46 Fiji Mission Report

Fiji Mission Report to our beloved Family and Friends Feb 3 2010

I know that we seem to be obsessed with life and death recently, and so it is that we sadly acknowledge the passing of our beautiful blue-eyed blond sister Ruth on Jan 28. She looks a little somber, as does my older brother Frank, in this 1935 picture from the archives, but she was always fun loving. I am the only one in the picture who saw the humor in living in a one-room log cabin in the Idaho wilderness!

Nevertheless, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, and we do not question the timing! Twisted logic might conclude that if we were home, people would not die, but in a special way, because of our mission assignment, we feel as intimately connected, as if we were home.  We also give some credit to the wired world that helps to keep us in touch. And, ultimately, our mortal life is a preparation for exactly what our temple service is all about!

We have sorted our ever-expanding descendants by generation, age, and location and count 6 kids, 29 grandkids, and 21 great grandkids; add spouses and we are topping 80! We are committed to doing all we can to maintain an intimate connection with these precious souls. That will be our next mission!  

We had a delightful family home evening with our senior missionaries on Monday where we listened for a fascinating hour to Paul Whippy, the manager of the service center. The pictures are of Brother Whippy speaking to us, and of his great-great grandfather, David Whippy, who deserted a whaling ship in 1822. He was an American visionary that is renowned as one of the first early commercial developers in Fiji, including the first capitol, the town of Levuka.

Paul recounted his conversion story and his experiences in the pioneer days of the Church in Fiji. He is a first generation member and was a bishop when he was 23 years old and later a stake president. He has been intimately involved with all of the general authorities who have come to Fiji, including Pres Hinckley, when he prematurely promised a temple in Fiji. The selection and acquisition of the temple site is another story in unfolding miracles. When the workers excavated the foundation, the footprint of the temple exactly matched the uncovered limestone! Our temple hill has a history as an ancient Fijian sacred site and so it is still. 

We promised some pictures of our travels in Vanua Levu, but there are so many that we may have to spread it over a few weeks. 

The Dalling’s and the Hatch’s boarded the ferry at Natova, the same dock we used for our trip to Naigani, along with our little Kajang. 

It was a pleasant half a day trip, though there were more passengers than shade! 

Some of the truck drivers made a bed on top of their trucks and slept the whole trip.

The children are always beautifully photogenic!

 The dock at Nabuwalu on Vanua Levu was so crowded it looked like a refugee site, so we know the trip back was just as crammed full. 

The disembarking looks orderly, but by the time I got the car off it was a mob scene and I lost my passengers in the crowd. We were all relieved to get back together!

Next week we will describe the road trip to Savusavu and the long wrong way to Labasa!

It has been said that once you have driven the roads in Vanua Levu, no matter where you drive and no matter how bad the roads get, you will have seen worse!

In closing, we quote Pres. Thomas S. Monson:

"I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives.  Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish---and in effect save their lives.

So no matter how long it is your privilege to enjoy this beautiful life, enjoy it with service!