Old Friends

Talofa Family and Friends,
     What a wonderful week and a half I've had with my dear friend, Heather Wharton, visiting from the states and also seeing dear friends from our first mission in Upolu and Savaii.  Brent offered to stay home and take care of Institute and our missionaries while Heather and I traveled to Western Samoa.
      Sister Foster, a senior missionary over cars, was a generous host, allowing us to stay at her home and also providing us with a brand new Toyota Rav.  We arrived by small plane last Thursday (Friday Upolu time) and were able to go through a temple session and dinner at Scalini's.  Afulua, my very dear friend from the mission office, was able to go with us Friday night and around the island of Upolu on Saturday.  We stopped at Robert Louis Stevenson's home, snorkeled and swam at Matareva Beach, and swam out to see the giant clams (Actually I swam, Heather and Afulua were towed out by a village woman in a Kayak who is probably still recuperating).  Heather forgot

Off on a great adventure

 to put on sunscreen, and with her very fair skin got a pretty serious sunburn, but that did not spoil our great time.
     Sunday we attended the Pesega Lima ward where it was wonderful to see old friends.  I was thrilled to see some of our old Primary kids, Owen, Jerry and Lawrence.  They are all handsome deacons now and will always hold a special place in my heart.  After church we drove out to Saniatu, the location of one of the church schools and also the place where early Saints on the island escaped persecution.  The road was pretty bad, but with slow and careful driving we finally arrived.  David O McKay, as a young Apostle, visited Saniatu riding a horse.
      We arrived back in Apia just in time for the Senior Missionary Break the Fast Potluck.   I not only had the opportunity to meet the other seniors in the mission that I only knew by name, but we had a wonderful meal of too many good things to choose from.  It was strange to be back at the mission home as a guest.

Heather at Saniatu

    Early Monday morning we left Apia to catch the 8:00 am ferry to Savaii. It was a beautiful morning with sunshine, which I was extremely thankful for considering the weather from the previous week. In fact, we were blessed with perfect weather for the entire trip, with only a little rain.  Our friends, Galu and Rita Matagi, met us at the wharf in Savaii and treated us to a wonderful chauffeured tour around the entire island. Some of the highlights were the black sand beach, the blow holes, the canopy walk (Last time in my life I'll be trying anything like that!), feeding the turtles, and the best part, running into some of our missionaries who recently were transferred to Savaii.  The canopy walk entailed climbing stairs (more like ladders) to the top of these huge Banyan Trees, where we had a spectacular view of the forest canopy.  The swinging bridge and stairs, plus the heat and humidity were quite challenging but I did make it to the top and down again without the aid of a helicopter,  crane or medical personnel.

I am too old for this rickety bridge!
Sister Matagi, Heather and Patty

A few steps at the canopy walk

We stopped for fish and chips at a local restaurant on the far side of the island where we enjoyed an ocean view and breeze.

Late afternoon the Matagis dropped us off at the Amoa Resort where we spent the night.  For $40 we had a beautiful air-conditioned room and a very good breakfast.   Even though we had not brought our swimming suits I could not resist the beautiful pool and  jumped in with my clothes. This was not a problem as we were the only people at the resort due to the Coronavirus and off season.  Heather and her friend Myra who was traveling with us, enjoyed a long shower in outdoor garden shower.  That night we walked across the street to a pier with tables and chairs and watched the sun go down.  I don't think life gets any better.

The Amoa Resort

         The next morning at 10 am the Matagis were back to pick us up to continue our adventure.  We drove up to the church school at Vaiola where our dear friends, the Callahans used to stay.  It seemed sad to be there without them.  We then continued to Matagis home and plantation where they have put in an incredible amount of work to clear their land, build their home and create a Garden of Eden.  It seemed like the perfect place to retire.  After a stop for a lemonade the Matagis dropped us off at the ferry.  Sister Semu was a welcome sight as we unloaded at Upolu - we were almost out of money and were worried if we had enough for a taxi.  Wednesday morning we caught the plane back to American Samoa.  This little plane carries 7 passengers and a pilot and the flight lasts about 20 minutes.

Heather, Matagis, Patty, Myra and some
 of my favorite missionaries

       As soon as we landed, my phone started dinging, indicating text messages.  Sister King had stayed at a sister missionary's apartment with three other young missionaries.  She was fine but wanted to know if I could pick her up "Now"!  We were happy to welcome her and Sister Simeona back.  Sister King's leg has healed nicely and she was released by the doctor to go to her own home on Friday.
      It was so wonderful to have Heather here and also to have the chance to reconnect with Afulua, the Matagis and Sister Foster. I also enjoyed getting to know Sister Bennett, Heather's friend from Wyoming who is serving in the temple, and the other senior missionaries.  Really, the best part of serving a mission is the forever friends you make.  Tonight we had the Patches and Edwards over for dinner.  They have become like our family on the island.  I also think of dear friends at home, not ever forgotten. 

       This Coronavirus craziness is also here. The store shelves are emptying and there is almost no fresh produce.  It is questionable they will let the boat dock that is supposed to arrive March 18th.  We were met at the airport with people in Hazmat gear, who took our temperature before we were allowed to leave the airport.  I heard tonight that Hawaiian Air will soon not be flying here at all because of the required quarantine.  That is the only airline that flies in and out of here.  We have tickets home on Hawaiian Air on June 11th so hope this passes soon. 
       Hope this note finds all of you stocked up with essentials and prepared for a few more weeks of craziness. I'm going to learn how to cook taro and dress out a chicken. (They are all over the place.)
We've got a good stock of tuna, PB and J, crackers in the cupboard and Papaya growing in the backyard.  Sounds like another adventure!
Alofa atu, Patty (Nana)

Afulua - my forever friend!

 

Heather - another forever friend!