Down the Rabbit Hole

AS Government Building

Talofa Family and Friends,
     This week was spent trying to decipher the Governor's new "Public Service" announcement regarding the Coronavirus, and how it would affect the travel of our missionaries.  Anyone who does not have a USA or Samoan passport can only enter AS through Hawaii after a14-day stay. Right now we have one missionary from New Zealand and one from Australia.  Previously they had to return every 30 days to Apia, Western Samoa to keep their VISAs.  As of now the government is not issuing any OK passes, which means these kids could only come back by way of a two week trip to Hawaii.  When I visited the Attorney General's office to get clarification, I met with the OK Board Supervisor and an attorney from Immigration. When I suggested a solution to our problem, the attorney replied: "I do not deal in practicality - I'm a lawyer."
     Wednesday (P-Day) I had promised Elder

Enough Lasagna for 8 missionaries

Teisina lasagna for lunch, since this was his last P-day before returning home.  I made a huge pan of lasaga thinking there would be left-overs for us.  Dang!  I forgot to take a picture of the Elders so all I have to remember the day is a picture of the empty pan - licked clean!
     The kettle in the photo reminds me of a funny story.  I asked Elder Wilkie to fill a basin with warm water to soak his foot.  He asked me if he should warm water in the kettle.  Elder Moeai had a cold shower when he was here because, like Elder Wilkie, he didn't realize we have hot running water.  A luxury very few missionaries have.

Member  owned businesses

        Because of the lack of employment opportunities, many church members here have small businesses.  Cheat Day, an ice cream, cookie, Koko Samoan brownie, cake...store is owned and operated by our Stake President's wife. It is a favorite for missionaries because they can get free treats on P-Day.  Milovales next door is also owned by church members. This is a great place to get fish and chips. Next door to Milovales is a large hardware store, one of two on the island owned by church members. Our bishop's family grows and packages lettuce and other greens to sell to local groceries and another family makes and sells gourmet popcorn. I love the entrepreneur spirit!
      Because all dairy items are shipped here from somewhere else, there are often shortages. (It would be nice if someone bought some cows.)  For instance, this week everyone was out of sour cream.  Not a big deal unless you needed it for a recipe.  Brent suggested I just make some with cream - Nope...No cream either.  One time there were no eggs - which is amazing with all the chickens we have running around.   It's not only dairy -it can be anything.  I will never take Smith's Food King for granted again.

Relief Society Airline Themed Party for Taua

    Friday night I enjoyed a potluck  evening with my Relief Society Sisters, while Brent and Elder Edwards went out for Chinese food.  The Party was for Sister Taua Saili who was recently hired by Hawaiian Airlines as a Flight Attendant and so the entire party was themed on airline travel. The food was great, there were some fun games, and I enjoyed the the chance to meet some new sisters.
       Wednesday morning Brent took Lady to the Vet.  She had several benign tumors removed and was checked to make sure everything was taken out that was supposed to be taken out.  Brent has figured out that if he wraps her pills in a slice of American cheese she swallows them right down.  We wanted to make sure that she was healthy before we send her to her new family. That is going to be a very sad day!
     On Fast Sundays the TSS (Tutuila Super Seniors) get together for dinner. This Sunday was hosted by the Edwards who are huge football fans. (Elder Edwards is the son of Lavell Edwards-BYU football coach.)  We were all rooting for Kansas so the game turned out well for us.  A Bonus was that John's personal friend was the coach for KC and he also knew several members of the team so we got additional personal commentary.  If you didn't know, the KC coach is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS.  We were treated to a traditional Super Bowl meal of Edwards family.

Super Bowl Sunday at the Edwards

      This week I saw a Meme on FB that said something to the effect that religion is a matter of relationship not of belonging to a church. That sounds all nice and cozy but it is not very realistic.  Where would we all be without our Judeo-Christian morals?  I'm afraid our country would be something very different.   I was reminded of a talk I read by Jeffery R. Holland, "Religion: Bound by Loving Ties" on the importance of religion. I will close with a quote from that talk.

     "....Yes, in more modern times individuals can certainly be “spiritual” in isolation, but we don’t live in isolation. We live as families, friends, neighbors, and nations. That calls for ties that bind us together and bind us to the good. That is what religion does for our society, leading the way for other respected civic and charitable organizations that do the same...

     There are many colliding social and cultural forces in our day that contribute to an anti-religious condition... this shift away from respect for traditional religious beliefs—and even the right to express those religious beliefs—has come because of a conspicuous shift toward greater and greater pre­occupation with the existential circumstances of this world and less and less concern for—or even belief in—the circumstances, truths, and requirements of the next."  Just something to think about.

        Love and Best Wishes for a wonderful week!

Alofa atu, Patty (Nana)

Brent and Lady