January 28/2018

It’s been a busy week. Scott and I worked on the ER container here in Upolu, we opened it up about a month ago, looked at it closed it, knowing it was going to take a lot more time than we had at that time. Well, we got it cleaned out, organized and it looks pretty good. We still have a few more things to get and we need to label the supplies but if there was an emergency they could now find what they need. We loaded our truck with more supplies to go to Savaii, which we will took towards the end of the week.

We also had a meeting for the new Diabetes project which will be starting the first week of February. We are really looking forward to this pilot program which will be implemented through the church. 7 of the top 10 countries in the world that have a diabetes problem are here in the south Pacific.

Scott and I headed to Savaii on Thursday with our truck full of ER supplies for the sea can. We unloaded and marked all the supplies so now it is organized and ready. It was a hot, humid job but there is satisfaction in knowing that it is ready to use in case of an emergency.

We did decide to drive around the whole island of Savaii, It normally takes around 5 hours to drive it and it did take us a bit longer as we stopped at a couple of our projects. One in the village of Asau, a company here in Upolu, have started sending over water tanks, 4 of the 25-3,000-liter tanks had arrived. We met with the village mayor and he took us around to show us where the tanks were delivered. Only 21 left to be delivered, they bring 5 at time by ferry and it is quite the process. It could take months for all the tanks to be delivered. We will be over in Savaii several more times before this project can be finalized and closed.

We also went to Sili a primary school in Savaii that LDS Charities did a bathroom renovation for. We went to see if they needed some school supplies and to make sure the washroom was in good working condition.

We stayed at the Amoa in Savaii, which was nice. The Thursday evening after we finished the sea can we checked into our hotel, Scott went snorkeling, we ate dinner a fell into bed exhausted. I had just fallen asleep when I felt something on my face, I sat up quickly brushed it away and turned on my light. There was a huge cockroach scurrying up the wall. I didn’t scream, Scott was sound asleep, so I spent the night with the light on watching the cockroach. The ceiling was really high  , so I couldn’t kill  it. Scott did finally wake up and wondered why the light was on, I told him what happened and maybe I did cry just a bit. We layed there, he fell back to sleep and I kept guard with the light on for the rest of the night. The staff promised to go and take care of everything. They were good, but the next night I kept the lights on and kept guard once again. Needless to say I was a bit tired after that adventure. We checked out on Saturday, headed back to Upolu to meet the other senior missionaries at a beach. Each time we go to a beach it is my favorite but seriously Virgin Cove is now my most favorite. They filmed the TV show Survivor there. It was secluded, the sand amazing and absolutely beautiful. I even tried snorkeling, really I did. I quite liked it and will definitely do it again.

I’m very thankful for my mission companion, who is so patient with all my weird and crazy hang ups. He has caught on here so quickly and has embraced everything with a love and passion. People here are amazed at his energy and his let’s get er done attitude.  I just try to keep up and sometimes give a gentle reminder that we are in Samoa and things take time.   He is a great example to me and he makes me want to be better.  We feel so blessed to be here in this little bit of paradise, we love the people. They are a hard working, happy people. The children are adorable, they always talk to us, wave at us and always have a huge smile on their faces. We love it and can’t get enough of it.

I miss my family and friends and I’m so thankful we are able to talk and facetime. Although it only makes me miss them more. They do seem to be doing just fine without me, HMMM how does that work? I think of you all often and hope you’re doing well, taking care of each other, be patient with each other and have an understanding heart, be kind and just love each other.

Remember to see a great day and rise above and continue on your journey knowing the Lord is with you.

I love and miss you and am sending big hugs to all my adorable grand kids.

Virgin Cove Beach 

 
This is how they dry their clothes here, lay them on the hot lava rocks.

Just like Robinson Crusoe, picked the coconut, husked it, broke it open with a rock and we enjoyed eating it. So good. What a man, supplying food for his family!    

Black Sand Beach

Sauniatu

January 15/2018


Scott and I had a great and productive week. We are busy trying to wrap up some older projects and  get ready for some new ones. We had several women come into the office this past week requesting help from  LDS Charities. The villages here in Samoa have committees that are run by the women , they get together weekly to discuss the needs of the village they then meet with the village council which consists of the family Matai's who are the leaders of each family then the Matai's meet with the village chief and then they decide what the final request or need might be, the women then come to us. Often our work is through the women's committee's. It's interesting looking at the requests that come in and although you want to help everyone it's important to really listen to the promptings and feel what might be best for the villages,  to not only help the right now but will continue to be a help in the future. I can always remember the quote "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." We want to help our Samoan friends for a lifetime.

We had the wonderful opportunity to go to a village Sauniatu, where there is a LDS church school. There is a great article in the January 1978 Liahona, if you have time it is a great read about the history, culture, faith and strength of these amazing people.  It will go into detail of what I have only touched on. Sauniatu is located about 20 miles east of Apia in a crater of an extinct volcano. Sauniatu means "a place to prepare." The early saints had a vision, in 1904 when they were establishing Sauniatu, they had been expelled from their villages, persecuted and unfairly taxed for being mormons. There are pioneers all over the world who have been persecuted and have suffered for their beliefs but  thankfully have stayed strong and have left a wonderful legacy for those who have come after. Sauniatu is definitely  one of those legacies. In 1921 Elder David O McKay visited and pronounced an apostolic blessing on Sauniatu and its inhabitants. His love for the people and the country was very evident  as he spoke about it and in his prayer.
They have a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole there that we visited on Saturday. It was a bit cold and took me a few minutes but it was wonderful. I mentioned to Scott on our way home that I've done more in these past 6 weeks to overcome some of my fears than I have in my whole life. I attribute that to the prayers and pleading I do every night, and your prayers on my behalf asking for help with my many weaknesses and imperfections. I'm thankful for a loving Father in Heaven and a Savior who listens to me and continues to help me even though I feel unworthy at times.

We are now in a bigger 3 bedroom house which is nice but a bigger house means more bugs, our small 2 bedroom place was pretty good as the bugs were relatively few. There was a lot of cleaning that needed to be done before we could move in, it was left empty for about a month so that's an invitation for unwanted visitors, and there were plenty. I think the cockroach count was 20, with a few more everyday. Scott is working to get rid of those pesky bugs and have everything under control before our visitors start to come and before I have another traumatic experience ( next letter).

I love it here in Samoa despite the bugs and truly love the people, I am in awe at this beautiful culture and how important it is to the Samoan  people We can learn so much from them if we only take the time to listen and try to help where needed.
I do miss my family and friends, the videos of our grandkids always tug at my heartstrings and every time I hear them say Gramma and Grampa I just want to hold them and never let go. Already so many changes, I can't imagine in 16 months what they will all be like.  Scott writes a great newsletter every week, if you would like to be on the list send him an email at scottcameronnrg@gmail.com.
I do know that promised blessings will come to the family as we continue to serve the Lord. I have already seen that in so many ways, there are tender blessings every day. I told one of my girls the other day that I feel so blessed to have the family I have and am grateful everyday for each one and what they bring to our family.

The funeral of President Monson was very touching and very uplifting. He was a man who lived what he believed and always set an example of love and service. I think of his reunions on the other side and the joy that everyone must feel.
Miss and love you all, and a really big Happy Birthday tomorrow to my little Chaser. I love you tons!

Love,

Sister Cameron(Gramma)

Elder David O McKay's Prayer

A Fale named after Elder McKay at Sauniatu

A Samoan Farmer

Waterfall at Sauniatu

It's a New Year

Jan. 7/2018
A New Year, I've never been one for New Year resolutions, but I do think it's good to go back and look at the 2017 year, the good, the not so good and what I can take from it and what I can learn and what I really want to forget. To look at 2018 and what I want and need to accomplish in regards to personal and spiritual growth.
Life is good, and at most times it's even great, we are so blessed to have so much and to live in a place that has so much to offer.
My heart was saddened this past week with the passing of our dear prophet Thomas S Monson, but rejoiced in the knowledge of his reunion with his eternal companion, Frances. It was quite thought provoking for me to read that not only would he be reunited with his beautiful wife but with prophets that had gone on before him. What an amazing reunion that would be.
Well, this week has been a bit quiet. Samoans start the holidays around the 22 and don't come back to work till around the second week of January. I don't mean just some, I mean all, the whole island. Children are on summer holidays, family travel to other islands, many go to New Zealand and they do not work. They enjoy their family time, eating and playing a lot of volleyball. They include all, everyone in their villages. I don't think there are any inside playing video games or watching TV.  I find it very refreshing here that people are so relaxed and so accepting. I love the flowers here they seem to grow everywhere and are large and colorful. The women always have them in their hair and can just go pick one anywhere.
I think Scott and I are ready to get going on some of our projects and finish a couple that need to be wrapped up. You know Scott, this has already been quite a lesson on patience. Everything truly on this island is hurry up and wait, no hurry up just wait. When they said this is where Island time was invented it's true. I know in a few weeks I'll be saying we need more hours in a day. We do have a water project to get finished, 25-3000 liter tanks are in the process of being shipped to Savai'i hopefully this week. It's important to get these tanks set up during the rainy season, which goes from November to April. On Tuesday we have desks and bookshelves to go to a primary school. Many of the students sit on the floor so to sit at a desk is a real luxury.
This past week we went to a beach called Return to Paradise, named after a movie that was shot here in Samoa with Roberta Haynes and Gary Cooper.  It was another beautiful beach with very few people on it.
We are enjoying our time here but miss the family, friends and GRANDKIDS. We love the pictures we get (Thank you Esther), but it does pull at the heart strings. We already see changes in them and can't imagine all the changes in 17 more months. We do know that this is where we are to be at this time and know that our family will be watched over and blessed. We love you all and are truly grateful for your support in so many ways.  Scott sends a great letter home every week and if anyone wishes to be on the list send him an email to scottcameronnrg@gmail.com
"Everything you are learning now is preparing you for something else."
Love you all,
Pam (Sister Cameron)

Pineapple from our yard

Return to Paradise beach