Things I wonder about????

 Talofa!

This last week was a little slower pace than normal.  I had more time to get caught up on computer documentation (which is my least favorite thing to do) and didn't have as many 'housecalls" to make. Elder Godderidge was around the office a little more than usual too so he helped me out with taking a couple of missionaries to Doctor's appointments when he wasn't busy doing repairs. The Savaiii misssionaries came over on the ferry on Wednesday morning and spent their p-day in Upolu, stayed overnight at hotels and went to the temple on Thursday morningbefore taking the ferry back to Savaii Thursday afternoon. It was good to be able to follow-up with a few of those missionaries who've had health issues to see how they were doing in person.  

On Friday afternoon, we went to the Southwest side of the island to fix a broken sink faucet and got caught in a big rainstorm on our way back home. We decided to take a different route home instead of going back the way we came.  We saw a couple of Elders waiting out the storm under a little shelter so we gave them a ride back to their MQ which they were grateful for because it was pouring rain.Then we ran into 3 men and a truck with a flat tire on the side of the road so we stopped and tried to help them with a jack and some tools and Elder G. got soaked!  They spoke no English and had custom tire rims that had a strange size of lug nut so none of our lug nut wrenches would fit even though they tried to get them to work for a good while in the pouring rain!  Someone else stopped to help so we went on our way.   We decided we were inspired to go home a different way so we could have opportunities to do some good deeds on our way. home. 

It rained all day Saturday.  We got drenched on our morning run and drove through some big puddles on our way to a baptism Saturday afternoon. I'm kinda glad we're in the Landcruiser during these big rain storms because it feels safer to drive around in.

Saturday (June 1st)  was Independence Day in Samoa, a holiday they have celebrated since gaining their indepedence from New Zealand in 1962. There were celebrations going on in town (in the rain) and Monday is the holiday from work and they have a parade and all the businesses are closed. 

So here's some things I wonder about:

 -Why do the Samoan people love being out playing in the rain? Especially the children and youth?

-Why do the Samoan police only seem to direct traffic at busy intersections and set up license check roadblocks, but they don't have a problem if you drive with 10 people in the back of a pickup truck and four inside the cab with no seatbelts! 

-How do Samoans keep track of their pigs and chickens when they wander all over the place with no fencing to keep them in? I don't really see any ear tags or brands or anything to identify them. But I know they wander all over the place. 

-Why are Samoan people so faithful to their God, Faith, and Family? 

-Why are Samoans so friendly and helpful? Especially to outsiders? 

-Why does everyone polynesian I've met or listened to have such a beautiful singing voice?

The next few weeks are going to be busy ones for the mission.  We get to go to Savaii on Thursday and Friday for the Island conference. MLC and Upolu Island conference will be the following week, and Out Take after that. The Purcell's will be wrapping up their Mission Leader Service towards the end of the month.  Then we'll be welcoming the New Mission Leaders, President and Sister Reid and their 4 children.  

I heard another good quote from Thomas S. Monson this last week.  "When you give of your money, you're giving much; when you give of your time, you're giving more; when you give of your self, you're giving all! " 

Pictures this week:10 people in back of truck, flat tire in the rain, people playing in the rain, President and Office Elders singing National Anthem on Independence Day walk, Baptism on Saturday (two boys on either side of me)