Another Check Off My Bucket List

Brent on Aunu'u - the island in the background is Tutuila
Notice the sand on the beach.

Talofa Family and Friends,
     September is Emergency Preparedness Month and late Sunday Night (9:30 pm) through early  Monday morning (2:30 am) we had a wake-up call when the power went out over the entire island.  I was surprised to see how fast our air-conditioned home became unbearably hot and muggy and was even more dismayed when I realized our water didn't work either.  The darkness was like a cave that our eyes could not adjust to; without our cell phones to use for flashlights we would have been up a creek without a paddle.  I was worried about our missionaries who don't have fancy phones and now no fans to help take the edge off the heat.  It was with great relief when the air conditioner hummed back to life.  Monday morning (10 am)  I had just started my Institute class with the powerpoint I had spent a couple of hours preparing, when the power went out again.  Class was cut short and I returned to a house that was already starting to heat up.  This time it was out until 3:30 pm.  We opened the windows in the house but still it was very uncomfortable.  I was worried about all the groceries I had just bought Saturday, especially the ice cream I had bought for the first time.  Elders Ili and Williams were happy when I suggested we eat the ice cream before it melted all over.  Cold root beer floats helped our morale.

     Last night it went out again!!!  Thankfully it was only out for a couple of hours.  However, this morning when we tried to turn on the office computer nothing came up. Even though we have a power surge protector I was afraid it was fried.  I was relieved when Elder Wanamaker worked on it after church and was able to resurrect it.  (He's now my favorite missionary!) 
Brent promptly backed it up on a mini-hard drive.  If we had lost everything on this computer it would have been a nightmare!  This week on our to-do list is to get a case of emergency water and flash lights to all our missionary apartments, and a goal to back up the computer weekly.
     We put Elder Ili on the plane late Monday night and early Wednesday morning Sister Foster arrived from Apia to do auto checks and to have a break from her office.  The Swangers, a CES missionary couple from Apia, also arrived Thursday.  Sister Foster wanted to visit the island of Aunu'u and since that was on my bucket list off we went.  It was a little snug in our little Toyota Rav with five adults, but the chatting and laughter made the hour drive go by quickly.  Aunu'u is the first island church missionaries landed on when they arrived in 1888.  It is also the location of the "Miracle of the Sand."  In 1996 the church planned to build a small chapel on the island.  Many local Priesthood leaders from Tutuila planned to help the members build the small church themselves.  Building materials had been ferried over and carried to the site.  The only thing they lacked was the sand for the cement.  On the ferry side of the island there was ample sand, but on the opposite side of the island there was only rock along the coast. Men started carrying five gallon buckets of sand off the beach to the church site until the Matai (chief) from that side of the island forbid them to take anymore sand from his village.  Without sand the building quickly came to a halt.  The Stake President at the time, called

Elder's Ostler and Nishumura on Aunu'u

for a 24 hour fast for the men who were there.  He asked them to pray for the Lord to provide the needed sand.  The next morning there was a pile of sand on the coast, close to the church building.  It remained there until the building was finished and then disappeared.  It has never returned.  You can see from the picture how rocky this side of the island is today.  I've talked to several men who were there at that time, and they all confirmed that it happened.  This is one of the miracles I documented from our first mission.  It was such a sweet experience to be there and see it with my own eyes.  Today you reach the island by a small pontoon boat.  It's about a fifteen minute ride from the ferry on the island of Tutuila.  The Elders who went with us and also work on this island said they often see dolphin on the trip over and also an occasional whale.   The rock you can

Sisters Swanger and Foster with chapel in background

see is coral that washed up a couple of weeks ago and had covered the road.  They had some huge waves at high tide.  There were still men working to clear the road past where this photo was taken.
     Sister Foster left early Saturday and President and Sister Fe Fai from Savaii arrived on the same plane.  They were here for our Stake Conference. We were their chauffeurs while they were here.  Friday night the Stake had a Fiafia where each ward presented a traditional Samoan dance.  To top off the evening the Stake President's wife, Sister Reid, danced. It was a wonderful evening shared with President and Sister Fife, friends from Apia. 

Sister Reid

 
     Today was Elder Larsen's 19th birthday.  He is an amazing missionary who works so hard and always has a smile.  The best part of our mission is working with these young missionaries! We've fallen in love with every one of them.  Since Elder Larsen lives near to us we see him every day.  On P-Day he is always up for a game of UNO or Sequence. 

Elder Larsen

      Sometimes people ask me what my favorite scripture is. There are many that I love but my go-to scripture is Isaiah 12:2 -

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." 

       I was thinking this week how my belief and trust in God has impacted my life.  It is a comfort to know that God is in charge, he is aware of our challenges and life will unfold according to His plan. He is aware of all the injustice, sorrow and pain in the world, and as I am helpless to solve all the world's problems, I trust in a just God who is all powerful and is concerned for each of us.  He is there to help us if we will only ask.  Our part can be summarized by keeping the first two commandments - Love God and Love our neighbors. Just think how many problems could be solved if everyone followed these two commandments.  
   Well, it's been a crazy week with a lot of people coming and going.  While it's wonderful to meet new friends and spend time with old friends here, we think about loved family and friends at home every day.  We miss you and look forward to the time when we can see you again.  God bless each of you!
Alofa atu - Patty (Nana-Grams)
       

"Just sit right back and I'll tell a tale..."