Robert Louis Stevenson

We skipped the Senior Missionary activity on Saturday because of needed to be back for choir practice, yes choir practice. So we went to the Robert Louis Stevenson home and museum. He wrote Treasure Island, Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde, and many others. He lived here almost 5 years and died in 1894 and is buried on top of the mountain next to his home. He was 44 years old and not healthy. The house was his, and then home for the Germany Governor, then the New Zealand Governor, until Samoa was declared independent in the 1960’s. The prime minister lived there until a Cyclone seriously damaged it in 1990. It fell in disrepair and the government could not afford to fix it, so a former LDS missionary, Brother Maughn took it over paid to have it restored and created a foundation to keep it a historical landmark. Here is the fale with information. 

Here is the beautiful home, that’s Gramma not our guide.

Here is the road to the house.   

This statue is to tell the story of the end of cannibalism in Samoa. We are so glad it ended.

Here is the sitting room with the first fireplace in Samoa, it’s for looks it does not have a chimney.

Here is his wife room. 

Here is the music corner in a big dinning and family room.   

Here is the safe in the same room, there was not bank. Did you notice the flat lion on the floor here and in the sitting room. 

Here is another one of Grammas birds. Taft is going to try to identify it for us.   

On our way to choir practice they called and said it was cancelled it. We were going to climb up the steep trail to his grave, but when choir was cancelled it was too late. So we went early Monday morning. We are glade we waited it was a very hard hike.   

Here is a small falls and swimming pool in the small river.   

It was hiking in a jungle, but it was beautiful. 

We drank a lot of water and took plenty of breaks.   

Here is a picture of the valley behind us, yes that is me at the bottom trying to catch Gramma.

Here is a view of Apia Harbor.   

I told you it was a hard hike. I am ringing wet; the only dry spot is the bottom 3 inches of my pants legs.

This another valley view. The harbor again, see the pretty red flowers in the trees? 

Gramma took this beautiful shot to get even for some of my pictures of her.   

Here is the grave on top of the hill and the inscription. A lady took a picture of us, it not real good.   

We took another trail back not as steep but 4 times longer. It was not cleared very well and we could have used a bush knife. 

Here is the trail blazer Gramma, no, it was not raining, it was just humid.

We went home bushed, cleaned up and went on another hike with the Stonehockers and Goodlets. We will have those pictures on the next blog and some pictures of our first snorkeling activity. School was closed this week, which is why we got two additional days of activities. There is a multi-stake YW/YM activity on campus; they camp in tents (young men) and the school classrooms (young women) it goes 5 days. We are looking forward to all of conference, we saw some of it. They broadcast it a week later here, the two Saturday sessions, Saturday evening priesthood session, then the two Sunday sessions. Hope you all got to watch and learn from the sessions. We love you, Tofa Souifua,

Elder and Sister Hammond