Vaiola Steps

After our week in the office and classroom, we joined Elder & Sister Deffense Saturday morning for a venture to climb the Vaiola stairs, finally.  As our adventures often do, this one blossomed.  Shortly after we reached the top of all 213 steps, a group of young adults from the Apia, Upolu Institute made the climb as well.   What a fun group chaperoned by Sister Kalama (she and her husband are from Hawaii & are serving in Samoa.)  We had a lot of laughs and poses for pictures.  By the time we finished saying “cheese” for all the cell phone pictures, we changed it to moldy cheese.  The young brothers and sisters had come over to Savaii to present a devotional Sunday evening in another village.  Everyone knows about the Vaiola stairs and it becomes a point of interest for visitors.  Only one person out of our group had ever climbed them prior to this.

Looking down at Vaiola Campus

Looking down at the palm-lined road up to Vaiola.

Our house with the two missionary cars parked out front.

Elder & Sister Deffense

Looking off toward Upolu.

Our group of Institute friends.

214 Steps

Later that afternoon, Elder & Sister Deffense and us trekked to a waterfall, about a 35 minute drive.  We walked along the ocean, past wary mama pigs, and around fresh cow patties until the waterfalls came into view.  Literally at the top of the falls, children were swimming while their mother washed laundry.  

 

As an ending note, we might mention Samoa TV on Sunday.  All programming is religious.  Today we watched a special about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir narrated by Walter Cronkite.  Sometimes they play a movie centered on a priest or a church.  They rebroadcast church services in Samoan from varying denominations including LDS.  We have seen Bible story movies and LDS videos occasionally played like 17 Miracles (about the pioneers).  We love how the day is dedicated to worship.  Very few stores are open on Sundays.  The Sabbath is peaceful and quiet on our campus.