August 20, 2011

Today we got up early to get packed for the trip back to Fiji. The Zone Leaders picked us up, we stopped by the district president’s house to pick up a package and then drove up towards the airport. We had an appointment to inspect the apartment of the Elders who live very near the airport. Although the apartment was modest and somewhat out in the middle of nowhere, it was not in terrible shape. It was relatively clean and Jan was pleasantly surprised. We were then dropped off at the airport around 8:30 and we checked in. The flight was uneventful and we got into Nadi in time to buy a camera at the duty free zone for an Elder here in Fiji. We then made our way over to the domestic flight area in order to catch our plane to Suva. As we went through the metal detectors and went into the secured waiting area, we met Elder and Sister Syphus! We thought we were going to get home a few hours before they came into Suva. We learned that contrary to our thinking, they had arrived in Nadi early that morning from an all-night flight from LA. The airline had lost one of their bags and while they were looking for it, they missed their scheduled flight to Suva and so they were scheduled to be on the same flight as we were. We enjoyed getting to know them for about 30 minutes before we got to board.

The assistants were there to meet us at the airport and took us back to our home. The Syphus’ were to be staying at the temple patron housing which is also found on the temple grounds area. We got situated and then Jan gave the Syphus’ a quick bite to tide them over until dinner (2 hours away). I slipped over to the office to meet with the assistants on some urgent missionary companionship issues. By the time I got back, Elder and Sister Barfuss had gotten there to help get dinner ready. We had a very nice dinner with the six of us. We chatted until it was obvious that the Syphus’ were wilting and we shooed them off to their housing area. As I was saying good-bye to them in the parking lot, Brother Kiri Kiri Kula from Labasa came up to say hell-o. He had just gotten in with over 30 members from his district for the temple week. It was very good to see him. By the time all the chatting was done, I got back into the house after 8pm to finish this travel day.