Countdown to Christmas...

Bula Vinaka Na

How is it? Cold? Haha, suckers.

Not gonna lie though, I kinda miss the snow, alright I REALLY miss it. It doesn't feel like December here, just feels like everyone is playing Christmas music in July, but oh well, ha.

First I wanna say thanks for the package and also would like to ask a question: How did you expect me to take all of the little bags on the 20 passenger plane back to Labasa? Haha! Needless to say I opened it all, gave away all the candy and somehow stuffed all the other stuff into my bag somewhat successfully.

Now for the week, sweeeeeet, got back to Labasa on Thursday, and just started working away. We had two of our investigators baptized on Saturday, and 28 members came to our jungle chapel in Naduna. The chapel is the one we helped build like the first day I got here, it has four posts with a tin roof and no walls.  The members are so happy to have it, before they would just pull out some mats and sit on the ground.  Now we have 40 chairs out there and a chalkboard for the class.  We were able to get 10 copies of the Sunday School teaching book in Fijian, so now we can actually teach a class. Our newly ordained unit President came to church and the only other two Priesthood brethren came to church also.  We taught them how to bless and pass the sacrament, so we’re starting to get some functionality out there, so in a few months if the Elders didn't come to church they would be able to still have a little Sacrament meeting.

We went out to some of our less-active members’ way out in the middle of nowhere and the little pick-ups we have barely made it, ha.  No cars had been there for what looked like years but one thing we were told is to not worry too much about the trucks, but worry about the people we need to visit, but still be smart but don't let the roads hold us back, haha.  So that’s exactly what we did and it was a blast, ha.

That Chief out in the Koro/village is still waiting for us to get out there and visit him so he can be baptized, so that is our main priority this week. We are also just gonna go look for service opportunities out in the villages and do some work for them, then hopefully we can get into some huts and get teaching.  Ha, I'm so stoked to be back out and getting sweaty and dirty, it’s the best place to do missionary work in the world because it so different.  We have to do some crazy stuff just to teach people and I'm way excited for it.

We'll be Skyping on my Monday  (for Christmas), so Sunday there.  I reserved the place from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon, so you can figure out what time that will be there.

Send my love to Grandpa Ed as well, I know everything that happens will happen how it’s supposed to, and that everything will be fine.

Love you all.

Peace and Blessings,

Elder Hanke

He does seem to sound much better, really upbeat; so grateful for that!

And yes, of course I asked him a few times how he was feeling, but no, I obviously didn’t get an answer.  Guess we’ll have to go with the “no new is good news” theory. (Although I’m not much of a believer in that at all! Didn’t work out so well for us as far as the mission goes, but I’ll try to keep the faith that he is doing much better.)

Now, on to the anticipation of the long-awaited “Best Christmas Present Ever”!!!  J

Happy Holidays!

Doing well...

Friday afternoon I was at work when up popped an email from Elder Hanke, what a surprise!  So here’s a modified version of our chat, which will have to suffice as the weekly email:

Nova Scotia, are you there?

Yup, what are you doing?

Our  P-day is today because we go to Suva this weekend and next week for a  mission tour.

Hmmmmm, this is where I will start editing my responses because when I read them now I sound like an incessant, overbearing mother.  (Not sure why my replies would come across like that??  And Kyndra, please don’t respond to that comment.)  J   I basically asked how he was feeling, and what was going on... in my typical, overly-verbose manner.

I'm feeling way better every day, ha, my comp. doesn't have to do everything for me anymore!  I’ve got my big boy pants back on, haha, and it feels goooooood, ya!  Sorry, I forgot to tell you last week that P-day was today .

How are you doing?

Let’s see, I may have asked him just a few more questions about how he’s feeling, if he’s eating well, if he had any stories to tell us….

No stories yet still, just chillin’, but just less than usual. But ya next week I'll be back out and it will be like it never happened.

My response:  How have you really been feeling?  How are your legs? Are you eating well? (Can’t I just get some specific answers?)

We go to Suva on Sunday and come back Thursday, so it should be a dang good time.  And I feel fine, seriously, just can't walk that far yet but no worries.

And one other thing if you send a Flip (video recorder) don't send it in its packaging, send it just in some case or something and if you have to put the value declared on the package slip don't put the real amount just say 20 dollars or something because if it is a lot then it costs a lot to get out of the post office. (Trust me on this one it was my job to deal with this before.)

Thought I'd give it one more shot to see if I could get some answers…   Also told him he should be writing in his journal!

That’s why I want the Flip so bad, it will be easier and I will get more info in less time and it will be funny, too.

I gotta go now,  I'll talk to you in a week.

Love you mom, say hi to everyone for me.

Peace and Blessings,

Luvemuni

(I can’t seem to find out what this word means in English!)

So, that’s it for this week, but at least all seems to be good.  I suppose that if they are letting him travel for the mission conference/Christmas party, that he must be recuperating well.  (I guess I'll have to accept the fact that he was allowed to travel as the answer to all of my questions.) 

I happened to run in to our Stake President and one of his counselors in church today.  They both stopped to ask how Garrett is doing, although neither of them knew what had been going on with his health.  They both happen to be doctors, so I was able to run everything past them and get their opinions, which was great.  They said that there shouldn't be any long-term issues from the cellulitis, and that once Gar is all healed he should be fine. (This has been a big concern of mine, so I was happy to hear this from both of them.)

I can’t even express how grateful we are for all of the thoughts and prayers in Garrett's behalf.  He seems to be doing much better….which is such a huge blessing, as well as a huge relief. 

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the holiday season!

Love to all,

Nova

Seriously, everything here is fine.  My leg is getting better every day and it will just take time. I don't have athlete’s foot, ha, so honestly I don't know what it’s from, but whatever it is it’s getting taken care of. And as far as my teeth, haha, I understand where you’re coming from, but believe me, no worries there, and unless the pain comes back I'm not gonna get a root canal in Fiji (ha, that sounds like a death sentence in Labasa, ha). But all in all no worries, it’s all good over here.

As far as what I have been doing....nothing, in order to heal the fastest way they told me to just rest as much as possible. But honestly I'm super tired of resting but I don't really have a choice, ha. This also means that I don't really have any stories or anything for you but someday they will come again.

I will tell you though a bit about what has been happening while I've been out of the work. When I came here we covered both the Labasa branch and a unit in Naduna of about 50 members. Now there are more missionaries here and they will take over the Labasa branch mostly and we will take Naduna along with some other villages around Labasa. I'm really stoked to get back at it because this area, mainly Naduna, is the next big spot for the church in Fiji.  It is the next spot where they want to put a chapel, and if the area can get like 50 baptisms in the next year and start organizing the Priesthood it will happen, so me and Elder Seila have a lot on our plate.  There is a chief in one of the villages who is interested in the church and he will be very vital because if we can convert him then it will open the doors of a lot more homes and that baptism goal will be reachable. So what I get from this is that if we go and work our tails of helping these people then this area will be much different in a year and the people here will be greatly blessed because of the facilities provided for them. Elder and Sister Muir, the senior couple, have really let us know how much is on our shoulders here now so it’s really sweet, I'm stoked for this chance.

As for other news there is a new senior couple in Labasa, the Terry's, they are really cool and have helped me a lot, she made us a bunch of different cookies yesterday and they are really excited to put some fat on me. She promised us one good American meal a week here so I'm really excited for that. So our dinner list just got much more exciting. Other than that I don't really know much more to say.

I’ll just end with saying sorry again, ha, each week I just told myself, "No worries I'll be fine by next week", so my bad on that one. I would also like to say thank you for not freakin’ out too bad, Mom, I'm glad Dad can keep you calm, ha, he's probably the only one. Anyways thanks again for the support and I just want to say that Gospel is true and God has a plan for everything and needless to say I did really learn a lot about me and my comp. while I was down so it just reassures me of that fact that He knows every one of us.

Peace and Blessings,

Elder Hanke

Well…. sounds like he’s getting his spunk back, doesn’t it? What a huge blessing, as well as a huge relief.  Dr. Burton called this afternoon to report that Garrett had been released from the hospital on Friday after five days of IV antibiotics and tests. He said he had just talked to Garrett before he called me, and reported that he was still in good spirits and starting to get around a bit.  He said Garrett told him he is really getting his appetite back and is anxious to put some weight back on.

Just in case you can’t tell, I lectured Gar a bit about being sure to take good care of himself (i.e. brushing, flossing, taking care of his feet, etc.), so we all get to read the specific responses (I know, a little gross, huh?).  I also mentioned that it wouldn’t hurt for him to ask his companion to send a little email to his Mom should the need ever arise again.

 We’re so grateful for the blessings received, and that Garrett is recovering well.  Thank you so much to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Garrett, as well as for the moral support.  We are so blessed to have such great family and friends.

Have a great week everyone!