Tuesday, June 18th

When we got to the office today we had 5 emails from home. Funny how that happens. We can go for weeks and not hear from anyone and then all of a sudden everybody writes on the same day. We are not complaining!! It is so good to hear from our friends and family and get caught up on the news. We had a huge day, so we weren’t in the office for long.

We went out to visit two schools today. The Navy ship brought pallets of school kits to be given out at the government primary schools. We were invited to do the presentations at the schools today. It was an amazing experience to be a part of these programs.

First the Navy captain explained a little bit about what they were doing here and then the military men and women played games with the school children for about an hour. They played soccer and rugby and field games. It was fun to watch the interaction of the military people with the kids. Most of them have left children at home for 3 months to serve in the South Pacific and they loved being with the kids.

Next, the Navy band showed up and played and sang some really fun songs. They got the kids involved playing simple instruments and dancing. They LOVED IT! When the band finished up they did the presentation. The Commodore talked first and then he turned it over to us. The looks on the faces of those sweet children was priceless. They were so thrilled to have a school kit all their own and the teachers and principal were overwhelmed and so grateful for such an important gift. They told us that they would make sure that the children took good care of everything and those supplies would last them for a long time.

Then we headed out to Mou’a to check on the medical clinic there. We found 4 of our elders working hard translating for the military people handing out hygiene kits. The elders said that they love being a part of this project. They have really enjoyed working with the military. They give them MRE’s to eat for lunch and it has been a fun experience for them. We saw some of that food today and it didn’t look bad at all. One elder was fixing a drink, just add water and shake and you have a chocolate milkshake. What’s not to like??

In the afternoon we headed to another village on the other side of the island and repeated the morning’s experience at a different school. This one was much smaller and much more in need than the first. While we were there we learned that a teacher had been transferred from another village to teach in this school. She couldn’t find housing in the village so she is living in one of the classrooms. Everyday we learn something new that amazes us.

We came home tired but uplifted. We feel so blessed to be able to be a part of this Pacific Partnership and to represent the Church in distributing school kits and hygiene kits. It brought back so many memories of putting those kits together in the Stake House back home. I know the time, the effort and the love that goes into getting them here. I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to hand them out personally. The Lord has been so generous with his blessings to us. These are memories we will cherish forever.