Wakolo’s Farewell at Samabula 1st Ward–June 7, 2014

The days are counting down for the Wakolo’s.  And Saturday evening was the farewell party for them at our ward.  All the organizations were asked to present an “American” dance. 

The Relief Society did all their practicing during the day so I wasn’t able/made to dance with them.  They did a western line dance.  The Primary sang a song with actions about Rainbows and were wonderful.  The Young Women and Young Men and YSA’s all presented theirs and were good as usual, but the highlight of the evening had to be the High Priests and the Elders Quorum. 

The High Priests, led by Elder Jackson and Wells did the Bunny Hop.  And they maintained that it went for 5 minutes, not the 3 minutes the label said.  It was great – and I was later told that this was the first time the High Priests had taken part.  Wowsers!

And the Elders did YMCA.  Ya gotta love that no matter how many times it’s done.  And they did a great job.

Dinner was served and we were all on our way home by 6:30pm.  Great party.  But I have to admit that of all the places we have been and all the people we have met these Fijians have the most fun of any group of Saints we have met.

		Wakolo’s Farewell at Samabula 1st Ward VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

We Found the Kuku Ward–June 7, 2014

Haven’t you always wanted to say, “yes, I go to the Kuku Ward?”  I have!  I think it’s just about the coolest ward name I have ever heard.  No, something 1st to the 53rd, or any other lame area name, no sir – Kuku just has a ring to it.  I have loved it ever since Ronal Chand came in and told us he was in the bishopric of the Kuku Ward, and it was a great ward.

And yesterday we found the Kuku Ward. It’s out past Nasauri and it’s a nice little building on a major dirt road.  So now at least we can say that we know where the Kuku Ward is, even if we can’t say we are members of the ward.

And on the road out there is one of the most amazing houses we have ever seen.  It’s a huge boat/house, and it’s miles away from the nearest beach.  At first we thought it was a real boat turned into a house, but as we looked closer it seems more to be a real house built to look like a boat.  One of those amazing places that just make you wonder, “what were they thinkin?” 

It just seems to be completely appropriate – the Kuku Ward on the same road as the boat/house! 

Elder and Sister Wakolo’s Goodbye–May 30, 2014

June is the month of goodbyes here in Fiji.  It’s the mission presidents exchange time.  Elder and Sister Wakolo have been called to serve as the new mission president in the Arkansas, Little Rock Mission.

For the last two months the service center has been planning a surprise party for them.  Everyone was under the threat of death if they leaked the secret.  And amazingly enough they did it.

And so on Friday night his wife only wanted dessert on their “date night out”, and then they got the call from their daughter that her brother had left her home alone and she was scared.  So they dropped their movie plans for the evening and flew home, only to find a house full of people and food.  They surprised him!!

They had enough food for a small army and each department had planned a short entertainment.  The evening began with what they called a “grogless kava ceremony”.  There was no kava, but the ceremony was so fun to watch, the best we’ve seen.  Then speeches by the Wakolos and then the highlight of the evening – the entertainment.

He told us that the Church Historical Department is looking into it, but that they think that he is the first person to be called from the South Pacific Islands to serve as a mission president in the U.S.  What an honor for him, and what a great experience for those missionaries.  We told him that all he has to know is how to say, Y’all!  And he would be set!

Elder Wakolo’s comment for the last few months has been, “save that until June 16th and then I don’t care!”  So the theme of the evening was “I Don’t Care!”  Nothing like a little entertainment to bring out the secret personalities.

Then the food!  No one left hungry.  It was a fun evening.  And at the Monday morning prayer meeting Elder Wakolo said, “It was a wonderful party, don’t do it again!”

		Elder and Sister Wakolo’s Goodbye VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL