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'

Career Day

We had a great week compiling grades and getting a jump on the next classes.  Friday was Career Day and the theme was "Your Future Career is Created by What You do Today".  About ten presenters were invited to share their careers with the students.  The group rotations filled the morning.  Most of the ten presenters were former Vaiola College students who furthered their education and/or found a successful niche in the work force.  The students we asked really liked hearing the information and genuinely seemed excited for the future.  A few of the careers spotlighted were the Police, Banking, Nursing, Business, Trades, and Retail.

  

Below are a couple of videos showing students prior to the start of the assembly.   

They sing songs until leaders are ready to start the program. Usually the young men direct the music and somehow the youth know all the signals for clapping, rhythm, etc.

School Counselor welcomes guests & makes introductions

Below are pictures of some of the guest presenters:

Below is one of our Student Teachers

Saturday morning the church ladies celebrated 176 years of the Relief Society with an activity that included Zumba, volleyball, ping pong, and basketball.  After that we were served ice cream, hot dogs and sausages with bread, cake and brownies, and chip snacks...in that order. 

Ron and I were invited to give the talks in church today so that was a new experience.  Fortunately most of the congregation understands English.  It gave our interpreter a break!

A couple of the dorm girls came to our home for a short visit this Sunday afternoon and we shared cookies, always a good conversation help.  One of the girls is looking forward to a history field trip in Apia and the other one is taking biology, chemistry, and physics all this term!  One is from Samoa and the other is from Vanuatu.  Love these youth!

We have to include this short video clip showing this cute little one-legged bird that has been around campus since we've been here:

Happy March Birthdays to three of our grandchildren and a special brother!

End of ITEP Term

This week has been a routine kind of week.  We've been wrapping up ITEP classes which means we administered quizzes and finals and also shared brownies and popcorn.

Friday night was movie night with the dorm girls; we showed A Simple Wish.  It was a cute, funny movie about fairy godmothers.

We had dinner with Elder & Sister Deffense last night (Saturday) instead of Monday as they are ferrying over to Apia this week.  We served homemade soup and dinner rolls.  Simple....

Really not much to add to our blog this week---not even rain or a picture. 

We did sneak in a couple of pictures during the week from the birthday dinner on last week's blog post which you may or may not have seen.

Apia, Upolu Visit

After our week of classes, we ferried to Upolu on Friday and spent the weekend doing all the needed errands.  Friday worked out for meeting with Elder & Sister Little on TVET information.  Timing was perfect for joining the Senior Missionary dinner for March birthdays. 

Elder Little is a good sport.  Apparently he made this creation for someone else and it came back to him!

We met a brother on the ferry who was here with his son from South Jordan, Utah but originally from Savai'i.  His son served in this mission and returned to participate with one of his families going through the temple.  We ended up in the same temple session Saturday morning and then they attended church in the same ward that we attended.  It was a great connection because the nephew living in Savai'i recognized us on the ferry since we are helping him with his BYU-Hawaii application and he wanted us to meet his uncle from the U.S.   It is a small world and we discover this all the time in our conversations. 

Also at church today our Mission President had his sons and their families visiting.  It reminded us how much we miss our grandchildren. 

Since the large ferry has been getting serviced, we had to access the small ferry this trip.  Thankfully it was a fairly smooth sail. 

Apia Wharf

Savai'i in the distance.

Cars & Trucks on the ferry.

Picture of the ferry.

This weekend marks 11 months that we have been serving on our mission.  Time flies!

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!

Odds & Ends

Very busy week at the office.   

We have enjoyed our classes this term with class sizes ranging from three to eight.  As you'll see staff are dedicated because after they've put in a long day of teaching, they come to our ITEP class. 

TUESDAYS we have class from 3:15 (right after school) until 5:00 p.m. and another one that evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  

WEDNESDAYS our class runs from 3:15 until 6:15----yes, a three-hour class is long for all of us.  THURSDAYS we have a class from 3:15 until 5:00 p.m.  

WEEKDAYS:  During school hours we prepare and download instruction materials.  We also make a number of class observations, especially for our current two student teachers.  We work hand in hand with the teacher coach who is there to observe, mentor, and guide teachers new to the teaching experience.  It is not an evaluation role and is separate from administration.  This has been a rewarding role.  Our Teacher Coach is a very competent teacher himself with much expertise to share.

Students did not have school Friday so they could participate or attend the rugby and netball tournaments held at Dom Bosco College (high school) here in Savai'i.  Both boys and the girls get to move onto nationals.

A family invited us to attend a dinner Friday evening at their home in honor of their son who just returned from serving his mission in Wellington New Zealand.    It was great to be a part of his family's warm get together with family and friends. 

Elder Salima

Following dinner we attended the church's ward dance held in the hall on campus.  A live band from the north part of the island provided the entertainment.  It doesn't matter how tired a Samoan might be or where they are, if there is a dance, they come alive to the music.  Literally all ages dance and mingle.  Dances are like their favorite thing to do.  We had three little girls holding hands with us in a circle while we all swayed to the island music.  So fun!

The band

Brother Sui Lai getting the dance warmed up.

We've had lots more rain the last couple of days with a rainfall of about 12 inches in 48 hours.  Because the volcanic rock surface is porous, the water drains rather quickly.  Kids still play volleyball no matter how wet.

ONE OF RON'S SUNSETS THIS WEEK:

With the wonder of technology we were able to view our granddaughter's baptism program.  We love and miss our family and friends but remain happy to serve in this Samoan Mission.