Bye SLC Hello Amsterdam

Tuesday July 21st 2015, its my last day in MTC today and Im off to Ghana Accra via Amsterdam.  Bring on the 10hr flight.  Have a look at that old school Missionary picture.  Its of my Dad, Elder Fesolai and his 1st Companion (Trainer) Elder Hirschi.  Believe it or not, who would of thought after 22 years I would meet Elder Hirschi's son, called to serve in the Kobe Japan Mission.  I've been here 2 weeks and I was blessed to finally meet Elder Hirschi in the Cafeteria out of all places on Saturday.  Pretty amazing huh......I thought it was pretty cool myself....Blessings.

In getting in contact with Elder Hirschi's parents his mum posted me Elder Hirschi's weekly letter and it contained how he was able to catch up with Elder Fesolai.  Here is an exert from Elder Hirschi's letter home.

"I finally found Elder Fesolai!! I am sorry it took me so long, I was hoping I could send you a picture of me and him for dad's birthday. I am so happy that I was able to end up finding him. So to be able to find where he was I went to the front desk and asked them if they knew of an Elder Fesolai. She said she knew him, but could not give me his residence hall number. She did however let me have his meal time schedule and his mailbox unit number. On Friday I was able to send him a letter to his mail box. I did not hear back from him that day or the next, but I knew he would be leaving on Tuesday this week. So I ended up going to his dinner time on Saturday night to look for him. It was crazy to think that out of 300 missionaries having dinner together I would be able to spot out 1 Elder, who I didn't even know what he looked like. I thought I had no chance in being able to find him. Then the craziest thing happened, the first Polynesian Elder we talked to knew exactly who he was. He was not in the same district or zone, but he offered to help us look for him. We walked around for a while until he spotted him. I was finally able to talk to him and get a picture with him. I so glad that I was able to find him, and he seemed like a really cool guy. We talked about how my dad and his dad served together and still visit each other. It took me a while, sorry it was late, but I was able to find him thankfully. It is funny that as I am writing this letter he is now in Africa teaching about the gospel"

Australia Melbourne Mission 1992-1994

Kobe Japan & Accra Ghana Missions 2015-2017

So on Monday 20th July 2015, we get an email from Elder Fesolai saying they have been given calling cards to ring us when he gets to the airport and he will ring us prior to boarding his flight to Amsterdam.  Michelle and I were ecstatic that we would be blessed to hear his voice and to speak with Elder Fesolai first hand, straight out of MTC.  Our dear friends Naleeta, Steven & Ezra Garcia were at the airport to see Elder Fesolai off.  (Poor Ezra, didn't want to turn around) LOL.  The Garcia's gave Elder Fesolai some Ozzie goodies, chocolates and lollies for the trip.  Elder Fesolai says he was over joyed to see them.  Yay some familiar faces.  This morning I was up at 04:30am, anxious to hear our Missionary's voice.  He didn't call us till 07:00am.  We were blessed to speak with him for 38minutes.  He kept on going about how he loved his time at the MTC, love the food and the drinks on tap, everything was cheap he reckons, but he sounded ready and eager to put into practice his learnings.  He recognised how the spirit is so evident and vital to the work.  Later this evening as both Michelle and I finished work, Elder Fesolai's flight from SLC to Amsterdam landed safely at 10:51am LST.  We were blessed again to talk to him again, only for 5 minutes this time round as it was like $2.00 Euro per minute.  Listen to the call.  Its a 6hr 40 minute flight to Ghana Accra.  

The Garcia's, saying goodbye at the SLC airport. Naleeta packed me some Aussie goodies for my flight.

At the SLC Airport with Ezra, Steven & Naleeta Garcia 21st July 2015