July 11

Today was my lesson.  I prayed all week that I would see the efficacy of these lessons.  I fasted on Wednesday before my lesson.  As I was teaching I felt a witness that this was what these youth needed to hear.  My first lesson must not have been too awful, because the students recruited four more to attend or perhaps they want help making the class better. Now we have more men than women.  Amazing.


After Institute we rushed over to the Samabula Ward for a final party for the kids from the US.  The kids from Fiji had taught the kids from the US polynesian dances, so we saw dances from Tonga, Samoa, Rotuma, and Fiji.  We watched dancing for at least an hour.  Then they ate.  I have never seen eating like the Fijians do. They had a million chips of all kinds, 10 jam rolls, dozens of cookies, popcorn, and ice cream cones--a white food storage bucket sized container of ice cream.  All was totally  gone and I don't think there were 75 of us eating.  It was a wonderful night.

The flower necklace
The ties for around the neck are tan
These flowers come from someones yard

The women had made special necklaces of flowers for the special US guests.  Our bishop had them make Elder Tennis and me one.  A real honor.