Dearest Family,

   So much has happened. Diwali, one of the biggest holidays in Fiji was 11/11. To compare it is like our July 4th, Christmas, Halloween and prom in one holiday. Fireworks all day and night everywhere, beautiful lights on homes, beautifully dressed women and children caring lanterns and knocking on doors or gates for treats. We spent the day at Maui Bay Resort with the Maiwiriwiri family about 2 1/2 hours from here. They were so good to us and treated us like their family. Yes, they fed us well. Elder and Sister Jensen went with us. They are another Sr. couple who serve at the church college.

 Friday the Willis' invited us to their ward cultural night. They have some very talented young people in their ward.

 Tuesday we were able to share the value of and our testimony of the Self Reliance Initiative to the Suva North Stake Presidency and to some of the bishops that attended the meeting. That stake is catching the vision and is going very well. Classes are being taught in many of their wards. We are scheduled to share the SRI with the Suva Stake and bishops on Tues. Dec.1. That is also the stake we are assigned to until the end this year. We will be speaking in the Suva 4th ward this Sunday.

  Sat. the Sr. couples went down the Navua River. We were in long motorized canoes going up stream. The scenery was beautiful and being on the river didn't get us nearly as wet as the rain did that day. Here in Fiji the rain is warm. We did not have jackets and we were fine. We also experienced a bamboo raft river ride and ate wonderful Fijian food at the Village. We are traveling to Navua again tonight to visit the ward SR class. They have just started classes there. It is about 45 min. from Suva. 

 We came from the river run and got ready to attend the Fireside for the YSA with the Gen. Presidency of the YM and SS teaching us. We attended the returned missionary class on Self Reliance. I loved the perspective Elder Ashton (Gen. SS) taught on Self Reliance. He said we can do everything better, (schooling, work, life, etc.) when we have a strong personal spiritual foundation through prayer, a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father and through personal daily scripture study. The Lord will magnify our abilities. He also shared with us that the Lord has reveled that we need to ask HIM for more help. He is willing to help us, but we need to ask. 

Nauva Self-Reliance Group

 Monday evening we fed the Hindi E​​​​lders serving in the Suva 3rd ward. They were very appreciative and said this is like Christmas dinner and wanted to take pictures. Tuesday,we were invited to attend a Zone Conference with the missionaries at the mission home. Pres. and Sister Layton are great and do wonderful training. It was a good experience to hear their training and be with the young missionaries. Tuesday evening we did go up to the Navua Chapel and assisted and observed their Self Reliance class. They teach one class on Tuesdays and another on Thursdays. They have 7 non members attending these classes. They expressed love and appreciation for us being with them and sharing our love and testimony of this revealed initiative (SR). Today along with our office responsibilities, we have helped to prepared lunch for Sis. Fei and our group, she is leaving to serve a mission in Dec. She is a sweet widow and serves with us at the Service Center. 

 I will include some pictures that go with this letter. We love all of you and pray that all is well. May the Lord blessing be upon each one of you. We think of you often and love to hear from you. We appreciate your responses to our letters. I hope they don't bore you too much.  Much much love, Elder and Sister Smith