July 29/2018

July 29/2018

Another month come and gone. The last couple weeks have been busy with deliveries, paper work and site visits.

We received a Sea can from FFS of desks, chairs band instruments and lots and lots of school books. We unloaded it with the help of the Elders, but now who are the lucky recipients?  Elder Cameron has made a spread sheet(surprise, surprise) that prioritizes schools in need and what they need, we’ve been able to cross several schools off the list but the list is long and we’ve not been able to visit half the schools here on the Islands. I feel we are making a small dent and continue in our efforts to help who we can when we can.

Chairs,Desks,Books, Books,and more Books

The NUS (National University of Samoa) Healthy Eating and Cooking Competition was held this past week. It was 2 days here in Upolu and 1 day in Savai’i and involved 19 colleges (High Schools). They cooked some great food and I was really impressed with how well they used their local food and cooked it in a healthy way. It was a success, I’m glad it’s finished, a lot of planning, organizing and work. We were able to meet some great people and it’s a project that I hope will continue to grow and improve over the years.

Grilling Fish

Moe, NUS foods instructor and friend 

A little story I wanted to share, Last week Elder Cameron and I were driving home from the far side of the Island when we came upon a Grampa and his granddaughter walking along the side of the road. Elder Cameron felt like we should pick them up as it was getting late, would be dark soon and it was a long walk to town. We gave them a lift to a little convenience store where they were meeting someone and we headed home. The next day we needed to head back that way and saw some children playing in a yard by the road, we decided to stop and give them a couple hygiene kits as they looked like they could use a little help.  It just happened to be the little girl and her Grampa that lived there with her parents and 12 kids in the family. They gratefully accepted the kits, climbed into a broken down car which I think some of the kids sleep in.

We’ve had so many opportunities to serve and help others, sometimes in a small way like a smile, a hug, a kind word and sometimes in a large way like 25 water tanks to a village or a new community center, but whether it’s small or large it truly blesses the loves of those you serve and it comes back to bless ours in so many ways. I read once “Real charity is not something you give away, it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself, and when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same.”

 Sometimes I think we are so busy trying to help and be of service that we forget to take the time to really love and enjoy the moments. For the next 10 months, I’m going to work at loving and enjoying the moments more.

We had a umu (Traditional Samoan cooking) here yesterday, A couple from our office are leaving in a few weeks and Elder Fata, our area 70 and area welfare manager wanted to have a party for them. There was a lot of true Samoan food and Elder Cameron ate my share and his. Sister Fata did a Samoan dance which was so good and very touching.  Elder Fata asked when we leave and then asked if we could extend, I very politely told him I already miss my grandkids and family way too much.

Sister Fata Dancing

Umu Food

Elder Cameron and I have the chance often to look at the stars here, it is usually clear and I’ve never really taken the time to look at the stars. He has an app on his phone that tells you the planet or constellation you are looking at. They are beautiful and from here you can see some of the planets. It is truly something magnificent and makes me feel closer to those who I know keep a watchful eye on us. When they say “worlds without ends” I believe that as I stare up at that vast universe and marvel at its beauty.

This is what we were looking at Saturn, The Moon and Mars

   When we are so busily engaged and consumed that our minds are clogged, preoccupied and distracted in our thoughts, with no time to ponder or think, we may see the evidence of God’s hand but forget our creator.

I’m thankful for each one of you and all you bring into my life, may your week be full of little miracles and may you recognize them.

Love you all,

Senior Moments

                                                   Our truck is used as a school bus sometimes

July 15/2018

July 15/2018

I wasn’t going to write a blog this week but felt strongly to just bear my testimony of the truths that I know.

Life has not always been easy and still there are trials and tests but I’m thankful for a Father in Heaven and an Elder Brother Jesus Christ who knows, suffered and felt the pains, hurt and despair that we all go through from time to time. Our lives were not made to be easy and at times it feels very lonely and difficult.

  In The Doctrine and Covenants we read, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.”

  I love the attribute of meekness it’s a virtue I have admired in many good people and one I am striving to have in my life. To become meek, more Christ like, a true disciple.

Regardless of our circumstances and where we are in our lives we can have the comfort and the Peace of Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer. I know each one of us is important in the Lord’s eyes because he has answered my prayers and I have felt his peace and love in my life. He has given his life for each one of us so we can be forgiven, return to him and be together forever. I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation that my family is an eternal one.

 I’m thankful to be here serving with my eternal companion to be able to learn and grow together. Is life easy, not always but when it is we need to strengthen ourselves so that when the times get difficult we can endure. I promise and I know our Savior will guide, protect and strengthen each one of us as we ask and as we strive to follow him. I have seen it in my life and in the life of my family.

One of my favorite hymns was sung in Sacrament today,

 Help Me Teach with Inspiration

Help me teach with inspiration;

Grant this blessing, Lord, I pray.

Help me lift a soul's ambition

To a higher, nobler way.

Help me reach a friend in darkness;

Help me guide him thru the night.

Help me show thy path to glory

By the Spirit's holy light

Fill my mind with understanding

Tune my voice to echo thine.

Touch my hand with gentle friendship;

Warm my heart with love divine

Help me find thy lambs who wander

Help me bring them to thy keep.

Teach me, Lord, to be a shepherd;

Father, help me feed thy sheep.

Love to all and may your week be filled with Love and Kindness for each other.

Love,

Pam

Love this picture of us!

July 7/2018

Well Rissa has left our little island and gone over to New Zealand for a week before heading home. What a great adventure she has had and how she embraced the culture and the people. It was great to have her here, she helped us in so many ways like organizing and making hygiene kits, taking tables and chairs to schools, communities and churches, medical supplies to seniors, eye glasses to the hospital and so much more and always with a smile. We were able to show her some of the fabulous beaches here, she snorkelled like a pro, did a couple temple sessions, experienced the food and life in a fale. Now back to reality!

Rissa husking coconuts

Making a plate

We continue to be very busy and at times find it hard to spread ourselves around and strive to help so many people, especially to seek out those that are most in need. We had a Sea Can come a couple weeks ago full of chairs, tables and desks, we’ve been able to get all those delivered and are looking for another one to come this week.

Delivering tables and chairs to a nearby church

 There is a nick name for Elder Cameron here that the other office missionaries call him, the Misquote (I know, can you see it) he never walks anywhere and is always on the go! He never rests too long in one spot. So much to do and so little time. Time seems to be passing by so fast.

We celebrated Canada Day, did a little decorating thanks to the flags and T shirts Madge sent over and because it was on a Sunday we had all the Senior Missionaries over for our Break the Fast. We barbequed burgers and had poutine, then Scott and Rissa sang O Canada, a great day!

Happy Birthday to my brother Cliff on July 10^th, how exciting that Kyden got baptized this weekend. We are sure proud of you Kyden and the choices and decisions you are making, keep up the great work.

Kyden with Grampa Don

 We were able to facetime with family this week, Mandy and Andrew had a great adventure this summer with their kids and put on thousands of miles on their souped up amazing van. They were able to have some great experiences and see some incredible landmarks and share some spiritual memories. We also saw the Jordan and Esther’s gang in the pool, so glad they’re using it and having a great time (I even saw Max). The yard looked great everything was green except the pool water and it was blue (thank goodness) we are grateful for the work everyone is doing to keep the yard looking good. Ali and Trav!

Love it! Oh my goodness Chaser!

What a good looking family we have!

I’ve been following Donna and all her work with the Honesty Box, the gardens look fantastic. It’s great to see that dreams and goals can become a reality with a lot of hard work and a vision. Not only does she have amazing gardens of fruit and vegetables but she brings in cases of fruit from BC and now I see there are baked goods available as well as meat, eggs and so much more. I love it and know where I’ll be doing my shopping when we get home next year!

I was reading a talk the other day by Pres. Uchtdorf and there was a quote that I liked “With patience and persistence, even the smallest act of discipleship or the tiniest ember of belief can become a blazing bonfire of a consecrated life. In fact, that’s how most bonfires begin….as a little spark.”

It’s those small steps, those little acts that can help us to feel the Spirit and gain strength in the Gospel. I’m continually thankful for the Holy Ghost and the promptings I receive that help me each day and continually remind me of what path I’m on and what I’m striving for each and every day.

I just finished reading Alma in the Book of Mormon and loved the many heroes in those chapters. They fought hard for what they believed in and remembered their God, when they choose not to remember they struggled. Don’t ever forget to Remember!

 We love you all and are thrilled with so many great family activities you are engaged in. Shelia I’m so glad you are heading to the island for a couple weeks, you know I can see you living there at some point in your life. A great life style. Trevor I hear you’re recuperating and getting back to your old self again. Hmmmm! 

 Life is good and we are so fortunate for all we have, for all we get to do and we  are so blessed to have each other. Treat each other with a love and respect and remember Be Happy and always Be Kind.

Love,

Scott and Pam

Fishing in the Ocean

From our home in Carstairs

She was so cute, making brooms