February 4/2018

Feb 4/2018

Our week started out great and ended amazing. What more can you ask for?

Scott and I are involved in a 12 week diabetes pilot program, which if successful could be used church wide. We had meetings the beginning of the week which involved 2 church stakes, one on the island of Savai’i and one here on Upolu. They are also running programs in Tonga, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand. I mentioned in my last letter that 7 of the top 10 countries in the world with a diabetes problem are in the South Pacific but along with that stat is there is an amputation related to diabetes every 12 hours in Fiji, there is an increasing number of church leaders replaced/die due to diabetes, and diabetes and clean water are the 2 biggest problems facing the South Pacific. You can see the importance of this program, we are hoping it can take hold because it can and will change lives for the better. Scott and I work with Elder Fata (area seventy), Stake President and the facilitators. We were up at 5:15 Saturday morning, at the gym where we met with around 100 people and weighed, measured, took BMI, and took height, blood test and blood pressure. After all that they then ran a very high energy Zumba class which everybody took part in.

On Thursday we were able to deliver two truckloads of desks, bookshelves and school tables to a primary school in one of our villages. A company from New Zealand sends us used school furniture that other schools don’t want and our schools over here are thrilled to have them. Our children sit on cement floors during school so if they can get an old desk and a chair they are as happy as can be. As we drove into the school yard the kids were waiting in their Fale for us and the smiles were so heart-warming, it was a humbling experience. They had a hand over ceremony where the school principal spoke, the pastor spoke and Elder Cameron spoke. The children then sang, it was so touching and then they asked Elder Cameron and me to do a Canadian Dance while the kids sang. We did a waltz, the children loved it and giggled, some of the teachers joined in doing a Samoan dance, which I am starting Samoan dance lessons this week, I can hardly wait.

Last year there were over 2,200 baptisms in the Samoa area, which is wonderful except with that kind of growth comes some difficulties. Keeping up with new members and leadership in the church. So many great people but needing the continued learning and growth that needs to happen in the gospel. It really doesn’t matter who or where you are there always needs to be learning and growing. If we are not moving forward we are going backwards.

I read a message the other day” Where are your feet taking you?” “What journey are you on?” Hopefully whatever journey or steps you’re taking it will bring you closer to our Father in Heaven and the wonderful joy that lies ahead.

Life is good and we have so much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for each one of you who have touched my life in so many ways, many of you don’t even realize the love, the help and the friendship you have given me.

Scott and I love our mission and I was thinking the other day we all can serve, you don’t need to be in a foreign country or a thousand miles away to help. President Hinckley said “There are so many who have been injured and who need a good Samaritan to bind up their wounds and help them on their way. A small kindness can bring a great blessing to someone in distress and a sweet feeling to the one who befriends them.”

We love and miss you all. We also love to hear back from you and know how you are doing and what’s going on in your busy lives.

Remember to See a Great Day! Love Elder and Sister Cameron ( Gramma and Grampa)

Video of kids singing

Children unloading tables and desks

Hand over ceremony at Vailoa