Missionary Class

We received  the news that my uncle Rulon passed away.  He was such a kind and gentle man.  He and my aunt Carma raised an amazing family.  My mom told me that he had the nickname of "peaceful," and he was indeed that.  He will be missed by so many.  Isn't it nice to know, that one day we can all be together again?!  Many thanks to the atonement of our dear Savior. 

We started teaching the missionary course called, "My Plan for Returned Missionaries," which will go for nine weeks.  The purpose of this class is to teach about being self reliant both temporally  and spiritually.  We had six returned missionaries in attendance, and we think they really enjoyed the class.  Here in Vanuatu the opportunities for work  are scarce, and so it's easy to get discouraged.    We talked about the importance of marriage and that they should be thinking about this important step, yet it's hard to afford a family.  It's tricky to figure out.   They have been home a year give or take.  Brian went on his mission to the Oakland/San Francisco mission.   In a few weeks he will be leaving to go to school in Samoa.  Kathryna went to Provo, Utah.  She absolutely loved her mission.  David stayed here in Vanuatu to serve.  William served in Austrailia and works at the Toyota dealership as a salesman.  Kiki went to Papua New Guinea  on his mission and now drives a taxi bus for his father. They seem to be doing pretty well for the circumstances they are in here. As many of you know, I love to bake cookies.  I made sugar cookies w/cream cheese frosting for the class.  They gobbled them up pretty fast.  Our sweets in the US are much sweeter than they are here. Elda Robison wouldn't let me put out a table cloth and flowers, relief society style, he just doesn't get it!  Ha

For our Saturday outing, we all went on a short ferry ride across the water from Port Vila, where we live, to Erakor Island.  It's a small island with a resort that mostly  Austrailians vacation to.  It's about a 3 hour flight for them to get to Vanuatu.  They have these  individual cottage type places to stay in that are right on a magnificent beach.  There is a spa and a nice little restaurant.  You can also arrange to have a beach wedding.  They were setting up for one that day.  While we were there,  some went snorkeling and swimming, but we took an island walking tour with a guide that was dressed like a native warrior would have been at the time.  His name was Henry!  He told us about some protestant missionaries that come to Vanuatu in the late 1800's.  They started out on Efate, but it was too dangerous at that time. The natives were very violent, so they moved to Erakor Island.  At one point in time, they would kill any white person that came to the islands.  It was an interesting tour.  I'm pretty sure that the nivans (local people) of Vanuatu have those jobs on Erakor.  They are lucky even though they would be making at the most 180 - 200 vats an hour (approx. $1.80 - $2.00 american) minimum wage here is about a dollar an hour.   No wonder they are so poor and can't get ahead.  That night everyone came to our apartment and played games and ate snacks.

We  got a text from Elder Lindeman telling us that we can't play pickleball until the 1st of July.  The President of Vanuatu passed away, so they go into a 10 day mourning period.  The pickleball courts are painted on the parking lot of the stake center.  The Stake President asked us not to play until then.  A few of us are recovering from pickleball injuries, so it might not be a bad idea. We  need to remember that we aren't teenagers anymore.  Elda Robison is recovering from a hamstring injury, Elda Lindeman from a groin injury, Sista Lindeman, a hurt foot, and Elda Davidson has something else.  

Sister Granger asked me to help with a couple of luncheons for the Missionary Leadership Council that was held at the mission home.  She made Lasagna for monday, and I made chicken enchiladas for Tuesdays lunch.  I also bought rolls and made salads for both luncheons.  I know I keep harping on the prices of things here, but it cost $98.00, a few less in vats to make 24 enchiladas, 2 salads and bread.   Holy Smokarama!  The lunches were yummy though, and the missionaries enjoyed them!  There was four missionaries there from Utah.  Two were from Kaysville, Utah!  So fun to talk to them.  I told them that Kaysville just got pickleball courts and they were EXCITED.  

We are getting ready for a seniors conference that will be held the 24th -   28th of this month.  There are 20 senior missionaries in the mission.  Ten of us in Vanuatu (10 Efate, 2 Santo), four from Soloman Islands and four from the island of New Caledonia (french speaking).  It will be held here, so the others are flying in to attend.  We are all assigned one of the couples to host, and see that they get to the various activities.  Elda Robison knows a little French so we were assigned Elder and Sister Jean from New Caledonia.

Sat, 24 June - The couples from the Soloman Islands (Fuimaono's, Sanders) and the Anderson's from Santo arrive Saturday night.  That night, we are having a pizza party at the Melanesian hotel, which is where they will all be staying.

Sun, 25 June -  We will be attending stake conference.  After conference the host couple provides dinner for the couple assigned to them.  The Jean's don't arrive until that evening.  We will pick them up at the airport at 8:00 pm. 

Mon, 26 June - We will all go to Havanna Beach (never been there) for a BBQ, snorkeling, swimming, hiking or just plain relaxing.  It will be fun getting to know all of the other missionaries.  That night we will all have family home evening together at their hotel.

Tues, 27th June - We will all meet at the mission home for a conference with President and Granger for training and instruction.  We are all making some thing to provide for lunch break.  Take a wild guess on what I was assigned.  COOKIES.  That night we will all go to a restaurant called Cafe Vila.  We have been there, and it's a good place to eat.  

Wed, 28th June - We take them back to the airport.  

It sounds like a very fun week ahead.  Can't wait to meet the others.  We'll be sure and report back!  We love you all very much and pray for your safe keeping each night.  Love, 

Elda and Sista Robison XO