Lifou

The bookends to the week were a family home evening with a family from the Noumea 2 branch and then a trip to the island of Lifou with the senior zone leaders for Elder Mautz.

As we get to know the members better, we are more often now invited to their homes for a family home evening. The Trutruns are members of the Noumea 2 branch which meets in the chapel just adjacent to our office. He is a self employed contractor. When he has made enough to sustain his family, we often see the whole family at the chapel working at maintaining the grounds or cleaning the building. This particular evening, the local sister missionaries, Sister Carter and Sister Swapp were also invited as were some recent converts and friends of the Church. We made quite a group. We started the evening playing a simple game with the younger children. Sister Swapp had brought with her a series of Gospel picture cards which we could turn picture side down on the table. By turn each tried to find a matching pair of pictures. As the players succeeded at this, they 'won' the cards and could then retell the story depicted. The children were quite engaged in the game. After a dinner with too much good food, we enjoyed a viewing of a dvd of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Brother Trutrun invited various of us to share our feelings and testimony about the restoration and the blessings in our lives resulting therefrom. An edifying evening for all of us.

In these situations, we often sit outside to eat, watch the film and then talk together. The climate is such that the house and small yard are easily all apart of the living space at the same time. As a result, homes don't need to be as large because the outdoors is part of the living area.

Saturday morning, I flew to Lifou to join the senior zone leaders who had gone the previous day. Our objectives were twofold. First to visit with and strengthen the local small branch. Second, to evaluate the situation and formulate a recommendation for our Mission President as to putting a team of missionaries back on the island. The last had left in February, 2008. Sister Mautz stayed at home to the disappointment of the saints in Lifou and the surprise of those in Noumea. As she explained to the District president, 'Elder Mautz spoils me and doesn't make me go camping.'

We stayed in a small, Lifou-version of a bed and breakfast. Our 'room' was a case (pronounced 'caz'). This is a local dwelling with a thatched roof supported at the perimeter of the building by a wall made either of stone, concrete or sticks. The roof slopes up from this supporting perimeter to a peak usually 10-15 feet overhead. In those used entirely for living space, a fire pit is in the center. Smoke therefrom fills the upper part of the case seeping out through the thatch. I am told this leaves a layer of 'clear' air from the floor up to the point where the roof starts sloping in to the peak. The inside of that roof is coated with the soot accumulated over many usages. Ours did not have the firepit nor the soot. Pictures nearby will give you the idea.

Lifou is a large island off the east coast of the 'grande terre' or main island of New Caledonia. It is part of the country, flat, in contrast to the mountains of the grande terre, and heavily wooded from one end to the other. Sparsely inhabited, a couple main roads join the small villages and run the length and width of the island. The island is rocky with some beautiful beaches, clear, blue water and beautiful bays. Pictures nearby will show you a few shots of the landscapes and seascapes.

At my arrival, we went directly to the branch president's home for lunch and some planning for the two days I would be there. The Seikos are a remarkable story in themselves.

You will recognize the name as they have two children currently serving full time missions here on the grande terre. They are both working very hard and great missionaries. Meeting the parents told the story.

President Abel Seiko grew up on Lifou but went to Noumea as a young man to work. He and his wife both had good jobs in Noumea. But when he felt impressed to return to Lifou to strengthen the Church several years ago, they both quit these jobs and moved their family of 5 children of their own and 3 others to Lifou. The tribal system granted them a large tract of land covered with scrub woods. They have cleared all of that, built a case for sleeping quarters and another small building housing the kitchen, computer and a working space. Sister Seiko now has an enormous garden where she raises lettuce, tomatoes, papayas, pineapples and whatever else she believes she can sell. She tells me she is making more with her garden produce than she did in her business of providing transportation for school children when they lived here. As she showed me her garden and their living quarters she turned to me and said, 'Elder Mautz, je suis contente.' She wanted me to know she is happy with all of this change in her life.

President Seiko rides a bicycle to work. He bought the cycle from Elder Freddy Axelgard, a good friend of ours. Readers may recall our meeting him at the MTC while we were there. He was back from his mission in New Caledonia as we were leaving and served in Lifou for 6 months. Left his bicycle behind with the Seikos.

I thought their life showed a new dimension of serving Heavenly Father with all their might, mind and strength as the Savior instructs us. Pictures nearby show some of the yard and garden.

The season of late Spring here is the time when amaryllis bloom. They are planted here like tulips would be in the States and are striking additions to a garden.

Before lunch, we harvested fresh coconuts from high in the palms, opened them with a knife-like instrument with a 30-inch blade to chop it open. the milk' is drunk right from the coconut as well as being used for cooking and salad dressings. Quite a delicacy. Pulling one of these down from a tree was quite an art also so as not to get one on the head. Elder Huuti was a master at it.

The rest of the day was spent visiting members of the church, as well as those that Elder Johnston remembered from the early days of his mission when he worked in Lifou for 3 months. His memory was impressive as he navigated us over the island in our little rented Peugeot. We held a fireside that night and then slept very hard. Sunday brought Church services with the branch and then temple recommend interviews with most of the adults in the branch. They will join the members here in Noumea for the annual 3-week trip to Auckland to the Temple there next January.

And then, suddenly, it was time to fly home. I reflected on the lessons of this island with a lifestyle very different than any I have lived. Simple and agrarian. However, the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ including faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, obedience to Gospel principles, families joined together eternally and founded on the scriptures are quite as important to these good members as anywhere else in the world.

Two baptisms and a birthday

The week slipped away amidst lots of small tasks and efforts. And with much anticipation for the weekend.

Fridays bring for us a meeting with the zone leaders. During that meeting we discuss overall needs in the mission work in New Caledonia and any concerns for individual companionships as well as what we might do to help. We also discuss the overall status of the work. At our last meeting we discussed the status of each new convert during the last 12 months as well as what we might expect for the rest of the year. The number of active friends of the Church attending Sacrament Services and actively studying with the missionaries was almost double the number of baptisms thus far this year. Many of them were families and most had friends already members of the Church. I suggested they put together plans for each one. Our meeting was delightful.

The weekend brought two baptisms in two different places at the same time of day. Senior couples get stressed over such conflict. Nearby pictures show you both baptisms, One in Tontouta and one in Riviere Salee. The first, in Tontouta has been scheduled for some time. Marceline Boa’s young son was baptized just a few months ago shortly after our arrival. Due to the difficulties of tribal customs here, she and her ‘husband’ had never legally married. That was completed last month. He is a good man and attended the baptism. I had a chance to speak with him a couple times. I urged him to prepare himself so that the two of them could then be married forever in the Temple. He is getting himself ready. A few things in life to change. We parted good enough friends that he will invite me to his baptism. A good number of family members were also present.

Meanwhile in Riviere Salee another baptism was taking place. Again with a chapel full of members, friends of the Church and missionaries. This time the baptism was performed by Brigitte’s husband, so we were completing a family. She has been studying the church for some time. They too are looking forward to the Temple in a year. These good people, from different ethnic backgrounds grasp the same universal principles and eagerly anticipate full activity in the Church. Members are eager to welcome them. Home teachers are in place. We want to take good care of these new converts.

We watch the work with wonder. We also observe how faithful these young missionaries are. Two quick examples.

A young elder in Ducos has been thrust into leadership earlier than he might have felt prepared. Conducting his first district meeting with 7 other missionaries present, he has planned a discussion to train us, conducts the meeting entirely in French and suggests some ideas in response to questions that arise from the teaching going on in his district. He successfully navigates the language finding ways to express thoughts when he doesn’t always know exactly the vocabulary he might want to use. He arrived just after we did and is working hard. We are grateful for him.

In the Sunday class for those studying the Church another young elder is teaching a lesson about the importance of families. Among the concepts he teaches is that of families working together to care for their home. Discussion follows with questions about what to do if the children don’t want to work in the home. He sights his own family and how grateful he is for his own mother. At least, he notes, he knows how to clean his apartment, wash the clothes and iron his shirts. Perhaps the only remaining question was ‘Have you thanked your mother and told her you love her?’

The last event of the week was Sister Mautz’s birthday. With her permission, we note it was the 60^th. And we were in a French speaking country just like for mine! On Monday, the missionaries’ p-day, we had cake and a good group of them gathered to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. They are pictured nearby. No sound clip. It was all spontaneous. Birthday cards and all.

Much of our work is seeing what needs to be done and getting it done. Whether that is government visa issues or training local leaders or supporting missionary activities. We do what we do because the Lord has asked it of us. We love Him and our Heavenly Father. What more can we say?

Three little experiences

Missions for senior couples are interesting. Sometimes you wonder if you are doing all that you should be. And then Heavenly Father blesses, sometimes in an overwhelming manner, to let you be of service and share in bountiful experiences.

By the beginning of the week, we were rested and recovered from the conference experiences. And we had a list of things to fix in the apartments. So off we trekked Wednesday morning, tool kit in hand, like 24/7 repair people to fix a washing machine and a phone. The washing machine was flowing water all over the floor of one of the sisters' apartments, the phone was full of static such that it couldn't be used to make appointments or follow up on meetings. We had taken our car in for servicing, so we were even driving one of the little white panel truck Berlingos. We looked like repairmen. Sister Mautz demurred on the picture of this one. You will have to use your imagination.

The washing machine was a quick fix by cleaning out the filter. In these machines the filter is hidden behind a panel at the bottom of the machine. The sisters were very grateful. As were we to have the fix be so quick. The phone took two tries. We were pretty sure it was the machine and not the line. And so it was.

Later in the week we also supplied insecticide to kill cockroaches (cafards) that are infesting two apartments. (Don't ask!) The elders were triumphant. A quick spray behind the washing machine and refrigerator and out they all came scampering to their demise. This is the apartment with the new refrigerator as the cafards had infested the insulation in the last one.

Real success. Now for the 3 experiences.

Experience 1:In addition to washing machines, phones, cafards etc, one of the apartments needed a new iron.

An easy purchase which we did while doing our weekly grocery shopping. However, to get the 3-month warranty, the purchaser has to go to a 'help desk.' I couldn't be bothered. But Sister Mautz was insistent. 'What if doesn't even work?' she queried. Then she took the iron out of my hands, sent me to the car with the groceries and did it herself. (Don't think 'little red hen.') We speak French here. I was awed at the confidence and let her take it. She returned triumphantly shortly thereafter telling me they had asked for the sales slip, she had asked if they really needed it, they said no and she had it all taken care of. Just think about that a minute.

Number 2:

Saturday morning was a double baptismal service. The 8-year-old grandson of a loving, member grandfather who did the baptism. And a new convert who brought his whole family including brothers and their wives. More than 50 in attendance including several teams of missionaries all with friends of the Church with them. At the end of the service, the newly baptised are invited to share their testimonies as new members of the Church. Both these were articulate and great feelings. The young boy is Primary age, knew what he was doing and shared his feelings of knowing that he had done what his Heavenly Father wanted of him. The second, Sylveste, quoted Biblical and Book of Mormon scripture, promised his family that he was sincere and that the new man they were encountering was for real.

The missionaries who are teaching him recount that now that he has started moving forward with his Church membership, he teaches them as fast as they teach him. he has read the Bible through and quotes back to them scriptures passages as he now understands them with the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will undoubtedly enjoy holding the Priesthood so that he can bless his family.

We lingered and then came home to catch up a little. Later in the day we visited a local town museum tracing the history of Noumea from the French arrival in the mid-1850's through the two world wars. The political themes woven into the presentations were hard to miss. First conscriptions of the local Melanesian population in WWI. Veteran benefits denied them for a lengthy period of time and finally granted shortly before the start of WWII. The focus was clearly on the local population and its war heroes. History sounds a little different from this point of view. However, the Allied influence in building Noumea, providing sanitation facilities, hospitals, a railroad, airport etc. is real and quite evident even today.

The building itself dates back to the late 1800's and was built as a bank. When it went bankrupt the City bought it as the town hall and then it became this museum. Since it is so old, the architecture is reminiscent of pre-air conditioning with broad porches on two levels to provide relief from the summer heat. A few pictures are nearby. The poster of Charles DeGaulle is clearly of a later vintage.

Experience 3. Later Saturday evening, we met with a just-returned, radiant sister missionary for her release. Her family was with her. What a tender experience as she shared highlights from her 18 months in Montreal. Be obedient to your leaders. Heavenly Father is waiting to bless you and provide all that you might ever need. Not because you have earned it, but because He loves you. Just be obedient and ask in prayer. Her faithful parents and younger siblings are delighted to have her home. A difficult moment as she was released and had to remove her missionary name tag that has been her identity these last many months.

And so we look back on the last few days hoping that we in some small way have contributed and grateful for the opportunity to be here to share in the lives of these great people whom we love.

Zone Conference, BBQ and travel

We spent the week welcoming our Mission President and his wife. They arrived Wednesday evening. Much of their time is with the young missionaries whom they both individually interview. During these hours we spend time arranging for meals, being sure we know who is to be where and when. However, during this week there was also a fair amount of member interaction as we traveled once again to Bourail and then on to Houailou to meet with members needing his attention.

Friday morning President Ostler and I were off early for the 3 hour drive to Houailou. We stopped in Boulouparis, 90 minutes north, to pick up two of our missionaries who were meeting one of their friends of the Church. Dropped them off in Bourail to wait for her and picked up two others who accompanied us the last hour of the trip across the island to Houailou. There he was to interview three members for their first opportunities to be in the Temple in New Zealand in just a few weeks. Their excitement at the prospect of having their families joined together as a family unit forever including after death was a feast in itself. They had carefully prepared themselves knowing the fundamental requirements to be worthy to enter the Temple. Family relationships and ties are very strong here. The Gospel of Jesus Christ promising that these ties can endure beyond the grave is worth whatever sacrifice of money and time is required. Humble people who save all that they can for the trip and then are helped by brothers and sisters who share the cost of such a trip with them in gratitude for the Savior's atonement, making possible such great blessings as families being families forever.

We also enjoyed renewing acquaintance with these good people whom we have not seen in several weeks since our last trip north. Lots of kisses on the cheek and warm embraces. These good people know how to say 'hello!'

Our good elders in Bourail prepared a lunch for us before our return trip. We arrived home from this trip about 3 hours later than we had expected. By then, Sister Mautz was hosting 'Sisters' night' at our apartment, so we brethren were 'not allowed' until they finished up. A few pictures nearby present them as their evening concluded.

This visit from the Ostlers was a longer one, so Monday, the missionaries' P-day brought them all in for a few hours in the middle of the day for a BBQ. We asked one of the members to come cook for us. The missionaries provided salads and desserts. Volleyball games, basket ball, football and lots of visiting. Perhaps you are wondering just what the sister missionaries did. Always glad to see each other, they had lots to talk about and also more than held their own in volleyball. The wind was strong so the weather felt almost chilly, but we all had sunburns by the end of the day.

Sunday sent us to Mont Dore for meetings. I continue to attend each branch on a rotating basis to see how things are going and to do temple recommend interviews. I was pleased at seeing the results of my training from 10 days earlier as the Elders' Quorum President distributed the Family Guides to each father present, taught the Quorum members a Priesthood ordinance and then presented the organization of his home teaching assignments by team and to whom they were to report. I got reports from two other branches that similar lessons had occurred. These good brethren are eager to learn their duties so that they can bless the lives of their quorum members by serving them.

Visas have been a particular fascination this week. Two of them. One for a missionary departing from New Caledonia, Elder Blucker, to serve in the USA in Hawaii. He, of course, needs an American visa. The other for a member from Vanuatu needing a French visa to come to New Caledonia. We waited an extra 2 months to get our French visas, allowing us to prepare a little better both in language with our MTC tutor and in getting a few things taken care of at home, but also introduced us to several people in SLC who are knowledgeable in US visas. We have made good use of those contacts over the last several weeks for Elder Blucker. So there WAS a reason for all of that waiting. His departure to the US has also been delayed two months waiting for the processing in the US. And then we find that after the visa is done, he must present himself at a US Embassy, in Fiji, it turns out, for an interview and to have his passport 'stamped.' Those interviews happen only twice a day and only on certain days of the week. The earliest available date is October 1. I was grateful we weren't waiting for a medical procedure! Never again shall I complain of the French bureaucracy after dealing with the US brand.

Our Vanuatu Elder just needs to know how to proceed. Nobody in this part of the world really knows how to get a French visa. The US elders get SLC support, the Tahitian elders are already French citizens and don't need a visa. Again, much that we learned going through the process in the US ourselves has helped here as we learned how to get the proper documents signed and send them off to him. A trip to the Office of Foreigners helped us find the right forms and information for our Vanuatu Elder to prepare. Patience while our Heavenly Father prepares us for things we can't yet see.

We completed the week with the Zone Conference itself on Tuesday. In the accompanying pictures you will note the difference in the appearance of the missionaries between p-day attire and their 'conference dress.' As always, we enjoy being taught both by the missionary leadership as well as by President and Sister Ostler.

Peace reigns, service projects and the Primary

We came out of the week with no significant activity from the local syndicat (union) as we waited for judgements against their leaders. Those will not now be announced for several weeks. meanwhile the government is making a regular showing of power keeping things quite calm. A welcome relief for all.

Pictured nearby are 4 of the Elders' Quorum Presidents in our training session from Wednesday evening. Carl is gradually moving through the organization with some kind of training along the way. These good, young, energetic brethren carry heavy responsibilities and work hard at serving the members of their branches. We focused on helping in their responsibility to teach how to perform the ordinances of the Gospel to their quorum members and how to organize home teaching. the latter including what a home teacher is to do, how and why to get reports from each home teaching team and how organize their efforts delegating some of the work to their counselors. Co-incident with this training was the visit from Tahiti of a team helping the District install the Church's record system. It has a significant module on home teaching, so we invited one of them to come and demonstrate. These young Presidents are computer savvy brethren and had no trouble learning to navigate the system. Of course there will be some work up front getting things started, but then the tool will help enormously.

On Saturday we participated with most of the missionaries as well as about 60 members of the District in a clean up service project in one of the neighboring towns, Mont Dore. We have a chapel there and two teams of missionaries serving in the area. The village was hosting a clean up along roads, around schools and parks and athletic fields. We congregated about 7a and started working by 8 finishing about noon. Donated hours amounted about 320. Bags of cans, plastic bottle and general garbage were significant. We sorted as we accumulated to make re-cycling easier. The community provided sandwiches and water for us midway through the morning for which we were quite grateful. Starting at 8a meant leaving home by 6:30a and breakfasts were much earlier. Kept us from fading away before noon. Pictured nearby are the members of the district being instructed by our public relations co-ordinator as well as the missionaries outfitted in the complimentary t-shirts given each of the workers. We worked hard and were quite tired by the midday completion.

Home for showers, a quick nap and then the Primary talent night which commenced at 4p. Old people have trouble keeping up such a pace. Each branch in the district provided a talent usually around a story line. While the relationship between their assigned theme such as repentance, hope, or longanimity were sometimes a bit of a stretch, we completely enjoyed watching these beautiful children perform dances they had learned. They are beautiful with large brown eyes, beautiful olive skin and quick smiles. Sister Mautz notes they have eyelashes to die for! A number of pictures nearby will give you a better look at cowboys, native dancers and the like.

We visited the Tontouta branch for Church services today. These good Saints welcome us, help Sister Mautz with her French and feed us. Elder Mautz was one of the speakers in Sacrament Service. In teaching about serving together as one, he used the example of our own home ward in Oakton where much is given supporting each other in the difficulties, sadness and challenges of life. We are grateful for their example as we serve here. The branch is preparing for a fireside next Saturday. Nearby is a film clip of the branch choir with a few missionaries singing a familiar Primary song, in French however and with some great harmony provided by the local musical talents.

We look forward next week to a visit with our Mission President and a Zone Conference. the next posting may be a few days later than usual.

New Missionary, Transfers and 2 C3's

Last weekend slipped away as Sister Mautz's hip recovered by limbering up and Elder Mautz prepared an unexpected talk for Sacrament meeting in the Noumea 1 branch. In the meantime, we have welcomed a new Elder, Elder Seiko, cracked the code to import meds, cleaned the closet and sent off dear missionaries to new assignments.

Elder Seiko, whom you met a few weeks ago with his enthusiastic willingness to depart with less than 24 hours notice, returned to us this week from his 3 weeks at the MTC in New Zealand. He is glad to be at work and is a great addition. Elder Styles is his new companion and trainer. We picked up Elder Seiko at the airport in Tontouta on Wednesday after a false start on Tuesday. Seems they didn't get him to the airport in time for his flight. But he arrived via Fiji Wednesday right on time. We got him to his new companion. They are working hard and having fun at it. Pictures nearby show him with Elder Styles and during his orientation with the zone leaders. We should note in passing that Elder Seiko is from New Caledonia. His father is a passed District president here and now is a branch president in Lifou, an island part of New Caledonia just to the East. His sister is currently serving here in the Tontouta branch. We were to join that district with Elder Seiko on Tuesday. When he didn't arrive as expected, we went on to the district meeting, also pictured nearby, where his sister was teaching a lesson. When we walked in without her brother, she carried on without batting eye. We admired her tenacity and faithfulness.

As we start our 6th month of our mission, it became time to need more prescription medicines. We had originally been told that importing them was out of the question. However, in doing a little listening at the customs office which we visit regularly while picking up packages for the missionaries, we began to understand that with some proper preparation, we could have prescription medicines shipped in. Now to crack the code as to how that was done. When Elder Mautz asked just how this could be done, he was sent 'over there' to another building. With some more questions, we met the medical inspector who explained just what we needed. The hardest part, we thought, was already done since we had with us copies of our prescriptions. That turned out to be the easiest. The hardest part was securing the importation form from the government printing office a few blocks away and which is only open until 3p in spite of what the signs say on the building. After 3 tries we succeeded, completed the form, got back to the medical inspector who efficiently stamped it, got it to his superior for signature and back to us in 24 hours. So now we are authorized drug importers, of a sort. We feel like Carl cracked the code.

Behind our office is a storage closet all our own. And stuffed with leftovers from closed missionary apartments, car wash supplies, and whatever else somebody thought might be useful sometime in the future. One afternoon while Sister Mautz was finishing up all kinds of reports, Carl cleaned the closet. (Yes, all we ever needed to know we did learn from our Mothers!) Pictured nearby are 3 shots of the before, contents all over the yard and after shots. Not only is it more useable, but we actually know what is there. When one of the apartments needed a vacuum cleaner, we knew we had one! Somehow not as quite as big a deal in writing as it was as we washed floors, wiped down shelves, carried away the true garbage, washed and cleaned bed covers that were again needed this week in the cooler weather we are having in winter, and organized!

The arrival of new missionaries always begets transfers. And we had the second major round of these since our arrival. The lesson we learn each time is that the Lord guides this very sensitive part of His work carefully. New missionary companionships bring new opportunities for service, to learn new skills in teaching and to support each other. We note that the missionaries continue to be concerned for former companions, their comforts and needs. As we were responding to opening a long vacant apartment and getting new mattresses, a missionary noted to us that an apartment he had just left also needed a mattress.He was OK being uncomfortable himself, but his successor deserved better! Pictured nearby are several of the new companionships, the general 'chaos' of transferring luggage between cars etc and the evident joy these good missionaries feel in being together.

Part of these transfers included sending our senior zone leader back into full time proselyting service for the remaining 8 weeks of his mission. He is a gentle Tahitian. A hard worker and great teacher. He will help his new companion as well as strengthening the branch where he will be serving. We will miss him a great deal as he has been at our right hand these last months patiently training us in everything from how to drive through a 'rond point' to banks, visas, and all the rest. We will see how we survive and look forward to seeing him when we visit the Tontouta branch.

We are in good health, busily engaged and grateful to be here.

Goings,Comings and Paradise returns

This week we worked. Plain, old-fashioned work.

As background, over the last several weeks, there have been various activities around strikes by one of the local syndicats or unions. This one representing primarily a political group of the native Melanesian peoples, locally known as the Kanaks. The issue got sticky a couple months ago when a union leader, not of their background but heavily engaged with them, tried to take possession of an airplane at the local airport just across the street from the mission offices and one of our chapels. That landed him in jail. His union members would like him out of jail. So off and on on over the last several weeks we have had local disturbances of deliveries primarily. First of gasoline. Then of food stuffs, bottled propane and other large truck deliveries. From time to time the disturbance closes the local expressway out of Noumea going north to the airport. Nothing dangerous, just very inconvenient. Forces traffic otherwise on the expressway onto the local roads. Blocks everything.The unrest erupting locally in different corners of the island creating inconvenience with traffic. Add a rainy week, lots to do... You begin to get the picture.

Early Monday morning, we were off to the airport in Tontouta 45 minutes north to send off Sister Spencer on the first leg of her journey home to Oregon. We miss her steady, unflappable get-the-job done attitude coupled with her hard work. She was training a new sister, just before her departure, so lots of adjustment. Transfers for most of the sisters last week in anticipation.

Departures include a visit in Fiji to spend time with our Mission president and his wife, a trip to the Fiji-Suva Temple and then the long flight home. Pictures nearby show her last minutes on the ground in New Caledonia at the airport. In the rain.

Monday afternoon, we returned to start the usual month-end reporting and to keep track of any shortages being reported from the missionaries from the strikes. A couple of the apartments had run out of propane which heats water for showers and laundry as well as running stoves for cooking. Not that anybody was complaining. But since we asked. One of the Zone leaders teams tracked down the last two canisters of propane that anybody could find. So Tuesday we took off back to Tontouta to provide the canister to an apartment already almost a week with out. Happy elders. Although as one of them explained, if you exercise really hard, a cold shower feels good. We joined them for their district meeting while there.

On Wednesday, our new sister was to arrive. Like departures, arrivals usually pass through Fiji to meet the President and to have a mission orientation and a trip to the Temple. We were back in Tontouta to greet Sister Swapp arriving in time to meet her but quite late compared to the expected arrival time of the airline. We were glad to have an extra bedroom when we got home early Thursday morning from that trip. After a few hours sleep, we joined the rest of the missionaries for the monthly car wash and to introduce Sister Swapp to her new companion. It was raining/misting steadily but the car wash went on and had lots of takers. Sister Mautz had made a new-to-the-Tahatian-missionaries concoction, no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies. A great success and delicacy among the missionaries. All were grateful for the snack accompanied by chocolate and yellow cakes to keep the energy levels up for the work. We used the time and the labor to help clean out a storage closet that had accumulated a fair amount of junk and to also remove the accumulating of trimmings on the church grounds over the last several months. Apparently the city-provided removal is an annual event, so it was great to have it all gone. Various pictures of the car wash as well as the mountain of refuse are nearby.

And one anecdote. In earlier emails we have shown a few of the now very old memorials to the Allies who were on the island from 1942-1945 during the major Pacific theater activities of WWII. Earlier in giving a driving lesson on stick shift cars to one of the newly arrived sister missionaries, Elder Mautz recalled having driven passed a colorful memorial depicting the US flag. But could never quite find where it was. At last, on asking again, we found the memorial. right on the main street going into Centre Ville. Slightly hidden by some trees, we have driven by it many times. Too focused on traffic, lane changes and traffic lights. In any case, it is pictured nearby for your perusing.

The high points of the week have come at the very end. The first was the sunshine. We had forgotten how beautiful the place is when the sun shines. And the strikes seem to be over for the moment. Store shelves are restocked. Elder Mautz attended a missionary preparation class for young men and women in the member district as outlined and requested by our Area Presidency. The teacher is a young Tahatian recently returned from a mission himself. At the end of the class he invited several of his students to share their testimonies. He had coached them to look at people while sharing feelings about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To smile and to let their words be distinct and clear. Many of these young members have been born in the Church and were having their first experience as young adults trying to decide what they really believed. Several recounted reading the Book of Mormon over the last few weeks and finally,in a private place, simply kneeling and asking Heavenly Father if the Book was truly His word, scripture like the Bible, testifying of Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice. Their experiences of personal revelation from a loving Heavenly Father that the book indeed was His word were tender and real to them and to the rest of us attending and listening. A delightful, edifying close to the week.

Almost as good as the baptism Saturday late afternoon. A young father, pictured nearby with the two sets of elders who taught him, his branch president and the member who baptized him as well as several pictures of missionaries who also attended. In fact the chapel was full of people well over 100. Missionaries only get to attend these events if they have someone to bring with them who is interested in the Church, a friend of the Church. So their presence meant that many others who are just learning about the Church had also come. And the presence of many members including the brother performing the baptism demonstrate just how wonderfully involved the members are.

His story is not unique but interesting. Like many of his generation here, he was living in concubinage (a real word. means just what you think) when he and the missionaries encountered each other. The mother of his child had left them. He has studied the Church for some time knowing that he was making serious covenants by being baptized. We met him shortly after arriving here as we attended the branch he also was attending. Feelings were tender as we met last night for his baptism. Elders Aiho and Amundsen started teaching him. Elders Winget and Green completed the teaching. As they said, 'he actually teaches us' as he finds the joy and peace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ coming into his life through faith and obedience to what he was learning.

We are grateful to be here. Helping in some small way. Giving what we can while the Lord accomplishes His great work in this corner of the world.