Halloween, Mission Tour, Departing Missionaries and Branch Conference

If anyone is wondering, Halloween does happen here in New Caledonia.  It isn't a big thing but some of the stores did have pumpkins and ghosts on display.  We were very surprised on the eve of Halloween to hear our doorbell ring.  No one really comes to visit us at the apartment except the Zone Leaders so we were very surprised to find this at the door.

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.

Departures, and arrival and...(Have we been here before?)

Seasoned missionaries depart. We miss them, but the work continues with new missionaries. And the District grows and prepares.

We sent home Sisters Cummins and Leavitt as well as Elder Larkin a week ago. It was tough to see them go. These two sisters were in the MTC with us in Provo 18 months ago. We met them in the salad bar line. We recall being very excited about meeting them. Of course, we arrived here 2 months before they did, but serving together has been a delightful, tender experience. Elder Larkin called upon us from time to time to teach with him when amis de l'eglise could be helped by our participation. We have served together these last 18 months. So we send them off for the next chapter of their lives grateful for their good work here. Pictures below show them laden with the traditional leis of seashells as gifts at parting. An April, 2011 reunion is much anticipated.

The District Presidency hosted a BBQ for themselves at the Mouthams. President Moutham at the gas grill, cooked everything to perfection. We all enjoyed time together catching up on activities that were family-related rather than the more-regular fare of Church related work. These great leaders are preparing the district to become a stake. We believe this is not far off.

And now to introduce members of the Noumea 1 branch. A year ago the branch had 26 active members. At the invitation of the branch president, each Melchizedek Priesthood holder started working with the missionaries 2 nights a month. They used this time either to teach or to visit less active members. Sacrament meetings now welcome 100+ members. An additional team of missionaries has been added to the branch. At the last District Conference the branch presented all of the music with a 50-voice choir. The missionary work continues now with one night each month from each priesthood holder. The Relief Society is doing the same with the team of sister missionaries. Home and visiting teaching is increasing. The most remarkable change, however, is the love that permeates the time we spend together. We are grateful for Heavenly Father's blessings to this branch as he blesses them far beyond their efforts.

In the Noumea 2 branch we enjoyed a baptism last Saturday. Christiane joined the Church 5 years after receiving a copy of the Book of Mormon. Her friends, the Gastaldi's introduced her to the Church. Brother Gastaldi, pictured nearby, baptized her. A great lesson here for each of us. Christiane carried heavy burdens from her life before learning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Repentance is a great blessing to her to remove these burdens. She emerged from the baptismal font grateful for the covenants she was making with the Savior and for His atoning love which cleanses her. Her friends the Gastaldis were blessed to be able to share with her these great blessings from their own lives.

That same morning, we drove to Tontouta for Anouchka Boa's baptism. Her mother joined the Church near the beginning of our mission here having been taught by great missionaries now returned home. Claude, Victor and now Anouchka have followed their mother. There remains now for Dad to join the Church.

One last experience to share. With a team of missionaries, I have been teaching a man who has just married an active member, Alice Weatheane in the Noumea 2 branch. Desire (pronounced Day-zear-ay) is an honest, humble man.He lives in a metal-roofed, plywood-walled small home on the outskirts of Koutio north of Noumea. On Wednesday evenings as the sun starts to lower, a breeze through the mangroves in the stream near his home make an idyllic setting. His meager education doesn't impede his study of the Book of Mormon and understanding the books testimony of Christ. We are seeing another soul transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pictures nearby will better tell the story than can my words.

With missionaries departing, new elders have arrived. We remark that these new elders are well-prepared and anxious to be engaged in the work. We are grateful for their obedience.

Elder Lacy comes to us having spent last summer as a member of the Vienna, Virginia Ward. Our sister ward at home. Elder Falconbury spent his first rendezvous, in Mont Dore with a companion new to the sector, setting a baptismal date. An ami from months past was now married and could be baptized. She was happy they came by. Elder Tehoiri arrived a two weeks earlier from Tahiti.

And so the work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Heavenly Father's children continues. Lives are transformed, burdens lifted, joy found. He lives and loves us.

Le Chapeau de Gendarme and other adventures

We are preparing to send off three great missionaries who have completed their missions, receive 3 new missionaries and accomplish all the activities around a visit from President and Sister Ostler for a Zone Conference. And then there was a little hike.

As we have moved through 2010, we have sent off a large number of very experienced, great missionaries. And new ones have arrived to take their place. These new elders and sisters are already working hard. They are well prepared. The Sisters have all come from Tahiti which eliminates the language problem. And the Elders, all Americans, are proficient in French already and making great progress. They will soon be assuming leadership roles in the work here.

With the training at their last visit, President and Sister Ostler felt it time for a zone conference, not having had one in 3 months here. We enjoyed a p-day picnic on Monday with them and then a zone conference on Tuesday before sending them off Wednesday morning. Their pace and travel are very demanding. Relaxation time with the young missionaries is always great. They enjoy being together as well as having time to visit with the Ostlers and ourselves.

Just prior to their arrival, a young convert in the Noumea 1 branch hosted a dinner for all of the missionaries to say 'good-bye' to Sisters Cummins and Leavitt and Elder Larkin. Eddey Tuugahala joined the Church himself about 6 months ago and is now preparing himself to serve a full time mission. He has helped the work here enormously by being available to teach with the missionaries in his branch as well as serving a 'mini-mission' during his vacation time when we had an 'odd' number of Elders. He hosted us at another member's larger home, the Aliki's, Didier. Tables loaded with great Melanesian and Wallisian fare. And capped off the meal with his own home-made chocolate cakes. It was quite an evening. Eddey is Wallisian and his grandfather is one of the principle chiefs in Wallis. He is eager to help us bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to his home island and will be a great help dealing with the local tribal structure through his grandfather.

In the middle of this, we have been observing in the bay outside our windows an old, rather tubby-looking sailing vessel. We think it must be a pirate ship. It sailed in one day under full sail, dingy and patched, though they were. Anchored itself in the bay flying a small red flag that resembled a pirates' drapeau. The boat was anything but graceful with its bowsprit and webbed rigging for climbing to the top of either of its two masts. And the enormous rudder hanging off the stern added additional speculation. Painted a bright blue with a gold stripe at the gunwale, she has been quite the sight for ten days. And then abruptly sailed away earlier this week. Adding to its intrigue are the kayak strapped to the bow and the bicycle hanging in the rigging.

As Elder Larkin prepares to leave at the end of his mission, he noted to President Ostler that he had always wanted to climb 'le Chapeau de Gendarme,' a local peak of about 675 meters. Permission granted. It gets his name from its shape. The peak stands alone and is rounded on top looking like a gendarme's hat. The hike is relatively strenuous, at least for 'older people' with lots of ups and downs of 100 feet or more climbing up then back down again and up again. At one point the trail crosses a ravine. The remains of a suspended foot bridge are not much help and the large rocks provide scant footholds. Real rock climbing with no safety line/ the final ascent to the top is a rocky grade about 60 degrees, again with little place to hold on. Three of us, including Elder Larkin and his companion, started early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. Two hours up, an hour on top and then 90 minutes for the descent. Pictures nearby hardly do it justice, but you will get some idea.

And so the work continues. We look ahead to a weekend with two baptisms, the arrival of a Tahitian Elder on Saturday and two new Elders from the States later in the week. We are grateful for these young missionaries and their energy and testimonies. But even more grateful for our Savior whose Gospel changes our lives and those of so many around us. We testify that He lives.

Baptisms and birthdays...aah

Cars have been repaired, bank accounts are working again, apartment painted and ready to be vacated, new apartment rented, and the work continues. We celebrated missionary birthdays and then 3 baptisms capped the month.

We celebrated Sister Mautz's birthday as well as Sister Paepaetaata's birthday with cake with all of the missionaries during Monday P-day. Earlier in the month we celebrated Elder Seiko and Elder Style's birthdays. Warm summer weather makes being outside quite fun.

Friday, September 25 was the Oceane Taumau's birthday. This birthday was important as she could be baptised. the family celebrated at a Japanese restaurant and invited us to attend. Pictures below show us enjoying dinner together as well as with her birthday cake.

She and her brother were baptised the following day. We have been working with their family for several months. Soane and Vaea as they prepared for marriage and baptism. The necessary paper trail for the marriage to occur has been tedious. This process has been so long because the government agency that grants marriage licenses ask such questions as to why a passport shows Soane's nationality as French while his birth certificate shows Melanesian. But the children were anxious for their baptisms even as this last round of questions appeared.

An unexpected blessing through all of this has been the time it has given them to become a family that enjoys daily scripture reading and prayer as well as family home evening. And presided over by a worthy father. We taught a series of lessons based on the Proclamation on the Family and family relations. The transformation, which they recognize, has been wonderful as they adopted the culture of a family based on the eternal principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having become surrogate grandparents, we were grateful to be able to participate in the baptisms.

Earlier that Saturday, the District Relief Society sponsored a clean the attic day making used clothing available to those needing it. They quickly adopted the Oakton Stake's name 'Gifts of the Heart' for this activity when they heard it. As is so often the case in the U.S., people were amazed at what they had that they no longer needed. And the lives of many others were blessed from the many contributions of used clothing and toys.

Saturday was wonderfully busy as Adam Tasso was also baptized, in Tontouta. His grandfather baptized him with both parents present. His mother is a returned missionary from Vanuatu. He is eleven years old and was grateful to be baptized. As is the usual custom here, the newly baptized members shared their testimonies. All three of these children were articulate, spoke clearly sharing their testimony including meaningful scriptures.

We are grateful for the good that is done as we serve others because the Savior has so asked us.

Slammed!

We are still here working and healthy and happy. But the date of our last post reminds us that the days following our Fiji visit have been packed. No sooner had we finished the month end work than we had a District Conference, a funeral, a visit from our Mission president and some missionary emergencies including an injured senior zone leader who had to finish early and return home for treatment, a car accident, bank account problems for another and, thankfully, the arrival of two new missionaries. What a month.

We bid farewell to Elder Wilcox after an unfortunate, and no fault of his, interaction with a drunk from Mare, encountered on the boat bringing Elder Wilcox to Lifou to help out while we waited for the arrival of a new Elder. That interaction resulted in severe muscle strain and, with the later diagnosis in the U.S., torn ligaments in his neck and back. Before we knew it, he was on his way home for treatment and recovery. Really only a couple weeks earlier than his original departure date, but six weeks ahead of the extended date he had been planning on. He returned home via Auckland which meant a little later departure time. Pictures below show the breakfast we enjoyed before taking him to the airport. On the beach at one of our favorite places.



Then it was time for a zone conference again. This one was different, however. Globally, the emphasis of training by the mission president and his wife is shifting to fewer conferences, only quarterly, and more work on teaching some specific areas to help those studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ to receive personal revelation and commit to living Gospel principles . This visit was a transition with 4 days of training for the missionary leadership. Eight very intensive sessions over four days, each taking a half day, with role playing. These trained missionaries are now working with their fellow missionaries. A sisters' night was part of the conference however. Pictures nearby show the sisters enjoying dinner chez nous. Because this training was on a smaller scale, we provided lunches each of the 4 days. Nothing fancy, but we found hat the missionaries love fresh fruit. Seems there is some rumor that you can't afford fresh fruit on a missionary budget. Even apples, which are not expensive, were devoured in no time. We were glad to get something into these great missionaries in addition to starch and meat. They were grateful.




As soon as these meetings were over, a series of efforts to exit an apartment no longer in use, help a local sister missionary get her frozen bank account back under control, repair another apartment where electricity was continuously interrupted by the primary circuit breaker and a 'minor' car accident consumed several days. None of these alone is a terribly big deal, but we find ourselves discovering how to handle each one as a new experience. And things aren't always done here as they are at home.

Finally, we are delighted to welcome two new missionaries. They arrived a couple weeks a part. Elder Coffey (and yes the French do understand this name is a bit droll for a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is serving on Lifou with Elder Stilson.

Elder Moore arrived just this week. He will be serving on the grande terre. He had a couple interesting experiences arriving. His flight from SLC to LA was delayed an hour. His flight from LA to Fiji left early so he missed it. Missionary travel suggested he stay with his family near LA for two days while they got him on another flight to Fiji. This delay allowed two important missionary efforts. The first to a good high school friend who found listening to the Prophet of God and reading the Book of Mormon were more positive experiences than his prior life's activities. The second, while seated on the flight to Fiji with a man on his way to visit his family, all of whom were Church members. So why, our missionary asked, are you not a member. they read the Book of Mormon together, prayed and Elder Moore introduced him to the sister missionaries in Fiji upon landing. He accepted an invitation from Elder Moore to be baptized. We appreciate both this good Elder's efforts as well as the lesson that sometimes Heavenly Father needs us such that we may be slightly inconvenienced.



So we come to the end of another week. Cars are being repaired, apartments painted, bank accounts re-activated, electrical wiring fixed. 33 investigators at Church last Sunday. The work moves forward under these great young missionaries' efforts blessed by their Heavenly Father.

We visit Fiji and say some good-byes

President and Sister Ostler hosted a senior couple seminar earlier this month. They needed some time with us to receive instruction on the care and handling of illnesses among the young missionaries and also felt that those who are off serving in part of the mission might enjoy getting together. We were gone a week, but it was an humbling, eye-opening, wonderful week.

The Mission home sits in a complex on one of the highest points in Suva with the Temple, The temple president's house, patron housing for the temple, the mission office, temple worker apartments, and a distribution center. A real respite from tired Fiji. We had a room in the temple patron housing that had a refrigerator so that we could have breakfasts and lunches. Evenings were usually with one or more of the locally based senior couples. Meeting and associating with these dear people was one of the highlights of the trip. Some a few years older than we, a few just a couple years younger. All serving missions out of love for the Lord. And they do many things. They travel all over the mission auditing branch, district, ward and stake records. they staff the Temple. They serve the missionaries as an onsite nurse. They instruct and educate others on how to be better teachers. One evening the Ostlers hosted a game night at their house that included a delicious dinner cooked by a number of the resident sisters. On another occasion we spent time together teaching each other about our parts of the mission as well as receiving instruction from the nurse. One of these couples is in Fiji as a volunteer. they started a mission and had to go home early for some medical reasons. He is the retired CEO of a small software company that he had taken public. He is now working with local return missionaries teaching them how to use local programs to gain necessary work skills. Like many others, they are Canadians who seemed to be disproportionally represented in this group.



Another major feature of the trip was being in the temple everyday. The Fiji Suva Temple is one of the smaller temples but as lovely and serene as any of the Lord's Houses. It sits at the summit of the highest point in the city. When we went out and needed a cab home, all we needed to say was the Temple and they came right to it. We understand that ships home in on Moroni lit by the sun during the day and illuminated by night. Must be a great parable there! It had been a long time since our last temple visit. We didn't realize how much we were missing it.

One brief humerous event. One of the older workers, a wheat farmer from North America, was having trouble pronouncing my name. So I helped by equating the name to 'mouse' with a 't' just at the end. Seemed to help as he didn't trip on it anymore that day. The next day on arriving, our friend greeted us full of enthusiasm to say our name since he now knew us. 'Brother Cat.' I am afraid we were just a little irreverent for a minute. Completely true.

The temple was an unanticipated gift of the trip.



On the final days of the seminar we took a trip on a river in 30 foot flat bottomed long boats, shallow draft and powered by 25-30 hp outboards. Two destinations. First was a Fijian village where we visited their school, enjoyed a tribal welcome, ate a delicious lunch and then had a chance to shop. As near as we can tell, an enterprising tribal leaders caught up with the boatmen and suggested the village visit. Apparently with great success. There were 40+ of us in our party. We understand the village got US$10 from the boat company for each of us. What entrepreneurs.

The second destination was another 45 minutes up river. A spectacular waterfall. We had to leave the boats and hike up a narrow path for some time to see it. Beautiful sight. I would have swum had I been properly clothed! However we did get doused a couple times as we negotiated some rapids.



Fiji is an interesting country and quie a contrast to New Caledonia in many respects. Fiji came to be as a result of volcanic activity many years ago. It is consequently not very mineral rich. It was an English colony for many years before declaring its independence some 40 years ago. The English influence shows in its historical architecture, its language and driving on the left. Independence has been hard. Much of the infrastructure is in need of repair particularly roads. They have had frequent coup d'etat. The current government is a military dictatorship which is at least stable and apparently not as corrupt. The Church has been present for a long time. Much longer than New Caledonia. President McKay used to enjoy coming here. The old hotel which was his favorite is now an empty shell, but the chapel for which he pointed out a hill top location is still there. The Church runs a large school complex just down the street from the Temple complex.



And finally transfers and good byes. We had gone to Fiji with the Ostlers just after a zone conference. And knowing that just a few days after our return we would send two missionaries home. One to her parents in Lifou, Sister Seiko, and the other to Riverton Utah, Elder Morrill the Senior Zone Leader. We will miss them both for very different reasons. Sister Seiko is a quiet, hard working sister to whom President Ostler could turn anytime he had an issue to resolve. And he did so. Her parents are stalwarts of the Church here who have sacrificed much to build the Church on their native island of Lifou. Elder Morrill had the rare combination of talents able to laugh at himself, lead effectively and keep everybody moving forward. Something of a 'jokester,' he was the origin of the spongebob prank of earlier writing. We worked closely with him over almost a year. Of course, you can only be such a missionary if you also work very hard. Rumor was that he was going to run away with Sister Mautz. But she stayed! Sorry, Elder.



I released Sister Seiko this morning. We had a picture last night from Elder Morrill with his family. The feelings emanating from those photos are identical even though the families come from different backgrounds thousands of miles apart. Faithful service born of love for Heavenly Father and His Son bless missionaries and their families

Lifou wedding and new sister missionaries

New experiences come regularly even after more than a year here. Among these was a marriage involving a family from Lifou and therefore its tribal leaders as well as a family from France. And then we welcomed 2 new sister missionaries from Tahiti.

The wedding combining the coutume of Lifou, a service at the Magenta chapel to the Church on behalf of the groom and then all of the events around a traditonal Lifou wedding showed us how marriages take place. Quite the events.

We started the evening before the wedding with coutume, or the customary exchange of gifts. This first time was between the tribal leaders in Lifou who had come, the family and the Church interestingly. Tribal chiefs are patriarchs of large clans or families. Otherwise they look like pretty normal Melanesians. Because they were all coming to the Church the next day, they wanted to be respectful to us. I represented the church along with the local branch president. Our gift to them was a copy of the Book of Mormon. Also important was the chance for us to talk about the church to these tribal leaders who lead the tribes on Lifou where we have just placed missionaries for the first time in two years. So we were grateful for the opportunity this wedding presented to present the Church to these tribal leaders.



The following day, after the wedding at the mairie or before the government which is required of all marriages in France and its states, the couple and extended family of well over 200 people joined us at the chapel. Opening hymn and prayer, then talks by the branch president and myself about eternal marriage, importance of the family and welcoming the teachings of the Savior into their home, a vocal solo, and then off to more coutume. This time gifts by the couple to her parents as well as gifts to the couple from everybody present. The giving of gifts through all of this was quite public with an announcement at the end as to just how much money they had received. To say nothing of mountains of rice in bags, sugar and other staples. What did they do with it all? During all of this was a seemingly spontaneous, unaccompanied singing by the older women who had seated themselves along one side of the space while all of the gifts were presented and given by whomever wanted to. A film clip with sound follows:






Nearby, a group of women, dressed similarly and led by quite a character did a kind of line dance accompanied this time by a group of men on whistle like devices. the line of women did a kind of two-step as they approached various people. It appeared to us they were 'loosening up ' the crowd to be more generous with the couple. Their leaders would signal from time to time to the whistlers so they would stop while she spoke. We were highly entertained.



The end of the week welcomed new sisters arriving with President and Sister Ostler as well as a zone conference. there was much to do as we prepared for a week's absence for a senior couples' seminar in Fiji. Transfers took place as we prepared for that trip also. Subject of the next entry.