Busy it is……..

Well, last week it started to get busy and this week it is busy. Besides the classes and in-service we taught, Elder and Sister Aland, the ITEP coordinating couple from New Zealand came for a visit. Also Elder and Sister Spencer came from New Zealand. They are the couple we replaced here in Samoa and they are on another mission coordinating a new program, the “Educational Specialist Program” in the South Pacific. They also will be the ITEP coordinators for a few months until the Aland’s replacement get to New Zealand from the USA. The Aland’s will be heading home in the middle of March. We had our route on Monday and they added a couple of new sets of missionaries. The first picture is of the bridge we cross each trip around the island. It was torn up a little when Joy and the other kids were here. They have repaired it. You can see the new boards on it.

On the way to a new place missionaries live we passed this unusual house. Notice the keyboards, saxophones, flutes, and trumpets hanging as decorations on the trees and fence. We haven’t got the story of why yet, but maybe the Elders can find out and let us know on our next visit. 

We went out to eat with the Spencer’s and the Steven’s. Here is a picture of Gramma, Sister Spencer, and the Steven’s. Elder Spencer was getting the car and I was taking the picture.

We had a special program for the senior couples. We met with the Mission President and his wife and their guests, Brother and Sister Anderson who stopped to visit them. He is a mental health consultant of the Church Missionary department and she is a family therapist. She gave an excellent talk on the importance of living the Gospel. 

 The Assistant’s to the President can smell food from far away and seem to show up at just the right time. 
 

The next picture is the Aland’s. They are so down to earth and fun to visit with. They will be returning to St. George soon, we will miss them.

 We and the Aland’s were given some beautiful leis by the Middle School Friday morning and here are pictures of the two we got. 

 

We travelled up to Sauniatu Friday afternoon with the Spencer’s and the Aland’s up the bumpy road. Elder Spencer pointed out some rubber gum trees along the road. We have driven up there many times and were so concentrated on the holes in the road we have missed seeing them. He served a mission in Australia and they have lots of them there. He said that is why he noticed them. It is unusual to see them in Samoa.

 At Sauniatu it was a “sports day”. That is when they have activities in the afternoon. They we playing ball, rugby, and these younger folks were doing Zumba.

 

School ended and they all piled on the bus for the bumpy ride down the mountain.

 Sister Aland gave Sister Losi the Sauniatu librarian some nice books.

We have been traveling to Sauniatu for over 13 months, once a week, and have never been able to swim at the beautiful falls there. After school we changed clothes and went with the Aland’s and Spencer’s. What a beautiful place, you have to see it to believe it.

 We are making a list of things we need to buy in New Zealand when we travel there a week from Sunday. Principal’s conference was fun last year and this one should be even better. We hope all of you are doing well. Sounds like many of you have important decisions to make and we hope you are asking the Lord to help you make them. We love you and miss you. Be good, go to Church, and be good examples and help one another. May God bless you all, Tofa Soifua. Grampa and Gramma Hammond