Good-by, Elder and Sister Kelly!

Elder and Sister Kelly were our mission nursing couple.  Sister Kelly was the official nurse and Elder Kelly was a great support and "right arm" to her.  Thursday they completed their mission and returned home.  We had the privilege of driving them to the airport Thursday night.  I did amazingly well, even as a flood of memories washed over me...

They took us on a hike to see the actual grave marker of Robert Louis Stevenson.  That was a memorable hike.  In his mid seventies, Elder Kelly started off on the trail at such a fast pace, I was afraid I would never be able to keep up.  I was relieved when Sister Kelly told him to slow down.  Then, it starteed to pour, so we were all pretty soaked by the time we arrived at the marker...cute picture, anyway!

We went on several other preparation-day excursions during our 9 months together.  Almost always, we were riding in "Henry" the mission vehicle that the four of us shared.  You'll see a picture of Henry in a later post.

We also shared a duplex apartment with them.  They were the best neighbors!  (Have you ever seen how bananas look when first picked?)

This is one of my favorite pictures of Sister Kelly.  She loved to arrange dinners for the senior missionary couples and both of them had a flair for doing things up nice.  This is the "plate" (actually a woven basket made from coconut leaves) her fish and chips were served in at a fun little place called the Bays. 

On St. Patrick's Day.  Elder Kelly jumped into this picture, even though he didn't have any green on! But with a name like Patrick Kelly, who needs the green?!

Here we are, right outside the apartment, with the men in their lava lavas!  I know...pretty blinding to look at! I'm going to miss these two.  They have become eternal friends.  The best kind. 

Tofa, mai feleni!

Trip to American Samoa, part 2: (This one's for you, Dad)

While in Samoa, one of the things we have missed the most is MILK.  It comes packaged here in such a way as to be able to store it on grocery shelves.  I had to spit out the first drink I took of it.  My exact thought was that there's no way that horrible tasting liquid could come from a cow! 

Little by little, we have grown more accustomed to the taste.  We can eat it on cereal and we can get it down when mixed with Hershey's chocolate.  I use it for cooking. On occasion, I have craved it so badly after eating a cookie that I will hold my breath and take a big swig of it, straight. 

So, we were surprised and delighted when we discovered that American Samoa has REAL milk!


Heaven to our taste buds...truly one of the best parts of the trip!
(I know this will make my dad happy to read, even if he can't see the pictures)

 

Trip to American Samoa, Part 1

This week, we were able to visit American Samoa.  It required a short 35 minute  airplane trip from the island of Upolu where we live to the island of Tutuila.  We went over to train the missionaries and help prepare for the new mission president and his family. We rode on this tiny little plane, which had six rows with three tiny seats in each row. I am not sure how some of the "larger" Samoan bodies folded themselves up to fit; it was a pretty tight squeeze for Mike and I! But what a gorgeous view as we got ready to land!

Here we are with the Webbs, on the left who are the office couple in Tutuila and the Eves on the right. Mike had a leaf he was fighting with...can you tell?

This is one of the many boats that are in the harbor.  Everything that comes to this island comes through this port.

What a spectacular view! When the tsunami hit in September 2009, they say that the huge wave pounded up on the shores of the island and, having no place to go afterwards, it bounced back and forth again and again!

Out in the ocean you can see a tiny island. They call them flower pots. And, down on the beach there are two open air beach fales. Yes...we live in Paradise.

Below, is what is known as the cock's comb. There are so many chickens and roosters in Samoa. It is only fitting to have a small island named after one.

The vegetation is thick and lush.

A better view of the flower pot.

Tuna fishing and processing is a big industry on this island.  Starkist Tuna has a big plant here.  It provides many jobs for the local people.  I'm sure glad we don't live downwind.

Look at these cute little buses! They are made from a Toyota base with the passenger seats up above. Mike wants to ride in one with the Webbs. I volunteer to take the picture.

This is the end of part one. More to follow.

Samoan "Mother's Dae"

In our Samoan ward, Mother's Day was celebrated all week long. Early in the week, there was a mother-daughter Primary event (that we unfortuantely missed because we didn't know about it...the joys of not speaking the language!) I was heartbroken when I found out because all the mothers and their children performed talents, which I would love to have seen. This is a banner left over from the program. They used it for decorations at all the other events.


The elders and high priests organized an event on Saturday. It was one of our favorites yet. The potluck was scheduled to start at noon. As we arrived with our hot chicken rice caserole, we were delighted to listen to this band serenade us! Different people would come up and take a turn singing.

People began arriving and putting their food on the tables there in the back. We love these people. They have become our family away from home.

Brother and Sister Toa. He is in the bishopric and she is the seminary teacher. See how the husbands and wives wear matching clothes!

Here is Bishop Joseph, along with a few sisters in the ward. This game required that the husbands pick our their wives by looking at their feet. He ran out of fabric, so the sister on the end is inside a plastic garbage...yes, he really did make her put her head inside that bag!

This is the before picture...

In between games was lots of singing and dancing...oh, and these good people are fanning the flies on the food table. My caserole, as well as all the rest of the food, sat on these tables for three hours before the meal was blessed. (I admit that Elder Merrell and I did not have enough faith in that prayer to stay for the meal. Thanks goodness his cell phone called us away at just the right moment!)

Everyone loves to have their picture taken!

Sister Key is on the right. She translated for me at every meeting for the first couple of weeks. I have grown to love her and her family very much.

Two more sisters that I love. Sister Pine, on the left, is the matriarch of the family we have been fellowshipping (more on that later) and Sister Ao is my favorite Relief Society teacher.
She teaches the fourth Sunday lesson and always runs me off a copy in English.

My dear, dear friend, Tomai Manoa. She is our Relief Society President. She and her family lived in St. George for a few year. Their daugher, Kahaolani knows Nate Stevenson! How cool is that!

On the left is Sister Joseph, the bishop's wife. One of the kindest, gentlest woman I have ever known. I do not remember the name of the sister on the right, but she was in charge of the musical fireside we had last week. I think she is the ward music director. Another very wonderful person.

Also during our Mother's Day week there was a fireside put on by the Young women. They sang several musical numbers, gave inspirational messages and had a slide show running of pictures they had taken of all the mothers in the ward. My favorite was the fresh flower leis they made for each mother to wear. I wish I could have figured out a way to keep it.

I will leave you with two videos Mike took, at the Mother's Day party on Saturday. I laughed so hard, there were tears running down my cheeks during the musical chairs.

Benjamin

This is Benjamin. (Sister Eves calls him "Benjamin the Wise" ) Not long ago he had a promising career to look forward to, playing professional rugby for his country of Samoa. However, an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. He had attended the same school as a few of the missionaries who are serving here and one of them, Elder Ufagalilo, talked to Elder and Sister Eves about him. They were instumental in helping Benjamin get professional help and care so that he could move out of the hospital and back home.

Elder and Sister Eves took us to meet him a couple of weeks ago. This is where he lives. Mike said that the government helped to provide a home for him that could accomodate his hospital bed and wheelchair.

We left our shoes at the front entrance, as is customery here in Samoa.

The flooring you see is a luxury here, and you will notice that it appears to be very level. Another luxury. The Eves have made a DVD for Benjamin and his family to watch. They are gathered around the televison, watching the DVD and loving that they are in it!

This is one of the angels that takes care of Benjamin. His uncle and wife (that's her, above) have raised him since he was a tiny babe. He has to be moved every 90 minutes so that he doesn't develop bedsores.

And here he is with his uncle. Although Benjamin is not a member of the LDS Church, the missionaries have befriended him and his family. We have grown to love him for the wonderful spirit he has. (His uncle is LDS, and he told us at our last visit that he plans to start coming back to church. God moves in mysterious ways.)

These are some of his family members. They are so sweet and loving.

These guys were quick to group together and pose for a picture!

An interesting sidebar to the story. Elder and Sister Eves have a son who was also paralyzed when he was in high school. Do you think maybe the Lord had a hand in getting the Eves in touch with Benjamin? Oh, yes. He did.

Here he is in his wheelchair. The smile on Benjamin's face almost never disappears. He is the best example of a positive attitude I have ever seen. And he is wise beyond his short years.

These three will miss each other next month when the Eves return home to Hurricane. They've been good for each other. The rest of us will have to step up to the plate a bit.

Art on Envelope

Here in Samoa, one of the things that our missionaries like to do is to decorate their envelopes with personal artwork. I am amazed by the incredible talent of these missionaries!

I love Mondays when the Elders and Sisters bring in their letters to be mailed.

The office sometimes looks like an art galery!

This one is not an envelope, but a Plan of Salvation drawing, done by one of our former Assistants to the President, Elder Moala. I sure do miss that missionary!

Pretty cool, isn't it?

Oh My Goodness! Isn't this the cutest picture you've ever seen in your life!

I promise an update from Samoa sometime in the next 24 hours. In the meantime, (thanks to the marvels of modern technology) here's something to make you smile!

"No Poor In Samoa"

The first month we were in Samoa, I attended a Sunday School class.The lesson centered around the commandment to take care of the poor and needy.

This led to a discussion about the monthly fast offering.As we discussed how the fast offering donations can be distributed by the bishop to take care of the needs of ward members, a comment was made that I will never forget...

"There are no poor in Samoa. Everyone has food and a place to live...So, our fast offerings will be sent to another country for those that need it."

I've never forgotten that comment. There are no poor in Samoa. Just lots of good people who willingly share their plenty with others who have so little.

I love these people!