Fa'afetai Lava, Samoa; Talofa Jeri

At Taumeasina Resort in Apia the hotel staff were preparing for the Via Dolorosa, the 13 stations of the cross, in honor of Easter.  

Just before we had to leave for the airport the Via Dolorosa procession began. We captured a bit of it on video.

On our way to the airport in Upolu to go to American Samoa we came across a fellow making a basket. He was kind enough to allow Shirley to video him while he weaved.

 

When we arrived in American Samoa Tigi Mata'ali'i picked us up at the airport and took us to our hotel in Pago Pago. They were very kind and treated us much better than we deserved. Our Director of Public Affairs, Kalili Hunt, was out of the country but had made arrangements for us to be treated royally. 

Sala (on left) and Tigi

Jim captured this beautiful scenery early one morning from our hotel room.

On April 1 (Easter) the Apia Samoa Central Stake watched a one-hour portion of the Messiah performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. The building was almost full to capacity, many of them members of the stake choir.  Wonderful to participate in this event.

The stake choir sang along during the Hallelujah Chorus. Samoans love to sing and the volume of this choir evidenced their enthusiasm.

Getting on board to go back to New Zealand. It was very sad to think that this is likely the last time we will see the friends we have made in Samoa and the beauty of the country.

With our friend Jeri Maughan, we visited the Auckland War Museum. Jim had to take a close look at the Spitfire on display there. He said that, next to the P-51 Mustang, the Spitfire was the best plane in the skies during World War II.

It is a long (45 minute) walk to Cathedral Cove, but it is worth it! Certainly one of the most beautiful places we have been in New Zealand.

Hot Water Beach is about a 10 minute drive from Hahei (the town where we stayed while visiting the Coromandel peninsula). It is so amazing to see so many people digging holes to create their own spas. Lots of fun!

One of our favorite beaches (Muriwai). It is on the west coast, so the Tasman Sea is behind us. The waves on the Tasman are much bigger than the waves on the Pacific side of the island. Muriwai is a black sand beach and, with the steep cliffs between the beach and the adjoining land, it is one of the most majestic places we have seen.

A beach artist drew a toe rope around the rock on the beach making it appear that the rock was going to be pulled out to sea. A lot of work that just a few hours later would be gone.

Jim ordered porridge at one of our favorite restaurants, Hunny.

Celebrating Jeri's and Shirley's birthdays, both in April and just nine days apart.

Dinner at the revolving restaurant atop the Sky Tower.

One day we went to the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. Jeri had been there 25 years ago and we all thought it would be a good idea for her to return. On July 22, the temple will close for three years for seismic upgrading and remodeling. We hear that, because the temple is on New Zealand's registry of national places, the exterior will not be modified during the remodeling.

We flew down to Wellington for a day. We went to the Te Papa museum and saw the amazing Gallipoli exhibit about New Zealand's disappointing battle against the Turks in World War I. War is such a horrible thing.

Took the trolley for a scenic view of the city

We took an 11 hour train ride back from Wellington to Auckland. A very unique and relaxing experience.  Played games most of the way.

The day Jeri left to return to Utah we took her to a favourite place of ours,the Chocolate Boutique in Parnell, for an Italian Denso hot chocolate. Jim asked for the recipe but was told it was the owner's secret. It seemed a lot like melted dark chocolate. So good and so rich! We'll be back.

Nervous about flying by herself (she's so brave!), Jeri was eager to get on with her journey home. Thanks for coming to see us, Jeri. We loved having you here and will see you again soon.

On Monday, April 16, we were given an assignment to do a story for Newsroom Pacific on the 60th anniversary of the Hamilton Temple Dedication. We spent part of Monday and all day Tuesday deciding how to approach the story and coordinating with the people with whom we needed to meet.

Wednesday we traveled to Hamilton to interview Waitohi Elkington to get some early photos from the Church History archive there. Fourteen months ago who would have thought we could put together a major story like this in just three days? Not us! Watch it here.

A Time of Cultural Immersion

L to R: Rich Hunter (our Area Director of Public Affairs), Jim (old duffer), Elder Rowberry (Executive Secretary to the Pacific Area presidency) and Doug Matsumori (Area General Counsel) at Takapuna Golf Course. I played OK but not great.

Bethels' Beach is on the west coast (Tasman Sea side). It was unbelievably windy the day we were there. It's a pretty beach but not quite as accessible as other equally pretty beaches.

There are at least two events each year that are a "must attend"! The Chinese Lantern Festival and Pasifika (the end of March).  We enjoyed the lantern festival and ate street food amongst the masses of people. 

 The Church must consider the S. Pacific a high priority area because we are continually blessed to have General Authorities and members of the Twelve and First Presidency visiting us here.  Elder Neil L. Andersen and Elder L. Whitney Clayton were here two weeks ago. We covered the special Tamaki Stake conference (consisting of mainly Tongans and Samoans) that Elder Andersen attended.  In his remarks he noted that there is a "believing blood" in the islands. We have become acquainted with some of those very faithful members to whom he was referring.  "Every continent will have a righteous people to receive Him (Christ at His 2nd coming)."Check out article here.

At a morning devotional here in the office Elder Andersen said, referring to employees, that "we must have a spirit that exceeds common thinking."  Truly applicable to all of us.

Elder Andersen greeting stake members

Elder Clayton greeting young stake member

FHE for March was a Western-style event. Fourteen couples enjoyed a brown-bag dinner and were enticed to do a little line-dancing.  What a sight that was - a group of old-timers trying to learn dance moves. Not pretty but certainly fun and laugh-provoking!

Rowberrys, Henshaws and Matsumoris

 Seminar: Mar. 16-17. See video here.

Jim, Bills and Miekles

This was the first-ever New Zealand Public Affairs seminar. There are three coordinating councils (Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington) in New Zealand. A lively group of three coordinating council Directors of Public Affairs (DPAs) and many stake DPAs gathered in Temple View to collaborate and be trained.

Jim and Roseann Jones, the Director of Public Affairs from Tauranga

At Pasifika the various countries in the South Pacific have venues where they perform songs and dances and sell food and goods representative of their cultures.

Fiji

New Zealand

Tonga

Arriving at the airport in Samoa. Tropical Cyclone Gita had destroyed the building housing the rental car agencies, so the paperwork was done in the open right outside the airport.

Canoes along the road from the airport to Apia

Ice cream with some senior missionaries (and friends) in Apia.

L to R: Sister Lee Anne Kinghorn, Sister Pamela Cameron, Elder Scott Cameron, Elder Edward Kinghorn, Jim (eating koko Samoa ice cream).

A primary school east of Apia on the road to Saniatu. Camerons were evaluating the school for a rain water tank.

Typical of the school children in Samoa. Happy and engaging.

They love to have their picture taken

Mothers and fathers bring their children to school and wait for school to end to take them home

Elder and Sister Cameron took us to a village that wanted LDS Charities to help them get tanks and a catchment system to provide a reliable source of clean water (rain).

The village chief

One of the family homes in the village

Another family home

The village's existing water source

Lunch with the Samoa Director of Public Affairs, Sapele Fa'aogo

The grounds of Legacy Restaurant. This restaurant was recommended by the Kinghorns. We hadn't eaten here before.

Our transportation to American Samoa. It was a 35 minute flight in this twin engine prop. And of course, no air conditioning.

SM:  We hope that the work we are doing here is contributing to the establishment of Zion in the Pacific Area.  I love to hear the members in NZ pronounce the word "ZION"  -- Zi Ohn (with emphasis on last syllable).  They use the word frequently and it seems to hold special emphasis in their lives. We are daily striving to "keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and promote the cause of Zion." - D & C 6:6. And we recognize and are grateful for Heavenly guidance.

Unfortunately, I have become a perpetrator of FAKE NEWS (as in U.S. media news manner)!  Recently one of the facts I printed turned out to be incorrect. Of course I felt terrible and have corrected it the best I can but the office had a great time accusing me. What I have to put up with! And as I feel on so many other occasions, "Oh, what I GET to put up with!"  Grateful.