Tropical Island Christmas

We experienced a myriad of activities throughout December and we've included some pictures. We spent five days in Apia with other senior missionaries and some of them joined us in Savaii the next week.

CLAM RESERVE & SNORKELING ACTIVITY: (yes, in December)

Debate:  Is the Starfish blue or purple?

8 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS is held outside the government building in downtown Apia where many churches and stakes, the police department, and individuals perform for eight nights prior to Christmas and is broadcast live on TV.  We attended the opening night with a few friends along with some dignitaries. The live nativity is role played by our young full-time missionaries.

SAUNIATU:

While in Upolu we were invited to Sauniatu for a tour and a catered lunch of Samoan foods by the ITEP missionaries who serve there. The monument below marks the spot where Apostle David O. McKay blessed Sauniatu and all of the isle of Samoa with fruitful crops and protection. It is regarded as a sacred spot. We toured the cemetery, waterfalls, and the church primary school grounds.

MISSION VISITOR'S CENTER

While in Apia we attended one of the nightly tree lightings at the mission home visitor's center. Several artificial trees are decorated in themes and tree lights are turned on at 8 p.m. at which time the young missionaries present a short, sweet musical program with a Christmas message about the Savior.

LIGHT THE WORLD

While Christmas lights are not in abundance, an LDS family chose to “Light the World” by lighting up their large home and the surrounding grounds and inviting all people to come night after night to enjoy the wonder of it. As the dad told us, the idea was inspired by two of his daughters who took hold and made it happen; he knew it was a great way to “Light the World” so he told his daughters, “If we are going to do this, let's do it right and light up everything.” And so they did. Groups of his construction employees provided music performances and refreshments were served. We felt embedded in Christmas after this sweet experience and sharing with Elder & Sister Little.

SAVAII
Elder & Sister Anthon from America Samoa and Elder & Sister Foley from Sauniatu visited Savaii.  We showed them our blowholes and Canopy Walk and waterfalls.

 

Good day for Blowholes.

Canopy Walk:  lookout over the reserve from an old Banyon tree

CLAM:

Fresh Clam at a roadside stand.  Lady told Ron to put in his hand being careful it didn't close on him and pull out to eat raw---No, we do not do that fresh!

Ron was loving his giant clam---Merry Christmas to him!

MISCELLANEOUS:

Colors are really like this!

We feel grateful to have experienced this tropical island Christmas.  

We appreciate our family, friends, and loved ones and wish all a Happy New Year!

Eight Month Benchmark

Today marks eight months since we embarked on our mission---time flies!

We attended a missionary conference here in Savai'i on Monday, Dec. 4th, with Elder Craig Cardon presiding---a church general authority and his sweet wife, along with our mission president, President & Sister Hannemann.  The conference remarks were inspiring and uplifting.  It was great to be in the company of 32 young junior Elders & Sisters.  They are always thoughtful and kind.

Lunch time:  Karla, Elder & Sister Cardon, Sister Hannemann & Pres.standing up, Sister & Elder Deffense

Wednesday morning we ferried to Upolu for a school TVET meeting.  Elder & Sister Little, TVET missionaries, have diligently worked with the Samoan government to mesh the certifiable curriculum for vocational education courses under one umbrella that would be recognized wherever a student would present their earned certificate.  Vaiola College needs to apply following the approved groundwork now in place.  This meeting was a collaboration with staff from Pesega College (Apia, Upolu) and Vaiola College (Savaii) to start the process of reviewing and streamlining curriculum for 2019.

Wednesday afternoon we attended a temple session with several of our Vaiola Ward members who had ferried over.  

The top ferry ticket was for our 6:00 a.m. departure from Savaii!

Thursday was car maintenance, lunch with Elder & Sister Little, and a ferry ride back to Savaii.

Saturday we were invited to an open house at the exclusive Aganoa Lodge resort.  Elder & Sister Deffense and us basked in the Samoan outdoors and restaurant taking in the ocean views, watching the kids swimming and surfing, and having a great meal.  The manager visited with us about the tsunami that hit the resort in 2012.  They now have a fale built on higher ground for escape and set back away from shore for such an emergency because get away time is of the essence.  They learned that there wasn't time to drive family and staff to the main road.  He trains staff and guests on tsunami procedures.  He has lived all over the world and is the most down to earth individual, a Pelagi (white person) from Australia.  If you remember, a few months ago we visited this resort to see his hydroponic system for growing his restaurant food.

 

Manager in his personal two-story home.

Other pictures of the week...

Pouteria---a fruit the size of an orange and very smooth skin.

Ron captured a picture of this tiny bird (Scarlet Honey Eater) fluttering on the car window.

This appears to be a fruit; we found out it is not edible.

Prize Giving & Graduation

This was a whirlwind week as the 2017 school year came to a close.

Tuesday was the Vaiola College (high school & middle school) Prize-Giving where annual awards were given for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place academic achievements in each specific subject area as well as overall.  Prize-Giving also includes sports achievements, spelling bee, leadership awards, and scholarships. Certificates were presented along with brown-paper wrapped gifts like notebooks and such, as well as some trophies. It is at Prize-Giving that the Valedictorian and Salutatorian are announced.  It was a huge event that required a lot of organization and preparation by staff.   Parents and staff passed out many candy leis to students as they were awarded.  Intermittently, students performed entertainment numbers.

Warming up the audience and students.

 

 

Friends lined up to drape candy leis on the Valedictorian just announced.

Valedictorian & Salutatorian Island Dance

Yep, Ron was called out to dance!  Such a good sport---much laughter.

We assisted in presenting certificates.

 Vaiola Primary School (Levels 1-6) Prize-Giving was held on Wednesday morning following the same format as the high school.  Again, parents showered their children with candy leis.

  

Graduation Day was Thursday, November 30^th.  Staff really worked hard to have rehearsal and to decorate and to prepare all the meals.  It was an emotional time for parents, staff, and us, knowing that we may never see some of these youth again, especially the international students.  It was a happy celebration!

 

Breakfast for guests & parents just prior to Commencement

Valedictorian

Salutatorian

Graduating Class of 2017

Lunch held after Commencement.  Servers are in the Vaiola uniform.

Graduation evening was prom.  The youth were dressed in their formal attire and really enjoyed themselves.

Mother/Son Dance

 

Father/Daughter Dance

 

Representatives came from the Auckland NZ Area Office to attend the Samoa graduations in Sauniatu, Apia, and Vaiola.  It so happens that the representatives selected were the ITEP Area Coordinators that supervise us and the TVET manager over us as well.  We loved hosting them here in Savaii.  

Our TVET Manager, Ameet & Vaiola College Vice Principal

 

Elder & Sister Holbrook---ITEP Coordinators

On Friday the international dorm students waved a farewell as their bus transported them off campus for the return flight after 10 months away from family.  Tears of sadness and happiness flowed freely.  They will be in our hearts forever.

Late Friday afternoon staff got together for their Christmas party playing outdoor team games and volleyball. Then we ate oranges, rested, and dressed for a nice staff appreciation Christmas dinner that evening.  At the dinner we were in groups and we had five minutes to create a TV ad and then perform them.  There were lots of  laughs.  Following that  four staff were called impromptu to lip sync to some rock and roll songs and they put on an entertaining show!  The Principal gave a year end speech and acknowledged the three retiring staff with plaques.  Two teachers are from the Primary School and one retiree is a bus driver.  

TV AD

  

Three Retirees

Love these staff!

We celebrated Ron's birthday on Saturday, Dec. 2^nd, with a hike and truly it was in the jungle on the way up to the crater of Mt. Matavanu.  However, the trail toward the final leg was not defined and we did not realize our goal to get to the rim.  “Da Crater Man” (as he has dubbed himself) said he would go with us next Saturday to make sure we were headed on the right trail.  He claims to have made over 600 signs; funny, there wasn't a single one pointing to the trail-head.   “Da Crater Man” is a fun and unique Samoan who speaks great English.  Elder Deffense drove the rough access road; it had rained the night before so the road was a bit slick in places and we finally just parked the car and hiked in.  There were many kinds of orchids and ferns!  Later that evening, we met at the Savaiian Hotel for dinner.  It was an exhilarating day.

 

Elder & Sister Deffense

We had to get a picture with that huge fern in the background.

"DA CRATER MAN"

 Just for fun---I love this adorable picture of girls playing lipstick.

Happy Christmas Celebrating!