Final Chapter of a great spiritual experience……

On the final Sunday in Samoa we were asked to share our testimony in Stake conference. Gramma accompanied the Stake choir and shared the piano for the last time with Daisy.

Dasiy came over for good-byes and she and Gramma tried on their dresses were sewn last September, that they didn’t dare wear. Celeste also came and said good-bye.

It was the last senior couple family home evening for us we will miss this group of wonderful people.  

Off to the Apia airport, with the Jacobs. 

Then we arrived in New Zealand to a customs hassle and a hotel stay at “The Spencer” with the All Blacks rugby team. I got a picture only of their bus.   

On Wednesday the Spencer’s graciously took us to several nature reserves and beaches so we could see that Auckland is just not about traffic jams. We saw some beautiful places. It was a little cool (it is winter there now).  

On Thursday after giving our exit report to the Church education people, the Spencer’s took us to the airport. We stopped one more time to a special city park where you can see almost all of Auckland. It was very windy there, but a beautiful view. 

At the airport waiting for the flight we ran into a Tongan missionary going home and one of our own traveling back home with his parents. All their flights left, ours did not. 

Our flight cancelled we waited with about 70 others to check in a hotel for about 3 hours sleep. I will say no more here about the fiasco our airline trip home became. 

The Idaho Falls airport was a delight with signs and cheering grandchildren. More signs at home and time at last with family and friends.  

Saturday night we were release by President Hawker and on Sunday we reported to the Ward, friends, and family. Tofa Soifua, Samoa you will forever be a part of our lives and thoughts. We love that special place and its wonderful people. We are so thankful for the great spiritual experience of serving a mission!

Bright Samoan sunrise and the coming sunset for the Hammonds in Samoa…..

Gramma got another sunrise picture on her way to early morning piano lessons this week.

On Monday it was our last mail and water delivery we said good-bye to the Elders and Sisters. We will miss visiting with these great young men and women.

They have a high fence and a locked gate at the house the Sister stay at. When it is locked they call it spirit prison. We got a picture of Gramma in spirit prison.

Our favorite falls was running again it is always a pleasure to see it.

Here is another picture of one of Gramma’s piano student's Tony. 

Tuesday, Nozzy, Daisy, and their husbands took us out for pizza.

We went to a Fiafia program Wednesday with the Stonehockers, we have not had as many chances to go with them because they are in Savaii, so we felt we needed to take this opportunity. The Jacobs and Dr. Orchard went with us.

On Thursday it was the last trip up the bumpy road to Sauniatu. We taught our class, they each gave us gifts, and we had a meal they had prepared for us. It was very touching. This great group of teachers will be missed by us.

This little boy (Sam) missed the bus so he rode home with us. He lived about half way between the school and Apia and he was getting a little nervous riding with these Palongi’s. Gramma tried to reassure him in Samoan and when we let him off he seemed quite relieved. 

Late that afternoon we said good-bye to three Elders on our route that were going home the next day. Two Palongi’s going home to the states and one Samoan going to his village on the west side of the island.

That night we tried to get out of it, but the Bishop insisted that we go to another Fiafia with the Bishopric.

The next day was good-bye to Pesega College, with gifts, dancing, and song. The person taking the picture must not have been impressed with my dancing there is not photo of it. They also said good-bye to Brother Mulitalo who is moving his family back to the USA to Cedar City. 

Then of course food, after all this is Samoa. 

We went to the temple Friday night and got up early Saturday because we knew it would be one of the last chances to see the beach or climb the mountains. We had not hiked up tower hill so we left early and started up the trail.

Then down we went. It took a little more than two hours round trip.  I took pictures on both side of the trail, there were some pretty views. The pictures are of both sides of Apia harbour, the city of Apia, the Temple, the school campus, and on the last photo the hospital and the Motootua Ward building.

We then went over the cross island road to the Coconut Beach for a last time in the sand and sea in Samoa. 

When we got back we said good-bye to the Stonehockers. They extended their mission several months and are going to travel to New Zealand, Australia, and a few other places before the make it home, so we won’t see them again until October. We came out with them and will miss them.

This will be the last blog from Samoa. I will send one next week from the USA with pictures of our New Zealand visit and trip home. We have to speak in Stake conference tomorrow and Gramma has to accompany the Stake choir. We will miss this place, but are very anxious to see the family again. We have missed you and can not believe how fast this mission has gone by. Be good and do what is right, we love you. Tofa Soifua Grampa and Gramma.