Displays, Food, and help for the Dentist……

The Technical and Vocation Departments here at the Church College had their end of year displays and there was some interesting things shown (and for sale if you wanted them). Here are the welding and automotive department’s pictures. The first is garbage holders. They have to put their garbage for pick up on these baskets in the air so the many dogs don’t get in them. It doesn’t always work.

This is clothes line poles, a small picnic table, and what they call “Samoan Stoves”, they cook over fires with them.

The next is the automotive, this class is hard because it is difficult to get car parts on the Island. The last picture is the instructor, he is usually in white shirt and tie I guess it was “aloha” Friday.

The Home Econ. Department had a lot of interesting stuff and were cooking a lot of food to eat.

While all this was going on the Middle School had there foods of the world day and each class presented from different countries. Gramma ate several things, I was much more cautious.

It was a busy place.

We went to the Institute choir practice and stayed for the talent show. Very interesting, remember I have said, “Samoans love to perform”.

This is Kiwi the blind student. His number was probably the best.

This one, well, I will let Gramma explain in the email.

Gramma and I went with the senior couple zone leaders Elder and Sister Layne (he is a dentist serving here from Florida) to the airport to pick up a dentist and his wife to help them at the Church's dental clinic. They spent six months of their 18 month mission alone at the dental clinic, then the Church sent a Dr. Thomas and his wife for three months and today they were to get a new dentist for 1 month. Off the plane comes Duane Williams and his wife. Our Pingree II Bishop's brother. It is interesting that I grew up 3/4 miles from him; it is indeed a small world. It was good to see them and the Layne's were very glad to have the help. The clinic is open to anyone in need and people line up early in the morning hoping to get to see a dentist. That day Dr. Layne had seen the Samoan Prime Ministers wife because it does not matter if you are rich or poor the Church's clinic is one of the few places you can get dental services.

That last picture is  eating out with the Williams, Winters, and Layne’s. The next picture is of a delicacy served only two days in Samoa. It is a sea worm that comes out for two days each year and they catch it with small nets and serve it raw. The Layne’s and Gramma had some (it tasted like sea weed they said), I tasted only the toast.

We also saw a swimming pool and trampoline in the Williams apartment compound. They are not very common here.

 

Well, that is the high lights of the week. Gramma has not died from sea worm poisoning yet, so all is well. I am trying to get the blog done today. Gramma is working with the Graduating class this morning on a class song they will sing in a few weeks at Graduation. She still cannot get the word “no” though her lips. I ask “where is the school music teacher?” I think they rather work with Sister Hammond. We love you all, hope you enjoy these last fall days, it is starting to get hotter and we read in the paper yesterday that there is a chance of worse than usual cyclone season coming. We will see, it is all part of our cultural learning experience. The Gospel is true, be kind, and may God bless you all. Tofa Soifua, Elder and Sister Hammond