Feb.17/2019

Feb. 17/2019

I can’t believe it’s the middle of Feb. already, where does all the time go? Elder Cameron is feeling the pressure to get things done and in order and I’m feeling like wow I can hardly wait to hold my grandkids again, see my family, to drive again and cook in my own kitchen just to name a few things, I could go on but I shouldn’t.

We have had some wonderful experiences these last few weeks, water tank and school handovers, and some site visits and have been richly blessed to be able to participate in them and get to know some more amazing people.

We had a handover of 3 water tanks in American Samoa to schools that are relief centers if there is a disaster. Water is shut off after a disaster and they need tanks so that the people can have water to drink and other necessities.

Aua Primary School

Fagaitua College (High School)

Laulii Primary School

We also did a handover of a project in Samoa that Elder Cameron was instrumental in getting, 3 10,000 litre water tanks for a village, what a party it was!

Elder Cameron showing that the water is good to drink

Cutting the Ribbon

3-10,000 L Water Tanks

We were able to give several schools desks and chairs this past week. We received 2 containers full and this time we had the villages come to collect the desks. We had previously done site visits so we knew what schools to contact and had them bring in a truck load it up and take the desks back to their schools. It was great but between Scott,me and Elder Schwenke we had to really keep an eye on these guys, they were trying to take anything that wasn’t tied down including other schools desks and chairs.

 We also took one full container out to a College (high school) that was just recently rebuilt from a fire. They were so excited to get desks and chairs.

Elder Cameron opening the Container

Palalua Students

Palalua College Students unloading desks and chairs

Palalua Handover

Palalua College Handover

We started our Eat Healthy program in American Samoa on Friday, gave the training to some Stake President’s, Bishop’s and facilitators, they are eager and ready to start. We had the manual in English but it just translated  into Samoan which will be great for many. This is such a great program and badly needed here in the Polynesian countries. We really hope and pray that they will grasp hold of it, Diabetes 2 is highest in American Samoa. We are really hoping to get this off the ground and the Samoan people will love it as much as we do!

Samoan Eat Healthy manual

Some exciting news, I had talked a bit in another blog about a mother with 5 kids whose husband left her and she lived in small broken down fale. Great news, they are starting this week on her fale. It has been a touching experience to get to know Emele and to be able to help her in a small way to try and make her life a bit easier and let her know that she is important and she is loved.

Emele's home

I saw this picture and thought how much I loved the Chinooks that would blow in especially after such a long cold snap. I heard there was one coming your way, enjoy it. Spring is just around the corner and that means crocuses, Buffalo Beans, Pussy Willows and gophers!

What you have to offer is more than enough—even with your human frailties and weaknesses—if you rely on the grace of God.

Someone near and dear to us sent this quote to us this week along with some great words of wisdom, and it came at a perfect time as we are working and wondering if we can get done all that we need to before we go home. There are times when you feel that there is so much more that you need to do and so many more people that you need to help

The parable of the loaves and fishes is a perfect example,

The disciples were right: they didn’t have enough food, but they gave what they had to Jesus, and then He provided the miracle.

 Thank you for sharing and the gentle reminder of who is in control and who to turn for help and guidance.
 I have been thinking that over the last 15 months we’ve been blessed to see miracles, so many tender mercies, receive promptings and inspiration and our love for the people,each other and our Savior has grown. We are so blessed and grateful for all we have and for the support we receive from family and friends.

I hope this week is good for all and you take the time to enjoy and appreciate what's around you and what you have been blessed with. Remeber Be Kind and Be Happy.

Love,
Pam

This picture should give you a good laugh for the week. Mandy and Andrew are aging quicker than we are, they went to a fund raiser with the theme, " Florida Retirement." I think they should fit right in! Love the velour, white socks, glasses, you guys nailed it. Love it! oh ya, the fanny pack!

In case you haven't seen Mandy and Andrew for a few years! How they've changed!

American Samoa

American Samoa, just after we landed

American Samoa, on our way to the hotel

January 20/2019

Jan.20/2019

Wow, time is moving so quickly and so much to do. I feel strongly that as we prepare over these next few months to return home that I want to leave Samoa better than we found this beautiful country and  hopefully we've touched some lives along the way. . I know I feel stronger more confident in the gospel and in myself and a deeper understanding of what is truly important for me and my family. Elder Cameron and I have been richly blessed in many ways.

Our wonderful Chaser turned 4 on the 15 of January, Have you ever seen a picture with so much joy and excitement in such a small body. It melts my heart!

 While Chase celebrated his party our oldest granddaughter is celebrating, braces coming off, a drivers licence and a car to run all her many important errands and a new part time job! Life just keeps getting better and better!

 It has been really great to actually watch from afar as all our grandkids have grown and changed and become involved in so many new and challenging activities like 4-H, skiing, skating, school, new classes at church, new friendships and along with that comes the difficult times to which often include some of the above. We just need to make sure that our homes are always a safe and loving place to gather from the storms of life. Speaking of loving homes Gramma Cameron’s Birthday was on January 19^th, she would have been 98. Still miss her every day.

We have been able to travel the Island a bit over these last few weeks as people are just getting back from vacations and kids will start school in another week or two. We’ve been able to hand out coloring books, hygiene kits, school supplies, balls, Frisbees to kids along the way. I love their smiles and how happy they are.

 We have two big containers of desks and chairs coming, they should be here by months end. I’m soooo excited about that and can hardly wait to hand them out. Pretty exciting stuff huh!

Elder Cameron and I will be starting up the Eat Healthy and Be Active program again starting the end of January. The interest has been great and it is so good to see that they see a need for it here in Samoa in their lives and the lives of their families. Elder Cameron and I have worked hard to be healthy while in Samoa, watching what we eat and continuing to work out regularly. Couples have told us since we arrived that senior missionaries always gain weight 30-40 lbs, we have seen it, and it’s true. There is so much fresh bread every day, coconut crème in everything, taro, deep fried food, and ramen noodles are a staple and servings are huge. There is also so much wonderful fresh fruit here, it’s all about choices!

 “The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on which we run.”—President Gordon B. Hinckley,

Family and friends,

 Have a great week! Love life and love each other, remember to be Happy and Be Kind and look to see who you can help this week.

They are getting signs in Samoa now

Love the children!

Adorable

We found this raft while doing some searching on an Island, pretty neat find!

Turtle by Namua Island

Another Beautiful Beach

Jan.2/2019

Jan.2/2019

This is a bit of a different blog but I felt I really wanted to let you all know how thankful I am for you, life and the gospel.

Well we rang in a New Year. Looking back on 2017 and 2018, it was a year of firsts, sacrifice, adventure and growth. Leaving home, family and friends for eighteen months was a decision Scott and I made together with the lord and we knew it was what we needed and wanted to do. We have learned so much and have grown together stronger and more unified in the gospel and as eternal companions. Faith points to the future and I look forward to what lies ahead for Scott and I. I think of the words Grow old with me, the best is yet to be!

I am thankful for family, good friends, each one of our children, and grandchildren and the support and love you have given us along the way. I have seen blessing showered down on you and are grateful for the loving arms that have been around you and kept you safe while we were away. Another testament to me that prayers are answered.

I have seen the lord’s hand many times in helping us to help others and my testimony has been strengthened of a loving Savior who knows me personally and cares deeply about what I feel and how I’m feeling. I love the Book of Mormon and the testimonies that are on those pages. Each time I read from this great book I learn more and more and I know of its truthfulness, it has been a strength to me many times and has helped me through some difficult moments while here in the mission field.

This New Year is a great time for me to remember that the past is to be learned from and not lived in,

 Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away they may be, live to see the miracles and tender mercies that lie ahead and remember to be grateful for all you have.

I love and appreciate each one of you and who you are. May 2019 be good to you and may we all strive to be better today than we were yesterday and even better tomorrow.

Love,

Pam, mom, Gramma

This Picture was taken on our way home from Namua Island. We pasted  this sweet women playing a ukulele and just had to stop and listen to her sing and talk with her. We gave her a couple hygiene kits, it was wonderful,these are the moments that we will always remember.

Dec.23 / 2018

Dec.23/2018

Talofa family and friends,

Elder Cameron and I have been busy with visits to Sisters of our Lady of Nazareth, Little Sisters of the Poor, a couple Diabetes classes and Graduations and a handover. There are Christmas parties and celebrations everywhere and the Spirit of Christmas is all around.

It has been a couple weeks since my last blog, which my wonderful son reminded me of the other day. So there may be some things that Elder Cameron had mentioned in his email the last couple weeks so I hope you don’t mind some repetition.

I hear that it might be a brown Christmas back home, which definitely has some pros and cons but most importantly will be getting together with family and friends and to remember “The Reason for the Season.”

Elder Cameron and I were able to supply some materials for renovations for the living area for some sisters here and had a Handover ceremony a couple weeks ago. The humility and love of these sisters was a great example to me of Christ like Service. It was a wonderful experience. We are so fortunate to meet so many great people. We also visited with another group of sisters that we have come to love, Little Sisters of the Poor, we took out some supplies to them and it is always a treat to visit with Sister Christina. She is amazing!

We have travelled the Island the past week checking on tanks and families and been able to hand out several baby kits and hygiene kits to families in need. They are always so thankful and it's nice to know that we can help in a small way to maybe ease their burdens just a little. 

The Eat Healthy and Be Active program is coming to a close, most classes have graduated with one left until January. We flew over to Pago last week to attend a grad, it was really good and a lot of fun to hear many of the success stories and testimonies of those that went through the program and how it has changed their lives.

While in Pago we were able to make some final arrangements for 6 water tanks to be installed at 3 different schools that are used for emergency stations in cause of a disaster and with the tanks they will be able to handle more people for a longer period of time.

We were blessed to be able to attend a temple wedding on Saturday of a young man Posenai and his bride Lagimalofie. Elder Cameron and I work with Posenai who is the manager of wheelchairs and prosthetics here in Samoa.

I have a few family photos to share, the kids had an ugly sweater party, and it looked like fun! Nate is a star, great form and he is growing like crazy! The Neilson’s are really in the Christmas spirit and as always another adorable picture! Mandy and Andrew will be celebrating their anniversary this week, I’m sure it will be fun whatever they decide to do.

Christmas is a busy time of year and sometimes a little overwhelming. Take time to nurture and feed your spirit this season. I read a quote the other day and thought how true it is.

“When our spirits are elevated, we are actually closer to the Savior, our perspective is broader, our hearts are warmer, our minds are clearer, we are more relaxed and we experience greater joy, hope and peace.”

We feel very fortunate to be here at this time in our lives and to be able to help move this wonderful work forward and to be instrumental in helping and serving others has been a great blessing in our lives. To serve as the Savior did and to set an example of love and compassion that we hope will one day bring others unto Christ has helped to strengthen our testimony and hopefully those we come in contact with. May you all be blessed this Christmas season with Health, happiness and a stronger testimony of the great love our Savior has for each one of us. 

Love you all,

Sister Cameron

Here are a few extra photos that I just had to add!

Christmas Angels

Light the world in Samoa