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.