sauniatu

in the early days of the church in samoa, the members faced a lot of persecution and were driven out of many villages, ridiculed for their beliefs. it became so bad, that the church eventually purchased land in the crater made by a long extinct volcano, where the saints assembled in a safe haven they called "sauniatu". the name translated means "prepare to go forth" and that is what the saints did, they prepared. the road into the village is only just under 6.5km from the main road, but is an awfully slow drive... you could probably walk almost as fast... it's twisty and terribly uneven, making it very difficult to get into.

when elder david o. mckay visited the village in 1921 he pronounced an apostolic blessing on the village, proclaiming that the faith of the saints in sauniatu would lead to their crops being fruitful, that they would have an abundance of food and that peace would abide in their hearts and homes. this promise has certainly been kept... with the village having a good, large crop year after year and even the church owned farm now offering education to others among the islands about how best to grow their crops.

the church members in the area have such a love for david o. mckay, that a fale was erected in his honour, with a carved bust of his likeness placed in the centre.

the amazing ceiling... all handtied with rope to  hold the fale together.

the plaque reads: the house of david o. mckay, dedicated on july 13, 1968 - built by willing hands and loving hearts.

there are so many wonderful stories about the village (including one about the carving pictured above...), which you can read here on the church website. it is an amazing place, truly dedicated to the building of the gospel on the earth. a church school was also established in sauniatu and still runs to this day, educating the local children.

there is also an amazing waterfall where you are able to swim, after descending the steep staircase into the grotto. the water is cool and clear, bubbling along fresh and clean as anything. dad held joseph for us and the rest of us went in... it was just amazing! i even swam over to the waterfall and let it wash over me... i truly feel so blessed to be experiencing this little bit of paradise with the people i love the most.

everything just feels so real here. days are bright and warm, the water is perfect for swimming, the food is fresh and delicious and the people are so kind. it amazes me that doug was born in such a beautiful place and that we finally have been given a perfect opportunity to get to know it.

what a beautiful view! tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, in it's own little place.

enjoying the water with the family 

what a wonderful day. sauniatu is truly a place of refuge for the saints and i am so glad we made the drive up that awful road. it was worth every single bump!

pesega college (church college samoa)

i thought it was definitely important to include a few pictures of pesega college (church college samoa) amongst these blog posts. all up mum and dad will have been elder & sister goodlet for 19 months by the time they leave samoa. that time, has been spent mostly within the pesega compound.

church college samoa is one of 15 church owned and operated schools in the south pacific region (there are 4 in samoa alone) allowing a better education for the people of samoa. enrolment is not in any way restricted to members of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, although the majority is, of course of our faith. as a classic example, one of the archbishops daughter attends the college, because "it's the best school on the island"

my parents have been working at volunteer missionaries in the tvet program, where mum has been an assistant in the home economics department - teaching sewing, cooking and the likes - right up her alley... and dad has been assisting the mechanical workshop teacher. how perfectly suited to the call they are! they positions have brought so much joy to their lives and to the lives of the students... i was lucky enough to meet two of the girls in mums senior class and could tell how loved she is. it made me so happy to know that while she's been away, that others have had the chance to love her like i do. i've missed her so much and it's made it that little bit better knowing that she was cared for.

this is the view from outside mum and dads teachers housing - the central fale of the college and the temple in direct view. what a joy to see it daily! how lucky they have been.

i know as their time draws to a close that they will be emotional to say the least to leave behind so many people they love... but i am sure they will cope, they are coming home to 7/8ths of their grandchildren for goodness sake! haha! there is certainly not long to go, they will remain on campus for another few weeks after the school year ends, to be with their students for graduation... and then home they come!

mum and dads little house (and big van!)

can't wait... but there isn't long to go now at all! :)

the countdown is on!

i cannot believe this is happening. in less than 2 days we are off to samoa to see mum and dad. i am so, so excited (not about packing... blergggggh) and can't believe that the time has passed so quickly since we booked. tick tock, tick tock...

this is really happening... mum i'll see you soon!

samoan graduation

here are my lovely parents hanging out with dougs cousin apollos in samoa, on his church college graduation day. we could not be any prouder - he came away with dux of the school - and my parents were so happy to be there for it. mum excitedly told me about the lei's that people make for those who receive awards, which as you can see were heaped on him. 

his two younger brothers then joined in the fun for some more photos, although i think the only thing they managed to prove was exactly how short my parents are! sorry mum and dad - but you know it's true!!

mum said she can't get over the way they are treated over there, almost as if they are royalty, being asked to lead every school procession, hand out awards, sit in the front row at every meeting, eat before everyone else... but it's because the missionaries are so important to the people. i am so pleased they are being treated so well, makes missing them that little bit easier. i just hope they don't get too used to it though... i want their heads to fit on the plane when they come home! 

love you both and miss you so much!