Takaroa photos... and Christmas wishes

I had meant to add photos of our pension on Takaroa. It is quaint  with beautiful views. The food was very good...Tahitian Maa...which means a lot of fish (both raw and cooked), rice, and breadfruit, which is really good when made au gratin style. There are not a lot of other fruits and vegetables on the island, though. That is one down side to atoll living. Other downsides are an abundance of mosquitos, no A/C, no screens, lizards, sleeping under a mosquito net ...in other words we used lots of anti mosquito spray (all over ourselves before bed and on the bed and on the net) and that stuff you burn that puts off smoke, like incense, to repel the mosquitos. Another down side to the island is that once there you can't leave for three to four days because there are only two flights a week. And there is not a lot to do for us visitors after our meetings are finished on Sunday. And it always seems there is some issue in the mission that we can't deal with because of poor internet service. But the people are very welcoming and friendly 😊

This was our cottage.

Looking into the room.

Our dining area...breakfast.

Not a bad spot for reading the scriptures.

The couronnes were incredible!

View from our cottage.

This trip was a month ago. Since then we have kept busy with interviews, zone conferences, and keeping all the frogs (I mean missionaries) in the wheel barrow while we cross the freeway...at least that's how our friends described what being a mission president is like, and it seems pretty accurate 😂.

I am very grateful for all of you and hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy a joyous Christmas. I know that Jesus Christ was born into this world to bring joy to each of us through his atoning sacrifice.

I love you all.

Merry Christmas!

(Sometime I will post pictures of Papeete so you can see how we really live...)

We found Gilligan's Island!

"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip..."

We now know where Gilligan, the Skipper, the millionaire, his wife, the movie star, the professor and MaryAnn ended up...the atoll of Takaroa, French Polynesia...specifically on the south shore of the island...across the lagoon from the tiny village. 



There you will find the Palmers and their home.

Brother Palmer is third from the left. This is their kitchen/dining room

Sister Palmer is on the right. This is more of the kitchen.

The Palmers have created a real home in the middle of a coconut grove on a desert island. They have electricity, a satellite dish, running water (from rain catch cisterns) and decorations! It is truly incredible to see what they have done and how they live.

This is their living room/bedroom.

This is the guest room.

And my favorite is the bathroom. Note how she decorated it!

We took a 15 minute boat ride across the lagoon to arrive at their place, completely soaked. They provided a delicious Tahitian Maa meal. We played a bit of mini golf that they had set up on their property, soaked a bit in the lagoon, and walked from the lagoon to the ocean, which is five minutes away. (see image of island)

Golfing :)

Looking west.

Looking east.

I am continuing to create my idea of what paradise truly is, though. Takaroa is very beautiful but the realities are very harsh, including making a living, only two flights on and off the island per week, and getting supplies...fresh fruits and vegetables (except coconuts of course!),etc.

(I will post pictures of our lodgings and our welcome later.)

As I sat in the solitude of Takaroa I was struck by how unbelievable it was that I was sitting on this atoll out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean... A place I had never even know existed before. But it is harder in many ways than I ever thought it could be. I know this is what we are supposed to be doing now but I still miss my home and family.

Love to you all.

Why we are doing this mission

Today was a day that causes you to truly wonder what this life is about. A 6am call woke us...a sister missionary from Madagascar had heard her father might have died. It took Steven several calls to Mada to find out the details. He had indeed died suddenly from a stroke. This sister and her companion came up to our home (an hour drive) and spent the day with us. She was able to talk to her family and cry. We cried. We hugged. And we spent a peaceful, though sad, day together... talking about her family a bit, and about the gospel, and not talking at all. She talked about the peace she felt due to the knowledge of God's plan. She wanted to attend the Temple so we did that this evening. Everything else took a back seat to her and her needs today. The whole mission prayed for her this evening at 5. It was an emotional day. One that makes you realize what is truly important in life.

And that is:
Family, God, friends. In other words...relationships.

Why are we here on earth if not to be in families? What would be the purpose for our lives if it all ends with death?

I am so grateful that I can testify that there is more to this life than this life. I know we lived before this life. I know there is a plan put in place by Heavenly Father that allows us to live with our families after this life. I know this, and am so grateful I do.

I love you all. You are all part of what is truly important in my life.

It takes an Army!

Something I’ve been wanting to write about is what happens when there is a transfer. The work begins about 3 weeks before the actual transfers happen. Here are the key players and what they do to make a transfer happen smoothly in Tahiti. On top of the things they do they all come to the airport to see off the departing missionaries and welcome the new…which occurs between 9:30pm and midnight on Monday every six weeks. I will give a taste of their work but know that I cannot adequately express the scope of it. (I apologize in advance for the poor pictures...camera troubles)

Soeur Hoffman—passport details, carte de sejours/visas, packets for departing missionaries (with a laminated sheet for each missionary with photos of his/her companions), schedules of arriving and departing missionaries. Keeps all the details organized.

Soeur and Elder Hoffman

Elder Hoffman—bikes for each new missionary, driving tests, all-around help with baggage, transportation, right hand man to his wife and anything else that is needed.

Soeur Hunter—financial arrangements for new missionaries, travel arrangements for transfers to islands which involves multiple levels of arrangements since most islands only have flights two or three times a week and may include boats too, etc.

Assistants to the President (two young missionaries)—transfer planning, calling all missionaries regarding new companions and where to go to meet new companions and when. Pick up/drop off of missionaries going to and from various islands. Details on all the changes that we don’t think of until after the fact (where will so and so stay while waiting for his or her new comp, etc, etc, etc). We occasionally panic because we haven’t thought of something only to find out the Aps have already done it. They also do training for new missionaries and for the new trainers. Sometimes we don't get all the missionaries to their areas for a good week to ten days after the transfer due to flight schedules to the islands so the APs arrange who is going to be whose companion in the meantime, where the missionary will stay, and get them to the airport when they finally do leave/arrive.

Elders Langomazino and Crandall, the Assistants

                    

Office Elders (two young missionaries)—all things baggage for departing and arriving. Tons of transporting to the dock for fumigation of items going home with missionaries. Tons of loads of luggage to and from the airport. Lifting and hauling! Crazy busy time for them.

Elder and Soeur Lucas—making sure the houses and apartments are ready for new areas that are being open. Arranging for the meals for the incoming (Tuesday breakfast, lunch) and outgoing (Monday lunch) missionaries—at least when we have big groups. Extra hands for all sorts of things.

Elder and Soeur Lucas

Elder and Soeur Thomsen—general greeting and transporting of missionaries to their various new areas. Takes most of the day Monday and Tuesday.

Elder and Soeur Thomsen are center back. Soeur Hunter is 2nd from right on front. Picture with missionary couples and Elder Ardern and his wife.

And then there’s Steven and me—we do the transfer planning (yes, I sit in on those meetings and give my opinion and insights…though I am not the decision maker J), Steven does interviews with all departing and arriving missionaries, we have a lunch with departing missionaries that I will often do if not too many, we have a testimony meeting with the departing missionaries, training for the new ones, help with the breakfast and lunch for the new ones, etc.

The amount of man power it takes to get one missionary onto his/her mission, through it, and back home is amazing. We stand all amazed at the service rendered by this army of people—and the love they have for these missionaries.

We wish our family and old friends could meet our new friends.

We love you!

The Marquesas...Terre des Hommes

So yes, the Marquesas Islands are called the "Terre des Hommes" which means the land of men. It was traditionally the warrior islands and they are a proud people. What a gorgeous place! Several climates all on the same island...tropical, desert, rolling hills, and pine forests. We were warmly greeted with beautiful floral couronnes

View on Nuku Hiva. Couronnes made especially for us.

The view from the missionaries home on Nuku Hiva. Not bad!

We drove to the far end of Hiva Oa on a dirt road, looking over cliffs to the ocean...for a total of three and a half hours there and back.. As we would descend from the cliffs, which were desert, into tropical valleys, it felt a little like discovering the Garden of Eden.

One of the valleys on Hiva Oa

A beautiful spot to play soccer!

The largest Tiki in French Polynesia...at the end of the island of Hiva Oa. Steven made him a missionary :)

People who live out in these valleys make their living by fishing or doing copra (coconuts). There is not a lot else out there to do and you would have to be pretty self sufficient to live there.

Atuona, Hiva Oa

There are two Branches of the church in the Marquesas Islands. We went out there for District Conferences. On Nuku Hiva we had about 40 members come and at Hiva Oa we had about 50. Both Branches put on a dinner after the first evening meetings and treated us to some cultural dancing and singing.

I realize it is not feasible for many people to get to the Marquesas, called the Marquises in French, but it is definitely worth the trip if you ever have the chance.

I am always glad to get back to our house in Papeete after traveling. But when we arrived home from the Marquesas we found thousands of dead ants throughout our house. Ugh! What a welcome home! We were exhausted, hadn't eaten for hours, and had an incredibly busy schedule to look forward to the following three days. So...as I write this a week later...we are at a hotel for three days while our house is being fumigated. Hopefully we won't have such a homecoming after our next round of travel 😉

The best part of this mission is being with the missionaries and meeting new people. I wish I could speak the language better and could really get to know them well. I feel honored to be, even if very briefly, a part of their lives.

Love you all!

We Finally Got to the Beach!

Well, we got to spend about an hour and a half of our P-day (ok, P-hours) reading on the beach. Next time will be going in the water! (Who'd think you could live in Tahiti for two months and not go in the water?)

Looking out at Moorea.

Highlights of the past two weeks...

Elder Gary Stevenson, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of our church, visited Tahiti. He held a special meeting just for the missionaries on Saturday, August 26. It was so wonderful to hear from an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. The spirit was strong during that meeting. (The following pictures are just from my camera that wasn't working very well. We are waiting to receive some professional ones.)

Elder Stevenson and his wife.

This past week we had Zone Conferences. We flew to the island of Raiatea for one conference. The others were here on Tahiti.

Zone Conference on the island of Raiatea. This is the view in back of the church. Gorgeous setting!

The best days are when we get to be with the missionaries. I am trying to spend some time with the Sister Training Leader companionships. There are six of them in the mission. I went to lunch with one companionship one week. Another day I had a companionship over for P-day cookie making. I just love these sisters! What amazing women they are!

Thoughts:
Paradise is not a place...it is a situation. Tahiti is not paradise in the sense that it has a lot of poverty and social issues. It is a developing country and has a ways to go to before becoming truly first world throughout. But for the missionaries here, this is paradise. This is where they have found joy bringing others to a knowledge of Christ. This is where they have served people in their homes. This is where they have learned to love others they would never have met otherwise. This is where they have learned to look upon the heart rather than the outward appearance of a person. Paradise is truly a state of  mind and not an island.

Now, if I can just get the lizard out of my bedroom I will get some sleep...

Love you all!

Survived our first transfer!

We had a couple of weeks that were more quiet...a lot of office work, meeting with missionaries for a variety of purposes (good and bad), etc. One Elder had appendicitis a week ago. He was on the island of Tahiti luckily, but he was an hour and a half away from the hospital in Papeete. Everything worked out in the end...despite a delayed surgery, and travel plans home (he was finishing his mission) that were now uncertain.

Speaking of travel plans home, we had 30 missionaries finish their missions this Monday and we had 29 new missionaries arrive. This is called a transfer...and we think it might have been the largest one this mission has experienced...and it was our first...and it was a French holiday so the government offices were closed...and...well, let's just say we did a lot of improvisation.

On Sunday, Steven started the personal interviews for the departing missionaries...they went long enough that we ended up with several still around at dinner time...so we fed them some pancakes because we didn't have much else around 😊 Monday morning the rest of the interviews were done and then we had a final testimony meeting where each of the departing missionaries could express their feelings about their missions and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then there was a lunch. Most of the missionaries spent their afternoon seeing last minute friends and members. Then, after feeding another stray dozen missionaries some dinner, the 30 departing missionaries boarded a bus at 7:30pm for the airport. Their flights were at 11:30pm. Tahitians really knows how to say farewell to those they love. There were a couple hundred people at the airport saying goodbye to these missionaries and giving them shell "couronnes" (leis). Most stayed until the missionaries went through security at 10:30.

Then right as these missionaries left another 20 arrived from the USA. There were many people who just moved from "departures" to "arrivals" to greet the new missionaries with floral "couronnes". We waited until midnight to welcome the final 9 new missionaries arriving from New Zealand (the French speakers go to the MTC in New Zealand since they already know the language and don't need the extensive language training in Provo, UT.) Needless to say everyone was exhausted by the time we got them to their lodging for the night (apartments right behind the LDS temple.)

The next day, Tuesday, after breakfast, the new missionaries were trained on how this mission is run and on what to do under different circumstances, and practical things like changing money, paying for bikes, cell phone usage, etc. They had personal interviews with Steven. We took them on a walking tour to the mission office and the Tahiti Temple, and had more training in the afternoon. They got to meet their new companions, who will be their trainers, as well. This is where the real improv skills came in. They should have just gone to their areas with their new companions at this point but because of the French government holiday they couldn't get their visas taken care of and so they had to stay until the next morning (today). So we had pizzas for dinner and after some training on the vision of the mission we had some down time. Great to see them grouped around the piano singing hymns together.

So, from Sunday afternoon until Wednesday morning there has been a lot going on. We took naps this afternoon 😊.

There have been several tender mercies from the Lord during this past week...one had to do with Elder Peel, who had appendicitis. Last Wednesday Steven and I had gone to the hospital for the first time here in the area. We went with our assistants to give a blessing to an ill man. In passing, one of our assistants said there are only two hospitals on the island: one in Papeete, where we live, and the other at the opposite end of the island in Taravao. 12 hours later Elder Peel called in the middle of the night in a lot of pain. Initially, we didn't know what to tell him to do...we don't really know the medical system for emergencies. Then we realized he was in Taravao, where we had just learned the other hospital is, and so we told him to go to that hospital. He was driven up to the one in Papeete later but what a blessing to know about that hospital there.

Another tender mercy...I found out that one of the new sister missionaries, who is from France, is the daughter/niece of a family I stayed with for two weeks when I was a student in France in 1980. I had lost touch with this family many years ago. What a small world!

The best thing about this mission is the missionaries. We were truly sad to see these 30 leave, even though we had only been working with them for a few weeks. We love the light they bring into our lives. I know this light is what is needed in the world. I know that Jesus Christ is that light.

I love you all!

We have had some time to breathe the past week and a half! We have been at our home in Papeete. The only travel we have done is over to the island of Moorea. It is about 30-40 minutes by ferry to Moorea and definitely worth the ride over. We went to Moorea for church two Sundays ago and then had the chance to tour the island. We drove to a look out point at the top of a mountain. What a stunning view! (forgot the good camera, though, oh well, the old cell phone worked)

Moorea and Bora vie for top vacation spots around here. The people who live on Tahiti will go to Moorea for their vacations often times. No wonder!

Hao, an atoll. Seriously crazy!

Sunday, July 23rd we flew to the atoll island of Hao (pronounced "How"), in the Tuamatous archipelago in French Polynesia (look it up)...So interesting! An atoll is a coral island that formed around a volcano millions of years ago. The volcano has since disintegrated and all that is left in the middle of this island is a huge lagoon. The lagoon in the middle of Hao is large enough to fit the island of Tahiti. It is so large you can't see the land on the other side of the lagoon. The actual island looks like a large misshapen donut from the air and is anywhere from 20 to 200 yards wide. One side is the ocean, the other the lagoon. The inhabited area is about 10 miles long. The lagoon is so still...it feels as if time doesn't move there.

The dock on the lagoon side of Hao island.

  

Hao island lagoon.

There are about 1200 people, depending on the time of year and whether the head count was done recently, who live on the island. We were there for a Juenes, Soyez Forts conference (EFY French style). There were 60 youth and about 30 adults there for this conference and it was the biggest thing to happen on Hao in years.

You can only fly in to Hao two to three times a week so once there you are committed for a few days. The airport is only open for a few hours those days. The only work on the island is fishing or coconut farming. There are schools up through Jr. High and after that the kids have to go to Tahiti for school. There is no tourism at all. There is just not a lot to do on this little island. We enjoyed meeting the two missionaries who are there and spending time with them.

We arrived back in Papeete Tuesday evening. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we had all day Zone Conferences. It was wonderful being with the missionaries those three days. The training is all done in French so I am being stretched language wise as well. I did half my training in French and had one of our assistants translate the rest for me.

Saturday we finally had a day to be home...first one in a while. Unpacked our things that had finally arrived from the states, and prepared our talks for the next day's Stake Conference. I gave a very short talk in French for the Mahina Stake (about 800 people). I was even complimented on my French! (I think they were just being nice😉)

We have our first departing missionaries today, so we are experiencing the sadness and joy of seeing a missionary complete their mission. I can only imagine how excited their mom's and dad's are as they await the arrival of their son or daughter!

We love these missionaries and are experiencing the good and the bad with them. We love them and truly rejoice and mourn with them. It is a ton of work, but the missionaries are the best part.

Hope all is well for all of you at home. Love you!

(A few more pictures from Hao)

At the pass (break) between the ocean and lagoon.

The island of Raiatea.

On Tahaa

The chapel on Tahaa

The island of Mahina

Bora Bora...the most beautiful water!

The view from our hotel room in Bora Bora...an OK hotel with a gorgeous view!

The Isles of the Sea

Last week we spent five days interviewing almost all the missionaries. By this I mean that Steven met with each one for about 15 minutes while I chatted with those waiting for their interviews. It was a grueling few days schedule wise, plus I was sick for part of it, but it was great to get to know the Missionaries on a more personal level. It is amazing how quickly you can learn to love them!

Sunday we spoke in two wards...we'll, actually just bore our testimonies...and went to a missionary choir concert. Left home at 9am and got home at 9pm. Luckily we found a cooler at the mission home to take food along.😀

This week we are visiting some of the isles in our mission. We've learned that when you say "Tahiti" here it is just the island of Tahiti. When you say "isles" it means the leeward islands in the Society Islands such as Raiatea, Huahine, Bora Bora, along with the Tuamotus and Marquises islands. So, yes, I am typing this as we sit in the hotel lobby in Bora Bora. But our experience is not like a tourists'. We see the actual life of these islands...some of the homes and churches and all. Which is both good and bad. Real life is never a vacation. This country has a lot of poverty and struggles...unemployment, etc. Very humble homes with equally humble people.

The missionaries out on these islands are amazing. There are only four to six of them per island. They really get to know the people...and love them! They are far from the mission home and office and are on their own a lot. They really need to rely on the Lord and each other. I am very impressed  with them and their courage.

I didn't serve a mission when I was younger so this is my first time. I don't know how these young ones do it with such grace and such a positive attitude over all. There are times they all get down, depressed and stressed, but for the most part they are working hard and learning to love it. I will never look at missionaries in the same way again.

We went with one set of sister missionaries on the isles of Huahine to teach a lesson to a couple of new converts. We drove up a mountain side to get there. There were goats and pigs, along with the ever present chickens and roosters, all in a tropical jungle. We asked these sisters how they found these brothers and they said it is the members who referred them. In fact, they said that they never go door to door tracting because the members are always referring people and usually these referrals have been taught several times by the members and know a lot about the church before the missioaries meet them.These members are doing the work of the missionaries! It's awesome!

Even though we are serving in "paradise" it can be tough out on a mission. At times I get homesick and just want to go back to the life I know. I know the Missionaries here feel the same way at times, but they are working hard and doing well. I am sure they are exhausted, as am I still. But it is wonderful to be involved in the work of the Lord and helping these missionaries teach others about His plan of happiness for us.

We love you all!

...pictures to come...

Still haven't been to the beach

This week included many meetings. We met each of the amazing office staff: The Hoffmans...she is the administrator and he takes care of the cars and anything else needed. The Lucas...in charge of the housing and general fix it stuff for the missionaries. Sister Hunter...the financial person, also taking care of the medical calls for now while I figure out the ropes. The office Elders...Heckman and McGrevy. And the Assistants to the President (APs)...Elders Piazza and Crandall. I cannot say enough about how amazing all of these people are! We have been so well taken care of and instructed.

We had a Meet the New President and Companion meeting on Tuesday so we could meet our new missionaries. All except those serving on the outer islands were able to be there. It was wonderful to walk in and see so many excited faces. We shook each hand (over 100), and tried to remember their names, but felt each of their spirits.

Wednesday was meet all of the other support staff...technical, facilities management, service, etc.

Thursday we had a Conseil des Dirigeants...missionary leadership council. 30 of the missionaries who are Zone leaders, Sister Training leaders, and  the APs. Lunch was made by Julie, our Tahitian home help. It was a great day getting to know what these leaders think and how they envision the mission going forward.

We spent Friday, all day, and Saturday morning with the Lucas' going around the whole island seeing all of the homes and apartments that the missionaries are living in. It was great to see where they all live, the conditions, and the different areas of the island of Tahiti. It takes about two hours to drive around the island...and that's only going 30+ MPH for the most part. The main road is the life blood of this island. There are no freeways. Most of the population lives within a half mile of the main road. But there are some beautiful areas for sure. We are definitely not in the USA anymore, though.

Finally went grocery shopping and found more than just survival food! Starting to be able to see beyond the foreign-ness of everything!

It is definitely work everyday to communicate. And there is so much to accomplish each day, especially for Steven. But we are getting better. Well, at least we figured out how to put gas in the car and actually pay for it; we found our own way to the chapel where the baptism was on Saturday; and we used an ATM :) But truly, I think between all of the office staff they are wondering when we will be able to survive on our own and they will get to stop babysitting President and Soeur Fox and get on with their own work! The missionaries and staff are the best! We truly have grown to love them so quickly.

We are still exhausted. I think that will be the case for a long time...maybe even three years...

Love you all!

Lunch with Elder and Soeur Lucas

View from lunch on Friday.