Saints of Vanuatu [van oo ah too]

I have had the most wonderful and just plain funny, saints here from Vanuatu here. The weeks of May 1-8 2008. These islands are between New Caledonia and the Solomon Island groups. Our group is what President Wells call just from the bush. Very primitive. Their houses are basically a place to sleep and an eating and storage area. Sleeping is on the ground with a thatched roof over head. While they cook outside over a fire or natural gas burner, they have a small round hut with a door as their bure. Mostly they store their belongings and use the hut in case of rain. The women each bought a new dress to come to the temple=10$. They are called old mother hubbard dresses. I have some shots of them, but our camera case was stolen [we think] in an airport [probably in LA] Anyways, we don't have my cables to download my photos or dad's battery charger. So photos will be on the blog when we receive our next care package from wade and claudia. Our weather here has changed into incredible and even more. The nights are about 68 degrees and days about 78-81. Can you believe that?? I need a shawl to walk home most nights. We leave the windows open and are great. Please remember this is their winter and they complain all day long about how cold it is. These islanders are wearing knited hats, coats, neck muffs, and wrapping their kids up to keep theim warm. I will sit in the sun in a bathing suit with a shawl and read; it's too cool to swim. But Pres. Nielson still does. He is bound and determined to get his money's worth out of his rent money.
I think that each temple area has their unique saints , but I think we win with these folks. They speak a language called Bislami. It is a mix of english, temple talk, and their own limited vocabulary. Actually I should add church talk to the list. I will give you a few words and phrases and ket you figure out the temple talk. Adam arise - Getti uppi Adam or sitti downi To say we traveled a long way. Me walky, walky, walky, lon, lon, time. Eve and the serpent. The snake were a trick'en me. Ponder... tink, tink, strong. [think, think strong] Son of God. pickinini of God. In the old south a small child of color was called a pickinini. To go back to heavenly Father. Sapos you wanna go home tu Pappa God? Marriage. One man, one woman, sleepie in one bed. Tree of knowledge. Tree of good and not so good. Today we went to the service center [distribution center] and I got a Liahona in Bislami. They only do one a year I found out. All they had was last year's . It was called Oktoba 2007. One part was titled " I Bin Gud Tumas. Just a little sentence on genealogy. Long 1991, mi kasem petriakel blesing blong mi mo hem i talalem se bae mi mas tinging moa aboaot of famle blong mi we oli bin ded.. In 2007 I received my patrichal and began to think if my family that died. Then she speaks to an old family member andis told this. " mi save se bae hem i laekem blog toktok {talk talk} long yu ' mama mi ben talem [telling]. I tellem yu i gat gudfala memori, mo hem [important] i save givim yu infomesen [information] abaot famle" Welcome to the pacific, folks.. When President Mc Kay came to Fiji, he was speaking on the subject of wife beating and beating your children. H said brothers you are not to beat your wife or children. The translator said, "no kill your wife or no kill your pickannies!" Pres. McKay questioned the killing part and the translator said, " to kill them I would have said, "no kill your wiffie dead or no kill your pickannies, dead!" I was in the temple and had never heard the language before and the entire it was in Bislami -so I wore head phones in english. Sr. Wells sat right on the last row and Byron was there too. I almost killed my self from not laughing out loud. And just to watch byron's face and then to see Sr. Wells great big smile, I realised I had set up up by the matron. I had 8 women who had just flown in clouds, used flush toilets, and did not like our water fountains and I could not let them see me laughing a their language. I nearly died. These women just sat in total rapture and amazement. The first time they were in the celestial room they could not sit down on anything, they just stood there and quietly prayed. I love Fiji. They had never seen white chairs or setees [couches] or carpet and for sure never have they seen mirrors.!!!!!! They had an escort couple with them, the Almonds. [from Idaho Falls] and she tried to have them look in the mirrors, but they wouldn't. They were afraid to look up at the chandelier!!! I think it looked like clear coconuts that could fall on their heads!! Way back in the past christian missionaries forbade the islanders from looking in mirrors, because of the tricks of voodoo and black majic. They have very simple minds and could really be damaged forever by getting involved with tricks involving mirrors. As I said they were afraid of the chandlier and it took 3 times before they could look in the mirrors and quite a while to trust the chandelier. These folks change their names at will and their kids too. A new day, got some money=new names. No joke. Poor ol Sr. Howard has to deal with this all of the time. One family came here on friday and by saturday had decided on new names for their kids because they were being sealed. It was a special occasion. They stay at patron housing. Four bedrooms and one bath. So we decided to take them ice cream-they knew the word, but had never eaten ice cream. Also I got them marshmellows.. The ice cream cost 19.00 and the marshmellows were 6.99. Dad almost died, me too. I told them the marshmellows were tiny, tiny clouds. If you have seen the cute pg movie the Other Side of Heaven, then you have seen our islanders. We have more coming in August, dad says. Oh yes, in their language your thumb is called big fellow. I am afraid to ask any more body parts. Yes we will just leave it at that. I listen to the language at the temple and now have a magazine. Dad is now really afraid of just what might come out of my silly mouth now,for real folks. All of our love. MUM

April's Recital/B-Day

So here are some pics from April's recital today and some more. She did good and only sat on the floor for one song. It was so cute to see her all dressed up and dancing. I put some blush and some sparkley eyeshadow on her and she loved it. I think that she is growing up way too fast and I don't know how to stop it. Our pictures of the recital are not so great because the lights were too low and they came out really dark. And here are a few from her birthday party, she is now the big 3. She was sick with the runs so if she doesn't look happy it is because she wasn't happy. I am sorry that our phone connection sucks right now Mom, I hope to hear you clearly soon. We figure you can never see too many pics of our April so here you go. I thought the albino gator from the zoo was cool and creepy so I added that one also.

Mailing Address

Elder & Sister Wettstein

Suva Fiji Temple

Box 90

Suva

Fiji

Your Address

What is address that we would use to send mail to you?

Count your many blessings

Dad and I were talking while [here they would say- Dad and I were talking whist] walking home from the temple tonight [thursday] about how things are for people in the states now. And then we spoke of the Barrows and how everything just seemed to fall apart for their kids when they were on their mission to Virginia. Three divorces and three inactive adult kids. And I was reminded fo what President del la Mare told dad and I when he was set apart as a bishop. He said,"Bishop, satan will test you and when you don't fail he will move on to your wife. NO luck there he will use your kids to ruin your life as a bishop. Then if that doesn't work he'll break all of your stuff.!! One vacation coming home from Utah our car just died in the driveway and had to be towed away. Our new pool was the color of pea soup. And the following was broken in the house: downstairs toilet, dishwasher, dryer, upstairs toilet, 3 lights in closets, and some ceiling fans. And we were broken-we had just come home from vacation. We lived through it and the pool was still under warranty.
Each of you have really had trials while we have been here in the mission field. I want you to remember them and how you lived through them. Aaron and Mandy's house illness. Jackie in her wheel chair for weeks on end. Loosing the value of your homes. Only good on that front is that is a great buyer's market. At least somone will get a good deal in this market. Every new child is a joy, but still the adjustment is hard to say the least. And still we hear how you are being blessed,by our mission. We really do thank you all for your strong faith and prayers. Mom and Dad

Why I need Mail

Ok folks we do truely love our blog and are the envy of all of the missionary couples, actually we are the gold standard of family blogs. Each couple wants to involve their loved ones but they are to lazy to write their folks much and none have such beautiful photos and grandkids. We took our Galveston book over to the Wells to show them Juel. Sr. Wells has a granddaughter that looks just like Juel - this is quite weird. These two little girls could be twins they resemble each other so much. However, my Juel loves such girly stuff that she wins hands down. Sr. Well asked who took all of the pictures of Galveston and was visibly taken back when we said " Amber." And then she asked are all of those beautiful kids yours? "Yes, I said," "each and everyone." And does Galveston always look like that, sure, I said. Ok, grandmums new rule. After 2 truths you may tell a small to medium wopperrunnie untruth. Glad to pass this on to all of you. And about aussie goods. I bought a cute flowered dress at Suva Days and then washed it. The darn thing shrunk a full 6 inches. Now I will have to send it to Daisy next week. One more washing and it will be just her size!!!! Back to my mail problem. Or the lack of mail problem. Folks the blog is not the only way for you to write us. You may email us or send us a letter. I have had cute sulus made for all of the girls and yes the little ones,too! Mandy has to measure Daisy's waist to the floor and we will be all set. Actually I have the fabric and do need some measurements on each girl. Waist to the floor and waist size. All of the mommie sulus have been made and I am wearing them all un till receive some real pictures, that I can hold in my little and ever shrinking hand. Got that???? Everyone loves Ami's sulu. I told the temple staff that it was Ami's skirt and they couldn't believe it.... that I was wearing it myself. And then sending it used. These folks are just too British-new and unworn??? Of course I will wash it and make sure that it doesn't shrink, or it becomes Ava's. I have washed it twice and it is a dream. Come up with some picks and you can receive it for summer. Understand???? Also I wear grandmum Juel's too, and wow ... it is cute. Amber's and Mandy's are more mini skirt length. So I only wear them out to dinner. Aunt Cindy the dearest woman in the whole wide world and whom we owe mouch mucho from has already receive her sulu. Except I forgot to send instructions!! Minor point. Still she could go jail for her sulu falling off in public. These sulus are copies of mine from Jacks and are closed so you don't show up to your waist to all of your friends when the wind blows or just sitting down. And are suitable for church. I told this story to Sr. Well's and she was a bet dismayed at my standards but thought that it would work. She offered to let me use her sulu as a pattern, but it opened up at the side . I declined. You see a suluis just another name for a wrap around skirt. And the last wrap around skirt I had was when we in a father's day program in Inwood ward. We started to sing "I love father..." you know the song. But not my stupid kids. Amber just mouthed the words and Russ and Aaron tried to hide in my wrap around skirt. Your poor and never in his life time in tune dad, he sang a two verse solo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were in the car with the Wells and they just erupted in laughter. And then to make it worse, I just couldn't sing at all . I was holding on for my life and my modesty, Izzy. The stake president came up after we were properly humiliated, and said he just loved it. The same thing had happened to him in California with his kids. Only she was not wearing wrap around skirt. Folks dad is still unhappy [?] to say the least and hates the ol' I love Daddy song to this day. Just like Uncle Frank hates, called to serve, because they had to sing it at the MTC when Allen left. I told him that will wear off the more boys you send on missions. Ol' Frank not one to let a small thing pass by just gave me that look and said " you see Aunt Cookie I have still love my sons at that age." Just because we so glad to get rid of Russ and Aaron we could have paid even more money to be rid of them for two years. We prayed for three year missons, but to no avail. The stake pres. was Pres. Del a Mare. Back to Cindy's problemo... how to tie the sulu. Tie both ends on the left hip, and don't worry it is supposed to come up and be shorter on that side. Tie it firmly and then pull the knot to the inside of you left side,. You want the knot to be not on your hip but just 3-4 inches to the side iof your hip. Also I must sent you a coconut side tie. I have to go out and find them. Mine came with my sulu. They take the coconut and make flower cut in the coconut with two large holes. You put the two side of the sulu in the holes and it will look cute and will hold the knot firmly.

Before I forget we did do another family program just after we had the twins. We had them in their death trap baby carriers and pretended to ask them questions. Only they never did answer. Wonder why? So then we would ask tinny Amber the same question. Only she was in the terrible twos and only answer no.!! Do you smoke cigarettes? NO! Do you drink coffee, NO!! She would stamp her little feet and toss her hair to the side and yell, NO NO NO. We were the envy of they ward they thought Amber was brilliant, she was too. Never in the church's history was there anything worse than family programs, "quote, B.R. Wettstein.

So if you want sorta new and guaranteed cute sulus--just pony up the picks. These are necessary for your summer wardrobes. I need real pictures. Understand. And also a few other small things. I will bother the Arizona group for these items. Bula Vinaka Ya'll MUM Our mailing address is: PO Box 90, Suva, FIJI and email is byron_wettstein@yahoo.com

AAA Hand picked Aussie Goods for the Family

In downtown Suva the best stores advertise that they sell genuine Australian goods. This is a real selling point because the men here are Indian [tiny], Islanders [some huge] and American in size. But everyone agrees on a better quality product and that is either Aussie or American. All though the favorite womens, no hip young womans, store is simply called Texas. It's on a courner in Suva center and everyone just loves the store, even if you can't wear the clothers sizes, you go their to see whats new. Dad went into a store we really do like called Jacks and bought a bula shirt. It wasn't australian sized and the shirt was just too small. Oh yea, and they have no such thing , anywhere, called money back. No way, they have your money and you gave it to them. You can only exchange goods here. Anyways Jacks is where we found Uncle Franks bula shirt-size AAAAA5A. The men helping us just smiled and were sure Frank was a famous football player, and we just said yes! If aunt Cindy comes here, or for that manner, if anyone comes here we will take you to the really nice british mens suit store where we bought dads realy nice bula shirt. Every time he wears his good bula shirt women aks where we got it and look mad at their husbands because they are too cheap. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Dad is not a true cheap size. True cheap =tiny neck, bear belly and scrawney arms. No more to saw-dad is a true aussie sized american man. Back to the AAA hand picked quality Aussie Goods. Wanna know? what AAA goods are? In the american west there were dry goods stores, remember? Here goods means clothing only. I bought a beautiful sulu at Jacks and this is what the tag said. These are genuine australian quality goods or products. Made from top quality Australian material, and with Australian quality patterns. [This means sized for US men or a true size american or aussie size 12 or whatever] The seams are a finely finished and will not unravel when washed in a machine or on a rock in a stream.] These are how women here wash-in the villages-in a stream and some have machines that will spin the laundry and then it is ready to go on a clothes line out side or on their porch. Really few homes have porches so they dry their clothes in their house if it is raining. In the pacific the quality of everything is crappy to quote Aunt Cindy. Everything is smaller by 1o% or more to pay the shipping costs or just crappy because the people are small. They indians are tiny people and really do sell crappy quality because they are so small boned their clothes can be of poor quality and they can still wear them. An indian baby stroller is of the size we would sell for a large doll . No joke. I went to an indian fabric store [ really all stores here are indian, Fijians are not smart enough and educated enough to own a store, sad but true] and saw the tinyist baby things and thought these are for dolls, no just indian babies. So with having said all about size and quality, how do these islanders find clothe4s????? And what does it mean to have hand picked AAA anything? In New Zeland and in Australia people sell their used clothing and old goods and they are baled like hay and sent into the islands. There they are sold as hand picked [quality used] aussie sized [Aus. or NZ goods] Here stores sell used clothes for one dollar each and that is what the average Fijan wears. They may have one good set of clothes at a time, or even a couple, but not much more. They do not have closets in the villages and use old timmy wardrobes or chests. And so most things become moldy and musty. So they pass them on or use them for rags. Now you know what AAA Aussie Goods are. And now I know why Sr. Wells smiled so when I told her of my good deal in the aussie family store. She was surprised I would buy used. I bought a beautiful washed silk [heavy silk quality] black sheath dress made in New Zealand for 7.50 . Turned seams and double stitched. She still laughs when I wear it to church or to the temple.

We had church friends over for dinner today. They are the Adamsons and they are here from Australia. He is on loan from the Aussie gov't and teaches in a trade school here for one year. There are few school that teach the trades, like electrical, carpentering, or anythings really. They really are here because sister Adamson needed to come to the island of her birth to do her genealogy. She is the only member in her family and her family joined in Australia. To come here was a dream and really not possible because of the expense. Still she prayed. And when this job came up she knew that they would get it before he even sent in his papers. We women are so wise. Here in the islands all trades will guarentee you a good income. But some governments still won't let you out of their country to learn a trade because they know you will never come back. You see there is little real work available and br. Adamsons student receave advanced wood skills and a certificate of Australian work standards. That means a ticket out of you island and a good job in NZ or Australia. The school must bring in teachers since they have none here of that quality. Few Fijans have the math skills or minds to under stand such simple work. We totaly take for granted a high school education and that little amount of math. The saints in positions in the church all work for the church in various jobs, otherwise, they would not be employed. Their children are educated in the BYU in Hawaii university, but it is not a USA standard college. To gain a truely american education you must study at Provo, BYU. Br. Adamson just had to leave andsee his students in the plane and in their seats... And wait to see the plane take off-or his school will lose their government standing. These students are more than willing to stay in Fiji and have a job. In their island s they may still not find work because of the political climate in their islands and or because their families are still mad after 200 years!!! A small joke, but still true. You can be hired to do the work of an incompedent higher level man and he will still receive the credit and praise. Thats why people still leave their islands, old family grudges and hunger.

Well loved ones I bought myself the cutiest mothers day dress in the islands. Pop just about died at the cost [he tries that every time] and everyone at church loved it. The weather is wonderful and we had the windows closed on one side of the chapel since it was almost winter here. I will believe almost any type of winter wear here and will keep you all posted when our real winter is here in june, july and august. Our phone line is in and tomorrow the connect man is here to hook up the internet. Pray for us, thats not a joke either. We need a good connection for a clear conversation. All of our love, Bulla Vinaka, Ya'll MUM

Happy 1st Birthday Daisy

Our little robins

One day a few weeks ago, the children and I sat

in circle time and learned a sweet song about three

little robins living in a big oak tree. 

Eventually, their mother tells them to fly and so they do.

  Later that very day, I see 

a robin sitting very patiently on a nest in our big oak tree.  

And the following day, there are three little robins 

waiting for their mother to bring them food.  We watched these

birds for a week.  And the first time I photographed them,

the mother robin sat on a tree limb of an adjacent tree.

She sat so still.  Just watching me for quite a while.

I was teetering on a very tall ladder hoping to get all three

robins at once.  Eventually, she flew off to find food.  I

surmised that she must have felt I was harmless and

her little ones were safe.  I watched the mother feed

her little ones everyday.  It was amazing.

 About a week or so later, 

I saw one of the little robins venture out to a nearby

limb.  And I knew that it was time.  They were going to fly.

The morning that I found them gone, I was so sad.

I mean truly sad.  I got over it just thinking about

how wonderful it must be to fly.  I tell this story because

as a mom, my little ones seem to be taking their own steps towards

flying everyday.  Sometimes, I am sad.  Mostly because they

are growing much too quickly.  I think about what I

appreciate the most in our mother...and it is this--when it was time,

Mom let me fly.  She didn't hover.  She didn't peck.  She was patient. 

She let me take my own falls.  If I needed her, I knew where she

was.   I can't imagine how hard it must of been at times

to watch me make my mistakes.  Just like the mother robin

watching from afar, Mom watched and waited.

Thank you for being what I needed...Much love, am

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mom,

We do miss you and Dad but we are more proud of all that you are doing for the people of Fiji--and everywhere else around there. There are so many things that you could be doing right now but you choose to serve the Lord and his children. It is a great example for all of our family. We love y'all.

Our little update is that my son is a boy who loves to play with any kind of ball we can find and he loves to help. For instance, he wanted to help me mow the lawn. He is doing great--besides his allergies--and he is also the happiest little kid. All smiles and loves. He eats like a horse though. The other day we made hot and sour soup with shitake mushrooms--which both of our kids love--and he downed a ton of them. We found out later that since he never chews them that they pass right through his digestive system. I was glad I was at work for that diaper change!

My daughter is three years old now and rivals my Mom in talking nonstop. Just like Mom, it does not matter if anyone is listening she will still keep talking and Juel talks about everything. She knows all of the princesses and she claims to be each one of them. When asked her name the other day by a stranger she replied, "Juel Cinderella Princess." She is a sweetheart but is mean like her mom. (I wrote that to see if Ami is going to read it. If I ever post a picture with a black eye then you know why.)

Ami and I are doing well and we cannot complain.

I'll tell you a funny story. About a year ago I had a friend substitute teach for my Institute class. I came the next week and they told me that he was a great teacher and was very humble. I thought that it was odd that out of all the words they chose to describe him was humble. They never called me humble and so I related that story to Ami recently and she just laughed. She said the word to describe me was not humble. I was kinda ticked about the whole thing thinking that my wife was just trying to anger me so I retold the account to a friend at work who has known me for years and she said the smartest thing she has ever uttered, "Blake, when someone is humble it is pretty obvious" AND IT AIN'T YOU!! So, there you have it. I am arrogant and angry about it. It is not every day that I found out that I am a jerk so the moral to the story is: Never tell your wife the truth, always lie because then the answer will never matter.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Love, Blake, Ami, Juel & Asher

Happy Mother's Day Mom

I wanted to say that I love you and miss you. It is hard for me to have both you and Dad so far away, but I know that you are having a grand adventure and are helping those who can not help themselves. You are a great Mom!!! I got your birthday card in the mail and the picture was beautiful. This is a random page from my not so great scrapbook that I made 10 years ago. I thought the one of you and me looked cute (sorry to my siblings if you don't like the pics). You can click on the picture to enlarge it if you want a better look (or not). We will have more photos to share next week after Aprils recital, her party, and her other grandparents visit. I love both of you and really look forward to talking with ya'll over Skype. Bula Vinaka or Adios.

BASMATI LANGUAGE

Hi, this week we have had some saints from one of the Vanuatu islands here. Sister Wells was able to go home to see a grandson be married in the Seattle Temple, so we have been on our own here with the assistant matrons in charge. My big worry was that these women my be Samoan or Tongan in size and I just didn't have any more huge clothes left!!!!! Often they use our 2XX or 3XXX sizes. Every 2 weeks we go through all of the lockers in the women's and get our temple clothes back. Sr. Bahn is tired of the saints not having their own clothes. Dad is in the shower and I can't figure out what I did. OH well. But these women are all smalls or mediums. WE have had the same experiences as with the others -flushing toilets. Only these thought they had never heard such terrible noise.Some could read but most had small verbal skills. One brother never speaks in the temple-at all. So, you must speak for them and yourself. Just a few funny words. You will have to think back to remember the actual verbage and how funny the language is. They speak Basmati. A mix of english with their very small vocabulary; however, they have taken english words and ideas and then add their use of that phrase to make a Basmati idea. Just try and figure these ideas out for yourselves. Today we are going to have another session in their language just so we can hear it again.
Son of God -- pickaninnie of God
Heavenly Father - Pappa
shrub - little bush tree- biggie bush
chasity - one man , one woman, sleepie in one bed
the snake was trickin' me- Eve said in Genesis-the serpent beguiled me
want to go home to Heavenly Father - wanna go back to Pappa
wakie upie -wake up
Settie downie- sit down

I will send more later. This should make all truly thankful for what we have. And that thanks is then turned into service for others. And now we all understand the phrase "cannot do for themselves". I have always thought that meant handicapped. So now we have all grown together in the gospel. The couple in Sigatoga has decided to make the temple trip a project just for their own family. To say I am disapponted is an understatement. People think that by doing it by themselves-they will reap all of the blessings. This is wrong. So we will work on another group temple trip or something else for the future. Sharing of one's blessing only brings, to you the sharer, more blessings. The Lord only then magnifies those blessings, to you, that you were going to receive in the first place. I had to really pray hard to come to these words, so learn from this about sharing one's blessings. I will work even harder to find a project for all of us and the other couple missionaries to do. We are going to Sigatoga this sunday to help organize the bus trip - it is next week. We still would like for you to send any contribution you have to Wade. All of our love, Bula Vinaka Ya'll MUM+-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KOBE

Kobe turned 5 on April 30th. On their odd year we have a family party (in lieu of a friend party) and they get to choose their favorite restaurant to go to. Well, Kobe ain't no dummy....when asked where he would like to go, he replies, "Chuck E. Cheese". So, off we went. The very next day is when we left for Mexico, so the other pics are cute ones of him on the beach. We couldn't drag him away. He had so much fun! I adore this little boy. Always have. He is such a joy to me. Always making you laugh and so quirky. I can't get enough of him. So Happy Birthday to my cute little boy. PLEASE stop growing up. I will miss him terribly when he is a teenager!

Aaron's triathlon

Aaron did a sprint triathlon again this past weekend in Rocky Point, Mexico. Congrats to him. He decided to train on the golf course this time around and is now thinking that was not so smart, but is officially planning his regimen for next year!! Also, the bat suit slowed him down in the transition. I wish I had seen it. Apparently he even had to stop Noah and have him help him take it off during the transition from swim to bike. Killed his time by almost 3 minutes. too funny! We rented this fantastic house right on the beach (literally stepped out the door and onto the beach) with my sister Anissa, and her entire in-law family the Rashetas. Her husband Nik, his Mom and Dad Lary and Teri, and his twin Noah and his older brother Dak. Also had our oldest 3 children and Anissa's kids. My sister Meg was in town and begged me to leave Daisy with her. That part turned out to be awesome!!! No babies mixed with sunblock and then sand. woohoo. Also, Blake and Ami came and spent a night at the house when Meg was not available, so thanks a million to them...we almost had to just take her with us, but they saved the day. (However, I broke all speeding records racing to get back to her on the way home.) I am posting most of the pictures from our weekend on our family blog, so don't forget to check it out, too. azwettstein.blogspot.com

Just some news

Well hello from Fiji, it does sound so good writing that. Now doesn't that make good sense? Yesterday at the temple I just got sick and had to go home. The bathroom and I had quite a thing going on, and in truth my back hurt so I had to go and lay down in the biggest womens changing stall and just elevate my feet. I did that for quite a while , maybe, 10 minutesand then I heard voices coming and jjjummped up so fast I almost fainted. If they had seen me lying on the floor they would have had a fit, and we didn't need that. So next long break with my friend the bathroom and I left. We have had a group from the other side of the island here since last friday. School is out for 2 weeks and this group has come 5 times to do baptisms. Some groups are so [from the bush] that you have to really baby sit them carefully. We have another ward group coming from the Vanuatu island group nexat friday and Pres. Wells just warned me yesterday that they were a verrry, verry from the bush group. I'll let you know how it goes.



I spoke to Sister Bohman this monday at a missionary dinner and she told me some interesting and sad things about the sister missionaries little lives here in the pacific. She had 4 sisters going ome this last week and she really felt for them. You see 2 were going home to Papua New Guinea. Papu New Guinea is above Australia - half is part of Borneo-the other side of the main island is Papu New Guinea. These little sisters will never marry. You see they still have the dowory system here in the islands in some islands. We love to think of the " Johnny Lingo " movie and that the man payes the money or cows, no, no, no. In the village these 2 sisters are going home to , the cost is 900$ american!!!!! There it is not possible to marry , that is if there were any LDS men who would marry. These women go on missions and see some of this world. They ride in planes, use escalators, teach the gospel, and then go home and will never be spoken to in their villages, because what man would bother - they know there is no cash. In the islands many still use a form of the dowry system. Then just complicate this process with the church, these women can read and are far more litterate than these men, and they have moved back in time to a place where there still is no electricity!!! THis just isn't fair. But you should here Sr. Bohman tell their story. These young women learn how to read and preach the gospel, and are succesful. They are able to go to the temple several times and are worthy in every since of the word. My heart just breakes, but not with Sr. Bohman. These women are given the only opportunity they would ever have to learn, to preach, to go to the temple a few times, and to see themselves moving in this world as true latterday saint women. An option they would never have had were not for the church missionary fund. Sop they go home full of all the wonderful things they have had and accept what life then sends.

Here in the islands men are not marring, because t6here are no real jobs. Most of the LDS men have no realcollege education. And the men in the church who do have jobs all work for the church in any way possible. Many in translating church magizanes, scriptures, conference talks [this is an all year job.] If the Lord had not said that we are to be taught in our own languages there would be no jobs for these men worldwide. Here the Fijians are mostly lazy and still have no real schooling. The Indians have all of the education and the understanding of how and why you work. You must pay for each child to go to school. At the LDS school it is 130$ per child each year. Plus uniforms and books. So many church kids in the out in the bush don't go to school. So the RM come to the temple faithfully, both men and women, but will not marry. They can only take care of themselves if they still live at home. That is why the USA won't let Fijians, Tongans, Samoans come here on missions anymore. They leave to work. But mostly to marry white girls with families who will help them forever. And this is all over the world now. Our RM.s are not marring and women now don't belive marriage will work out anyways; so now our young adults world wide are planning to be single and childless. THis is the next big trial we as a people will face. And of course the fact that there will fewer children in many areas of the church. Didn't plan to make this sad, but folks = you have been raised right and thus are living the full gospel life the Lord has planned for all of his children. Many of our friends in Houston have told there children to wait on all of the about things, because they regretted marring so young, etc. Really I just wanted to thank all of you for shouldering the real joy of the gospel. All you are so wonderful and we can see the incredible children you are raising. We love and adore all of you. All my love, Bula Vinika, Ya'll love mum

Whew....Way too many photos. Should blog more often.

David is building a great fort in the backyard.  

Initially, it was going to be a small and simple project.

The kids have had so much fun helping him and soon it will

be completed.  We're having to put screens over all the

windows because of those Texas mosquitoes.

Dante turned five and got a skateboard.  We have

a friend whose married with 3 little girls but enjoys

taking Dante to the skateboard park and reliving

his earlier glory days.  

Uncle Wade, Aunt Claudia and Emma came to visit.  Unfortunately,

the only photos we really took were at Dante's soccer game.

Izze wouldn't leave Uncle Wade's side...And our boy

was busy scoring like he was meant to play soccer.

We love watching him play.  We've always been somewhat

anti-trophy people but we were so proud of him when his

coach doted on him at his soccer party.  And yes, the trophy

was the highlight of his life for about a day.

Typical day in the Torres household...

It can be a little hard to see in black and white, but

yes, they are covered in mud.  I told them that

people pay lots of money for such mud baths.

Izze turning four.  Highlight of her day was her pink cake and her

Lelli Kelli pink sparkly mary jane shoes that her

Aunt Claudia just knew she would love.

They are her favorite.  

Nani, you would be proud of these shoes.

In our family, it is a week of celebrations...First Izze, then

me, then Dante.  The brilliance of always having the

two kids celebrate their birthdays together

 was unknown until this year, when we celebrated them on

their respective days.  Celebration station.  But having their

own day was important if not a little awkward for Izze.  

She really was confused but eventually embraced it all.

Well, we love everyone.  Life in the Torres household is

great.  In the vein of Goldilocks, it's not too busy, 

not too boring, it's just right.  Much love, am

A Temple Missionary's Day

Hi all-
Edgar asked about what we do so I thought it might be beneficial to let you know how our week goes. On Tuesdays and Saturdays we start at 6:30 am and have a preparation meeting at 7:00 with all the workers. We then have an endowment session at 8:00 and often are asked to be the witnesses or officiator and/or follower. Sometimes we stay out and do initiatories. Same with the next session at 10:00. After the 10:00 session we usually do sealings. Today we had a group from one on the islands and had a baptismal session at 8:00 am. Have to fit everything in. Last week we had a group from BYU semester abroad in New Zealand that were on their way home and wanted to do baptisms. The arrived after the temple had closed, so we reopened and did baptisms for them. I was the youngest so I was elected to do the baptizing. Still recovering! We have the BYU girl's soccer team coming next week and will have more work to do. On Wed-Fri we start at 12:30 pm and normally have sealings, initiatories and then sessions at 4:00 and 6:00. We often have sealings after the 6:00 which means we are finished at about 9:00pm. These are long days especially when after Friday night as we start at 6:30 the next morning. We have to be very flexible and ready to do any and everything. Do a lot of training as we continue to try to get the Fijians up to speed. It will still be a long time until they will be able to handle everything by themselves. We get a new temple president in November and he'll probably be able to have at least one Fijian as a counselor. We have a lot of brothers and sisters who do great work but we need more of them. We do go to church at the local ward, but do not have assignments. I do substitute for the Temple Preparation teacher. We do visit a branch about 2 hours away about once a month and will be going there this saturday afternoon for a baptism at the beach or river. We'll spend the night and then go to church on Sunday before we come back. Monday is our day off for shopping, cleaning etc. We do have a SUV that we share between 3 couples so we get downtown often and do a little touring. Our apartment is small and has AC in the bedrooms only. Not bad though- at least it's comfortable for sleeping. The kitchen lacks an oven but we have decided that it's OK- no baking. They are building a new apartment for us next to the temple that we should get into by October. It will only be one bedroom, but new! Our days and weeks are full and Sister Wettstein cannot keep up with what day it is. Time flies and we are 3 and 1/2 months into our mission. The weather here is pretty constant, warm and humid with quite a bit of rain. The city we live in, Suva, is the largest in Fiji and is a port city. 2 large cruise lines came in this weekend and 18 taxis stopped by the temple for picture taking as the temple is listed as a sight to see in the city- actually it's the best looking building in the country. We can look out and see the bay water but no beaches. Have to leave the city for that. I hope that this gives you a better idea of what we are up to. Dad

Sister Johnson in Hawaii

I saw this floating restaurant in the harbor and thought of old Sr. Johnson in our old Champions ward. She is from an old royal Hawaiian family, and was dirt poor growing up. She told this story about going to the temple as a small child. The family had not been sealed and her oldest sister was 17 and at 18 could not be sealed as a child. The family sold everything they could and still there was not enough cash for an inside passage inside the boat. The mom told the kids to put on their sunday clothes and then sold everything they owned except a pair of play clothes for each child. The father said they must travel inside the boat over to the main island so they would arrive dry and proper for going to the temple; however, on going home they all slept on the deck and arrived with sea spray all over them as they slept. In the royal Hawaiian family they had what they called white Hawaiians [Sr. Johnson is a pale white color and has black eyes] and black Hawaiians. Her daughter Sr. Cook is a black Hawaiian. They were also very tall. And out in the sun their skin turned the color of a very dark brown. Sr. Johnson told me she also fell for a cute, white boy, blond&blue eyed guy at BYU and he was a non member, too!! She also told the story several times of what she called " God bless the drunken sailor, story." She was very little and her mom sent her to the store with 75 cents to buy some bread for dinner. Walking into the store a very drunk sailor came up to her and ask how much money she had and how many kids there were in her family [9]. He took all of his 75 dollars-his pay for the month and bought all of the food he could and then he took her home in a taxi and gave it all to her mom. Sr. Johnson said the moral of the story was that God knew they were so poor that he sent the sailor. Then he [God] could bless the sailor as needed. And oh yes, never get in a cab with a drunken sailor. Her mom prayed for that sailor for years, " and please Lord bless that drunken sailor, that he may come our way again." Afterall, if the guy stayed alive then he had for sure been blessed, for his kind and needed gifts.

I have been so surprised at the incredible senior missionaries and other temple staff we have here. To be at same place and missionaries gives a blessing of a different kind = companionship. We will have friends in Utah and Washington state for ever. Also our friend Br. Vitinavulagi's daughter is a stewardess for Continental airlines and is in the Inwood Ward!!! We had missed each others calls before we left. Anyways, we will for sure have them come and stay [Pres. Wells says at least 1 month] a few weeks. That has to be another " it's a small world moment" when we fire up the grill and cook some steaks instead of breadfruit or roti. All of my love Mum Bula Yinaka, ya'll...



We are going to a baptism in Singatoka this weekend. We'll leave early from our temple shift and see the baptism in the pacific and then spend the night and go to church. We are so blessed each time we go there. Dad and Br. Bohman always give blessings to members, active and not so active. And then they start to come to church and bring their kids and grandkids. The count for sundays is up to 55 now for the branch, and they never have to provide speakers since they always have extra missionaries. And Br. Bohman is now in the branch presidency sos we always

Russ and Mich Wettstein...and gang.

Sophie Pics -- 28 weeks

Jane- Hi Nana and Papa ,

How is Fiji?We all miss you alot!!!I wish you were here. I love you so much.Nothing is really NEW. Mom's belly is getting really BIG. Thanks for the postcard.

Love,

Jane

Hi Nana & Papa--

I miss you so much-- my baseball is going great - I really whacked one the other night.

Love you and miss you,

Max

Nana and Papa--

I love you and can't wait for you to come back. Where are you? I miss you lots

Love,

AVA I have new shoes!!!!! and a purse!

Nana and Papa,

Get me out of here!!!!!

Love,

Sophie

We'll -- Finally Russ get's on the blog without dancing!!! hahaha David.

We are doing great and really are trying tro survive these last 8 weeks of Mich being Prego.

We opened a new Peek a Baby out in Katy, Texas and it has been crazy working in the mall-- but none the less it has been a great experience. Tying to sell the house is driving us crazy and we may end up renting it just to move away-- will see!!

The kids are doing great and can't wait to go to Splashtown this summer when school is out!

Had a little golf outing with Aaron and Blake in Phoenix-- had a blast--- with some good golf!

We wish you the best and pray nightly for your safety and success. We know you are doing the Lord's work and we all are receiving blessing daily from your sacrifice. Thanks for the great example that you are giving to the Grand kids and to each one of us!

Love,

Russ

Blake W & Ryan Roberson Quito, Ecuador

When Blake was on his mission in 1996 & 1997 to Quito, Ecuador I was Sr. Judy Roberson's visiting teacher. Actually it was the 2nd time I had been her vt. Judy was very concerned for her son's church status and had good reason to be. Ryan had been a golden child in a family with many problems. He had graduated from Eisenhower High School in Houston, and was attending West Point. He had many church experiences to shore up his testimony, but mostly he felt these were embarrasing and just brushed them off. His mission was to teach the poor Portuguese sailors in the seaport area of New Jersey. His mission was to show him how blessed he was, and to love the Lord more through this tough mission. Were much is given.....much is expected. His mission was not showy, flashy, or up to his standard, for himself, being such a golden child and he was just plain embarrassed about the whole 2 years. Don't think me mean or nosy, these were his mom's words, and I was her visiting teacher and friend.
While Blake, [that tall red headed, Wettstein boy] was in Ecuador the following happened in 3 months. I must say that I made fun of Judy's simple plan, and we as a family had many laughs at her expense. [I am still so sorry, but will always tell this story with myself painted as the fool] I went to her and she announced that Ryan was in Panama, and was serving as a MP [military police]. He was inactive and she was desperate.. She had been praying and had made the following plan; Ryan was to somehow find 'that tall red headed Wettstein boy' because he was the only good mormon she knew in south america. "How I asked?" She hadn't figured that part out yet, but it was a good plan she thought. I reported home her plan we all hooted with laughter. The next month we received a note from Elder Wettstein and were notified that he had been sent into the jungles of Ecuador because of an unofficial haircut!!! And he did this all by himself,too! You see in this country the native men shave their hair except for an oval on the top and coat it with a red mud-this is to show that they are native indians and were proud of it. So this stupid white boy shaved his red head, like the native men and was he the hit of Quito, for 3 days. And then off to the jungle for the pale white head to grow back and cover his little red pin head with lovely red hair. He [stupid red headed missonary] complained to the mission president that,"he would get skin cancer and desperately needed a hat". "No", you see the local drug kingpen and assorted dealers, they dressed like the Mormon missionaries. Yes, white shirts ,jeans and oh yes-a hat. Tough luck elder. See you in a few months, if you were lucky. So when I next say Judy didn't have the heart to tell her that Blake was AWOL from Quito. And to make matters worse she had added another person to the short list . The prophet. President Hinkley. This would be just the right combo to help her failing soldier. I just couldn't make the words come out of my mouth and say he was gone, just when he was needed, that tall, red headed Wettstein boy. And again I was the fool and laughed. And then God, himself stepped in and we received the following letter.- Mom and dad you will never believe what has happened. I am in Quito, at the mall. I bought new shoes - no holes for water and bugs to crawl into. My head isn't sun burned any more. He had written the note on the flip side of the paper liner his food had come in. He was eating a foot long hot meatball sandwich with extra cheese and jalapenos and the first cold drink in months. And that was were he stopped...... You will never believe this but I just look up and saw Ryan Roberson, in the food court in Quito. I walked up to him and he said "you are that tall red headed Wettstein boy, aren't you?' Why are you here I asked? It seemed the army had sent him to Quito to re-tool his portuguese into spanish. And way are you here, he asked. The Prophet is in town I said. It seemed he [ the prophet] had just changed his itinerary for south america. We just found out this past monday. It was a total surprise. We saw him this afternoon and he will be here this evening and tomorrow morning. It is just around the corner. Why don't you come? Somethings you should never forget and this is one of them. I always cry and feel so badly about myself. I'm crying as I write his note. Remember somethings you should never forget... Ryan,who was about to be raised to the rank of Lt. Colonel, was found dead in his apt. this last december 2006. He was not active and we never knew if he went to hear the prophet, Pres. Hinckley in Quito, with Blake ,that tall red headed Wettstein boy. He was bright and could have brought much to the world and spread the gospel in his many travels, but chose otherwise. His father, Ray, went through his golden child's belongings to find answers to his beloved son's life and found truths that pierce a father's soul. "Judy, he said" never open this trunk and always remember Ryan as a beautiful little boy who was now at home with his loving Savior." April 20, 2008