ACCEPTING THE UNEXPECTED Returned missionaries adjusted to new cultures by losing themselves in the Lord’s work BY LISI TIAFAU
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hree returned missionaries at BYU–Hawaii spoke of the importance of understanding culture in missionary work. They noted respecting and learning a new culture on their missions helped them feel happy and shared stories and gave advice for prospective missionaries at BYUH. Called to serve Seniloli Komaisavai, a junior from Fiji majoring in intercultural peacebuilding, was called to serve in the Australia Adelaide Mission in 2015. He admitted that, at first, the location did not excite him and he did not want to work in Australia. A few years before receiving his call, Komaisavai and his mother worked in Australia. Eventually, Komaisavai said he discovered their manager had underpaid all of his employees. “Seeing my mother struggle for hours in the sun on several acres of land day after day, only to be scammed in the end, was such a demoralizing experience for me,” he said. Disappointed and discouraged he said he vowed to never fly to Australia again. After receiving his call, he said he went straight to his room and complained to Heavenly Father because the farm his mother had worked on was in his mission. “I didn’t realize why the Lord had called me there until much later,” Komaisavai said. He recalled feeling the Lord wanted him to return to the farm and work as hard as he did in the field. “He called me to serve, and I accepted it whole heartedly.” Dalvin Keil, a junior from Western Samoa majoring in computer science, said he felt excited and overwhelmed when he was called
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to serve in the New Zealand Auckland Mission in 2018. Growing up, he said New Zealand was on top of his “must visit” list. When he was called to New Zealand, he was overjoyed and excited to preach the gospel, he said. Being familiar with the food and serving in his native tongue made him feel like it would be the best two years of his life. “And it was,” he said. Immanuel Susi, a senior from Oregon majoring in hospitality and tourism management, was called to serve in the Philippines Cebu-East Mission in 2016. “When I opened my mission call, I was overpowered by the Spirit,” Susi said. He explained his parents were born and raised in the Philippines. “When I was called to serve in my parents’ homeland, it was a blessing and a miracle I did not expect.” Susi stated he was the first member of his family to be baptized in the Church and the first to go on a mission. “It wasn’t even a full year after my baptism that I got my mission call. The only thing I knew was that I was called on by God to serve as a missionary, and I was super excited,” he shared. His parents were disappointed with his decision to join the Church and serve a mission, he said, but knowing there were people waiting to hear the restored gospel message motivated him. “I wanted to find those families who wanted to be eternal.” He prayed every day for his parents’ hearts to soften and for them to embrace the gospel, Susi recalled. “To finish off my missionary journey, I was able to be sealed to them for all time and eternity in the Philippines Cebu Temple.”
