CSI Lautoka "....Won't Get Fooled again!....."

This week opened with a bang, and closed with a....., well it closed didn't it?

 Well it all started a late Monday evening, all was as a normal Sunday. We got back to our flat about 8, mosquitos were swarming our flat. I went to the back room, and noticed the screen was cut. So I closed the window (not thinking much of it cause of the darkness) We grabbed a mosquito coil, and smoked out them stupid bugs.

 The following morning we awoke, and I started my shower. Well E. Pence noticed the back window (the one I closed) was busted (it had a metal cage around it that was cut and bent). It was to the size that a man could jump in. Well we called our landlord, and they called their friend (a police investigator) to come check it out. As soon as they pulled up, I started singing, and I bet you can guess the song. Well long story short, I had to do I police statement....... It was soooooooo.......... Boring..... He never got in so that was good!

 Well Our landlord was scared out of his mind (I am thinking well duh? I mean the compound is not made to keep people out really) He told us he would get some guard dogs, and he hired some guys to put re barb bars on the windows. Well he got some dogs....... Or the most skid-dish puppies of all time....... Named thunder and bolt. One was yelping at elder pence walking toward him to pet it. It almost peed itself.....

 I got a $3 dollar hat for Zone P-day today.... Picture below, and I made a hood out of a towel. I call it Missionaries creed.

 Our investigator got baptized, his wife and him shared great testimonies.

 

Also we had kraft macaroni!

 

Til Next Week

A taste of Home

M for Macleod or Missionary?

Homemade hat out of towel





"Lord of the Goats: The Two Hours"

This was a pretty good week. Not too many pictures, but I got some good videos. Unluckily, I cannot send videos........(just wait , only 18 more months until we can watch)

 Anywhose....... Lett-uce start at the beginning. Qito (sport) was lame on Monday. We went to climb a coconut tree, E. Pence did at least, right after Timone the dog attacked him. The weirdest part is he just layed down to the side like nothing happened. Stupid dog. Well we got 20 coconuts, and gave them all to the sisters. We got two really nice ones later, that we still haven't used. We will use them for miti. 

 Next we shall move onto Friday. We werewere'd,(cutting grass with a machete) and nothing is a better forearm workout, than werewere'ing. (Amist the conflict of these strange events there were many lessons involving 3 baptisms, 1 more this Saturday, and one more set for October. So we do teach n' Stuff) Everything really pointed to Sunday (more particularly 2 hours) to get an event. 

 On Sunday we got up like a normal Sunday, we didn't have much food, so I did not eat. I drank Milo instead. After church (which I still am temporary chorister for, they just now told me they will look into giving some one a calling. On top of that the presiding authority chose a song only he knows, so I quickly sight read and learned it, but it ended up being only the 2 of us singing......... I am very grateful Mr. Child........)

 

But! if you buy 14 complettos, its only 14 dollars. But! we went with the Hindi Elders to Lovu, in one of the far reaching points of our area. While there, Elder Reeder became the Goat whisperer (picture below). I also got a video of him and E. Pence chasing the goats around. The next bit was way funnier, we left the Member-family's house out there to go drop some pots. E. Pence and I have been here a couple times, and knew the dogs to be psycho. I don't have pictures, but I felt the need to start filming as we walked up. Well E. Pence noticed the gate open, and the dogs no where to be found. As soon as you hear the barks in the video, you see 4 missionaries (or rather 3 since I am filming) scatter. E. Reeder jumped into the member's truck, E. Pence was attacked, and broke his shoe, E. Raju locked the car doors (so no one could get in when our plan was to get in) and ran halfway down the street. I jumped on the back of a car to get an angle on E. Pence fending off the crazy dogs. The owners came out with sasas (brooms) and started whacking them to chase them off.

 The reason for it being 2 hours is just before, we went into our house, our landlord was outside on his laptop, when we returned (2 hours later he was in the same place, so we related the story) They watched the video later that night..... Good stuff. Anyways that was the week

Amen.

The Goat Whisperer

new sunglasses

Some catchy title.....

Man it is hard to think of stuff once I sit down, but as I am going through the week, I can get great titles.

 Anyways, this week was slow. Since the change, we had to move to another flat. We packed our stuff up at like 10:30 pm when we got called. Our flat is a bit smaller, but still alright. It looks way more homey than the last one, that's for sure.

 We said goodbye to most of our district. We played volleyball at our chapel, wish we would have earlier. Our volleyball poles are way better than 2nd wards. Well.....

 So this week was alright it was boring and uneventful....... Why can't something happen right? Or is it a good thing nothing happens? Makes it too easy I say. 

 The really big things were

Stake conference, the lifesaver, and the possible curfew thing. Well that and dumping alcohol out with our investigator after the lesson on the word of wisdom. We have a video of most of it, but I got a picture of E. Pence dumping wine.

 We will go in order shall we? On Thursdays, we do a split with the ward to visit less-actives. I went with Bro Naceba, and E. Pence with Rohit Prasad. Well as I was walking to a members house, I noticed a man sitting in the door (it was dark outside) of the big building on my right. I said bula as normally I would do to some random passer by. He responded with excitement and a bit startled:" Ni sa bula vinaka." At that point I thought nothing of it, cause we had planned to visit someone, but I was completely constrained to talk with the man. I felt as if I lost control walking over to him. Once up to him I was stunned in a sense. He said, "do you have any spiritual advice for me, I have tried to commit suicide." I nearly shut down at this point. Bro. Naceba turned and all he could say was "kua, kua ni cakava ya." I pulled out my handi-dandi aivola i momani, and asked "E rawa me keirau wasea e dua na ka baleta nai vola oqo?" (can we share about this book) He asked us in, we were there sharing about the Book of Mormon a while, and giving him scriptures to help him. He said to me he had filled a basin with water, and put an electrical cord in it, but he couldn't quite jump in. Bro. Naceba said, "It is not your appointed time." Those words settled strongly in the man's heart. He said we saved his life. And that was my Thursday excitement.

 Anyways, we had a great stake conference, yet afterwards everyone needed us at the same time, then they were mad at us cause we didn't come to them when they wanted, then the schedule went all out of whack.......... Glad it is over. Then our lesson the same day. Our members said that there was a curfew on Wednesday because of voting. I don't know how serious that is. People here are way superstitious because of the number of coups they have had. Mostly I just don't trust peoples word here, cause no one keeps their word. We pretty much have to hold everyones hand......

 Until next time

Donuts made for us

landscape pic

Make shift doorbell

Word of Wisdom lesson

 

The walking dead........

This has been a week for helping less-actives. Not as many investigator lessons. We put in our miles though. If anything is for sure, my legs should be jacked at the end of my mission haha. Well as for the week's stuff:

Alright so transfers were Saturday (which has a huge surprise) and a(n) cancelled open house. Members getting mad at us for things we have no say in, and blessings?

So I will start with the members. I do not know what it is about the people here, but they expect missionaries to be able to solve every problem (non-gospel as well) exactly when it comes around. Missionaries in the majority of their eyes are perfect. Others think they can lie to us cause we got hit by a stupid stick or something......

 Well anyways after that, we had an open house. Well we told everyone to invite people to come, well it comes to time, and they thought people would "magically" appear at the thing........ Honestly........

 Blessings, we got many of those to perform..... We give blessings like candy.  haha. Somethimes people ask us fora blessing right when we have like 10 things to do in 2 minutes. I don't know math to well on that, but I am still sure that a man can not do so much that fast.

 Now for the huge surprise.... Drum roll....... E. Pence is..........Staying! Huge surprise. We have been companinons 4 months. By the next transfer we will hit 5 and a half months together. We are the only companionship that has not changed in the west. We are the "qase" or old guys. Yeah so we will still be here.

 Now for the reason of the title. In the transfer, the sisters area was shut down. We are loaded with dinners, but now we have the biggest area of the west. Good luck eh?

 Loves lots from dat Elda in Lautoka!

ZTM lesson

Eye infection

Fijian Driver's license

Drinking a coconut ( not quite as sweet as I thought)

Another pair of sandals bites the dust. (3rd pair in 5 months)

>error

Sorry no pictures this time.  The crazy asian in the shop is being a usb Nazi. He tried to run off with my sd card hahahahaha. No. The shop we normally go to is filled with kids, cause school starts for them next week. Next week, I should have more time, and double the photos.

First, I should let you all know that golfing was alright last week. It went slow, due to the wait time with the sisters going and such.

 Other than that, this was our most busy week. It was ridiculous. We could not even teach really, and teach together in that matter. Tuesday, we got out and taught very little, cause we had District meeting and such. The next day was DLC, early in the morning, then we had lunch with the luatoka leaders. We drank Otai, a tongan drink. Well, we taught immediately following, before going to the flat to do studies, which took up almost the rest of the day.

 Thursday, we woke up to do service. After service, we had to return home to do studies and eat. We then had an interview, all the way in 2nd ward in balawa side. Well we got back for our ward split, so we really did no proselyting. I went with a member named Waisea Sekitoga, and  Elder Pence went with Bro. Naceba. We met back together, then returned home to end the night. Friday was ridiculous by all standards.

 Normally, Fridays are planning day. The fact we got it done amazes me. We got up, did studies, then left to meet the 2nd sisters at the bus stand. We got on a bus for 25 mintues, to go deep into their area. Well we got to see how far later, but while there we did another interview for baptism. We then walked back to the main road, luckily a road side shop was there so I bought some sodas for the journey. The whole walk was that we walked(speedily) for 2 and a half hours straight. It was so hot, I walked with a hand towel draped over my head to keep from sunburns. Did I mention my eye hurt to blink, and it was swollen all of friday and Saturday? I just wore sunglasses those days, but I had to do a baptism on Saturday. Well, after the very long walk that took a very long time, we got to the 1st sisters to do the baptism interview for their investigator. Well we left our flat at 11:30am, then got home at 7:00pm, and we still had planning. So we had another no-proselyting day. Then we had to meet the zone-leaders for an exchange at 9:00. I went with Elder Abplanalp the whole day, and Elder Pence with Elder Painter. This was the day to teach. Well we had fall-through, drunk guy lectures, and all manner of craziness go. One of the people we visited was expecting us to show, but we never planned to see them. My eye was way swollen this morning, I took a picture, but will send next week when I can. Travis can't be the only one of us that had his eyes swollen shut. Luckily by the baptism it did not look so bad.

 Sunday is ridiculous busy always. Just before sacrament, everyone needs something at once. I would like to thank Mr. Child for teaching me what he did about music. I have been the ward chorister for the past 3 weeks. Some of the songs I have no idea what they sound like, but sight-singing is a virtue.......... Anyways, crazy week in all honesty.  Sorry the crazy asian has ancient hardware that I can not send pictures from!

 

Love,

Elder MacLeod

The cyst! The sharks, and the balloon light show......

So lets take a walk (WALK) through the week.

So this week was a great week. We set a record for the Lautoka 1st (elders)  area for 20 lessons. Pretty dang impressive in my books. 

Now as for the behind the scenes. This week has been pretty stressful since one of the missionaries in our district got mugged. We have been trying to settle everything, then the other set are freaking out, then the Zone-leaders, unaware of the other effects this would cause, put them together, then we tell them, they stopped them from staying together any longer, when we told him this would happen, and crazy drama stuff that has involved everyone, but me. How's that for staying out of the drama?

Then we have some we are teaching who gave us this cool story. We had gone over, and taught him part of lesson one, including the way we pray in our church. Well, he goes diving really often, so he went the next day. While there, he cut some of the fish in the water before sending them up. Well that attracted 4 sharks. Well, they started to circle about towards him, so he swam away, only to find 2 more sharks. The 6 circled round-about him, so seeing his helplessness, he turned off his light, and decided to pray. The difference was that he prayed the way we had taught him. He got his witness of what we said was true, and immediately after opening his eyes, he saw a gap in the sharks that he swam through, and made it to safety. His wife is the one who told us later in the day, after he opened up in the lesson. He told nothing of his story, only that he knew what we have taught is true. Amazing!

 Now for that cyst, I have a cyst in my right foot, that has been there all week. It makes walking way annoying. I talked to our specialist about it, who is taking her sweet time.  She asked me if I direly needed it removed?  I said "Well, I walk everyday, so it is a large annoyance. Cysts grow, so would it be better to take care of it quicker?"  she said I will get back to you.  Well, it has been a couple of days and I haven't heard back yet.  I will keep you posted.

And the balloon light show. (We sent Connor a package with all kinds of random things for his birthday.)  We did it last night. I felt pretty kai colo (dumb struck) with the balloons. When the bag said glow-in-the-dark, I thought the normal glow, these ones had full-on lights in them, so we threw the balloons around on camera with a song. Way funny.

Another night we were drawing faces in my blanket, cause I figured out that I could.  Enjoy them pix!

 

Connor's 19th birthday balloon light show

Birthday eve diner (ground beef, potatoes, and eggs)

 

 Faces in the blanket

My study book called the book of people.

 

 

 

"Its a schooner sir!"

 

The Ebola refuge!

Well this week was Zone conference for us, so I met with the president again. While there, we met a couple Elder from Africa who were reassigned, due to the crazy plague that mocks around in Africa, and it encloses towards him everyday, so I said "Maybe you get reassigned to Fiji with me!" 

The week has come pretty fast. We have just got a rule that was not implied previously, that we can not leave to members in our wards house, unless they are in our area. We just lost all our dinner appointments in a month except 3 a month. Things will start to get interesting. We also had a great turnout at church. We have been working with lots of Less-active, and inactive members, and were able to bring back about 17 people to church, so church attendance rose fro 40 some to like 60 some. It just goes to show (WE ARE DOING SOMETHING YEAH!!!!!!!) 

I study, and have nearly completed the Old testament page to page. I finished the New testament page to page early on..... I teach a Preach My Gospel class after church. I have been making a book of people, so that people I read about, I put a description of them.

I want to say happy Birthday To Cameron, and to our former Elder Heath, who now is just Haden on the 19th! I have a picture for you. Make this the description "happy birthday punk" 

 We had a great week, we tied the highest record for the area for lessons. 

Not too much crazy stuff happened, sorry there are no super eventful things! Next time I email, It will be my Birthday, yet for you when you receive, it will have not happened yet! So I will say, today is my birthday tomorrow.

Picture of planners 1-4 each planner is a transfer. I am still using 3, it will finish Sept 14

 

.......end.

Happy Birthday Punk!

Planners 1-4

My flat(outside)

Flat

Flat(bedroom)

Flat(kitchen)

Zone conference - Me and Elder Fong

Rewrote a hymn