HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM SAMOA

Although we missed our family and Christmas traditions during the past month, our holiday season will be one we remember forever. A family in our ward brought a homemade Samoan Christmas tree to us. We are not likely to ever have another tree like this one. It was made from coconut tree leaves, including the fish and shrimp. The Squires (who finished their mission last month) left some Christmas decorations for us to use. We played Christmas music on our ipod all month and tried to pretend that it felt like Christmas. No Christmas on a mission would be complete without a mission conference and party. In true Samoan fashion, there was enough food for two or three missions.


Debbie's visiting teacher invited us to a family Christmas party, which included lots of traditional Polynesian dancing. This three year old named Yazmin was an amazing dancer and quickly became Debbie's friend. Once again, enough food to feed the entire neighborhood.

The best part of the Holiday Season arrived via Air New Zealand when Ryan, Katie, Dax, Gehrig and Lily came to visit. On the way home from the airport, we stopped to feed the sea turtles, always a hit with the kids.

Unfortunately, the Plantation House does not offer its traditional tea party the week of Christmas, so Gammy threw her own party for Lily.

Christmas would not be complete without Gammy's sugar cookies.


Ryan's family wasn't here long before we headed to the beach. As usual, we were the only ones there. Ryan loved the snorkeling and Dax and Gehrig loved seeing all the colorful fish. Lily was in heaven playing in the sand.

Because it's the rainy season (it rained for 35 straight days) there was plenty of water at Papase'ea (Sliding Rock) and everyone took full advantage of it.



It wasn't a completely traditional Christmas morning, but watching the kids open their gift was a treat.

We spent Christmas day at the beach and driving around the island. If you don't look carefully, you might miss Lily in this picture.


Ryan and Katie brought small toy packages to give to needy Samoan children. There is a small village of people who recently became displaced because the government took their land and relocated them. The missionaries recently did a clothes drive; until last week most of the kids in the village were naked. We bought some food and the Ryan's kids helped us put together boxes to be distributed along with the toys. It was a unique experience for Ryan's family to see how some people live. As usual in Samoa, the people are happy and cheerful despite their living conditions.




Ryan and Katie were able to go through the temple while here and on Sunday we took some family pictures.

A trip to Samoa would not be complete without a trip to the market.

Ryan says his favorite part of his Samoan visit was driving around the island to see beauty that doesn't exist in many places.

It was strange to think this may have been our last trip around the island. We'll be coming home in six weeks, which made it a lot easier to say goodbye to Ryan and his family. Thanks Ryan, Katie, Dax, Gehrig and Lily for bringing a little bit of home to our Christmas season.