November 7, 2012

We have been on our mission for 4 months on November 9th. 

This past week we have been busy teaching, doing professional development and doing firesides.  The firesides are to talk to the parents about the changes coming toThe LDS Church College at Pesega which is where we are 90% of our time.  In 2013 they will have a Form 7 which is their Universtiy Preparation Year which is a level between high school and university to make sure they are up to university level.  They have been taking this at the National University of Samoa or the University of the South Pacific but they feel like it will be more beneficial for the students to teach it here.  It will cost less money and they will  be able to receive more individual help which they hope will help the studetns be more successful when they do go to University. They are working on some additional Technical Vocational programs to help the students get certified so they can get into the working world.  They will also have a middle school beginning 2013 so a lot of changes.  We have traveled all over Samoa to present these informative firesides.  We still have 7 more firesides to present.  It makes for busy weekends.

 The fun thing last week was on Halloween night.  Most of the people in Samoa do not celebrate Halloween but there were two Wards (both have quite a few Americans in them) that emailed us and asked if they could bring their children trick or treating to the Seniors.  Of course we said YES!  Most of the Senior Missionaries met at the PBO Conference room and we had a potluck dinner.  About 7:00 p.m. vans full of children began arriving.  The last group came around 9:00 p.m.  It was fun to see them.  Some were dressed up and most of them had to be taught to say Trick or Treat.  Thank goodness Reed's Mom had sent us so much candy.  We are giving most of it to the children at Sauniatu but we were able to share it with these young children on Halloween.

 You can see that some of them had elaborate costumes and some wore maskes and others just came.  It was fun to see them all.

 Elder and Sister Hanson.  Elder Hanson is singing waiting for the children to get to his car.

 Elder and Sister Spencer.  Elder Spencer started the music and Elder Hanson wanted to get in on the action.  The first group we did trunk or treat and then as it got later we had them come into the conference center.  We all sat around the edges and had the cute ghouls parade around to each of us for their treats.

 Let the candy giving begin.

 Nada loved talking to the children.  She has always loved seeing the costumes and kids on Halloween.  They were so cute!  It helped the lonley feeling of not being able to see our own grandchildren except on skype.  Yeah for skype!

 The Primary leaders insisted on a group picture with the missionaries.

 Some of othe leaders even dressed up and were into it.  They wanted candy as well.

It was a fun evening.  When we got home at 9:15 p.m. the Gounder family, that lives behind us, brought their children over so they could get their treats. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of our Samoan friends and members of the church here.  Isn't it great to share the gospel in so many different ways.  Till next time. 

Love Elder and Sister Spencer.