July 24 - More of Brooke's Visit.

Vavau is a very nice beach that we had never been aware of before our return this time. It is one of the nicest places we go to now. Just so you know what a good missionary I was, this was in my very first area and I didn't even know it existed.

Some people like to spend more time in the sun than others. After a while, I relocated to a nice rock bed where I read and then contemplated what I read. In fact, it was a very deep contemplation.

After swimming all day at Vavau, you can shower off and remove sand and salt in this very private (?) shower. Actually, we went to Togitogiga Falls to clean up and swim in the fresh water after the day in the sun.

The mission prep boys had to give us a show as well. all of the young men here sing beautifully. They have deep voices and sing loud and in parts. they are willing to sing and dance at the drop of a hat.

School boys doing their part on the program at Sauniatu.

A beautiful little girl who danced the "Taualuga", a dance traditionally performed by the village virgin or High Chief's daughter.

The children at Sauniatu prepared a special program for our neighbors' family and we tagged along. Above you'll see better pictures but this photo shows the legs of the music leader. He has a disease called "elephantitis". It's real name might be something like Philariasis. A certain kind of mosquito deposits it's eggs and they grow in the lymph system, I believe. It stops everything up and over time the retained liquid in the lymph system swells the limbs or other affected body parts. It becomes very uncomfortable and debilitating but this guy could still really dance.


Brooke's turn at Papase'ea.
She is a real trooper and enjoyed the slides. She thinks it may be right up there as one of the best things she did in Samoa.



Our kids have heard of "Papase'ea" or "Sliding Rock" all of their lives. I think it is one of the first places they want to go when they get here. Brooke had her wish and we went shortly after her arrival. This is Dad coming down the big slide.

The Hibiscus is called "Aute" in Samoan. Traditionally it is red but in recent years hybrids have been developed in various other colors. Kathy liked this particular one and captured it. The hibiscus is synonymous with Samoa. I wish I could find a link to the song "Beautiful Red Hibiscus". It is one of my favorites.

We traveled to the back of the island for dinner at Coconuts Resort. On the way, we stopped at Sinalei Resort to show Brooke around. We went down to the dock and took this picture of Brooke and Mom with the bay and shoreline in the distance.

About 20 young men from around the country of missionary age spend the better part of a year in Sauniatu preparing and learning what is needed to be able to serve a mission and also receive job preparation training. Most of them have limited english skills and they have not been able to complete school. Often they come from areas where they do not have many peers in the church. They get daily instruction and live together in dormitories. There is usually a senior couple to work with them and local brethren who are great examples for them. They have an institute class specifically for them and they get to spend the weekends at home with their families.
Here they are preparing their evening meal of palusami, taro, green bananas and breadfruit which they cook in an above ground rock oven or "umu".

Another shot of our beach fale. Brooke and Roy are trying to relax in the hardest wooden chairs ever made.

Brooke was close enough here to get the spray all over her.

On the trip to Savai'i, we stopped at the Taga Blowholes. The shoreline is lava rock and there is no reef so the waves just pound on the rocks. The water is forced through some lava tubes and shoots out and up as high as 60 feet or more. Needless to say you don't get too close.

Shortly after brooke arrived, we went to dinner at CocoBanana. There are several restaurants here that don't have walls - just roofs. It was a pleasant evening with a light breeze and nice view over the Apia Harbor in the distance.

Brooke couldn't resist the Banyans on the way to Sauniatu. She had to play in them. They remind her of "LOST".

June 21

This was our fale. It was very pleasant. Much more so than the few nights Kathy and I spent next door a couple of years ago.

We spent the night at a beach fale (house). I caught Kathy and Brooke just after spending all afternoon on the beach. They had a shower to wash off the salt and sweat.

We've had a lot of fun with Brooke but so much playing slows down the blog too. This a picture of a canopy walk in Falealupo rain forest that we took. At the other end is a platform that is 85 meters above the ground. We hope that the boys will sleep up there when they come. Brooke wasn't too excited to walk across this as it moves and she doesn't like heights.




We picked Brooke up at the airport 28 years and one day after she was born here. We gathered the pua and teuila petals and Kathy made the ula. There were three couples from our ward at the airport that morning to pick up guests.

Believe it or not, there is even some work going on for the school. We have begun the work with permission but we are still trying to finalize the permits. I hope to complete that by tomorrow.

Shortly after we arrived, we were asked to give the monthly devotional at the school. I spoke about the young Joseph Smith and Kathy sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer". They gave us beautiful ula (leis) and a couple of very nice ie lavalava.

On a trip to the maketi fou (new market) we came across these gentlemen of leisure. Everyone around them was busy and selling but the were enjoying a game of mu (Samoan checkers).

I was able to locate the family that I lived with at the beginning of my mission. All the buildings had changed but I was sure it was the area so I pulled in. This is Sineva. She was a teen age girl when I lived with them. She remembered me. She spent 12 years in Sweden and speaks very good english now. We will visit them again.

Yes! The backdrop is real. We went to a local resort for dinner and a show (fiafia) and couldn't resist the photo op. No that isn't our table. If only I could think to prepare such an evening.

Just thought I would enter a picture of the Harker posterity. This picture was taken in Calgary on the 3rd of June just after we had blessed Neko and just before we left for Samoa. This is our entire posterity to this point. If you look close you may see signs of about .15 of our 3rd grandchild but if you do then your eyesight is too good.

Benson has such a sweet disposition. Maybe that is to compensate for his challenges. His feet are improving with the help of Dr. Hurdle and we expect nothing less than complete success.

Neko is doing well and has the advantage of a live-in photographer (Ian). We will be privileged to be able to spend a couple of weeks with her when Ian and Shar bring her down in September.


This was the only reason there was any concern about heading off to the South Pacific. Benson on the left and Neko on the right are growing very rapidly in the short time we have been gone.