Holiday trip to Taveuni Island, Fiji

The Temple closed for cleaning on June 28th and will reopened on July 15th. We have had the opportunity to spend a little time getting to better know the Fiji Islands. On Monday June 30, we took an overnight ferry to the island of Taveuni which is to the northeast of Viti Levu island where we live. It was a very interesting trip to say the least. Our friends that dropped us off at the docks thought that they should say a special prayer after they saw the folks that were to board the ferry with us. It was just like Harry Potter when he went down the wrong alley. Quite an experience. I was more prepared for this than your mother was. As you enter the ferry, which was old and very rusty, it looked like the rusty Star War's transport. Your mother was quite surprised with the mode of travel and really stood out. It was a very multinational group with very few white folk. They were mostly native Fijians/Indians with a few Tongans, Samoans and other islanders. There was also a small group from New Zealand. There are various fares that you pay depending on the sleeping accommodations that you can afford-on the deck in the back with only benches and a covering on the top(it was rainy and cold with babies and little children and not much shelter- not a good place to be, it was interesting as they did not go inside as this was all they had paid for), inside on non-reclining padded chairs(which were like airline seats with a snack bar and televisions), upstairs on open sleeping bunks(which had very few people but was a lot more comfortable) or in cabins which could be afforded by only 3 groups. We fortunately were in a cabin, which was actually pretty nice for the 1920’s(really just OK) with a private bathroom and AC. We had to drag our luggage up there thru very small passageways. We had dinner in a lounge(fish which wasn't really too tasty-really tough and dry probably left over from Capt. Bligh’s first journey to Fiji) and then settled down for the night. The seas were very rough and the food jumped around our tables and we had to take seasick pills (my travel editor is assisting me with my descriptions and is making me crazy) we made it to the first stop-Savusavu(the southern port and the island of Vanua Levu), in good shape. The travel editor (ak devil woman, miss busy body, your mom, etc., etc., etc.)was awakened at 4:00am by the intercom to hear the announcements upon our arrival. I slept in to 4:45 while mom called the missionaries and we had to get off the ferry for a few minutes at 5:30am to deliver a package(powerful bug killer that couldn't be transported by air) to the missionaries on that island. There was only a faint light as we got off the ship and the missionaries were there with their white shirts, badges, and sulus and looked quite out of place on the dock with myriads of darker faces . The only light was from the ship as there was no moon. They looked like we felt the day before when we got on the ferry. Next to us was a large private yacht about 120 feet long- quite impressive. Yachties(super rich folks from New Zealand, Australia and US) tie up at the various ports in Fiji and spend months traveling to the various islands. The Fijian govt will charge them extra fees if they stay more than 9 months.
We said goodbye to the missionaries and the ferry left for the last 4 hours of our journey to Taveuni. It trip was rather uneventful and the breakfast was better than the dinner the night before. We finally sighted Taveuni and pulled in at about 10 am. The island is rather small-25 miles long-and like the rest of the islands had been volcanic and has the black sand and dark volcanic boulders. The waters were various shades of blue and green and reminded us of the Bahamas. Taveuni is called the Garden Island-and for a good reason. The flora is magnificent, there are many species of birds(because of the absence of the mongoose, a natural predator) lots of waterfalls and natural pools. A very small portion of the land is used for agriculture as it is mostly mountainous. When we got off the boat, we were met by a driver, who happened to be LDS and we used him to take us around whenever we needed transportation. As we were leaving the dock, we saw a woman out in the water fishing and asked the driver exactly what she was doing. Check the story in the blog about fish stories to find out more about her. The driver took us to our hotel which was only about 5 minutes away. The hotel was the first major hotel built on the island but is now not as exclusive as others that cost up to $2500 per day. A new resort is being constructed on one of their small northern islands owned by the major owner of the “Red Bull” energy drink. As soon as the golf course is finished along with the landing strip, it will be ready for the super rich and will command $10,000 per day with each suite having 5, yes 5 pools. A church member from Suva and the ward we attend is greatly involved in the project. Mom wants to talk to him so that we can go there and test it out, as inspectors, when it is completed. Back to our humble abode, as we would eat breakfast or lunch, we could watch the waves pound the seawall and the water would splash 12-15 ft into the trees. There is only one major road, which only went around about 60% of the island and was not well maintained. We would dodge potholes, small and large, as we traveled around the island. I’ll post some pictures after this narrative and describe some of the things we did while on the island. Our trip back was smooth and the food was much better.
Did you find the fish story? Kind of interesting that we were some of the last ones to see her alive. Will post pics on the ferry,golf, snorkeling and the resort. This is the golf course at Taveuni. The rock is volcanic black as is the beach.
Mom taking it easy. The little island that you see in the background is where we went to snorkle.
When we left the harbour at Suva, we encountered this 3-masted ship moored in the channel.
Looking from the back of the ferry as we were about to leave Suva on our little trip.

The international timeline runs thru Taveuni- my left foot is in yesterday and the right foot is in today. Time for the day starts exactly where I am standing.
Same for Mom. We hiked up here from our Hotel to find this secluded spot for foto op.
Flowers that fell from the trees outside of our room. Mom found the shell at the golfing beach, so we have 2 nice soap dishes in the apartment.
Hand-held self portrait- not too bad, great of Mom. Harder than you think to get things centered.

Fish painted on the dive shop wall. We saw fish like this off the little island that we went to for snorkeling
Momma pig and her brood right on the side of the road. One can see all kinds of animals along the way but have to be careful not to make them roadkill!
Small branch building in the town of Somosomo. They are going to tear it down sood to build a new chapel on the land. They have 3 branches on the island.
View out the back of the resort. The tide is out so you can see the sandy areas. There was no beach for us as the waves came crashing in at high tide and would hit the seawall and splash up to 15 feet high.

Showing my recovery abilities on the course. Ball stuck on top of lava rock.
This is our LDS cab driver who also played in the band at the resort. Quite a character!
View back to Taveuni from the island that we were dripped off on to do our snorkeling. We had the island all to ourselves. Snorkeling was great with all kinds of fish.
Getting ready to go out on the snorkeling boat. Had a great time. Only took about 10 minutes for the boat trip where they left us off and came back 2 hours later to pick us up. Quite an adventure.

Don Lind, astronaut in my ward, Broadway II Houston

When I was in high school in Houston we were in the Broadway II Ward. I was in the 9th and 10th grades in South Houston High School [class of 69.] The ward included all of NASA and the surrounding areas. We had great families . Their parents worked for the space agency and space support groups. Also there was one astronaut then who was LDS- Don Lind. The Linds had adult kids and a little 5 year old girl. Brother Lind was almost too old to go into space and we were always praying for him because his flights were always being canceled and rescheduled. Then we we're all sad- he became to old to fly and then there was another LDS astronaut who actually beat him into space. Brother Lind would speak to us at church about reverence in space or just how in the world do you pray to our heavenly father while in space . He told of thinking how he would pray while in this sleeping bag. The bags were just hooked on the wall and would float around some. The first LDS in space went during the week and not on sunday. That was Br. Lind's problem. The sacrament in space. How do you bless the sacrament? Bending your knees caused an action in space-and you would just roll around. Now that was not reverent, was it??? To strap himself down and to be reverent he would need special permisson from NASA. There would need to be a written procedure and precedent for future flights. So Br. Lind worked with the church and NASA so we as a people would always have the right to partake of the sacrament in space. He could have just taken blessed bread and water into space and been private and taken the sacrament in private. No . All of the space ship was under cameras 24, 7... And his purpose was to be public about the whole religion motive. He was not afraid to be seen in space praying. What is the measure of a man, who walks in space the ultimate space cowboy and is still ashamed to be seen [all over the world maybe] praying? He wanted, -his goal had always been for the entire world to know, the faith of us as a people. He needed to know what was reverent in space. We all chuckled when he said that he was sure praying bottom up in space was just plain not reverent!!! Do you face the sun or the earth? Do you pass the sacrament in the first passes around the sun or later in the day? Do you need the regular trays and tiny cups? These questions were answered and many, many more. All by thinking of unknown answers and unknown questions. Some said that it was just for attention and the fact that he was too old for space that he asked "his questions." After all would he just face up to the fact - he had become too old and leave these matters to a younger generation. Let me ask you another question, while I have your attention. Ready-the question. How did we learn that the brother of Jared was the younger brother?? When the Book of Mormon was being translated for the Taiwanese people this question was asked. Who was the brother of Jared? Not his name, but was he the older brother? younger brother? twin brother? only brother? half brother? adopted brother? You see in the chinese language there were multiple words for brother and the translator needed to know the exact type of brother he was.... These thoughts had never, NEVER, been asked before. Why?? Because we as americans or north americans or old european immigrants really have never cared a damn about where you were in the birth order in a family. We cared about what you can do and who you are and where you could go. Never about were you the favored first born!!! But the Lord knew that in the rest of the world this is the most important fact about a man. Was he the oldest and there for the most treasured of all of the children? Just to say that is just plain- not an american idea, is it? So the question was asked "just who was the brother of Jared? Remember we were told his name in a child's blessing of his name by the Prophet Joseph Smith to Reynolds Cahoon's little baby boy grandchild - . The birth order of the brother of Jared was that he was the younger brother. And thus the idea of birth order being so important that the Lord used a younger son as a prophet is shown to be null and void. This question to these oriental peoples was so important that the Lord used the great prophet ,the brother of Jared ,as his example to illustrate the truth that the Lord is no respecter of persons. He used whom ever was worthy. This is a testimony also about the line of authority of the prophets of the latter days. Prophets are chosen by the Lord not in family lines only. This is one reason why Joseph Smith's only son was not to led the church into the wilderness of the american west.


Back to Br. Lind. In the end, NASA changed its mind and allowed older men and women in space. Because he understood that man has a place in space and therefore so does the gospel, but a way had to be prepared. He was a pioneer in space. His wagon train was a space shuttle. And he was just a wagon master who had a few simple questions for the Lord, about the sabbath. He came to BYU and our picture was on the first page of the Daily Universe.


I want you to know the value of asking questions. The prophet Joseph was pondering about the Brother of Jared's name. Pondering means to think on or about something. To question. And the Lord answered the question the next time Joseph asked about a name. The name of the new born baby boy of Andrew Cahoon(Reynolds Cahoon's son) is Mahonri Moriancumr. They called him Honnie for short.
There are those who would rather have kids and really anyone , to not ask questions. They say you will destroy your testimonies-they are wrong. We have the fulliness of the gospel because a boy just had to ask -GOD- a few questions.
Bulla Vinaka, love MUM

Fourth Of July

well the 4th was a blast! Claude and i had her family here along with jackie and Ed, while jane and max made they're way up for the fireworks. swimming, hot dogs, and a little catch phase took up the brunt of the day, while the fireworks took over the night. (although it seems that the subdivision doesn't allow fireworks...whoops...sorry dad). our little family is doing really well. emma is growing up fast, but the lazy fart still will not walk! its actually a good thing that she is taking her time because it seems that she will need to wear glasses when she does start running around. they will protect her good eye from any falls or spills on her part. my new job is coming along nicely and i enjoy my free time putting together the fort out back (which is almost complete!). claudia is as beautiful as ever and happy to have me around more. thats really all i have to say because my brain cant think anymore.

HOPE AT THE TIME OF DEATH Karmila Devi Ratnam & Venkat Ratnam [Samabula IIward]

We had our RS lesson on the prophet Joseph Smith and how he gained knowledge about the afterlife through the deaths of his 6 children and 4 family members during a ten year period. Chapter 14 in Teachings of Teachings of the Presidents. In my group were 2 women [Hindi] who were looking at the church for the first time. A woman from Tonga whos family had been members since the gospel was taken to the islands of Tonga [1940's] my self convert at 12, and this this sweet sister- Karmila Devi a new member of 2 months. Just a footnote on indian women they keep their maiden names and use their husbands sometimes when abroad. The class lesson was on death and how we as members use the gospel to help in times of death and sadness. The prophet Joseph Smith said " there are seasons of happiness and seasons of other." In ambers RS I learned that quote. Seasons of other seems to fit many different times in all of our lives,"doesn't it?" What I wanted to address here was the diversity of women in our little group. The woman from Tonga was in her late 60's and had a generational testimony-one passed down from one woman to another through each generation. One woman explaining the gospel in real everday terms that save your very souls. You see life and death do meet in our families, regularly and often and when we are not prepared [most aren't] our families suffer even more. She spoke of a grandmother tending the heart of a young mother and then dying herself. Knowing that she was going to the same place in death as her youngest great grandchild. And welcoming the joy of loving the littlest of our Gods angels while the rest of the family went on with life, here on earth. The women asked what if the gods were getting even and finally someone in that family was receiving justice? Soft;y the woman from Tonga stated our loving and father God doesn't get even with any of His children-never. I said little ones are perfect. Adam has his own life to be judged for-not a child. They were amazed. Getting even is a major part of their gods motives. Then little sister Ratnam spoke. She said that her father in law had just died and they had been denied access to the family home while the offical morning period was being observed. They also have others in the family who are now Christians and they too were excluded. She told of her testimony of the next life and where her childrens pappa was. Her children knew, knew just where pappa was and what he was doing. He was being taught about about Jesus and the true gospel. I was so proud to set at such a table with these women . So remarkable. The gospel of our Savior is so true and is through out these islands changing lives and cultures. As President Bhan has said the gospel of Christ brings us out of the culture of the village [island, people, belief system] and into the culture of the church and then the culture of the Temple will bring us into life with our Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ. This last week Sr. Wells said this." We always want to hear more about our Heavenly Father but, will we take the time out of our busy lives to spend 1 hour and 30 min. listening to both the Father and His Son together in the Temple in our language, in comfort and in quiet? Like I said " being in the same room with such women was enough of a testimony for me last week and I just wanted you to all know my friend, Sr. Karmila Devi Ratnam, of Suva , Fiji.

Love MUM

How to fish in Fiji

I wanted to tell you a true fish story. We had gone out to eat [all couple missionaries] and had this great deep fried fish. I knew that the kids would just love these fish teeth. How would you like to have dinner with all of these fried fish eyes [4eyes= 2 fish] looking at you all of the time?? We had a great meal and took the left overs to President Buhn and his wife. They are in the temple presidency. Sr. Buhn is Fijian and just could hardly wait to eat the fish-heads -eyes and all, brains , too] Br. Buhn is indie and he just loved the tails-even the fins!!
The sea creature below is a mud crab=and he is fighting mad. That is why his giant claws are both tied up. He can pinch your fingers off and then he will try to munch on the them for lunch!!
We have a favorite place for fish and chips [french fries] and they also sell all kinds of fresh fish. These are called parrot fish. Aren't they beauttifuall??

Now I have a sad true fish story from Taveuni island that happened while we were there on our little vacation while the temple was closed for cleaning. As our boat approached the tiny dock on the island, which is just alarge block of concreate, we saw a woman fishing. The tide was out and people will walk on the exposed ocean floor and find crabs, clams and mussles with heir feet and will put them in string bags and take them home to cook for dinner. The crabs they must catch carefully and always tie up their giant claws to keep their fingers!!! But this woman was in the deep water now up to her waist. We had a taxi driver [who is LDS] and we asked him just what was she doing, since she was in such deep water. He said she was fishing. OH, we said and then we went on to play golf-not me though. That was the end of the story we thought. Not so it seems. Now the terrible part. Are you ready? Don't eat dinner before I tell you this gross true story, OK? OK? We went to the island to play golf one week and another set of temple missionaries went the next week. So now the Howards told me more of the story. The taxi driver told them to tell us that the woman had not been seen since we had seen her fishing when our boat had docked. They fill she is dead and was eatten by the sharks that are in the waters allaround the island. Then another friend askeed me this queation. Do you know how they fish in Fiji? No I said. Well they tie a string around their waists and then tie small screen bags to the rope on their waist. The fish come in schools = very large schools of fish all the same size. They were eggs too at the same time, so they are growing all at the same time, too. After they catch the fish in a small net they just bite off the fishes head and put the body in a little bag and just lets the head sink into the water. Yes you heard right=bite off the heads.!! Into each bag they will stuff ans many little fish as they can. Then they just fill up another bag and start over again. Now all around them are fish heads and fish blood. All around them. Do you know the word greed? It means you want too much or something that is not yours. So here is what people think happened. The old lady stayed to late out in the deep water and the tide started to come back in and she was trapped. The smell of the blood was just too great and the water started to get deeper so fast that maybe she fell and the weight of the fish around her waist was too much and she just died-right there. Or the smell of blood brought more fish and finally the sharks. Or the sharks came and ate at her knees and she died. So her body was never found. Just go back to the pics of my fish dinner and think of those fish as sharks and how big their teeth really are. Greed. We just don't know what really happened, but the body was never found and skin divers come from all over the world to see these great big sharks. Greed. Greed. All our love. We are having fish for dinner. How about you? LOVE NONNIE

Fiji struck again

Aren't we cute? At the Out Rigger resort [5star]. May 2008 Baptism Sigatoka
Wheelers, Stags, Bohmans lunch Crowes Nest
These sisters are my last islanders Vanauatu. Their clothes are called Mother Hubbard dresses and cost them 10.00. They were given some cash to purchase a dress and sandles for the trip.
This is my sneeky pic. None can leave the temple in their temple clothes- no pictures. Not for me I just hold the door open and so they can take their pic and I am all ok by your Dad!!

- Well Fiji has struck again!!!! More questions for the prophet. We had a small group come this week from Kiribati. Just two families with two minor problems. 1. a eight year old girl unbaptized 2. a father not a member for one year until July 1, 2008. We can baptize her in a ward font [not like last time when we had to get the ok from President Monson to baptize a 8 year old in our font since she was to be sealed the next day]. Here they just send families on and just have faith that all can be worked out on this end at the temple. You would think they really check their records carefully, but they don't......they just send them on. When you think about it you can sorta understand. This is their only time to go to the temple and things were mostly done....right? It gives me a lot of hope, that the Lord is far more merciful that folks think. But knowing me I should not think of that loop hole tooooo long. Just speaking for myself, folks. So within an hour of arriving at the temple President Wells was speaking with the prophet again on Fiji and our unique situations. He said " yes ,an exception can be made for this father and they can be sealed on friday for time and all eternity, and wished them well." The most common mistake people make in the temple is that they come on the date of their baptism to be endowed not on the confirmation date and they must come back on another date. We had a couple in our ward from the last temple presidency in the Houston Temple and she said this was the hardest thing in the universe [not world as you may think] to not let them in the temple and help them keep the spirit within whist [English word for while, I can spell and am a master of grammar -lie,lie, and more ...] they could not come in. Here it is a once in a life time event and the Lord is kind and understanding, elsewhere not so...there church rules and they are quite firm. We had a couple’s conference here and both Byron and I wanted to be ill and skip it. BYRON IS ALWAYS A QUESTIONABLE EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW. We had a great time and ate 4 times.=1 pound fiji fat. Somehow we are the only couple in the mission who are losing [?] weight. Let’s be clear, poor Br. Wettstein has made a deal with the devil AK myself. The details can not be made known , threats were made= 8 pounds lost from Br. sucker and ready for this ..?.. 15 for myself, Miss devilish. Honey I have not weighed 155 for 15 years. NO great secret. No oven in my flat and we can swim when the weather is mush warmer. mush, mush warmer. I have been telling my landlord [we are surprised that we don't have to call him , Lord Landlord] These folks just take this british crap of pompishnish to ====far. So I'm on his Lordlyness, ak, Sr.Darth, bad side. I have complained about the following, mice, no oven, termites, no oven, mice, no oven, oh yes and termites and of course a my washer is dying. I will get a another washer when mine dies. Then I get one from the Australian embassy down the street. It seem that their contract reads the following, washers must be perfect working order and can not have one dab, touch,or a spot of rust on them. Folks Aussies are smarter than mormons. My machine is covered with rust and has a broken lid and I still have mice. I stuffed a door mat under my front door. THe space under the door is huge and Byron has seen a mouse, SEEN A MOUSE SCURRY FROM UNDER OUR FRONT DOOR AND WALK BOLD A BRASS INTO MY KITCHEN AND OPEN THE FRIG AND DRINK A DIET COKE.!!!!!!!!!! Really, Byron has seen this. Back to my door mat. The little kritters started eating through my door mat to get in to the candy store. They love candy poison and don't eat big boy poison. Soon they will be on a diet to get under my Willy Wonka Wonderful Candy Shoppe [British, folks] darn door. I feel so much better. Byron has gone to sign up for his driving test. Before I take that test ....I will open my own door for the furry little creatures. We went to another lovo this past weekend and still aren't hungry. That was sat. and it is now thursday. We have a lovo bug. The food always tastes the same=cooking food in a huge hole in the ground tastes the same=blauga,and more blauga. Give me some cajin blackened anything and I will be happy. I have decided to have our own texas lovo for all of our friends when we leave. I am planning the menu now. Red beans and rice and chicken. Everyone who come to see us will bring 20 pkgs if Zatarians red beans and rice mix. I am already starved. Enough on food.
Sister Wells says it is rather common for them to receive call at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning with names to be put on the temple roll here=from the states!!!!!!!!!!!! Why????????????? Because they say the Fijians have the greatest faith and their help and prayers are what is needed. Can you believe that????
Before I close I must tell you of the following event that happened to me last saturday June 14, 2008. It is raining is so wonderful and cool. I can sit here and type and look down the hall and out the back door and see the water falling in the pool. This is not a brag, as my family [not my kids] feel my life is just too colorful and then judge me by their life's lack of colorfullinesses, and then to not feel sad about the conditions of color or lack there of in their lives, they then feel that my life just can not be so colorful and then they doubt my life and all there in it. We are blessed to be here in Fiji and know it. We were leaving the temple a little early to go to the bug lovo, and I came behind the Matron. She had a three year old little girl all in white and bare foot. The matron was carrying her socks. Behind a family friend was carrying a one year old, all in white with a vest and bow tie=sound asleep on her shoulder. He was the size of a 15# sack of potatoes and around here that is valuable folks. So I just walked behind to watch. All entered the sealing room and I peaked in=our president does break some rules regularly. He seals islanders as families with other families watching =not alone. This way they have a collective memory of the sealing. So looking in I saw so many families all in white and waiting for these little brown angels=barefooted, too, and I was filled with the peace inside that is given to those who work in the temple and to those who attended. A sweet warmth of the soul that even a smile can not do justice too. I reached out to quietly close the door with my right hand and in doing so felt a warm burning in my right shoulder and felt my shoulder being healed. Three times now I have felt this healing sensation. The second time I was at the hospital doing blood work and then went to my doctor and she was speechless= I had been totally healed. [ 3 large fissures on my bum-child birth left overs] . I had fought Byron for an early blessing on the monday before and by wednesday I was totally healed. Not one angry purple or red scar either. Blessings are just that, aren't they? Those gifts of the spirit include the gift of being healed, because of your faith. This I have now had in my life three times now. These are the numbers to keep track of- not weight.
The mouse is dead . We are leaving on our temple closing vacation and will send you more pictures. Just thought you would like to see our communications tower and how we really do get to the internet on a good and sunny day. Love to all Sr. Wettstein

News from Fiji

Out to dinner with the Stag's. This is a floating restaurant-boat. We'll take you there for dinner.
Our first baptism in Singatoka. [Br. Bohman] in the pacific. Such a wonderful moment in time.
Missionary couples. Stag, Wheeler, Wettstein [short hair and sorta blond] Bohman, mom&girls.
Harry Potter is here in Fiji. Head boy, head girl and prefect. For sale in a store window. whoohoo. Your dad stoped me from buying one of each!!!! I really do need them-home movies.

Mom with our antenna for the internet system. Not a fun way to have to set up everything. See my hair yellowish blond but, the roots on the top are silver & the back still is dark!!!

Sophie Gray Wettstein

OK..so I finally got my act together and here are the pics of our sweet little Sophie Gray. We are completely in love with our baby. The kids can't get enough of her....and neither can mom and dad. Ava kept going back or forth on whether she wanted baby Sophie or a dog. She is now pretty much sold on baby Sophie. And Max claims that he wouldn't sell her for all the money in the world. Jane of course is my right hand gal and loves to just sit in my room and hold the baby. Now if we could all just get some things done around the house we would be doing great. Well, enjoy the pics. I think I finally have a daughter who looks like me. What do you think? Much love,

Russ Mich and the kids

Elephantitis and Sr. Tuitonga

We are back from our much needed holiday but before I tell of our little vacation I must tell you our little Sister Tuitonga [ two e tonga ]. I just met her 5 weeks before our winter closing of the temple [remember it is our winter season]. I was working in initiatory when Sr. Wells came and stopped us so we could meet this extraordinary woman, Sr. Tuitonga. She has had elephantitis since 1982. To travel in the pacific and in many countries you must have a certificate of health. Our little sister [about 4 ft. 8in.] was preparing to go to the Tonga Temple to be sealed in 1982 and started the paperwork with her checkup and there she found out about her left leg. Sister Wells had made her a white covering for her leg like you see in the temples to cover a walking foot cast. I must tell you that you cannot be prepared to see such a thing and not gasp. Her tiny foot was now the size of an 8 inch dinner plate. Now I know you may think I am wrong but, sadly I am not. The skin stretches as much as possible and then turns a purple color just like maternity marks and then continues this process up and down and then sideways, too. Her foot was small like a childs on the right side but, the entire foot and toenails too, had grown to look just like an elephant's foot and leg up to her mid thigh. The leg weighed maybe up to 50 - 70 pounds Sr. Wells said. To really see this you must take a paper plate and tape your foot to it. And then cut an opening in the same size paper plate and put your upper leg in it too. I know it is shocking. We spoke for a few minutes and all went on their different ways. However this sweet sister came back 2 weeks later and I was free and had to ask her some questions. All I said was please tell me your story and all of this just flowed out. She said " the Lord knew that my leg would be sick and He chose this instead of diabetes." Why I said? I knew what I had when I we went to the Tonga Temple and was able to be sealed, had I not had a health certificate we would not have been sealed. With diabetes my leg would have been amputated and I would have died rather quickly. Here neighbors call the hospital and they come and take you to the hospital and off goes the leg, the government has that much control over your life. My neighbors [ well intentioned ] called the hospital and they came were going to transport me right then. But, I had the letters from my doctor who stated my illness and that it would not spread any more - the letter saved my life. Here amputation is a common word for death; especially 24 years ago. We have no drugs here for the common man and had none 24 years ago=death. There are no fake legs anywhere for the poor. I would have died and not seen my own children grow up. I could have never lived to see the Fiji Temple open. I am an old woman. I have held my grandchildren and more. You see the LORD KNEW THAT MY LEG WOULD BE SICK AND HE CHOSE FOR ME TO LIVE. I can barely type this with my tears running down my face and think of my Jaclyn and all of her struggles and her exceptional faith. She has told me that she has always had faith that the Lord loves her and that He was not teaching her a lesson or that she had bad or anything like that. I now how to express her great testimony ... " YOU SEE THE LORD KNEW THAT I WOULD BE SICK AND HE CHOSE FOR ME TO LIVE.. TO MARRY .. TO BE A MOM.. AND TO SEE MY GRANDCHILDREN."
All of my love goes out to this little and happy Fijian saint. She has alone given us the insightful testimonies of our dear Lord's love and concern for each and every one of us. A testimony choosen and nurtured through great pain and struggles. Testimony remembered and given freely when asked." can you tell me your story?"

love from FIJI MOM

Mom Dad,

Sorry we haven't been on the blog much, but we did promise that we would put a video of Emma in her walker, so we hope you guys enjoy that. We wanted to thank you for the heart felt talks we had, We now know what we have to do. We are so very grateful for all that you do and we feel blessed everyday knowing you are serving the lord and setting such a great example to us all. Emma is growing more and more everyday, although my sweet darling Emma has now taken her father's traits to all new levels. She is so much like her father, it is unreal. We now call her our wild child, and boy can she scream. Everywhere we go Emma has to have a few yells to let everyone know she is there. Emma has three more teeth coming in besides the 5 she already has, so she's getting some choppers. Emma loves to listen to the radio now, she is starting to bob her head back in forth, it is so cute. She is still in love with Charlie and Lola and we so desperately hope that it continues to stay that way. Her time to watch her show, is our time for a break or do the housework. Cookie dear i am sorry to inform you that the back yard has become a jungle. My dear husband has not had the time to mow the lawn as much as he wants. though he does do the lawn every Monday, so it's not getting totally neglected. I just think it's soo funny. Cookie I have to give you props for stripping your hair and going grey, I have to admit you are all the more brave! Well we are finally enjoying the pool for the summer, took a little while for the pool to warm up, but it has been very nice. Jackie and Edgar came up and spent the night with us and went swimming. I cooked a fabulous dinner and breakfast the next day, that I got Edgar to say he wanted to come over more often, Jackie of course laughed. Well we hope that you are enjoying the mission more and more everyday and hope to hear from you soon. We love you guys ..

Happy Father's Day Byron

I am so sorry this is late....what can I say - We are bums. Hey By - Aaron and I thought of you ALL weekend long and not just because it was Father's Day and you are such a great Father, but also because it was THE MOST EXCITING week of golf EVER!! The Us Open was at Torrey Pines and it was Tiger's first tourney after his knee surgery. OH the Drama of it all. Tiger was obviously still in pain. It was awful...he would totally wince after almost every shot. At times he even buckled almost to his knees in pain, but he kept plugging away. On Friday he shoots an amazing display of awesomeness - 30 on the back nine to get back into contention. THEN on Saturday he drops an eagle and several birdies (after a double bogey then bogey start to his round) to stay in the game. He is heading into the 18th needing a birdie to tie the leader (Lee Westwood). So what does he do? HE EAGLES the hole to take the lead! It was AWESOME. OK so why were we thinking of you? Cute old Rocco Mediate who has dropped off the face of the earth and struggled with his back and what not comes out of obscurity to be in contention. He even had to go back to Q school to be there and he was hangin' with all the younguns. He was in 2nd place when Tiger eagled that putt to put him in third place. Everyone was cheering for cute Rocco. He was the same ol same ol, too. He even wore his player badge on his shirt so... "They would know who I am". He was chatty and smiling and just plain happy to be there. Aaron must have said a zillion times..."Did you know Rocco is my Dads favorite player?". We SO wished you could have witnessed his awesome weekend. OK So what happens is Sunday was just a plain struggle for Tiger. He doubles the first hole and his knee is obviously killing him and Rocco is just cheerful chatty Kathy one hole ahead of the last group just rifling them in there. It was like he had a laser on his golf club. It was some awesome golf. However, Tiger just kept coming back. Heading into the 18th Rocco has been ahead by 1 stroke for a few holes now and Tiger has a 20 ft(ish) birdie putt to tie Rocco - He sinks it of course! It was so fun to see ol' Rocco just pacing away watching the feed on the television. So they had to play an 18 hole playoff on Monday. 45 yr old Q school qualifier Rocco against the Titan Tiger with an ailing knee injury! Mondays round was back and forth, but mostly with Tiger having the edge and then Tiger just runs away with it and on the 11th tee he has a 3 stroke lead. Well, that is when the Rocco show started. He fires three straight birdies to tie it up. Then a bogey from Tiger puts Rocco in the lead. However, coming in on the 18th tee Tiger needs a birdie putt to push it into a sudden death playoff and he OF COURSE makes it. You can probably guess how it finishes - Tiger won that hole and then the end, but man o man was it exciting to watch. I totally get why you are such a Rocco fan. What a great guy and so much fun to watch. Thus, our thoughts were with you all weekend long! We love and miss you! Thanks for teaching Aaron to love Golf, but more importantly to love his wife and kids.

Cheers, Mandy

"You again?" said President Monson.

- Well Fiji has struck again!!!! More questions for the prophet. We had a small group come this week from Kiribati. Just two families with two minor problems. 1. a eight year old girl unbaptised 2. a father not a member for one year until July 1, 2008. We can baptise her in a ward font [not like last time when we had to get the ok from President Monson to baptise a 8 year old in our font since she was to be sealed the next day]. Here they just send families on and just have faith that all can be worked out on this end at the temple. You would think they really check their records carefully, but they don't......they just send them on. When you think about it you can sorta understand. This is their only time to go to the temple and things were mostly done....right? It give me a lot of hope, that the Lord is far more merciful that folks think. But knowing me I should not think of that loop hole tooooo long. Just speaking for myself, folks. So within an hour of arriving at the temple President Wells was speaking with the prophet again on Fiji and our unique situations. He said " yes ,an exception can be made for this father and they can be sealed on friday for time and all eternity, and wished them well." The most common mistake people make in the temple is that they come on the date of their baptism to be endowed not on the confirmation date and they must come back on another date. We had a couple in our ward from the last temple presidency in the Houston Temple and she said this was the hardest thing in the universe [not world as you may think] to not let them in the temple and help them keep the spirit within whist [English word for while, I can spell and am a master of grammer -lie,lie, and more ...] they could not come in. Here it is a once in a life time event and the Lord is kind and understanding, elsewhere not so...there church rules and they are quite firm. We had a couples conference here and both Byron and I wanted to be ill and skip it. BYRON IS ALWAYS A QUESTIONABLE EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW. We had a great time and ate 4 times.=1 pound fiji fat. Somehow we are the only couple in the mission who are losing [?] weight. Lets be clear, poor Br. Wettstein has made a deal with the devil AK myself. The details can not be made known , threats were made= 8 pounds lost from Br. sucker and ready for this ..?.. 15 for myself, Miss devilish. Honey I have not weighed 155 for 15 years. NO great secret. No oven in my flat and we can swim when the weather is mush warmer. mush, mush warmer. I have been telling my landlord [we are surprised that we don't have to call him , Lord Landlord] These folks just take this british crap of pompishnish to ====far. So I'm on his Lordlyness, ak, Sr.Darth, bad side. I have complained about the following, mice, no oven, termites, no oven, mice, no oven, oh yes and termites and of course a my washer is dying. I will get a another washer when mine dies. Then I get one from the Australian embassy down the street. It seem that their contract reads the following, washers must be perfect working order and can not have one dab, touch,or a spot of rust on them. Folks Aussies are smarter than mormons. My machine is covered with rust and has a broken lid and I still have mice. I stuffed a door mat under my front door. THe space under the door is huge and Byron has seen a mouse, SEEN A MOUSE SCURRY FROM UNDER OUR FRONT DOOR AND WALK BOLD A BRASS INTO MY KITCHEN AND OPEN THE FRIG AND DRINK A DIET COKE.!!!!!!!!!! Really, Byron has seen this. Back to my door mat. The little kritters started eating through my door mat to get in to the candy store. They love candy poison and don't eat big boy poison. Soon they will be on a diet to get under my Willy Wonka Wonderful Candy Shoppe [British, folks] darn door. I feel so much better. Byron has gone to sign up for his driving test. Before I take that test ....I will open my own door for the furry little creatures. We went to another lovo this past weekend and still aren't hungry. That was sat. and it is now thursday. We have a lovo bug. The food always tastes the same=cooking food in a huge hole in the ground tastes the same=blauga,and more blauga. Give me some cajin blackened anything and I will be happy. I have decided to have our own texas lovo for all of our friends when we leave. I am planning the menu now. Red beans and rice and chicken. Everyone who come to see us will bring 20 pkgs if Zaterains red beans and rice mix. I am already starved. Enough on food.
Sister Wells says it is rather common for them to receive call at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning with names to be put on the temple roll here=from the states!!!!!!!!!!!! Why????????????? Because they say the Fijians have the greatest faith and their help and prayers are what is needed. Can you believe that????
Before I close I must tell you of the following event that happened to me last saturday June 14, 2008. It is raining is so wonderful and cool. I can sit here and type and look down the hall and out the back door and see the water falling in the pool. This is not a brag, as my family [not my kids] feel my life is just too colorful and then judge me by their life's lack of colorfullinesses, and then to not feel sad about the conditions of color or lack there of in their lives, they then feel my just can not be so colorful and then they doubt my life and all there in it. We are blessed to be here in Fiji and know it. We were leaving the temple a little early to go to the bug lovo, and I came behind the Matron. She had a three year old little girl all in white and bare foot. The matron was carrying her socks. Behind a family friend was carrying a one year old, all in white with a vest and bow tie=sound asleep on her shoulder. He was the size of a 15# sack of potatoes and around here that is valuable folks. So I just walked behind to watch. All entered the sealing room and I peaked in=our president does break some rules regularly. He seals islanders as families with other families watching =not alone. This way they have a collective memory of the sealing. So looking in I saw so many families all in white and waiting for these little brown angels=barefooted, too, and I was filled with the peace inside that is given to those who work in the temple and to those who attended. A sweet warmth of the soul that even a smile can not do justice too. I reached out to quietly close the door with my right hand and in doing so felt a warm burning in my right shoulder and felt my shoulder being healed. Three times now I have felt this healing sensation. The second time I was at the hospital doing blood work and then went to my doctor and she speechless= I had been totally healed. [ 3 large fissures on my bum-child birth left overs] . I had fought Byron for an early blessing on the monday before and by wednesday I was totally healed. Not one angry purple or red scar either. Blessings are just that, aren't they? Those gifts of the spirit include the gift of being healed, because of your faith. This I have now had in my life three times now. These a numbers to keep track of- not weight, All of my love. Bula Vinaka, ya'll from fiji love Sister Cookie Wettstein ak MUM

Lots of love Dad

Happy Father's Day!

Hi there Dad.  Dante's favorite thing to ask me before

he goes to bed is, "Mom, tell me a story when you were

little..."  So, I tell him all sorts of stories.  And when I

can't come up with another Amber story,  I tell him stories about his aunts and uncles.

He particularly loves when I throw in stories about his Papi.

On the way home from our river trip today, I was thinking about

some memories I have of you--some of which are great

stories, and some of which simply define who you are as a dad.

I remember how you love to watch cop shows--especially NYPD,

and oh how you can carry on in the car about other drivers, 

I remember the day you were made Bishop

 and watching you walk up to the stand to take your seat...

 I remember our road trips--and you making me run behind

 the car on some lonely highway for my bad attitude! 

I remember my siblings hanging out the windows

 laughing their heads off at their older sister...

I'll never forget how you threw my brothers'

 paper routes and worked with mom every weekend...

Or how about having the family maintain the front of

Bayou Bend...

I smile when I think of you as Elvis, or singing at

girls camp, or dancing on stage in a tutu, 

or telling funny stories of your childhood

 (the kind of stories where you're laughing so hard you can 

barely get the story out)... 

I remember watching you play ball 

and coaching my brothers even when it seemed tough...

 I remember you tenderly taking care of mom

 when she was so sad and I remember how proud you

were when each of your son's returned home from 

serving honarable missions...

 I remember being punished for sneaking out and told

to read the "Miracle of Forgiveness,"... I remember you walking

me across the football field my senior year... I still smell Old Spice

and think of you... I am so happy you were there to cut the

cord on Isabella and take care of my Dante, I miss seeing you

with my children... 

I remember sitting next to my amazing siblings

as you spoke at Grandpa's funeral and knowing how proud you

were that we were there with you... And seeing you leave on

your mission with the full purpose and intent of pleasing

our Heavenly Father makes me love you all the more.

I could fill pages with all sorts of memories but I'll save those

for another time.  Dad I love you.  You make me happy to know

you and even happier to have you as my dad.  You are 

strong and loyal and I adore you.  

Please know we miss you.

Lots of love, am

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's out there, especially my own. I was thinking about what kind of ode I could give my dad. I kept thinking that I would write something great make Dad cry and how fun that would be to watch Dad cry because of something that I wrote. I then realized that I am not that good of a writer...as you can tell...and that trying to make my Dad cry is actually kinda twisted. I then decided to be funny but then my wife said I am more goofy than funny so I should try something else. How about I simply state and emphatically declare that I love my father and I am proud of him and Mom for their mission and dedication to the important work of loving God more than us. If they loved us more than God then they would, in the end, never have us forever. As a result they can love us more than ever possible. Thanks Dad, I love you and so does my family. Happy Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day Pops

I thought that I would remind you of what you looked like when you were rocking your 'stache and I was a natural blond. You can click on the picture and it will enlarge. You are a great father and I will always remember how you came to the hospital everyday when I was sick and sat and talked with me (even though I made you watch Zena). You have always helped, loved, comforted, and listened to me when I needed it. You are a good example of what a father/husband should be to Edgar and I appreciate that. I hope you have or had a great day. We love and miss you.
PS I want a picture of Mom's new gray/silver hair asap!!!!!!

Notes from Abroad

I have saved notes from all of our dear friends who are serving world wide missssions to put them together in a small collection. THe Lord works everywhere in our world and all at the same time to care for His children.
Bulgaria
Elder Wettsteins nephew, Elder Purvis, is the new zone leader in Burgas, Bulgaria and sent us the following the news brief :
KSL news ran the following. The Church of Jesus Christ LDS released this statement: "Contrary to erroneous media reports, two LDS missionaries serving in Burgas, Bulgaris, did nothing to disrupt the services of a local church and when asked to leave, did so immediately. The missionaries were invited by amember of the congregration. and had been in contact with their ZL, Elder Purvis. He said do not wear your tags and stay in the back of the church and watch. The orthodox church then called a news conference and announced that the Elders had done the following+ Interrupted the service to mark the Assscension of Jesus, were preaching, refused to leave, preached for half an hour, and were removed almost by force. The church has called for the removal of all LDS missionaries. Well Elder Purvis had the good sense to have his mission Pres. sent a note to his family stating all was well, but still the mess did get messer. This happened last week. The local church has asked that the entire LDS church and missionaries be expelled!! Mostly just bad press, but does show how anything can be twisted and turned into a potential problem. The media interviewed Elder Purvis and took photos and they were on three morning papers! He was quite surprised to see himself in the news the next day. The results have not been stated and the missionaries did have lay low for a few days. He will keep us posted of the fallout. He was emailing his family and they were on the internet at the same time and were able to chat about the mess and were assured of his safety. This is the latterdays, for sure folks While on Bulgaria let me tell another story from Elder Purvis's about their first mission president and how he was converted.
We are so blesses that Byrons sister, Cindy, forwards her sons weekly letters to us here in Fiji. [It still is such a joy to write Fiji and of course=Texas] And for all to know AUNT CINDY WRITES TO US EVERY WEEK AND IS REWARDED FOR HER WEEKLY EFFORT IN GOOD STUFF [ SULUS AND PEARLS.] PASS THIS ON OH YEA WANTERS OF GOOD STUFF=WRITEING =STUFF. Now if you are reading our blog just email me about what color of pearls you want and I will start looking. I have no real idea on prices but, tomorrow we are going to a lovo and are going to Singatoga for church. Sister Wells said to stop at a shop on sunday on the way home. She bought her pearls there and we can at least start looking and find out some prices. Sr. Wells is going to Savusavu for her earings=she wants lavender. The stores here have single silver and black but no other colors. Most go to the outer islands we are told, so we shall see.
Nigeria: We have friends, the Robinsons, in Aba Nigeria at the temple. There they start their days with the pounding of the yams as their clock. Yams? Their apt is above the patron housing and at 5:30 each day they have cooked huge yams and then start pounding them in huge bowls with huge wooden pestals. They eat mostly rice,fish [anything with a tail that swims] a starchy " ghari" ball wraped in a pumpkin leaf mixture. They have very strong teeth and attribute it to their custom of eatting chicken and fish BONES!!! Actually that is really a great source of natural calcium. Any takers????? Also the Nigeria men must pay a dowry for a wife, so few marry or at an older age [30++]. They are trying to stop this custom in the church, but then what will be their shame at a future date for this practice is unknown?? Also a faithful temple worker has now tested positive for HIV and a church decision must be made on health issues with all temple workers. ??? they just don't know. She had been deathly ill and had received a blood transfusion. The temple has received much need additional security camers and the missionaries in the temple must have armed guards at all time they are off the compound. The temple site has razor wire and is electrified for extra security. In Fiji we have only Sr. Seru's son with an old radio as security. He is the ward clerk who keeps the tything money on top of the Wells garage door each sunday night and then takes it to the bank monday morning after work. Note: Br. Staggs comments on the darndest ways to handle money is in Fiji. It is in a old blog piece. I found the rest of the Nigeris bride info. Here is the rest.The families of brides put great demands on grooms. The family of one bride demanded the following " the man must finish building their house and pay for it himself, another made financial demands that would extend for years into the marriage of the daughter!!!!!" Few marry. Like I said we love the Johnnie Lingo story, but in truth this is the direct result.
Bulgaria: I forgot to add this. Allen sent this about the first mission president of Bulgaria. Before when ulgaria was under communism [I hit something wrong,sorry] an opening was available in Nigeria for a doctor. Nine doctors wanted the job. So they put 8 slips of paper in a bowl that said no and 1 that said yes. The first time they drew the youngest doctor won. All agreed he was to young and drew again. He won again,all agreeded again he was to young. Again he won , and so it went for 7 tries and each he won. This was before you could speak of God ,so thy said it was his destiny. I cann't find his name [sorry] The younhg doc went to Nigeria and found the gospel and came home to begin the church in Bulgaria and became the first mission president.

Friends in Mexico Hales, Villahermosa, temple.
They were shopping at Wal Mart and found a young American couple just walking the isles and looking dirty, hungry and a bit tired and worn. Sr. Hale [starved for english speaking] asked about them. As the conversation turned the couple asked where the Hales were from and they replyed, Hunhtsvill.Utah . It ended up that their neighbor was the younger womens grandmother. The couple had started on a honeymoon with not enough money, quite enough faith, and had met other LDS members in WAL MARTS who had seen their condition and had helped them. So the Hales took them home. A bath in Srs. boat. Sr. Hale hates showers so ...aWALMART BLOW UP PLASTIC FLOATING BOAT... in their shower is her tub. Br. Hale has a plastic pail and he showers and bales out water , and bales out water , etc. Anyways they were clean, feed , took a nap, freshly washed clothes, and off they went to a temple session and then to the airport and home. They had enought good sense [remember the following phrase' God watches over fools, old ladies [men where necessary] and bishops and now silly newly weds.

I must leave for the temple and work, but will send all of our love from all over the world including the London temple, each says the same.............. The gospel is true, working in the temple is wonderful, and life is good.
Byron I need to looke for a blow up plastic boat-I need a tub bath, OK honey?? I'll keep you posted. Bula Vinaka Ya'll LOve MUM

Hair and Pearls

Hi All-

Today was the bomb, and that means = the best. We had a clear phone line for 2 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we were able to talk to all of the Houston Wettsteins. Mich was touched by our prayers and picked up the phone - it said out of area= where does that apply to? I was wonderful and wonderful. I am on medication and sleepy, can't spell, and have changed my hair color......wanna, really wanna, know what color that is?? SILVER, no joke. I just went to a new european hair shoppe and said match it up honey and she said 65.oo bucks lady. First she stripped the ol reddish stuff and it turned a lovely orangeish. Then they all looked at me and thought I would scream, but I was prepared-I knew it would be a funky something so orangeish was coolish! They were quite entertained that I said I knew I had white girl hair. and was prepared. I read 6 trashy [not bad trashy-people mag trashy] weekly mags. I now know about someones twins, Jens love life, Britneys butt and Oprahs exs tell all book for 9 million. [really, Stedman gets 9 M?] I just OD on it all-I have been reading the D&C for light reading and it was just too much for me-I quit... Tell me about Oprah though, I do want to know that, OK? Then she, this tiny indian gal weighing no more than 79 # put the mojo on and I am silver, mostly. So as soon as we get our newest care package - picks of Nonnies new hair do will be the news on the blog!!! Thanks again Mich- you are psychic and super. Now to all who are interested in pearls , just send me a note on the color. I am going for a deep silver grey. Same for mandy and mich. I am literally going to a man's little house to pick out earrings. And we will stop over for one hour each way at the main pearl factory in Savusavu on Vanua Levu. Cindy , Larke = are you interested? Let me know. No one is going to break the bank, but this the event you have been waiting for. Mandy wants a single pearl. I am looking for earings, maybe a cluster of small deep grey ones and then to match it to a great big whopper 14mm momma and a tiny [discreet- who am I kidding, not myself nor any of you] bunch of good diamonds. I now have learned a new British term......lay in. I have gotten the one piece I want down 1/3 and can put that baby in lay in until she is paid for. Yes thank you very much, a nonnie high finance term. I have to get up before the chickens tomorrow- early temple days are tuesdays and saturdays. Your dad just came in here and said that we are twinners-just like sagie said papas hair and nonnies hair is SILBER.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Sagie... Dad has not read this article and doesn't know about the new word of the day. Keep quiet or else. I only read him the parts I want him to know- ....... a good marriage tip, too. Oh yes we are going to an indian wedding on July 4- on our way to Denru and Nandi.
Bula Vinaka, love MUM

Temple closing plans

Well hi, and yes it is still raining and will continue for at least a few more days. Sr. Bohman says that the rain is what clears the air enough of crap [air born spors=crap] and smog from diesel and this is really a heathy thing. We are all sick of Sr. Bohman and the weather. {quote Br. Bohman} I went and helped the missionaries set up their tables for their goodbys to their mission presidentand his wife. The Ardons from New Zealand. Br. Ardon works for the church in New Zealand and thought that he knew the pacific before they came here, but he didn't!!! It is only being here and driving daily through the slums and going into the members homes has he come to under stand poverty. And let me make this clear the saints generally are impoverished, but the gospel makes it bearable. They have church members of all classes and races who truely are concerned of their welfare. The church meetings show this melting of classes, and the temple. The poorest of the poor can come to the temple for free. IN the states you must pay for your clothes, but not here. Folks they just don't have any cash extra, ever. Example, one brother who works with receives a military pension if 18.00 a month.!!!! With some extra intrests he and his wife live on 85.00 a month. Another brother has a governlment pension of 25.00, and his wife works still. Brother Wells gives them cab money and a phone card each month. Or else we would have no Fijians working until 5:00 and at that it would be just like the states-mostley women workers. When I can show you Sr. Tilleys house I will explain more about their living conditions. {Wade and Claudia have sent our care package and soon we will have photos on the blog} Back to temple costs. I have a friend in Houston who can not pay the rental costs nor buy her temple clothes, so she does only initatory. She would always give her testimony of initatory and I commented on that once [her testimony] and she then told her situation. I bought her temple clothes before I left. Did you know you can buy them 1/2 price if they are a first time purchase? They know I do this at our distribution center and always give me that rate.

Yesterday we talked to Blake-my mistake I really wanted to talk to Ami. So now everyone in Arizona at Cosco knows our holiday plans and thinks Blake is sorta stupid and deaf!! Try having a conversation in Fiji [we have our windows open- no air conditioning -cars and trucks, noise, and the BBC on the radio] with someone at the food court at Costco. And yes, have the entire mess over the internet computer , on SKYPE. All Blake really knew for sure was his mother is alive . Going on a trip to an island and it is going to cost him mucho money. I love mysterious conversations about my favorite subject-pearls. To be clear.... black pearls, from Fiji, grown in the waters surrounding Taveuni island. !!!!! Ok this is a call to all girls- I am going to ..we are going the first week of July to Taveuni island by boat. We wanted to take a [real name] Captain Cooks 5 day cruise of the Yasawa islands from the port of Nandi, but the dates we wanted had been booked since before we arrived here in Fiji!!! And also we didn't have enough money. So we will book for Januarys closing of the temple and hopefully we will be early enough. If not herreees to next July folks. Last resort[ha, ha] sell harryand pot and take a " Blue Lagoon cruise. For the right price they are the best. Oh I spoke to Claudia the other day and she grabbed harry and he could hear me!!! His little face turned around and he was looking for me, sorta like little sweetie, April. We have been so mad [me] about the crapy phone set up here and still ours does not work, that we have been forced to pray.. Can you believe that? Prayer. And it has worked, this week. Anyways April was on the phone in her big girl panties, having eaten a choc popcicle, which was still all over her face and on the computer talking to me, with head phones on. I have been promised that picture, too.
So back to pearle, BLACK PEARLS,FROM TAVEUNI,FIJI-WITH A CERTIFICATE [sp]. We are taking a cabin on the,[ready for this] Bligh Shipping Lines. like Captain Bligh of the Muntiny on the Bounty fame] We board sleep, eat , stop at Savusavu port [Sav ou sav ou port] on Vanua Levu island for one hour or so and then on to Waiyevo, [way e ve o] Taveuni, [it is like taxi only Tavi oon e island]. This island is called the garden island is a mecca for divers from all over the world. We will snorkle and I am bound and determined dto see if they can do snuba diving. We were to dive in Florida on a cruise but, the harbor was damaged and we could not dive on the 3rd largest coral reef in Key West. Damn, I am still ticked off. Also on the island there are mostly second homes from NZ and AUS. To them it is rather like Galveston Island is to us, only farther. Anyways they have a free golf course. Not enough players to turn a dollar, but for free and they make their money back in food and drink. The course is for the homeowners. So folks dive and play golf. [and buy pearls] You dad just couldn't pass up the golf and snorkling. We will stay two nights and then come back on the Bligh shipping lines. [ poor mans cruise and the only way other than flying in little planes that seat 8.......] Black pearls are rare and cost mucho but, I am looking at the mobe pearls. These are the one lobe pearls that are naturaly flat on the back. They are the only pearls we can buy. They make fabulous studs. A 14mm natural black pearl is 800.00 - 1200.00 in cost. The mobes [maw bays] are what I bought in SanFrancisco years back with Aunt Diane. They were so tired of us and called us the cheap sisters. I walked in and asked to see their old inventory-I was looking for these mobe pearls exactly. I had mine set in white gold and they are worth a bundle. Black pearls come in a variety of shades. I love the grey shades. So the big question is dou want me to shop for you ladies? I have a yes from Blake [ he would had sounded so cheap not to in Costco] and from Wade and from Edgar. My budget is about 2oo total and Sr. Stagg said they were very reasonable 50.00-100.00-total. She did not know about mobe pearls until she was at the pearl factory. I am looking for her, too!!!. I am hitting her husband up for money tomorrow, don't tell him.!! Email me about a color if possible. The black pearls come from oyster shells that have black lips on the outside, this is how they can tell. Here we farm them. I will tell you lmore after our holiday.
Then we will come home here for a few days [I am going to Pacific Harbor with or with out the od man] and go lto Nandi [airport area] and stay with our friends the Staggs. More golf, shopping, and Capt. Cook day cruises. The Staggs are here to teach the islanders how to aduit themselves!!!What is Salt Lake thinking? Anyways we have taught them how to arrange their time like temple missionaries. [I am a good friend, to all] So these are our plans. We
We are going with the Bohmans next weekend to Singatoka and to a lovo. It [the lovo] is honor of the temple trip. We are honored. These folks don't have much and hopefully they wull catch a lot of fish and steal a large pig. We will bring our own extra food, to!!! And we will stay the night the Spyglass resort, I think. This is the only time off that Sr. Bohman gets, as she is the only doc for the entire mission. We have a MD in NZ that she works with, he is a great and honored pain in the butt. He thinks he is the pope!! He has served 3 missions in Africa and now does't even own a home anymore.!! They will serve until who knows. Still he is free and competent. Sr. Bohman is sure his family is glad to have him out of the States and all they have to put up with are the many blessings sent to them by their great father, doctor. We all feel sorry for his wife, so sad, too bad>>>> Aunt Cindy you are included in the pearl deal, pass it on.. All of ou love,Bula Vinka MUMe

What a Stud!

Isn't Asher just the most handsome thing?