Dear Family and Friends,
I
have a pretty good amount of information I want to communicate to you guys and
I’ll try to make it interesting. A lot has changed these past few weeks. So
after the infection in my neck, (that sucked) I went back to Vava'u, my island
home where I will live again someday. I was able to convince the mission
president to send me on the Vaka Tahi, which means the sea boat. I took an 8-hour boat ride back to Vava’u;
man, that boat ride was awesome. I went all by myself like a big boy, and had a
really good time. I saw a bunch of whales, and made friends with this guy from
Vava’u. He lives in Mataika and his whole family has joined the church
including his parents, but he still doesn't want to join. I had a lot of long
talks with him about the church and his beliefs and we became pretty good
friends. I was really surprised though when I found out that I had already met
two of his daughters and taught them about our church (what are the odds?)
Anyway, I taught him some stuff about the temple because his wife had already
passed away. I don't know if he believed in anything I said, but I hope
something sunk deep. He was really interested in the temple and I hope I
answered his questions well. I shared a lot about him being sealed to his wife.
I
finally got back into Vava’u (my home) and got picked up by the mission
president's counselor, President Makai. He’s really awesome; I really love him
and want to stay in contact with him. I
got back with my companion and we started to have a good ole time. He got a lot
of stuff done while I was gone and we had a new investigator and he seemed
pretty good. I was able to spend a week in Vava’u and it was really, really
hot!! Man, like it was super humid. The good thing was the pineapples are starting
to form, they won't be ready yet for another month or so but they look so good.
I don't think the Americans know how good the pineapples in Vava’u are; it's
literally candy. I’ve eaten 7 in a row before. The core is soft and sweet
enough you eat that also. I was so flipping excited that I got to be in Vava’u
during pineapple season (Nov-Feb). Then during a companion exchange, I got a
call from President Makai. I found out I was going to be transferred with about
ten other missionaries from Vava’u.... and how great was my sorrow.......... I
cried.
There are a lot of amazing and beautiful
things, members, places and people I was going to be leaving. Man I was so loto
mamahi. So I got my last week in, then we (the other missionaries and I)
prepared to get back on the boat (I reported that the boat was so awesome, so
president decided to use the boat for transfers). We had our tearful goodbye,
almost all the missionaries in Vava’u were at the wharf, and we set sail... I
left half my heart in Vava’u.
Kolonga is awesome for missionary work.
So the first full day we were in our town, we went to one of the bishop's and
he said he had someone for us to teach. We went straight over there and met
this girl who married a return missionary. They are super cool and we got right
into the teaching and I think she's going to be baptized this week or next
week. She’s progressing really fast and follows through on our commitments; she
is really ready to be baptized. I think we are going to do it in the ocean,
which is even better. Man this was such a shocker and so exciting to me, Vava’u
is awesome, but the work is slow. Here is good and the work is awesome. We met another investigator and set up their
date to be baptized and it's really exciting. I’m determined to be the best
missionary I can be because the field is white and ready to harvest. So I’m
going to thrust my sickle in with all I’ve got. I’m so excited about the work
and I really love it here. The work is literally the best part of the mission!
I hope everyone can go on a mission and experience this. I’m going to visit
people like crazy and make sure I’m exactly obedient, no more fooling around.
It’s business time.
I guess my last comment actually is; if
anyone loves missionaries, give the missionaries an investigator. Finding
people is a really hard part of missionary work, and the members are literally
the best way to do it. Be brave, give the missionaries someone to teach, use
your home to help them. You will l make their day, week, month, and transfer if
you help them out. The members here helped me out; please help your
missionaries.
Ofa lahi atu,
Elder Sitaki
Elder Sitaki
