A Change of Assignment or Better Known as a "Transfer"

We have been asked to go to American Samoa to help with the tsunami relief effort. There are about 40 families there who have lost their homes and are awaiting funds from FEMA to rebuild. Elder Hamula (of the Area Presidency) has asked that we go and help with the process so that these families are helped in a timely manner. We are leaving on Tuesday and will return when our task is accomplished. We are overwhelmed at what lies ahead knowing it will be frustrating, sad and hopefully triumphant. President Ostler in his last email to us said "I keep having these feelings that your mission is not going to be what you expected." Once again he is right. And yet, I keep asking myself "Didn't I just unpack on Friday?"

Before we go I wanted to post some pictures of our last few days.

The views as we step out of our home--how can you ask for anything more beautiful?

The front our our home--we live in No. 13

Our bathroom. I had to stand in the hall to take the picture because it is so small.

Our living room.


Our kitchen.


Our backyard. Some creative exercise.

Institute graduation. Notice the decorations--especially the balloons.

Lucia, the secretary. She lost both of her parents and her niece and nephew in the tsunami. Her sister-in-law and brother survived. Her sister-in-law has a badly damaged foot and is still recovering.

The front of the Institute Building.

We went to the fish market on Saturday morning and bought a nice Albacore tuna steak for about $6 US. You see Dad doing his thing--they thought he was the boy wonder because of his Samoan skills.

We found the Samoan Dizzy! He was at the market rocking out to the band that was playing.