Aug.26/2018

August 26/2019

The end of August, kids are back in school and routines have started. I know Mandy is glad about that. Summer can be a lot of fun but exhausting too. It was great to hear about all the fun times and activities that were held this summer. Boyde and Jean got up to see family and we’re hoping when Boyde retires that we will see them in June 2019. Mom and dad also got a visit from an old friend Brother Atoa, who lived down there in Lethbridge then moved to Samoa. He is a Temple worker here and we see him often. He sometimes drops into our office just to make sure we’re doing things right. I guess with the Temple closed for a month he and his wife decided a trip to Canada was in order.

Elder Cameron and I visited a couple more schools this week and had materials delivered to fix up some more schools, every school we go to is in need of something.

 We took a picture of some of the boys at one of the schools we went to, they love their pictures taken. Most kids smile and wave although the other day a little guy around 5 or 6 gave us a different hand gesture. It took us a bit by surprise but we got a good chuckle out of it.

We saw a couple men out working in a village while on our travels the other day. It was hot and I couldn’t help but notice their hats. I thought why spend a lot of money on a new hat when cardboard works just as well. Very resourceful.

We took some senior missionaries on an Island adventure Saturday afternoon. They were interested in what we do as Humanitarian Missionaries, so we loaded up a van, Elder Cameron had an itinerary which we kept too very well and showed them some of the projects that we are involved in.

 One of our stops was at Little Sisters of the Poor, Seven Sisters that dedicate their lives to looking after the elderly here in Samoa who have no family or anyone that can take care of them. They don’t really have senior housing or homes for the elderly because Samoans take care of their parents that is a huge part of their culture. Elder Cameron and I try to help with supplies and they were in need of a keyboard as theirs was in pretty rough shape. Guess what, we happen to have a brand new one in our spare room donated by UVU women’s Volleyball team that we were keeping for such a moment as this. I love it when things just work out!

 That was our first stop, we made a couple more, had lunch and then on our way back we stopped at a family that we have been wanting to give some supplies to, What a day, It started out amazing and ended up fantastic and everything in the middle was wonderful. Great friends, great weather and great service, it all makes for a great day!

A special family where we stopped to give supplies

Elder and Sister Kinghorn are leaving us and heading home after spending 2 years of service here in Samoa, We will miss them (probably as much as Larissa misses Sister Kinghorn- kindred spirits those two) but they already have a new adventure ahead of them. They will be home for only 3 months to see family and friends and will be heading to Guatemala City for their next 2 year mission. They truly understand Christ like Service. I’m going to need longer that 3 months to catch up and see my family (grandchildren). I’m pretty sure Elder Cameron feels the same way.

Mission Pres. Ho Ching, The Kinghorns

We will be starting the new Diabetes program in the next 3 weeks. We were involved in the pilot program and it was quite successful so it will be available now to all the Pacific. We have 13 stakes wanting to participate in the first go round which is a 12 week program. Hopefully the others will want to do it after Christmas.

 Rick celebrated a Birthday, we sure appreciate all Rick does at the farm and I know the kids love him. I heard Callum won a golf bag, he’s as lucky as his dad! Esther sent a great video of Mandy and Jordan playing one on one volleyball out at Wilderness last week, we have watched it several times, it doesn’t get old, Too funny. Some more great pics the Brooks Boys trying to tame the Elk river, it looks like they did a pretty good job.

Seeing the pictures of the kids at the Temple, we loved it. What a wonderful teaching moment, to talk to them about the importance of the Temple and why our families can be together forever. Those are teaching moments that we need to take advantage of. It’s also in the Temple where we can recieve the guidance, inspiration and answers we need to help raise our children and strengthen us for whatever lies ahead.. This week we think of Nathan and how blessed we were to have him for 5 short years, we know where he is and what he's doing, we are are so grateful for Eternal Families. 

I read a quote the other day by Elder Holland, it was given at a youth conference but I felt like it could be for all of us.

What a great leader, he tells us how it is and doesn’t candy coat things. It’s time to step up and be counted.

I love the gospel, I love my Savior and all he has done for me and my family. We are so blessed to see the Lord’s hand in all we do. The power of prayer is so important in our lives, we may feel alone or lonely at times but I know that our Savior and our Father in Heaven are there watching and taking care of each one of us.

May your week be filled with tender mercies, and little miracles along the way, we only need to look for them and be grateful for what we have.

Love you all,

 Be Happy and Be kind to each other,