Birthday UMU

 

Talofa!

This week Elder Godderidge had a birthday!  On Monday, at our office missionary meeting, he got a card and a Big Hunk candy bar!  On Wednesday, his birthday in Samoa, he got birthday wishes and calls from home and the Apia Zone invited him to an UMU (traditional Samoan meal) and roasted a pig!  They sang happy birthday to him and had cake and ice cream for dessert.  I took a picture of his meal--YUMMY!  I made him a carrot cake and Sister Schofield made him an apple pie. I got him a new wallet that I ordered and it actually came really fast!  He's not sure if he likes it. Really small and credit card friendly, but not so much cash friendly.  On Thursday, Elder Godderidge got some more birthday phone calls from home and we got to see Ridge on WhatsApp with his first birthday cake and candle while everyone sang Happy Birthday to him!  Sad we had to miss that in person, but we'll be there next year for his second birthday! On Friday, our zone missionaries sent him a birthday video.

This week Elder Falavia-Kindness and Elder Ika got their song posted on the mission facebook page.  My question was the inspiration for the song!!  A few weeks back he told us he was going to write a song for the mission facebook page and wanted to know what would be a good missionary question to be the theme of his lyrics.  The question I suggested was "How do I know if I gave enough?"  Elder G's question was "What ya gonna do when he comes for you?" HAHA!  

On Tuesday I gave flu shots to the Tutuilla Sisters who flew in for a temple trip.  I'm almost done with everyone, just one more Savaii zone. That will be a good thing to have over with. On Sunday, we got up early and went to church at Vaovia, one of the areas in our zone.  The Elders had a baptism after the church block so we attended that as well.  

It's been more rainy and humid this week.  Hardly feels like the holiday season is upon us.  November has gone by fast. I have a feeling the last stretch of our mission is going to fly by!  I'm starting to think I better make a list of the things we want to do before our mission comes to an end. One goal I have is to leave things better than they were when I got here as far as the "Mission Health Advisor" role goes.  I KNOW Elder Godderige is going to be leaving things in the Housing Department better than when he got here!  There's still lots we can do, so we won't slow down until we're across the finish line.  And like the song goes, "I know he'll be right here with me".  

I'm grateful for that knowledge and for the Savior's love and Example.  It will be easier than ever before to make Christ the focus of the season this Christmas.  I'm looking forward to that even though I'll miss spending the holidays with my loved ones back home.  

Hope you all have a great week! Tofa Soifua  (Good-bye)