Week 24 (10-16 Dec. 2018)

I started the week and the day with this little spider that greeted me with a high one (five).  I have heard somewhere that spiders bring good luck. It doesn't really matter if it is true or not.  On thing I know is that it was a GREAT WEEK! 

Preparations for Santa at Au Bon Marché, the supermarket where we go.  It is really nice to see decorations and hear Christmas music.  It always makes me feel happy.

Merci Audrée pour les décorations que nous avons commencé à donner à nos missionnaires.

Je les aime beaucoup et eux aussi.

The reason for the season!

We see these beautiful trees in every territory of our mission.  They flourish in the summer, in December, and because of it some call it the Christmas tree.

Three missionaries arrived Wednesday.  It is what is called a mid-transfer.  They stayed three extra weeks at the MTC in New Zealand to learn English.  We hope that soon, if they need to stay a little longer to learn English they can stay an extra 6 weeks instead of three.  That way we can all welcome all the missionaries at the same time.  And usually mid-tranfers are in between zone conferences and we have to leave and cannot take the same time to do the orientation.  I feel they are cheated in some ways.  One of them arrived with the mumps! I hope he feels better soon. 

Thursday morning, back to New Caledonia to be with Elder Brent Nattress of the quorum of the Seventy and 2nd counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency with his wife.  They came to visit two zones of the mission, New Caledonia then Efate.  So we got treated to some more lychees.  Unfortunately there was not enough time to eat them all.  And I could not take back with me to Port Vila.  What a shame.

😢

Elder Nattress' flight was cancelled Thursday from Auckland, NZ, so we had some time to work with the missionaries and visit a very sweet sister.  The nice view is from her house.

Thursday was also my baptismal anniversary.  44 years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I have never regretted my decision and I have found the my most profound joys in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sister Vergoz who had made us a nice lunch last week agreed to make it again for us after we met with the missionaries in New Caledonia.  

What uplifting meetings we had with Elder Nattress and his wife.  Friday with New Caledonia Zone and Saturday, here in Port Vila with the Efate zone.

We spoke of being a light as disciples of Jesus Christ and how to develop Christlike Attributes.

Elder Nattress answered some questions like how can we help people become truly converted.  He told the story of his grandmother's conversion at age 10 in England and the blessing she has been to her great posterity because of her courage and faith. He reminded the missionaries that their service will bless their lives for many generations to come.  

These two wonderful sisters are on their third mission together.  They are famous in the Pacific because of the wonderful work of rescue they are doing among the members and their friends. Sisters Ucunibaravi(from Fiji) and Sister Talataina (from Samoa)

This picture was taken after the get together with the Efate Zone in front of the Black Sand Chapel where we usually hold our zone conferences.  

Elder Ardern, the first counselor in the Area Presidency of the Pacific asked Elder Nattress to bring a gift for him and his wife for this brother and his lovely family.  He served as a missionary in 2005 when Elder Ardern was the Mission President of the Fiji Mission. Brother James Tari  and his family live in the area of Erakor.  We enjoyed visiting with them.  They have 3 daughters and the youngest cutie is only three months old.  She grabbed my finger so tight, I was ready to stay there much longer.  I miss my babies.

They have a lovely garden.  We ate some popos (papayas) right off the tree. And he gave us a pineapple to enjoy when we got back to the mission home.

For our last supper with the Nattresses, we went to the Stone Grill Restaurant.  Only 2 minutes away from the mission home.  We cooked our dinner  in front of us on a very hot stone.  I ordered a tuna steak that was soooooooooooo good.  It is served with two sides and a choice of sauces. It is delish.  One place to take you children when you come.  They also have other things on the menu if one does not wish to do the stone.  And they speak French!  They seem to have a large French clientele from what we heard.

The priesthood brethren after the Sunday meetings in Nambatu Ward.

It was very nice for papa/grand-papa and me to spend this time with Elder Nattress and his wife.  They also have served as Mission President and wife in the Arizona Gilbert Mission (2013-2016)

They had some good counsels for us.  

So we have been without Wi-fi for two weeks at the mission home 😞

 and our pool has not been taken cared of for two weeks. The water is green and I can't do my exercises in the water.   It is like we have been in a black hole.  So we had to come to the mission office after taking the Nattresses to the airport, to do the blog and take care of other responsibilities that require Wi-Fi.

Au revoir mes chéris d'amour!

Lukum yu evriwan!

Goodbye y'all