Sunday, March 22, 2009

We got our first e-mail from Spud the following Monday. We were so excited to hear from him but he seemed a little overwhelmed. He was sent to the Island of Savaii with Elder Anderson. Elder Anderson is a zone leader so we knew he would work hard and teach Spud well. He was adjusting to the heat and the food, can't understand anything being said, has to bath out of a bucket, and he missed his family. On the positive side, he got to baptize someone two days after he was there. He thought that was great. Also, he and his companion contacted an elderly woman named Sepa that was interested in talking to them and learning more. She had attended an LDS church once in New Zealand and was interested in what she saw and learned there. But then a week later, we got his next e-mail. He was like a completely new missionary! The island is beautiful, the people are wonderful, and they shower in the warm rain wearing their lava lavas. He is still teaching Sepa. He has learned how to crack open a coconut and next he wants to learn how to climb the coconut trees. He was doing great and loving it! He still can't speak the language very well and the Samoans like to tease him but that's o.k.. He is craving pop-tarts so we will send him some in his next package.


Here is Spud and President Haleck in front of the Samoan temple. The day there got there, they got to go to the temple. I had to call Derek Wiscombe and spell out the words behind them to make sure it was the temple. He assured me that it was. They stayed in the mission home that night and the next day was transfer day and they got their new companions and areas where they will be serving. Spud got Elder Anderson, from the Salt Lake area, as a companion and they were sent to the island of Savaii.

Here he is in the Samoan airport. This was taken with his companions and his mission president, President Haleck. I know the temperature was pretty hot there... why are his companions still in their suit jackets? Looks like Spud has the right idea.
Spud left the MTC on March 3. His flight left Salt Lake City around 5:00 and he flew to Los Angeles. He had a four hour layover in Los Angeles and we got to talk with him for quite awhile. He actually gave out a Book of Mormon to someone in the airport. He's starting his missionary work already. He left Los Angeles around 11:00 at night and flew all night until he arrived in Samoa.