Four Classes Down - Six to go . . .

We finished teaching the BYU-H  Classroom Management Class this week.  We had 10 students who passed the class.  It was fun to see them use things they learned in the class in their classrooms with success.  This coming week we are starting the BYU-H Computer and Technology Assisted Instruction course along with a repeat of the SIOP course.  We also have a couple of teachers starting their student teaching.  We have never been busier with classes up to this point but it sure makes time go fast and we sleep pretty well at night.

Speaking of sleeping well, two weeks ago, Elder Lloyd spent several sleepless nights with fairly severe symptoms of a gall bladder attack.  Being worried about not having the proper medical treatment here for a blocked gallbladder, we cut back on the oil in our diets and had a priesthood blessing.  We scheduled an ultrasound scan the next day (for $40 tala - about $16 dollars US) and there was no sign of gallstones.  The symptoms have disappeared and fried foods are back on the menu.  We fell blessed to not have to worry about flying home for surgery.

Catholic Church in Apia

Child grave of early LDS Missionaries

This Saturday, we did a cultural tour and visited the large Catholic Church on the waterfront.  The interior was simple and beautiful.  It reflected the Samoan art in the design.  We were impressed that it was not over-the-top with gold or garish decoration.

Next, we visited the cemetery to see the graves of some of the early missionaries from the Church around the turn of the century.  There were a few adults but many children.  Apparently, the early missionaries brought their wives and families.  With no air conditioning, antibiotics, and medicine just living here was lethal.  It was a testament of the dedication and faith of those early saints who helped establish the Church here.  Little did they know that 120 years later, over 40% of the population of Samoa would be members of the Church.  In fact, Samoa was the first nation on earth to be entirely covered by stake boundaries (no districts from the mission).

Coastal Walk Beach view on the south side of the island

Friday, we took the day off and spent it on the south side of the island and explored a little bit.  We drove down to the coastal walk to see the spectacular waves crashing into the lava flow that was deposited there 3000 years ago.  It was magnificent!