BAPTISMS

Hey everyone! Wow what a crazy week. I don't even know where to begin. Let's just say that the only night I slept in my own flat was Saturday night.... It was a hectic week. At this point I kind of feel like I'm trying to drink out of a fire hose with all the new responsibilities and things I'm trying to learn but man I'm loving it. Time is flying and I'm learning so much. My companion is literally my best friend, and the church is as true as ever.

So we had two sets of zone conferences and interviews this week. And as an assistant we travel everywhere with President, organizing and setting up things and honestly just trying to make his life a little easier because wow he does so much. At the zone conference we also have the privilege to give a training, to help train the missionaries on certain aspects of missionary work and help them become more effective missionaries. I love giving trainings, and I love helping missionaries. It's so much fun. Our first zone conference was good. That was my first time seeing the zone conference because I just got here, so even though I was teaching I learned so much! Haha After the zone conference on Tuesday in Nausori we road tripped four hours out to the west, where the airport and my first area was to do zone conference out there. It was definitely a lot more comfortable the second time! Haha The drive over was so fun and so pretty, just driving four hours along the beautiful coast. Life doesn't get much better. We got back on Friday and were way busy with the little time we had to try to do everything to prepare for our baptisms.

We had 3 baptisms this week! One whose name is Olive. She is just the sweetest old lady in the world. Man I love her so much. She is the mother of a recent convert in our area, and now the other sister is taking lessons as well! She has been taking lessons for a while and is just so ready to be baptized. Then with her there was a mom named Arieta and her son Emosi, who were found through tracting and they as well were so prepared to be baptized it was unreal. We got them all interviewed and got all their baptismal clothes figured out. It came time for the baptism on Saturday, and about an hour before we noticed that one of  the baptismal jumpers were missing from the car..... So we had to run and grab it from some other Elders who had used it that day, so it was still wet.... We grabbed it, wrung it out, then threw it in the dryer, so it was just a bit damp. Then went forward with the baptism anyways. Hahah The baptism was great. It went smoothly and we had such a good turnout from the ward!

Sunday came around and we had their three confirmations. I did one, Elder Afatasi did one, and then we had one of the area seventies there who was with us in the circle, do the last one. Wow it was a powerful experience. He was brought to tears while giving it and we could just feel Arieta shaking because she was crying and so touched by the spirit. Such a good experience to be apart of. Can't wait to watch these 3 converts continue to grow as they continue on their journey! It's been a great week. Our purpose as missionaries is to preach repentance and baptize converts and I can honestly say I feel like I gave it my all in fulfilling my purpose this week. Great week. I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Mumford

Nachos

 Me eating Burger King....So good!

  One of our investigators little girls

WHAT A WEEK

Guys this was probably the craziest week of my whole entire mission. I don't even know what to say. My heads still spinning from all the changes that have happened and all the new responsibilities... Such a big change. So I was having a fantastic week, just really trying to apply what I learned from General Conference. We did our normal morning routine and were heading out the door in Savusavu when I got a text on the phone from President Layton to call him when I had time. So I did and he asked me how I was doing, and then told me that he was planning on changing my assignment... He said that there have been some changes and that he was going to need me to come down immediately to Suva to be his next Assistant to the President...... Holy cow.. I thought someone was playing a joke on me. It was so unexpected because it was in the middle of the transfer but he just really got a strong prompting to do it so that's what happened. I said some quick goodbyes to everyone in Savusavu on Wednesday, and then on Thursday I was down here in Suva. 

I thought they would kind of give me a day to like learn the ropes but nope instantly we dropped the other AP off to his new area and I was doing heaps of stuff. The rest of the week was filled with trying to get up to speed with the things we have to do as an AP, such as our trainings for zone conferences, and exchanges and call ins and stuff. But we also got some great missionary work in as well. We have 3 people going to be baptized this week which is way exciting! Love missionary work!

My comp's name is Elder Afatasi, who is Samoan from Utah. We have served heaps together and we're pretty much best friends.... But he goes home in three weeks, so I have to learn everything real quick before he leaves me! It's stressful but it's fun. Just as Elder Bednar taught in the priesthood session in General conference, "We are all called to serve and then assigned to labor." Although my assignment has been switched suddenly this week, and have a much bigger responsibility, I am still doing what I have been called to do... serve the Lord and I will do that the best I can. I love this work so much and love you all!

Love,
Elder Mumford

FAM

Yo fam! So life is pretty much great out here in Fiji. I just absolutely love the area, the work, and my comp. It's weird because I feel like I've been doing missionary work for so long that I'm just a missionary now. Missionary work is just kind of what I do and who I am, and I love it, especially in Fiji! I'm just sending pics because I'm lazy and I don't want to write heaps haha We got to watch conference, which was amazing. All 4 sessions were awesome. So amazing the blessings we have in this increasingly dark world to be able to listen to living prophets and apostles. The church is true!

A sketch bridge

And another cool view. Savusavu is the prettiest area I've had and that's saying something!

Had exchanges with Elder Leavasa, who is Samoan from Australia. He's the man. This is our post exchange pancake date #whitegirls

FAM

Well what a crazy week. These last two weeks have been some of the craziest, most fun weeks of my mission. We had MLC this week, which is a meeting with all the leaders. The meeting was down in Suva so we flew down for a few days to be a part of the meeting, which was fun. Definitely felt like a VIP flying down for a meeting. haha The meeting was so great. This mission is more successful right now then it's ever been which is so awesome. The Lord is just making miracles happen. Also one of the most exciting things was I got to see my trainer! Elder Moore, who came back to Fiji with his wife! HE'S MARRIED! So cool, love that guy so much. Right after we flew back up here we had exchanges with the Labasa elders who speak Hindi. Always fun to be in lessons where you have no idea what's being said but respect the Hindi speakers so much. That's a hard language! And we finished off our week working super hard in our area. Sunday morning we went to pick some golden investigators up for church. Just a big family but the grandpa came out and told us to never come back. So heartbreaking for the family. But he told us he was going to go inside to give us back our Book of Mormon, and we were just like "ehh you keep it, its a great book" and walked away. But even with that hitch in our step we still managed to get 4 investigators at church, which was truly a miracle. Wow I love this work and love what I'm doing. It really is a privilege to be a missionary!

Confirmation of Missionary Release Date - Saturday, 29 July 2017

Dear Elders and Sisters,

The end of your mission is just over the horizon. This notice serves as official confirmation that your release date from the Fiji Suva Mission will be Saturday, 29 July 2017. Your outtake group will consist of the following missionaries:

·        Elder Amisone

·        Elder Babcock

·        Elder Bond

·        Elder Chugg

·        Elder Cobabe

·        Elder Fitisemanu

·        Elder Howard, T

·        Elder Jones

·        Elder Levasa

·        Elder Miller, J

·        Elder Mokie

·        Elder Mumford

·        Elder Ruwhiu, E

·        Elder Sieverts

·        Elder Stock

·        Sister Sateki

During these last few months of your mission you will set the pattern for the rest of your life. As in a long distance race it is the last lap that determines the winners. You are a winner and will want to sprint to the finish line.

As a missionary you develop skills in communicating with others, getting along with a companion, public speaking, discipline by following a set daily routine, budgeting, planning, study habits and how to take responsibility for yourself. These are all benefits from missionary service that will bless your life when you return home. Now is the time to make sure these attributes and skills are well ingrained in you as a person.

You are at the prime of your mission. You know more, have more experience, and are most effective as a missionary right now. As you finish up strong you will find this to be the most productive time of your mission; with your consecrated service to the Lord at its full potential!!

You will be invited to the mission home the day prior to your release date for an interview, a wonderful dinner and testimony meeting. These are always special occasions because the spirit is so strong and we witness what you have become as a missionary. Sister Layton and I look forward to sharing this special occasion with you. We welcome parents, if they are here in Fiji, to join with us for dinner and the testimony meeting. Please let me know as soon as possible if they plan to attend.

Remember what Sister Layton has taught us “No regrets”. May the Lord bless you through these last few months.

With warm regards,

President Layton

SAVUSAVU WOOOOO

WOW what a week this has been. Just when I thought my mission couldn't get any crazier BOOM this week happens. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT LIFE. SO we got the transfer call on Tuesday and President told me that I was called to be a zone leader on the north island! Up here in Vanua Levu. I'll be serving in Savusavu, which I actually know super well because this is the town that we would always come off to to email once a month in Rabi, so I'm decently familiar with the place. But then he informed me that my companion would be Elder Grimaud, who came with me here to Fiji! I was so excited. I love that guy so much! BUT that meant that we were going to whitewash the area. Both of the old missionaries are out and we are both coming in new into the area. This is a pretty common thing but the thing is we are doing it in a Zone leader area, which has never been done before, at least with this mission president. So we are like the guinea pigs I guess? WAY COOL. It's been a lot of work this week trying to learn the area but it's coming along way well. Savusavu is soooooo beautiful.. just a little town right on the ocean. It's a pretty big tourist place, and man I'm just so in love with it up here. I seriously want you to see it someday:) Most likely going to be my last area so I'm going out with a bang! I LOVE LIFE SO MUCH AND THIS CHURCH IS SO TRUE Love you guys!

Elder Mumford

random pics of new area

Said goodbye to Diva and some of the other less actives we have helped back to church. When I was saying goodbye to Brother Vulaono he was just like, "Hey that's a nice jacket" and then he asked for it.  And in the culture that's a kerekere so you just give it to them! So ya I'm rain jacketless now but honestly who cares. I love these people so much!

Hi Sister Mumford,

To start with, we love your son. He has been around the office for several weeks and are very close to him. Second he said I could tell you he is transferred to be a ZL with Elder Grimaud in Labasa. The garden islands area. He is doing great and we talk BYU sports all the time. Our son played football there. They will make a good team up there.

You should be very proud, a great missionary!
Your in the work,
 Elda Edmunds