Adventures in Paradise 4

Fish 4 sail

Graves at NIght

Graves 1

Sister Connal's home

Corn Beef 3

Corn beef sign

Sleeping baby 3

ADVENTURES IN PARADISE 4

2 November 2010

Kia orana, everyone! Our excellent adventure continues with some insight on the difference between being a tourist and a local. The tourist doesn’t notice that the ocean is so changeable. They usually don’t notice how blue it can be one moment and how that blue can change to turquoise or navy or grey, but the locals do. The tourist does not know that there are more leaves and flowers on the Tipani trees now than there were a week ago, but the locals do. The tourists have no real sense that most of the  living takes place above the main road and past the shops and restaurants, but the locals do. The locals know that living here depends so much on the earth and what it provides.It takes place in the humble homes that are tucked away off those back roads that we have mentioned to you previously .The tourists don’t know that the coconut palm is life-sustaining in so many ways. None of the tree is wasted. The tourist would have no idea that the female tree is the one with the coconuts, and that the palm trees around their resorts are male trees, so that  no one will be injured by falling coconuts! But the locals do. The tourists consider the rain an inconvenience; something that forces them to put the top up on their rental car or pull under a tree while on a scooter. The locals don’t. The locals see that rain as a blessing that waters their crops and keeps their sisterns full. Perhaps it’s all about slowing down and paying attention. Tourists don’t generally notice those tiny little changes that take place here, but the locals do. We spoke in church last Sunday and this was the subject of my talk. I compared the intimate knowledge that the locals have of this island to how well our Father in Heaven knows us. He notices the changes that take place in our lives.

It has been a busy, but fun week. We are learning more all the time and hope to be considered more local than tourist. Our Maori is getting a little better, but don’t expect fluency. One of the sisters did teach me to say, “ Maniania”, which is pronounced, My knee a knee a. This means please be quiet (the polite way of saying “shut-up”) She suggested that I use that phrase on her husband, President Cummings, (see last week’s photo), but I may have another husband in mind as well (mine)!  Ward is getting way too cocky about how much Maori he knows!

We invited three families with young children for pizza on Sunday evening and surprised them with Rarotonga’s version of pumpkins. Several of these children had been excited for a month about learning to carve Jack o Lanterns, and it was fun to see the fathers get involved as well. We made six pizzas and tons of garlic bread, two salads and we lost count on dessert. Do you remember my saying that every meal is a feast. I thought that pizza, one kind of salad and one dessert would be enough. I was out-voted!

November 1^st here is All Saint’s Day. I guess that you could say that it is the island version of Memorial Day, but that is where the comparison ends. For about a week, we have noticed people working in the graveyards. By the way, many of the families here have their loved ones buried in their yards. These are above-ground tombs and usually they are white-washed or covered in tiles. Every day, more and more decorations appeared on these graves. Many were strung with beautiful leis. Some were completely covered with tropical floral arrangements. It was unbelievable and we are including photos. When the sun set, candles were lit and again not just one or two. The entire cemetery was candlelit and it was amazing. People brought their dinner and whole families stayed the entire evening. Since there were so many graveyards, the whole island seemed  to be twinkling. I would loved to have seen it from the air! Oh, by the way the priest comes just before sunset and sprinkles holy water over the graves and blesses them. Just lovely!

Now the other side of lovely could be that November 1 starts the beginning of cyclone season. Be sure and make your reservations, now! Actually, Rarotonga has not had a cyclone in several years, but a neighboring island was almost destroyed two or three years ago, as it took a direct hit! I am proud to say that our church was one of the first on the scene with money, supplies and manpower.  The Cooks as a whole, are a very religious people. They believe strongly in divine intervention and Sunday evening a prayer service,, “For God’s Protection” was held. All religions on the island participated by providing music, and a speaker. Ward sang in the LDS choir and it was beautiful.  The prayers focused on protection from the elements. At the end of March, there will be a Thanksgiving service as well, to thank God for His protection.

So, speaking of cyclones, we thought that we had better get clear on what to do. Windows will be boarded up, if necessary, and everyone is encouraged to stay inside. Who would actually have to be encouraged, I wonder? We are including a photo of one of the houses which always has it’s roof tied down. Can you imagine watching tin roofs fly through the air?  “ We are not in Kansas, anymore”! Seriously, we are promised that usually, these storms don’t  come too close to Rarotonga and it doesn’t really stand in the way of a good vacation!  

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We love to teach and have had the opportunity to do quite a bit of it, lately. We had a group of young, single relief society women here last week. I taught a lesson on choices, then there was an activity and dinner. The menu was “sizzle sausages”, so Ward and I were expecting something exotic that spoke of island traditions. A sizzle sausage is a hot dog cooked in a pan with a slice of bread wrapped around it! For the uninformed among you, chips are French fries, a hamburger here always has beetroot on it (sliced red beets), and if you ask for catsup, you will get tomato sauce, I almost cried when I found a bottle of Heniz catsup!  Oh, yes, I can’t end without telling you about the flying fish.  The other night in the pitch black, we looked out toward the ocean and noticed lights gliding in the water. They were night fishing for flying fish! The light attracts the fish and they literally fly out of the water and the fishermen try to catch them with their nets. You find those the very next day, in the fresh fish markets.

As always, I have written more than I intended, but there is so much we would like to share. Hopefully, you have some idea of the life we have here. Again, the people are wonderful and we are grateful for the new friends that we have made. We do not, however, intend on forgetting our old ones.

Love to you all, Ward and Susan    Elder and Sister Belliston, serving in the Cook Islands