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.

Week 1

We arrived at the airport at 5:00 AM on Wednesday the 6th of June after about 26 hours of travel and airports. After collecting our baggage and clearing customs, our rental truck was waiting for us and we drove directly to Pesega where we are staying. It is a short distance but takes over half an hour as the speed limit is only about 40 km/hr. and slower through the many villages. We arrived at our village at about 7:00 and managed to arouse the housing representative to let us into our house. After taking care of necessities, we tried for bit of a sleep.

What are the chances? It was the day to do the grounds manicuring. I think every man between the age of 16 and 60 from a ten mile radius was here with a lawn mover or gas powered weed eater. The walls on our house are mostly louvered windows and open because of the heat. We might have rested fitfully for a couple of hours. The noise was intense and right outside our windows all day long.

Even though it doesn't get light until 6:00 the sounds of activity begin shortly after 4:oo AM. Roosters begin crowing, dogs barking and slowly the island comes to life. By 6:00 the island is humming. Often school children in the nearby villages are up by 4 or 5 to prepare for school and catch a bus. Many must travel long distances to attend school.

Yesterday morning we awoke at 6:00 to hear the washing machine just outside our bedroom window going strong.

It is so hot here that windows are always open or the air conditioning on. Air conditioning is nice but very expensive. It can increase your monthly electricity bill by hundreds of US dollars per month. We try not to use it. At first we used it to cool down the bedroom just before bedtime but now we take a cold shower instead. It is just as effective.

We arrived one week ago and spent the first few days settling in. Our internet was installed yesterday late afternoon and so we are now on our way.

We have a very comfortable 2 bedroom home in the lower (teacher's) village just 2 houses down the street from the house we lived in in 1978/79 when teaching here. The village is very well cared for with lovely shrubs and flowers. The big trees that were here last time are mostly gone but the grounds are much more meticulously maintained.

All of the teachers here are Samoan and so the village has very few palagi (whites) living here. A few houses are reserved for missionaries and we live in one of them. The only other palagi here are a senior missionary couple (Elder and Sister Smart) who live directly across the road from us. He works for ITEP (International Teacher Education Program) out of BYUH. They give the local teachers an opportunity to complete an education degree through BYUH.

Today is Kathy birthday. She is 39 again. We are going to the back of the island to a resort for the Fiafia night (traditional party and entertainment) buffet and program with some friends and other visiting church representatives.

The negotiations for the school contractor are continuing and I hope to be able to make a decision regarding construction this week.

We will try to write weekly and keep you all posted.