Sunset After The Rain

We had to add these shots today of the sunset after the rain.  We even got a rainbow at the sunset!

Sunset at the cathedral at the end of our street (under construction)

Catching Up

The last three weeks have been very busy.  We have been teaching 4 different classes and have just finished up 2 of them this past week (Technology & School Counseling).  That leaves us with two more to continue on after the break and one more to start at that time.  Keeping busy has its perks however, the time sure goes faster.  We are still happy and healthy and very excited preparing for Levi, Rebecca, Isaac, Eliza, Noah, & Henry to come.  We will spend a very fun week with them. It will be good to hold some of our dear ones close at least for a week. We are a little worried however because we have been getting a lot of rain the last 24 hours and really hope it clears up when they come.

Raining (from our front step)

Last Friday, the school had a track competition and picked their team of champions to train for the national college track meet in August.  The day was hot and we held up until lunchtime watching.  The competitors and teachers "toughed it out" however and ran on into the afternoon.

Most competitors were barefoot.

We are so excited that our little transplanted papaya tree is starting to bear fruit.  We may just consider ourselves "island people" not that we have successfully grown a pineapple and a papaya in our yard.  If we could only get the tomatoes to set fruit, we would feel really successful.

Our little papaya tree!

It is hard to believe that we have been gone for 9 months already.  In many ways it seems like just yesterday when we received our call and assignment to Samoa but it has been over a year.  In just a couple of weeks, we will only have one year of service left.  We are starting to think about our plans after we are finished and considering a move to live closer to some of our family.  We shall see when we get to that point however.

God bless each of you and please know that we believe that we are doing some good here.  God planted us on this little island for a purpose and we can see that we have had something to offer.

Manuia le aso (have a blessed day)!

Fa'aSamoa (Culture Day) at the Middle School

One of the teacher's in our class is a beginning Samoan teacher. After listening to one of the ideas we suggested in our class, he decided to make his lessons a little more hand's-on.  He organized a formal Samoan feast complete with constructing 6 Umu pits, #2 pigs, coconut cream, fish, chickens, etc.  The students did all the work and did a marvelous job.  The teacher was pleased that now, everything was making sense to the student and they could apply what they had been learning.  Of course, we were invited and treated so well.  They really enjoyed the activity and we enjoyed rubbing shoulders with them!

Samoan Chicken for the umu!

Stocking the umu (bananas, #2, taro, & breadfruit)

Weaving a basket for the food.

Scraping the breadfruit (uli)

Preparing the fish

Sister Lloyd's Palagi friend at Pesega (her name is Kiona)

Our neighbor boy Jayden.  He is our favorite visitor!