SINCE THE CYCLONE

SINCE THE CYCLONE

Our Chapel

We were pleased there wasn't too much damage when we walked around our neighborhood after the cyclone, but when we went to our office we discovered our chapel didn't fair so well.  Since April four wards have been meeting in the Rivière Salée chapel.  We are hoping to be back in our building by July.

 It's Always Hard to Say Goodbye

Elder Gray, who came to the mission with us, was transferred to Vanuatu.  Sister Casuga's departure was delayed for a few days by the cyclone.  We would have loved to keep her even longer, but we couldn't.

It is especially hard when four leave at once.  At the end of a regional broadcast at our stake center, which was the day before they left, the congregation sang "God Be with You til We Meet Again."  

After transfers we only had two sisters left in the south zone and eight in the north. We have had two French Polynesian sisters hop on this mission train in May.  We now have a total of thirty-four missionaries which is the least we have had since we arrived and some apartments are vacant for the time being.  Fortunately over the summer we have more arriving.

This is one of the two new sisters from French Polynesia.  She is from Tupua'i the last area that our son Benjamin served in when he was a missionary in Tahiti.

This sister's father passed away and we were touched by her desire to stay and finish her mission.

            

 It's Fun to Have Visitors

                                

We love being able to share this place we love with people we love.  Elder Glade's sister, Sue Mendenhall, and her husband, Jeff,  and our neighbors and friends Al and Linda Switzler got us out of the office and enjoying the island more.

Our son Geoff and Cortney standing by some remnants of World War II on a hill near our apartment.  At one time or another we have met each of our children's mission presidents. Geoff, on his way here, actually ran into our mission president. The Grangers were attending a training in New Zealand.

                                  

Phare Amedée is a lighthouse built in 1862 on a small island a 40 minute boat ride from Port Moselle in Nouméa.  The view from the top is worth the climb to get there. 

There are lots of sea snakes, tricot rayes, on the island.  They don't seem to be bothered by the humans.  This one was fat and over five feet long.  An online review of Phare Amedée said "only the French"  would allow snakes to exist at a tourist attraction.  

The pilot fish and his friends liked hitching a ride on the bottom of the glass bottom boat.  

White sand beaches and clear blue waters are worth putting up with a few snakes as long as they don't surprise me.  I was glad I didn't end up swimming with one.

                                           Hiking a fork of the Dumbéa River.

  

Recent Baptisms

As soon as the refreshments were served after her baptism, Suzanne grabbed a broom and went to work cleaning up the church.  I asked if I could take a picture and someone tried to take the broom away from her.  I told her I wanted the broom in the picture because it symbolizes her willingness to go to work  building the kingdom now the she is a member of the church.  Her sister Giselle was baptized in January and has been very faithful.  Angelo was excited to finally be baptized and the older gentleman had taken a long time to make the decision to be baptized.

Institute

                                   

These are the institute students from the Rivière Salée and Dumbéa wards that we teach every Thursday night.  This year there are 4 different classes in the stake and each class has more students than the class for the entire stake had last year.  Not having to travel so far for institute has really helped the attendance.   

Return to Île des Pins 

We went back to the Isle of Pines.  We visited the Ouamambaré family again.  There son had passed away and we wanted express our condolences.  When we told President Granger we were going he asked us to tell them what an amazing missionary their daughter is. She is the only member in her family and is serving in Vanuatu.  They told us how to find their son's grave.

The Post Cyclone Highlight

                                   

Elder Glade had a meeting at the church and I was waiting in the car.  I saw the stake patriarch (who lives on the island of Lifou) walking toward the car.  I got out to greet him and noticed a woman behind him with a huge smile on her face.  It wasn't his wife. It took me a minute to realize that it was Jeanette!  I got the biggest hug from her and the warmest smile and handshake from her husband, Michel.  She was baptized when we were in Lifou last fall.  She couldn't walk and spent her days in bed or in a wheelchair.  She is walking now! Her brother is amazed at how happy she is and is curious about the church.  Elder Glade, Frère Aliki, and the two elders with us in Lifou were able to assist the Patriarch in ordaining Michel to the Melchizedek Priesthood and they are planning to go to the temple next January.  They had time to come to our house for dinner and home evening.  A lot of Melanesians don't smile much for pictures--we really had a great time.  The Patriarch taught us a game and everyone was out except him and me.  He let me win and then there were high fives all around. These are some of our favorite people in the whole world.  We're so grateful for the incredible experiences we have been blessed to share with them.