Embassy, fans and critters!

Last sunday, we went to church at the Black Sands ward.  Sister Tucker, the new mission nurse came with us.  The people there were so kind and welcoming.  There is a language barrier of course, but you could still pretty much figure out what they are saying to you in conversation.  Many know enough english to be able to have simple communication with us.  We know very little bislama, but we can understand and speak a little bit.  We should get better as the time goes on.  The meetings are conducted in Bislama, but the hymns are sung in English.  Elder Robison is planning to sit with the ward clerk next week to see the process of collecting tithing from the members.  It is part of the auditing process.

Before we left home, we had a tutor and a language coach from BYU language training that we skyped with.   They may feel like they were'nt making any progress with us, but we learned quite a bit.  Jansen helped us with the language as well as teaching us about the culture and the people.  He told us we would love the people, and he was right.  

Just down the street from our apartment, the Chinese are building a huge embassy.  There are alot of Chinese people here, they own a lot of the little shops all over town.   They are suppose to have an open house soon, so It will be interesting to see it.  We walked into one of those little shops today, and there was a cat laying on a barrell in the store.  It was a gray and white, darling cat.  It let us pet it and scratch its ears.  It sure made me miss my Zoe, our cat, who is being taken care of by my sweet neighbors across the street.  We can't thank them enough.

Last night, which was Monday (Sunday night for you at home), we went to the Mission home for a farewell dinner.  The current mission nurse, sister Hill, will be leaving for home (Cottonwood Heights) in Salt Lake, on Friday.  We had a potluck dinner.  We missionaries brought the side dishes, and Sister Granger provided this wonderful Italian chicken.  We enjoy getting together and do it quite often as you can tell.

Today is Tuesday, the day we were to go back and try to get our drivers license.  We couldn't get it last week, as you may remember, because the building was being remodeled.  Well, the building is still being worked on.  I would say it will be more like 6 months from now.  We'll have to see! Remember, everything is done on island time.  After the attempt, be went to buy a fan for our apartment.  We did find one, it just sounds like we live next to the airport.   It's Loud!! but it keeps the air moving!!

Did I mention that maid service comes with the apartment.  We have two really sweet Nivan girls clean our place every monday morning.  They also wash our sheets and make our bed.  It is soooo lovely!!  The yard around our apartment is beautiful too.  The labor is so cheap here that business owners can afford to have these services.  I just feel sorry for the workers, they don't make much money here. 

Last night, which was Wednesday, the senior missionaries went to the mission home again for dinner.  This time we all got to meet with Elder Gifford Nielson and his wife Wendy, he is an area seventy in this part of the world.  Some of you my recognize the name.  He played football for BYU and the Houston Oilers.  Elder Robison and Elder Nielson played football at BYU at the same time.  They had a good time reminising about the good old days.  This is actually his "farewell tour,"  he and his wife have been in the South Pacific for three years.  He has been called back to Salt Lake City to work in the missionary department.  After dinner they talked with us about missionary work and how important it is for us to be here in Vanuatu.  It was a great evening.  He talked about what it was like to be in the temple with President Monson and the Apostles, that would be amazing.  Friday morning, we will be having a zone conference, and he will speak to all the missionaries at that time.  I'll write about that later. 

We went to the mission office today.  Sister Davidson and I talked about how we might beable to help the Relief Society become stronger.  We attend different wards, but with the same issues.  The church is very young here and they need lots of help.  We're planning to talk with our Relief Society Presidents about having Enrichment Nights.  I met mine last week, and she was thrilled to know that I wanted to be involved with visiting teaching.  That should be very interesting. 

 I also bought my snorkeling equipment to day.  I think I mentioned that we try to go every Saturday.  Saturday, is our "P" day.  Elder Robison has been looking into getting recertified for scuba diving.  He and the instructor were t trying to talk me into getting certified.  I just don't like water much, so the answer will more than likely be NO!!  As I sit here making this entry, it just started to POUR.  It is raining HARD!!  I love it!

I don't think I have mentioned the critters around here.  There are these milipedes, which look like a centipede.  They are the bugs with a million legs  on each side of their body.   We also get gecko lizards, cockroaches, and tiny ants.   We've only "seen" a few, except for the ants, we spray them quite often.  My fear is that I will get up in the middle of the night and step on one!!!!! Oh ick.  

We are anxious to get more involved in our calling, but things don't happen around here like they do at home.  We have to be a little patient.  We are anxious though to serve the people here in Vanuatu, but most of all the Lord.  We love you, and think of you all often.  

    Much love, Elda and Sista Robison :)