Christmas in Samoa

Christmas has been a blast here in Samoa!

Christmas presents for the grand-kids

Since stenciling is big here is Samoa, we gave our girls a hand stenciled hand bag from a member we know here.  The boys got a hand stenciled tie.  We had a couple we met at the Market hand stencil us some matching fabric for Aloha shirts for the grand-sons and Puletasi (dresses) for the grand-daughters.  

Buying fabric and grand-kids wearing the clothes. 

Decorating for Christmas - Samoa style 

Sheraton Gingerbread House

Craig Construction - house decorated to the max

The Craigs own a large construction firm here is Samoa.  They decided to 'Light the World' by decorating their house.  They have their employees sing every night.  

Construction crew singing 

Christmas Entertainment in Samoa

We had a variety of opportunities for entertainment here is Samoa. 

Mission Home

Each night the Mission Home has the 'Lighting of the Christmas Trees' and singing by the missionaries and ward choirs.  Their investigators and other non-members are invited.

Government Building 

The Samoa Government has sponsored the '8 Days of Christmas'.  For the eight days before Christmas they have local groups singing in front of the Government Building.  One night our local missionaries sang.  Another night our Stake Choir performed.  

Stake Youth Choir

Lots of choir numbers with soloists and even a couple ukulele numbers.  

School Party

Before school ended for the summer we had a school party with the teachers performing.

Karen even decorated our little apartment for Christmas 

Christmas Nativity, lights on house, our Advent Calendar on the curtains and our little Christmas tree with flashing lights.  

End of school

School is out for summer!

As the students, teachers, and senior missionaries prepare for the end of summer, we remember many fun activities.

Senior Sneak

Each year the seniors get a day to 'sneak' away and have some fun at the beach.  I heard rumors that in the past they had the high school seniors do a service project and many of them would sneak away.  They decided to give in and make it a fun day.  

We met at the school, had some breakfast and bused the kids to the beach. 

Beach Party 

Beach Rugby, Volleyball, and playing in the water.  

Karen taught a group to play 'SPAZ' with Uno cards

Food - someone gave the group some taro and even a couple small pigs 

End of school 'Prize Giving' 

A big deal is at the end of school they give out awards.  They call this 'prize giving'.  The school gives out the awards and the parents give candy ulas (leis) .   It gets a little crazy with some of students getting quite a few prizes.

Giving out awards 

I was asked to help hand out some of the awards.  I was not expecting to do this and dressed in my grubby clothes because I was helping with grinding off and painting the benches the senior were giving to the school.  I would normally wear my white shirt and tie.  

Senior Gift 

Each year the senior class give the school a gift.  This year they decided to replace some old benches with some new metal ones.  The students help weld the benches built in the welding-auto shop.  One bench Brother Rasch had the inscription on.  

Final product.  Bud and Ameet sitting on it during graduation. 

Building the bench 

Brother Rasch was the master mind.  The other students and teachers helped with the welding and painting.  

Teachers and Bud help grind and paint 

Students help weld

Getting Reading for graduation 

The Technology and Seminary teachers were in charge of helping for graduation.  A lot of work went into getting things ready.  

Karen and Sister Passi stenciling fabric for decorations. 

Graduation

Teacher, students march into the gym for graduation.  We had to march in with the teachers.  

 During the program, the students did a little dance. 

After graduation

 Lunch for teachers after graduation.  

Prom 

The Senior Prom is the night of graduation rather than on a separate evening .  This is probably the only time I have seen the students in regular shoes.  They get dressed up for a big dance.  Some even have a custom Tux made for the occasion.  Check out the fancy tux on the student on the left.  

Even the Senior Missionaries get into the fun.  

Namua Island and flying foxes

Namua Island 

Namua Island is a small island on the southwest corner of Upolu.  There is one resort with no electricity.  Their water source is from storage tanks.  

Getting to Namua Island

The only way over to the island is by small boat.

Beach Fales

The accommodations are a beach fale right by the water.  The tarp can be raised to let the ocean breezes in or lowered to keep the rain out.  

Luckily they come equipped with mosquito nets.

Hike to the top of the mountain

A group of Senior Missionaries hiked to the top of the mountain.  We enjoyed beautiful vistas on the mountain top

.  

 Flying Foxes - (bats) 

On the top of the mountain we saw large bats they call Flying Foxes.  They are nearly 1.5 feet tall with over 3 foot wing spans.  

During the day, they hang from tree branches. 

 We threw a few sticks and rock out to stir them up.  

Video of Flying Foxes 

At dusk, hundreds of Flying Foxes swarm the sky, as they go to the main island for food

Lunch with a school group from New Zealand 

A group of middle school students came to Samoa to donate sports supplies to some of the schools as a humanitarian project.  The resort fixed us a Umu style lunch  (cooking on hot rocks with food wrapped in banana leaves)    The students performed some traditional Maori dances from New Zealand . 

Crab Races

In additional to snorkeling, shell hunting, eating and reading, the Senior Missionaries picked their favorite Hermit Crabs and had crab races to see which ones could cross the circle in the sand first. .    

Major Relaxing 

Bud finally got to try out his hammock.  A great way to have a little get-away.