Tanna audit

Wednesday, 25 July, we left for the airport, headed  for the island of Tanna to finish our last audit there.  Our flight was scheduled to leave at 10:30 a.m., but when we got there and looked at the board to see if it was going to be on time, we found it was canceled instead.  Normally, we would have been surprised,  but we've been on island time long enough not to be!   Apparently, one of the few planes that Air Vanuatu has was out of commission, so flights were hit or miss.  We got a text informing us about an hour after our flight was suppose to leave.  There is major road construction on the road to the airport, so we decided to stay and wait for the next flight which was at 3:30.  We figured by the time we finally got through the road construction, it would be time to  come back out.  We just make sure we have things to read, cause ya never know.  President Morgan, district president for Tanna, was suppose to meet us at the airport and take us directly to an audit.   We were planning on two audits being done that afternoon.  We decided that we would be getting in too late, so we called and made arrangements to start the audits the next morning.  We ended up adding a day to be able to finish them all.  

The next morning we were picked up and taken to the white sands branch, which is located at the base of the Yaser volcano.  Since this was our last time to visit Tanna, we were going to the volcano.  I'll tell about that later.   On our way there, we picked up Adam Rosflinder.   Adam was living on the island of Santo a year ago when we first met him, he was helping to do audits then.   He was also the second counselor in the district presidency.  We heard through the grapevine that he was being given all kinds of extra duties that was stressing him out, so he and his wife moved to Tanna where she is from.  People pick up and move to different islands all the time.  He is a dear man that we just love.  When we were in Tanna 6 months ago, we told president Morgan that he had moved to Tanna and that we was a good auditor.  Well, the next morning we picked Adam up on the way to the audit at White Sands,  he is now an auditor there in Tanna.  It was so good to see him again.  I got to know his wife, Mary, while in Santo, and had a chance to see her and their new little baby, Emmy. It takes about 2 hours to get to the White Sands branch.  Three audits were suppose to have been done that day, but the auntie of the branch president from Port Resolution died that morning.  When someone dies in a village, everything stops until after the funeral, so the proper respect can be paid.  White Sands and Saet Siwi branches were audited that day.  Greg sat with Adam while Adam performed the audits.  He did a little bit of training with him, but for the most part he does just fine.   While there, I got a chance to see more of the young elders.  They were in their P day clothes planning to do a service project for someone, but with the auntie passing away, they weren't able to do it.  It was so fun to visit with them, they are hearty young men to live in the places they do out there in the bush.  I pretty much end up being a little dehydrated at the end of a long day, just sipping water if I'm thirsty.  I DO NOT want to use someone's bush toilet.  It's basically a hole in the ground, with leaves to use as toilet paper!  Just in case though, I carry my OWN toilet paper. While we were at the church, president Kalanu's wife and daughter brought lunch to us.  She brought two huge dutch ovens, one with white rice and one with boiled veggies and pieces of chicken.   I'm sure I've mentioned that when they serve it up, each plate has at least 2 cups of rice and a little side of veggies and meat.  It's almost like a stir fry, the sauce was made with coconut milk, and fresh lemon, it was really good.  That is what most of their meals are, a little bit of beef or chicken, veggies and lots of white rice.  

Friday morning, we were again picked up by president Morgan, and taken to a  town called Lenekel with means "black man's town."  They don't call it that any more. There is a story behind it though, I'll tell about it later.  We dropped Greg and Adam off at the building where the branch meets and where the audits were going to be performed. President Morgan took me over to the market so that I could look for souveniers.  His wife was there too, so I got to visit with her one last time, and meet their two little boys, Raymond and Jason, they are adorable.  They wanted to buy me a gift, and bought me a woven bag that had TANNA woven into it.  They are so sweet, and will miss them so much.  The market was packed with people that day, and I stuck out like a sore thumb, with my lily white skin!  

The Lenekel branch meets in a digicel building, which is rented by the church.  Digicel is one of the phone services on the islands.  It is a dark, old, tiny, rickety two story building which the church subleases the second floor.  You have to climb really steep steps to get up there.   I think they said there is about 30 people in their branch.  I can't imagine how they all fit in there, and how they could hold classes.  I forgot to ask them about that.    Six audits were done that day.  I met Adams wife while I was there, and we just sat outside and visited and played with Emmy.  We were there about 5 hours.  

On Saturday morning, president Morgan, Adam, and the district clerk, Sano, came to our hotel to do the last audit which was the district audit.  Later that day, we got to go to the Yaser Volcano!  People come from all over the Pacific and around the world to see this volcano.  We don't know of any other place in the world that you could stand and look into a volcano do you?   President Morgan has a tourist business which includes taking people to the volcano and a black magic show. He arranged to have us picked up and taken to the volcano that night.  IT WAS AWESOME! His nephew, and his friend, picked us up, along with one other person, and away we went.   The branch president of the White Sands branch is the manager at the volcano, so he let us go for free.  We just paid for the fuel to get up there (4,000 vatu/$40.00), the tickets for the volcano are $90.00 each, what a deal.  The two young men that drove us down, also took us up to the volcano.  Everyone else has to pile in the back of pickup trucks.  We really got the royal treatment.  

The area at the base of the volcano, and for miles around, is gray ash.  It looks like what you would expect the surface of the moon to look like.  When we finally got to the top, you still have to hike up to the mouth of the volcano which is maybe a 1/4 of a mile.  You can hear it churning, booming, and carrying on the whole time you're there.  You arrive at the base about 45 minutes before dark, so that you can see to finish hiking up.  What an amazing thing to behold.    When you get to the mouth where you stand to look in, there is a gradual slope of about 1/4 of a mile before it drops off into the actual cauldron of lava.  It's safe to do, however last month they said that there was an explosion that threw lava up and hit a woman's arm.  That was unfortunate, but it doesn't happen all the time.  Sometimes things just happen.   It put on a great show for us too though.  It churned and blew up several times.  What a sight to behold in the dark.  You just have to be there for the full effect.  

We left Tanna, Sunday morning, for the last time. We will miss the amazing adventures and experiences we've had in this part of the world.  The people are amazing as they deal with their difficult circumstances.  We will never ever forget them.

The plane ride home was starting to look ify once again, but we finally got back to Port Vila.  We wish be could have put you all in our back pocket to experience the things we have.  I guess you'll just have to read about them!

Volcano in Tanna

It was so amazing to be there.  We were only five  feet from the edge.  It's for sure you would never be allowed to get that close in the US.  

Tanna Sunset

Solomon Island Audit

We're back from the Solomon Islands, and a bit sad about that.  It was our last trip there for the audits.  We've been there three times now, and met many wonderful friends, so it was hard to say good bye to them.  When we arrived, two young elders picked us up at the airport.  One of them is from Canada and the other from Orem, Utah.  We've met alot of missionaries in the mission from Utah.  Soon, Vanuatu might not be such a foreign place to people in Utah. We went straight to the mission home where Elder and Sister Fuimaono were holding the training for the district and branch presidents and their clerks.  We attended their training 5 months ago.  It's nice because two of the presidents and their clerks come in from the island of Malita, so we piggy back the audits on to their training.  However, the boat they were expecting to take them from Malita to Solomon didn't show, so they didn't make it over.  It's rough travel around here!  They're suppose to come in at the end of the month, so Elder Fuimaono said he would do the two audits and then report the findings to us.  The Fuimaono's are going home in August, and don't have anyone replacing them.  He wants to go home, but she wants to stay.  They will be going  home to Tonga.  They have two childen who live in Utah, so we might get to see them again some time.  The mission home is in a compound for safety reasons, so they have a gate guard there to let people in and out of the property. There's alot of crime on the island,  so young sister missionaries don't serve there for that reason.  There is a separate little house in the compound for  another senior missionary couple to live in.  You might remember me telling you the first time we went up there, elder and sister Sanders helped us get around.  They left the mission last November and have yet to be replaced.  Two young elders live in their place for now.  The missionaries let us use their truck while we were there, that way no one had to take us back and forth to our hotel.  It worked out nicely.

When we arrived, sister Fuimano and Gloria, one of my cute friends were fixing lunch for the presidents.  We fixed tuna and spam sandwiches with lettace, tomato and cucumber, along with sliced watermelon.  Since Solomon is so close to the equator they have watermelon and pineapple among other lushious fruits and veggies all year long.  It was humid while we were there, so we were hot and sweaty once again! Greg and I were chowing down on the watermelon because in Port Vila you pay $20-30 (American dollars) for one.  

Our former area auditor from New Zealand, Glen Reid, was in from Aukland to do some training with the branch clerks while we were there.  Glen was our trainer when we were in the MTC.  We were reminiscing about the training and how he would say to us, "it's going to be different, you'll just have to experience it for yourselves."  Indeed, it is different in a third world country, and we've experienced it for ourselves! It was nice to be able to say good bye to him.  He is such a wonderful person. 

Saturday was the last day of their training.  The wifes of the presidents were invited to attend.  They were to pay tribute to their husbands, and let them know that they will support them in their callings as branch president.  Each couple stood up as the tribute was read.  The Fuimaono's have worked hard to teach them about being considerate and thoughful.  There is a chief mentality in the islands, and when a couple gets married, the wife is "owned" by her husband, who pays a high bride price for her.  They can treat them and the children however they want to.   There is definately a problem with abuse that's for sure.   They aren't normally affectionate with each other, so in the training they encouraged them to try to be more loving with each other and their family members.   I noticed a difference since the last training we were to.  There were tears shed during those sweet tributes, I think it's making a difference. 

The young missionaries are always stopping by the mission home for some reason or another, so it was fun to see them while we were there.   Many of us have been around a while, and it was nice how they've grown spiritually.  Some of my favorites have gone home before I had the chance to say good bye :(  What a difference a mission makes!!

It was so fun to ago to church on Sunday, that's where I met my dear friends from our past visits.  Greg was doing audits all day there at the district center, so he had the chance to see the clerks and presidents that he's grown to know and love too.  There was a self reliance fireside held that evening at 4:00, so the people just stayed and waited instead of going home and coming back later.  It's too hard to get around and too expensive.  Some have to walk long distances, or spend $3.00 one way on bus fare.  The sisters are so social and really love and care for each other.  The Relief Society president came to me and asked me how she did in RS that day,  I told her she did a great job!  She told me that she read the handbook and wanted to make sure she was doing things the way they should be done.  I talked with her for at least an hour, what a sweetheart.   Others would come and want to talk to me and  ask questions about American and home.  I've mentioned from past trips to Solomon that they speak Pigin English which is "broken English," that's not too hard to understand.  They also use their tribal languages, combined with English, now that's harder to understand!  The people seem to be a little more advanced there than in Vanuatu.  There are definately more jobs there for the people. The district presidents wife, who I feel like I've known my whole life, asked me if I wanted to share her daughter and take her home with us to go to school.  They have a son who is going to school at BYU Hawaii that met a girl from Las Vegas.  They were married last December in the Las Vegas Temple.  They actually flew to America for the wedding.    

The fireside that night was about P13 school funds, and who qualifies for them.  They are private funds donated for LDS students.  I don't really know the particulars, but  Renee, a gal that works for the church in New Zealand came over to explain the program.  They've been using it for a while, but I guess there are problems with it there in the islands, so she was working things out.  They are suppose to pay a certain amount of the fees, but sometimes that can't pay them.  After the fireside was over, I had to say good bye for good.    I visited with many and took pictures to remember them by.  I will miss them sooo much.  

On Monday, Greg and I drove around to see the island a little more.  It's a scary place, so we didn't go too far into the jungle areas.  I've mentioned in previous posts about betel nut, which is a stimulant, and addicting like tobacco plus more adverse effects on the body.  I think they like it for the high it gives them.  They are very relaxed and seem to be in "la la land."  Many people both young and old use it.  What's gross about betel nut is that when they chew it, it causes their mouths to look bloody, but then they spit it out all over the place. ICK!!   There are stands, one right next to each other selling the nut.  You even see little kids using it.  So sad :(  When we finished seeing the sights, we took the truck back to the misson home to say good bye.  A few of my sister friends were there so I got to see them one last time.  I decided to ask them about black magic to see if they believe in it, and yes they do.  The church is trying to get the people to shed those beliefs.  They told me that curses and black magic are real to the people.  I asked them if they believed that satan is really the instigator behind it all.  They understand it for the most part, but like everything else, it will take time.  One of the church members that was there said he suffered from gout, and believed it was some sort of curse, but as soon as he joined the church and started praying and having faith, he hardly suffers at all.  We've been in some interesting discussions with these sweet people who are doing their best in  tough situations.  They also have bride price in their islands.  Remember, that's where the grooms family has to pay the brides family for their daughter.  In their culture they use what is called shell money. 

Shell money is a traditional form of currency  that  was used in the Solomon Islands before bank notes were introduced.  Some provinces still use shell money today, primarily for ceremonies, settling disputes, and bridal and land payments.  It is beautifully crafted from seashells, often consisting of strings of differently colored shell-beads.  It's quite the process to make these beads.   These shells are made into long strands of shell beads which are used to "purchase" a bride.  Look it up on the internet for more info and pictures,  it's quite interesting. 

They also told me about how dolphin teeth are also used as currency, bride price and jewelry.  They are also sold for cash.  They told me what the process was for getting the teeth.  I won't repeat what was told to me because it's too disturbing.  I can't stand to think about it.  I looked it up on the internet to see it they were telling me a fib or not, they weren't.  On our plane ride over to Solomon, I watched the movie, Dolphin Tale.  It bothered me even more.  Organizations are trying to put a stop to this practice, I sure hope it can be done.  Even though I didn't like what I heard, I still love the people " tumas." 

We left Solomon for the last time, and will miss our friends.  We will forever be grateful for all that we have been blessed with in American.   We're off to the island of Tanna on Wednesday.  If all goes well, we will be going to see the active volcano there.  They actually let you walk up to the mouth and look in!  We'll close of now, but we'll be back in touch when we get back from Tanna.  We appreciate all of your love and support.  Love, Greg and Ann 

New Mission Couple

Last Sunday, 10 July, we met the new office couple that replaces the Davidson's.  We were able to attend our meetings and get to the airport in time to meet Elder and Sister Gibbs.  President and sister Duquette were also there, along with the Lindemans, sister Tucker and us.  They flew in from the Auckland, New Zealand, MTC, the same one we attended.  I think I mentioned to you that they are from American Somoa.  They are a very nice couple that   will be great.   We had to get back to our apartment and get things going for a welcome luncheon that all of us were giving for the Duquette's and the Gibb's.  I think I mentioned that we were having a potato bar.   I baked the potatoes and made chili, but that wasn't all we added to our tatters, there was chicken alfredo sauce, sour cream, green onions, cheese, and tomatoes.  We also had a green salad, and for dessert, banana splits!  It was DELISH!  We had thirteen people in our little apartment that day!  We borrowed two long tables from the mission office so that we would all be comfy, normally we just hold the plates in our laps.   I think the Duquette's and the Gibb's feel very welcome.   I don't have a picture of the Gibb's, but I'll attach a picture of the Duquette's.  By the way, I started whacking at my hair, that's why it looks so beautiful in the picture.  ha ha!

In sacrament meeting, bishop Mahit spoke to the members for about fifteen minutes about the nasty habit of kava.  Kava is a drink made from a root, which when they drink it, they become high and hallucinate.  It is against the word of wisdom, but some are having a hard time with that.  The bishop did not mince words, he was very direct in speaking to them.  It's has been used socially and ceremonially for hundreds of years in the south pacific, so it will take time.

Monday evening we held family home evening at the Roundy's.  President and sister Duquette came once again.  We are glad that they want to join us for our activities, I think the Granger's wanted the separation, just a different style of leadership.  They said they wanted to have contact with adults too, because they will have plenty of contact with the young missionaries. 

I'm back to making hot pads for the missionaries.  You can't buy them here, not even in the Chinese shops.   I just make them out of old towels and fabric.  I sandwich towel inbetween two pieces of fabric and sew them up.  Sister Tucker then gives them out to the missionaries. 

We'll be leaving Friday the 13th for Honiara, in the Solomon Islands, for our last round of audits.   It's nice to be on the road again and do what we've come here specifically to do.  We'll be saying good bye to the dear friends we've met as we've travelled the islands.  This is not an easy place to get to, so I doubt we'll be back.  We wish them all the best in a beautiful, but tough place to be.  We will ALWAYS remember them in our prayer, they will need it. 

We're still dealing with bug bites.  Our apartment manager keeps saying he'll do something, but you know how that goes sometimes.  I just keep soaking rags with permitheran and stuffing them down behind the couch cushions, and windexing the part we sit on.  We only get a bite once in a while, so we can do that for a few months I suppose.  I'll close for now.  We'll be in Solomon until next Tuesday, so I'll email again when we get back in town.  We love you all!  Love, Greg and Ann

New mission president

Last Friday was the last office meeting with the Grangers.  They did an amazing job in the mission, because there are alot of different issues and challenges here.  They had mixed emotions about leaving, but they were anxious to see their family too.   I made heart shaped sugar cookies for a special treat as a little token of our love for them.  Of course the office elders love sweets, so its fun to bring them in.   We told the Grangers good bye that day.  They weren't leaving untiil Monday, but we knew they would be busy with their replacement coming in.  

Elton Beach

Eton Beach

Relief Society Presidency

The new mission president and his wife, President and sister Duquette, arrived Saturday afternoon.  The Grangers met them at the airport and took them around to get acquainted with the area. Sister Granger called me Thursday and asked if I would be willing to make two small meals for the Duquettes.  I enjoy doing things like that so I was happy to do it.  For their arrival on Saturday evening, I made a grilled chicken salad with pear,walnuts and blue cheese, along with fresh pineapple and papaya, and a baguette.  For Sunday, I made grilled chicken with penne pasta and roasted tomatos in alfredo sauce, and a green salad.  I saved a half dozen sugar cookies for them also.  Greg and I brought the food to the mission home and had it in their fridge before they got there. 

That same Saturday morning we all went to Eton beach for a weiner roast.  We all pitched in an brought different things to go with the lunch.  When we got there, the wind was just howling.  Luckily they had these little areas that had a barrier around the fire pits so that we could still roast hot dogs.  So, though the wind was on the verge of blowing us all over, we made the best of it.  Sister Davidson sent a package in the mail to us that had all the fixings for S'mores!  They were sooooo good! We all had a good time.

On Sunday, I took a break from primary and went to Relief Society.  Even though I could bearly understand what they were saying, I could still feel the spirit that was there.  The teacher likes to break into small groups to discuss a certain part of the lesson, then after what seems like an hour, bring everyone back together to discuss.  Most of the sisters don't understand very little English, but they like to know what I have to say about it.  Maybe they just like to hear me speak English, just like I like to hear them speak Bislama.  All I know is that I love them to pieces!  

Monday morning as we played pickleball in the church parking lot, a plane flew overhead, it was the Grangers headed home to Adelaide, Australia. I don't know that we will ever see them again, but we will always remember what good people they are.  We will miss them.  That afternoon we went into the mission office to make a phone call, and had a chance to meet  the Duquette's.  They were both originally from Quebec, Canada.   He worked for Michelin in Canada, them moved to work for them in No. Carolina because they have family in the states.  They eventually moved to Orem, Utah, and built an apartment in the basement of their daughters home.  They plan to serve multiple missions and didn't want to worry about a house.  We invited them to family home evening that night.  If they can, I think they will be joining us in our activities.  They are awesome!  This coming Sunday, we will all be meeting the new office couple, the Gibbs.  They are from Somoa.  Once we get them settled in their apartment, we'll all have dinner at our apartment.  We're having a potato bar with all the fixings!  

Next Friday, we will be going to Guadal Canal in the Solomon Islands for our last audit there.  The Fuimaono's will be leaving the mission in August, so we're glad we will be able to say good bye to them.   Elder "F" is having a training session with the branch presidents and clerks, just as he did six months ago, so we'll go to perform the audits while they're in from the other island.  We have been blessed to met so many wonderful people who have enriched our lives.  Serving a mission does that!   Happy Fourth of July every one!   Love, Greg and Ann