Conference

We've been watching conference on the internet this past week.  The members here will be watching a recording  this coming Saturday and Sunday at the stake center, which will be translated into Bislama.  There will be a room set up with a TV so that we can watch it in English.  Greg and I watched the General Women's Conference the other day and loved it.  We haven't listened to all of the talks yet, but I understand Elder Stevenson talked about his trip to Vanuatu.  Can't wait to hear it!  Our lesson in Relief Society was on President Uchtdorf's talk from the General Women's Conference, about the three sisters whose names were; Mad, Sad and Glad. If you listened to the talk, you know how inspiring and encouraging his words were.  In class, we were all given a sheet of paper with either a mad face, sad face or a glad face.  The teacher then read different scenarios in life, and had us hold up whatever face we thought applied.   One of the scenarios she read was, "your boss just came into work and told you that you didn't need to come any more."  A couple of the sisters held the glad face up!!  It was hilarious!  What's funny too is that Sister Tucker and I understand only a fraction of what is being said! The lessons are given in Bislama, mingled with a little bit of English, so we struggle a mightily.  

Today, Sister Tucker and I held our English class after church.  There's usually about six sisters that attend.  We are reading the Mormon with them.  We have them read a verse, then we discuss what it means and talk about any words that might be hard for them to understand.  They have a hard time comprehending what they've read.  I just imagine myself trying to learn how to read Bislama, but not understanding what I've read, so I know how they must feel.  After class, they always give us a hug and tell us they love us, and thank us for helping them.  I tear up ever time.  I just love and adore those sweet sisters.  When we're finished, we head out into the bush to take them home.  

I was looking at some of my receipts from the grocery store the other day, and thought I would share with you some of the bargins we got!  Ha!  A few things we've picked up at the grocery store lately:  Greg loves bleu cheese, so, for 1/4 of an American pound it was ($18.35), 8 oz. sour cream ($4.50), 4 lb pork roast (20.00), 1 lb hamburger ($9.50), Kelloggs frosted flakes ($8.50), 15 oz can or corn ($2.60),  large box of corn flakes (12.50).  I just have to keep in mind that it costs alot to have things shipped here, but really, $12.50 for corn flakes! BROTHER.

We started a new class on becoming self reliant both spiritually and temporarily.  The class is for returned missionaries, helping to keep them focused after returning from their missions.  We work with the missionary couple who heads up education and self reliance.  The class is off to a rough start, with just two attending.  You never know how many you're going to have.  It's like that with most things here.  The members are good, they're just easily distracted.  

Remember the spider in our yard that I wrote about?  I sent a picture, a few posts back.  Greg named her Charlotte, for Charlottes Web.  We've been watching her for the past three weeks.  Her web was getting quite flimsey from the wind and the rain that we've been having.  Sadly, the other day the web finally fell apart.  We watched as she slowly tried to get to the branch of a tree where her web was still attached.  The next day she was gone.  We were quite fond of Charlotte, and will miss her.  This afternoon, Greg looked out in the tree and low and behold, another spider has  repaired Charlotte's web and has moved in!  Isn't that amazing?!  

Thursday and Friday this week, we will be attending zone conference with the young elders and sisters in the mission.  We just received several new missionaries in Port Vila.  This past week, I've been helping Sister Tucker with laundry, as she gets the housing ready for them.  As I've mentioned, we have a little time before we do our audits, so we'll be helping with additional duties.  I'll close for now, but I'll write again after the zone conference and tell you all about it.  Take good care.  

We love you all.  Elda and Sista Robison XO