April 2017

General Conference

We had general conference broadcast on the 8th and 9th.  It was so good to sit and understand the speakers and feel of the spirit.  Sunday we met at the chapel anxiously awaiting 10 a.m. so we could to start conference.  And...the power went out.  The power company said it would take about an hour so we went outside to move around.  It was raining but felt good to get outside.  After waiting for 45 minutes, we went back in and Consita led us in singing hymns.  That lasted about 30 minutes.  Still no power.  So there was a closing prayer and we all went back home.  We aren't sure when we'll see Sunday session.

Flooding again

Sunday night, April 9 it rained and rained and rained.  Our phones were on silent so we didn't hear when the branch president called at midnight to say that some members were flooded out again.  Not until this morning did we learn that there had been a cyclone in the Vanuatu area and we were getting some of that storm.

White River Service Project

During the last rain storm, Sister Amon had a small landslide in her backyard. Some banana trees came down with the dirt. So the elder's had a service project to help her clean it up. There were only 5 men that showed up but they had a great time. Eric was amazing as he worked and earned the nickname “dozer” because he could shovel so much dirt.

  

Lau Valley School

This was such an adventure to get to this school. It sits in a valley and has a lot of stairs to get to it. Thanks goodness for the cement stairs and walkway and bridge. It was interesting as we walked to the buildings—the children whispered “white people”. Everyone is so nice to us. And treats us so well. Needless to say, to pay the fees at this school was quite a process because the head mistress wasn't at school and she had the receipt book. So a teacher sent a student running to her house in the village, which was over the bridge and through the jungle but we were assured it would only be 10 minutes. We visited and waited. Finally, the student comes back with a receipt book that is totally full! So he has to go back over the bridge and through the jungle to the headmistresses house he went. (Wait does that remind you of a song???) And we visited and waited. Finally, the student comes back with a receipt book and we were able to pay. When we left, it was lunch time and most of the kids go home for lunch so we followed many as they went over the bridge. Some then headed to their village while some went up the stairs. Of course they were much faster than me at climbing the stairs. They all just kind of hung around us as we climbed.

Water Tank Inspections

We had to inspect waters tanks that the previous couple had put in place before the project could be closed. So it didn't sound too hard to go and look for the tanks and see if they were working. We had one person in each branch help us so we could locate the tanks easier. We started in Honiara branch with Pres. Maseru as our guide. Some of the tanks were easy to get to but others were located down or up a mountain. It amazed us that the tanks were able to be installed in some of the places. Lynn needed some help getting up and down some of the locations, so he used Pres. Maseru as his “4 wheel drive”. In the afternoon, we went to the Burns Creek Branch area and had Clifton help us there. This is a flatter area so most of the tanks were easy to find, we just had to walk through the jungle. The next day, we went to the White River area and had Sister Lausao and Bro. Paia help us locate the tanks.  One of the tanks was located in a flat area that was pretty muddy due to the recent rains.  Lynn made one wrong step and almost ended up face down in the mud.  Luckily, he just got his foot really stuck and muddy.  These tanks were harder to get to because it was so mountainous. There were several that I didn't even attempt going to. One of the roads, Sister Lausao even covered her eyes on this road, was narrow and eroding away. The roads are so steep that we used 4 wheel drive to get up them and then they had big gullies in them from the downpours. Needless to say, it was an adventure. The majority of the tanks were great.  We had two that were not being used and several that had been sold.  We did 33 tanks, which was pretty good and enough to close the project.

Baptisms—Margaret's mother and niece

April 1, Margaret's mother and niece were baptized today. It is amazing to see how one baptism, Ronald, has now brought three other people into the church.

Misitana's oven

We were driving by the Misitana's house after visiting a school and Freeman motioned for us to stop. So we got out and we sat under a tree and visited with his family. Ethel, his wife, is the district relief society president. We then asked to see her oven. They use a “rock” oven—build a fire, put the rocks in, and then put the food on the rocks. It makes me so grateful for a gas oven in our flat.

 

WWII monument

We were heading up the mountain to pay fees at the Barana School, when we saw this star. It is a monument from WWII to signify the last battle with the Japanese.   

 neighbors girls

These little girls are part of the family that lives next door to us. They were outside playing and having so much fun, I couldn't resist taking their picture. It is fun to hear the kids laughing and playing in the evening.  

Zone Conference

April 24 and 25 we had zone conference. It is always fun to see and visit with Pres. & Sister Granger and all of the elders. It was a wonderful 1 ½ days. Pres. Granger asked the sisters, (me, Sister Fuimaono, Sister Granger) to bear their testimonies at the end of the conference. It was a great way to close. 

Fisher Price Toy

We all know the little telephone pull toy that was made by Fisher Price. It is the old fashioned phone with a handset and body with a string attached to pull it. The phone has eyes that move and I am sure it used to make some noise.

The nursery at White River has one of these pull toys. It has seen better days. There is no handset and there is no string to pull. But that toy is one of the favorites of the kids. It is found during sacrament meeting and brought into the room and pushed about, causing some noise.

But today it graduated to better things. Some boys had taken it outside and would sit on it and ride it down the driveway, which is pretty steep. (This reminded me of Chris and Greg and their Tonka trucks that they would ride down the hill in Pleasant Grove.) They had taken an empty plastic bottle, smashed it and put it under their feet so they would be able to go faster.  And at the end of the driveway, where the cement ends there is some grass and weeds, they would end up crashing. They were having the best of fun. I'm sure Fisher Price had no idea that this toy would end up in the Solomon Islands how it would be used but I was truly amazed at how it has lasted though all of the wear and tear on it. 

March 2017

March 2017

Marriage

Ronald (who was baptized in December) was married to Margaret on the 3^rd. We missed the ceremony but arrived in time to help them celebrate. It was pretty fun. They are a sharp couple and will be a great blessing for White River Branch. On Saturday, Ronald then baptized Margaret! What a great occasion. Her parents are going to , be baptized on Saturday April 1. Both Ronald and Margaret are very involved with the activities. Ronald helped with New Beginnings decorations and they came that evening. Here is their story: They meet in 2011, and lived together for a year or so. Then Ronald went back to his village on Rennell Island. They met again last year, then Ronald joined the church and Margaret came with him and decided to join also. But they needed to get married first because they were living together. We didn't know this when Ronald was baptized. Ronald's name has been presented to be the branch clerk. And now that everything is legal, hopefully it will happen soon.

I left out how Ronald was introduced to the church. The missionaries were teaching Ronald until they were transferred.  Ronald felt the spirit during the discussions.  But then no missionaries came back.  Later he saw the missionaries with  George Oto a 17 year old member, who was his neighbor.  Soon Ronald was asking George questions about the church and George (who doesn't remember any of the questions or answers) was able to answer everything Ronald asked.   In November,  Ronald came to our English class and talked with Lynn about his feelings, knowing that the church is true and wanting to be baptized.

Margaret & Ronald with her family

Margaret & Ronald

District Food Fest and Dancing

Each branch was assigned an island group in the Pacific that they needed to research and find out about the food and dances for that area. Yeah right...no one has internet over here. Thank goodness Sis. Tui does know how to research and helped White River with their recipes and the dance was just a simple one that the women did—even me! The event was scheduled to start at 2 p.m so White River and Burns Creek people were there ready to go but no Honiara! They didn't start coming until 3:30. What? Did the time get changed? It finally got started by 4, with everyone lining up and taking just a taste of food, not whole big servings like the people are used to here. Then the branches did their dances. It was a fun to see the different cultures dances but it went so long. A lot of people had to leave to get a transport. It was fun to get together as a district...just would have been nice if it could have started on time.

District Relief Society program

To celebrate the birthday of relief society, there was a whole week of activities planned...service, rescue, branch program and a district program/video Saturday with a lunch, with a musical fireside Sunday. Saturday morning, 9 a.m, the sisters were to gather to watch a video, 17 Miracles, and talk about being pioneers in their branches. By 9, there were maybe 5 women there. After some technical difficulties, the program started at 9:30. Sister Kwanafia spoke for a few minutes because she has been a member for 20 years and then they started the video. After, they wanted to serve lunch but realized that the word hadn't been given that everyone needed to provide their own plates. So we waited and waited and finally plates arrived. And of course, there are no utensils—all finger eating. We had rice, chicken wings, bananas or taro. The sisters are so thoughtful because they served me (it was a hugh plateful that I knew I wouldn't be able to eat). I ate just a little bit and then gave my food to Ronald. And I went home and had a sandwich.

Sunday the women met at the chapel for a musical fireside, where each branch was given hymns to learn and sing. Sister Fuimaono and Sister Mary read a script and when promoted each branch sang their hymn. Afterward, there was birthday cake—no plates or forks—hands only.   

Funeral for Brother Juju

Brother Gideon Juju had fallen down and hurt his head about a month ago. And he hadn't been too well ever since then. He passed away on Friday, March 3. He was a great person and had worked part time as security here at the compound. Last fall, he had joined the church. His funeral was Monday, March 6 and was the first LDS funeral to be held here. After the services, we walked to the cemetery where the grave had been dug and bricks placed with a cement stucco. They lowered the casket into the ground and immediately worked on putting the cement on top.

Indiana Jones Ride

The roads are so bad. Every time we leave, I think I am on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. The potholes are everywhere and not just little ones but big ones that you have to go over very slowly. Lynn has become pretty good at dodging them. It is almost like a dance to watch the vehicles try to go around the holes. We are just waiting for the time when two vehicles both decide to swerve inside the lanes to avoid potholes and they hit each other. Some of the back roads are ideal motocross courses—small hills and muddy.

Zone Conference

We knew that Pres. & Sister Granger were arriving Wednesday, March for zone conference on Thursday. We didn't hear anything from them that night but had learned from the missionaries that zone conference was going to be on Friday. We found out that one of the AP's didn't have the correct paper work and was arrested.  Pres. Granger was told that he would be in a room by himself.  But when they went to visit him to give him some food and clothes, they found out he was in the prison, with a criminal!  Sister Granger immediately knew that they needed to get him out of there and back to Vanuatu ASAP.  They spent Wednesday evening and Thursday morning trying to figure out what to do.  They arranged a travel plan that would get him back to Vanuatu but with several stops.  It was crazy.  When Pres. & Sister Granger went to pick him up, he was pretty relieved and gave Pres. Granger a big hug.  He did teach several prisoners and had an opportunity to do a devotional the night he was there.  The elder was put on a plane, given a phone and told to call at every stop to make sure he makes it back okay.  What an experience he will have to tell.  

Zone conference was a good spiritual lift, even though it was a short time. Saturday, the Granger's attended the baptism and then left from there.  A short visit but full of interesting stuff.

great big cheer

Sign

meat lovers sign...place we buy our meat.

What the?????? Whole bug of what???

Hospital Computer Hand-off

We were finally able to get the computer hand-off worked out.  We originally had 13 computers for the hospital but we found out that we needed to pay tax on them.  So we ended up with 11 computers to give to the hospital.  We were able to have our hand-off ceremony, where the CEO and Nelson, the administrator were able to say a few words along with Pres. Sauseru and Elder Sanders.  It is such a great feeling to know that in a small way we were able to help the country.  

New Beginnings

The district had planned to have a district wide New Beginnings program.  But Pres. Granger said that there had been too many district programs in a month, so each branch was to have their own.  I was so happy when I learned that White River was doing their's this month.  It was to start at 4 p.m, Saturday afternoon.  We arrived but there weren't many girls there and Sister Tui wasn't there, even though the room was decorated.  So we waited and finally Sister Tui arrived, then the girls started coming.  By 5 the program started.  The girls did a great job.  It was very touching to see them get emotional during the program.  The songs were great.  And the girls were given their pendants.  This is the first time they have even received pendants.  Pretty special.  

Our Wake up call

We think there was a dog was in heat in the neighborhood.  We heard dogs barking and growling during the day and night.  This video is actually just part of the dogs barking.  The squeaking is our door..which .I couldn't keep still.

Tui's

This is the Tui family from Fiji.  Sister Tui has been a member for many years.  Bro. Tui a couple of years ago.  Their daughter, Mary Ann, is 7, same age as our Brookie.  We really enjoy visitng with them.  They invited us to dinner...lobster.  Now I really have decided that getting the meat out of the lobster is more work than it is worth...besides spilling my drink when I was trying to crack open the thing, I just don't enjoy digging for little morsels.  Give me a big fat steak any day!  Their house isn't a typical one.  It felt so good to walk into their home...and feel a little normal.

baptisms, classes--English, piano, typing

School Visits

St John's library entrance

St John's library...not many have libraries

Joyce & I

St John's bell

Bishop Epalle school

Marana Kindy

Marara Kindy outside

Marara CHS

Marara CHS class

Marara prep class

White River CHS...Jeron & Lynn

Four Square School

Mandella School

Mandella...

Florence Young

stsudents at Florence Young

We went to several schools to pay student fees.  Most of the schools have a campus that includes kindy, primary, and high school.  These are pictures of some of the schools.  The students are so helpful when we ask where to go and need directions.  The little children love to see us.  At the Four Square School, the kids wanted to hold our hands and cling to us because they were so happy to see us.  What a treat it is.  The funny thing about the schools...we have to pay one check for the high school, one check for the primary, and one check for kindy.  We couldn't find the Bishop Epalle school so we asked someone on the street.  He offered to show us where it was and climbed in the truck.  Later, I thought, we are so trusting...a complete beetle-nut chewing stranger in our truck.  Thank goodness he was very nice and didn't think about it taking up his time or being out of his way.

Watch your step!!!

Koloale CHS

Joyce & I...