no idea about the game, but once we left the flat and went to town, we obviously knew that they had one because everyone was freaking out. There was parades in the street and people in cars waving the Fijian flag and everyone was yelling. Man it was awesome. We were very excited for them.

This week we worked really hard though. We taught so many lessons and I felt so good. Being able to constantly feel the spirit throughout the week made it that much more rewarding. I also learned a lot about prayer. God wants us to pray. I have learned that he gives good gifts unto his children that ask. Such a simple thing as prayer can be taken to the next level when we just put effort in. I plead with you all to always pray and God will bless you. 

I also burned a shirt for the tradition as a missionary. To be honest it was just an old t shirt because actual white button shirts are too valuable to burn. We used kerosene which made it even better. I wish I was able to watch the Olympics, but nothing beats being out here in Fiji. I hope everyone has the best week.

Love Elder Jones 

The epic 1 year shirt burning. Although tradition would want a white button up burned, I stuck with a t-shirt. My dress shirts are to valuable out here.

As always, so hard to get up.

My district leader, Elder Barnaby from Boston.

My pride for Fiji, bursting out of my chest. 

The Skipper Cup

Cola Vina!

This week was a real full of ups and downs and everywhere in between.

Monday- The entire zone gathered in Lautoka for zone p day. We all played tons of games (mostly touch) and had a really fun time. At the end of the night we all had a talent show. My talent was the worst but I didn't care. It was so bad that I won't tell you what it was. Anyway, after that we went and ate McDonalds. This is the first time I have had McDonalds since I was in Salt Lake Airport last year. Oh man, it was nice. Then we slept at the Zone leaders flat. On the board in their flat they gave everyone superheros as our alias. I got picked as Wolverine. Pretty awesome

Tuesday- We stayed up in Lautoka for our ZTM meeting. It was really fun and there was a lot of good things shared. There was an activity where we had to make an object lesson out of a random object. We were given a calculator and I added up a bunch of sins in front of everyone and it equalled 7734. Which on the calculator is the word hell upside down. I told everyone that they would go there. But then, the C button which means clear represented Christ and he will clear our sins. It was pretty boss. One Elder in the zone said he wants to go buy a calculator just to teach one of his investigators. We headed back but our car got stuck at Toyota and they wouldn't release it to us. It was a stressful day.

Wednesday- We taught tons of lessons to make up for Tuesday. We went out and saw everyone. It was so good to teach people and see them grow. One of our investigators, Waqa, doesn't have a birth certificate or anything. He doesn't know how old he is or what his real name is. He comes to church every week so hopefully we will get it sorted out and he will soon be baptized. Margie another one of our investigators, works for a river safari thing which is way cool. I might have to hit it up when I come back. They even have a blob set up on the river. Most the members here work at resorts and stuff.

Thursday- We went out and so a lot of less actives. It is hard for people to come to church here in Fiji. Some people pay money for taxis or buses and some people just have to walk. It can be hard but they are rewarded for their faith. We then went to have dinner with our members but they just gave us a container and so we just ate it back at our flat.

Friday- It was a pretty bum day. Everyone in our area was gone watching rugby. Nadroga, the province that I serve in, played in Suva for the Skipper Cup. It is a pretty big game and they won! GO STALLIONS! HAKWA NADRO. The high school kids played a big game in Sigatoka town as well. There were a lot of drunk guys the tried to fight us. I saw one drunk guy laying on this little bridge and he rolled over into the creek. I thought was going to drown but he managed to get out after a few attempts. 

Saturday-They call it the burning west because it is always so hot over here, but it poured so this day and Friday. It was really storming. Everyone was in their houses and it was hard to see people again, but we kept on going. Sometimes when everything goes bad, it is important to just take a second and think.

Sunday- Went to church and it was really spiritual. I felt something during the sacrament that I don't think I have every felt before. As I was breaking the bread, I felt gratitude for Jesus and all he has done for me. After that, we drove up to Nadi then caught a 4 hour bus to Suva in preparation for Elder Johansson to get his visa interview at the embassy. It was a really long ride.

Monday- I sat in the LTA for like 4 hours. The LTA is the DMV for Fiji, but it is way worse. I sat in there so the Suva North ZL could take his driving test. It took forever.... I did get to watch USA womans rugby and some weight lifting though which was cool. After that, I went back and they put me on a bus back to Nadi. Another 4 more hours and more waiting and I got back to the Nadi Elders flat around 8 pm. I guess you could say I learned a lot of patience.

I know the church is true. Never stop strengthening your testimony in Jesus Christ. If your testimony is not going forward, it is going back.

Love Elder Jones

My new flat 

This is a good map of my mission

Elder Johannson, his dad is an area 70

Controlled fires, don't worry

The big transfer week July 18th

Moce Taveuni, Cola Vina Sigatoka!

Well, transfers have come and gone and I have moved areas. I am now residing in the Sigatoka area. It is on Viti Levu and is below Nadi. Leaving Taveuni was one of the hardest moments of my mission so far. Saying goodbye the island was hard, but saying goodbye to the people was almost impossible. The members made me cake and food. And then they played the guitar and sang a lot of songs. Oh how I will miss it. I have come to love the island of Taveuni. I only had a short time to pack up, say goodbye, and leave. I took the boat to Vanua Levu, a bus to Labasa, and then a plane to Nadi Airport. On the plane I flew alone and it was really weird being alone. I have gotten so used to being with a companion.

Arriving in Nadi was like a culture shock all over again. There were white people, resorts, and lots of stores. I was way out of my comfort zone. But, I am adjusting now. My companion is Elder Johansson. He is the son of Elder Johansson (the area 70 here) and is waiting for his visa to serve in the Las Vega Nevada mission. Things have been hard recently, but I am trying my best.

I know that God answers prayers. He is all loving and cares about us. I know that the gospel doesn't only help us, but changes us to become more like Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to be here in Fiji. I miss you all but I know that I am where I am supposed to be.

Elder Jones

Playing games

Word of the transfers

Saying goodbye to everyone

Getting ready to go on a very long boat ride and bus to get to my new area

Me with Brother and Sister Veermeran

Eating the delicious treats that were given to us for the boat ride

Zone Conference Week!

Ni sa bula vinaka

These past few weeks have been way good. We have been working really hard in our area and trying to get a lot done before the transfer ends. We have an investigator who's name is Dite. She is the sister of Mika who we just baptized. I hope we have her baptism before the transfer ends just in case I leave.

We went to Labasa for zone conference as well. It was a way fun time but the travel is such a pain. Just more boats and buses. I didn't drink water the whole day while traveling there and when we got there we played a ton of volleyball and rugby. I think combined with being on the boat and playing all day, it really messed up my body. I didn't feel good for the rest of the week. But I am all good now.

We had a branch party where we played volleyball and watched a movie. It was a lot of fun. When we showed up to the party I asked where the branch president was. They pointed out to the ocean and I saw a little yellow barrel out there and two heads. He was out there diving with the unit leader from Navakawau. They were getting food for the party later that night.

Another funny thing. We got stranded in Navakawau and we were forced to sleep in the tent of some members. It was way sketchy but hey, it's Fiji.

From the Zone Conference and the studies I have been doing, I have gained such a powerful testimony of the the atonement. Being a missionary is so great because it gives you a lot of time to study and think and ponder. I am trying to fine tune my life so that I can be a better missionary out here, but ultimately I want to become a good man. One is loves his family and puts God first. There are a lot of men in my life that I look up to and I want to become like them. I am trying my best to be a good person for the people here. I know God lives and he loves us.

Love Elder Jones

Looking outside of my door

President Alafi (Branch President)

Our dinner that was caught for us

What they caught

Brother Muri (Unit leader)

Branch activity with a movie that was payed on a generator 

Batiepa, a recent convert to our branch

The sunsets are beautiful

Joeli, one of my favorites here in Fiji

Jioji back from Suva, he leaves in two weeks to serve a mission in Brisbane

Some of my favorite pics

When in Fiji......

Getting mail is always good

We have to walk everywhere

My new companion Elder Mckee

This is Cebo, I baptized him on Saturday.

KANA VAKALEVU!

Baptism Week

This week was way awesome. It started off with exchanges in Somosomo with Elder Albert. He is a way funny guy from Micronesia. We worked way hard and had a lot of fun. It was nice being in an area with a store. I learned a lot from him.

Monday- Played touch rugby and watched a little bit of State of Origin at Paradise restaraunt. It was way good. Also played a little billiards. I will face anyone when I get home.

Tuesday- Went out with Albert in his area. We hiked all the way up Tagimoucia road. It was way fun going out with him.

Wednesday- Went out and found a bunch of new people to teach in Somosomo. Elder Ablert kept telling me how cool I was. He is shy because he doesn't speak very much Fijian. We taught a man about the restoration and it felt like it clicked to him. It is so great to help someone learn something good that can help them.

Thursday- We had ZTM in Taveuni. The Zone Leaders traveled out here to give us some trainings. It was good but we pretty much just spent the whole day waiting for the bus and traveling back to our area.

Friday- We worked with our baptismal canidate Cebo. He is a 17 year old kid and is way cool. He already hangs out with all of the young men in our branch. He told us that he is way excited to be baptized.

Saturday- We gave this French woman a Book of Mormon and she said she was stoked to read it because she really related to Joseph Smith because she too right now is looking for the true church. It is weird teaching in English.... But it was fun to answer her questions about the Sabath day. Lot's of people here are 7th day Adven. I was also able to baptize Cebo today. As usual everyone was about 45 minutes late for the baptism. It's what people call "Fiji Time" ha doesn't really work like that in America but it's all goods. It was so good to help him. He is such an awesome person.

Sunday- We walked all the way to Navakawau for church. We got there and everyone was preparing for the feast. The king of Navakawau died so there is a lot of eating. His funeral is on Tuesday. It is so cool to learn and be apart of Fiji culture. We were even part of the ceremony where they accepted the food and we all clapped and stuff. It's way cool. Afterward we rode home in the back of a truck in the rain.

This week I felt and even deeper love for the people I am serving. I have always known that I care about the people here but this week I really felt a strong love for them. I have been in Taveuni for a long time and I have come so close to the members. I found out the reason I stayed. My branch president told our mission president to keep me in this area for as long as he could. When he told me that I felt really good. Like I am actually doing something good here and that people want me here. I know that the church is true and there is no greater happiness that I have ever felt than being here in Fiji serving the people. I wish you could all meet them because they are so loving and kind. I am so happy to be serving here. I love you all

Moce Mada.

Elder Jones

P.S. To answer some questions.

1. Yes there is 1 TV I have seen in my area. It is powered by a generator. They only watch rugby on it.

2. If I had to guess I would say only about 2,000 people live in my area but more half of those people live too far for us to even see.

3. In our area we have a branch and a unit. They both get about 30 people to church every week.

Week of June !2

Bula bula, 

Transfers came and guess what, I am still on the "Garden Island"!

I am way excited because I love this area and I have got really close to the members and people here. I got a new companion. His name is Elder Mckee. He is from Washington State. I hope that we will have a lot of fun together.

Our new companions arrive.

Last week we went right to work in our area. We have a kid who is about 15 named Cebo and he asked me to baptize him. We are planning on baptizing him this Saturday. We have been having a lot of success in the village of Navakawau. We are teaching the sister of our recent convert Mika. Her name is Dite and she is way cool and way intersted. We are also teaching the family of our other recent convert Joeli. Oh and the Dad of our other recent convert Amani. It has been so cool to see all of these guys go out and share the gospel with their families. They have taught their families some of the things we taught them and it is really touching to see. Amani's dad is already to Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. What a stud haha.

I love it here in Taveuni. It gets lonely sometimes and I wish I had some of the nice things that we have in America but I wouldn't trade it for anything. The people are what make it all worth it. The Fijian people have taught me more about love than anyone I have ever met. The exemplify the example Jesus Christ set when he was on the earth. For their love, I will always be grateful.

Loloma Levu,

Elder Jones

The service is what is helping the beautiful people survive and is what is opening our hearts to love.

Our crew who helped to get all the clothes organized.

The had to put like items in to like piles

Finally it started to look organized