Talofa!
It has been a rainey week here in Samoa this past week. We got drenched 3 out of 6 days on our morning walks. It actually feels kind of good because it cools you off a little bit. Today, Sunday, it rained almost all day. When we went out this afternoon to potluck dinner with the other Senior missionaries, there were lots more puddles and standing water in places where there usually isn't.
Last week was a little bit quieter than usual around the mission. President and Sister Purcell were gone all week to Tahiti for a mission leader conference. Elder Godderidge didn't have as many emergency housing issues and I did't have as many sick calls as I usually do. We fed the office missionaries on Monday night (I made Taco soup) and ate with them a couple of other nights since the Purcells were not there to feed them. On Tuesday evening, we were able to do a session at the temple. On Saturday night we bought pizza for AP's, STL's, and office missionaries and had a birthday party for Sister Scofield, the mission Secretary. She turned 65 so it was a milestone birthday for her! We sang to her and played UNO after dinner. We attended a baptism Saturday as well. The baptism total for the week was 26.
I went shopping by myself for the first time here in Samoa. I bought a Samoan print dress so now I'll fit in a little better when I wear it! I dropped Elder G. off at a local gym so he could spin for an hour (on an old-fashioned spin bike, haha) and drove downtown to a store that I was told had cute Samoan print dresses. It was my first clothing purchase in 7 weeks! That's probably a record for me! I had to go shopping to see if it would help me get over my homesickness.
We've been a little more homesick this week because of the events that we've missed out on back home. First, losing Archie (one of our horses) was hard and made us sad. Then we felt bad that we couldn't go to Bayli's graduation and award ceremonies. We also miss watching ballgames and other events that our family members are involved in. We realize that it's only a small sacrifice, but sometimes it still makes us a little sad. It would be alot worse if we didn't have WhatsApp to keep us posted and send us videos and pictures! We love to be able to chat with family members once or twice a week. That will keep us going. We know that the work we are doing here is really needed and that we are giving a little back to the Lord by the service we are rendering here. We know THIS IS THE LORD'S WORK! It's worth it when we see how much we are appreciated by those missionaries who we serve. They are always telling us "Thank-you", or "Love you Papa and Mams G". We are so thankful for all that our children are sacrificing for us so that we can be on this mission.Their service is what makes our service possible. They take good care of each other, love and support each other, and that makes it easier for us to be away. We are here because we have testimonies that this is the Lord's work. We know these missionaries have an important message to share and we want to help them share it! Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and Jesus Christ in a vision and restored His church to the earth. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, where we can learn of God's plan that provides a way for us to return to his presence and have the blessing of eternal life with him and our Eternal family!
I didn't take many pictures this week. I'll try to do better next iweek.
Sister Scofield's party, the baptism we attended
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