Elder Swallow is #Fiji Bound

 Update #6 3 rd April 2020 Dear Family, Well the past 18 hours have certainly been full of miracles and a healthy dose of excitement. Let me share the latest developments as they have transpired. We received confirmation that all USA and Canada based missionaries will be leaving for home on Saturday night 4 th April  7.00pm, the flight departs from Nadi and will take 88 of our missionaries plus missionaries from other island missions that will arrive in Nadi to board the plane with ours totaling over 300 missionaries. The flight will go directly to Salt Lake City and arrive 11.30 am 4 th April 2020 SLC time. Missionaries will transit through Salt Lake to their onward home destinations. When I receive their itineraries, I will email this directly to each family contact, also your missionaries will receive a copy. We had planned to charter busses to take our missionaries from Suva to Nadi on Saturday morning, howev...

Update #5 - 1st Apr 2020 Dear Family, Our missionaries continue to strengthen and support each other as the time draws closer for their return to their home countries. Progress is being made with the repatriation of missionaries well underway. The charter repatriation of North American missionaries from the Pacific area has begun, some Australian Missions now have dates for departure for this Friday, and our mission is awaiting further news on when flights will be scheduled f or Fiji. Your missionaries are ready to go whenever we receive flight itineraries. The government announced today that the Lautoka region lock down will continue to be in place until April 7th at 5.00 am, the missionaries there will have to wait until that date before they can move from the area, they are all doing well and have plenty of supplies to last through this period. The latest information regarding the Lautoka announcement can be found at  https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/ Sister Higgins and I sp...

Update #4 Fiji Suva Mission 28/03/2020 Dear Families, Sister Higgins and I are so grateful for your kind thoughts and words of inspiration shared with us and our wonderful missionaries, they are truly remarkable young men and women. Since my last update sent Thursday 26th we are still in a holding pattern awaiting further news of when flights will be scheduled for our returning missionaries. Area travel, various governments and embassies, and travel agents are working continuously to help our missionaries return safely home. Currently all missionaries are now on the main island of Viti Levu, therefore we are ready for missionary departures whenever they will occur. All are safe and well, and most are serving in tri-panionships in and around Suva. Many of you have accepted our invitation to read the New Testament along with your missionary in 40 days, I know this will unite us as a mission family during the coming days, also we as a mission will follow the invitation of P...

Update #3 Fiji Suva Mission: 26/03/2020 Dear Family and Priesthood Leaders, We are so grateful for all your wonderful and valiant sons and daughters who continually strive to be dedicated servants of the Lord, especially during these uncertain times. I know that you are anxious and concerned for their welfare and safety, therefore I would like to update you on the current situation here in Fiji and an assessment of what we might expect over the coming days and weeks. Please remember that all of the Church Areas in the world are operating in a state of constant change around them. The Pacific Area is in a like position which is further complicated by the multiple nations, and islands within it. It is important to remember that changes are going to occur and that we are adjusting our plans daily as new information comes to hand. Latest conditions: Fiji      Government has announced the closure of the Nadi Airport, however it is      al...

John Higgins Conversation Starter · March 23 at 11:03 PM Dear Family, It is with great sadness that we inform you that all foreign missionaries, couples and senior single sisters, serving in the Fiji Suva Mission are to return home as soon as travel can be arranged. This will be done in a systematic way based on travel restrictions, level of COVID-19 concern, and other considerations. Area Church travel will assist us with the necessary travel arrangements for exiting missionaries. Area travel is taking the lead in organizing the travel but want us to be aware that the load is significant. We acknowledge that some borders are closed and therefore some travel will take considerable time to put in place. We will move forward with the intent to return all foreign missionaries home, and acknowledge that in some cases it will be very difficult. Mission presidents will inform stake presidents when a missionary is returning home. When travel plans are certain and mission...

John Higgins shared a link . Conversation Starter · March 22 at 2:20 AM To families of missionaries currently serving in the Fiji Suva Mission. Tomorrow (P-Day Fiji time) your missionary will receive information which I am also sharing with you to keep you updated with the rapid changes that are effecting our missionaries and their sacred work here in the Islands of Fiji. Please freely discuss the counsel and instructions with your missionary and encourage them to follow these recommendations. Bula Vinaka Sisters and Elders, My dear fellow servants: “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life”. (3 Nephi 5:13). This scripture is a powerful reminder to us in the Fiji Suva Mission of whom we serve, who’s message we share, and what He desires for each of us. As events change dramatically day by day let us trust in the Lord and His servants, moving forwa...