Sister Dakuiboca's (Mili's) Mission Call

Sister Mili Dakuiboca was a ward missionary

when I arrived in Fiji. We soon became visiting

teaching companions. A few months after we started

visiting together, Mili put in her papers to serve a

full time mission. At the end of November 2009,

she FINALLY received her call. She asked some

of her friends to gather at Bishop Hussain's home

as she opened her call. I was so happy to be included!

Sister Dakuiboca reading her call to serve in

the Fiji Suva Mission. Hurrah!!!!! That is

exactly what she was praying for. She always

told me she wanted to share the gospel with

"her" people.

Just prior to Sister Dakuiboca leaving for the

MTC in New Zealand.

As a "thank you" for my helping her get ready

for her mission, Sister Dakuiboca brought me

over some special food her auntie made for me!

Look! The fish is smiling!

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary

In June 2000 the Suva Fiji Temple was dedicated
by President Gordon B. Hinckley. The temple
district includes all the Fiji islands, Vanuatu,
Kiribati, Rotuma, and Tuvalu. What a blessing it has been
in the lives of these beautiful island saints. We
celebrated the 10th Anniversary this last month.
The celebration included a dance, a cultural night,
and a fireside presided over by Elder Tad Calister,
President of the Pacific Area. It was a wonderful
celebration and I feel so blessed to have been able
enjoy it.


Fijian Dancers


Dancers from Kiribati. These girls are sisters,
Phylis and Agie. They belong to my ward and I
am their visiting teacher. They are so beautiful,
inside and out!

Indian Dance.

Fijian children performing a fijian dance.

Tongan Dance

Rotuman Dance

Part of the costume is putting oil all over your

body so you will "shine".

Fijian Dance

Fijian War Dance

Fijian War Dance

A choir from the Nasinu area.

Trip to Taveuni

In April I got to take a short trip to another island
here in Fiji--Taveuni. They were dedicating a
chapel in Somosomo and President and Sister
Ostler asked me if I wanted to go. I jumped
at the chance.



The view outside the plane was beautiful!

This is the airport in Somosomo. It is about

the size of a covered picnic area in a park at

home.

I flew over by myself on Saturday morning.

When President Ostler asked if I wanted to

go, he failed to mention that I would be flying

over in a little tiny plane that looked like it was

held together with masking tape and a glue gun.

I sat in the front seat.....practically in the cot pit!

This picture makes the inside of the plane look much

much better than it is. I have to say...it was a

little creepy.

I think they maintain the outside of the planes

better than they do the insides.

Elder Farley, a ward missionary and Elder Sidal

and some very cute children after the dedication.

If you have a camera, you have many little

friends around.

Outside my hotel room.

In the daytime the trees at the hotel are full

of bats handing upside down. Unfortunately,

you can't see them in this picture.

In the evening the bats starts flying around and

around the trees. The little black dots in the sky

are bats.

I spent quite a while out on my patio watching

the bats. There were fifty or so of them flying.

I thought I had captured them in flight. I guess

you will just have to take my word for it.

My trip was just a quick one....Saturday morning

through Monday morning. I was so happy to get

the chance to see another beautiful island of Fiji.

Fellow Missionaries

Here are some pictures of the fabulous sister
missionaries that serve (or served) here in
Fiji. Sister Bakaua, Sister Tiraim and Sister
Nair.


Sister Aumoeualogo (better known as Sister Logo)



Sister Idro and Sister Ravulo


Sister Idro, Sister Dakuiboca (Mili), Sister Ravulo,
Sister Mailo and Sister Childs


Sister Rose


Sister Mailo and Sister Kant


All the sisters at Christmas dinner.


Sister Reeves and Sister Watikini


Sister Kant and Sister Childs


Sister Reeves, Sister Watikini, Sister Nair and
Sister Bakaua


Sisters serving in the Fiji Suva Mission


Sister Bakaua, Sister Reeves and Sister Tiraim


Sister Childs, Sister Kant, Sister Logo and Sister
Dakuiboca


The Fiji Suva Mission, January 2010.

The Diaper Project

To give me something to do in the evenings
that I am not visiting sisters in my ward, I bought
a sewing machine and started making diapers
from a pattern I found on the internet. Sister
Reeves suggested diapers because in so many
of the homes she visits, the babies do not wear
diapers. They either "go" on their mom's laps
or on the floor...or wherever. I have loved
doing this. I should have kept track of the number
I have made, but I didn't. I give the mothers
a "gift" of 12 diapers, wrapped in a receiving blanket.
As the babies grow, many of the mothers have asked
for larger sizes, which has led me to modifying the
pattern for several sizes. It has been a fun
project!


The diaper.



Some recipients.




Angel, napping in her diaper.





Angel and her mother after washing and hanging
the diapers out to dry.