Well , loved ones we have just been just reeling from all of the terrible news of the storm called Ike. Being in the Pacific we’ve just heard the storm was a brewing and that it could be a cat 5. Believe me… we believed big time.. and were sore afraid. It was the talk of the temple, since everyone knew that we were from “ the United States of Texas” and from the place where all of the astronauts in America live, and yes , where there were cowboys, too. We even had a Br. Vee tee nauvoo longie’s daughter and 2 grandchildren in Houston and they are in the Inwood Ward, too!! Br. Veeteenauvoolongie is a sealer here on Thursdays. We also have had a lovo at his home in his village [1 ½ hr away]. I did a blog with pictures at Easter time. Not being home with you was a real trial for us and we were quite teary all of the time. I want to tell you of a touching moment the day before the big storm hit. It was Saturday morning here and was at 5:30 in the morning. Remember we are a full day ahead of you always. I had walked into the women’s dressing area and 3 sisters were writing on the temple prayer roll. I walked by and simply asked them to write Texas on the small white slips of paper for me. All three women turned around at the same time and looking right at me , two said together, “ we already did, yesterday.” Time sorta stopped for a milla second and within my heart I felt a tiny click, to the left, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord had heard and would answer their prayers for Texas and her people. The other sister then asked “How do you spell Texas.?” I told her “ Txs”. Yes that is Texas in Fijian. I told this story to my friend Crystal Molen in Houston and again I felt the tiny click in my heart and so did she! Just after talking to Crystal, I spoke to Russ and again both he and I felt that tiny click in our hearts. We both cried and were thankful to know that others were worrying about us and knew that the only real way the Lord can help all of Texas was through the temple and with the prayer roll. I know that each of us have different types of testimonies. I know that age has a great deal to do with testimonies. I must say that I have a great advantage over all of you because I am a convert. I don’t take many things for granted in the gospel. I remember things as they were before we joined the church and I know the difference. I also know that it has been somewhat of a challenge for you having me as your mom. I have a fierce testimony and that has to be sorta hard when you feel that you must “gain” you own testimonies and mine is quite literally a “house a fire.” What does that have to do with hurricanes? Dad and I told you all that our mission would be hard on all of us and tried to help you remember how hard it was when dad was bishop. Well we have had the day care closed! And the ol Ivy Court is also gutted and out of order. Yesterday, Wade told us that the house in High Meadows was hit by lighting in the front yard and it knocked plates off the wall in the tv room.. and yes, it blew plugs out. The neighbors thought the house had had a direct hit with the lightning. Wade and Claudia said that it sounded like a freight train had run through the middle of the house. The neighbors had their outlets blown out too! And there are more lovely [not] things just too sad and small to mention; but we are still here in Fiji and working in the temple. Still, it feels more like vacation than a job. We work with people in the most holy moments of their days and in some of their lives, when they are islanders, the most holy times in their entire lives- and this [?] is a mission. We are privileged to be there with them. We can share their joys in the very moments when they happen. One blessing we were given in the temple missionary training we receive in the Provo Temple with Br. Pinegar was the ability to feel the joys of our patrons and to be blessed with instant memory of this joy. Our rewards are immediate!!!
With Russ & Mish and Claudia & Wade we will just sit tight and wait. Enough said.
This week we have had several outings with the Wells. Last memories of Fiji or rather lasting memories. We took a small boat ride [ 1 buck each way] to the island of Bau. This is where the most revered chief of Fiji is in his tomb with all of his wives. We have pic and will put together a blog for you. And we went out to the reef and saw a lighthouse. There was a ship wreck there from the 1850’s. The entire ship was full of semi - slaves from India destined for the sugar cane fields when the wooden ship ran aground in the shallow waters around the outer reef. Bodies washed ashore for days. The Hindies said that the “gods” had moved the lighthouse. At that point the water is only 4 feet deep at low tide. Again more pics next week with my new blogs. A bit about the reefs here. Reefs protect the shoreline. Reefs are living ? one group says they are animals and the other says plants. Still they protect the islands from the storms and the destructive force of waves. This causes less erosion. At the airport when we picked up the Molens, we saw surfers with boards 9 feet long!!! They are wind surfers. The boards were so long they has several wheels under the zipper cases so they could pull the huge things. We could not figure what on earth they would use to transport the long boards. They are as long as a taxi !! And we had our trip with the Molens to write about with the pics. So I have quite a lot to catch up on. But, pardon the pun, I must make a new back for my swim suit. The suit is 3 yrs old and the elastic in the small of the back, [ not my bum, remember that] just melted into a sticky glob. I will take a pic and show you. So what to do? Folks there are no suits that a suitable LDS woman here in Suva would wear, so what to do? I have a skirt that is cocoa brown like the suit. I just cut out the entire back and then made a pattern and cut up the skirt. I am piecing it together now and will hand stitch it first. Good news ,Sr. Wells gave me all of her brown thread since she is leaving in 2 weeks and o baby listen to this- she gave me real dress pins.!!! I can hear your “ what is that question”. Twice I have bought quality pins and they are just a piece of crap-like most of the stuff these poor people are forced to buy. Sr. Wells at first started to laugh when I told her of my “ save my own butt plan for my swimsuit” AND THEN SHE TOO REALISED there are NO swimsuits here , only at the really high end hotels at Denerau island. We had been looking for some a few months ago and were all happy to report we didn’t need one. Damn, damn. . They were in Tappoo’s pearl shoppe in the hotel Soffitel. [78-100 bucks Fijian] One problem---the legs where cut up to the blue sky [ some of you were justifiably afraid that I just might say something a little naughty…next time..just wait] So Sr. Wells is very much on my side, rather on my butt side and says finish that suit honey before I go. We are a rather funny group of women. Most women do not wear swimsuits past the age of 22 in public. We here, all of us do, and swim and snorkel, too. And in PUBLIC TOO!!! Enough of the subtle bragging!!!!!
Your dad and I have eaten .. just .. too.. much!! We must go to every luncheon , dinner, etc that the Wells go to. Just yesterday dad got up and announced , “ I just can’t eat any more!!” He has never said this in our entire marriage and I am rather sure his mother would say the same of his childhood.! At today’s dinner count we still have 8 – 10 more meals until the new president and wife come and then will there be more dinners…..please no more. I am forced to walk with your dad about ..sorta..maybe.. who knows for sure..1/3 mile [maybe] and then I run home. He is really surprised how fast I can zip around and sneek away. Yesterday I sneeked out at the Bel Air flats and ran home. [of course I am not runnin g- get real , sisters] Anyhoo, friends of ours saw me leave and thought that we had had a real fight and that I had left. It seemed seems since I spun around so fast and the look of sheer surprise on his face was so great= I had just up and left him at the BelAir flats. Honey that is just about enough to make me stop [hee hee] walking at all and hopefully ..forever!! Really I must walk..10 dinners to go. RATS and more RATS.
We received a memo in the temple looking for a couple to write articles on [ ?? ] FIJI and to send them to church publications. I said yes…It was sorta funny too. The memo had gone through all of the couples and no one wanted .. to even hold.. the memo for fear they might be considered “thinking” about it. HA.. HA..I have wanted just this kind of a little job ‘ever since we came here and to have someone who would want to read my stuff..well..this is the stuff my dreams are made of. We’ll keep you up.. on my little wishes.
Just a note of thanks to Sandy and Brent Wettstein. They have been very generous and are helping us out with our mission costs, since we have lost 2 of our businesses. Those of us involved in the family business are doing all that we can to stay afloat. Wade’s work is picking up well(got a promotion this week) and they are stabilizing and Russ is working full time at “ peek a baby “. We will all make this work and will be able to rebuild. Our disaster loan is being processed. We will keep you posted. Again we all thank Brent and Sandy for coming to our aid when we really have needed it the most.
Bula Vinaka, Love Mom and Dad
With Russ & Mish and Claudia & Wade we will just sit tight and wait. Enough said.
This week we have had several outings with the Wells. Last memories of Fiji or rather lasting memories. We took a small boat ride [ 1 buck each way] to the island of Bau. This is where the most revered chief of Fiji is in his tomb with all of his wives. We have pic and will put together a blog for you. And we went out to the reef and saw a lighthouse. There was a ship wreck there from the 1850’s. The entire ship was full of semi - slaves from India destined for the sugar cane fields when the wooden ship ran aground in the shallow waters around the outer reef. Bodies washed ashore for days. The Hindies said that the “gods” had moved the lighthouse. At that point the water is only 4 feet deep at low tide. Again more pics next week with my new blogs. A bit about the reefs here. Reefs protect the shoreline. Reefs are living ? one group says they are animals and the other says plants. Still they protect the islands from the storms and the destructive force of waves. This causes less erosion. At the airport when we picked up the Molens, we saw surfers with boards 9 feet long!!! They are wind surfers. The boards were so long they has several wheels under the zipper cases so they could pull the huge things. We could not figure what on earth they would use to transport the long boards. They are as long as a taxi !! And we had our trip with the Molens to write about with the pics. So I have quite a lot to catch up on. But, pardon the pun, I must make a new back for my swim suit. The suit is 3 yrs old and the elastic in the small of the back, [ not my bum, remember that] just melted into a sticky glob. I will take a pic and show you. So what to do? Folks there are no suits that a suitable LDS woman here in Suva would wear, so what to do? I have a skirt that is cocoa brown like the suit. I just cut out the entire back and then made a pattern and cut up the skirt. I am piecing it together now and will hand stitch it first. Good news ,Sr. Wells gave me all of her brown thread since she is leaving in 2 weeks and o baby listen to this- she gave me real dress pins.!!! I can hear your “ what is that question”. Twice I have bought quality pins and they are just a piece of crap-like most of the stuff these poor people are forced to buy. Sr. Wells at first started to laugh when I told her of my “ save my own butt plan for my swimsuit” AND THEN SHE TOO REALISED there are NO swimsuits here , only at the really high end hotels at Denerau island. We had been looking for some a few months ago and were all happy to report we didn’t need one. Damn, damn. . They were in Tappoo’s pearl shoppe in the hotel Soffitel. [78-100 bucks Fijian] One problem---the legs where cut up to the blue sky [ some of you were justifiably afraid that I just might say something a little naughty…next time..just wait] So Sr. Wells is very much on my side, rather on my butt side and says finish that suit honey before I go. We are a rather funny group of women. Most women do not wear swimsuits past the age of 22 in public. We here, all of us do, and swim and snorkel, too. And in PUBLIC TOO!!! Enough of the subtle bragging!!!!!
Your dad and I have eaten .. just .. too.. much!! We must go to every luncheon , dinner, etc that the Wells go to. Just yesterday dad got up and announced , “ I just can’t eat any more!!” He has never said this in our entire marriage and I am rather sure his mother would say the same of his childhood.! At today’s dinner count we still have 8 – 10 more meals until the new president and wife come and then will there be more dinners…..please no more. I am forced to walk with your dad about ..sorta..maybe.. who knows for sure..1/3 mile [maybe] and then I run home. He is really surprised how fast I can zip around and sneek away. Yesterday I sneeked out at the Bel Air flats and ran home. [of course I am not runnin g- get real , sisters] Anyhoo, friends of ours saw me leave and thought that we had had a real fight and that I had left. It seemed seems since I spun around so fast and the look of sheer surprise on his face was so great= I had just up and left him at the BelAir flats. Honey that is just about enough to make me stop [hee hee] walking at all and hopefully ..forever!! Really I must walk..10 dinners to go. RATS and more RATS.
We received a memo in the temple looking for a couple to write articles on [ ?? ] FIJI and to send them to church publications. I said yes…It was sorta funny too. The memo had gone through all of the couples and no one wanted .. to even hold.. the memo for fear they might be considered “thinking” about it. HA.. HA..I have wanted just this kind of a little job ‘ever since we came here and to have someone who would want to read my stuff..well..this is the stuff my dreams are made of. We’ll keep you up.. on my little wishes.
Just a note of thanks to Sandy and Brent Wettstein. They have been very generous and are helping us out with our mission costs, since we have lost 2 of our businesses. Those of us involved in the family business are doing all that we can to stay afloat. Wade’s work is picking up well(got a promotion this week) and they are stabilizing and Russ is working full time at “ peek a baby “. We will all make this work and will be able to rebuild. Our disaster loan is being processed. We will keep you posted. Again we all thank Brent and Sandy for coming to our aid when we really have needed it the most.
Bula Vinaka, Love Mom and Dad
