Be Prepared

Talofa Family and Friends,

     This week we settled back into a regular schedule with no big happenings.  We were looking forward to rain today, and we did get a little, but it has been a while since we've had a good downpour.  With cyclone season starting Nov. 1st, I spent some time this week researching emergency preparedness for American Samoa.  I was in the process of putting a powerpoint together to take to district meetings, when I came across a flyer on our ward FB page about a workshop tomorrow at the college on Disaster planning. I feel like this is a tender mercy, as I have been asking people and calling a few government agencies to get information with no success.  I plan to attend. Brent and I did clean, sanitize and fill ten five gallon water bottles (50 gallons) with filtered water this week, and have it stored for an emergency.  We will rotate it on our water cooler, refilling bottles as used.  This makes me feel a lot better all ready!

     Brent and I have both been enjoying our Institute classes.  I always talk about how much we love the missionaries, but we have also fallen in love with the young adults in our classes.  Several of them are returned missionaries, some are just preparing to go and one sister is a new convert. I'm not sure how much they are learning, but Brent and I are learning a lot through our daily preparation.  With almost every lesson there is a conference talk referenced for further study, so we listen to them at the table while we are eating.  It takes care of the problem of Brent not liking to talk much - and as a bonus it gives us something new to talk about :). 
       Every Monday we pick up packages from the post office.  This last Monday there were a lot to repack and send to Apia.  One of the things on my to-do-list is to compose a letter to parents of missionaries pleading with them not to go overboard at Christmas.  It's hard to believe but Christmas trees have already started to appear in the stores here, and I know there's a nightmare right around the corner when almost 200 parents start sending boxes all at the same time!  The truth is - there is not going to be room on the small plane that carries the cargo from here to Apia. 

Some of our Institute students - We LOVE them!

Passengers have first priority, and then if there is room they take cargo. I have visions of our living room over-run with USPS flat rate boxes.
     The grandkids have asked how life is different here, so I have been trying to think of a few things.  Grandpa likes that we can get fresh tuna on Fridays at the market in Pago, fresh milk from the states is $9.80/gallon, baking supplies (flour, sugars...) are kept in the freezer, everything else is kept in Tupperware, the fastest we ever drive is 25 mph (there are no freeways) and there is not one traffic light on the entire island.   The car of choice is a pick-up truck so people can sit in the back.  Seat belts are optional and I don't think I've ever seen a carseat.  A lot of people don't have cars so they either walk or there are a lot of small buses which do not run on any set schedule -they
 all have pictures painted 

on them so people can tell which one to take.   There are no Wal-Marts or Target stores, shopping is done in small stores, and most look pretty sketchy on the outside but turn out to hold an amazing variety of items inside. School kids wear different uniforms depending on their school, and the little kids in our neighborhood catch the school bus at 6:15 am. There are always smashed toads on the roads (Ugh!).  Car washes are busy, even when it is pouring rain. Refreshments are served at every function many times with "to-go" boxes so you can take extras home.  You always see young people out playing volleyball, rugby or cricket. I'm sure I could

Typical refreshments served for each person!

     think of some more - but that will have to do for now. 
         Spencer Gardiner, our Samoan tutor got a new job so our weekly lessons have come to an end.  It was difficult to keep up with  homework and practice along with everything else, so it is kind of a relief.  We have plenty of study materials and we often practice our vocabulary with flash cards we keep in the car.  A new phrase I learned this week is "Filifili mea le Tonu" - "Choose the Right." 
     Tad Callister is a General Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.  He is an amazing teacher.  I highly recommend this talk given originally at BYU and now available on Youtube titled "Our Identity and Our Destiny"for my older grandchildren and for anyone who has wondered who you really are and why you are here.     "You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!2"
     "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Taken in Maupusaga Fou in front of what remains
of a house demolished in a cyclone

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." [Romans 8:16–17)  "  Why is it so critical to have a correct vision of this divine destiny of godliness of which the scriptures and other witnesses so clearly testify? Because with increased vision comes increased motivation. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “No doctrine is more basic, no doctrine embraces a greater incentive to personal righteousness . . . as does the wondrous concept that man can be as his Maker.”31 And why not possible? Do not all Christian churches advocate Christlike behavior? Is that not what the Sermon on the Mount is all about? If it is blasphemous to think we can become as God, then at what point is it not blasphemous to become like God—90 percent, 50 percent, 1 percent? Is it more Christian to seek partial godhood than total godhood? Are we invited to walk the path of godhood—to “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”—with no possibility of ever reaching the destination?"  

           The clock says it's bedtime.  We loved talking to many family members this week and hopefully will connect with the rest this next week.  You are always in our thoughts and prayers.  Nothing is more precious to us than our family!   Love to all - both family and friends! 

Alofa Atu - Patty (Nana)