Steel Drums

The steel drum band played "Roll out the Barrels." Funny since the steel drum evolved out of the barrels abondoned by the US Navy on the island nation of Trinidad. Its amazing how resourceful people can be when there is no other choice.

Life Launch 2

Folks chatting about the ways they would like to live if fear were not a problem.

We spent a few hours at the PCC yesterday. This place is so beautiful that you can turn your camera in any direction and take a beautiful picture. (I didn't mean me) This week our devotional speaker was Michael Teh of the first quorem of seventy. He is the area president over the Asia or North Asia area. President Wheelwright told us on Friday that Brother Teh told him that no member lost their life in the Japan earthquake or tsunami. Every member had been accounted for. Brother Teh's talk was awesome too. You can find it at byuh.edu then devotionals, then recent or previous devotionals. Many other great talks are there too like last week John H. Groberg spoke, he was fun. He is the G.A. that the movie The Other Side of Heaven was written about. I was asked to run an errand to his appartment so I got to met him and his wife. They are amazing just as you would expect. I have so many incredible experiences here that I would not be able to even dream about at home.

We had another barbeque with the Kapu's the other day. Kamaka is standing in the yellow. She and Liz bring us treats all the time. Liz is sitting on the left in front of her mother Silvia. And Silvia's mom is in the front on the left. The others there were extended family. We sure love this family and not just because they are great cooks. They have taken us in as family and always are watching out for us.

This is Cindy and Blair Packard, founders of the www.careforlife.org. They work in villages in Africa to stablize families, improve living conditions, and educate and empower the villagers to earn a living. They not only deal with all of the ravages of poverty but they also deal with the challenges of aids and maleria. They have dramatically increased hope. Here are some of their stats: reduced local infant mortality from 138/1000 to 64/1000, families drinking safe water from 15% to 99%, families who live in improved housing increased from 45% to 95%, people sleeping under mosquito nets increased from 46% to 97%, families using latrines increased from 46% to 97%, households with pest infestation decreased from 79%n to 5%, small family businesses increased from 15% to 36%, children attending school increased from 28% to 48%, people tested for HIV/AIDS increased from .9% to 30%. These are some of the 30 areas that are regularly evaluated. 1 in 9 mothers die from complications of childbirth, since the inception of FPP no women participating has died as a result of complications of pregnancy. Life expectancy in Mozambique is 39 years, 54% of Mozambicans live below the world poverty level. 26.5% HIV rates exist in Beira Corridor (their area of focus). This is just an average couple with an idea. They pay for all of their own airlines tickets and any of their own expenses. Nothing that is donated to them goes to wages or to travel. I am very impressed with them and what they have done.

Jerry and Ella Simons with John and DeAnne

Jerry helps the poor in the Peruvian highlands develope basic infrastructure to improve life and restore hope in mountian villages. His moto is "God's work, Peruvian hands and American generosity" All labor to build clean water delivery systems, domestic animal shelters, schools and community bathrooms is provided by villagers. He has an amazing catalogue at www.HopeProjects.com where you can buy a pair of animals to give to these hard working simple folk. Jerry's rule about the animals is they are to never be killed. They are breeding stock and the villager who gets the animals must recieve one weeks training in the care of the animals and must give the first offspring to the next qualified family. Jerry is a no nonsense LDS guy who funds his own overhead so 100% of donations are used to feul his hope building machine. We are truely inspired by his efforts.

DeAnne Tippetts and Becky Douglas

Becky shared some pictures and stories of her work in India. She has set up a non profit organization to help those afflicited with leprosy in India. It is amazing what one person who cares can accomplish. She was one of several speakers sharing ideas about what average people can do in the second half of their lives to make the world a better place. You can see what this stay at home mom is up to at www.RisingStarOutreach.org

Monkeys at play

This carving is in front of the Polynesian Cultural Center. DeAnne and I were killing time before family home evening.

John helping others to set up some shelter for their families

We were evacuated on Friday night because of the tsunami warning. Everyone was effected. At the campus they had all of the students sleep on the second floor. Many of us were required to leave our homes and many others took families in for the night. Our land lords invited us to go up in the hills to a chicken farm that one of the family managed. We felt very lucky because places fill up early. We spent the night in the car with little to no sleep and returned the next day to find all was well. Our home was still there with no damage. Had it been washed away I fear we were not prepared to get by until help could come. Some things we remembered others we didn't think of. Hope all of you are prepared when emergency stricks.

All us chidkens during the evacuation

The missionary group we are getting to know.

OUr friends, the McKell's

We have made friends with this missionary couple that are from LaVerkin. We had not met them before coming here.

Entrance to the PCC

This is the entrance to the PCC where we went to Break the fast with the senior missionaries last Sunday.

These are Kamehameha Highway signs

I love these road signs along Kam. Hwy. We need some of these in St. George.

This is a fruit stand down the road about 1/4 mile from our house. Their goods are hand made by locals and of course the price for locals is different from the price for visitors.

John gone Hawaiian

Here's a little market right by our house. Prices are really high.

typical little store on the north shore

Many of these little stores are dotted onlong the Kam Hwy. They are used by the locals. Many Haoles will avoid them and pay more to shop at a more mainland looking store.

Second story home

This house sits across the street from the school but a block or two from the coast. Many homes are built like this with parking underneath and the home on the second floor, especially along the coastline. Storms have come that have damaged homes that are on the ground level.

whale watching

Can you see the whales spouting? Probably not we weren't very good at getting the picture at just the right time. But there were lots of whales out there spouting.

We are sure missing all of you.

Wish we could see you, hold you, and hug you today. We think of you often and can't wait to be with you again.

Sunday's seem to be harder than most other days.

We just got back from the break the fast with all of the senior missionaries. We hold it in the PCC with beautiful waterfalls and trees and flowers. The missionaries are so fun to associate with. They are enjoying each other and their service here. We are making lots of friends among them and we look forward to being with them here once a month. We also get together every Monday night with them for Family Home Evening.

I really enjoy all of the people I work with and the work is fun too. It's always changeing. This week I helped but a report together for a new student union building that the school is going to construct. The school is going to double in size withing the next 3-4 years. They are getting ready to construct a lot of housing and the new Marriott breaks ground this summer. It will be next to the PCC.

typical campus scene

On campus there are many flowers everyway. Some have the most amazing fragrance others just look beautiful. Lots of girls wear flowers in their hair.

President and Sister Wheelwright

This is Anne again at the luncheon with President and Sister Wheelwright. They are most gracious. President will never dish his plate until every women has hers. In fact no man takes a plate until we are all seated with ours.

Anne is wearing an amazing lei. It is made with flowers rolled and then connected at the top. During lunch she was given many other leis, all very different from each other. Lei are given often to honor someone.

Presidents's conference room

Here are some of the people that I work with. Anne on the left is from India. Lisa in the middle is my boss, the executive secretary for President Wheelwright, and Sis Compton, a professor and the wife of another member in the ad building. I love the big beautiful table and the chairs. This is a fairwell luncheon for Anne. She is moving to Provo. The President and his wife are always at the luncheons and all of the other Vice Presidents and their wives are uaually there. In my office there are many bishops, stake presidents, etc. It is a great place to work because the spirit is always there, and there is no contention only help and support. It is a great experience for me and I love it.

Waimea Valley botanical garden

We just drove by today. We will come back to visit another day.

DeAnne and Brutus

Where does turtle soup come from?

How was your swim?

Almost all of these turtles are born on the French Frigit Sholes more than 500 miles away. I think Brutus must like the beach as much as the rest of us.