November 27, 2011

What a week!  Sister Hanson has been great with the missionaries and is grasping very well.  Our two days in Savaii were very busy as we met a few elders around the island and assessed and treated for rashes, boils, sore backs, etc. and we visited the sub centers as well as the Tuasivi Hospital.  Things are not wonderful but they are better than nothing.  We stayed in the cleanest hotel we know of at the back of the island but the Hanson’s are just new here and not quite used to the island standards.  Our mission was to familiarize ourselves with the facilities the elders would go to so we can show Dr. Burton in a couple of weeks.  The sailings were uneventful (we used ½ patch each from the Hanson’s and it worked).

Roy & Elder Hanson with the chiefs at the Falealupo Rainwalk Canopy

Yesterday was a wedding in our ward – Deluvina is 19 and Wayne is 27.  The invitation was interesting – announcing the wedding at 1:00 and reception to follow.  Well, the wedding was actually at 9:00 with the reception following.  We were put at the guests of honor table – I just wish we could be normal people but they always like to put us up front.  There was a lot of food, dancing and some entertainment.  Well, the MC for the event couldn’t quit smiling when he was around us – Roy had taught him in school in the 70’s and he hasn’t seen him since.  His name is Sinapati (Sinbad).  At one point there was a fellow on the dance floor with the grandmother of the groom and another old lady came and tagged him to dance with her.  Well, the contest was on and the poor fellow at one point had three old ladies hugging and tugging at once and the whole place was roaring with laughter.  We met a fellow from Japan who is teaching English in a school down here – nice young man.  For the wedding cake there were two – a bride’s and a groom’s cake, each with about 5 tiers.  We were given ½ of one of the tiers to take home just for Roy and I!  They gave away most of the cake and then cut up the cake into small pieces and passed it out to be used for eating when the toast is done.  Did I know that?  Nope – I ate mine!  Roy let me nibble his with him at the appropriate time.  We left about 1:30 to go to an event at the ward of some other senior missionaries.

Elder & Sister Merrell’s daughters are here for a week and their ward held a cultural event in honor of them.  They staged a full kava ceremony with some speeches, the taupou mixing the kava and all.  That surprised us as the Samoan people were told not to have kava since one of the General Authorities (Elder Baxter) gave some instruction in June of this year.  Anyway, they had some wonderful dancing and food.  The bishop’s two daughters (about 8 years old) did some lovely numbers and had such poise and grace.  It was a real tribute to the Merrells and the whole ward was involved.  I appreciated them inviting us to share the experience with them.

Ok, we spoke in church today and I told you last week what the topic was.  It went well, I think and now I will explain the musical number we did.  “Christ of the Islands” is a Janice Kapp Perry song and is about missionary work in the islands.  Evelina, Kumora and I turned up at 7:00 am for our practice before our 7:30am Sacrament Meeting.  Well, 7:30 came and Donna (Soprano) still hadn’t come.  Eveline, her mother, had phoned her but she didn’t get to the church on time.  As we were waiting for the sacrament to begin, Kumora came up behind me (we were sitting on the stage) and whispered “I will sing Donna’s part and we will do it acappella).  Great – no practice with Kumora singing or acappella.  So, as soon as I finished my talk we sang.  We stumbled for a second to get our notes and then took off and it was actually ok.  After Sacrament meeting Donna explained what had happened.  She is an air traffic controller and had worked all night.  As she was driving home she got tired and pulled over to sleep.  Her mother’s phone call had woken her up!  This worked out ok as Kumora was the only other person who was at all familiar with that song and I actually liked the way she sang.

Brad and Becca Nelson are leaving Upolu this week to go back to Tutuila and then to the USA.  They have been here for about 2 months and have been so fun to know.  They came for dinner today.

Choir practice is wonderful – the men are fantastic and the women do a decent job as well.  I am able to wrap my tongue around most of the words – I don’t know what they say but I know how to say them.  Our bishop used to be the organist for some happy/clappy church before he joined the LDS church and he is fabulous on the electric piano.  He has written a song and we are learning it quite well.  The problem for me is there is no musical score – only words.  He teaches each section, singing their part, and they learn it!  I am so structured to need notes to follow so it is a challenge for me as well as trying to understand the instructions (ie: men sing this verse, repeat twice, leave out these words second time round, etc.)  Thank goodness for Rosali and Lole who sit beside me and try to help me.

We had a severe problem this weekend – Roy lost the cell phone modem he uses in his clerk work.  It must have dropped out of his pocket at the wedding and we could not find it anywhere.  During church today, Brother Su’a announced that it belonged to the church and Roy used it with his calling and if anyone found it, could they let us know.  We prayed hard this weekend and our prayers were answered.  I went to choir and as I pulled up in the car, there was a young girl who I didn’t recognize but she kept looking at me.  When I got out of the car she came up to me and handed it to me.  She didn’t speak much English but I got the idea it was found in the church.  I asked Brother Su’a to get the information.  Her mother had found it under some chairs or benches.  We are just so thankful as two others went missing from Roy’s bag and he has only had this one for a week or so. They are quite expensive and we would have replaced it but the fact it has been found is great.  The phone number written in pen on the back had been rubbed off so we wonder if they had intended to keep it and were prompted by the spirit to return it.  That was what happened to Roy’s ring the first time we lived here together and his wedding ring went missing.  The second time his ring went missing (2007) Ian and Shar and Roy went back to the pool where he had lost it and found it – like looking for a needle in a haystack but they were guided to the right spot.

Roy and I are going to Savaii again this week so he can do some training for the Stake Presidents in some computer related work.  I hope the sea crossing is as uneventful as last weeks.

November 21, 2022

I haven't written for a couple of weeks - so busy.

P'day

November has an overload of “birfdays” – Chelsea Nov. 6, Jeremy Innis and Lukas Innis on Nov. 12, Roy and Graham Innis on Nov. 13, Daniel and McKay Bateman on Nov. 14 and Graham Harker on November 19 – did I miss any?  We had german chocolate cake (surprise, surprise!) and went out to dinner the night before Roy’s with the Merrells and they came back for cake.  We had left over cake the next day with the AP’s – they were at the mission home kitchen just making something to eat as their family who was supposed to have them over for dinner just gave them money that day!  On Sunday!  Well, Roy had to go to an appointment so we just had them over for cake and they couldn’t come to eat later with us as they had a fireside to go to.  Roy’s schedule is not in line with most people’s so we do things at odd times.  We aren’t able to go to a lot of the firesides or things due to having to accommodate when the clerks are available. 

New computers were installed last week at the mission offices and I have been trying to get things in order for the nurse who is came on Friday.  We saved most everything but the desktop is clear and the favorites on the internet site is empty so I have been trying to make it more convenient to find the MedLog, etc.  It is fun to do it myself and figure out how (Roy was gone to an appointment while I did it).  We printed and bound yearbooks too for the outgoing missionaries who leave in December.

Last week at AhMu I had the year two’s (who have been feeling left out that they don’t get to come for story/singing time).  They were ok but not quite as attentive as the year 3 & 4s.  It was a challenge as there was a class right next door with about 50 older students who were practicing some songs for their Prize Giving Day at the beginning of December.  I loved hearing them but we were competing for the attention of my students.  One of the teachers was sitting just outside the door with a tiny puppy in his/her lap and feeding it kokoalaisa (cocoa rice) – interesting choice of food.

What a treat we have occasionally – there was a practice across the fence at the church for the Christmas program – I LOVE Christmas music.  To hear it in Samoan is just delightful and is getting me into the mood.  I just wish I had some strings of lights to hang up.

We have a new book of President Monson’s Teachings.  It just came out this year and Brother Austin gave it to us when he was here.  It is a fingertip resource for many subjects and I enjoy just randomly flipping through and finding some words of wisdom.  They are too long to write down here but I do enjoy reading them.

My walks in the mornings have taken a new turn - I go to the church next door and walk around the perimeter of the parking lot as there are no dogs or cars to bother me.  Roy hadn’t been going lately due to a sore foot so I have done a lot by myself.  It gives me some time alone to think and ponder and pray.  It really is rather nice to be all alone as I am seldom alone and I love the solitude of the morning.  It is also close enough and with some shelter if it rains I could get out of the downpour until it was good to trek home.  I should be glad that I am not fighting icy roads and winter storms to go for a walk but I am actually a little jealous of the cooler weather you all are having.  I love winter.

I have been super busy lately with Elders coming in, meetings, planning the schedule for the Dr. visit in December and charting.  It is a blessing to be busy though. 

Christmas is coming and we are doing a service project at AhMu – cleaning the walls, painting the walls and painting the trim – inside and out.  We will have the seniors in charge of some rooms with the juniors there doing a lot of the work.  We are going to have trim done the second paint day as I don’t want paint brushes with cream used in blue or being washed out but not completely and having shades of cream and blue here and there. 

Our Christmas Choir concert for the Stake is in a couple of weeks and I am enjoying practicing with the ward.  It is so hot though and people sit very close to each other.  People kiss each other on the cheek a lot too and it takes some getting used to kissing Samoan sweaty faces!  But there is a lot of love and camaraderie that is pleasant to be a part of. The bishop is leading us in a song that is originally an Assembly of God song and he has only written the words up on the board - no music so I am learning by listening to the other altos what notes to sing - it is really hard for me who uses music to learn.  I love  it though.

November 19, 2011

Happy Birfday Graham  - Said Samoan style.

Elder Johnson, Elder Petelo and Pollyanna

We have been asked to speak in church next Sunday and the topic is D&C 6:2-4.  I have been asked if we would like a musical number and of course I said yes.  After choir on Wednesday, I took the music to Christ of the Islands and Donna, Eveline and I are going to sing with Kumora is playing the piano.  I can’t believe the difference it has made to actually be involved in something – I am beginning to feel like I belong.  After the meeting, everyone plays volleyball in the court with the flood light on and it is so island, casual, loving, and I have needed this feeling for this ward   as we have not even had an interview with the bishop or been given callings, or anything.  I have a little sweetie who sits with me in RS and plays with me outside after choir and her name is Pollyanna – about 4 years old. Her mother has to sit with her in Primary and help her learn to stay there.

As for the talk, I am trying to put our mission in context with that scripture.  For senior missionaries to “thrust in his sickle with his might and reap while the day lasts” has a different meaning than for Junior missionaries.  They are God’s Army on the battle front, so to speak, while we are in the background keeping the home fires burning and things ready for them to do their best.  I really have come to know that our talents are used, and we never know where or what for.  When we were called, it was quite unsettling to be at the MTC and not have a specific course of direction – just office training and member/leadership support with no direct focus (ie, housing and vehicles, financial secretary, etc.)  Well, the first couple of weeks in Samoa was interesting as Roy developed the strategy to use with the clerks teaching them to do membership records, etc. and his Samoan and his computer training were exactly what was needed.  We couldn’t have planned that out ourselves -  the Lord is really in charge, that is for sure.  As for me, I was wondering what I was here for besides supporting Roy, and that is a big part of being here.  Who would know the nurse would go home early and I could step in and take her place to care for the needs of the Junior Missionaries?  There was no one to help except a few notes left behind so kindly by the nurse who left early (the mission president and wife were just newly here also) so I managed,  with a lot of prayer, to get a workable system going.  I will be busy for the next few weeks training the new nurse and accompanying her and Dr. Burton (our area medical authority based in New Zealand) on a tour to view the medical facilities, especially in the remote parts of the islands.  I have picked up a few assignments along the way and Sister Leota has promised to keep me busy helping her.  I do know that no matter what else comes along, I will do my best and just try to be of service.

The Hansons from Payson, Utah

The Hansons arrived Friday afternoon – new nurse couple.  Uh oh – no luggage!  They have been two full days with only two outfits.  They were able to buy some garments late Friday afternoon and Roy loaned a couple of shirts to Elder Hanson and then Sister Leota gave him 4 shirts yesterday –  she keeps a stock of things in her missionary cupboard.  We have had a delightful time getting to know them and tomorrow the work begins.  Good news - their luggage will arrive on island late tonight.

We went to the open market Saturday to buy fruits and vegetables and then took a trip out along the east coast.  You just have to put your feet in the warm sea as soon as possible!  We did some supper at Seafood Gourmet and then yesterday, they came to our church with us and over for dinner.  They have been assigned to the Alafua Ward but didn’t know at the time we made the dinner arrangement, etc.  Roy has his last assignment with the Tafatafa Ward today and then he will be onto another Stake so we needed to have dinner early, as he is gone until almost choir time.

We are going to Savaii with the Hansons on Thursday and Friday to view the medical facilities over there.  The Krogh’s are leaving to come back to Upolu next Monday as they are leaving to go home so this is a bit rushed but we need to do it before they leave as they have taken such good care of the elders and sisters over there.

Well, the church is true and we are happy to be a part of the work.

Love you all.

(9 November, 2011

At the end of this month, we will have been in the mission field for 6 months, one third of the way.  One couple in our mission is leaving for home Dec.2 after serving 2 years on the island of Savaii doing member/leadership support.  They are amazing, especially as they are nearing their 80’s and have done a wonderful job over there.  They take care of the missionaries located on Savaii with some of their medical needs as well and will be missed in that capacity.

This is the true coloring of the sea one evening when we just needed to go for a drive and see the beauty of Samoa

Roy is nearing the end of his session in this stake he is working in and will move on.  It is so sad to see how little some of the bishops and clerks are grasping, but he can’t stay with them forever.  They actually need a live in couple to stay in the village and be leadership support but with so few couples serving missions and this being our idea, not the mission’s idea, it won’t happen. 

We are certainly grateful for technology that aids in our communication with home.  Being able to see our grandkids occasionally and talk to my dad, our children and occasionally our brothers and sisters is a real blessing.  Being able to read the Lethbridge Herald obits (we are able to get it now for some reason – we couldn’t for a couple of months) keeps us in the loop of life (and death) too.

Life in the nurse's office - the middle fellow is the AP and going home in a couple of weeks

Our dear sister-in-law Celia Harker had a trick played on her on Halloween instead of a treat.  She had a stroke and is recovering in the hospital in Calgary.  We were able to talk to her by phone yesterday and rejoice with her in the improvements she has made and pray for the continued success she needs in getting her left side to move more completely. 

Can you read this that was on the back of the lady in front of me at choir?  Phat Islanders, Brown & Proud!

Finally, there is a choir practicing for the Christmas Stake musical program which is when?  I will be here no matter when it is but I haven’t asked the right person to know. I enjoy learning the Samoan songs and will certainly feel this will bring the spirit of Christmas to me.  I am usually involved in something musical and it hasn’t happened so far this mission except for twice for a seniors program or lesson.  Well, last night was the first practice I have been to because I didn’t know it was going on.  As I was driving to the church down past the Pesega School, I noticed a very brown person that was a little chubby and was not particularly beautiful, walking along the school sidewalk stark naked!  I really wanted to take a picture to prove I had seen it but then thought a missionary wouldn’t do that so I didn’t!  I am sure the person’s elevator didn’t go to the top floor and I feel sad she made a public spectacle of herself.(She should have at least had on a t-shirt like the one in the picture above!)

Dr. Burton called tonight from New Zealand to ask some questions as he will be coming on a tour of Samoa’s medical facilities and non-facilities.  He will come after the new nurse comes on the 18^th, most likely during the beginning of December, and I will be involved as I am going to set up a schedule, etc.  I actually saw a picture of him today as he was at the Mission President’s Conference the Leotas went to in Australia last week, so I can now put a face to the voice I have relied on so much while acting as nurse.  My brother John’s mission President was in the picture too and it was nice to see his and Tanya’s familiar faces.

Since most of you have gone back to regular time and we have jumped ahead on daylight savings time, we are only 3 hours behind MST.    We are so far away but not really.

Just a flick of the fish market in town

Our lesson in RS on Sunday was given by the RS President and she was so kind to tell me just before she began what talk from the Liahona she took it from and I found it on my IPod.  The topic was forgiveness from the March Liahona (Ensign) and I felt it was such an answer to my own prayers as I have been trying to study the topic a bit.  I certainly didn’t go through anything like the lady who wrote it had, but the general principle of forgiving even if the person is unrepentant is what I took from the talk.  We free ourselves from “burning the house down because there is a rat in it” and can rid of ourselves of the hatred we feel.  I think I enjoyed it so much because I was able to read along and kind of be in the same spot as the rest of the class.  With the help of Jackie Scanlan who was translating for me, I was able to follow some of the sisters comments as well.   

Ah, this is MJ and he left the RS room for a bit and came back looking like this - adorable!

I have been asking at the Distribution Center if the copies of Daughters in My Kingdom, the RS history book that has just come out, were available and this time they gave me one.  They said they weren’t available but then came up with an English copy and I don’t think they have very many.  I was so excited to get one and have enjoyed reading in it.  I haven’t said anything to anyone here as I don’t think they have them for the general public yet.  

It has been a rather intense week at the mission home as there were two elders sent home early - so sad.  We had another sent home early a couple of weeks ago but he went honorably due to some health issues. 

I leave you as I listen to the rain pouring down on the nurse's office roof - such a lovely sound.  We know our prayers are answered - just sometimes not in our timing, in the Lord's timing. 

Love, Kathy/Roy, Mom/Dad, Elder/Sister Harker