Pacific Church Schools Area Training

What an amazing two days of professional staff development trainings with our Area leaders from Auckland, New Zealand!  The leaders brought vigor, enthusiasm, expertise, and love.  They visited classrooms, conferred with key staff, and taught all of us how to enhance our teaching.

Topics of Area Instruction & Discussion:

B  Build English Fluency     by Michael Carthew, Director of Pacific Church Schools
E  Expect Subject Mastery  by Jonathan Warwick, Ed. Specialist for Pacific Schools
S  See the One                     by Elder & Sister Henshaw, Self-Reliant Missionaries
T  Teach for Deep Learning  by Elder & Sister Holbrook, ITEP Area Coordinators

It might be appropriate to mention how much staff are bonded to Brother Carthew and Brother Warwick since they have traveled this way  many times and closely work with Samoa church schools.  We had the opportunity to host dinner at the Savaiian Hotel and they had fun dressing in the lava lavas that we gave them.

Elder & Sister Holbrook, Sister Henshaw, Jonathan Warwick, Elder Henshaw, Michael Carthew.

Left: Ron, Karla, Sister & Elder Holbrook.  Right:  Michael Carthew, Sister & Elder Henshaw, Jonathan Warwick

Friday morning we witnessed such a beautiful sunrise.  You knew it was notable when others also mentioned it and had taken pictures.

As you know, we are education missionaries, not called to specifically proselyte like the young missionaries.  However, we were presented with an opportunity to "teach" over the weekend.  A young dorm girl invited us to visit her and her friend in Safotu since it was a dorm leave weekend (students didn't have school on Friday).  We invited Elder & Sister Deffense along for the hour drive.  What an amazing friendship these two girls share.  Our visit was a special time.

(Again, note this baptismal font is outdoors.  They aren't all outdoors)

Saphire from Vaiola College & her friend, Linda.

On our return trip we stopped at the Peapea Caves---a lava tube close to the edge of the ocean and under the road.  This was our third visit but we always enjoy the formations inside the cave and seeing the mud nests of the pea bird.  The bird is very small and makes an audible tick, ticking sound that we could hear in the dark.  The guide provides a "torch" [flashlight] as the volcanic surface is uneven. No pools in this cave.

Cave Entrance

We stopped at this church fale to eat our picnic lunch.  Perfect setting as it wasn't hot or windy.  As you can tell from the exposed shoreline, it was low tide.

Also, being a Saturday drive, we happened upon two sets of young missionary Elders and two individual Peace Corp volunteers with whom we've become acquainted.  It seems the Peace Corp volunteers and the missionaries all know each other.  We love these young adults who give two years of unselfish service. Peace Corps volunteers live with Samoan families and teach in the Samoan government schools.  Good thing we had brownies to share along the way!