The sign at the Vaiola campus in Savaii - a church school obviously

Can you see the rainbow in the cloud?

I am beginning my blog entry this time with an entry from my journal from June 24, 2012 (Sunday for us, Saturday for you)

"My interest today is in miracles.  We experienced one today that really isn’t one when you look at the fact that miracles are just things unexplained, usually done through natural laws and things that we don’t understand, thus a miracle.  But seeing we do know some of the laws, it still seems like a miracle to us.  There are technological miracles but the actual birth of a little spirit into the world is one of the greatest miracles of all.

We arrived on the 12:00 ferry from Upolu and headed straight up to Faaala to set our computer up in the clerk’s office.  We skyped through to Brooke and were able to be apart of the baby blessing of Silas Alexander Wutzke.  Brooke & Aric had arranged with their bishop and it was a Saturday evening there (Sunday here) and they did it in their home in Edmonton, Alberta.  The miracle part was to be sitting in a stake center in Savaii, a tiny speck in the vast Pacific Ocean and listen and watch while the bishop, my dad, one son, another son in law, plus a few friends of Aric’s were in the circle while Aric gave this dear little boy a name and a blessing.  As we were waiting for the proceedings, one of the Faaala wards was having sacrament meeting and were singing (in Samoan) “Hail to the Brightness of Zion’a Glad Morning”.  They couldn’t hear it at their end but it was a nice tone for us.  While the blessing was being given,  the congregation was singing “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”.  Believe me, there is nothing quite like a Samoan congregation singing their testimonies!

Aric gave a very thoughtful and sincere blessing to Silas.  You could feel his love for this little boy and also a reverence for what he was saying and doing.  The most important part of the blessing is of course, giving him a name that he will be know by on the records of the church.  In addition, he blessed him to have a strong testimony, to be an example to his family and his brothers & sisters, to be healthy, to serve a mission and I can’t remember what else.  There was just a nice feeling and he is a lucky little boy to be in a family that loves him so much. 

We were able to have a small chat with 8 of our grandchildren, my dad and the adults.  What a blessing.  The times we have been here before are such a contrast to today.  When Brooke was blessed we just did it with friends at the ward, here in Samoa with no family or contact.  They did know she was born though!"

Elder Gertsch trying his hand at making tapa

The Taga Blowholes were awesome! - rainbow and all

We are now finished in Savaii and have been waiting to meet with the stake president in the East Stake.  That meeting is now for a week from tomorrow so we are trying to keep busy with my little projects as well as preparing for next week.  

We had 3 other couples come over  for one of our trips and we showed them around a little

Roy coming across the Canopy Walk at Falealupo

My sister Rhonda and her husband Don are on the plane right now coming for a 2 week visit.  We should be able to be really good hosts for the first week and will adapt the second week to what schedule Roy comes up with.

This past month included my birthday.  The Roth's were so kind and invited us out for supper at the Aggie's Resort by the airport.  It was really nice of them but I wasn't feeling well and couldn't eat more than two bites.  I did bring it home to eat the next day.  

birthday dinner

The weather has chilled out a little bit for Samoa - enough that sheets at night are really appreciated.  The guards in the morning have hooded sweatshirts on and sometimes t-shirts wrapped around their heads for warmth.  We have just enjoyed it and I think I have only missed one day of swimming because of the chill.  There have been times when I have gone by myself and that is quite interesting - but enjoyable too.

Now that Rhonda is on the plane and can't turn back, I have to tell you my horrifying experience one night.  I was going out the back door (it was dark) to take some trash to the bin.  I no sooner opened the door and stepped out and I felt something plop into my hair.  It was a HUGE lizard (mo'o) and I did the head shaking-get off me- how dare you - I am grossed out- and you were not invited! dance!!!

He was knocked off and landed on the rolled up sheet I keep at the door to keep the creepy-crawlies out and then he ran into the house.  Roy came to the rescue and managed to pin him with the broom against the top of the wall (there is actually a dent there now) and he ran down the wall and pooped on the window as he went.  Roy got him outside and then cleaned up the bit of blood on the wall and the poo!!!  I was in washing my hair and trying to get myself under control.  What if he had pooed in my hair?  I can't stand thinking about it even now!  I don't think he died as I think I saw him the next day with a bit of a scab or bruise on one side. 

tofa Erickson's

The Gouldings have been gone for about 6 weeks now and the Erickson's left a couple of weeks ago.  This month the Lata's leave and then it will be our turn.  We are also having 4 new couples in the next month and we have a couple here visiting for 1 month and helping in the school.  Whew - we are so blessed to have so many seniors.  Most places consider themselves lucky with 2 couples, or even 1.  As we were discussing this at the 4th of July celebration (food! - what else) Roy brought forth the point that the Lord really loves Samoa and is determined to help them make it.  

I am enjoying some licorice herb tea (cold) at the moment and what a treat!  Sally Goulding left some with me and it is such a lovely flavor.  I do enjoy the lemon grass (laumoli) that they have here and I actually have some lemon grass that I planted just outside the door.

Our friends we often see while on our way to the airport

P-Day with the Ericksons before they left

Roy has two more stakes to cover and then we will be finished.  We continue to have our reading program on Saturday am at our ward, we take books to a few families and I continue with Lance and all the little projects I am involved in (including an occasional PEF meeting, etc).  The phone bill this month was about 300 pages shorter than last month (it was evident that the President's involvement stopped one of the major offenders as I could clock the change in his phone to the exact day the Pres.  "discussed" it with him).  Isn't there a song that goes "when will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ev - e - ver learn?"

The gospel is true and I can't begin to go into the lessons I have learned here.   I am grateful to those who respond to this blog and to those we keep in contact with.  We know the prayers and wishes of you all keep us going and we really appreciate it.

Opelagi on the left (a former guard and now a police at the jail) and Levala Jr on the right (a guard and YM Pres in our ward)