President Wakolo's Message from Arkansas Little Rock Mission

The Leader         

I lead, live, and love like Christ

President’s Message

Taking Things for Granted

In the recent Olympic Games, Fiji won its first ever medal in the Olympic Games for the Rugby team. The small island nation of less than 900,000 people came together to cheer them even from thousands of miles away from where the game was played. The celebration of that win went on for over one week including marching through cities and towns. The 16 individuals were hon- ored with a national Order of Fiji medal each given by the Presi- dent of Fiji. That was the value of one Olympic gold medal to the nation. Religious differences, if any, were put aside, racial divides was taken away, and denomination was one. Bridges were built and relationships strengthened. The first Olympic gold medal that led to a nation’s celebration. The players became heroes some called them legends.

Contrast that with a Nation that constantly win medals in the Olympics. Winning, yes is expected but the whole nation may not celebrate like Fiji because it happens too often and we are now taking it for granted.

Shawn Johnson, a US Olympian gymnast said, “I was at the Olym- pic Games winning medals and I still doubted my image. I doubted what I looked like. That's sad.” What a sign of humility from some- one who won at least 4 medals for herself and her country, yet recognized she could have made more significant difference and impact by just being herself. We know that we are always on the stage as missionaries.

Olympian legend, Michael Phelps said, “I can’t remember the last day I did not train.” Does that sounds like our amazing missionar- ies saying, “I can’t remember the last day I did not read my scrip- tures.” He continued, “I like to just think of myself as a normal per- son who just has a passion, has a goal and a dream and goes out and does it. And that’s really how I’ve always lived my life.” Truly this sounds like our missionaries, God’s army, who have faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and believe in themselves. They all have Visions, Goals, Plans and Actions/Accountability or VGPA.

From the Olympics to our backyard where at least 500 members travelled to Louisiana to spend the weekend cleaning up and help- ing in whatever way they could for the 146,000 damaged homes that were caused by the flooding. The resilience of such individuals and families are amazing! Jasmin our 13-year-old daughter went with the Whiteley family and I believe Jasmin’s life will never be the same again from that experience.

Connect Fiji’s one gold medal experience to our mission: a soul found and taught is a soul precious; a soul baptized is a soul cele- brated; a soul reac- tivated is a soul jubi- lated. The whole mis- sion celebrates, the angels rejoice, parents and families of the missionaries and those bap- tized shout with joy, prayers of gratitude are offered but beyond the baptism, there were studies and teachings for long hours, fasting and prayers by our Olympians who are always in the field of play. We marvel, amaze and rejoice with you, our beloved missionaries. Thank you for who you are.

The English author Aldous Huxley wrote, “Most human beings have an almost infi- nite capacity for taking things for granted.”

Do we take things for granted that we have and do because we constantly do them, receive them or have them? Do we know who we really are or what we have? I invite you to always remember who and what you leave behind. In any situation there will always be a before and after. I invite you to focus on the after because “better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof” or putting life into perspective “the day of our death is better than our day of birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1,8).

Taking things for granted sometimes begins with our families and loved ones, bearing of our personal testimonies, schedule to read, search and ponder scriptures, freedom to teach and share the 42 doctrinal points and associated Bible and BOM scriptures; pray, relationships with companions/districts/zones and the mission; belong to the only true and living church; companion for 24/7; Going to the Temple on our birthday month; cars and bikes for all companions; using iPad; partaking of sacrament every Sunday; serving or living in the U.S: the promised land, the land where the First Vision and Restoration took place, the land producing and preparing all the Prophets of the Restoration to date.

A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. We do that because we do not take what we have for granted.

Elder Ballard quoted a wise young mother who said: “I choose not to give our children what I can afford to give them. I hold back for their sake.”

We know the world is a better place because you are in it, your selfless service and because of who you are and because you re- joice and utilize to the fullest, ‘things that you have’ in terms of knowing who you are, teaching and sharing the fullness of the re- stored gospel. You are our Champions and it is a privilege to know and serve with you our true Olympians and Legends.

We love you. President and Sister Wakolo

Visiting Chinese Basketball Players Coach Fiji Children

Members of the Chinese national under 18 women's basketball team took time out of their South Pacific tour this week to give some tips to children from the Latter-day Saints' Fiji primary school.

The team is on a three-nation tour of the Pacific.

Students were delighted to have the opportunity to train under the guidance of the Chinese national team which is ranked 9th in the FIBA world ranking.

The hour long clinic was facilitated by Basketball Fiji and interpretation was provided by four LDS Primary School students.

At the end of the clinic the three athletes and their coach were treated to light refreshments and were serenaded by the students who sang the LDS Primary School Song in appreciation for the clinic.

Principal Mereisi Talemaitoga said that the clinic was an ideal opportunity for the students to see the athletes as role models who are all focusing on completing high school while at the same time representing their country in basketball.

The visiting team recently completed an unbeaten six match tour of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. The players and coaching staff return home to China tomorrow.

324 Hours of Service Donated to Hilton School

Members of the Suva Fiji Stake volunteered 324 hours of service to the Hilton School where they painted the poles that lined the long driveway, repainted several learning and recreational floor games like tic-tac-toe, four square, twister etc. on the large covered patio between classrooms and the canteen.

Some of the volunteers scrubbed the driveway, bus loading area and the large covered patio learning and recreational area prior to painting. Others trimmed the bushes that lined all the school grounds, raked and bagged rubbish and leaves.

“It is a lovely school and has fun art work throughout the buildings. I am sure the special needs children enjoy being there.”, said Donna Willis a Self-Reliance missionary for the LDS Church who was also part of the cleaning crew. “Like most educational facilities just keeping up with everyday demands is all their staff can handle each day, so many areas around the school property needed some helping hands to spruce things up., “ she said. “ We all felt the importance of what we were accomplishing. Everyone laughed together, worked very hard together and felt good about serving these special children. ​“

The Fiji LDS Church College Introduces “Self-Reliance 2016”

Who can measure the worth of teaching the principles and values of Self-Reliance to our youth? Starting in January of 2016, Principal Solate Maiwiriwiri, Counsellor Mereoni Vuidreketi and the Fiji LDS Church College Self-Reliance Committee introduced “Self-Reliance 2016”. The school theme is “I Will Do My Part to Be Self-Reliant”.

Throughout the school year numerous exciting and innovative events have been planned for the students to participate in and help them develop self-reliance principles and skills. Self-Reliance has been the theme of many outstanding School Devotionals. The school has promoted well-designed banking and saving opportunities. Various business opportunities have been encouraged and supported. Excellent educational workshops have been programmed. A truly outstanding year has been planned for all students.

The 194 students registered in Self-Reliance Classes were taught from the “My Path” manual and then challenged to take the “My Path” manual home to teach their families what they learned. Hopefully, as these students learn additional Self-Reliance concepts, they will continue to teach their families what they learn.

The students participate in one Self-Reliance Class each week. The 2016 goal for Form 7 students is to complete “My Path”, “My Foundation”, “Education for Better Work” and “My Job Search”. The 2016 goal for Form 5 and Form 6 students is to go through “My Foundation” and “Starting and Growing My Business”. Form 5 and Form 6 students will continue with Self-Reliance classes in 2017 and complete “Education for Better Work” and “My Job Search”.

Fiji LDS Church College’s, “Self-Reliance 2016’” has made this an amazing year. There has been very positive response from the students. They have enjoyed learning the principles of being self-reliant as well as the excellent business, education and employment concepts offered through the Self-Reliance Classes. In some ways this endeavour is challenging, but definitely worth all the organizing and effort. Undoubtedly, students are being given the opportunity to learn valuable life-changing lessons by participating in Fiji LDS Church College’s “Self-Reliance 2016”.

A Fiji LDS Church College Student Self-Reliant Spotlight

“My Pathway to Self-Reliance” 

May 30th, 2016 

Commitment, Sacrifice Key In Moving Forward

Exerpt taken from The Fiji SUN Newspaper dated September 19, 2016

Commitment and sacrifice to family is vital in moving the congregation forward.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake president Solomone Kaumaitotoa highlighted this at the Lautoka Stake Conference in Balawa Chapel yesterday.

“We all need to make sacrifices and commitments to move the stakes, more importantly the families.

“We need to commit and continue to work to build up our faith individually, I as a father in my home need to be committed to my wife and children and move them forward in bringing them to church.

“This why we attend conferences and sacrament to remind ourself about commitment and dedication that we need to make in serving and our family and responsibility.

“At the end of the day it is about family,” he said.

“What do I do to influence change and move them forward by and encouraging them to focus to the father in heaven.

Mr Kaumaitotoa said the meeting showed that 70 per cent of the work was still  needed to be done in the Lautoka stake.

“I thought to myself with the figures given, we have four thousand stakes and 22 per cent is the number that are coming to church and 70 per cent is the amount we have to work towards to bring to the  stake.

“I thought to myself how would this work be done, it is only through the sacrifice that families and commitment that we need to make this work happen.”

Pacific Area Seventy for the Church and Fiji LDS Service Centre manager Elder Adolf Johansson said we hold this conferences not just to be instructed, we are holding this conference to prepare and receive the Lord Jesus Christ.

“That is why we have stake conference and general conferences. They are known as solemn Assemblies’ preparing each heart and mind for the Lord to walk in the door.

“It is to change us and  prepare us to withstand the presence of God. Sometimes we feel uncomfortable when we hear the truth because we feel guilty.

“Guilt is not there to hold us down, but to allow us to know what is holding us down to letting go of those things that are holding us down and start to rise.

“Guilt is a condition for preparation for repentence; it is the ability for us children to know what is wrong so that we can get right.”

The two day conference was held over the weekend whereby members from the western side extending to Rakiraki until Sigatoka came in numbers to attend it.

Edited by Maraia Vula

Latter-day Saints Attend Fiji Constitution Day Celebration with Nation’s Leaders

Elder Adolf Johansson and his wife, Martha Johansson, attended Fiji’s first Constitution Day Celebration last week.

Right to left: Hon. Prime Minister Rear Admiral J.V.Bainimarama; Martha Johansson; and Elder Adolf Johansson. 7 September 2016.

 Among guests at the event were Hon. Prime Minister Rear Admiral J.V.Bainimarama; His Excellency Jioji Konousi Konrote, president of Fiji; New Zealand High Commissioner, His Excellency Mark Ramsden;and Fiji Minister for Sports and Youth, Hon. Laisenia Tuitubou.

“It was a wonderful, historic occasion for the people of Fiji,” Elder Johansson said.

According to one of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Articles of Faith, Church members “believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” 

Left to right: Fiji Minister for Sports and Youth, Hon. Laisenia Tuitubou.; His Excellency Jioji Konousi Konrote, president of Fiji; Elder Adolf Johansson; and Martha Johansson. 7 September 2016.

Left to right: Elder Adolf Johansson; New Zealand High Commissioner, His Excellency Mark Ramsden; and Martha Johansson.