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...