Adventures in Paradise 10

ADVENTURES IN PARADISE 10

Kia orana, everyone! Our excellent adventure continues with an interesting outlook on this holiday season. Ward and I seem to be caught somewhere between the Christmas story and Gilligan’s Island. Several weeks ago we mentioned, well yes, we bragged, that we would be going to Tahiti for Christmas. Although we love being on our rock (island), we were looking forward to the chance to have a little vacation, as it were, and to see some old friends. We knew that there would be a party, complete with Christmas goodies and stockings for everyone. There would be music, good food, great company and we were looking forward to it all. You might be anticipating by now, that all is not going to go as planned. Last week, our mission president called and said that he was sorry to inform us, but  there was no room at the inn and that we were not going to be rescued! We were told that anticipated rooms did not become available and that the airlines had overbooked the plane. The Skipper and Gilligan (the two young Elders) were going, but the professor and Mary Ann (Susan) were to stay behind. Ah, yes, we are learning not only to expect the unexpected, but to accept it.

On a happier note, many of our friends did escape the island and are now in New Zealand. They have gone to spend time with family and to attend the temple. I think that it is a testament to their faith, that these people who have so little, have each paid about one thousand dollars for a plane ticket! One little family is going to be sealed, a young woman is being married tomorrow, several friends are going for the first time and many others are planning to spend most of their time while in New Zealand doing temple work. Over sixty-five people are making this trip and it was fun to see them off at the airport. Sixty-five may not seem like a lot, until you consider that each of the three branches here has an average of eighty to ninety people in attendance on any given Sunday. We wish them a wonderful trip and holiday.

 Oh, yes, I noticed that many of the travelers were taking empty coolers with them. They are bringing back Kentucky Fried Chicken!!! Ward hopes that he has left enough hints with everyone, that he will be invited to share in the spoils of this trip! We are starting to miss the little things that we so took for granted at home. I would love a tall glass of cold milk. Ward misses Idaho potatoes and sherbet. I was overcome with joy when I found a turkey in the frozen foods section. I held it out to Ward and asked if we couldn’t please take it home with us. I practically dropped that seven pound bird when I saw that they were asking sixty-five dollars for it! We now drop by Prime Foods just to say hello to that little guy! Oh yes, and when you order a burger here with the works, you order a burger the lot. The lot consists of the burger, made of minced meat, onion, cheese, bacon (way undercooked) lettuce, tomato, beetroot (red beet slices) and a fried egg! You order chips with that (fries) and instead of catsup, you are given tomato sauce .Don’t bother ordering a milkshake, as the humidity keeps them from staying thick, and be especially careful with the smoothies, as they are full of seeds!

We had an interesting experience here at the house last week. A friend, who is with the police, called and asked if he and his partner could bring their dog by the mission home to do a little training. We thought that he was talking about using the yard, but instead, they planted drugs through out the house, then brought the dog in to see if he could detect the hiding places. The dog passed with flying colors, and we have included one photo of the dog doing his job as well as one of Ward in handcuffs. Please be sure to share the one of Ward with everyone that you know!  I told him that the next time he is arrested, he should wipe that smile off his face!

We have mentioned before, that the children here are breathtakingly beautiful. While this is true, it can pose a problem for us. Ward was talking to two children at the airport and asked, “ Are you beautiful girls waiting for someone special?” One of the girls turned around to him and  indignantly informed him that he was not a girl but a boy! Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of asking  a woman when her baby is due only to be informed that she is not pregnant. If this has happened to you, then you might understand our situation here. The island tradition is not to cut a small boys hair until he is eight years old or older. This tradition involves family and friends gathering together and each person takes turns cutting off a lock of hair. The hair is then wrapped around paper money and put into a container. That container is then given to the boys family for his future. Sadly, the girls are not allowed to participate in this ceremony, but they at least get to keep their long hair. Ward and I now find ourselves being very careful about how we address the children, as we just never seem to be able to tell the difference. One beautiful little girl that I had noticed several weeks ago, showed up at church in pants and a bow tie last Sunday!

Our mission president came to our island for a little over twenty-four hours last week. We enjoyed meeting with him and having personal interviews. He thanked us for our hard work and told us that he had heard that we were doing good things with the people here. We were thrilled to hear this. He also said that he was happy that we seemed to have managed to avoid the pitfalls that can occur on a mission. I almost asked him what those pitfalls were, but decided that if we hadn’t found them, then we weren’t going to go looking! This  man has almost nine months of his tenure to go and has traveled well over 110,000 air  miles! This is astonishing it itself, but even more so, when you learn that he is only  number three in the South Pacific area  in miles logged by  mission presidents! There are so many little islands in the Pacific Ocean and they are all part of  one mission or another and they all need to be visited. The president  of the Marshall Island mission takes first place in the air miles sweepstakes with a whopping 10,000 air miles per month!

We attended a baptism last Saturday and just planned the program for a young father is wants to be baptized on Christmas day. Aissac is the father of Janice, who you may recall, is the little girl in  the photo from an earlier blog. She is the one with the two ponytails, the red dress and the flower in her ear. We have seen such peace enter Aissac’s life as he has moved away from some of the people and habits that were weighing him down.  He says that he is healthier and happier than he has ever been and we are so grateful to be near him to see this change.

We are reminded this time of year of the abundant lives that we lead. We also realize that our new friends here are grateful for the bounties of their lives as well. Each week someone is assigned to provide flowers for the chapel. This might be a daunting task for some of us at home, but here it is expected that one’s land can provide what is needed. We have included a photo of me holding the flowers from last Sunday’s service. The woman who brought them asked me to take them and enjoy them, which we intend to do! Can you imagine what a bouquet like this would cost at home?

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We will not be alone on Christmas. Just the opposite is true. We feel like the most popular kids on the block, as it seems everyone wants to share the holiday with us. As usual, there will be feasting, but this time, it takes place at the beach. You can understand why Santa wears sandals here. Our friend, Taina, tells us that  our Christmas tree at the mission home, is to be moved to the middle of the room so that we can dance around it before opening our presents!  She  has invited people to our home Christmas morning and has planned a menu or feast that you won’t believe. I will leave that for next week. But I will say that I lost count at six courses. Again, we wish you Happy Holidays and joy in the journey. We also invite any of you to put a ticket to Rarotonga under the tree, as we would love to see you!

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

777 landing and going to New Zealnad with Members for the Temple

Have you ever seen a 777 this close?

Ward under arrest (joke).  Ward and Brother Mautara Cummings

Drug dog found it!

Rain wear

Wigmore Falls a good swimming hole

Blooming tree in front of Mission Home.  We think of this as autumn leaves

Ruth's relatives at her stand with bananas and a fresh coconut ready to drink.  It is goooood!

Susan with Church Flowers