It has been a long lonely week - Ian and Sharleen and Neko left last Monday night after spending two wonderful weeks with us. I (Kathy)had the privilege of being up in the early mornings with Neko to let her parents sleep. Neko just didn't seem to like the time change 100% but considering how far she had come, how warm it is, how many different places we had her sleep, etc., she was an angel.
Their visit began with a nap and then off to Sauniatu for a swim in the waterfall. Neko became a regular beach bum - most places she could go without a diaper so we played lots in the water naked - well, she was! It poured with rain while in the rock pool and waterfall but it was so delightful.
Day two had us at Tafatafa beach - ah, imagine having a mile of white sand beach to yourself. Ian and Shar were able to do some snorkeling there. This is a favorite of ours.
Friday morning was a trek to Robert Louis Stevenson's grave on top of Mount Vaea. The native Samoan people loved him so much they took his body up there "under the wide and starry sky, dig my grave and let me lie". A tour through the house, back home and then a play time at Papase'ea (sliding rock). Alicia Price babysat Neko while we did our shift at the temple and Ian and Shar were patrons. Neko was a hit with everybody and especially Alicia.
Gender change (Roy now).
Saturday, after a trip to the craft market, we took a short trip down the east shore to Piula. It is a fresh water pool fed by a cave below the Methodist Church. A rock wall creates a pool before entering the ocean so you can go back and forth if you wish. When John and Mereda were here many long years ago, he wouldn't go in it because it was too cold. Actually, it is refreshingly cool. The outside pool is probably about 30 feet long and about 15 feet wide. At high tide is is just about 6 feet deep. the pool continues into the cave for another 30 or 40 feet at the same depth. Near the inner end there is an underwater entrance to a second cave. The channel is probably about 2 meters long and big enough to swim through. Ian, Shar and I all went through. Ian and Shar returned through the hole and I walked back through the other entrance to the pool. I didn't like the scrapes on my back from the rocks. We spent the whole afternoon there. There is cliff above the entrance and many people were jumping from it at varying heights up to about 20 or 25 feet probably. Ian and Shar took their turns as well.
When we returned home, while showering I discovered that my wedding ring had slipped off and was gone. We were heart broken as our rings are very unique and would be difficult to replace.
Ian was determined to buy an "ie faitaga" or dress lavalava to wear to church that first Sunday.
After spending a quiet Sunday, early Monday morning we headed to the far reaches of the southeastern end of the island to spend the night in a beach fale on the island of Namu'a. On the way we passed Piula and so we dropped in to see if we could find the ring. Ian took a little headlamp to see underwater as I was sure that I lost it inside the cave in the small tunnel between caves. The tide was low so the water was only about 4 feet deep. It was so clear that everything was visible on the bottom but at the cave entrance a lot of dirt had been dropped from the jumpers so everything would be covered with a layer of silt. As we entered the cave, I lost all visibility in the dark. As we swam to the back my expectations plummeted. Near the tunnel entrance, Ian swam a little to the right instead of left to the tunnel, reached down and pulled up my ring. He had found it in less that 5 minutes. We quickly hiked up the hill and were on our way. Wasn't it just one week before that I lost my keys in the ocean at Vavau and then swam right to them with goggles and retrieved them? Speak of "tender mercies!"
We continued on to Namu'a and settled into our fale for a very relaxing stay. Graham and Jacqui can attest to how special Namu'a is. Sorry, Brooke, we didn't know about it when you were here. Mom and I played with Neko and Ian and Shar were able to swim, paddle in the paopao (outrigger canoe) and snorkel some more. After lunch on Tuesday we headed home.
Just before heading out on Monday, I received news that we had run into a snag with ones of the schools that will be moving into our building and one of the other board members was flying in to resolve the issue. That meant that I had a meeting Tuesday evening.
Wednesday was another trip to the market, Sliding Rock again and then a wonderful evening at Sinalei for their FiaFia. Sister Smart babysit Neko (sorry to Alicia who wanted to babysit her again) as no one under 12 is allowed into the resort. The buffet meal was very nice and the show lived up to it's reputation - great. The fire dancers are mostly young girls and it culminates with a pyramid with a small girl about 4 years old on top. Thurs. morning we had planned to go to Savaii but we couldn't get a reservation on a ferry. As it turned out I needed to stay behind for some emergent meetings so Kathy, Ian and Shar hopped in the truck to see if they could get on the 10:00 AM ferry as a standby vehicle. They missed the first boat and the noon boat but were number 3 standby for the 2:00 PM sailing. They decided that it was too late to accomplish there goals so they went to the back of the island to a special place called "Virgin Cove." Again, Graham and Jacqui had spent a "honeymoon" night there. Ian and Shar were chaperoned by Kathy and Neko.
They returned at about noon Thursday and we all went out to Vavau to spend the night in fale there (fale is both singular and plural). Vavau is very nice! The fale are rustic but enclosed and self contained. I think that was one of the best nights I have spent at the beach. The evening was beautiful and the bed was very comfortable. We played rook on the deck until bedtime.
Saturday afternoon we returned to Pesega to get ready to visit the Amuia Nonu family in Letogo. For those of you who have not been there, he was the bishop in my last area on my mission and we have remained friends over the years. He is my Samoan father. For Jacqui and Graham's information, he is recovering very well and can stand now. He is in very good spirits. We went out and ate with the family, exchanged a few gifts and visited and then returned home. They are a very special family. They have nothing and are very happy.
Sunday was a quiet day at home again and then Monday, our last day with Neko, we got up and went to the breakfast buffet at Aggie Grey's hotel before tripping off to an adventure down to Fagaloa Bay and Uafato. The road down there is meant for a 4 wheel drive but we manage in our rental truck. The bay is beautiful and guess what? Ian forgot his suit and Roy wasn't swimming due to his back so we skipped the swimming. We watched a wood carver making a bowl and ordered a try for Graham to be picked up at the market on Saturday. It was a magnificent place to take pictures and enjoy real Samoa. On the way home we stopped at Sauniatu again. I had spent much of the week with my back acting up again so I had a sleep on a towel while Ian and Shar went below to the falls for another dip and then joined Neko and Kathy in the stream for a paddle. Ian used a lavalava as a swimsuit. Neko is quite the beach bum. I do believe she even got a bit of a tan even though we tried to keep her protected.
Unfortunately all good things come to an end and Neko boarded the plane that night. Oh yeah, Ian and Shar went with her. They were surprised just before leaving when our neighbors came across and brought them all leis made of plumeria to say goodbye. We fell in love with Neko while she was with us and can hardly wait to see both her and Benson when we return home.
Life is dull now so to help pass the time we are accompanying a senior couple, who have become our friends and have finished there mission, on a trip around the South Island of New Zealand for 2 weeks. We leave this Tuesday night. We are renting a motor home in Christchurch to tour in. Hopefully we will be able to connect at Internet Cafes to keep up the communication.
I keep forgetting that I am here on business and that this is supposed to be a sacrifice!
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