11-18-14

Today was quarterly conference.  Pres. Uchdorf and Elder Bednar and a member of the seventy spoke to all of us on the islands.  They said there was 18 stakes here on Oahu.  It was by telecast and about every ten seconds the picture would die out (you could still hear them speaking though) and then come back on.  It was that way the whole 2 hours.  It was very good but you kind of had to not look at the screen.   

This week has been a little overcast with rain off and on.  Seemed good to me because it was not as humid.  Diana says this is winter.  Everyone over here wears sweatshirts and jackets.

In costumes we have been making arm bands and mending and chasing rats.  We now have caught 8 rats.  The last 2 days we did not catch anything but we decided they were smarter than us---still little poopies around.  The safety inspector ( a missionary) came over to access the situation.  We made him clean the top of the fridge.  Tons of rat feces.  One got caught and fell off the shelf and rolled around and got out of the trap somehow.  Blood was on the floor plus we have an injured rat somewhere.  We are waiting for the smell!  

These are the arm bands we make for the dancers.  We braid the straw into the string really tight.  Our hands were aching after a couple of hours.

Safety inspector (Elder Przybille) washing the top of the fridge.  Kathy Tremea looking on.

Starting about 7 years ago the missionaries started a Blue Shirt Dinner to honor all of the workers who are hired by the PCC.  The missionaries provide the meal and do a program for them.  We honor them for all they do.  Kind of a public relations thing.  Some of them don't like the missionaries trying to tell them what to do.  Most are very nice though.  A couple of missionaries did a skit where the 2 of them were wrapped in a black plastic.  One is short and the front one is tall.  The short one is behind the tall one and is his arms and hands.  The tall one tells a story and the short one feels around putting on shaving cream, brushing his teeth and combing his hair etc.  The arms were so short and his hands were big.  It looked so funny and we all about died laughing.  They asked the 2 to do it for the Christmas party.

Room decorated for the Blue Shirt party.  It is the back of the maintenance building.

Awning put up outside where the food was served.

Several of the Polynesian Blue Shirts.  Big guys!

Elu (on the left) is the little guy dad really likes.  He worked for Utah Power in Salt Lake for about 10 years.  He is dad's golfing buddy.

2 missionaries doing the funny skit

For months Denis and I have seen metal bands around the date trees and the coconut trees.  We wondered what they were.  We have learned that they are put on so that the rats and the mongeese  can not climb up and eat all of the fruit.  Smart idea!

We learned today that the 2 little Filipino girls'  families were alright and that their homes were not damaged too much.  They said it was 3 days before they could find out and get any information about the families.  I have not heard if kids over here lost some of their families.

Ants that came out of the holes in my steam iron.  I about died.  They had gotten in there thick and were killed from the steam.  It took several puffs of steam to get rid of them.

 Brady called last night and said he had gotten engaged to Stacy.  He will inherit 3 little children.  He has taken 6 1/2 years getting to know them and I think he is ready for a full sized family.  

He seemed real happy.  

I have got to go and dye my hair.  I am looking like a really old senior missionary.  

Love, Sherleen