Valentine's Prom

Pesega Lua had a prom for Vaelntine's Day.  The women were invited to wear prom dresses.  I did not have one, so I wore a pretty skirt and matching top.    I fit right in with everyone.

These manikins (oh wow!  I can't remember how to spell in English anymore!) were part of the decorations.

I'm with Ken; I'm not sure who Mike's with.

As usual, there were people of all ages and sizes dancing with one another.

The missionaries were obedient and pretty much stayed outside, keeping their distance from all the cute girls.  I love these guys!

This little sweetheart and her brother were having fun, too.

Brother and Sister To'a are recent new grandparents.  This little guy chose to come down to earth just as Sacrament meeting started.  Sister To'a, sitting on the stand with her family, received a cell phone call, immediately jumped up and left.  Brother To'a got  talk a little longer than he had planned that day!

This shows you that Samoa does have some fancy technology when it comes to music at ward dances.

Brother and Sister Key, with matching dress and tie.

Cute prom dress!

I walked into the kitchen with a camera in my hand and got instant smiles!

These guys were ready for the camera. too!

One picture is never enough...and more and more keep jumping in!

I am going to miss this when we go home.

Relief Society Presidency plus a young single adult.  That's something else I love.  Everyone pitches in to help.

I was taking a picture of the girl in back when these two popped into the picture!

It was a great night!  Good clean family fun!  That's what the gospel teaches.

Please bless Ramsi.

 Last December, Annie and Sasha traveld to Samoa for  a visit and they brought Ramsi.  We took her to see the Pine family.

 She got passed around quite and bit and was amazingly cooperative.

 It wasn't until little Palota started screaming that Ramsi decided she'd had enough.



Last week was our last FHE with this family.  Vaelaa gave the closing prayer and she cried clear through it.   I was especially touched by something she said.

 "Please bless Ramsi." 

What a tender moment!

The Yellow Dress!

Just when I thought I had seen it all, the annual visiting teaching convention rolled around.

When I arrived, the front row was filled with sisters wearing yeallow caps and gowns. Guess why?!

Because they had achieved 80%  or better visiting teaching for the year!

Here is Brother To'a congratulating his wife as she holds up her certificate.

And here is Brother Talaipa congratulating Sister Talaipa.

Sister Etuale and Sister Ruth (who was baptised right after we got here) are all smiles. 

This is one of my most favorite pictuers!  Don't you love the ulas they have around their necks! Yes!  They are made from fresh flowers.

Here is a sister who didn't qualify for the yellow cap and gown, but she still wanted her pictue taken with her certificate.

So did Sister Iese. Brother and Sister Iese are some of the most dedicated members of the ward.

I had so much fun taking these pictures! 

Sister Naea and Sister Joseph, the Relief Society President and her first counselor.  I love these two women.

As at most Visiting teaching conventions, there were lots of inspirational talks about visits made and visits received by visiting teachers.  At the end, Bishop Joseph gave a talk.  Mostly in Samoan, but he did say in English that he expected even more sisters to get to wear the yellow dress next year.  And   I found myself being inspired to be a better visitng teacher when I return home!   (Only in Samoa!)

Modes Of Transportation

There are a lot of interesting modes of transportation in Samoa.

Buses are very common.

 When we went to Pago, we saw all sorts of these cute little buses...

Painted in a variety of colors.

 We've only seen the little ones on Tutuila (American Samoa).  Not on Upolu or Savaii.

The buses On Upolu are much larger.

But still very colorful!

With fun stuff to read!

Not only on the sides...

But the fronts and backs as well!

Since they started driving on the other side of the road, they have had to be resourceful in creating new doors for entry.

And they have to be tough enough to make it through the flooded streets that occur during rainy season.

This bus picks up a load of ward members each week before and after church.

We came upon this bus one day when we went for a drive.  We could see there was something on the back, so we caught up with it for a closer view.  You'll never guess what we saw!

             Yes.  It's a dead cow.  

With a hand waving away the flies. 

Only in Samoa!

Another mode of transportation is by boat.

 We asked a native Samoan what they called this long boat.  She carefully pronouced it for us... "ka-nu"

They really are quite long!

What a gorgeous view!

This is a double canoe of sorts.  Way cool.

Here's a closer look at the canoe.

And another boat.  We took a picture of a cruise ship, but I can't seem to find it.

This is the license plate in American Samoa.  I think I like the Samoan plates even better, although I don't have a picture of one.  They say "Pearl of the Pacific" 

I'm not sure you could get too far in this vehicle...\

...or in these!  Especially the one in the middle.

The young missionaries drive a fleet of vans.

This is what the old ones looked like.

They were recently replaced with this taller model.  More comfortable, but a little harder to navigate.  We had lots of scrapes and scratches the first few weeks after they arrived.

There are also  service vehicles in Samoa.

 

Last, but certainly not least, is Henry 

He has served us faithfully as Elder Merrell and I have served our mission.  We have shared him with the Kellys, the Curries and the Hansons.  We will miss Henry when we leave.