Easter Greetings!

Tuesday was a Tourism & Hospitality field trip.  Karla accompanied the teacher and 23 students to visit the Savaiian Hotel and the Amoa Resort to learn more about accommodations, customer service, and the operations of the business overall.  The year 12 class (11^th grade) asked questions and took notes.  At the Amoa Resort the shower stall is open with the sky above you.  The boys really liked that shower stall with plants and a ceramic circular tile floor.  They had me snap pictures of them in that shower.  We also visited another tourist attraction called “Swimming with the Turtles”.  The students were feeding papaya to the turtles and picking them up--great photo op.  The owner mentioned that they have 16 turtles in their pond; two were released last week.  On the return we visited the lava fields which resulted from lava flows that poured into the ocean once upon a time.  I gave the teacher a bad time because she was collecting big chunks of lava like a rock hound collects rocks.  She said she was going to use the big chunks for decoration.  Ron manned the office.

Pool at the Savaiian Hotel

Canoe in lobby of Amoa Resort

Shower off hotel room with open sky above.

Chef Charlie

Swimming with the Turtles

This week homeroom classes were extended 10 minutes so that classes could prepare Easter musical numbers for the Easter devotionals:  Primary School on Wednesday and High School on Thursday.  We commend these youth for sharing their talents and their love of God.

Primary School~notice how student is directing the class song.

High School performers

Since Good Friday and the Monday following are Samoan national holidays, we left campus and ventured a road trip.  On our way we passed these folks walking home after attending church services.  Most stores were closed Friday.  Interestingly, in one small grocery store, there was a sign by the beer that read, "Please, no beer purchases today".  Saturday the businesses re-opened.

White dress for Good Friday church services.

We drove up to the Falealupo loop where we've gone before but this time we stopped at an historic Catholic church that stands as a monument.  See the plaque below:

The ocean is behind the church.

Monument just inside the church.

The Star mound is a multi pointed mound made of volcanic rock.  It is flat on top and about 400 square feet in size.  It is an ancient Samoan archaeological site that is 1000 years old and the native vegetation has regrown around it making its distinctive shape hard to see.

Trail up to the mound.

On top of the mound.

Carved out stone filled with rain water.

A lava tube opening by the star mound.

While LDS General Conference is being broadcast in the United States this weekend, members will wait for the CD with Samoan interpretation to be shown in 2-3 weeks.  Those who have personal internet viewed the conference sessions live at 5 a.m., 9 a.m., and 1 p.m.  We will view the Sunday meetings tomorrow, our Monday.  Add to the mix the daylight savings time change this weekend---later than in the U.S. and moved back an hour.

HAPPY EASTER!  In Samoa it is mostly a religious celebration with family gatherings and lots of food. We did hear of an Easter egg hunt taking place in Apia but that is not common.  

Happy Birthday to Karla's brother who was born 

April 1st on an Easter Sunday---no foolin'