Teacher Inservice, Soccer, Plants

The administration kicked off our week with Teacher Inservice on Monday.  It started with a breakfast and we experienced yet another way of preparing papaya called Fausi, sweet bread pudding consistency sweetened with coconut milk and cinnamon.  Campus was a buzz following our two-week break, and like the students, our classes resumed as well. 

Typical to the startup, firming the roster has been ongoing since the first sessions.  We have begun the Foundations of Education class for staff who are working toward their ITEP Teaching Certificate; it is a two-credit class held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  If staff have previously completed the ITEP Teaching Certificate, they are then qualified to pursue the administration track which includes the Human Resource/Law class Ron will be teaching one day a week; it is a one credit course.  New class members, registrations, and different classes are a twist to our usual schedule.  We look forward to these classes.

We were pleasantly surprised Friday when the vice principal brought a group of about 15 students from the United States to our office so they could meet us.  They were high school students from Rexburg, Idaho visiting the schools of Samoa and learning history.

Also this week, a BYU doctoral student from Provo stopped in to visit us regarding diabetes.  She has been asked to develop a basic curriculum that can be instituted in the Pacific Islands.  The church has started an initiative to educate and to curb diabetes, especially in Samoa where diabetes is so prevalent.  Ron has made some in-roads with staff as far as diabetes education and staff referred the visiting doctoral student to him.

Saturday we took in the second half of the girls’ soccer game held in a nearby village.  They are at an amateur level but love to play and have fun doing so. 

  

We tried star fruit this week picked fresh from our friends’ tree.  It was juicy but rather tasteless. 

We saw a new “creature” on our car tire this week.  I happened upon a chicken eating one of these bugs; humorous episode to watch.

We noticed this tree in bloom outside our office.  It is loaded with these beautiful flowers.

Ron has been tending a volunteer tomato plant outside our house.  It has the perfect drip system---the condensation from the air conditioner.  It is loaded with grape tomatoes and they are finally ripening.

Happy 24^th of July Pioneer Day!

Adventures

Canopy Walk

Canopy Walk

Our Guests

Karla, Sharon & Michel Deffense, Bud & Karen Little

Often we post about our secular activities which doesn't reflect that the vast percentage of our time is spent with staff and students.  This post will focus on some of the natural blessings of Savai'i, Samoa. 

During the second week of school break the campus of Vaiola College was filled with youth 12-18 year olds from all over the island of Savai'i attending a week-long church conference called FSY (For the Strength of Youth).   The youth lived here and participated in many testimony building activities.  Since we did not have a role in this event, we were joined by other senior missionary couples in the course of the week's activities.   

Monday evening we hosted a spaghetti dinner including guests Elder & Sister Deffense (also serving on Savai'i as missionary support to the young missionaries); Elder & Sister Kinghorn (Family Services missionaries who had come from Apia for FSY); and Elder & Sister Little (Vocational Education missionaries, also from Apia).  The eight of us enjoyed feasting and visiting.

Tuesday morning the Littles and we ventured on a two-day journey around the whole of Savai'i.  We viewed waterfalls and blowholes on the way to the Satuiatua Beach Resort, the place of our overnight lodging.  The Deffenses joined us for evening swimming and a dinner buffet. 

Wednesday morning, we drove to the Canopy Walk which consisted of climbing metal spiral stairs up to a single-person footpath suspended by cables high in the air.  The adventure came after crossing the gently swaying footpath; we climbed yet more steep spiral wooden steps up into a very old Banyon tree.  After about three landings we could look out at a marvelous view in the distance, looking upon a reserve of woodland jungle.  What a beautiful ocean drive as we continued around the island.

We stopped at the Pea Pea Cave which was a lava tube we walked into carrying flashlights.  Above our heads were small mud nests made by the tiny Pea Pea bird; the guide pointed out a tiny bird egg.  Afterwards we came upon the "Swim with the Turtles" spot.  We fed them papaya and enjoyed watching those benevolent creatures.  After returning home, we went out to dinner.

The Amoa Resort is a newer resort that offers lodging and a restaurant.  The four of us had a nice dinner in the somewhat open-air restaurant.  Our timing was perfect for seeing a Fire Dance show that was spectacular.  Alas, on Thursday we had to say good-bye to our friends, Elder & Sister Little, who returned to Apia. 

In their associations Elder & Sister Deffense met a resort/restaurant owner who caters to an exclusive clientele and he grows a hydroponic garden to produce his lettuce, watercress, basil, etc.  He is very particular in making his workers wash hands before handling the seeds and such.   They arranged a coveted personal visit so we could see his setup and enjoy one of his special dinners, not to mention the great surfing spot for Elder Deffense.  The appetizer was yellow fin tuna and the entrée was fresh albacore. 

In church today we were reminded that we lose ourselves when in the service of others.  This is a good place.

p.s. Rest in peace, cousin Laura. 

Robert Louis Stevenson

We are in the two-week school break and thus we took time last week to visit Apia.  One of the highlights was our tour of the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum and hike to his grave site.  The museum show cases the living quarters of the family.  The famous Scottish author is famed for classic books such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  He spent his final years in Samoa having found it the best location for his ill health.  During his time in Samoa he earned a great respect among the people.  Stevenson was involved in politics, economics, and daily life of Samoa.  So beloved was he that when he died the Samoan people showed up in force to cut a swath through the jungle terrain to the top of the mountain where he had requested to be laid to rest.  In this way he would be atop the mountain where his health had never allowed him to go.  Since bodies had to be buried within 24 hours of death, cutting through the jungle at a fast rate and transporting his remains was a major feat.  Robert Louis Stevenson was only 44 years old when he died.  The hike was adventuresome and we enjoyed hiking with Elder & Sister Little.  The view on top of the mountain is breathtaking.  No wonder he chose the spot because the ocean view is picturesque.  We did notice a special feeling on the grounds.  

In addition, our responsibilities included transporting the 12-passenger missionary vans, tires, and books each way on the ferry.  Just saying the van was like riding in a truck cab, clutch and all. 

We also took the opportunity to attend an English session at the Apia temple and to spend time with other senior missionary friends.  Elder & Sister Little made banana crepes topped with blueberries and red jam topping for our own celebration of the 4^th of July.  It was inspiring one evening to hear the Samoan strains of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" wafting from a nearby home.

English Day

Primary School English Day & Awards

Exams & Brother Woodruff's Visit

This was midterm exam week for the Vaiola College (high school) students.  Exam week is intense; students sit for two two-hour exams each of four days.   Then on Friday the high school students participated in field events and the Primary school had a special "English Day" event.  Karla had the opportunity to give a five-minute presentation on how English opens the world of opportunities by creating a hot air balloon prop with an umbrella and describing the vistas of education, careers, learning, etc.  "Elder & Sister Rees" were judges for the mini competitions for songs, poems, battle of the minds, and character modeling.  It was a lot of fun to see the children acting their various parts, modeling costumes, singing, and reciting.

Earlier this week we were blessed by a visit from Michael Carthew of the New Zealand area office over Pacific Island schools and from Mark Woodruff, Assistant Commissioner of Church Education from Salt Lake City.  This was Brother Woodruff's first visit to Samoa.  We were privileged to pick them up at the wharf and drive them back to the ferry.  They were here to meet with school administrators.

Thursday night we had 3.42" of rain!  And we found out that the wind can blow. 

Friday we took the car into a tire shop which was efficient and well-equipped; they pulled a nail from our tire and made the necessary repairs. 

Friday movie night we showed "Eight Below Zero" to the international boys and girls.  The night marked the beginning of a two-week school break and for that reason, we furnished buttered popcorn as a treat.

Saturday was a kick-back kind of day for us and it so happened we found the village with the sports fields where they play soccer, etc.  We arrived in time to see the Vaiola girls play a soccer game.  This is the first girls team that Vaiola has had in a few years.  They won 1-0.  The boys won their game earlier that morning, 8-0.  The school coaches are not compensated for their extracurricular responsibilities.  Each teacher is assigned some activity.  They know it is important for the students to have opportunity that otherwise wouldn't be possible.

We did catch a glimpse of a flying U.S. flag along the main road Saturday.  Happy Birthday, America!