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