GENERAL CONFERENCE IN THE SOLOMONS

Through a series of Miracles the members of the Chruch in the Solomon Islands were able to view two sessions of General Conference just 2 weeks after it occured in Salt Lake City.  This may not sound like a miracle to you, but many members of the Church here had never before seen more than a still photo of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 

With technical advice received via skype from Scott and T.J., we were able to download the sessions from LDS.org less than 24 hours after they were broadcast.  Our little Dell laptop worked in rythmn with our ADSL internet connection.  Downloads worked best in the middle of the night when the speeds were fastest and in 5 hours we could download a full session to our 16 GB usb drive!!!

At the 10am session there were 164 in attendance.  Between sessions families found shade under the trees and enjoyed a snack they brought from home. 112 stayed to view the 1pm session.  

We were so happy that so many attended and that this miracle was available to the Saints here in the Solomons.  The spirit was so strong and all were edified by the messages of the conference sessions.

  President Sauseru and President Mitchell

welcoming the members

The goal now is to show October General Conference just 1 week after it occurs in Salt Lake City!

This week, our assignment has been to visit many of the schools in Honiara and pay a large portion of the school fees for the member children.  A very generous member of the Church provides the funds necessary to help members in the Pacific educate their children.  What a blessing this is to the people of the Solomon Islands.  We are sure the Lord has special blessings for one who is willing to provide such a needed gift.

Education is very expensive here and even though families are extremely poor, they must pay large school fees or their children cannot attend school.

This is a secondary or high school class.  We just had to take this picture for the blog.  Classrooms are not what we are used to back home.  No electricity, no air conditioning, no fans, no window glass, no teacher desk, and just a bull horn for a PA system.  Most have no computer in the office, and of course none in the classrooms. 




We have been waiting anxiously for packages that the family had sent weeks ago.  Well, on lucky Friday the 13th, we got 4 packages!!  They were all sent between March 5th and March 20th. All arrived on the same day!!!  We did a happy dance all the way home. Wow, everything we have ever wanted and more, just arrived.  

What a haul!!!

Early, every Sunday morning as we are taking the Elders to White River Branch for their meetings, we drive past Honiara Hot Bread and notice the long lines waiting for the bakery to open.  This Sunday it was 6:30am and look at the line.  Just for Jeny, may we say,

"No bread for you!!!!!"



SOLOMON ISLAND RELIEF SOCIETY BIRTHDAY PARTY

THE RELIEF SOCIETY ORGANIZATION celebrates their birthday each March.  The 170th birthday is 2012.  Each Stake and District was asked to celebrate by including a service project as part of their celebration.  The Honiara Solomon Island District Relief Society cleaned up the bus stop outside the fence of the Church property.  

   Seventeen hard working sisters came early on the morning of March 24th with rakes, bush knives, & sweepers.  After putting on the Mormon Helping Hands vests, they went right to work.  They picked up rubbish, cut grass, weeded and cleaned the very, very dirty bus stop.
                                                                                     

Sister Lilian Orofiu, the Honiara Branch Relief Society President, runs the grass cutter like a pro.  Note the flip flops, we think they are the  steel toed, safety type.   LOL

Note the bush knives in their hands.  All Solomon Islanders are very proficient with bush knives and use them almost daily.

Hot and tired sisters pose with 29 bags of rubbish collected in just 100 yards!

Good job Relief Society Sisters!!

One week later on March 31st the sisters gathered once again.  This time, to view the Women's General Conference Session Broadcast from October 2011.  Sister Mitchell started the meeting at 9am with just four sisters in attendance.  By the end of the broadcast the group had grown to 50!!

Sister Mitchell addresses the sisters following the broadcast.

The activity concluded with a pot luck luncheon.  There was lots of food, fun, love and laughter.

The skilled kitchen crew; Sisters Eunice, Veronica and Lorina cut up and prepared the fresh fruit.

Sister Mitchell baked and decorated four birthday sheet cakes the day before.

Sisters; Grace, Lilian, Fiona, Mae, Amalyn, Sarah & Hemma



March was a very big month in the Honiara Solomon Island District.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the dedication of this land for the preaching of the gospel and the Relief Society service and birthday activities.


We wrote the following news paper articles, the first ran in the Solomon Star and the second ran in the Island Sun newspaper, both on April 3, 2012.

Women of Relief Society Clean up Kola Ridge Bus Stop

Women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, world-wide, celebrated the 170^th birthday of the organization of Relief Society during the month of March.  The Relief Society was organized in 1842 by the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Purposes of the Relief Society are;  increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need.

The Honiara, Solomon Islands District Relief Society Sisters cleaned up the area at the bus stop on Kola Ridge on Saturday March 24^th.  They trimmed grass and picked up 29 bags of rubbish.  The women provided this service to help beautify Honiara as part of the birthday celebration.   The Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is recognized as one of the oldest and the largest women’s organizations in the world.  There are over 6 million members world-wide.  Women in the Church 18 and older participate in the Relief Society and speak 80 languages in 175 countries. 

Relief Society Viewing Broadcast

Saturday March 31^st, the Relief Society Sisters met at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Kola Ridge, to view a broadcast of the Relief Society Meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Julie B. Beck, Silvia H. Allred and Barbara Thompson, the general presidency of the world-wide organization spoke on the importance of the sisters and the work of the Relief Society.  Deiter F. Uchtdorf, 2^nd counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also spoke to the women.  He compared the women to the small flower, the forget-me-not, and assured them of their importance in God’s plan.  He reminded them that Heavenly Father has not forgotten them; in fact he knows them individually and loves them.   

Following the broadcast a luncheon was enjoyed by the 50 sisters in attendance.  The local presidents of the Relief Society of the Honiara Solomon Islands District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Sarah Hoiesi, Lillian Orofiu, Sarah Teikanoa and Amy Bata.

Island Sun newspaper artilcle 03 April 2012

Kola Ridge Bus Stop Cleaned by Relief Society

Women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, world-wide, celebrated the 170^th birthday of the organization of Relief Society during the month of March.  The Relief Society was organized in 1842 by the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Purposes of the Relief Society are;  increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need.

The Honiara, Solomon Islands District Relief Society Sisters cleaned up the area at the bus stop on Kola Ridge on Saturday March 24^th.  They trimmed grass and picked up 29 bags of rubbish.  The women provided this service to help beautify Honiara as part of the birthday celebration.   The Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is recognized as one of the oldest and the largest women’s organizations in the world.  There are over 6 million members world-wide.  Women in the Church 18 and older participate in the Relief Society and speak 80 languages in 175 countries. 

Relief Society Enjoying Luncheon

Relief Society Sisters met at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Kola Ridge, Saturday March 31^st, to view a broadcast of the Relief Society Meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Julie B. Beck, Silvia H. Allred and Barbara Thompson, the general presidency of the world-wide organization spoke on the importance of the sisters and the work of the Relief Society.  Also speaking to the sister’s world-wide, was Deiter F. Uchtdorf, 2^nd counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He compared the women to the small flower, the forget-me-not, and assured them of their importance in God’s plan.  He reminded them that Heavenly Father has not forgotten them; in fact he knows them individually and loves them.   

Members of the Relief Society are encouraged to provide service and relief, increase faith and personal righteousness, and help their children know how to choose the right.  It is through following the example of the Savior--by caring, teaching, loving, being patient, avoiding judgment and showing kindness, that women are able to understand their role as daughters of God and lift those around them. 

Following the broadcast a luncheon was enjoyed by the 50 sisters in attendance.  The local presidents of the Relief Society of the Honiara Solomon Islands District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Sarah Hoiesi, Lillian Orofiu, Sarah Teikanoa and Amy Bata.