October 2016

October 2016

NEW FOODS

COCOA
We have gained a new understanding with some food.  The first one is cocoa.  The Fiumaono's purchased some cocoa pods,  roasted them, and eventually we were able to drink Samoan cocoa.  The process is so involved and takes hours.  Here is a brief  rundown of the process....crack the pods, pull out the beans, clean them, roast them until they are dark brown, grind them with a stone to make a paste.  Add hot sugar water to a little of the paste.  Drink and enjoy!  Not too bad.  A little crunchy though.  Definitely not like our hot chocolate at home.

COCOA PODS/BEANS

the steps to make cocoa...pods, beans, drink

TAPIOCA

I have learned a lot about tapioca. In America, it comes in a box and I used it for pudding. YUM. Loved tapioca pudding.

Simon Peter was growing tapioca in his garden. What!!! How can that plant give me the little tapioca pearls that I'm used too?

tapioca plant

Elder Fuimaono made banana soup and it had the tapioca that I was used to...He said that is the tapioca starch made from the plant. Apparently you peel the plant, scrape the insides and work it into a pulp and put it in water. Then you rinse it and somehow you get the starch part (the little pearls I know).  The Fuimaono's also made papaya soup with tapioca.  

banana soup

The lunch that we had at Don Bosco consisted of rice, pork, yellow strips of something, and a fruit. I had to ask about it all. The fruit was papaya, but it was more red and juicy that what we ate when we were at the river. The yellow strips were cooked tapioca plant! What, no way! I really didn't like it. It was so dry, dense, and pasty and where are the little pearls I knew?

cooked tapioca

I so appreciate the box of tapioca that I can buy.

MANGO SEASON
What can we say about mangos???  YUM.  We are enjoying them.  What's not to love...a fresh mango, pineapple, and banana smoothie?

TWO SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS!!!

HENRY.. Simon Peter called asking if we could give a student a ride to his Don Bosco school. We said we could after our haircuts at 8:30. Our haircuts were late (go figure, we were first on the day) and Lynn went to pay and didn't have his wallet. We drove back home, got his wallet (thank goodness it was on his dresser), and went back to pay and then headed out to find Simon Peter and this student we needed to take to school. We drove past the Lunga market, turned down the main road to Simon Peter's, and made another turn into Simon Peter's village, but no Simon Peter and student. Now what? We drove to his house and his wife told us he had gone to find us. So we drove back out, rechecking everywhere for Simon Peter. We went back to the river...no Simon Peter. We turned around and rechecked everywhere, even his home. No one. So we decided to head home. I felt like we should try one more time so turning around again, we went back to Simon Peter's. And there he was at the road to his village but no student. We took Simon Peter to his house hoping the student was there. No...so we went back out to the road to wait while Simon Peter went to find the student. While we waited, a women in the house on the corner, came out to visit with us. Her name was Sheena and she was a member. She kind keeps tabs on who goes down the village road and had seen the student. So we waited and waited and waited. A YSA, Michael, came by and he had us drive back to Simon Peter's house...but Simon Peter and student weren't there. (Every time we drive by houses, the people and kids always wave. Of course we wave back. It make me feel like I'm in a parade.) So back we drove again and parked by Sheena's house. And waited a little longer. Sheena came back and we all decided that we should just leave. We finally arrive home about 11:00. And who should we find sitting there...Henry the lost student! He had come about 15 minutes earlier. So we get in the truck and head to his school...which happens to be out at the Palm Oil Plant...takes us ½ hr...drop him off and get back home at 1:30.

 

We met at the Honiara building to watch general conference. It was good to be able to be there and enjoy the Saturday morning session. After the session, we saw Simon Peter and asked about the parent meeting for Henry that the school was having. Simon knew nothing about it. We did because they called us and we referred them to Simon. So we call Henry and find out that the meeting is still going and we need to go. So we took Simon Peter out to the Don Bosco agricultural school, which is ½ hour away. Henry met us and Simon got out to talk to Father Albert. A minute later, Henry was there saying that we needed to talk with Father Albert also. We went to the lunchroom where they were just putting away the lunch that they fed the parents and gave us each a plate of food. We were able to visit with Father Albert and get a clearer picture of what the school does and what is expected from us so that Henry can graduate in November. We found out that he needs a “uniform” which is a white shirt, tie, and black trousers (pants are underwear over here...Father Albert taught us that) and a $300 SD contribution. And we also learned that the Nish's would give Father Albert $100 for transportation money so Henry could get into town to go to church every weekend...that's $20 per trip one way.

JOYCE'S NIECE OCT 16-18

Joyce needed a ride to some school—trying to find her sister's daughter. We left about 1:30 to hopefully pick up someone at school—just like the Gilligan's Island song—1 hour turned into 3 hours—picked up Joyce's sister—went to daughter's school, out by the airport—apparently she hasn't been there for a week—Joyce's sister, Susan, worried about her—she waits to find her friend—go back to talk to other friend—they plan to “trap” daughter—waiting, waiting, waiting—we hadn't had lunch and I really needed a bathroom—finally Susan needs to get home to feed her new twin babies—we leave—Joyce and sister will figure out how to get daughter home and what will happen with schooling--

The two detectives

Tuesday October 18

And now the rest of the story....

Joyce came by today to tell us the end of the missing daughter story. Here it is...

Joyce's sister's daughter had received a letter from the principal which told her how much money she needed to pay for her schooling for the term. She went home for the weekend and her dad gave her the money she needed. She then got on the transport and then a taxi to get to school. She paid the taxi driver then he left and she went into school to pay her fees. Her wallet was gone. She had dropped it in the taxi. She was so ashamed. So she went to one of her friend's house. She figured she would be in trouble with her parents. And she stayed a few days. That is when the mother (Joyce's sister) found out that she hadn't been at school. She was worried about her daughter being missing, thinking the many horrible things that could have happened to her. Last night, the daughter finally came to another friend and the friend called Joyce's family. They had a neighbor who had a truck and he took them to get her. The daughter was really scared and didn't want to go home with them. Finally, they were able to get her in the truck and get her home to hear her sad story of the lost money. The parents didn't get mad at her but told her how important school was and they were able to give her the money and got her back in school today. What a great ending to this story.

Joyce also mentioned that Susan thinks we are so good, to have spent time taking them to the school, waiting while the mother looked to find someone to help her, taking them to another friends home, and waiting some more. She was so impressed. I told her what great detectives they were...anyway, it sure makes you realize how easy it is to impress these people. I was so happy that we could help them. That mother was pretty worried.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

We met for general conference on Oct. 8 and 9.  The district clerk had spent all week trying to download the conference sessions but was having trouble with the priesthood and Sunday morning session.  So we tried to download them and each time the download failed.  So we were assuming that we would not be able to see those sessions.  On Saturday, we watched the Saturday morning session.  It was so good to be able to understand the talks.  Made us a little homesick.  Then we had to leave to get to Henry, so didn't hear that session.  We thought that was it for the day but Elder Fiumaono was able to get the Priesthood session on youtube. and Lynn was able to stay for that.

On Sunday, we again were able to watch the two sessions, the morning one on youtube, which had pauses and all, and then the afternoon one, which was downloaded.  

LESSONS

ENGLISH

The English classes are going great.  It is hard to plan for such a range of abilities, but so rewarding at the same time.  At first we were worried about who comes or not comes but then realized that we just teach the same lesson in every branch, no matter what.  That has helped ease some stress.  The beginning English class was able to read their first story.  It is hard to explain their excitement at doing that.  It was sooooo fun.

Honiara--intermediate

White River

White River

Honiara beginning

Burns Creek  English & Keyboarding

PIANO (KEYBOARDING)

The keyboarding classes are group ones and we have just covered some of the basics of music.  We have about 8 in one branch ad three in the other.  Consita and Joey are two RM's that we are teaching individually.  Consita knows a lot about music and Joey understands a lot because he plays the guitar.  We hope  at least one person will be serious enough about it that they will be able to play in church.  We do have a few women that have started...the numbers will thin out when we get to the practicing part.

Joey

Consita

Kathryn & Trini

"ANOTHER GILLIGAN'S ISLAND"

Oct. 19

we went to help Simon Peter get some wood for building. Whenever we go to help someone, it seems something that we plan to take an hour, ends up taking three. And this was true with Simon Peter. We picked him up and drove to the lumber yard to pick up his wood. It was a huge bundle...we thought it would be maybe ten pieces...thank goodness we had brought Pres. Maseru with us and Simon Peter had someone visiting him. So the three of them starting loading the wood, with Lynn supervising and helping some. It became very apparent that it would take more than one trip to get it to Simon's home. And then because the wood stuck out over the tailgate, Mausaru said he would stand on the wood, while we drove. That is a big no-no but we realized he was right to weigh the wood down so it wouldn't fall out. Simon Peter and his friend stood back there too. So they tied it up, put “plastic” on it and headed out. Thank goodness we were not too far from Simon's house, just a lot of bumpy roads. We eventually had to make three trips to get it all delivered. Of course, Simon and Ethel were so appreciative...

mill at lumber yard

loading lumber

unloading lumber

TOYS
Here are two pictures of the toys that the children were playing with at Simon Peter's home.

THE ATM GENIE

We have a "new" picture of ATM machines over here.  Elder Sanders went to withdraw our money for the week.  He put the card in and waited and waited and waited.  Finally, here comes a man from the side of the ATM machine and hands him back his card!  So now we picture this guy sitting inside the ATM machine and counting money...

front of ATM

side of ATM...door

SOCCER GAME

There is a soccer stadium just down the street from us.  We kept asking Maclean to let us know when there was going to be a game and we would like to go.  So there was a game on Oct 8 and we went to it with Maclean and his father.  It wasn't like a Real game but it was fun to enjoy a soccer game.  The Solomon Islands team lost 0-3 against New Guinea.

HALLOWEEN

What????? Halloween costumes in a store!!!! No way!!!!  There is no "Halloween" over here, except for a few families who dress up.  Otherwise, it is a normal day.  That's why I wondered if the Halloween decorations and costumes at the store will even sell. 

NEW COMPUTERS!!!!!

Yesterday, Oct 27, we purchased two computers for the SR Center.  Maclean helped us find the place and decide which ones to buy.  They are reconditioned but sooo much better than what we have.  Everyone was sooo exicted.  Lovelyn couldn't stop saying what a happy day and she is so thankful.  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE IN ANY WAY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

Checking out the computers

Ready to pay...

Paying Jonah...

Putting the new computers to good use

 

    

Saturday October 29
This was the worldwide clean-up day sponsored by the church.  We met at 6 a.m. at the chapel and split into two groups and then headed down two streets to pick up garbage.  We were in the group that headed down the street by a cemetery.  We ran out of garbage bags before we ran out of garbage...It was a fun time and a great opportunity for everyone to be together.  We went back to the chapel for bread and papaya soup.

 

BAPTISMS

We had baptisms three Saturdays this month.  We missed getting one picture from Sat Oct 29...17 baptisms...

Sept

Sep 2 Friday

Pres. Granger had ok'd us to get to new phones, so we thought we had better do that before the new couple arrived.  Our phones were the first generation that we all used 15 years ago...punch a key three times to get the correct letter, etc.  We had Leonard from White River help us.  We picked him up at work and then drove to town and the phone store.  We ended up getting Samsung's.  They are sooo great to use and they were on sale because of  Father's Day.


Sep 3 Saturday
We taught institute in the morning.  There were about eight YSA's that attended.

That afternoon, there was a district activity for Father's Day (which is Sunday), which Lynn attended.  They listened to Pres. Sauseru talk for about 1 1/2 hrs. and then had activities...ping pong, rugby, basketball, Lynn played the keyboard for them to sing to and then they were fed...and it was a typical feast:  half a chicken, rice, slippery cabbage, watermelon, bread, and a few other things.  Lynn came home sooo stuffed.

Sep 4 Sunday
We went to the airport to pick up the new couple, the Fiumaono's.  It was fun to see them arrive.  We took them to the Honiara branch to meet the members there.  The Fiumaono's are from Samoa and kind of know the culture and really fit in here.  They can even speak some pidgin.

Later that day, there was a YSA fireside for the district.  So the four of us missionaries went and spoke a minute on marriage.  The Fiumaono's have been EFY directors for years so they had a few good stories to tell.  It was a good meeting.  While there, Eddie received his mission call to Australia.  He leaves in December.  It was so fun to have the whole group there as he opened his call.

Sep 5 Monday
We (two couples) went first thing to the bank to get the Fiumaono's on the account.  After spending 45 minutes there, we walked out with an application....Then we thought it would be good for them to get some groceries so we went to the ATM but it wouldn't take his card.  So we went into town to the main bank only to be sent to one across the street, only to wait to find out his card was blocked.  We then went to get their driver's licenses.  Elder F was able to cash a few American bills for SI money and we bought some bread, went to the post office and the phone store.  They ended up getting the same phones that we did.  They went to the open market.  After a short break, we went back to get a few groceries.  What a hectic, wait in line day.

The Fiumaono's are such giving people.  They bring down food for the kids in the center to make sure they are fed.  Actually, Sister Fuimano is always feeding someone.  She justs like to do that.

Sep 6 Tuesday
We needed to get the mission trucks registered so headed into town.  Found the building...funniest thing, there was a nice building empty as we walked through it to get to the place to pay for the inspection.  The cashier wasn't there and they didn't know when he would be there.  So we head to the government building to pay something else.  We can't do that until the inspection is done.  We give up for the day on that.  We were able to get the papers handed in at the bank today, which was good.

We had to fill gas tanks for some Elders and help buy some cleaning supplies.

Sep 7 Wednesday

Lynn's birthday.  I made some brownies to share with everyone.

We tried again to get the trucks registered.  The Fiumaono's had a friend in the government that helped us get things done.  It was great.  Here is what you have to do:  pay for the inspection, get the inspection (they test the lights, honk the horn, kick the tires), pay for the insurance, then pay for the registration at the central building.

getting the truck inspected

Sister Fuimaono wants to get the YSA involved in cleaning up around town.  She is asking the YSA to get up every morning at 5 a.m. and help clean the streets around the compound.  We'll see what happens.  They both have a lot of energy and want to get so much done.

Sep 9 Friday

We attended a marriage for a couple.  He is a member but his wife isn't but will be getting baptized tomorrow so they needed a church marriage.

The "newlyweds"

Sep 10 Saturday

Clean up crew from the Honiara Branch.  Early morning...2 trips to the dump!!!  We had no idea this was happening.  We came up to get something for English class today and saw all of them coming back.

We taught our first English class at Burns Creek Branch.  There 10 young women and sisters there.  It was kind of interesting to see what they knew and could handle.  We're trying to incorporate writing their life story with English.  We'll have to see how that goes.

We had 10 baptisms today.

Wed. Sep 14

Lynn took Pres. Maseru to look at an unfinished water tank project.  The platform is finished, just needs the tank moved on and a roof  to put rain gutters on it to run into the tank.

platform

checking supplies

We visited two schools today to check on how much money our students still need to pay.  It seems that if the fees aren't paid by this term, then they can't come back to school for the last term.  We have 8 more schools to check with.  One of our students came into the center today and I had to let him know that his family needed to pay $1000 for school (the amount they agreed to pay at the beginning of the year).  He was kind of shocked and worried.  There is no concept of budgeting over here.  They just live from day to day.

Honiara High School

As we were leaving this school, one of the teachers approached us and asked us about our religion...if we believed in Christ and what our pastors were like, etc...It is so refreshing to be in a country where religion is part of their lives.  We gave information about meeting times and location and now we hope he comes on Sunday.

YIKES!!!!  Tonight, while we were eating, there was an earthquake.  Everything was shaking.  Someone heard on the radio that it was 6.0 on the Richter scale.  We only felt minor shaking so the epicenter must have been far away.  Still it was a little scary.

Thurs Sep 15

We had a District Teacher Training Meeting, that we were teaching at.  We had some videos that go with the sections in the book that we were going to use.  But, of course, we had some technical difficulties...after several minutes and trips back to our office we were able to figure something out.  If there is one thing we have learned over here...nothing is simple or easy.  The sad part...it wasn't very well attended...maybe 25 people.

Sat Sep17
We taught English at the Burns Creek Branch.  There were about 10 women there.  It was pretty fun to teach people who really want to learn.  We decided that next Saturday, we would have a 30 min English class and a 30 minute piano class.

Burns Creek English

We had 9 baptisms today also.

baptisms

Sun Sep 18

Normal day at the White River Branch.  We held the My Path presentation in each of the branches today.  This is the beginning of our new round of classes that we will be starting next week.  In all of the branches, we had 73 people attend.  That is amazing.  

Tues Sep 20

I usually teach English class here at the compound, but today we were going to help a member, Simon Peter, with some metal roofing for his water tank.  So English class was kind of short.  We picked up Simon Peter and then his roofing and then we had to find some downspout for a water tank, which is right by Simon Peter's house.  This water tank is for Betty and her village.

Betty

Another water tank

Carrying wood home

(We just learned that the guy in the yellow shirt sold a church water tank...not the one in the picture...can I say again what a mess these tanks are.)

Saturday Sep 25
We took our "roadshow" to Burns Creek this morning.  We taught English (we never know who is coming).  We had three groups going; one was printing letters, one was needing some instruction with words, and Lynn worked with two that can read and understand pretty good.  It was kind of intense...but rewarding.  I hope they all come back next Saturday.

Rose & Ethel..beginners

Betty & Surii...advanced

Silverter & Simon...intermediate

 We then set up two keyboards and taught Betty and Surii how to play "There Is A Green Hill Far Away".  I hope these two sisters will keep coming back.  Even though everyone wants the youth to learn, the older sisters will be staying in the area and would be a great help to the branch.

Surii

Betty

We then went to the baptisms for two people, the older man was a minister for an Evangelical Church.  When he bore his testimony, he said how this church was the only true one.

2 baptisms

Sunday Sep 25
I was pretty nervous for today.  We are starting our new classes in each of the branches, so 6 classes, with new facilitators.  I was to stay and White River and help there, Lynn was going to Burns Creek and Joyce Kuse would be at Honiara, with Sarah Hosiei.

At church, it was the children's sacrament meeting program.  Definitely not like our programs.  There were three talks by children, A short talk by the Primary president and counselor and one SONG...I Am a Child of God.  (I have got to teach them a few new songs.)  A little girl was sitting in front of me during the meeting and she started to cry and look around.  I was able to coax her to sit on my lap.  And she feel asleep.  What a great feeling.  The Sunday School teacher wasn't there so they asked us to teach the lesson.  I was so thankful that I had downloaded the teacher's manual and Lynn and I  were able to use that to teach with.  After that, I went into the Primary and wanted to teach the children the chorus for Nephi's Courage.  As I was in the middle of that, they came and asked me to teach Relief Society because the Relief Society president didn't even show up and they didn't know what to do.  So again, thankful that I had downloaded the book, I taught the sisters.

After the meetings, we started our self-reliance classes...but the people were kind of confused.  I have a hard time trying to figure out how simple to make directions and have them understand.  Thank goodness Leonard Haiora was there (a returned missionary who speaks pretty good English.)  He was able to help me clarify who was going into which class.  Once we got started, things went great.  The classes at the other branches seemed to go pretty good too.  WHEW!!! What a relief that was.

White River SR Class

After the Success in School class, Velma (whose daughter fell asleep on my lap) talked to me.  She really wants to learn to read better and wondered when we would be starting classes.  (Even if it is just for her, we will do it.)  Then she needed to talk about her life and her struggles (inactive son and husband, who don't treat her very good).  She told me a little bit about her life and how excited she was to join the Church.  Tears were shed and hopefully, she felt better.

Lynn came back to pick me up (he figures it takes about 14 minutes to go from one end of the town to the other on Sundays when there isn't too much traffic.) and then we went to Honiara chapel for our district committee meeting but there were only Lynn and I and Joyce...so we cancelled it.  Later we met with Pres. Sauseru and talked about trying to get some more computers for the Self-Reliance Center.  He really wants to help the students with their studies.  He had a few ideas and then we told him about our friends and family who we had asked to raise some money for computers.

Monday Sep 26
THE DAY OF FIRSTS!!!!!
1.  The internet was working (after 3 days of it not) and I checked my emails to find out that our ward had raised over $700 for a computer for our YSA center!!!!  WOW!  We are so excited and happy.

left computer no internet, right computer very dim

A few YSA's

Maclean

YSA center

Lovelyn

Graven

2.  Our first full P-day...nothing scheduled but to go with Fuimanono's to drive east on the road to the end.
3.  The first clean river we have seen on this island, the Mberande River.  The family we saw there said it wasn't to drink but it was clean enough to play and wade in.

spending all day at river

clean water

4.  Our first papaya, given to us by the mother of the family playing in the river.
5.  Our first mango...YUM.
6.  Our first coconut inside that is actually the beginning of a tree.

mango

papaya

coconut 

On our way back, we took the Fuimanon's to the tank museum...not to pay and look just to show them.  The man in charge remembered us and made sure we shook hands.

It was a great day.  Pretty nice to finally have a break.


Wednesday Sep 28
We went to White River branch for a Young Men's activity.  The schools are on break this week.  They asked us to bring a church movie for them to watch.  So we took our big TV (it accepts USB) that is in our office and off we went.  (Thank goodness I had downloaded the movies that were shown in the Legacy Theater).  George Otto was the president and he had Freddie (future missionary) give a talk and then he had figured out a scripture chase game.  And the teams needed Bibles...and guess who didn't have theirs...right US...oops.  George had prepared food (TONS of rice, ramen noodles with hot dogs or sausage or chicken wings, and watermelon).  He had the boys dish up and then we started the movie "Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration."  They really liked the movie.  There were two non-members boys there.  Pretty great activity.  George Otto has been accepted to attend the church school in Samoa, starting in January.  George is also the branch clerk.  He will be missed when he leaves in January.  (He is the 2nd from the left, white shirt in picture.)

YUM???

White River YM

White River YM