Farewell Hannemans & Deffenses - July School Break

Vaiola Schools are at the end of 2nd term which means students are on a two-week break.  Students had mid-term exams and our admin Principalship class came to a close with each participant giving presentations.

Primary school had their exams the week before college (high school) did.  The last day of term the Primary School marched in a parade to the beat of a snare drum.  The route was from the school to the rugby field and after the parade they played games and field activities. 

Also that week we met a daughter of one of our missionary couples; she came to visit her mom and dad on their mission.  While in Savaii, we were blessed to take her to the market and go to lunch together.

Larissa and Tolo, the receptionist with whom we've become well acquainted.

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On Monday, June 25th, President (Art) Hannemann and his wife, Sister (Peggy) Hannemann, invited a few of us on Savaii to a dinner at the Amoa Resort.  President Fafai has served as his counselor on Savaii.  Elder & Sister Deffense have been serving as housing missionaries over seeing the facilities for all the young missionaries on Savaii.  This was a farewell dinner because President was released as of June 30th and  also, the Deffenses leave the mission next week. We will miss these wonderful friends!

Sister & President Fafai, President & Sister Hanneman, Elder & Sister Deffense, Karla & Ron

For a few days we had house guests, two single Sr. Sister missionaries who serve in American Samoa but since it is summer there, they have been on Upolu serving as temple workers.  We were glad to host them in Savaii.

Once again we visited the blowholes but this was altogether a new experience because the winds churned up some amazing rolling waves that crashed at such heights they almost seemed to obscure the blowhole spouts.  It was a spectacular sight.  The aqua colors were stunning and sprays reached 40' to 50' in the air.

Sister Westenskow & Karla.
One wave was nearly 40' high, coming inland where we were standing and splashed up to our knees.

Again, we visited the Afu Aau Waterfall...

Picnic before going into the waterfall.  Karla, Sister Kirkham, & Sister Westenskow.

Waterfall makes for a great massage.

On Monday we visited the turtles:

Sister Westenskow and a group of fun tourists.

Sister Kirkham

Then onto the Peapea caves:

At the entrance:  Ron, Karla, Sister Kirkham, Sister Westenskow

The Canopy Walk rounded out our excursion and since we've posted before, we'll just share a couple of pictures:

These Banyan trees are impressive.

Found a few of these spiders hanging around the canopy walk area.
It was hard to photograph; hard to see that it is surrounded by a large web.

Catholic church demolished by a cyclone in 1990.

Elder & Sister Little visited Vaiola for a TVET meeting with our Vice Principal and us.  There is a lot of groundwork getting qualified to meet requirements of SQA (Samoa Qualification Authority) and they have become the experts for organizing course work to meet the criteria! 

This week has been much cooler than usual, 70's.  We even donned our windbreakers today.  It rained all night and literally all day today.  

We have new house guests arriving this weekend and a trip to Apia planned so we may not post for a few days.

Math/Science Day

The focus of this week was Maths/Science Day on Friday, June 22^nd.  The theme was:  “Apply & Improve Today to Invent the World of Tomorrow.”  Ron was blessed to give the opening remarks and he highlighted current amazing inventions.  He got to officially declare Math & Science Day now open.  Elder Rees & Sister Obley judged the Math projects and President Fafai & Sister Rees judged the Science projects.  Additionally, all of us had experiments to judge.  The final house winner was selected based on accumulated points per each “House” (four in all).  The event started at 8:00 a.m. and concluded around 2:30 p.m.  The projects consumed a lot of preparation time in the previous two weeks and teachers were very dedicated in assisting students.  Enjoy a look at the day----

Geometry GeoBoard

Electric Coconut Grater----most here still do the manual method.

Variations on the Mop

Unique musical instruments.

More instruments

Plant Experiment

Testing Soil

Battle of the Minds competition with Math and Science questions.

Entertainment by  one of the "bands":

A Fashion Show ended the day and each was designed from recyclable materials.  This was one of the favorite events of the day.

Snack packaging turned into decorations for this gown.

Newspaper fans adorned the train.  His vest and her dress were styled
from yellow recycled rice bags.

Recycled plastic bags.

Dress made from snack packaging and a border of Coke cans.

George undressed three layers of shirts that had been "recycled".

Plastic water bottles.

Gown of more recycled decorations and accessorized with the handbag.

Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. the TVET Head of Dept. and I sat for our Microsoft Office Systems (MOS) Word certification test.  Yay, we both passed!

 

During the Maths/Science Day, Ron captured a picture of the double rainbow.  (By the way, Maths is a correct term in the southern hemisphere.)

Ron has enjoyed growing starter plants to share with staff or even communities that have had an interest.  He is winding down his garden endeavor.

Last of his starters.

Most have been given away.

While you are enjoying summer, we are going into fall.  It has been hot (upper 80's) and dry.  Direct sun rays really pronounce the heat.  We are blessed to live in an air-conditioned home and work in an air-conditioned office!