Monday, February 29, 2016

NABUA - Week 5 / Cyclone Aftermath

Everyone's Ok! 
Bula Si'a!

I made it safely back to my area! It took us about 4 days longer than planned, but FINALLY a boat took us back up to our island. I already miss all the fast food that's in Suva! (But not the pounds that go with it ;)

When we finally got to our island, I was expecting the worst. I was so scared for the people of Vanua Levu island. And the dock definitely didn't console my thoughts. Massive trees up on the hill just laying on the ground. A makeshift dock because the original got badly damaged. The dock house completely flattened, shrapnel everywhere. But as we started our 3 hour drive back, things weren't as bad as I was expecting! TONS of trees fallen. That's consistent all over the island. MASSIVE trees too. But overall, the villages and houses look ok! I was so happy!

Savusavu got hit pretty hard. As we pulled up in the bus, there were tons of big boats that got blown onto the beach. Massive trees across the road. A few houses flattened. The Branch President and his family were actually staying at the chapel because their house is destroyed. Power was still out. But there was still a spirit of cheerfulness about!

Then we finally got back up to our area, Nabua. Everything's ok there! Our windows were left open... Oops. But the village is ok. Once again just some fallen trees and a few damaged buildings, but nobody was hurt! I was expecting the worst for this island, but the Lord protected them! The islands that got hit the worst are Taveuni, and the Lau group of islands. Some missionaries' flats are even destroyed! But humanitarian services are already out there! The whole nation has a feeling of love, and rebuilding. It's amazing. 

Anyways, all is ok after Cyclone Winston! We've been doing some service and will be for a while, but everything's ok! I hope you're all doing great! The work is moving! I love you all! Keep on keepin' on!
Au lomani kemuni!

-Elder Jaxson Jeremy Miller
In Suva
The Red Cross distributing some food
Woke up at 2:30 am to get on a bus to start heading back to our areas
The passengers lounge on the boat. Some members from Nabua on the boat. 

The hillside just DEVASTATED 
Big yachts up on the beach


Saimone & Josese

Samu & Nanise's bathroom house
The huge breadfruit tree in front of our house fell over, so our neighbor cut it and cleaned it up before we got home
Male (his name, not gender) 



Monday, February 22, 2016

Cyclone Winston - Fiji Cultural Celebration - Temple Dedication

Nabua, Suva - Week 3
Bula Vinaka!!

I'm safe! I promise. Man, this has been THE most eventful weekend of my life. If you haven't heard, the Fiji Islands were just hit with a Category 5 Tropical Cyclone, the strongest storm ever to hit the Southern Hemisphere. I'm writing this email right now in the only internet shop we could find that has power. The entire nation is out of power, only generator power now. But I'm ok! All the missionaries are ok. I'll try to recount my crazy, dangerous, spiritual, surreal weekend. (For a quick version, see: "To sum up my weekend")

Friday morning is when all missionaries came into Suva. My zone all woke up at 5 and hopped on a 3 hour bus ride. From there, we got onto a boat. It was actually pretty nice! I was surprised. It was a 4 hour boat ride. Then hopped off the boat for another 1.5 hour bus ride. Then as we arrived in Suva, missionaries were waiting for us to take us to their separate flats to stay with them. A LONG day of traveling to say the least. But we made it! It had started to be a little stormy, but nothing serious or anything. 

Then Saturday. We woke up and started to get ready. All missionaries were going to meet in a chapel and have a little meeting with President Eyring, Elder Quentin L. Cook, and other General Authorities that were here for the Temple Re-Dedication. As all the missionaries were waiting quietly for them to arrive my Mission President came up to me and whispered in my ear: "President Eyring has asked for you to bear your testimony." My heart STOPPED. I literally think my heart started beating out of my chest. Then they arrived. They all came in and sat down. President Layton (my mission president) welcomed us all and immediately began by asking me to come up. So I went up and bore my testimony. In front the First Counselor in the First Presidency, a member of the Quorum of 12 Apostles, the Area 70 Presidency for the South Pacific, the President of the Temple Commission, and the ENTIRE Fiji Suva Mission. Needless to say, I was shaking in my boots (or, I guess sandals). But I got through it. As I walked away I was able shake their hands. I bear testimony to you that these men are men of power. Men of God. 

Then the Cultural Celebration! That was so fun. Unfortunately, because the storm had been getting stronger, it was cut a little short. But there were dances representing all of the countries that this Temple services. Kiribus, Tuvalu, Rotuma, the Soloman islands, and the Fiji Indians as well. It was amazing! As soon as the cultural celebration ended, everyone began to head home as fast as they could. The storm started to pick up RIGHT as it ended. People were taking shelter in the church's chapels. Eventually we all got somewhere safe. Me and 3 other Elders made it back to a flat in Suva. 

Then the night of the storm. Our flat is on a hill, overlooking some of the city. Around 7-8 was when the worst of it came. The wind was INSANE. Roofs coming off houses, trees being uprooted, a torrential rain.... Obviously the worst storm I've seen in my life. As I sat watching, I felt so helpless. So many families that night would become homeless, or even lose family members. 

But we made it through the night. The next day, the Temple Dedication went on as scheduled, with generators powering the stake centers to receive the broadcast. As we were walking to the Stake Center, my heart became so happy. EVERYONE was outside. Groups of people going from house to house, helping where they could. The feeling was happy and optimistic, despite the devastating destruction. The temple dedication was amazing. There were some technical difficulties, but it worked out in the end. The Fiji Suva Temple is now back in service!

To sum up my weekend:
-Took a once in a missionaries' lifetime chance to ride a boat and meet up with ALL the missionaries in Suva (hasn't happened in decades in this mission)
-Had a once in a lifetime opportunity to bear my testimony in front of the First Counselor in the First Presidency, an Apostle, and other General Authorities AND had the opportunity to shake their hands
-Lived through a Category 5 Tropical Cyclone, the likes of which has never been seen in the Southern Hemisphere on the Earth
-Witnessed a once (maybe 2 or 3) in a lifetime event which is the dedication of a House of the Lord
-Experienced all of this while serving my 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

And that's only the beginning. Now begins the humanitarian work, to help rebuild this devastated country. The outer islands, including the island where I'm serving on, were hit much harder than the main island. Entire villages and islands are leveled. But I'm ok! And I have a healthy body that's ready to work. So bring it on!

Thank you for all of your concerns and love. I love you all so much, and will update you next week! Until next week, keep on keepin' on!
Au lomani kemuni!


-Elder Jaxson Jeremy Miller


Cyclone Winston











At Least 21 Killed in Fiji by Tropical Cyclone Winston - Thousands Remain in Shelters. 

Even worse, officials expect that death toll to rise when they're finally able to reach outlying islands that were hit hardest by the powerful storm, according to the BBC. A month-long state of disaster has also been declared.

"The death toll from Cyclone Winston continues to rise and reports of widespread damage are coming in from across Fiji," New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully told NBC News. "It is clear that Fiji faces a major cleanup and recovery operation."

"Families may have lost their homes and crops, therefore leaving them without shelter, food and a livelihood."

Our Boys! Ready to serve and help the people of Fiji. Good Luck!  Our prayers are with you. 

"As you keep moving forward, you can stay upright, even when outside sources try to pull you down."
- Bonnie Oscarson

"Service is the very definition of pure religion." 
- M Russell Ballard 

Fiji Cultural Celebration

 
President Eyring speaking


The final song "Isa Isa", saying goodbye to President Eyring


The beginning stages of the storm. Many people took shelter in this church elementary school which doubles as the chapel
Heading From Nabua to 
Suva

Our boat to the main island "The Spirit of Love"
Leaving my island of Vanua Levu

My Zone (matching ties)
The Vodafone Arena, location of the Cultural Celebration 



Saturday, February 20, 2016

Safe and Sound from Storm

Jaxson is Safe!  - Letters from Mission Office 
(Read the last sentence of Sister Knight's email!


Cyclone Winston - Update 5

Cyclone Winston Hits Fiji's Main Island - Viti Levu 


(CNN) The most powerful storm on record in the Southern Hemisphere is reintensifying over open waters after making landfall in Fiji on Saturday evening.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center said winds were clocked at nearly 162 mph with gusts at nearly 200 mph, and is expected to batter the popular tourist destination with heavy flooding, rain and damaging winds

Fears of mudslides, coastal inundation

"This is a mountainous nation, and that means any heavy rainfall will filter down to the lower elevations -- meaning landslides, mudslides and flooding," said CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam.

Had it occurred in the Atlantic, Winston would have been a category 5 hurricane, but because of hemispheric nomenclature, it's dubbed a cyclone. (In the Northwest Pacific, it would be a typhoon; all three are the same weather phenomenon). 

"As a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind," Bainimarama (Fiji's Prime Minister) said. "We must stick together as a people and look after each other."

Bainimarama, who said that the government is "thoroughly prepared to deal with this crisis," declared a state of emergency that will be in effect for the next 30 days, according to the Fiji Times.  

CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said the storm will continue to track to the west before making a turn to the south over the next few days. It is expected to "keep strength as it continues on its path in open waters," he said.