August 7th, 2008

Hello everyone: Well, we survived our first trip to the islands. Pretty hard to take. We really enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to serve the saints there. Our pictures look like we loafed and did lots but you would be surprised our little effort it is to shot a few pictures as you go by. We saw lots of both Samoas and enjoyed the people we met and worked with. Only bad experience was when they left my suitcase in American Samoa on our way back to Samoa. Didn't get it til noonish the next day and had to check in with the temple presidency at Apia with no makeup, comb etc. I'm sure I was beautifiul but they probable thought Dad was married to a different woman the next time they saw us. We were able to attend the temple at Apia the one English session Friday before we came back. We were very impressed with that temple. We felt that it was the most beautiful celestial room we have ever seen. The layout of the temple is really neat. Wish they would build more like it. It was built on land that our bosses wife's family had donated to the church so it was special ground to walk on as well. We arrived late in Samoa as they canceled our plane as we were boarding and we had to change to another. We stayed at Aggie Grey's by the airport. It is pretty grand--flowers and porters--grounds beautifull. We had a lovely breakfast in the morning in the fala by the sea and then went back to the airport for our flight to American Samoa. That was interesting with an 18 seater. Not alot of room to breathe etc. We were met by Brother Fonoti (he is the transplator for the legislature there and a maitai ) and his daughter and granddaughter Louise (16 and cute) with orchid leis. We visited three of their centers that day and checked into our housing at the mission home. The mission includes both Samoas so this one is just the one that the mission president uses when he visits American Samoa. Since the new president is from there and has a huge house on the mountain he doesn't use his bedroom at the home so we got to. It felt like being home--king bed with similar covers etc. The mission couple, Brother and Sister Barnes, are from from Farmington but do not belong to Dean's branch of the family. They would like to be adopted. He wants a desk at the bank to greet people. Thinks that they need a tokan Barnes there. He is W. Floyd Barnes and his wife is Jean. Delightful couple. He was down doing bedrest trying to recover from a blood clot that landed him in ICU for 5 days. We attended the 10th Ann. of the Art's Festival for the Islands that was held there. Saw some interesting shows at the sports arena. (R rated--Easter Island men didn't wear much besides their tattoos). It was really loud. First Rock Concert I have been to. We went with Sr. Barnes and the patriarch and wife of the stake. Left before the end as we could feel our hearts beat in time to the bass key. They had delegations in from all over the Pacific. That is why we couldn't get housing. The LDS service center got us a nice car for 2 days and then we used the mission van for the last day. We had a training session with about 20 people for half a day and then the last day we visited a new Stake Center FHC in Pago Pago so got pictures of the inlet there too. In Samoa (western) we stayed in the LDS Compound. We had a lovely 3 bedroom house. It is literally a compound with guards at the gate to let you in and out with high wire fences enclosing you. Both Samoas have dogs that run in packs all over. They don't really belong to anyone so can be kind of scary if you are out walking at night. Natives walk out in the street at night all the time. No sidewalks except on the waterfront. Brother and Sister Betham took good care of us there. He is the former Stake President, Temple President and regional rep. They have a plantation that provides fruits and veggies to all the hotels and restaurants in Samoa. They treated us to sandwiches everyday at the center and took us to lunch twice while we were there. We trained about 20 people per day for 5 days getting them on to New Family Search and understanding the system. It was a little hard as the center we used is the only one in Samoa with internet so not only are they learning the church systems they are learning to type and how to use internet and sometimes don't understand english let alone read it. The sisters liked me and kept giving me candy, crackers, necklace and errings and hugs etc. They liked Dad too but gave me the food. The finance manager for the two Samoa's was our host at the compound. They invited us over for dinner with their famiy the first Saturday--gave us lots of food to get us by and took us for pizza with their family the last Saturday we were there. We did manage to take her out for dinner one night at the Apia Yaght Club one night. They certainly took good care of us. We had a church pool car (Yaris) that we used while there. We were able to attend the English speaking ward and met many of the 10 missionary couples that are there. The weather was great. Not too hot or humid. We enjoyed it. Of course our house was air conditioned (both) and the cars were also. The centers were air conditioned too. We ate out about 3 night on the waterfront and it was just comfortable. Saw about 1 mosquito but did have weird 'blood' worms that crawled in and died and we swept up daily. They hurt if you step on them and the birds won't touch them as they are too acidy. We also had two pet jecko's (babys) that we kept catching and taking outside. Saw a dead centipede in the laundryroom that kind of grossed me out but he was dead with legs up. We traveled over most of the island--saw the early Mormon refuge site. Pres. McKay rode up there on horseback and dedicated the land and said that it was the site of an early temple. It was a beautiful place up in the hills. The Samoan people are very poor and many live off the land. The pictures show many Foli's---round houses on stilts where they gather daily at 6;00 ish for prayers etc. They sleep there etc. Lots of loose pigs, chickens and dogs everywhere. Anyway it was a great experience. We are back in New Zealand--got back Monday afternoon (missed Sunday) and back to work. We have 3 general authorities here all next week. Quinton Cook, Bro. McMullin and Elder Jensen so we have to clean up our areas and look sharp. We have two special meetings next week with them. We got back in time for the introduction of our new Area Presidency and wives on Tues. morning. We have Elder Hilbig and his wife (lst Q. of 70), Elder Callister and wife (2nd Q. of 70) and President Baxter and wife 1st Q. of Seventy. We also have a Brother and Sister Nally coming soon. He is the infield rep. for all the mission presidents here. So our office is getting busy with moving offices etc. So far we are in the same place but that could change. Our boss is headed to Tahiti for its roll out next week. We just made reservations to go to Vanuatu on the 19th. We will stay til the 24th and visit both Port Villa and Santo islands. We have to start taking malaria meds before we leave, have lab tests before and continue on the meds for 28 days after we return. We wanted to go now before it gets hotter there. We have two libraries there and they only fly in and out on certain days of the week. They are in the Fiji temple district and Fiji is going live on the 19th. We are looking forward to Shannon and Erik visiting us starting Sunday. Hopefully the weather will be nice for their visit. It was wild while we were gone. One of our tree/bushes by the front door was broken at the root during one of the storms. We met our new neighbor girl last night. She is Katrina from Siberia. Very nice and pretty. She is attending the university and looking for a job. Her parents will join her later. She wanted to know if we were orthodox. Well, enough for now. We are welll and enjoying our time here. Kind of sad to see some of the old missionaries get ready to go home. Guess that that is the name of the game. Sounds like lots of stuff is happening at home. Hopefully little Nathan is doing ok and ready for his hernia operation tomorrow. Exciting to hear of Suzanne and Brians new baby boy to be. Sorry to hear of the two flooded basements and Nicole's family flu. Nice to see the rest of you enjoy each other in Island Park. Good to hear of Scott's new job. Wish we were there. Keep us in your prayers. We feel them. Drop us a line or three. We love to get email!

Love to you all, Mom and Dad, Andrea and Woody, Grandma and Grandpa Wootton