December 29, 2011

Christmas trees at the Upolu Christmas Party

Oh, the past week has been full.  Tuesday was the Upolu Island Christmas party.  The missionaries came, expecting a conference type activity and were pleasantly surprised when Pres. Leota had a fun day planned for them.  We began with prayer, etc. and then each zone was instructed to come up with a zone chant, Seniors included.  Well, they were lots of fun and there were a lot of haka’s (we have lots of New Zealanders and the Samoans love it too).  The Seniors planned some games for the junior missionaries and they were hilarious – Vaseline on the nose and having to take a cotton ball off one plate and putting it onto another place, Don’t Eat Pete, etc.  A dinner was provided by the Pesega stake and included a roast pig, umu, salads, turkey, etc.  After dinner, each zone presented a prepared “item” for the program.  We call it a number but here they get their items ready.  There was a lot of singing and a little dancing, a couple of skits, etc.  Well, one of the zones did a very memorable skit.  It was of a new missionary coming into the field to be the Lord’s rep.  Christ was one of the elders dressed up and he escorted the missionary to the field.  Once in the field, there were many types of temptations – a trunky trainer, cell phones, flirty girls, sporty elders who didn’t want to do anything else, and I can’t remember what else.  In the end, the elder realized where he was going and tried to go back to Christ and there was a physical battle where the errant elders tried to keep him from going back and Christ was trying to bring him forward.  There were hardly any dry eyes as we watched this awesome teaching moment of missionaries to their own selves.  That is one memory I will never forget.  President Leota had some physical activities planned – like wheelbarrow races, stomp the balloon, sock sliding races, etc.  At the end of the day, he showed the DVD the mission had made of each zone singing the mission song – hymn 132 in the Samoan book – not in the English version, which was sent to all the missionaries parents for Christmas.  It was followed by the video that was shown during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional about the birth of our Savior.  I was so impressed how President Leota can have such fun and yet bring a spiritual quality into it that is very memorable. 

This was part of the zone that did the item about the forces against being a good Missionary

They had done the same program in Pago on the 16^th and we went to Savaii (some of the mission couples) and repeated it over there.  We took the 8:00 ferry, played hard with the Savaii zones, stayed at Lucia’s overnight and swam in the sea, then took the 8:00 ferry back the next day.    Roy and I worked in the temple for our shift that day.

Friday we had the Senior’s dinner and again, President Leota had some wonderful games and we had such a good time.  Sister Leota had worked really hard on getting a Samoa Apia Mission 2011 logo done and put onto T-shirts for every missionary.  I had scouted out the place to get them done and they were a nice gift for everyone.  They have the misson motto on the back in Samoan and English with the logo on the front.  They also gave the Seniors a bottle of Martinelli’s sparking apple juice – a nice surprise. The Merrell’s ward came to sing for us that evening and it was wonderful.  They sang all except one song in English and they ended with the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.  Well, I just had to stand as it is tradition since King George did it on the first performance of that number and continues to this day.  Yes, I sang along with the alto and it was just so nice to sing it again and hope nobody standing beside me minded!  Roy was very touched and gave a very nice thank you to them in Samoan and expressed how it brought back so many memories of his own mission, etc. 

Saturday was Christmas Eve and we just got ready for the next day.  We did a visit to Amuia and I will write about that in a bit.  We read the Christmas story – my favorite part of Christmas – then watched an old Jimmy Stuart movie and called it quits for the day.

Sunday, church for me was same-old, same-old.  It was all in Samoan of course, so I was given short bits and pieces of the talks (about living the gospel mainly) and there were no musical numbers and the intermediate hymn wasn’t even a Christmas one.  Music transcends any language and I really felt sad we didn’t have that. The nice part was when it was over (only 1 hour – no other meetings) everyone greeted each other with hugs and wishes for Merry Christmas.  The best part of the church meeting was being able to hold Newman, about 8 months old and a real sweety.

During the day we were able to talk to all of our kids and grandkids on skype, talk to my dad on the phone (skype), talk to George & Celia on the phone (skype), talk to John & Mereda in Australia on skype, and missed everyone else as they weren’t on skype when we were at the office doing our skyping!  It is so nice to have personal contact.  Christmas 33 years ago in Samoa was nice because my parents were here with us and we loved having the opportunity this year to see so many on the computer.

Sunday evening we invited the Seniors and the AP’s to come over for a potluck supper – we didn’t want anyone being alone unless they wanted to be.  It was so fun – we sang some carols, learned the Shepherd’s Carol (round) and then each of us told of some Christmas memories we had.  We have this hat I found in a store for $2 that is a fur – lined hat with ear flaps.  One person would put it on, tell their memory and then throw the hat to someone else.  Well, I got some cute pictures of us in this hideously hot hat!  We had the air-con on so it wasn’t too bad, really. 

The Hat

One of our activities this Christmas was to follow through on the gift that Ian and Sharleen sent to us.  A few weeks ago we received a box filled with “things” – crayons, books, nail clippers, hair barrettes, Canadian temporary tattoos, note books, a toy car, a toy lizard, etc.  telling us they thought their gift for us this year would be something we could then extend to someone else.  It was so fun to think of what to do with the things.  We also had some books that Brooke had sent in the summer and some Christmas books that the Merrells had left over from their Christmas stash.  Well, we thought that to give the books to one family would limit who would use them so we wrapped up a pile of books and gave to our ward nursery – they had no books at all.  We gave the nail clippers to the missionaries who are serving in our ward and then we made up a package of things to take to Amuia.

The twins (Johnson and Felicity) are 9 years old and they weren’t home so we just left the things with Nance and Amuia.  Well, we had the toys, some crayons, puzzles, books, barrettes, etc. wrapped up in a lavalava.  It was so cute to see Nance (in her 70’s) take off some of the barrettes that matched her lavalava and put in her hair.  She took them out after and said she would wash her hair first.  We took some food as well and then when we left, I put the Santa hat I had purchased on Amuia’s head.  He is so excited over anything we give him.  He sends his love to all our family and he has our family picture done outside the temple at Brooke & Aric’s wedding up on his fale wall.  The most precious thing he gives us is his love – and his prayers on our behalf.

Well, it is a cloudy, rainy day and I love it.  Tomorrow begins the service project of painting AhMu and I am happy to be calm today before the rush of the next two days.  We also will be missing Friday this week as we jump across the dateline to be on the same day as New Zealand and Australia and Japan – special places to us.  So, we go to bed on the 29^th and wake up on the 31^st.  Go figure – how do you miss a day?  But we do.

Roy and I have been asked to be the Senior Zone Leaders.

It is now Thursday and the “Service for a Day” project is finished.  We had some awesome help from Seniors and the Juniors worked so well – yes, we had painted hair and a few paint wars but all in all, it turned out ok.  I will post pictures next week as I didn’t take any myself as I was too busy.  The main problem was that they changed the color of the school and so many of the walls needed a second touch up.  It is now the colors of the school uniform and as Mr. Tiatia (principal) stated “It looks glamourous”.  The trim is navy blue so it is very distinctive right now. (colors will fade and get dirty)

I am very weary today – I actually had a hot bath (yes, hot) and it felt so good to squish into that tiny tub and soak for a bit.  Roy was sick for the past two days and wasn’t able to participate.  He feels a bit better today, thank goodness.  It is not nice to be sick anytime so we are glad he his on the up-and-up.

This is just a beautiful picture taken at the RLS Museum in September but the colors are perfect for a Christmas blog.

December 20, 2011

As I am writing, I am at the chapel at Asau, Savaii, waiting for Roy to complete some training for the Stake Presidency to enter temple recommends on the computers, etc.  We have spent the past two days doing this in Savaii, after the trip with the Burtons.  Let me back up and begin at the first of the week.

Monday was the first day of the trip for Dr. & Sis. Burton.  They saw quite a few missionaries at the office before going to town with the Hansons to see the hospitals, clinics, etc. in the Apia area.  We had a Christmas party for the temple workers that we attended for part of the afternoon.  The Samoans really know how to party- food, music (way too loud) and good company.  After, we had FHE and it was the last time for the Aveis – we can sure learn a lot from that wonderful couple.  Dr. & Sister Burton presented FHE on looking for the hand of the Lord in all things.

The Burtons with one of the Elder Tingey

Tuesday we toured the island of Upolu, going to about 3 health sub centers and getting a feel for the availability of help for our missionaries in the outer areas.  Some of the clinics were really curt & wouldn’t allow us to talk to anyone without a permission slip from some National Health Board or something.  We continued on our way and were warmly received at a couple more.  Dr Burton was in contact the whole time with our mission president as well as others regarding missionaries who had immediate needs.  The Burtons came with us to a temple session and then a late dinner at Scallini’s.  They left the next day in the am for Pago and stayed overnight there.

Just an interesting T-shirt on the ferry

Thursday we met at the wharf, as Roy had been asked to give some training to some stake presidents in Savaii so we took our own car so we could stay when the Hansons and Burtons left.  We stayed at Lucia’s and some of the missionaries needing medical attention came there.  Sister Losi came with her companion and she is such a dear.  Her mother passed away a couple of weeks ago (on Upolu) and she is the only child.  I just have such a bond with that girl – she is so sweet! 

Sister Losi

Makeshift Dr. office in the parking lot at Lucia's

Well, Friday morning, Sister Hanson was not feeling well at all.  She was trying to be such a sport and not ruin Dr. Burton’s trip.  Roy suggested that we could take the Burtons on the trip if they wanted to return to Upolu, which is what happened. We had combined our trips to Savaii to save on a ferry ride, which gave us the opportunity to have two cars there.  We loaded up the missionary mail and all our stuff and took off.  The visit to the Salafai Clinic proved very worthwhile and I tried to stay right out and let Dr. Burton go in alone as I really am not part of this anymore.  We continued to the Tuasivi Hospital and were able to speak to a surgeon who was from Upolu and gave some good insight into the hospital in Apia as well as this one.  All along the way we stopped to see elders who have concerns and also another couple of clinics.  When we got to Manase, Elder Burton was really excited to take a dip in the sea so we pulled into Regina’s and paid to use their facilities for an hour or so.  How refreshing!  Sister Burton doesn’t swim so she elected to stay in the car, although they provided a fale with mats for us.   We stayed that night at Auga and enjoyed a relaxing evening with dinner on the terrace and a game of skip-bo.  Dr. Burton was in need of serious phone calls all along the way and we finally were able to get out on our phone to call the other countries he needed to.  We were able to hook up to the internet twice for him – once in a chapel that had broadband and another time with the cell modems Roy had brought with him.  Thank goodness for Roy and his computer connections – I hate to think what would have happened if we hadn’t had that opportunity as there was a really serious issue in another mission that needed his attention.

We came back in time to drop the Burtons at the wharf and then head back to where Roy did some training that afternoon.    We asked for a room at Lucia’s that was upstairs and on an end so there was a window on the side and what a wonderful breeze we had in the room.  The air con works a tiny bit but this made it ok.  It is a large spacious room and has a nice balcony on the front.  We went to the rock pool for a cool down dip before we ate and it was so nice.  There were a couple of kids and ladies that came in too.  Well, all of a sudden we saw a turtle in the pool with us – about a foot in diameter and the pool is only 10x15 feet.  It was startling but kind of neat.  It circumvented the pool and then dove down under a ledge and disappeared.  This was the second animal I had come in contact with at Lucia’s.  I was walking across the grass in the dark the first night here and felt something grab onto my foot – I shook it off and saw a crab about 3 inches in diameter go rolling away!  It only grazed my foot as it must have got my strap more than my flesh.  What a surprise!

Rock pool in the yard of one of the churches - a kids heaven!

That evening we went up to see the Gouldings at Vaiola and then went to dinner.  We tried to go to one restaurant up by Tuasivi but they were closed due to a private function.  We went back to the Savaiian and they said the same thing but then the manager came over and said we were regulars (probably the Gouldings as we have only stayed there once) and they served us a dinner that was divine and we had the dining area to ourselves, although the other function was at the other end of the large open fale.

Yesterday, we went to the Faiaai ward and then some training with the stake presidency later.  I don’t think I have ever been in a ward that was so friendly!  It was a real pleasure to be there and to sing with their heavenly organist -  Angels We Have Heard on High (fa’a samoa, or course).  When they pass the sacrament, the deacons walk right down each row in front of your knees instead of passing the tray from person to person – interesting.  We continued on to the Asau chapel (right back up where we had been with the Burtons) for some more training.  When we were done, they had two trays of food for us – fish and chips and salad and apples – the presentation on the platter and all screamed at us that they had bought this food on Sunday – not their home made fare.  We are so sad that they spend their church money on this and on the Sabbath.  The Aveis have told us they have seen the auditing reports and seen the “Food for Avei” or “Food for Harker”.  We didn’t eat it as we went to the Gouldings for dinner – so nice up at Vaiola and a nice visit.  We gave the food away to some young adults that were sitting outside the McKay ward meeting house and they were so surprised and grateful.  We usually give food away to the guards at the gates of where we live but over here we didn’t know what to do with it.  We certainly didn’t need it and it needed to be eaten soon.

A remnant of the hurricane in Falealupo

On the island of Savaii, there are a few places where there is road construction and the area is gravel, probably causing lots of dust for the people who live along there.  Well, they have taken rocks and thrown on the road so you have to slow way down and pick your way through the rocks to be able to continue on your way.  It is ingenious but annoying. 

We are now home from Savaii and had a wonderful dinner over at the Tsiakia family’s home (Hatu).  They invited the Mariners and the Webers and us and it was nice to be in their home. 

It just doesn’t seem like Christmas – I like to be cozy and indoors, etc. but this is just different.  We are continuing with our Book of Mormon marking of any reference to Jesus Christ and I am enjoying that.  Also, the Achievement Day Girls in our ward under the direction of Wendy Harris sent an advent chain with scriptures, song and chocolate for the 12 days prior to Christmas and it is a real treat.  We keep it in the fridge due to the heat and ants and it is fun to open one each day.

As I publish this, we have just finished a wonderful Upolu Christmas Conference.  I think the highlight was one of the zone "items" which was a skit about the influences of temptation on a missionary and it was so well done it brought tears to some of our eyes.  The Leotas really now how to involve a crowd and it was a wonderful day.  We are off to Savaii very early tomorrow to attend the conference over there.

December 12, 2011

We sure enjoyed having Elder Johnson with us.  When we were waiting at the airport at Fagalii for his parents flight to come in from Pago on Tuesday am, he was so nervous.  It was fun to watch as he wouldn’t go and watch them come up the hallway – he stayed behind the door and waited for them to come out.  They are a lovely family and he is so lucky to share his mission with them.  His father was actually in a white shirt and tie and took Roy aside and said he (as a member of the stake presidency) was authorized to release him.  It didn’t surprise us a bit that when we saw them at the end of the week when he came to pick up his suitcase, etc.  that he had chosen to not be released until he got home. 

Jackie (left), Rosalee and Janet - friends from our ward

Our stake choir festival on Thursday night was so fun.  We were all sitting in our choirs as wards and it filled the gym at the Lotopa Stake Center.  I was so happy to be singing!   It was our temple night so I left a couple of hours early.  As the assistant coordinator, I really wasn’t missed so that was ok.  There was so much enthusiasm in each choir and it was fun!  Our bishop used to be the organist for a congregational church before he joined the LDS Church.  Well, he plays fantastic – by ear and wrote this song that he taught us – words only, no notes, which was hard on me.  I did have Brother Merrell video it for me as Roy was still at the temple. 

Evelina - my singing buddy

Stake Conference Weekend – Saturday night session for those 18 and over – very nice and it was exciting to see some of the young men who have received mission calls bear their testimonies (and one sister too).  Three of them were in English – hooray for us – we could understand perfectly.  We had Brother Fuimaono translate and we had earphones, but there was a lot of static and when he sneezed – oh my goodness!   It is so nice for them to supply translation and we sure appreciate their abilities.  Today was the general session and we had the same translator but Brother Tauiliili spelled him off half way.  Would you believe it poured with rain and rain on a tin roof is very noisy.  We could hear it for real and the microphone for the translation picked it up as well so it was unbelievably noisy.  The main theme last night was “Have I done any good in the world today” and today’s emphasized very strongly teaching your children well and stopping the behaviors that are becoming acceptable but are interrupting the spirit – ie – cell phones, music, dvd’s.  Out of wedlock parenthood was also addressed and it was nice to hear the concern of the brethren. 

The end of our street and the flame tree  - beautiful

As soon as it was over, we left with the Hansons for the airport and picked up Elder & Sister Burton.  They are lovely people and I think we will enjoy this week with them.  We had a dinner here at our home for them and the Webers came over for dessert after.  Soon the Gouldings drove by and came in for a visit and it was so fun!  I loved having them all over. 

We have a cute little Christmas tree on our end table – Sister Leota gave it to us this week and I also found a string of lights and some garlands that I have on the piano, etc.

I love having the lights on and listening to Christmas music.  Actually, music and the lights of Christmas bring the spirit to me and when we read the Christmas story from the Bible, it is complete.  We have a lovely Christmas card from the First Presidency that was on our desk at the service center this week and it is a calm, beautifully portrayed nativity and it makes up for the lack of nativities in my life this year.  For those of you who don’t know, I have a couple of dozen nativities that make my Christmas special at home.

Elder Walker - the ultimate missionary shoes, filled with shoe goo!

 We have our Seniors FHE tonight and Elder Doctor Burton will be presenting the lesson and we will have Christmas caroling (I am leading that).  The Avei's last time with us is tonight as they leave for the  mainland on Friday.  They have been the financial couple and are really delightful.  We only meet twice a month but will have a dinner on Dec. 23 (Friday) to commemorate Christmas together.  I think we will have a couple of people over for dinner on the actual 25th.  We will have island Christmas conferences with all the missionaries and we will be going to the Savaii one and the Upolu one.  I think by the time we are done, we will have had more Christmas celebrations that we usually do at home.  Our ward one is next Saturday at Matareva Beach but we will be in Savaii and will miss it.  

Well, time to close - we love and miss you all.

December 6, 2011

What a week – Our time in Savaii was busy and yet not.  We stayed at Auga after searching out the Vaisala and Vai Moana, a newish one over there.  Hands down, Auga is cleaner and nicer (the layout of the room is really odd but their food is good and their swimming pool is nice).

I took this picture up in the valley where they did Survivor Samoa this past summer

At the first meeting Roy had in Faiai, we had just begun and the phone rang. It was Elder Atoa calling that his companion was ill and could I see him (they were living in the fale at the same church we were at).  I just spent the time with them, calling the nurse to call Dr. Burton and have him call me.  The solution to the problem was a prescription drug and I had gone over with only some bandaids and basic ointments, etc.  Talk about the tender mercies of the Lord – as I talked with Dr. Burton, I remembered I had some Rx drugs with me for personal use, just in case, and had brought them over to Savaii with me.  Wouldn’t you know it – they were the exact thing and strength that Dr. Burton ordered!  So, here I am in their very yard with the very medicine he needs (and this Elder seriously needed the meds). 

The next day we continued on to his other meeting and I talked to a Sister who had an ingrown toenail.  We decided  to meet with her after her fafaga (dinner appointment) in her fale which is at the Mackay ward chapel.  Well, we went over and there was a ward activity going on and it was so fun to watch them all play ball, etc.  Well, her toe needed some antibiotics (cellulitis) and I didn’t have the right ones this time but we took her to the Tuisivi Hospital and there was an elder who had been admitted just a couple of hours earlier.  We spent some time with him and had her taken care of at the same time.  The Mariners were coming to stay with him for the night (and they ended up taking him over the next day to Upolu).  We took the Sisters back to their area and then on to our motel. 

Thursday night was our regular temple night and we had a change of leadership on our shift.  Sister Diana Young Yen was put in as the coordinator and I was put in as the assistant coordinator.  We really have some nice sisters to work with on our shift and the Presidency is great too.

It was our p-day thus Roy's casual clothes

Friday we took possession of a young elder who was finished his mission but his parents aren’t coming until today to pick him up.  So, he has been our companion for the weekend and it has been rather fun.  There is just a vibrancy that goes with youth that is nice to have around.  Friday night, we were asked to go to Falelatai to speak at the Pesega 5^th ward youth campout.  President Haleck owns the property and it is the beach where Survivor Samoa was filmed both times.  It is in an awesomely remote valley and is gorgeous.  They have started to clear all the bush away from the beach area to build a resort there.  The youth had to start their own fires and cook their rice, etc.  It was so funny to watch as it took hours for them to get their fires going.  We laughed because in any other ward, the fires would have been done very quickly because that is how they cook their food normally – these kids are the expatriate type who live in our types of homes, etc.  Roy spoke about “The Big Picture” – how they need to focus on the ultimate goals in life, not the here and now.  I participated a small bit and Elder Johnson also bore his testimony.  We had to leave after that because we had a long way to drive home and it started to pour with rain.  I think that kind of dampened their testimony meeting.   It was so nice to out there and mingling with people from our old ward from when we lived here in 2007.

Elder Harker & Elder Johnson at the campout

This was used in days gone by for drying coconut - located at Survivor Samoa beach

Saturday, we did a drive of the first stake Roy worked at to show Elder Johnson a portion of the island he won’t see with his family.  We stopped at Roy’s old mission companion’s home and of course, they fed us lunch.  He is the bishop of the ward and has recently returned from a trip to the USA.  We also stopped to see one of the elders to return his shirt that I mended and now they have changed P-Day so they don’t come  into town.  The purpose is to have them focus more on missionary work and less time playing and disrupting their routines.  P-day became play day and they weren’t doing any preparation for the week.  President Leota is really making some drastic changes and they are for the good.   In the evening we attended a baptism that Elder Johnson performed – his last in the mission field.  Sunday, we attended that ward also for the confirmation. 

This is at Faleaseela and the boy on the left is one of the boys I sang with at the rock wall that day many months ago

Cheerful workers up by Faleaseela

This week is our Stake Choir Festival and then Stake  Conference on the weekend.  I am looking forward to the singing – I am really feeling part of the ward due to the choir and I hate to see it end. 

We took Elder Johnson to a home to pick up a phone to use (that ended up not working so he is using the one we got from Bro. Austin when he left) and there was a boy named Pati.  I was haunted by his face as I knew I had talked to him.  It came out his name is Alapati and we called him back and sure enough, he was in the remedial English class I helped Sister Smart with in 2007.  When I mentioned singing “Raindrops on Roses” he just started to laugh and we had a bonding moment remembering our class.  He is preparing to serve a mission – that will be fabulous for him.

Well, we continue to work toward the service project of painting AhMu Academy on Dec. 27-28.  I am in charge and just hope the board comes through with the paint brushes, etc.  I think we will buy some extra just in case and hope we can return them if we don’t use them.  We had Mindy Bennett’s brother in law come over and help give some advice and he is going to loan us some equipment (like step ladders, etc).  I will be so glad to see January come – I will be able to relax a bit.

Dr. Burton and his wife are coming from New Zealand on Sunday and we will begin our tour of the mission.  The Hansons will go to Tutuila with them but Roy and I will do the two islands over here with them as well.

We have had some sad news this week.  First, on Sunday, we heard about Gary Coleman’s death in Magrath and we certainly grieve for the Coleman Family.

Yesterday (Monday) we learned of the death of Auntie Vi in Australia.  Graham and Ron will certainly miss their mom.  That leaves my dad as the last remaining one of that generation.  We last saw Auntie Vi in 2005. 

We just came back from the airport where Elder Johnson's family came in for a week's visit.  His father told Roy on the side that he is a new member of the Stake Presidency (we knew that) but that he is authorized to release Elder Johnson and he will be able to swim with his brothers, etc.  His dad is going to wait for the right moment to tell him and one of the AP's said "Yah, he should wait until the last day!"  He is going to be so surprised!  Elders Smithing and Atoa have their families here this week as well and they will be SO jealous.

Well, I should close for today - We will have a Christmas message before Christmas but in case you don't read again until after, we wish you all a happy holiday season and remember the "Reason for the Season".