Samoan Potpourri

Tutuilla Zone Conference with Elder and Sister Ardern - Pacific Area President

Talofa Lava Family and Friends,
           This week we had a combined Zone Conference with all of the missionaries on island.  The photo was taken before we got to the meeting so we're not in it, however you can see from the photo the young missionaries that we watch over as "Spiritual Parents."  The Arderns and Ho Chings are in the second row and were visiting from New Zealand and Upolu.  Elder Halleck, the previous Area President was recently released as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.  He and his wife are in our ward and they were just called to teach Primary.  They are thrilled with their new calling.

Elders Misailelegalu, Masuisui, Rodeback
and Sema after final inspection.

      I was so proud of all our missionaries and the awesome job they did spiffing up their apartments.  Although the President only had time for one inspection, I can rest easy that he would have been happy with any apartment on the island.
     Elder Ili has received a medical release and will be returning home tomorrow night.  It's been a long struggle trying to help him get well, but it's time for him to go back to the States and get the medical help he needs.  He is planning on returning when he has a release from a doctor in the states.
     Driving around the island I kept seeing these large tents in people's yards.  I finally realized that they are the FEMA tents from the 2017 Cyclone.  I guess FEMA does not recycle them, so families use them for guest rooms or just extra rooms.  Too bad we can't ship some of them to the Bahamas!
     I also am amazed at the number of casket shops there are.  They all have large store windows with their caskets beautifully displayed.  Because they are so expensive to buy, people here often will rent a nice casket for the funeral and then return it when they are done.  Loved ones are often buried in the family yard in cement boxes so a casket is an unnecessary luxury.  I think that's a great idea!  My favorite store is one called "Going Home."  Family graves often have flowers on them year round, or large banners with pictures of the deceased.  Less than one hundred feet from our bedroom window is a large family plot.  There have been two burials there since we arrived.  Surprisingly it doesn't bother me.

FEMA Tent

Casket Shop

        Another thing you don't see in the states are small sewing shops everywhere.  You can buy material in most of the big stores and since the kids wear school uniforms, they all have to be custom made.  The prices are reasonable and the workmanship is good.  The one across from the Community College gives me the creeps with it's mannequins that look like corpses.  It's called the "Beauty Shop" but the Elders agree with me that it is creepy!

The "Beauty Sewing Shop" 

Graves outside our Bedroom window

This week we are looking forward to hosting Sister Foster from Apia and hopefully spending some time with the Swangers, also from Apia.  We will miss Elder Ili, and wish him God's speed in returning to the work he loves. Tomorrow in my Book of Mormon class we will be talking about the law of opposition.  In 2 Nephi 2 we read:

11 For it must needs be, that there is an ^aopposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no ^apurpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the ^bjustice of God.

13 And if ye shall say there is ^ano law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not ^bthere is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

Just a little something to think about.  Hope you are well.  Brent and I are loving our mission.  It's wonderful to drop into bed exhausted, knowing you have put in a good days work.  We love the Lord and feel like it is a privilege to be here working with these amazing young people.  We love and miss our family and friends, but the time is passing quickly and it won't be long until we return home.  

Alofa Atu - Patty (Nana/Grams)