There's no place like home!

One of my all-time favorite movies is The Wizard of Oz. In it, Dorothy finds herself uprooted from her home and family and now in a place that is so beautiful and so colorful, surrounded by people who immediately love her; a place that she decides must be somewhere over the rainbow.

Like Dorothy, Mike and I found ourselves uprooted from our home and family and living in a place that was beautiful, colorful and although they definitely weren't munchkins, we were surrounded by people who immediately loved us.  We weren't over the rainbow, we were in Samoa!

Throughout the movie, Dorothy makes some wonderful friends who journey with her to the land of Oz.  As she later describes this journey she says that some of it was not very nice, but that most of it was wonderful. 

During our mission to Samoa, we, too, could say that some of it was not very nice, but that most of it was wonderful!  And when the time came for us to return home, we, like Dorothy bid a tearful goodbye to our many new found friends.  But, as difficult as it was to say goodbye to Samoa, there was never any doubt that we were coming home!

Each one of us left our heavenly home and family to come and serve a lifetime mission on earth.  We are surrounded by beauty, color, and family and friends.  While it is true that some of this journey is not very nice, most of it is wonderful.

My goal is to return and live with  my Heavenly Father and Mother.  I know the path that leads back to them.  It requires faith, hope and charity, which is Christlike love.  I have made covenants that I must keep.  I must be willing to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places and I must  be willing to do it for as long as my mortal life lasts. 

I testify that when the time comes to return to live with my Heavenly Father, I have no doubt that it will be worth every step I took to get there, because there truly is      no place like home!

Bonus Blessings

As Mike and I served in Samoa, I began making a list.  At first, I only included bonus blessings-things that we experienced or learned that I hadn't realized would be a part of a mission.  It included cultural, educational and social blessings.  The longer the list got, the more I realized that even these unexpected blessings were spiritual in nature, because each bonus blessing came as a result of being obedient to the call to serve.  Heavenly Father has so much in store for us if we will only choose to obey. 
These are a few of the bonus blessings we received.

• I learned to speak a few words of Samoan, and although my gift of tongues was only a tiny one, I am so grateful for it!  It was interesting to me that after we spoke in Sacrament meeting, my son-in-law, Will told me that his favorite part of my talk was my testimony in Samoan.  I came so close to leaving that part out!  We all do that-hiding a tiny talent because we are ashamed it is so small. 

• 

  Mike hand-fed giant turtles.

• We learned what a blowhole is, and saw one up close.

• I learned to weave a place mat from coconut leaves!

• We participated in a Samoan Christmas Choir. Our favorite song was the Hallelujah Chorus.

• I enjoyed trying out delicious new recipes with fellow senior missionaries.  One of my favorite memories was making flour tortillas with Sister Krogh.

• I was fascinated to learn how a pineapple grows!  It takes over 18 months to get one to the mature stage where it is ready to be picked.  We had one in our front yard that I waited our whole mission to see signs of growth.  All it had was the stems.  I was convinced it was not ever going to produce.  But, sure enough, about 6 weeks before we left,  a tiny pineapple started to develop, but it wasn't big enough to pick before we left.  The one above looks about ready, though.

• I learned to do amazing things on my computer!  Seriously!  This was one of the biggest of the many bonus blessings I received.  And it will continue to be a blessing for the rest of my life as I incorporate these skills in countless new projects such as family history work, church callings, household projects, social activities....this blessing is huge!

• I learned to drive a rightside stearing vehicle on the left side of the road.  This is Henry.  He was dependable and accomodating as we shared him first with the Kellys, then with the Curries, then with the Hansons and briefly, with the Partridges. He was scheduled for retirement last fall, but it didn't happen.  That's okay.  Good old Henry!

• I learned where Samoa was on a map, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Tonga! 

• I learned that there is a place for "fluff" and that 2nd mile efforts, when directed towards people can bring enormous results.  A few of my favorite 2nd milers were...

Sister Haleck, who has no equal when it comes to setting a beautiful table...

Sister Kelly, who had a place in her heart for everyone...

Sister Eves, who prayed everyday, to find someone to serve.  Here she is with Elder Moala, one of the finest Assistant's to the President I was priviledged to know and another 2nd miler.

The Aveis and the Webers.  Sister Avei always remembered to send us cards for special occasions.  She and Elder Avei did so much behind the scenes shepherding, not only to the senior missionaries when they were zone leaders, but to many, many others as well.  And Sister Weber was my inspiration for seeking out investigators of the Church.  She always had an eye open for a potential convert.  (sorry Pete, I guess you were filling teeth when this picture was taken)

Okay, back to the bonus blessings.  Just a couple more...

• We were blessed with a family we could love and who were able to fill the lonely void that was created when we left our own children behind.  This is the Faumuina family.  Sione and Palota Pine's daughter, son-in-law and six children.  The two little girls sobbed and hid when we first started visiting them at their home.  We'll never forget one Sunday when tiny little Toefiliga (who is being held by her dad in this picture) shouted out "Merrell" as we passed by them after church.  Our first break- through!

• The last bonus blessing I want to mention is this guy here. After 33 years of marriage, it took serving an 18 month mission with him for me to discover some really remarkable qualities I had never fully appreciated before.

 I always knew he was a tease and it sometimes drove me crazy.  Still does.  But I hadn't realized how much others loved this side of him until I served with him in the office. I remember one day the Leota girls had been gone for a couple of days and both of them, at seperate times came into the office, looking for Elder Merrell.  Each one was so disapointed when he wasn't there.   He has a natural wit about him that sees the humor in everyday things.

 I always knew he had a flair for decorating, but I didn't realize how good he was at it until I saw him decorate the office for Christmas each year, and how he would help with table decorations at various dinners. 

 I began to see how deeply attached he became to the people he worked with on a day-to-day basis.  It was never strictly business with him, he always became friends with them.

I was continutally amazed at how organized he was.  He was always doing things for others.  He didn't have to come up with a long, drawn-out game plan.  He just jumped in and got things done.  That was probably one of the things I needed to learn the most; how to make good use of my time.  I am  better organized and get more done in less time than I ever did before.  I am grateful for that lesson.  I still need to work on it but I am getting better. 

I loved the way he embraced the culture.  Here he is in his "skirt".  He determined early on on his mission that he was going to wear it to church and he got busy and got himself one and started wearing it...white legs and all.  Took me until last Christmas to get brave enough to wear a pulutasi. 

I know there were many times that I tried his patience and many times when he was frustrated with me.  But he was pretty classy about being a gentleman through it all and hardly ever complained.  I was blessed to have him for my companion the whole 18 months.  Realizing all over again what a wonderful companion I have for all eternity was probaly my best bonus blessing of all.

One month later...

We returned home from our mission one month ago.  It has been a very full month that included a wonderful welcome home, a nasty cold, no Internet, a trip to Salt Lake and lots of other stuff.  There were a few posts I was working on before we left that I have finally finished and I will post them now, better late than never.

In the very next hour...

(I started this in late November but didn't get it finished until just now.)

"Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." -Doctrine and Covenants 84:85

What a cool scripture! I need to work a little bit on receiving this promised blessing. I need to pray for courage, wisdom and calmness that will enable me to receive the words I should say in the very hour I need them. Make no mistake. I am given the words I should say; it's just that they don't come to me until the very next hour!
Two days ago, I received an irate phone call. The call was not totally unexpected, because there are some big changes being made in our mission.

Beginning the first week in December, we will become a letter-writing mission. That's as in pen and paper, stamp and envelope, hand written with no spell check, and yes... a no e-mailing mission!
And that's not all. In an attempt to re-insert the preparation into our Monday P-day activities, there will be no more gathering together as zones to congregate downtown or to play hard sports. Let me just clarify that this does not apply to the senior missionaries, although for us all,

THESE. ARE. BIG. CHANGES.

So, when someone's Grandma called to tell me that we were running a prison, I was not totally shocked. But I was disappointed with my fumbling attempts to help her understand, especially since I understood!

It was not until after we had hung up...in the very next hour... that I collected my thoughts. I can't keep doing that. I have to get better at speaking up, and letting the Spirit work through me.

Chances are she will never read this, But I would still like to address my comments to her.

Dear Missionary Grandmother,

I am a grandma, too. And I have a son who served a mission twelve years ago. Even back then, his was one of the only missions I was aware of that was not allowed to use the Internet. I was so angry and hurt by this. It did not seem fair to me.

So, when our Mission President announced to us in a staff meeting his decision to become a letter-writing only mission, a flood of bad memories resurfaced! I was angry and hurt all over again. I could not believe what I was hearing!

I did not voice my concerns to our Mission President. But I did do something I had not done twelve years ago. I made it a matter of prayer. I poured out my concerns to my Heavenly Father. He could fix things.

I was surprised that there was no phone call from Salt Lake or the Pacific Area Presidency. I was surprised that our Mission President did not come to his senses and change his mind about the policy. Most of all, I was surprised at the answer I received. Moses 5. Clear and distinct. There was no mistake. Moses 5 was my answer.  It was me that needed fixing. 

In Moses, chapter 5,  Adam and Eve  were cast out of the Garden of Eden after they had partaken of the forbidden fruit.  Life became challenging for them. Among other things, they were given the commandment to offer sacrifices to God of the firstlings  of their flocks-so they did.

The account says that after many days, an angel of the Lord came to Adam and asked him why he offered sacrifices to the Lord. The answer Adam gave the angel was,

“I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”

Adam wasn’t told why he was commanded to offer sacrifices. But he did not question the Lord’s command. He simply obeyed.

Adam’s obedience was rewarded with some gospel insight, given to him by the angel.

“This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father...”

He understood after he obeyed.

And that wasn’t all. Something else, even more wonderful.

“And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son”

The Holy Ghost fell upon Adam! 

That was my answer. Right there in Moses 5. Heavenly Father  quietly reminded me that obedience brings blessings! I want to receive some of those obedience blessings!

And so, dear Missionary Grandma, I invite you to follow the example set first by Adam and Eve. Support your missionary grandson.  Encourage him not to question. Just obey. Testify to him that great blessings will come to him and to you and to the Mission when we are obedient.  Remind him of the counsel Mormon gave to his son Moroni,

“wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."


 The Church is true.  Heavenly Father loves us.  Faith is not always getting what you want, but it is believing in what you get.  I believe President Leota was inspired to make these changes.  I testify that obedience will bring blessings.

Beautiful Samoa

I started a file I call,  Beautiful Samoa.  There are way too many pictures to post, so I thought I'd go through and just upload some of my favorites.   Way too hard....they are all favorites.  Here's a few, in no particular order...just breath taking.