Leadership Meeting

Who would have thought?

This last week we were asked to facilitate three sessions in a Leadership Council.   The Leadership Council is made up of about 20 managers  from the Service Center, Facility Management group, and Principals from the Church Schools.  (Pesega High School and Middle School, Viola, & Saniatu)  We were tasked to lead discussions on Retirement, People Development, and Goals for rest of this year. It was held at the Sheraton, a beautiful hotel down town (a little switch from our vocational classes).

Bud ready to make a presentation

Karen keeping discussion groups going 

Karen making a presentation

A visit from our newly married MTC teacher, Sister Langkilde

We had a sweet teacher in the MTC while we were in New Zealand.  She got married and we took her and her new husband out to dinner one night to get caught up and to view their wedding pictures.  

Senior Outing at the waterfall

Hanging out with the group

Karen - back massage

Bud under the waterfall 

Cooking Contest

Cooking Contest at National University of Samoa (NUS)

A cooking contest was held at NUS for high school teams.  The purpose of the contest was diabetes awareness.  Each team had to make a healthy meal, with recipe and costs.  

Team of speakers and organizers 

Elder Fata , our Area Authority 

Teams competing 

Check out the great apron the teams have!  Karen and Sister Vellinga helped make them. 

Judging the cooking competition 

One of the best parts was sampling the completed dishes.  

Awarding the prizes 

Elder and Sister Vellinga are Humanitarian Missionaries . 

Savaii

Savaii

Samoa is made up of two islands, Upolu (where we live) and Savaii (the larger of the two island, which is not as populated.)    During the term break we visited our friends the Rees on the island of Savaii.

Ferry ride to Savaii

You can take the regular ferry that holds about 25 cars and over 100 people 

Ferry terminal in Upolu

Smaller ferry available

Viola High School on Savaii

Viola High School has approximately 500 students.  It has a dormitory (unlike Pesega) for students that live too far to take the bus.  This includes students from various islands in addition to Samoa.  

Viola High School 

Most homes catch the water from the rain gutters and feed a small holding tank.  

Gathering area for the school  

Waterfall in Savaii 

Blow Holes 

A lot of the area is lava rock.  At the Blow Holes the water shoots through the lava rock and with a geyser like spray.  The locals offer to throw a coconut into the blow hole and shoot it out with the spray.

One of the blow holes before water shooting out. 

Lady ready to throw coconut into blow hole

Lover's Leap 

Over look on Lover's Leap with the legend of an old lady and daughter that jump into the water and turn into a shark and turtle.  We actually saw a turtle swimming on the day we were there so I guess the legend must be  true. 

Beach resort where we stayed the night

Tree deck on a banyan tree

Karen by the deck near the restaurant 

Beach houses - luckily we got an enclosed room with fan.  (No A/C)

We made a friend with a lady from Atlanta Georgia that immigrated from Russia.
First time playing UNO

Missionary group at dinner.  (Rees and Deffense) 

Canopy Walk

Canopy walk 

Looking out over the top of the trees

Stairs going up to the canopy walk 

 Drive around the back side of the island

There are some beautiful beaches around the island.  You see a lot more thatched roofs on houses in Savaii.

You see a lot more thatched rooms in Savaii.  

Peapea Cave

There was a volcano eruption in 1910.  With that there is a few lava tubes and caves.  There was a cave that went back about 200 yards or more.  Inside the Peapea birds built nests, laid eggs, and had baby Peapea birds.  It is interesting that where the nests are it is pitch black.  We used flash lights to explore back into the caves. 

Peapea bird next top right area

Coming out of the cave

 

Swimming with the turtles

They have an area with turtles you can either feed or get in the water and swim with them.  There are probably 8 turtles in all.  

Bud gets right in with the turtles.  They like papaya.  

Out to dinner at a beach resort 

We went out to dinner at a nice beach resort.  After dinner they had a traditional Samoan dance show including one of the best fire dances we have seen yet.  

Dinner show 

The ferry ride back home to Upolu 

Ferry ride back 

Ferry terminal in Savaii

Arriving in Upolu on way back home