Slower but still busy Mother’s day week……

This blog will be a little shorter than most of the others. It was mother’s day weekend and to the Samoans, it is a big deal, as it should be with all of us. The Young Women of Pesega Lua(2^nd) ward presented Gramma with a large basket of fruit for mother’s day. They also sang the most beautiful song accompanied with Ukulele. She had helped them with the young women’s choir and they were saying thank you. 

Here is that fale not far from our apartment that I sent last week. Gramma got a better picture of it, and yes people do live there.

Here is a pig Gramma bought at a shop. She loved it.   

Here is a bird nest surrounded by Gramma’s coral that Sister Goodlet made for her. 

Here is a picture taken on the street in front of our apartment looking toward the school. See all the smoke in the air. That is from the fires to cook the mother’s day meals in Samoa. I sometimes feel like saying, “is there a forest fire somewhere?”

We had a special family home evening with the 12 couples in the mission. Two couples go home this month. The Jordon’s go home to Utah on Wednesday. They have served in American Samoa and were ask to extend their mission for 6 months, which they did. 

The Rotz’s leave in two weeks for Utah. They have been the couple’s zone leaders and have been doing public relations on the Island. 

The Samoan in the center of this picture is our Mission President, President Leota. He and his wife leave at the end of June. He will be replaced by President and Sister Tolman.

 

I have been sick with a cold this weekend, Gramma treated me quite kindly. Yes, you can get a cold in the tropics! I am feeling better today and we will be leaving for Sauniatu in an hour. We love you all, glad to talk to some of you on mother’s day, we will try to get hold of the rest of you in the next few days. This one day ahead and 5 hours behind (6 hours in Chicago) makes it hard to communicate at times. The gospel is true, we are having many faith promoting experiences, Gramma was a little home sick this week (she can’t get out in the flower beds here), but when she leaves here there will be a lot of tears, she is developing many friendships with the saints in Samoa. Tofa Soifua, Elder and Sister Hammond