We think they were staying in the building and they actually spoke English. We had to scramble to find a treat for them.
We had our second Mission Tour on November 2nd. Elder Hamula, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, who is also a counselor in the Area Presidency was the visiting authority this time around. He has visited us once before and once again the missionaries were spiritually fed. His teachings were out of the Bible and he used scriptures that instructed us that we are to open our mouths and invite all to repent and come unto Him. It was truly a spiritual feast. Below is our Mission Tour 2010 picture.
Sister Swapp and Sister Ititiaty left the Monday after the Mission Tour. They flew to Fiji where President Ostler gave them their exit interviews. Sister Ititiaty is from New Caledonia so she returned to the island on Saturday. We are grateful that we will still get to see her at church from time to time as we visit the branch she attends. She is a quiet and reserved person but she knew how to teach with the spirit and will be missed in the mission.
Sister Swapp's parents met her in Fiji and after she was released in their care, visited sights in Fiji and then they came back to New Caledonia so her parents could meet the members and visit some sights as well. Sister Swapp has a beautiful singing voice and was often asked to share her talent. We will miss her and her lovely voice. Both sisters served faithfully and worked hard to the very end.
Branch conferences started the middle of October and go through the end of November. There are seven total units in the New Caledonia District. Three are very small units and those were done on the same weekend with a member of the District Presidency attending each branch. There are five larger branches and so they are done on consecutive weeks with the exception of Fast Sunday. Each branch has a reactivation activity on Friday night where the branch members teamed with District officers go and visit those they haven't seen at church in a while to invite them to return to church and ask if the church can aid them in any way. On Saturday they have leadership training for the leaders and then in the afternoon the branch has an activity in which the members and friends are invited to participate. Sunday is Branch conference for all the members and the District Presidency and auxiliary leaders teach the lessons. Last week was the Noumea Un (One) Branch conference weekend and after the meetings the members gathered together for lunch and activities. There are many members in this branch that are from Tahiti so they decided to do a Tahitian style activity. If you ever get a chance to try Tahitian Salad, you are in for a real treat. There were lots of relays. One was a coconut breaking and shredding relay. Another involved two teams running with palm leaves starting with one man and then adding other runners. Another involved a race with coconuts attached to bamboo poles. Keeping the coconuts on was essential. There was an obstacle course relay and and a dance contest. Below are pictures of the event.
This next group of pictures shows some interesting trees that we see on our morning walks. The one with blooming flowers is called the Christmas tree in Fiji. I don't know we call it here in New Caledonia except pretty. It bloomed this time last year so maybe it is New Caledonia's Christmas tree as well. The other pictures is just to show the odd ways that trees grow here. After the tree pictures you will see a man sitting on a park bench. We call him "Tall Low Rise" We noticed him last year at this time on the beach. He just sits there all day doing nothing. When the weather turned cool he disappeared. We did see him a few times in town but we don't know where he stays in the winter. In the summer he is found with his suitcase sitting on the bench or a picnic table. We will let you figure out why we call him "Tall Low Rise". The last few pictures are just random shots taken on P-day in the office. We are so blessed to work with these fine young missionaries.
And then it was time to say good by again as Elder Manning, the senior zone leader, finished his mission and departed. He and Elder Hammond served together for several weeks and his departure causes a number of changes among the elder as transfers happened simultaneously with his departure. We will miss him. We are grateful to see the growth and progress in these young missionaries as they become seasoned teachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, fluent French speakers and leaders who serve. Elder Manning was certainly one of these. Pictures below show his departure as well as the resulting transfers.
The work continues and we are grateful to be able to participate as Heavenly Father gathers his sheep.
