More dancing, more teaching, more beauty, and some diet Dr. Pepper……

Our busy week started Monday with our deliveries with the other Assistant to the President riding with us. We made it to all the stops finding them without problems so now we are on our own. The biggest problem with our route will be some of the companionships speak as little English as we do Samoan. Sister Hammond is cramming and writing phases that will help. That Monday night these girls danced for all the Senior couples family home evening. They were cute and very good. 

Here are some pictures of Gramma teaching our Pesega class Tuesday on “Teaching special needs students”. We are building some special relationships with these teachers. 

We went to Sauniatu early on Thursday to inspect the home that missionaries have stayed in. The church is going to call a ITEP couple that have been elementary specialists and teachers to be at Sauniatu full time. They will come next February 2015 if called and we are to make sure the housing for the missionary couple is appropriate. It is a lot bigger than our apartment and looks like it will be fine after a deep cleaning. Here is the house form the outside. 

We also took some time and looked at part of the church farm at Sauniatu. It is where the church has a welfare project and uses it to train members and others in the best ways to raise food.   

Here is a picture of Gramma and some of the things they grow. 

This is the plant that grows Coco that is the start of Coco Samoa and the second picture is a small taro field. 

I had a special birthday. I got some moon pies from Melissa and Joy sent one Diet Dr. Pepper. This is the first and only diet Dr. Pepper since January.

The next two pictures are at the Institute building at the Samoan National University. This was their Friday devotional and Gramma and I are going to go every Friday so she can direct the choir they are starting. One more thing on the to do list.   

 

Next is a few pictures of the middle schools science fair, it is about like most science fairs, but it is outside and very warm.   

We ended the week with a Senior Activity. I took our laptop and speakers from school and set up in a conference room in the church service center. Eleven couples along with the Mission President and his wife watched “Ephraim’s Rescue” only about half of the couples had seen it. It was very touching and we found out something new about this grandfather of Jessica’s. At the end of the movie there is a picture with part of the cast and one of Ephraim Hank’s remaining 6 grandchildren, Phillip Hanks. President Tolman (our mission president) told us he knows Phillip Hanks. Phillip Hanks was the president of the Samoa Mission from 1961-1965, taught school for 13 years at Pesega, and was the Samoa Apia Temple President form 2008-2011. No wonder Jessica likes the islands, it’s in her genes. We have a busy week ahead we hope it is better than this past one with the passing of Stacy. It didn’t make for a very happy birthday knowing his funeral was happening at home. We love you, all of you be careful, do things to build your testimonies, and be good examples to others. The Gospel is true, we are engaged in a great work, and we love and miss you. Tofa Soifua, Gramma and Grampa Hammond.