Posts

Cyclone Gita update

Image
i had a wonderful experience the other week.  T and I were invited to a one day conference with reps from NGOs, entrepreneurs, business owners and a couple of churches and other interested parties.  the focus was on post disaster resilience in pacific nations.  It was instigated by a research group from Massey university and this is their 4th annual one. We gave a short presentation on behalf of the humanitarian missionaries who were off-island (a common term here) and also about our work in family services.  these are the things the church has done that we know of: allowing access to the chapels as emergency shelter emergency container with chainsaws, generators, hand tools, wheel barrows, portable saw mill etc plowing of fields  collection and storage of root crops (the kape came from people on another island!) supply of water tanks (9) and water tower (1) 400 tarps supplied (free) and then plastic sheeting when they were all gone the yellow vest...
1 comment
... the rest is here

Study with a pen in your hand

Image
Hi! I have had a great week.  The Holy Ghost gave me another piece of my puzzle. But i'm not ready to share yet.  But I love how he gives me a little piece at a time.  its awesome. I gained a testimony of writing as a tool to communicate with the holy ghost while doing the 12 steps, and I started a new way of studying the book of mormon in October, ( https://mormonlifehacker.com/ the-scripture-study-habit- that-changed-my-life-part-1- the-method/ )  but it has evolved since I got here.  I have known the power of journalling and writing for some time.  It is a very therapeutic activity.  and then when I did the 12 steps the importance of journalling was again highlighted.  not in the kind of what-did-you-do-today journalling, but in the writing-what-is-in-your-heart kind.   From the 12 steps:  Writing is a powerful tool... it will give you time to reflect, it will help you focus your thinking, it will help you see a...
Post a Comment
... the rest is here

I saw Nemo!

Image
I know, I know, snorkeling shouldn't be the highlight of my mission.  But it's just so awesome!  I saw anemones and a whole bunch of yellow and black angel fish and an interesting black and white fish and groups of 10+ all of one kind.  The Zs gave me their snorkel and mask before they went home to Canada, and it's a good one!  And this time I tried using flippers from the shared snorkel gear and it was awesome!  I went out far.  Did I mention last time we went out someone said "Sister Evans! Are you half fish?".  I was flattered.   So I took some photos last week of the reef.  Pretty much around the entire island there is a stretch of maybe 50m (i'm bad at estimating distance) of fairly shallow  water, then outside of that is what they call the reef - where the rocky reef rises to the surface of the water, or almost to the surface.  that is where the waves break and, apparently beyond that it gets deep fast.  im a bi...
Post a Comment
... the rest is here

ANZAC day in Tonga

Image
ANZAC day was a lovely experience with some curious american missionaries who asked lots of good questions, many of which i knew nothing about!  haha.  and the other people we went with were Australian, but I don't hold that against them.   For the uninitiated this is the day of remembrance for people who died fighting in wars.  it began after world war I where NZ and Australian soldiers fought together in Turkey.  there were around 90 Tongans present fighting with us and many from the other islands as well.  that is why ANZAC day is celebrated here as well. We accidentally sat with the VIPs and it wasn't until the end when the sun was up that I saw that we had red carpet under us and we were sitting on red velvet chairs with King Tupou 6th insignia on them!   we just arrived and they led us to a chair - no question about who we were or anything.   It was hosted by the NZ High Commission this year and the pakeha w...
Post a Comment
... the rest is here

I think ive been here 2 months!

Image
Hey ive been here 2 months and no one has come to visit me yet!!!! whats that all about?  hahaha.  I guess when the temple closes you'll all have another reason to come.   Conference weekend!  so exciting!  as I write this I have not watched any full sessions (its only saturday)  but I have watched the talks with all the announcements!  i'm excited to watch more - in my favourite way - conference marathon!  as soon as I get up on sunday morning I put the sat morning session on loud.  I love hearing the voices of our leaders filling my home.  and then I watch one session after another.  I like to be able to stop and rewind and reply the parts I didn't quite catch or that felt important to me.  I like to pause to go to the bathroom or get food, and not miss any.  I love it! (update:  watched all 5 sessions and LOVED them!  I can' even tell you which were my favourites, there were so many!   ...
Post a Comment
... the rest is here

Devotionals and another cyclone warning

Image
To quote the recent Elder DesChamps, Hello people of the world!! I missed sending an email last week!  The internet was really crappy for the last 2 weeks and at times the wifi wasn't even working in the service centre.  this helped contribute to my worst day yet in my mission, where I had a meltdown.  but Caylah and Susan saved me and the next day all was well!   The weather has been cool, overcast and yesterday raining hard!  there have been rumors of another cyclone but nothing had happened until today after church when they sent us home to prepare for the next cyclone - Cyclone Josie.  I have a video of me driving through flooded roads yesterday but Youtube is currently not letting me upload any videos.  sigh.  it says they are the wrong file type.  major fail you tube.   its hard to know what to tell you about since its been 2 weeks.  I spoke at 2 devotionals at 2 different middles schools the week before ...
Post a Comment
... the rest is here