Heavy Duty for our Ipads on Mother's Day
Elder Johansen talking to his family

We need to get Leiataua out of the office before
I strangle him!  Manu'a here he comes!

 Talofa Lava Family and Friends,
     I always say that my personal motto is "No Drama," but when you work in a mission office there is no way to avoid it.  You take 200 young adults, 18-22 yrs old, put them together with companions they don't know in very close quarters, and it is truly amazing that we don't have more drama than we do.
      Elder Leiataua thought he had to be home before his release date for BYU football.  He bugged the heck out me to get him his release date and airplane ticket.  After we got his ticket, he found out the football date had been changed.  "Sister Ellsworth, would it be possible to cancel that ticket and change my release date?"  NO!!!

Elder Tia Tia's Brother (Back 2nd from Left)
Performing with BYU Living Legends

     Young missionaries are allowed to talk to their families for 1 hr. twice a year, Mother's Day and Christmas.  Several weeks ago we had missionaries calling to set up appointments to use our Ipads so they could Skype.  It was fun to see how excited they were to see their families.
      Friday night we had a real treat when the performing group from BYU, Living Legends, performed right here on campus.  This is a group of about 30 students who come from Polynesian or Native American/Hispanic backgrounds, who learn native dances and put a spectacular show together to showcase their cultures.  There were a few from Samoa, including the brother of one of our missionaries.
     Poor Brent!  He poured his cereal into a bowl, and discovered it was full of ants.  He poured it out on a plate and smashed anything that moved.  After he was pretty certain that he had gotten the majority of them, he poured the cereal back in his bowl and ate his breakfast.  The remaining cereal went into the freezer.  Ants are just a fact of life here.  We have had two Senior missionaries get out of their showers and discover as they dried off that their clean towel was full of little biting ants. They couldn't get back into the shower quick enough, but still ended up with welts from the ant bites.  At least we don't have snakes here, which is a big plus in my book !

Brent was not happy to discover ANTS in his cereal!

A couple of weeks ago a counselor in the bishopric asked to speak with us.  We were surprised when he asked us to teach Primary.  We were told in the MTC and by our Mission President that we were not to accept ward callings.  When we explained this to him he replied, "Oh, this is not a calling.  You will not be set apart or sustained.  This is an assignment, not a calling."  Really???  After discussing it, we decided that we could do it, so today was our first class of 7 yr. olds.  Sister Callahan showed us an internet site with prepared Powerpoints for the lessons.  Except for a few technical problems the lesson went great.  They were pretty cute and we think it is going to be fun.  One of the little girls, who is supposed to be in the class, was recently diagnosed with Leukemia.  She and her Mom flew to Primary Children's Hospital in SLC for treatments.  I will send weekly emails to her so she knows she is missed and loved.

Junior Primary sending their love to one of
their friends at Primary Children's Hospital

     My Scripture for the week is about the importance of teaching our children about the Lord. 3 Nephi 22:13 " 13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."

 Being with the kids today reminded me again of how much I miss my own grandchildren.  I tease them that I am going to squeeze their eyeballs out when I finally get to hold them again.  If you have your kids close to you give them a hug.

God Bless you and your families as you go throughout the week.  Love, Patty