Trip To Tanna

We arrived home from the island of Tanna on Monday afternoon.  It's good we got back when we did because we had a visiting Area Seventy, Elder Cardon, and his wife, that came to visit the missionaries.  We got to the church just in time to have lunch with everyone.  The training is really for the young Elders and Sisters, but we are always invited to attend.  We missed the morning session, but were able to be there for the afternoon.  The training was so good and I think the missionaries learned things that will help them with the good work they are doing.

When we arrived in Tanna on Friday, it was raining.  It was rain they desperately need in the islands, but it's messy to get around in.  President Morgan, the District President, and his wife Marlene, were there to meet us just as they were last year.  They took us to a place for lunch. You really take a chance when you eat in some of these places.  They don't have the health department checking on them, that's for sure.  After lunch, we drove to an old building and climbed up these really steep stairs to the upper level.  The church rents the upper floor for the Lenikel branch to hold services.  The Lenikel branch is a new branch, so they won't be audited for 6 months.  Greg did do an audit there for the Greenhill branch.  I think Greenhill's audit was there because the Branch President happened to be coming to town.   They have to walk or catch one of many pickup trucks that roam around picking people up when they flag the driver down.  No uber here.  So, however many things they can accomplish while there out, they do.    After the audit we were suppose to drive to the Greenpoint branch, but the road was closed.  President Morgan moved the appointment it to the next day, Saturday.  He just took us to our bungalow for the night.

 Our bungalow was a real basic little place.  We did have hot water and electricity though, that was a plus!!  There is always mosquito netting tied above the bed.  We took a chance and didn't use it because we didn't hear or see mosquitos, but there were plenty of flies.  They about drove us crazy.  The second you walked outside they were all over you.   It was really nice, we had just a short walk to the beach, and whenever we are at a beach, I love to look for shells.  My collection of shells will be one of my favorite treasures to bring home.  One afternoon after we  returned from an audit, I walked the shore looking for shells, and had a really sweet experience that shows how Heavenly Father is aware of us individually.  There is a type of ocean creature called an urchin.  They are very unusual and you don't find them very often.  They are very delicate and break easily.  Sister Sackley had one and I just fell in love with it.  Since we've been here in Vanuatu, I've been hoping to find one.  As I walked along the beach marveling at how beautiful it was, and checking out the shells in the sand for some nice finds, I had a little pray in my heart letting Heavenly Father know how much I would love to find one of those little purple sea urchins.  As I walked a little further, there it was, my little purple sea urchin.  Isn't that amazing?!  (picture below).  This was just a simple, sweet way of letting me know He is there.  I will never forget that sweet, personal experience that was just for me. 

As you know, the sunsets here are amazing.  I'll attach a picture of what I call, "the butterscotch sunset."  Isn't it beautiful?  I just can't imagine how anyone can say that there isn't a God when there is evidence all around us.  

During our stay,  we ate in a little restaurant on the property.  Since we don't have a vehicle, we choose places to stay that have a place to eat.  Breakfast was included, which was fresh fruit and toast.  Imagine having fresh watermelon, pineapple, papaya, mango and more.  The fruits really are delish when they're fresh from the vine!  Before we left for the day, the cook would ask what we would like for dinner, and what time we would like to eat.  The first day we were there, we told them 6:30, which was when they opened for dinner.   At 6:25 one of the gals came to tell us dinner was ready, so we walked over, sat down, and waited about 1/2 hour for dinner.  Again, we're on "island time."  We got to know the cute girls and young man who did the cooking.   It was hard to leave our new friends when it was time to checkout.  I do regret taking the opportunity to peek into the kitchen area while no one was there.  I wish I hadn't done that!  That explains why Greg and I are having digestive problems!  

Saturday morning we were picked up by President Morgan, along with several guys in the back of the truck.  If the people can hitch a ride from someone, they do it.  As we drove to our destination, President Morgan would stop along the way and drop people off at various locations.  That day we went to the district clerks home to do the district audit.  Along the way, he stopped the truck.   One of the guys got out of the back of the truck and soon came back with a bag of mangos.  I wondered if someone had a knife to peel and cut them open.  No need for that, they just split it open and eat it, no utinsils needed.  They asked how many I wanted, I asked for three.  I took them back to our bungalow and cleaned and ate them my way!  Anyway, we met Ken and his wife Tiffany six months ago during the last audit.  They have two darling pikininis, Jared and Janet, who greeted us.  

While the  audit was being conducted in their house (picture above), I got to visit with Tiffany and the kids.  The kids were shy at first, but it didn't take long for them to get used to me.  I bring balls and suckers with me so that when we travel I can pass them out to the kids.  We had a fun time tossing the balls back and forth.  I don't think they knew how to play with them until I showed them what to do.  Janet stood up on the bench beside me and started running her fingers through my hair.  It's fun for them to feel the different textures of hair.  (picture above) Tiffany and I were able to communicate really well, she speaks quite good English.  After the audit, we were off to the district office to audit and train the White Grass branch.  While that audit was being done, I had the chance to visit with two of the young Elders assigned in Tanna.  Sisters don't  serve there because it's so primitive and could be dangerous.  The Elders live in a house there on the church property.  After that audit we headed for Greenpoint, but found the road up to it was still closed.  The Chinese were preparing to put on the black top.  It will be nice when it's finished.  The first time we took that road, six months ago, it took a week for my back to recover!  You might remember me telling you about the road.  The chairman of the audit committee, Joseph, had been traveling around with us, he said he would be able to do it if we couldn't get up there.  We went back to our bungalow for the night.

Sunday morning we were again picked up by President Morgan, his four daughters, Joseph, Ken and Tiffany, Jared, Janet and a couple of other guys.  We had a "fulup" truck!!!  The plan was to drop us off at the White Sands branch, by the volcano.  We were asked to speak in sacrament meeting.  While we were there, two more audits were done.   The trip there was almost two hours.  I was in the back seat with Joseph, Chairman of the Audit Committee, and President Morgan's oldest daughter (can't remember her name).  Greg and President Morgan were up front.  We decided to sing hymns as we drove along.  Do you remember me telling about the last time we were in Tanna, and a gentleman asked me to sing with him his favorite hymn, Come, O Thou King of Kings, as we waited to get through a mud slide? This was the same gentleman, Joseph, and he asked that we sing the song again.  He is so sweet.  Of course that was one that we all sang together.  He was so pleased.  He has a great voice too.  We sang many hymns and they knew them all.  We sang a few that we have never heard of.  They were great songs.  Here are the page numbers incase you choristers want to take a look.  

Page 295 - O Love that Glorifies the Son, 

page 38 - Come All Ye Saints of Zion, 

page 335 - Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy.  

They were such beautiful hymns.  When we finally got there, President Morgan dropped us off and  continued on with the truck load, another hour, to one of the new Branches called Port Resolution, to set the new presidency apart.

In a previous post I was telling about Greg helping President Granger to get boundaries redrawn and approved for Tanna to have eight branches instead of five.    Greg made a few calls, worked with the department in Salt Lake, and  got it finished.  Now the people in Tanna don't have so far to walk to church.

It was fun to meet the people and feel of their sweet spirits.  I really enjoyed visiting with those good people.  Sacrament meeting was last, so I was able to go to Relief Society, and Greg to Priesthood.  In between classes, I slipped into the primary , before class started, and took that little video that is posted.  The reason they wouldn't waive I think, is because they didn't know what I was asking them to do.  Some of them don't go to school, so they only speak Bislama.  Those that  go to school learn French or English, depending on the school.  I  also had the chance to meet the Young Women and take their picture.  The people are so shy, they will put their hands up to their face and giggle when you speak to them.  When they pray, they whisper so that you can't hear them.  That includes adults as well as children.  Very humble and sweet.  During Sunday school, Greg did one of the audits.  I attended Sunday school.  The Branch President asked me if I would explain how the Prophet is chosen, and answer any questions the people might have.   I hope they understood what I was saying to them, it appeared they did.  They loved President Monson and were now ready to welcome the new Prophet, President Nelson.  Their branch was one of those that was divided and some still had to sit on the floor during Sacrament meeting.  They treated us like royalty.  I guess because we were members from America.  We just wanted them to know that we are ALL God's children and He loves us exactly the same.  That was pretty much what we talked about as we spoke in sacrament meeting.  There was a baby to be blessed and they asked Greg to bless him.  He gave a very sweet blessing.   The church is growing like crazy in Tanna. 

After the meetings, Greg went into the last audit.  I went outside and played with the children.  I took more balls out of my purse and started tossing them to the kids.  Pretty soon a large circle formed and the fun begain.  Again, I had to  show them how to catch a ball.  As soon as they got it, they were having fun.  We had about 5 balls being tossed around at the same time.   I told them they could keep the balls, but they had to share with each other.  Not sure how much they understood!  

After Greg was finished with the audit, we met outside with the branch president, one of his counselors, and Joseph, waiting for President Morgan to pick us up.  The counselor dug up some peanuts for us all to eat as we visited, they were pretty good.  One of their daughters brought over some watermelon slices to eat.  YUMMY!  Several families will bring their dinner with them to church and eat it out on the lawn afterwards.  They usually bring cut up fruit, a pot of white rice, and a pot of chicken wings, thighs and veggies cooked in a broth.  Joseph left for a few minutes and soon came back with some kind of nut.  It was quite tastey.  We got to the church at 9:00am and President Morgan picked us back up at about 4:00 pm.  It was a long day.  When the truck full arrived, they brought out a dinner that was just as I described above.  We were starving and it tasted wonderful.  On the way back, President Morgan played American country western music.  It made me think of home.  When we arrived at the bungalow, we were happy to be there.  The next morning we were taken to the airport, along with the memories of our wonderful trip to Tanna.  Greg has had to clarify things here and there in the audits, and there have been exceptions to workout, but all in all they are doing the best they can.  They are dear people and we love them all.    We hope all is well with you and your families.  We love and miss you all so much.   Many thanks to Melissa Robison for her diligence in posting this blog for us.  We love you all!  Elda and Sista Robison XO

We're back from Tanna!

I will be getting a post out, but wanted to share a clip of the children in primary at the White Sands branch  that we attended on Sunday.  They are very shy.

Starting to Travel

Hello everyone,  it's been a while since we've written hasn't it?  It's been a little quiet here, but things will soon be picking up because the audit season is upon us.  We got the news of President Monson's passing soon after he passed away.  The first thing I thought of was, " now he's with his beautiful Francis." Isn't it wonderful to know that we will see our families again when we leave our earthly experience?  My cousin, Sherrie Anthony, wrote a book about angels that really caused me to ponder about life after death.  By the way Sherrie, it was a beautiful book.   I miss my mother so much and can't wait to see her again. 

Last week we all went to a beach restaurant called The Hide Away.    If you have dinner there you get to enjoy a fire show.   We enjoyed a fun evening of pretty good food, a fun show, and an amazing sunset.  The sunset that night made it all worth while.  It's especially beautiful to watch as the sun sets over the ocean.   I've included several pictures of some beautiful sunsets in past letters, but you just have to be here to  get the full effect.  So let us know when you plan to come!  We have a room waiting for you:)

Tuesday evening we had a special dinner for the Sackley's.  They will be heading home to Arizona on Friday morning.  We have all become such good friends and it's hard when we have to say good bye.  We all made "pinky promises" that we will keep in touch.  We are all planning to meet for the April 2019 General Conference.   

Wednesday morning we all met at the airport to greet Elder and Sister Roundy.  They will be replacing the Sackley's as the humanitarian couple.  They have spent the last five years in China teaching english classes.  They were able to go home for a few weeks here and there during that time, but wow, what an accomplishment.  They just returned home from China in December and here they are!!  They are from Idaho.  It was fun to welcome them.  That night we had a farewell/welcome dinner at the mission home.  Sister Granger is a wonderful host.  It's a chance to get to know the new couples when they come, it was a nice evening. The Roundy's will be living next door to us, so we look forward to getting to know them.

The humidity is really starting to get uncomfy!  We play pickball at 5:30 in the morning before it becomes  unbearable.  It starts out fairly comfortable, but after about two hours we're all ready to quit.  Our hair and clothes are soaking wet.  This morning we played our last round with the Sackley's.  They are always the first one's to the church to set up the nets, so it will be weird to show up tomorrow and them not be there.  We'll be playing pickleball when they take off from the airport, we told them to look down and we would all waive as they fly by. 

As I said at the being, things are starting to pick up for us.  Those of you priesthood holders that have had anything to do with auditing in your wards, know that it's that time again.  We've  been contacting the District Presidents on the different Islands and making arrangements for their audit visit.  Last month, here in Port Vila, Greg attended a Coordinating Council Meeting.  The Presidents were all there to that meeting, so Greg was able to talk to them about putting together an audit committee so that when we come for the audit he can train the auditors, and hopefully they will be able to do the audits with a little supervision.   Here in Port Vila, the chairman of the audit committee has things moving.  We are really exited and very hopeful.   The people just aren't used to the structure of the church, so things aren't aren't always accomplished  "in a timely manner."  It's what we call "island time."  We've learned to have a lot of patience with the people.  They are so sweet and are doing the best they can.  We do see progress being made.

We attended a meeting today at the mission office.  When we arrived, we were given a large envelope.  Inside was a huge banner with signatures and well wishes for a Merry Christmas from our Garden Park Ward.  We also recieved a card signed by our VA Branch family along with cards from nieces.  I was in tears as I read each message.  Thank you so much, it means alot to be  remembered.  

We will be leaving on Friday, headed for the island of Tanna.  We've already been to these places once.  It will be fun to go again.  We're taking suckers and balls for the little kids that we see hanging around.  They have so little going for them.  Many of the children don't even go to school.  You might remember the picture of me showing the little boys how to play the computer game called Angry Birds.  I hope I see them again, they had alot of fun.  We hope the New Year finds you all well and happy.  I will report back upon our return from Tanna.  We won't have access to the internet.  Know that we love and miss you all very much.   As I was finishing this letter, we had a knock at the door.   It was the Sackley's coming to say their final good bye.  She gave me a couple of her exercise shirts and guaranteed they would make me a pro player!!! har hardy har!   

We'll say good bye for now.  We love and miss you all very much.  LOVE, Greg and Ann

Peter and the Pineapple

We took Peter and his mother home from church. His mother gave us two pineapple for payment.  So sweet!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!   It's hard to believe it's the year 2018.   Where does the time go?  It was a year ago, at Christmas time that Greg and I submitted our mission paperwork to Bishop Taylor.  Today, 2 January, we've been on our mission, eight months.  For those of you that have thought about going on a mission, but can't imagine being away from home and family for such a long time, please think again.  The time just zooooms by.  Though we aren't constantly busy with auditing, we pitch in to help where we can.   I've talked about some of those things in prior letters.  This experience will always be very dear to our hearts.  We will never forget our sweet brothers and sisters in this part of the world. 

This year, Port Vila hosted the Pacific Mini Games.  So, from about 4-15 December, there was some excitement for the people.  Many islands and countries in the Pacific sent teams here to compete against each other in various events.  There was volleyball, criket, weight lifting competitions, table tennis and tons more events.  The traffic was terrible around here, but it was a success and everyone had a good time.  After the games were over, many of the shops closed for a couple of weeks. The schools were closed for the whole month, because they used the schools to house the athletes for the games.  The month of December here in the islands is normally pretty QUIET!  The reason being, many of the people travel back to their native island for the holidays.  There are docks here in Port Vila where container ships come to bring in supplies, as well as smaller transport boats that take people to and from the other islands.    That's how they get around.  Very few can afford to fly.  We travel to a few of those islands for the audits.  We will be heading for Tanna, 19-22 January.  We're excited to start traveling again.

A few weeks ago, when we took the breakfasts into the new arriving missionaries, we had a sweet experience happen.  The new missionaries were sitting all over the office filling out paperwork and getting processed in.  All of the sudden, one of the sister missionaries came running across the office saying, "sister, sister," heading right for me.  As soon as she got closer, I recognized her.  When we were in the MTC, our trainer had us role play  with a cute Tongan girl.  We were told that she was an inactive member.  We were to use the missionary skills that we had been studying in the Preach My Gospel Handbook to teach her.  We met with her three times.  We talked with her about her problems and the importance of repentance... When we were finished with our visits, we hugged each other, and of course I got very tearful because  I was worried about her.  Greg and I wondered if she really was inactive.  I'm sure you've already figured out that this was that young girl!!!!  We threw our arms around each other an sobbed!!  She admitted to me that she was not inactive, but that we had a part in her finally deciding to go on a mission.  She said she remembered that we were serving here and was excited to come.  She is now serving in New Caledonia, but the missionaries do get transfered from time to time.  I'm sure we'll be seeing her again. It's so nice to have sweet experiences like this.  It makes you feel so good.   I'll attach a picture of her.  I need to write her name down.  Tongan names have toooo many vowels!

Elder and Sister Sackley, the Humanitarian couple, will be leaving to go home to Arizona in a few weeks.  We will really miss them.  We have gone to many fun snorkeling places, and beautiful beaches.  They are also amazing pickleball players and taught us all how to play.  They are ready to play when they get home.  Let's just say that they will be in the well advanced category of players.  THEY ARE GOOD! 

Last week we all participated with the young missionaries in a humanitarian project.  We put together 1,000 hygiene kits.  A few days before we arrived in Port Vila (May), a cyclone hit the island.  They gave away many of the prepared kits, so we replenished the supply.  You never know what will happen out here in the middle of the ocean!!!  I try not to think about it too much.   Every once in a while you feel a little earth quake so you get reminded.  The temperature is starting to rise, and  it's getting hot and muggy.  As soon as the rains hit, it will be quite uncomfortable.  I'm sure we'll manage just fine.  We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.  We love you all so much and think of you often.   

Love, Greg and Ann