May 27/2018

May 27, 2018
We’ve had a very busy and uplifting week with the New Zealand team over. We wanted to give them a glimpse of what Elder Cameron and I get to do every day here in Samoa.
We started out picking them up Monday evening.

New Zealand Team

Tuesday morning, we went to the Church garden which is located right beside our house. We watched as they made a keyhole garden, something I’m going to try when we get home. We had a wonderful brunch of Koko Samoa, fruit, Koko Araisa, Vaisalo or Samoan Oatmeal and chicken cooked in the traditional Umu. It was all pretty good, and we loved learning about the gardens. We then spent time looking and meeting people around Pesega (the church school) and touring the campus.

Garden Brunch

Keyhole Garden

Keyhole Garden

The next day we went to one of the schools that was damaged in the Cyclone. We toured it and will now be getting a proposal ready to do some renovations. We then headed to MDS (Mobility Device Services) and toured their facility. We have a major project there for wheelchairs and they are kept very busy. They also do prosthetics and unfortunately that is really on the rise because of diabetes.
From there we headed to Saoluafata to our Handover Ceremony. We helped with a community center for their village. After a wonderful ceremony, the cutting of the ribbon they brought out trays and trays of food and drink and if that wasn’t enough they sent us home with over 7 large baskets of food, which included about 6 fish, 6 chickens, taro, palusami and a roasted pig. We gave some food away on our way home and then invited the senior missionaries over for what was left.

Our Handover Feast

Handover Ceremony

Roasted Pig

Elder Cameron enjoying the Feast

After the handover we went to the Village of Fusi to show them the water tank project that they gave the ok to do. It is up in the hills so they had a bit of a hike to see where we are wanting to put 3-10,000 liter water tanks to help store water from a fresh water spring that will help this village because as it is now they are unable to store water.
Our final activity for the day was our Apia Diabetes graduation. Another great evening, we heard from different speakers including Elder Cameron who also spoke at the Handover earlier in the day. He is killing these speaking assignments and the people just love him.

Diabetes Graduation

Diabetes Graduation

Diabetes Grads

Well we fell into bed exhausted but happy, another wonderful day in Samoa!
 The next day we were off to Sauniatu for a farming and cattle demonstration which Elder Cameron spoke at as well. We had lunch, looked around some went swimming at the falls and then we headed home for an evening at the Temple.
Friday morning, we took the team to deliver some furniture to a school, always a highlight for me. The students helped unload the truck, then they entertained us by singing, it was wonderful! I told Sister Bills (from New Zealand) that this is where my heart is, with the children, they are so amazing, and you may have already noticed that by all the pictures I take of them. They have the most beautiful eyes and the eyes often say it all.

 School Singers

We showed our guests around downtown Apia, the fresh fish market, the open-air market and a few other interesting places. They flew home Saturday evening exhausted but in love with our little island.
What a fun week of being able to share a part of what we do everyday, they mentioned several times that it was like paradise here, and I thought we never even got to a beach! It truly is beautiful here and just think Rissa you get to see it in only 20 sleeps. YEA!
I see the family is getting the pool ready, Rowen called this morning and said they had a hot dog roast and we’re cleaning the pool, sounds like fun! Jordan tried to ease my brief moment of home sickness by adding “don’t worry mom you’ll be doing this in a year.”  So true Jordan, Thanks.
My dad’s birthday is on the 31st so Happy Birthday dad! I’m so glad you are able to get out and work in your garden and enjoy the sunshine. I will miss your tomatoes this summer, they are always so sweet and delicious. Nothing like a tomato from the garden. Eat a few for me and I’ll eat a fresh picked banana and pineapple for you. I do think when I get home it will be hard to eat a banana or pineapple from Costco, they just will not taste the same as the fresh fruit here right of the tree. They have a little banana here called Misiluki, they are sooo good!
Speaking of gardens, I think of my good friend Donna, Are you not busy enough! With all you do you now have Turkeys, you are crazy my friend, but I love it!
The senior missionaries sang at the mission home this evening, it was good, and I will send you the Facebook page when I get it. The very ending of the program we sing Army of Helamen and all the missionaries come and join with us in singing the 2nd verse. It was pretty powerful and another great experience. How can there be so many amazing experiences in one week? It is a testimony of what we are doing, it is the Lord’s work and anytime you can be of service or help another it  is a blessing not only to those you serve but to whoever is giving the service.
 Elder Holland gave a great talk in the June Liahona and stated “when you strive to lighten another’s burden, you are truly angels of mercy in the most literal sense. May you receive back a hundred-fold all that you try to give.”
 I have always liked quotes on hope and I found one the other day in the same talk by Elder Holland, Hope is not the magic wand that makes a problem disappear. Hope is the lifeline that can keep you from being overwhelmed by the storms of life.
We may not always be able to alter the journey of someone, but we can help to try to make it easier for them.
Everyone have a most wonderful week and remember, Life is far to short to not see the good in everything around you. We love and miss you all and love all the updates we get.
Love,
Pam

A Peaceful Moment

Tapioca Plant

Elder Schwenke with the Pig Head. He took it home to boil and eat!