The Ball

A few weeks ago, the Young Single Adults had a "ball"
at the Holiday Inn. It was a huge deal. Kids came
from across the island and stayed here in patron housing.
They were suppose to wear formal wear, including
shoes...and no sulus. Somehow they all came up with
appropriate clothing. They looked great. The kids
that stayed here on the temple site were taken to the
"ball" on a flatbed truck....really. They didn't seem to
mind at all. Many of the elders lent their suits to brothers
attending the dance. I know some of the sisters, borrowed
dresses, some got them at 2nd hand stores (there are alot
here in Suva) and some had dresses made. (although that
was the exception.)


Lot's of dancing and lots of standing around, but
everyone said they had a wonderful time.



I only knew a few of those attending, but I just
wanted you to see how fancy they got!




So beautiful!





This sister lives in Sister Wood's ward. She lives
in a very small shack, made of metal siding, no
electricity and almost no furniture. But look
how beautiful she got for the "ball". It was so
fun to see!

Odds and Ends

I decided to post a few misc. pictures.
Sister Stevens and I in our Fijian dresses
at a dinner made an indian girl trying
to earn some extra money. She is a
friend of the Woods.



Lawn mower man.




This is a stake Relief Society program the day
before Mother's Day. They put on a musical
production of the parable of the Ten Virgins.
It was beautiful. I haven't met one Fijian that
can't sing....good.




These are sisters from my ward at the Stake
Relief Society program. It was also a dinner.
The production was so long, that I had to get
the car back to the Woods, so they wrapped a
plate up for me to take home! They would
never let you go away hungry!

Sunrise/Sunset

Thought you might like to see some pictures of
the BEAUTIFUL Suva sky. These are always
clouds, and when the sun goes up or goes down
it is breathtaking!


After a rain....

pretend I didn't put this picture in...again.....

Morning Walk #2

I walk past the temple grounds every morning.


One of the many beautiful views I see on my
walk.....



At the top of my street is a small Catholic church,
where many mornings they are having mass
as walk by. The doors and windows are always
open and it is so nice to hear the beautiful singing
as I walk by.




This is the guard station in front of the temple
grounds. They always have a cheery "hello
sister" as I walk by.





Isn't this a beautiful picture of the sunrise
with the silhouette of the little Catholic Church
in the foreground? The clouds here in Fiji
make for incredible sunrises and sunsets!

Morning Walk

This is Elder and Sister Stanford. They are
volunteer temple workers from Canada. They
will be here about another 6 months. They live
right up the street from me. Sister Stanford
has started walking with me 3 or 4 times a
week. She is a great walking partner.....has a great
sense of humor!


This photo is looking down my street toward
my flat. The school is on the right and my
driveway is directly across the street from
the school sign (you can almost see it!)



Looking up the street from my flat. I see this
every morning as I leave my driveway.




Just one of MANY beautiful flowering bushes
on my walk.





Another view from my flat

Fijian Dances

These are the pictures of the Fijian and Tongan war
dances. It was so fun. There was a lot of pounding
of chests and drum beating!


Isn't she beautiful!

More Vanuatu pictures

Here are the Vanuatu members singing I Am A
Child of God....in Bislama and then English.



During the program for Family Home Evening,
the brothers from Vanuatu did this crazy dance
where one man was dressed up like a woman.
It was histerical, but what was even funnier, was
watching the women watch their husbands!
They could hardly stand up they were laughing
so hard!



This is the temple president and his wife. President
and Sister Woolley, from Canada. They are about
as sweet as they come. This couple was sealed in
the temple a few days before. She served a mission
in Vanuatu (from Fiji) and met this man there. They
have been corresponding since her mission, and
when he got to Fiji, they got married. She is so
beautiful and happy and I didn't see him smile
once they whole time they were here....I hope she's happy!
When we had dinner, President Woolley made certain
the women went first. Normally, they would sit back
until the men had all they wanted. That is probably
why they took so much food! In Vanuatu they actually
sell wife beaters (not the t-shirts) in the stores. There
is alot of physical abuse. The church, of course, is
trying hard to change that!




This was the oldest member of the group. Her
last name is Provo. I thought she was in her
80's when I first met her. She is 10 years
younger than I am.....52. Hard life!





The adults loved the ice cream every bit as much
as the children. The sister in front is Ronald's mom.

Children from Vanuatu

This is Ronald (pronounced Rownald), the youngest
of the group...3 months. The moms are very
practical, they wrap their babies in towels!


Isn't she a cutie!



Their dresses are called mother hubbard dresses.
They are all the same pattern, just different sizes
and material... Even the adult women wear this
same dress.




Thumbs up for the dinner!





The ice cream was their favorite part! Some
came back to thirds and fourths. I was so
glad we had plenty!!

Temple Trip for the Members from Vanuatu

Two weeks ago a large group of members came
from Vanuatu to attend the temple and be sealed
to their families. The church helps pay for members
attending the temple for the first time. These are
very poor people financially and this will most
likely be the only time they will attend the temple
in their lifetimes. They were here for 11 days and
stayed here in patron housing. This is a family
home evening that we had with them. We provided
dinner and then there was a program. They all had
quite the appetites!


A few of the sisters had two plates and I thought they
had one for their husbands. No way, they sat down
and at both! I don't know if they hadn't been eating
much since they arrived, or if they really liked what
we had, but they could really eat! There is a very
nice kitchen here in patron housing, and you would
have really enjoyed how they used it. They kept nothing
in the refrigerator, but fill the oven with bread and eggs
and fruit and other food. Of course, they don't have
stoves or refrigerators where they live and I think they
just thought the oven was a handy little cupboard!



This is the branch president and his wife and son.




This little girl's name is Rota. She is adorable. I
got to get her dressed in a pretty little white
dress that the temple furnished when she was
sealed to her family.





Sister Wood holding the youngest Vanuatuan
to come...3 months old. He was adorable. Brother
Bun is a member of the temple presidency, his wife,
and their adorable granddaughter.

Sharing the Salu Salu

Everyone wanted a picture with the salu salu. This
is Elder and Sister Bohman (mission nurse from Morgan
Utah)


Elder and Sister Wood from SLC. They work
in the office with me and they are so kind to
share their car several times a week with me!



Elder and Sister Staggs. He is an auditor for the
mission, so they have traveled all over. They visit
all the islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.
What a fabulous experience they have had!!




Sister Stevens. They are all wonderful people.
I am learning so much from them and feel so blessed
to be working with such dedicated individuals!!

Elder Scott's Visit

Once again I forgot to load the ones I wanted at
the end of my post, first......So read this backwards,
ok? This is President and Sister Ostler with one of the
assistants (Elder Krebs who goes home today).



Elder Scott and moi and the sulu sulu! I look
like I have been out in the Fiji sun for days.
Not so, don't know why I look like a fell asleep
under a sunlamp!



Elder Scott waving good-bye to the Fijian members.
Elder Wakolo is with him. I believe he is the first
Fijian General Authority.




Members who work in the service center singing
the traditional farewell song to Elder Scott.





The mission office and service center and temple
workers with Elder Scott. I am just behind
Elder Scott.