More Fun in the Sun!

 Has been beautiful summer weather here, so we took a Saturday and went to Hunau Falls. Took our new Mental Health advisor and his wife, Elder and Sister Whidden. Had a very nice day.

 Elder and Sister Whidden are from Vanderhoof, British Columbia 

which is about 100 k west of Prince George.

 Still wearing our Christmas fat, but loving every day!

 After our trip to the falls, we stopped at the Auckland Botanical Gardens and enjoyed the many plants and trees and shrubs that were in their glory. Many of the plants here are new to us and some we have never even heard of- but they are all delightful.

 I love hydrangea so these many colors on the same bush were certainly colorful

 Much of the untouched areas of New Zealand are rain forests filled with palms and ferns.

 The entrance to the rose garden was overflowing with climbing pink roses.

 This lovely blend of pink and salmon were some of my favorites.

 This low lying cloud made for an interesting picture of our harbor.

Our next adventure took us to Samoa where we toured hospitals, saw missionaries and reminded the zone leaders in their MLC to be sure and use bug spray as chikungunya ( a relative to dengue) is on the rise, with numerous missionaries infected.

 Breakfast with President and Sister Tolman and the zone leaders 

who traveled to be in Apia.

 Samoa is a heavily Christian country and churches and cathedrals can be seen every km or so. They are large and some are well-kept like this one above. Samoa is about 15% LDS so there are many chapels to be seen among the cathedrals.

The Apia Samoa temple is in the same complex with the Mission Home and all of the offices for Samoa. In 2003 the original temple was being renovated when it burnt to the ground. This temple was built on a larger lot and with more capacity. I was able to attend a session Sat morning before we left. Elder Brown was not feeling well. 

 Dinner with President and Sister Tolman. What great people they are! We so enjoyed their company!

 Got on the ferry at 6AM to cross from Upolu to Savaii. Savaii is a larger island but most of the commerce and the people are on Upolu island. Looking back at Upolu, the sun was just rising and the ocean looked so textured in the early morning light.

 Like the Pohutukawa tree in New Zealand, the Flame tree blossoms at Christmas and provides a nice seasonal display.

 Although it was hot and humid, the ocean breezes and the beauty of the water and foliage were breathtaking. Zero touch up here, the water is truly this turquoise color! There is a reef all around the island and the water is quite shallow. If you look closely you can see the waves breaking way out by the sand bar.

 All of the land is owned by the village chief, but when someone builds a Fale (pronounced folly), it stays in the family for generations. Many of the homes have the graves of their ancestors buried in the front yard of their property. Some are plain and some are quite ornate and decorated.

 Nice Fale, all open and with no walls or windows. Furniture here and there and people can be seen in the evenings lounging in their fale watching a big screen TV!

 The main road goes around the island of Upolu and most of it appears to have this sort of a view. Had to jump out and get a picture...SO pretty!

Elder and Sister Stonehocker are a couple on the island of Savaii working with the teachers that fill the church schools. They were kind enough to drive us around the island and show us the medical facilities and to see an Elder in Asau. We had a splendid day together!

When we stopped at a chapel to have the lunch Sister Stonehocker had packed for us, this little fellow watched us intently and was so tickled when I shared my apple with him!

After only three days we were back on a plane to New Zealand, greatly enriched by our time in beautiful Samoa!  Tofa soifua!