Week ending June 14th - Trip to Upolu and Savaii

Week ending July 14

July started out with the anticipation of spending time on the islands of Upolu and Savaii.  We flew over on the 3^rd – which was the 4^th over there.  It was so great to see the Budgett’s and Spencer’s again.  We spent 10 days between the two islands doing the tourist things and enjoying the beauty of the each island.  It is amazing how different each of the 3 major islands in Samoa are, even though they are within 40 miles of each other.  We took the ferry between Upolu and Savaii – it took about an hour and it cured me of the desire to take the ferry from Tutuila to Upolu (an 8 hour trip). 

On the ferry from Upolu to Savaii

We enjoyed the ride, but 1 hour was long enough.  For the difference it costs to fly I am willing to pay the extra.  While we were there we had the blessing of being able to attend the temple a couple of times.  We were able to do endowments as well as sealings.  What a blessing the temple is to us! 

We even did some missionary work while we were there.  We got a call one morning while in Savaii that an elder was vomiting up blood and needed to be taken to the hospital.  The hospital there is like in Tutula – long lines and questionable care – but we are just happy to have medical facilities, no matter how limited.  When we went back to the mission office in Apia (on the island of Upolu), we spent one morning helping in the office.  In the middle of it all Sister Leota came in and asked us to help her dress a wound from a dog bite one of the sister missionaries had received on the back of her knee.  I pictured a puncture wound or some torn flesh, but because she hadn’t said anything for two weeks by the time she reported it, it had turned into an open wound about the size of a baseball.  The skin was completely gone and the infection was deep into the muscle.  I can’t imagine how it hurt when we cleaned it and applied the dressing.  

While we were on Savaii we had lunch on a little secluded beach. 

Cheryl Budgett and Susan enjoying lunch on the beach

The owner of the property charged us 10 Tala (about $5.00) for the four of us to eat on his beach.  He brought us a little picnic table and while we were sitting there, he climbed up a coconut tree and cut four coconuts.  When they are just picked they are called NIU (pronounced new).  He cut them open and we drank the coconut water.  It was so good! 

I wasn't hesitating about drinking the NIU - just trying to decide
how to drink it without spilling - it was really full...

They say that coconut water is the purest water you can drink.  We buy niu’s here, but to have one so fresh was a real treat.  That afternoon was something out of the movies – a tropical beach, coconut tree climbers, snorkeling, eating native food and just enjoying the beauties of this beautiful country.  We spent our one-year anniversary at the most beautiful beach resort.  We snorkeled, swam and then had a delicious dinner at the restaurant.  Budgett’s, who we stayed with in Savaii (they teach at Viola – the church school on the island) wanted to take us swimming in another waterfall, but the transmission started acting up on the car and we didn’t want to get stranded at the bottom of a hill on a dirt road – which is where we would have had to go to get to the waterfall.  We visited the Blow-Holes

Blowholes...

where a little Samoan man threw coconuts into the holes and when the water came into the hole the coconuts shot several hundred feet in the air. 

Look Closely
See The Coconut...

They are like geysers in Yellowstone, but with ocean water. We have some great memories of that beautiful island.  We swam with seaturtles and even saw Rainbow Gum Trees. There were three of them growing right next to each other, and as far as they know they are the only ones in Samoa.

Resort where we celebrated our 1 Year in the
Mission Anniversary...

                 

Swimming With the Turtles

Upolu, where the mission headquarters and then temple are located proved to have more to see and do than we had time to experience.  

We visited Sauniatu, where the first church school was built In Samoa.

David O. McKay Fale in Sauniatu

  President David O. McKay said when he visited there that it was the most beautiful place on earth.  The Church owns about 750 acres there.  Besides the school, there is a chapel, a cemetery, and a beautiful fale named for President McKay.  It was damaged during the cyclone in December, but they had just finished rebuilding it a couple of days before we visited.   They also have a CAMP - yes, I was able to experience Girl's Camp in Samoa.

Add caption

There is also a waterfall there – that we swam in.   

Dennis & Susan in Sauniatu Waterfall

What a great experience!  We went to several beaches (Vavau was one) and besides awesome snorkeling and swimming we collected lots of seashells.   We visited the home of Robert Lewis Stephenson one day.  Then we went to O Le Pupu-Pu’e Nations Park Costal Walk. 

Costal Walk

The formations were like Arches National Park, but the arches are made of Lava and in the ocean.  It was beautiful and worth the walk…  Along the walk we saw many trees with strange fruit on them.  We found out that it is the fruit they make Noni Juice out of.

Fruit Noni Juice is made from...

  We swam in Piula Cave Pool – right next to the ocean.   When you swim to the back of the cave it opens up to the surface and the scenery is breath-taking.  Then when you look out into the pool from the back of the cave the color of the water with the sun reflecting on it is incredible.

We visited a place called the Trenches and swam in a caldron where the only access is down a long ladder. 

This was SO AWESOME!!!

When I first saw the ladder I wasn’t sure, but it was worth every step.  I just didn’t look down….   We saw several waterfalls that we didn’t swim in, just enjoyed their beauty.  One place where they demonstrated several Samoan customs had a waterfall that was actually three falls. 

Notice the 3 Waterfalls...

None of the ‘tourist sites’ are owned by the country of Samoa, but are owned by the villages where they are located, and the people earn their living through tourism.  Even the beaches are village owned and so you pay a small fee to use them.   

Cave Pool

Beach Where We Collected Sea Shells and Snorkled

Small Waterfall and Swimming Pond

Cave Pool

We say and did so much in the ten days we were there and came away with so many memories.  But we have to admit, that after 10 days we were ready to get back to Tutuila and our mission duties. 

WEEK ENDING 6/28/13

This week we bid farewell to another of our institute students, Brock Goodwin.  He will be serving in the Colorado Springs Mission.  We were invited to attend his setting apart.  It was so awesome to be there with his family and witness a great priesthood blessing. 

Brock Goodwin

Dennis was asked to stand in the circle and that was so special for him.  The member of the stake presidency who set him apart felt more confortable doing it in Samoan, but everyone else in attendance spoke English so they passed out headphones to us all (including Brock) so we could understand the words of the blessing.  It was kind of funny….

On Tuesday we had dinner with the Bracken’s a special couple from St. George.  He makes prosthetics for a living and has opened an office here.  He will fly in every 6 weeks to meet with patients and try to help those needing his services.  When he first decided to come he didn’t know why, but felt impressed that he should make a trip to Samoa.  On his first Sunday here he introduced himself and after class he realized why he had received the impression to come.  We have a sister here who has an artificial foot, but it was broken and too small for her (I think I shared her story on a previous post).  Anyway, walking was almost impossible for her, yet she didn’t let it stop her from doing missionary work.  He was able get a new foot for her and now he will be instrumental in helping so many others.  What a blessing he will be to the island.  

I mentioned that we are leaving on the 3^rd of July to spend some time in Upolu and Savai’i.  When we told the missionaries we were going to be gone for 10 days some of them had sheer panic on their faces.  One said, “Sister Jordan, who will fix our formula?”  We all had a good laugh, but it is humbling to know that we are appreciated and that they will miss us while we are gone.

Three of our missionaries

Elder Puailoa, Elder Moon, Elder Feaunati

were transferred this week.  It is always so hard to see them go.  But transfers are part of the mission experience and when faith is exercised, there are always great blessings that come with the changes.

One of the missionaries who served on our island wrote and asked if we could find him some new pants.  A lot of the missionaries wear Dickies brand because they are so durable.  He needed a very popular size and we had to go to five stores to find two pair the right size and color.  As it was, I had to shorten both pairs because we couldn’t find the size he needed.  Besides shortening his pants, I mended or hemmed 7 other pairs of pants this week, as well a mending 3 ties.  I am so glad I learned how to sew – that knowledge comes in handy every week.

After three weeks of waiting we finally got our fridge fixed – I think – now instead of not being cold enough it is too cold and almost everything froze last night.  Do you know that when hard-boiled eggs freeze, they crack and turn black?

WE FOUND MIRACLE WHIP - The other day we went into a store and they had Miracle Whip.  I was excited! We haven’t been able to get it before, and some foods just taste better to me with Miracle Whip.  Anyway, I snatched it up with a smile on my face.  The smile faded a bit when it rang up at $9.00 for a 30 oz. jar!  But I bought it anyway!!!

One of the members brought us two beautiful fish the other night. 

One was the most beautiful blue - with scales the size of quarters and just as hard.  Even with scissors and "sort of good knife" - I use that term loosely,   it was almost impossible to cut through them.  After he cleaned them, there was enough for six meals.  I cooked the blue fish the other night and it was so moist and tender – it just melted in your mouth. 

The variety of fish here is amazing and so far it is all delicious…

Saturday night we were invited to an Eagle Court of Honor for one of our students who will be leaving on his mission to the Philippines in a couple of weeks.  It brought back so many memories of when our sons were in Scouting.  We missed our first grandson, Andrew, receiving his Eagle Scout Award.  And if things go according to plan, Alec will receive his before we get back.  Although we hate not being there for their special events it does not minimize the pride we have for them and their accomplishments.

We didn’t make it without making a trip to the hospital.  Elder Hansen had his ingrown toenail removed.  We got to the hospital about 9:00 and arrived home at 3:30.  But we are happy to report that both toe and patient are doing great! 

The other day the check engine light (resembles a smiley face) came on in one of the vans driven by the missionaries.  Several days went by before they mentioned it to us.  When we asked why they didn’t tell us when it first went on, the elder’s response was, “Oh I thought when it came on it was just because it was so happy to see me!”  Proving again that despite the fact that these young men are awesome missionaries, they still are boys in so many ways…. And oh how we love them!

Our Scouts at home made a trip to Lake Powell this week.  We know they had a great time – who can’t go there without making awesome memories?  Thanks Sean for sharing pictures of the trip.  We have heard that it was HOT, HOT, HOT… 

Our thought for the week - "What makes you happy is seeing someone smile and knowing you put it there."  Unknown

Smile this week!  Love you all!!! 

Week ending June 16, 2013

Sunday June 16^th – Happy Father’s Day

Every week that we are here comes with it’s own unique experiences.  We thought we might make it a week without making a trip to the hospital, but no such luck.  Late Saturday afternoon (as we were preparing to go to a fireside) we got a call informing us that one of our ‘new’ elders had accidently put his CTR ring on the wrong finger,

and he had been trying for several hours to get it off.  He tried butter, oil, cold water, and muscle, but nothing seemed to work.  His finger was so swollen you could hardly see the ring.  He lives way on the East side of the island (1 ½ hours drive from us). 

Elder Willden - They saved the ring - and his finger

We told the zone leaders to go pick him up and meet us at the hospital.  So much for going out to dinner for Father’s Day…  We left the house at 6:00 and got home after 10:00.

We attended another setting apart of one of our institute students.  She is so excited to serve in the Philippines.  She was scheduled to leave on Thursday night, but there was a mix-up on her reservation.  So she left on Saturday. 

Sister Ananoa Laulu - headed for the Philippines

Instead of flying from here to Hawaii, on to Los Angeles and the into Salt Lake, she will be flying to Apia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, San Francisco and then to Salt Lake.  With so many missionaries, it requires Church Travel to become very inventive.  We can’t imagine how crazy that department must be.

Three other missionaries did leave on Thursday – a sister who will be serving in Texas, and two elders (one to the Philippines and one to Denver).  It is so awesome to witness their enthusiasm and willingness to serve.  They are all great examples to us.  The football team from Tafuna High School flew out on the same plane on their way to Oregon for a football clinic.  They will be playing two games while they are there.  The school has a very successful football team, and so they travel to Oregon every year.  They do fund raisers year round to prepare.  It was so fun to be there and feel the excitement and enthusiasm of the players, parents and entire school community.  Just before they got on the plane they did the HOKA and it was so awesome to see. 

Phillip Mendoza, recently baptized - heading for
Oregon Football Camp

One of the players was just baptized last week, and he asked for an English Book of Mormon to take with him.  One of our institute student’s Alfred Soui, who leaves for his mission on Monday, baptized him.  Seeing him so excited to go with his team, but also to see how happy he was for the BofM made things even more special.

We received word from Mike and Alicia that he got a great promotion at work.  One more blessing to add to the ‘Treasure Chest of Blessings’ that have come to our family since we have been here.

We are looking forward to spending the day with Elder Hamula, a member of the First Quorum of Seventy and President of the Pacific Area.  He will be here on July 2^nd.  Then we are planning to fly to Apia for a few days.  We are excited to attend the temple while we are there, as we haven’t been since the end of July.   Even though there is a temple 40 miles away, it is a huge expense for the saints to go.  The cost to fly is about $130.00 a person.  The average yearly income is about $8,000 and food is about 40-50% higher here than we pay at home.  Most of their income goes to pay utilities.  Power and water averages about $500.00 a month – without air conditioning.  So it is a real sacrifice for members to attend the temple.  We are SO, blessed to have temples all around us.  One thing this mission has helped us realize is that we need to be more diligent in our temple attendance. 

We are so blessed to have our Grandson, Andrew serving in the Russia, Moscow Mission.  His letter this week was so inspiring.  We shared the following from his letter with our students in our Preach My Gospel class this week.  It fit right in with what we were talking about.  Words of encouragement from thousands of miles away – that helped 12 prospective missionaries with their feelings of doubt…

“I came to an interesting realization as I was studying this week. We are not perfect nor are we going to be in this life. That sounds obvious but I really began to understand what that means. I am really hard on myself when I fall short, especially with the language. I realized that I shouldn’t be upset with myself if I am trying to do everything that I can. Even when we sin, once repent we are supposed to forgive ourselves and forget it. I decided that the way I would do it is, I will think of what Christ would tell me and how he would tell me it if I was counseling with him about my weaknesses which I do countless times a day. He would not scold me or berate me. The main purpose that scolding serves is to bring someone to the realization that they are doing wrong and have faults. Once we come to the Lord with them we have already realized. From this point the Lord can help us overcome them. This is done with love and hard work. Sometimes very hard but love is central to it. This is how I need to be with myself. Ever since I came to this realization I have been a lot happier.”

We went to a fun YSA activity for the Mapusaga Stake.

 It was a star search program.  It was so fun.  Several of our students were in it, so we just cheered for everyone…

 Friday morning our doorbell rang and one of the brothers from across the street brought us a bunch of bananas.  He hung them up so they could ripen slowly.  He put a plastic bag over them to keep the birds away… 

People are so generous here, and they really take good care of us.  There are more bananas than we or the missionaries can eat – so the rest we will make into banana bread.  The plan for them to ripen slowly back-fired.  They all ripened at once!!!

BLOND MOMENT… It was nearly 10:00 when we got home Friday night, so I decided that spaghetti was the fastest thing to fix for dinner.   I warmed up some meatballs in spaghetti sauce and noticed that the sauce seemed really runny.  So I added a can of tomato sauce, but it still looked a little strange.  I had added a little water to the sauce to clean out the bottle and thought I had just added too much…  When we tasted it, it was spicy hot!!!  Realize that it does not have to be too spicy for me to say it is ‘hot’, but even Dennis commented on it.  I wondered if I had bought spicy meatballs.  Then I checked to see of the Prago was spicy…  Was I surprised when I checked the label on the spaghetti sauce – I had grabbed the SALSA from the fridge rather than the Prago!!!!  DUH – did I feel dumb…  But I dumped the sauce and heated up real spaghetti sauce to pour over the spaghetti.  But the peppers were still in there so it was still kind of spicy.  We both had a good laugh!

Father’s Day – We attended a setting apart of one of our students, Alfred Soui leaving for his mission tomorrow.  Over here they invite the entire ward to the setting apart.  That is when the missionary and his parents share their testimonies.  The bishop usually speaks for about 5 minutes, then they set the missionary apart and the stake president gives his remarks after that.  It usually lasts about an hour.  It is a great thing – especially for the youth to witness.  It is one of the few meetings where they don’t serve refreshments after.  We love attending these meetings - they are always very spiritual… Later that evening we were invited to have dinner with the Ho Ching’s, a family in our ward.  He was baptized several months ago and they are preparing to take their family to the temple to be sealed.  They have been in our Temple Preparation Class and it has been such a privilege to get to know them better.  One of their daughter’s just returned from her mission.  In an earlier entry I mentioned that we were able to attend Brother Ho Ching’s baptism and Dennis was asked to be a witness.  Their daughter, who was on her mission at the time, received permission to call her Dad just before he entered the font.  He didn’t know she was calling, and it was so fun to see his reaction.  It was a great dinner – roast beef and mashed potatoes as well as some traditional Samoan food.  It was wonderful to be in their home and feel of their spirit. 

Here's hoping all the Father's out there had a Great Father's Day!  Dennis said spending Father's Day in Samoa was very special and something he will remember always!