Apostle visit

Today is Tuesday, 21 August, a very special day.  We had the honor of meeting and shaking hands with the Apostle, Gary E. Stevenson.  He is one of the three newest Apostles.  We all stood as he walked in to the chapel with his wife, Elder Johansen an Area Seventy, and Elder Ardern, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy.   I quickly went for my tissue when they walked in.  The spirit was so strong, you knew with out a doubt that he is an apostle of the Lord.   Public Affairs and photographers were also there snapping pictures.  We all got in line row by row, reception line style.   As he shook our hand, he would say our name and ask where we were from and thank us for serving.  It was a tender moment for sure.  He spoke to all of us, especially the young missionaries about the importance of being effective missionaries.  He taught from Preach My Gospel, the handbook that the missionary's use, along with the scriptures. It was outstanding. 

The missionaries were flown in from the islands of Vanuatu; Santo, Malekula, Tanna, and Ambae.  The Anderson's flew in from Santo, where we just returned from.  We picked them up at the airport and took them to their hotel.   The missionaries in the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia (two separate countries), were not brought in because of the expense.  They were all here for training a few months ago. They are recording the whole thing for them to see.  We feel bad that they couldn't be here because  it's awesome. The senior sister missionaries prepared a luncheon of sandwiches, chips, and cookies.  We all pitched in to make it happen.  We also each made three dozen cookies, enough that everyone could have at least two.  Sister Sackley was on cookie guard duty, going up and down the lunch line making it clear to the young missionaries that they were to take no more than TWO COOKIES.  She is such a crack up.  I love her to pieces!  She and her husband served a humanitarian mission in Hong Kong, and Mission President in India.  This is their third mission.  

It's Wednesday evening and we've just returned from the church where Elder Stevenson spoke to the stake.  The members have been preparing for the past month for this special occasion.  They cleaned the chapel, planted flowers and really spiffed things up!  Everything looked so nice.  They had placed beautiful, colorful, woven mats on the walk leading up to the chapel.  When we got there the chapel was completely "fulup," so we sat outside.   Chairs were set up outside for the over flow.  Being outside was the perfect photo op.  As they all came up the walk, I just snapped those pictures!   Young women placed a lei around their neck as they came up the walk.  The central  theme was about treating our family members with love and respect.  There is an abuse problem here in the islands, and they were trying to address it firmly, but carefully.  Elder Ardern, from the  Seventy, spoke on that topic.  He was a missionary in Vanuatu as a young man, and was really excited to be back and speak to the people.  Sister Stevenson spoke next on the importance of having faith and praying often.  Her talk was very simple and sweet.  Elder Stevenson encouraged them to share the gospel with their family and friends.  He talked about who God is and that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to pray to him.  He then talked about seven important words; Men are that they might have joy.   It was a wonderful talk.  There were 1,200 members in attendance that night.  There is about 7,500 members of the church in Vanuatu.

The next morning we picked the Anderson's up at their hotel and brought them to our apartment.  We stopped at the Bon Mache (grocery store) so that they could get breakfast cereal.  They haven't been able to get any in Santo for quite a while.  The shipping containers come and they may have the things you need or not!  I'm still waiting for black beans! We're all waiting to get salted butter.  You can only get UNSALTED!  That's okay for baking, but other than that BLAH!  They didn't need to be to the airport until 2:00, so we stayed around our apartment and had lunch and visited.  They are such a dear couple.  They will be going home the first week of November. 

Greg and I will be leaving for the Solomon Islands tomorrow, Friday, 24-28 August, to perform the audits there.  Solomon Islands is another country here in the South Pacific, and part of the Vanuatu mission..  Elder and Sister Sanders, another amazing couple, are meeting us and will help us with the audit process.  While there, we will be going on a history tour.    Guadalcanal is one of the  Solomon Islands in the Pacific. I took the following description of it from the internet. 

The battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the allies in the Pacific theater.  With Japanese troops stationed in this section of the Solomon Islands, U.S. marines launched a surprise attack in August 1942, and took control of an air base under construction.  

The Sanders are going to take us to some of these famous places while we are there.  We're so excited! Greg is a real military history buff so he is thrilled! They will also be leaving to go home in the next few months.

You can tell that we have had quite an eventful week.  We are so blessed to be here in Vanuatu, and have these amazing experiences, never to be forgotten.  We want you all to know how much we love and miss you.  It doesn't take long to realize how blessed you are, when you come to a place like this, and see some of the things you see.  They are happy though, they have family, food to eat, and a place to sleep.  It may not be to our standards, but what more do you need.  May the dear Lord bless you all.  We'll be back in touch upon our return from our next adventure.  

We love you.   Love, Elda and Sista Robison  XOXO