Suva Days!

After 3 amazing days in Ba, we flew to Suva. Suva is the capital on the other side of the main island. Our first destination was the Temple. They just finished celebrating the 10 year anniversary. Brian had prayed with so many to be able to go to the Temple in Fiji some day. Many had saved up for a long time to make the trip to Tonga. Brian was so excited to see it! We took a taxi straight from the airport. We went to the mission office/Temple apartments to change into our Sunday best. As we were walking out towards the Temple a gentleman informed us that the Temple was closed. We hadn't even thought about the Temple being closed on Monday. He then told us that we were lucky that we could go tomorrow because the Temple had been closed for the past two weeks for cleaning. It was still nice to see the beautiful Temple as we came up the hill and saw angel Moroni sticking up and then the rest of the building. The setting reminded me of Oakland where the temple is kind of hidden in the trees and neighborhood when you drive into it. But from the valley, you can see it sticking out on top of the hill. The next people Brian wanted to visit was the Maafu family. He was expecting to find them in Ba, but we were told they moved to Suva. He was a policeman, so we would try to find the police station and ask about him. We decided to take a bus to our hotel first and then set off on a new adventure. Now the place we were staying was not the place we had originally reserved. Our reservation was a small bed and breakfast overlooking the harbor. They had come across a family wanting reservations for 2 weeks overlapping our 2 nights, so they made us reservations at the Novotel. We looked it up on the internet once to make sure it looked decent, it looked nice but honestly I didn't know if we would end up staying there, so we didn't really even know where it was. Well, as we were watching the beautiful scenery, right before our hotel stop, there was a police station. We knew it was going to be harder to find people in Suva because it is a large city, so if nothing else we would just go to the Temple both days. But here was the police station right down the road. We checked in to our hotel, right on the harbor where the lobby just opens up to the water edge.


It was beautiful, we felt very lucky. (The weather was perfect-winter- mid to low 80's. I love to be outside all the time - I think Fiji might be my new favorite place.) We headed to the hot bread shop for a late breakfast - our new local favorite-scone with cream, just a homemade roll with whipped sweet butter cream, it was so good. As we walked out of the shop towards the station we passed a policeman who we asked if they knew our friends. He did and said he was probably home, it was his day off and he lived at the barracks adjacent to the station. We followed him to their home. Bro. and Sis. Maafu were home and invited us in. It was a pleasure for Brian to hear how all the children had grown, served missions.


They had been sealed in the Tonga temple and then had their 8th child, a girl-Liahona. I love that name. Their son came over while we were visiting and he knew many of the people Brian was searching for, so many had moved. After a nice visit they told us to come back the next night for dinner and they would have all their children come over with their spouses and children. We were given directions for another family to visit. They lived in a place called Makoi. This neighborhood actually had paved roads and street names. Brian wasn't quite sure which house it was, but he would figure it out. As we were walking down a hill, he yelled out Brother Kelemeti. An older man lifts his head out from his home and starts walking toward us. He smiled and Brian said his usual line- I was a missionary 15 years ago- Elder 'Sugar' Cheney, with specs. Then the smile of recognition came over and they embraced. We were invited in and his wife joined us. She was busy burning some rubbish and came in, again so happy to see Brian. They were in the middle of yard work, painting the house bright orange and white-I wish I could paint our home orange and white, but I think we have laws against that sort of thing. They put everything a side and visited with us. Brother Kelemeti actually had worked at the Temple for the past three years and these were his first weeks off. Sister Kelemeti stays busy helping clean nearby chapels and doing family history work, so we were lucky to catch them at home. They told us the story of their daughter passing away and now were raising her two sweet girls, Sandrine 7 and Rosie 9.



We ended up staying with them the whole afternoon and night. By the end we were attached to those two girls. They told us incredible stories of faith and miracles. Sister Kelemeti reminded me of my mom and all the neat family history work miracles that happen.



Sister Kelemeti gave me a beautiful shell necklace given to her from her son when he returned from his mission. We went with them to a family night ward activity. The missionaries were putting it on and we were glad to be able to raise our hands when one sister asked if anyone had played Scattegories before- it must be a USA game. Brian saw so many others he knew as well. It was hard to leave the Kelemeti's. With tears in our eyes, it was much easier to say we'll come back some day.

The next day we did go to the Temple.


Brian said he cried seeing all the Fijians in the Temple. The two sessions were in English and were full. There were a few receiving their endowments and being sealed. It was so neat for Brian to see that. That afternoon we did relax by the pool and walked around the city. Dinner with the Maafu's was awesome!



They made all of Brian's favorite foods -curry, fish, dahl, tarro.....The family enjoyed the pictures we brought and sharing their own missionary stories and remembering old friends. Another great day!