Elder Dawson: The Adventure Mormon Goes To Fiji: September 2016

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Week 53-September 20, 2016

Bula Re kemudou kece,

Isa, it's been a while. So things are good here. Nakawakawa is amazing. So yes, we have a truck. We do drive a bit. We cover like a fourth of the northern island now, so we cover (or are trying to cover) a lot of ground. We have been trying the last few days to open up new villages for us to teach in.

The bay by Nakabuta

We bathe in the river which isn't to far from our flat. By bathe I mean we go swimming and half way through we but soap on our bodies. It's fun, but not super effective.

A wee little waterfall we found on an adventure

The people (especially the members) are unreal here. They are just so amazing. They welcomed me with the most open arms. There is a girl here who calls herself Sister Dawson in fact. I mean she's 11 but it's still cute.

Um, not to scare my mother, but I don't really eat, at least not a lot. We gunu sucu ena veimataka lailai kece and sometimes we will make chow and corn-beef (Elda Green makes it especially good!)

So I'm about to drop some crazy knowledge on you. We don't get fed rice here. Guess why. It's because rice is to expensive for these people. RICE! IS TO EXPENSIVE!! That explains the economic state of Nakawakawa. Lots of Tavioca, Dalo, Rourou, Fish, and surprisingly enough tons of Pork. All Fresh and butchered that morning. It's pretty awesome.

Our house is cute. Small but tasteful. It depends on the weather but usually it's never to hot or cold. It's made of wood and no tin, so it's not just a giant Easy-Bake Oven, like some of my last places. It's great here though.

We had an awesome exchange this past week with our boys in Seaqaqa, Elda Mumford and Elda Giacalone. Dang I love those guys, we had tons of fun.

Elda Green and I slept out of our truck this past week. It got really hot and personal space was invaded every so often, but it wasn't terrible.

Wainunu River and a little island in the middle

We had a fire week. We got 23 new investigators. Good things are happening!

Tonight we are burning shirts for our year mark (Green, Mo'unga, Ogden, and I) and tomorrow is Zone Conference.

Life's good. I'm loving it here. Just by the way, I'm not completely swapped, but, I'm pretty sure I want a chocolate colored wife. Just FYI, start looking for me, kerekere. I love you guys. Stay Golden!

Elda Dawson

Peace Be Still

Keep it Real

Monday, September 5, 2016

Week 50-September 5, 2016

Matavuvale,

Bula re everyone! Dang it has been a crazy past few days. So I got transferred! I was pretty bummed until President Layton told me where I was going and who I was with. I got transferred to Nakawakawa with Elda Green!! Nakawakawa is like one of the bushiest areas in our mission. It's on Vanualevu. the other Island up North.

So before I got transferred I went and visited with all of my favorite people from Bau. The last week was like crazy busy so I didn't get to see everyone but I got to see the Tagicakobau family and Filo so I'm good. Filo cried. It was pretty hard to leave Bau.

On Friday though I got to go up to Suva and get my Fijian Driver's License. After we went back to the Zone Leader's flat and guess who was there. Elder Guymon, my first companion from the MTC!! It was great to see him and he's got an awesome trainer.

At like 3:00 in the afternoon we headed to the airport. We were airborne by 3:20. the flight was unreal. Crazy beautiful. We landed and the airport was crazy busy because some of the Fiji 7s players were there.

I was in the truck with Elda Green by 4:00. It was awesome. So we dropped of the hindi Elders and did a little shopping for a branch activity. We left Labasa at around 6:30ish and we drove to Nakawakawa. It's a two and a half hour drive up. It was a great time to catch up. Man it is great being with Elda Green!

So we got to the flat and chapel at 8ish. So our flat shares a wall with the chapel. Everyone told me that the flat was just the worst thing in the whole world, but I think they were just girls. So there is no running water, solar power only, and no toilet or shower. It's a lot like camping. It's way cool and tons of fun.

On Saturday they had a youth activity. They were all just cleaning up the compound and chapel. I basically met the whole Branch. They are unbelievably amazing! They have accepted me way well. Also fun fact, Green and I are the first two white Eldas here since the area was opened or something like that. I just love this area.

Today I got to meet our whole District. Everyone got a new companion so we got to come down this week, usually we come down twice a month. This morning we did a crazy hike to the top of the Three Sisters in Labasa. We all made it. It was tough but it was an awesome unity building activity.