Some days the sun don't shine...

Last week's rain and slogging through apartment inspections gave us new appreciation for a car, dry shoes and a warm apartment. And then we went to Houailou.

After much wind, rain settled in with clouds hanging low over the higher hills all over the island. Hard steady rain for three days soaked the soil so that there was no place for the rain to go. The main north south route north of Tontouta actually flooded to the point of closing for a few hours while we were navigating (pardon the pun) through our flat inspections. We were north for the apartments there, headed back south to find the road getting deeper and deeper in water and then realized we had forgotten to retrieve information we needed. So back we went. In the 20 minutes it took us to retrace our steps, the road was 6 inches deeper in water with quite a waterfall to one side. We tried to capture the effect on a picture nearby, but the effect isn't quite the same as being in it. Was good to be passed it for the last time. When we returned Saturday afternoon on our way to Bourail and Houailu, everything was pretty well cleared away and quite passable. Great river drainage system! We are happy to report that all of our missionaries were warm and dry.

So when it rains, we adjust with rain slickers, different shoes and hats. The elders, pictured nearby, roll up their pants and walk through it. We understand they did give up porte-a-porte the second day and just kept up with their pre-arranged rendez-vous. You will note Sister Mautz's stylish shoes for the rain as well as those of Elder Mautz.

Saturday, we left home about noon, attended a baptism in a nearby branch and then took off for the north country, the bruse.

The baptism was delightful. By then, the rain had stopped. the new member is from Wallis, a French speaking island southeast of Fiji. His family lives there and he will soon return. So we want him well prepared to lead his family before he leaves.

We met the elders in Bourail for dinner and did some temple recommend interviews before calling it a night in a local inn. Up early Sunday morning, we drove the hour between Bourail and Houailu getting there in time for 9a Church and to meet the members in the small branch there. Beautiful scenery. the little inn deserves one anecdote. Posted on the wall was the offer that the chef would cook anything we shot as long as we didn't want to keep it as a trophy. We particularly liked the pink bathroom in the honey moon suite.

Nearby are a few pictures of the scenery as we crossed the island from West to east. Bourail as well as most of the towns where we have missionaries are on the west side of the island. Houailu is on the east. The road across is less well maintained, but passes through some beautiful country with breath-taking vistas across valleys with steep sides climbing up mountains whose tops were actually tree-less. Cascading waterfalls. We enjoyed the drive narrated by one of our elders who does this drive frequently. Along the way, we encountered a warning sign, 'nids-de-poulet.' Literal translation is chickens' nests. What is meant is 'potholes.' And they meant it. We all had to slow way down on a winding scarcely two lane road.

The branch in Houailou pictured nearby is small. they meet in a small, rented building that also serves as the missionaries' flat when they are in town. The presiding authority is a tribal chief who hitchhikes to Church every Sunday and leaves his suit in the meeting room until he returns the following week. After jokes about not breaking the eggs in the nids-de-poulet we talked about the needs of the young men in his little branch as well as those in his tribe. How to motivate them to work, teach them standards in their lives and provide activities that developed life skills. He shared his concerns for the young people of his tribe who need he Gospel of Jesus Christ as a standard as well as listed above. The internet reaches all over the world and brings with it the mixed blessing.

We provided the program along with Elder Hammond who arrived here in New Caledonia a few months ago. Sister Mautz spoke through a translator. All listened politely while Elder Morrill translated for her. However, when she switched into French at the end of her talk to share her testimony, the members of the congregation one at a time switched from polite quiet faces to broad smiles and sparkling eyes listening to her share the feelings of her heart. A tender moment and mercy for all attending. She does better than she believes and everybody loves her for the great efforts she is making!

On our way home we visited with our friend in the Bourail branch who has now had 8 weeks of leaving smoking behind. The change in his countenance as well as his feelings about himself were noticeable. We learned that one of the great blessings of the Word of Wisdom is being able to be obedient. When the Savior taught that if we love him we will keep his commandments, he was then merciful to us giving us commandments we could keep. The Word of Wisdom is one of those. And He blesses those who follow not only with health but with the feelings of worth born of obedient love for the Savior.

And so, even though some days the sun don't shine, things always get better.