Talked to Suzanne today. What a blessing Skype is. She has been in the hospital since her Sunday (our Monday). Seems she has had cdiff and another bacteria that has wreaked havoc with her digestive tract for the last 14 days. Kristin took her to the emergency room on Sunday night. They hooked her up to an IV because she was dehydrated and when they discovered cdiff they admitted her.
Tough to be here and not there taking care of her. Kristin did a fantastic job of getting her where she needed to be taking charge of her care. Robert canceled his classes and work so he could sit with her all day Monday and she had visits from Miriam, Keith Bennett, and Leah Cooke. Miriam came again on Tuesday and did Bishop Drake and the RS president from Suzanne's single's ward. Because each bacteria she had is highly contagious, Rex went to our home and cleaned up with clorox and water. What a great guy. Chaya did some shopping so there would be food in the house when she got home. All in all things went so well! We are so proud of our family. It is nice to know that they want to take care of each other. Wonder if anyone missed us?
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
October 3l
Tonight was my last Preparing for Eternal Marriage class. There were only three students in the class tonight. Is there a rule in Fiji that one does not attend the last class? Must be. We had a great class anyway as I took the time to review all the lessons. I was gratified that those three students remembered stuff we had learned.
Teaching this class was such a blessing in the beginning of our mission. Coming to Fiji and finding nothing was ready for us, having nothing to do except what we could think up to do, made having this lesson to prepare and attend each week a blessing. Making friends with the students in this class blessed us in our first days here. It was, indeed, a tender mercy.
Teaching this class was such a blessing in the beginning of our mission. Coming to Fiji and finding nothing was ready for us, having nothing to do except what we could think up to do, made having this lesson to prepare and attend each week a blessing. Making friends with the students in this class blessed us in our first days here. It was, indeed, a tender mercy.
October 30
Today was to be the last chorister class. Eight weeks of almost perfect attendance and I only had two show up for this class. How does that work?
Usa (oo saw) and Mao came. Jone (cho nay) is in the MTC in Uganda. Nunia(noo nee ah) is still in Taveuni (taw vee oon ee) with her folks. Leslie was sick and I have no idea what happened to Ulai (oo lie).
I just went ahead and gave Usa and Mao the final exam which consisted of a written exam, so I could see how well I taught the material, and two hymns to lead. I told them last week to pick a song they wanted to lead, and then I would give them one to lead. Right from the start of the class Mao had a hard time hearing the beat. I thought he would do better as he worked so hard during the classes, and although, he knows all the beat patterns, he was never in the appropriate place in the pattern during the hymns he led. Usa on the other had was right on and I gave him a really hard song to lead. Ah well, no one in Fiji will notice as most who lead here never where they should be in the beat pattern, and many use the 4/4 beat pattern for every song no matter what the time signature is.
It is funny to me that I am the music expert here. Me? Who hardly plays at all and although I can lead any hymn have never had the opportunity to do it in church. Recently President Seru came looking for me. I was home working on a lesson, so he sent Scott home with the children's hymn book with a question about one of the songs therein that he was translating into Fijian. I was grateful that I knew the answer. I even remembered the word descant which created the problem for President Seru. Nice.
Usa (oo saw) and Mao came. Jone (cho nay) is in the MTC in Uganda. Nunia(noo nee ah) is still in Taveuni (taw vee oon ee) with her folks. Leslie was sick and I have no idea what happened to Ulai (oo lie).
I just went ahead and gave Usa and Mao the final exam which consisted of a written exam, so I could see how well I taught the material, and two hymns to lead. I told them last week to pick a song they wanted to lead, and then I would give them one to lead. Right from the start of the class Mao had a hard time hearing the beat. I thought he would do better as he worked so hard during the classes, and although, he knows all the beat patterns, he was never in the appropriate place in the pattern during the hymns he led. Usa on the other had was right on and I gave him a really hard song to lead. Ah well, no one in Fiji will notice as most who lead here never where they should be in the beat pattern, and many use the 4/4 beat pattern for every song no matter what the time signature is.
It is funny to me that I am the music expert here. Me? Who hardly plays at all and although I can lead any hymn have never had the opportunity to do it in church. Recently President Seru came looking for me. I was home working on a lesson, so he sent Scott home with the children's hymn book with a question about one of the songs therein that he was translating into Fijian. I was grateful that I knew the answer. I even remembered the word descant which created the problem for President Seru. Nice.
October 29
Well, it is over! We hosted Family Home Evening with the seniors tonight. We held it on the Whitehead/Whiting deck. They live in a duplex that shares a back deck. It is lovely there with plenty of room for everyone. They graciously let us hold our FHE there as we haven't enough table space for more than 12. Eating out of one's lap is not kosher at these FHE.
I told them we were having a traditional Halloween party which included costumes. They were actually happy to don our dumb costumes. We are blessed to associate with such wonderful people--everyone of them. They were such good sports. The idea was to try to figure out what everyone else was. Because I want to remember them, the costumes are listed at the end of this blog. At the end so it does not interrupt this narrative. Scott had carved three pumpkins one for each table as there were 17 of us. Sister Whitehead picked some different shaped leaves out of her backyard to put under them. We even had candles. We fed them our traditional sloppy joes. I even had cold apple juice instead of hot apple cider. Everyone brings a dish, so we had chips, salads galore, and wonderful desserts.
After we ate, everyone had a chance to stand up and the others tried to guess what they had come as. They guessed all but three. I was hoping for laughs, but I got mostly groans. I was dressed as 'tickled pink' wearing a hot pink rain coat and carrying a long peacock feather with which I kept tickling everyone. They guessed me. Bummer.
It was a fun evening. The food was great. What more could we want. Well, I wish I did not stress so much when I do things like this. Scott and I really had fun coming up with the costume ideas, and we really did not kill ourselves getting it all together, but I still stress. Maybe, just maybe I will learn not to.
Costumes
a dollar taped to each ear = buccaneer Scott
a shirt with 'go ceiling' on it + pompoms (I made) = ceiling fan Sister Wells
a bottle hanging on a string from the neck = bottleneck Elder Wells
picture of a golden calf + american flag = american idol Brother Browne
a corpse + an eye + scrolls = dead sea scrolls Sister Jarman
an orange shirt with a pi sign on it=pumpkin pie Sister Whitehead
white tape running intermittently down pants + a fork=fork in the road Brother Whitehead
window taped on the back = pain in the rear, or rear window, or pain in the back Brother Hogge
a king's crown + a novel + saying "have you read my latest book?" = King Arthur Brother Whiting
a chef's hat and apron + an iron = iron chef Elder Jackson
an empty frame + holding the frame to one's face when speaking = self portrait Sister Fratangelo
calendar pinned to shirt + saying "please you go first" = last days Sister Browne
I told them we were having a traditional Halloween party which included costumes. They were actually happy to don our dumb costumes. We are blessed to associate with such wonderful people--everyone of them. They were such good sports. The idea was to try to figure out what everyone else was. Because I want to remember them, the costumes are listed at the end of this blog. At the end so it does not interrupt this narrative. Scott had carved three pumpkins one for each table as there were 17 of us. Sister Whitehead picked some different shaped leaves out of her backyard to put under them. We even had candles. We fed them our traditional sloppy joes. I even had cold apple juice instead of hot apple cider. Everyone brings a dish, so we had chips, salads galore, and wonderful desserts.
After we ate, everyone had a chance to stand up and the others tried to guess what they had come as. They guessed all but three. I was hoping for laughs, but I got mostly groans. I was dressed as 'tickled pink' wearing a hot pink rain coat and carrying a long peacock feather with which I kept tickling everyone. They guessed me. Bummer.
It was a fun evening. The food was great. What more could we want. Well, I wish I did not stress so much when I do things like this. Scott and I really had fun coming up with the costume ideas, and we really did not kill ourselves getting it all together, but I still stress. Maybe, just maybe I will learn not to.
Costumes
a dollar taped to each ear = buccaneer Scott
a shirt with 'go ceiling' on it + pompoms (I made) = ceiling fan Sister Wells
a bottle hanging on a string from the neck = bottleneck Elder Wells
picture of a golden calf + american flag = american idol Brother Browne
a corpse + an eye + scrolls = dead sea scrolls Sister Jarman
an orange shirt with a pi sign on it=pumpkin pie Sister Whitehead
white tape running intermittently down pants + a fork=fork in the road Brother Whitehead
window taped on the back = pain in the rear, or rear window, or pain in the back Brother Hogge
a king's crown + a novel + saying "have you read my latest book?" = King Arthur Brother Whiting
a chef's hat and apron + an iron = iron chef Elder Jackson
an empty frame + holding the frame to one's face when speaking = self portrait Sister Fratangelo
calendar pinned to shirt + saying "please you go first" = last days Sister Browne
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| Elder Whiting as "King Arthur" |
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| Elder Whitehead as "Fork in the Road" |
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| Elder Browne as "American Idol" Look closely. It is a golden calf. |
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| Sister Jarman as "Dead Sea Scrolls" I loved that no one got this one. |
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| Scott as a "Buccaneer" |
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| Elder Wells as "Bottleneck" |
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| Sister Wells as a "Ceiling Fan" I am pretty proud of the homemade pom poms. |
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| Elder Jackson as the "Iron Chef" |
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| Table Decorations |
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| Scott did such a great job of carving these. |
October 28
We attended all of our meeting in the Samabula (Sam a mbula) Ward today. That is our ward. It was lovely meeting with people we know.
After church I was visiting with two sisters when they informed me that government health care workers were coming to the church at 11 to distribute pills. Fiji has mosquitoes that pass the elephantitis parasites. These mosquitoes bite mostly in the afternoon and early evening. Because elephantitis is on the upswing in Fiji the government is sending these workers around to give out the pills that prevent one from getting the disease. Generally one has to go to a chemist shop, pharmacy, to get them. Well we waited until 11 and they had not come. We had an errand to run in Lami Town so we decided to go there and hope that we would find the workers after our errand.
Well, it worked. When we arrived back at the chapel, the workers were across the street banging on someone's gate. They climbed into our car--to get some relief from the heat---and we got the pills we needed to take. We asked if there were any side effects and the answer was no.
We took the pills--all nine of them--at home, finished dinner, and ate. While we were doing the dishes, I told Scott I was not feeling well. I went into the bedroom hoping to rest. The longer I laid there the worse I felt. Scott wasn't sick so I figured it wasn't the chicken I had cooked for dinner. I just kept getting hotter, more nauseated, and clammier. An hour later, I called to Scott. I needed a blessing. It is interesting in the blessing, he said that "my body would react appropriately." Not ten minutes after the blessing I was sleeping peacefully. I am just sure that it was the pills for the elephantitis.
How grateful I am for the priesthood, the power of God on earth. What a wonderful blessing.
After church I was visiting with two sisters when they informed me that government health care workers were coming to the church at 11 to distribute pills. Fiji has mosquitoes that pass the elephantitis parasites. These mosquitoes bite mostly in the afternoon and early evening. Because elephantitis is on the upswing in Fiji the government is sending these workers around to give out the pills that prevent one from getting the disease. Generally one has to go to a chemist shop, pharmacy, to get them. Well we waited until 11 and they had not come. We had an errand to run in Lami Town so we decided to go there and hope that we would find the workers after our errand.
Well, it worked. When we arrived back at the chapel, the workers were across the street banging on someone's gate. They climbed into our car--to get some relief from the heat---and we got the pills we needed to take. We asked if there were any side effects and the answer was no.
We took the pills--all nine of them--at home, finished dinner, and ate. While we were doing the dishes, I told Scott I was not feeling well. I went into the bedroom hoping to rest. The longer I laid there the worse I felt. Scott wasn't sick so I figured it wasn't the chicken I had cooked for dinner. I just kept getting hotter, more nauseated, and clammier. An hour later, I called to Scott. I needed a blessing. It is interesting in the blessing, he said that "my body would react appropriately." Not ten minutes after the blessing I was sleeping peacefully. I am just sure that it was the pills for the elephantitis.
How grateful I am for the priesthood, the power of God on earth. What a wonderful blessing.
October 28
Today was an interesting day. We had so much to do to get ready for the FHE we were hosting with the senior couples on Monday. We (I) had decided we needed to have a Halloween Party with costumes and all. I did not want to make work for the seniors so I decided I would put together last minute costumes. I found an idea on the internet and ran with it. So today was the day to get the last of the stuff we needed for the costumes. Scott, of course, was not up for shopping all day, so I let him plan the day. Well, as nice as the plan sounded in the morning it really did not work well. We worked at home in the a.m., and then were to do the shopping/computer work in the afternoon after lunch with the seniors. When we got to the shopping it was 3 p.m. and all the shops in the city were closed. We had no idea Suva shut down at 2 on Saturday. Oops.
At 6 p.m. I left Scott at home and went to the Service Center to do the computer work (more on this later) for the costumes. I was sitting at our desk really concentrating on what I was doing. I do not know why I looked up, but something moved out of the corner of my eye. I was not too concerned as I am at the age where I have floaters in my eyes which make me think things are moving when I look out of the corner of my eye. However, I did turn to look.......and there sitting on my shoulder (that's right shoulder) was a rather big gecko! I squealed. It ran down my arm, jumped onto the desk, ran across the desk, and dropped onto the floor. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
Now I have to warn the gecko by announcing myself every time I enter out office.
At 6 p.m. I left Scott at home and went to the Service Center to do the computer work (more on this later) for the costumes. I was sitting at our desk really concentrating on what I was doing. I do not know why I looked up, but something moved out of the corner of my eye. I was not too concerned as I am at the age where I have floaters in my eyes which make me think things are moving when I look out of the corner of my eye. However, I did turn to look.......and there sitting on my shoulder (that's right shoulder) was a rather big gecko! I squealed. It ran down my arm, jumped onto the desk, ran across the desk, and dropped onto the floor. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
Now I have to warn the gecko by announcing myself every time I enter out office.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
October 25
I have forgotten how erratic Young Adults can be. Yesterday we did not have enough students to hold an opening exercise. There were only two in attendance at 5:30 when Suva Stake starts their classes. I tried to get President Sefeti to teach both of them, but he told me to teach my one. Really????? Last week I had nine in attendance. Well, we started and by the time we were finished there were five.
Tonight at Scott's Mission Preparation class he only had 10 students. Ten! He has not had less than 22 since the third week of the course. Now we have sent three on real two year missions, and two more have been called on mini missions for the next month here is Fiji, but that only adds up to 15. Why is it working with twenty somethings is like herding cats?
We are thankful for those who come. We feel of their spirits. We love their eagerness to learn.
Just in passing. It is hot today in Suva. The power went off, then on, then off every two to five minutes for the entire Mission Prep class. Even the YSAs were fanning themselves. Scott, bless his heart, just kept teaching.
Tonight at Scott's Mission Preparation class he only had 10 students. Ten! He has not had less than 22 since the third week of the course. Now we have sent three on real two year missions, and two more have been called on mini missions for the next month here is Fiji, but that only adds up to 15. Why is it working with twenty somethings is like herding cats?
We are thankful for those who come. We feel of their spirits. We love their eagerness to learn.
Just in passing. It is hot today in Suva. The power went off, then on, then off every two to five minutes for the entire Mission Prep class. Even the YSAs were fanning themselves. Scott, bless his heart, just kept teaching.
October 23
We started daylight savings time on Sunday. It certainly messes with my bio rhythms. To say I was disappointed when I heard Fiji observed daylight savings time is a huge understatement. I am grateful that Fiji only observes it until February. I can handle three month.
Scott gets up earlier than I do. He loves to sit at the little round table in our carport. Recently he got me up to see the following. Beautiful!
Scott gets up earlier than I do. He loves to sit at the little round table in our carport. Recently he got me up to see the following. Beautiful!
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| Sunrise taken from our carport. The roof is the office of LDS Primary School |
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| Some minutes later. |
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| The Sun is Up. |
Thursday, October 18, 2012
October 19
Just a quick journal entry. Last night as in our Pearl of Great Price class, I was watching the students reading in their scriptures looking for the answers to a question I had asked. As I walked around and watched I realized that we had three investigators in the class; investigators who have been coming each week since the sister missionaries brought them (and left them as they are not allowed to stay) the first time. All three were busily working to find the answers in scriptures someone had loaned them. One of them was being helped by a YSA who will be leaving on her mission soon. When I asked them to write their findings on the board, she encouraged him to write one of the answers. It reminded me of a mother lovingly teaching her child. I was so impressed with Dreke (ndreh keh). She will be a super good missionary.
I am grateful that the sister missionaries (2 sets of them) trust us to teach these investigators and trust the YSAs that come to the institute to befriend them. On the last count their trust is well founded. As we took some of the YSAs to the bus stop for their long ride home (1 hour) two of the YSA men were shepherding her, and I heard one of them say, "That was hard for me, too, when I was learning the gospel before I joined the church."
I am grateful that the sister missionaries (2 sets of them) trust us to teach these investigators and trust the YSAs that come to the institute to befriend them. On the last count their trust is well founded. As we took some of the YSAs to the bus stop for their long ride home (1 hour) two of the YSA men were shepherding her, and I heard one of them say, "That was hard for me, too, when I was learning the gospel before I joined the church."
October 18
I am always in a dilemma about what to fix for the institute snack. I would like to use Fiji ingredients (oops, there goes peanut butter) and keep it inexpensive. I can not, however, fix the bean sandwiches which I see everywhere. Bean sandwich? Yup. They take a loaf of bread, cut it horizontally and stuff it with what looks like anemic baked beans which I am sure they make by soaking the beans overnight rather than out of a can. It just does not look good to me. Well, I was laying in bed at about 4 a.m. thinking about what to fix when it hit me. Make cucumber sandwiches. If you have ever read English novels they are forever having afternoon tea which consists of tea, biscuits (cookies), and often cucumber sandwiches. I love the internet. I just got up and googled cucumber sandwiches. Yup there were lots of recipies from which to choose. So I made them and they were soooo good. Who would have thought? I did not cut the crusts off the bread slices as these kids are hungry, so mine were not as nice as the English ones would be, but they tasted fine. I added a little mayo and grated onion to cream cheese which I spread on both slices of bread and then topped it with slices of cucumber. Next time I will cut the cucumbers thicker. Cheap! Good! Mostly Fiji ingredients. What could be better?
And my taste tester, Chris Manueli, who is in culinary school, said they were great.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
October 16
Who knew that serving a mission would be so gut wrenching. Three of our outstanding young YSAs have come to visit us over the last two days. They are leaving on their missions tomorrow the 17th of October.
Jone (cho neh, but we just say Johnny) Davuke showed up yesterday to say good-bye. From the very start he has been coming to all of our classes and to the chorister class as well. He has the cutest sense of humor, and knows his scriptures. He is serving in Ghana after a two week stay at the New Zealand Mission Training Center. I did not cry, but I wanted to. We will miss him!
Bale (mbah leh) came to see us after chorister class yesterday afternoon, and to get in a last game of pool. He was all dressed up in his white shirt, tie, and sulu looking for all the world like an already
on-his-mission missionary. He is such a handsome kid, quiet and deep. The girls in Papau New Guinea are going to swoon over him.
Soane (So ah neh) just left our office, and I am crying. He also has been with us for every class since the beginning. He smiles and the whole world lights up. He is a talker and a softy. He takes care of all the girls especially Leslie. He too is going to Papau New Guinea. Soane will be a force for good where ever he serves. He came to thank us for all we have done for him, and I sat there and wondered if he knows that he has changed our lives forever.
I feel like a mother hen who is losing her chicks. I/we are so proud of these young men for choosing to live a Christ like life in a world that does everything to prevent them from being successful at it. It is not easy for these young men to go on missions nor is it easy for their families to support them financially as they serve.
It is such a privilege to serve among these wonderful people of Fiji.
Jone (cho neh, but we just say Johnny) Davuke showed up yesterday to say good-bye. From the very start he has been coming to all of our classes and to the chorister class as well. He has the cutest sense of humor, and knows his scriptures. He is serving in Ghana after a two week stay at the New Zealand Mission Training Center. I did not cry, but I wanted to. We will miss him!
Bale (mbah leh) came to see us after chorister class yesterday afternoon, and to get in a last game of pool. He was all dressed up in his white shirt, tie, and sulu looking for all the world like an already
on-his-mission missionary. He is such a handsome kid, quiet and deep. The girls in Papau New Guinea are going to swoon over him.
Soane (So ah neh) just left our office, and I am crying. He also has been with us for every class since the beginning. He smiles and the whole world lights up. He is a talker and a softy. He takes care of all the girls especially Leslie. He too is going to Papau New Guinea. Soane will be a force for good where ever he serves. He came to thank us for all we have done for him, and I sat there and wondered if he knows that he has changed our lives forever.
I feel like a mother hen who is losing her chicks. I/we are so proud of these young men for choosing to live a Christ like life in a world that does everything to prevent them from being successful at it. It is not easy for these young men to go on missions nor is it easy for their families to support them financially as they serve.
It is such a privilege to serve among these wonderful people of Fiji.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
October 14
Again today we watched conference at the chapel. It was nice sleeping in this morning as we did not have to be there until 9 a.m. It was so hot in the chapel. I was very glad for my Fiji fan. I can not imagine how hot it is going to be in December and January. When I ask people if this is as hot as Fiji gets, they just laugh. I am worried. We again had a thirty minute break during which I went home to finish the preparation for a late lunch.
I had invited all the senior regular missionaries (4 couples) over for lunch after the final session. I did not want to cook anything in the oven, so I made BBQ chicken in the crockpot. Even if I do say so myself, it was delicious. Everyone brought something, so it was relatively easy. Elder and Sister Rees came also as they are staying at the Holiday Inn. I was glad they could come. We had a delightful time eating, and all the women helped in the kitchen after, so when we sat down to visit all was cleaned up and I relaxed. We have the best senior missionaries here is Fiji. Each one is so delightful and everyone of them are working really, really hard.
Conference was wonderful. I can not wait for the Ensign to come, so I can study all the talks. President Eyring's talk was so inspirational. I think all of his talks are meant just for me.
I had invited all the senior regular missionaries (4 couples) over for lunch after the final session. I did not want to cook anything in the oven, so I made BBQ chicken in the crockpot. Even if I do say so myself, it was delicious. Everyone brought something, so it was relatively easy. Elder and Sister Rees came also as they are staying at the Holiday Inn. I was glad they could come. We had a delightful time eating, and all the women helped in the kitchen after, so when we sat down to visit all was cleaned up and I relaxed. We have the best senior missionaries here is Fiji. Each one is so delightful and everyone of them are working really, really hard.
Conference was wonderful. I can not wait for the Ensign to come, so I can study all the talks. President Eyring's talk was so inspirational. I think all of his talks are meant just for me.
October 13
Headed for the Temple Patron Housing to do the talk on Temple Marriage at 6:45 a.m. They were waiting for us when we got there even though we were ten minutes early. We had a great time. What a lovely, eager group of young women. We had leftover pictures of the Fiji temple (.35 at the distribution center), so we gave each one a picture and asked the girls to put the picture up in her home. None of these kids have bedrooms to themselves; in fact, many homes only have one room. They were so excited to get them. One of the ways one can tell the church is still in its infancy here is that none of the parents are promoting temple marriage. They do not know they are supposed to, or how to do it.
Scott had general conference priesthood session at 9 a.m. We then went to the Saturday morning session at 11:30. After a thirty minute break we watched the afternoon session. We closed the institute for conference. We ate dinner at Cafe Thirty with the Whiteheads, the Whitings and the public relations senior couple who's home base is Aukland, the Rees(es).
October 12
We were sitting around tonight relaxing, when we got a text from one of our YSAs asking if we would give a talk tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. to a Young Woman's group who were staying in the temple housing, and doing baptisms for the dead. Would we speak on Celestial Marriage. We, of course, said yes.
We decided what we wanted to say, which scriptures to use, and then divided everything up.
Fed Elder Meyer and Elder Estill tonight.
We decided what we wanted to say, which scriptures to use, and then divided everything up.
Fed Elder Meyer and Elder Estill tonight.
October 11
It is getting hotter here. Last night we came home to a really hot house. We tried to turn on the AC in our bedroom, but it would not respond to the remote. We called the landlady. She came up and worked for 45 minutes trying everything she could think of to get it to work. We even ate our dinner while she was working. Finally the AC unit responded and turned on. We were delighted to have it as I am sure we would not have slept much without it. This morning we did not turn it off as we were afraid that we would not be able to get it back on tonight. We turned the temperature way up hoping it would not really turn on, just stay on. At about 2:30 our landlady came by with the repairman. He turned it off and then immediately turned it back on. No matter where he stood the AC responded to the remote. I was so ticked!!! So was the landlady. She bought a universal remote so we would never have the problem again. Why is it stuff that won't work always works when the repairman comes?
Scott gave the best lessons tonight. He is so good with the YSAs. They love him. We were excited to see two YSAs from the Suva 1st Ward. It always amazes me how my timing is not the Lord's timing. Thank heaven He is so patient with us.
Scott gave the best lessons tonight. He is so good with the YSAs. They love him. We were excited to see two YSAs from the Suva 1st Ward. It always amazes me how my timing is not the Lord's timing. Thank heaven He is so patient with us.
October 10
Today is Fiji Day celebrating its independence from England. Everyone had the day off and most of the stores were closed. Suva stake institute was canceled. We were glad as Elenoa and Timoci (pronounced timothy) Tupua were taking out their endowments today. Without institute we could attend the ceremony.
Because their mother is not a member and their father is now a member of another church, I decided to make pineapple teriyaki chicken in the crockpot and invite them over after for dinner. While we were congratulating them after, someone mentioned that Mau, another of our YSAs was supposed to do his at 4 but missed the session. He was doing his at 6. We rushed out of the celestial room, changed and walked into the 6 o'clock session just in time to be the witness couple. After congratulating Mau, we rushed home to really crispy chicken because it had been in the crockpot almost three hours too long. It is a good thing I did not invite anyone to eat. Scott, dear soul, ate every bite I put in front of him. Other than the chicken was really dry, it wasn't too awful?!
Another great day.
Because their mother is not a member and their father is now a member of another church, I decided to make pineapple teriyaki chicken in the crockpot and invite them over after for dinner. While we were congratulating them after, someone mentioned that Mau, another of our YSAs was supposed to do his at 4 but missed the session. He was doing his at 6. We rushed out of the celestial room, changed and walked into the 6 o'clock session just in time to be the witness couple. After congratulating Mau, we rushed home to really crispy chicken because it had been in the crockpot almost three hours too long. It is a good thing I did not invite anyone to eat. Scott, dear soul, ate every bite I put in front of him. Other than the chicken was really dry, it wasn't too awful?!
Another great day.
October 9
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| This "flower" is about 8 feet up the trunk. Note the bark change above the flower. |
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| Close up of the flower and the outer part. |
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| Flower in full bloom. |
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| Flower in full bloom from the front. |
Saturday, October 13, 2012
October 8
We were supposed to go on a river trip today. I woke up with a horrid headache. I told Scott to go ahead as the President needed out van (one of his children is here for a visit). Scott refused to go staying home with me instead. I thought I was in real trouble when the body aches started, but Scott gave me a blessing and after sleeping the morning away, I woke up feeling well. I did spend the rest of the day lazing about which I think was good for me. I think it was all caused by the stress over the weekend and the body aches were just an extension of a really bad headache. Am so grateful for the priesthood and a spouse that is an honorable priesthood holder.
October 7
Ate at the Whiteheads today. She is a wonderful cook and it was so nice not to have to cook. She just invited us after we visited her ward today. So nice.
Scott and I realized yesterday that we have not visited the Suva 1st ward YSA class, so we decided that we would go there after our own Sacrament Meeting.
The Suva 1st ward building was the first real chapel built in Suva (all of Fiji I would guess). It was built under the direction of President David O. McKay. It has a lovely huge chapel. The ward struggles. President Klinger has assigned the Whiteheads to this ward. He does that to help wards that are struggling. We arrived a little early and learned that the class met in the chapel. We walked in and waited and waited. Finally two girls came it. One conducted the class the other taught the lesson. It is interesting to note that here in Fiji each Sunday School class has an opening exercise with a song, a prayer, and sometimes a scripture based thought.
The point of all this is that we started class with four of us (including Scott and I) but by half way into the class there were at least 30 YSAs. They did not sit together. Most sat alone, but there were never anymore that two sitting together. No one answered the questions asked by the teacher. It felt really disjointed and cold n that class. The adult advisor walked in about ten minutes before class ended. No one acknowledged Scott or me. In fact, Scott had to walk up to the front just before the class ended to ask if he could make an announcement.
I knew by the middle of the lesson that this ward needed to come to the institute for an activity. These YSAs were obviously not friends with each other, so we needed to introduce them to other LDS youth with whom they could be friends. We will be sponsoring ward activities starting the end of this month. Each ward is invited to come to the institute along with another ward so that the young people get to know each other. The ward provides the food, and we provide the activities. It also allows the YSAs to see the institute and feel comfortable there.
After class I asked the advisor if he had already had the monthly activity for the class. His reply made it obvious that they do not have a monthly activity, so I told him that he and his YSAs were invited to the institute on the last Friday in October. We are going to have to go back next week to make the announcement----and probably the week after.
As a side note Elder Wakolo, our area seventy, walked into the class about half way through and made some very pointed comments. Isn't it interesting that a man as busy as he is would know what YSA class is struggling and make the time to visit the class. The church is, indeed, run by revelation.
Scott and I realized yesterday that we have not visited the Suva 1st ward YSA class, so we decided that we would go there after our own Sacrament Meeting.
The Suva 1st ward building was the first real chapel built in Suva (all of Fiji I would guess). It was built under the direction of President David O. McKay. It has a lovely huge chapel. The ward struggles. President Klinger has assigned the Whiteheads to this ward. He does that to help wards that are struggling. We arrived a little early and learned that the class met in the chapel. We walked in and waited and waited. Finally two girls came it. One conducted the class the other taught the lesson. It is interesting to note that here in Fiji each Sunday School class has an opening exercise with a song, a prayer, and sometimes a scripture based thought.
The point of all this is that we started class with four of us (including Scott and I) but by half way into the class there were at least 30 YSAs. They did not sit together. Most sat alone, but there were never anymore that two sitting together. No one answered the questions asked by the teacher. It felt really disjointed and cold n that class. The adult advisor walked in about ten minutes before class ended. No one acknowledged Scott or me. In fact, Scott had to walk up to the front just before the class ended to ask if he could make an announcement.
I knew by the middle of the lesson that this ward needed to come to the institute for an activity. These YSAs were obviously not friends with each other, so we needed to introduce them to other LDS youth with whom they could be friends. We will be sponsoring ward activities starting the end of this month. Each ward is invited to come to the institute along with another ward so that the young people get to know each other. The ward provides the food, and we provide the activities. It also allows the YSAs to see the institute and feel comfortable there.
After class I asked the advisor if he had already had the monthly activity for the class. His reply made it obvious that they do not have a monthly activity, so I told him that he and his YSAs were invited to the institute on the last Friday in October. We are going to have to go back next week to make the announcement----and probably the week after.
As a side note Elder Wakolo, our area seventy, walked into the class about half way through and made some very pointed comments. Isn't it interesting that a man as busy as he is would know what YSA class is struggling and make the time to visit the class. The church is, indeed, run by revelation.
October 6
Had game night tonight in the institute. I did, indeed, take all the left over buns and the few left over cookies to the institute. I just opened the bags they came in as walked around distributing them. It was fun, until the begging for food got to me.
I am not sure if it comes from the village culture here, but every time I serve food at the institute many of the YSA men (not women generally) will ask for seconds. It has amazed me that even when they can see that there is not enough for every one to have two or three, they guys will ask if they can have more than one. I has driven me crazy. It does not matter how much I make it is never enough. I told Scott some time ago that I was not going to make treats for the institute class anymore, because it made me feel bad that I never had enough. He talked me into continuing cooking.
Well it hit me tonight that it was not that I did not make enough; it was that no matter how much I made it would never be enough. I do not know what happened to me, but I snapped after one of the guys, Phillipe, asked me three times for another roll before I had had a chance to give everyone one. I grabbed him by the arm and told him to come with me. I took him to the back door entryway and asked him if he was planning on serving a mission. When he said yes, I told him that asking for seconds was bad manners all over the world and that if he did it as a missionary people in other countries would think badly of him. His reply was to ask how he was to get seconds if he could not ask for them. I told him that he would just have to do without seconds or he could hope that whoever the cook was would offer him seconds. I was back with the YSAs before another guy asked if he could have another bun (his third). Again I took him for a manners talk. After the fourth manners talk, I just announced to the entire lounge that I was declaring this "manners night." Everyone laugh, but I spent the entire night talking about manners. Even the YSA men began to say "The only place I can ask for food is at home. The only place I can ask for food is at home." They all were good natured about it which is indicative of their basic good cheer.
It is of some note, that I took about 8 dozen small hamburger buns (rolls really) and the 40 YSAs ate everyone of them----plain.
I am not sure if it comes from the village culture here, but every time I serve food at the institute many of the YSA men (not women generally) will ask for seconds. It has amazed me that even when they can see that there is not enough for every one to have two or three, they guys will ask if they can have more than one. I has driven me crazy. It does not matter how much I make it is never enough. I told Scott some time ago that I was not going to make treats for the institute class anymore, because it made me feel bad that I never had enough. He talked me into continuing cooking.
Well it hit me tonight that it was not that I did not make enough; it was that no matter how much I made it would never be enough. I do not know what happened to me, but I snapped after one of the guys, Phillipe, asked me three times for another roll before I had had a chance to give everyone one. I grabbed him by the arm and told him to come with me. I took him to the back door entryway and asked him if he was planning on serving a mission. When he said yes, I told him that asking for seconds was bad manners all over the world and that if he did it as a missionary people in other countries would think badly of him. His reply was to ask how he was to get seconds if he could not ask for them. I told him that he would just have to do without seconds or he could hope that whoever the cook was would offer him seconds. I was back with the YSAs before another guy asked if he could have another bun (his third). Again I took him for a manners talk. After the fourth manners talk, I just announced to the entire lounge that I was declaring this "manners night." Everyone laugh, but I spent the entire night talking about manners. Even the YSA men began to say "The only place I can ask for food is at home. The only place I can ask for food is at home." They all were good natured about it which is indicative of their basic good cheer.
It is of some note, that I took about 8 dozen small hamburger buns (rolls really) and the 40 YSAs ate everyone of them----plain.
October 5
Tonight was the Single Adult (over 30) FHE. What a mess!!! Me, I am the mess! I woke up in the night on Wednesday and realized that we had invited every single adult in three stakes to come to FHE.
I have seen the list of single women in the two Suva Stakes and they number 420. Yup, that's right, 420 LDS women over 30 are single. Since divorce is not acceptable here, most of those have never married, some are widowed, and only a few are divorced. Well, I woke up in a cold sweat thinking about the food. To add to the stress about food every day this week I had some LDS woman call and ask about the party which started me thinking that we might have to move FHE to the church behind the institute.
I figured I would fix sloppy joes because they go a long way, are easy to fix, are relatively inexpensive, and are easy to serve. How much hamburger does one need to feed 420 women plus any men who hopefully would come? I panicked. Poor Scott. He had to listen to me for two whole days about food for the party.
It is interesting that about two weeks ago, after Scott had gotten all excited about doing the over 30 thing, I got this feeling that we should not do it. I got the idea at first because in every ward's Young Adult Sunday School Class there are from 3 to 10 students that are over 31 and still single. They have absolutely no place to meet anyone LDS who is over 30 except at church. Which obviously isn't working as far as getting married is concerned. I thought that we could hold these FHEs once a month so they could meet each other. When Scott ran it passed Elder Wakolo, he reminded us that there were single mothers who could not come to our FHE if we held it on Monday nights. It is, of course, their responsibility to be home with their children having FHE. We moved the activity to a Friday. After that I began to feel that sponsoring this activity was not something we should be doing.
OK, so how did it turn out you wonder? Well, I made enough sloppy joe to feed a small army. Really! I had two big oval crockpots and one large pan filled with the stuff. We had less than 20 show up although those 20 plus ate nearly an entire crockpot of sloppy joes. I am always amazed that over 30s are dying to meet new people, but when given the chance to do just that they do not. I can not decide if they are embarrassed by their status, or if they think everyone over 30 that is not married is weird except themselves.
We had a great time, however. Cheryl Bahn one of the sharpest Fijian women I know gave a short, interesting and clever lesson. We had asked those who attended to bring either a salad or dessert. We had two lovely salads, someone brought soda, someone else brought chips, and we had several desserts. It worked out perfectly. Scott did the activity and used the music game he made up for the Young Adults in the Suva Stake. Everyone had a great time playing. By then it was after 8:30 so we asked if they wanted to go home, or watch a movie. MOVIE won. So we showed them Annie. For some reason Annie tickles the Fijian funny bone. It was 11:30 before Scott and I got home.
What may you ask and I going to do with all the left over sloppy joes? Feed all the left over buns plain to the YSAs tomorrow night, They, indeed, will eat anything. We will freeze the left over sloppy joes and use it for our Senior Couples FHE the end of the month.
I am thinking we will get out of the over 30 business.
I have seen the list of single women in the two Suva Stakes and they number 420. Yup, that's right, 420 LDS women over 30 are single. Since divorce is not acceptable here, most of those have never married, some are widowed, and only a few are divorced. Well, I woke up in a cold sweat thinking about the food. To add to the stress about food every day this week I had some LDS woman call and ask about the party which started me thinking that we might have to move FHE to the church behind the institute.
I figured I would fix sloppy joes because they go a long way, are easy to fix, are relatively inexpensive, and are easy to serve. How much hamburger does one need to feed 420 women plus any men who hopefully would come? I panicked. Poor Scott. He had to listen to me for two whole days about food for the party.
It is interesting that about two weeks ago, after Scott had gotten all excited about doing the over 30 thing, I got this feeling that we should not do it. I got the idea at first because in every ward's Young Adult Sunday School Class there are from 3 to 10 students that are over 31 and still single. They have absolutely no place to meet anyone LDS who is over 30 except at church. Which obviously isn't working as far as getting married is concerned. I thought that we could hold these FHEs once a month so they could meet each other. When Scott ran it passed Elder Wakolo, he reminded us that there were single mothers who could not come to our FHE if we held it on Monday nights. It is, of course, their responsibility to be home with their children having FHE. We moved the activity to a Friday. After that I began to feel that sponsoring this activity was not something we should be doing.
OK, so how did it turn out you wonder? Well, I made enough sloppy joe to feed a small army. Really! I had two big oval crockpots and one large pan filled with the stuff. We had less than 20 show up although those 20 plus ate nearly an entire crockpot of sloppy joes. I am always amazed that over 30s are dying to meet new people, but when given the chance to do just that they do not. I can not decide if they are embarrassed by their status, or if they think everyone over 30 that is not married is weird except themselves.
We had a great time, however. Cheryl Bahn one of the sharpest Fijian women I know gave a short, interesting and clever lesson. We had asked those who attended to bring either a salad or dessert. We had two lovely salads, someone brought soda, someone else brought chips, and we had several desserts. It worked out perfectly. Scott did the activity and used the music game he made up for the Young Adults in the Suva Stake. Everyone had a great time playing. By then it was after 8:30 so we asked if they wanted to go home, or watch a movie. MOVIE won. So we showed them Annie. For some reason Annie tickles the Fijian funny bone. It was 11:30 before Scott and I got home.
What may you ask and I going to do with all the left over sloppy joes? Feed all the left over buns plain to the YSAs tomorrow night, They, indeed, will eat anything. We will freeze the left over sloppy joes and use it for our Senior Couples FHE the end of the month.
I am thinking we will get out of the over 30 business.
October 4, 2012
Tonight I taught Moses 8 in our Pearl of Great Price class. We previewed the context and then I spent the rest of the time on verses 14-15. The verses talk about Noah's granddaughters who were, of course, members of the Church of Jesus Christ marrying aside the church. It was one of the reasons God sent the flood. The exact words are "the daughter of thy sons have sold themselves." We had a lively discussion about marrying outside of the church and the problems that caused. I told them that the best way to keep from marrying outside of the church is to never date a nonmember. These Fijian youth are respectful. No one argued with me, but there were many of them who could not/ would not look at me. One girl just sat and shook her head 'no'. Then I said that pain is the only outcome for dating a nonmember. The pain that would come in the break up or the pain they would live with as they tried to stay active in the church with a nonmember spouse. I reminded them that their moms and dads may have had to marry nonmembers but there were plenty of wonderful LDS men and women in Fiji from whom they could choose.
It was interesting to hear the conversations as they left the institute. Some of the guys even told on their friends who were dating nonmembers. I just laughed and told the offender to either call the missionaries or to drop the girl.
I felt the Spirit and know that at least one person in that room needed to hear that message. I am grateful for that.
It was interesting to hear the conversations as they left the institute. Some of the guys even told on their friends who were dating nonmembers. I just laughed and told the offender to either call the missionaries or to drop the girl.
I felt the Spirit and know that at least one person in that room needed to hear that message. I am grateful for that.
Where does the time go?
It has been busy this past week, and since today is Sunday, I thought I would catch up on the past week. Boy was I surprised when I checked this blog out and found that it has been three weeks since I posted anything. I don't know why I can not seem to keep a writing schedule. Sad to lose the memories from these weeks, but I honestly can not recreate what happened. Why can't I be like President Monson and write everyday? I will try to be better.
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