blackrockbulletin: Adventures in Paradise 16

Adventures in Paradise 16

Kia orana, everyone! Our excellent adventure continues with a disclaimer and an apology to Vincent Price and Vivien Leigh. My island brain seems to have its’ wires crossed, and for some reason, having remembered the line, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”, I mistakenly thought that Mr. Price had been the speaker. As per my request several of you helped to set the record straight, by indentifying both the speaker and the movie. Keith Merrill, my brother, Tod, Wendy Beall and Kathy Stoker correctly indentified the movie as “A Streetcar Named Desire” and informed me that Vivien Leigh had played the role of Blanch Dubois, and had made that line famous. I really did know this in another lifetime, but to those of you too polite to correct me, please note that I now have perfect recall. One can easily understand how I could have confused Vincent with Vivien. It was an honest mistake. Can you imagine that?

Last week, I mentioned that a friend was in the hospital. I related examples of the thoughtfulness of the people here. Sadly, this friend had to have emergency surgery. This can be a frightening situation in the best of circumstances, but to be in a foreign country, surrounded by strangers, it can be terrifying. Early on the morning of the surgery, our friend, Noo, arrived at the hospital on his scooter carrying breakfast for our friend’s wife. He had plans to spend the day, “just in case” something was needed. He was not asked to do this, rather, he did it because someone was in distress. We later found that he was to have begun a new job that morning, but delayed his work so as to be of comfort, Can you imagine that?

Later that same morning, we picked up our friend’s son and daughter-in-law at the airport. They had hastily arranged the trip to be with their parents and had not thought about living arrangements once they arrived. Upon hearing of their arrival, Elizabeth Lobb, another of our friends here, provided both a home rent free and the use of a car for as long as they were needed. Elizabeth also delivered handmade eis (leis) to welcome this family. Can you imagine that?

We continue to be concerned about our friend and his progress, but he knows that many people on this island are concerned for him as well. He appreciates their prayers on his behalf and understands that it is the island way for people to quietly come by to pay their respects. These visitors do not expect to be engaged in conversation with the patient, nor would they expect him to be awake or even aware that they are present. It is enough that they have been there. That is all. Can you imagine that?

We arrived home the other day to find another fruit delivery. We had remarked to someone that we were almost out of bananas (I am learning to be very careful about what I say) and that we were craving fresh pineapple. The accompanying photo is all the description you will need! We will just ask if you can imagine that?

We have mentioned that family is all important to these people. Family takes in a lot of territory here and can include almost anyone. Everyone seems to be someone’s cousin, auntie or uncle. You can become family simply by spending a lot of time at someone’s home. No one is ever turned away; they are family. Adoption is almost unheard of here because of something called a “Feeding Family”. We have heard terms such as “feeding mother’, and “feeding father”, and wondered what in the world they meant. A feeding parent is someone who takes in a child, then feeds and raises them. The child is considered family, but they feel here, that adoption would limit the younster’s ability to enjoy more than one family’s love. So these children are loved, fed, taught, housed and nurtured, with no thought of keeping them away from their biological parents. Can you imagine that?

We seem to be more popular here, than when we first arrived. Many people just show up on our doorstep unannounced, which is the island way. I always ask whether they have come to see us or do they simply want to visit the air-con. Most homes here do not have air conditioning and we just realized that at least half of the people we know do not have hot water. You can consider the ramifications of that statement on your own! Last night, I put on my robe three times, thinking that it was the end of my day, but I was wrong and I have become a quick-change artist of sorts. Last night, we had three separate sets of unannounced guests and one young couple stayed until well after midnight! When it was time to go, Tariu, simply woke up his wife and helped her to their scooter. Oh, yes, he had to wake up Ward too! Can you imagine that?

We had a wonderful weekend visit from Elders Hamula and Costa. I would like to relate the events of their visit in our next blog, as this one is getting a little lengthy. But, I would just like to share with you at this point, that these elders met with the prime minister of the Cook Islands and even gave him a Priesthood blessing where he was blessed to make wise decisions for the country. The well-being of the Cook Islands was also included in that blessing. The Elders asked the Prime Minister if there was any way that the church could help the country. Can you imagine that?

As an addendum, I would like to add that it is just before seven o’clock a.m. here. As I was finishing this blog, I heard a car in our drive. Wearing my robe (again), I went to the door to see who had arrived. It was one of our friends with a bag of beautiful mangos. Tunui Varu stopped by to see how our friend is doing after surgery and to deliver fresh fruit for our breakfast. He gave me a hug and was off to work.

Can you imagine that?

As usual, we are happy and trying to work hard. We now feel so much at home that we are starting to make fun of the papa'a (white people) tourists. We are certain that we never looked so lost or so bewildered as they do. We can’t remember ever being so confused about the lack of addresses and we know that we were never that PALE!! Who are these people, anyway? We are now “locals” who are driving on the only true side of the road and who are checking to see if the mangos and breadfruit are ripe. Can you imagine that?

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