Mitchell Missionary Messages: VISITORS, VERY NEEDED SERVICE PROJECT, AND VALENTINES

The last week of January we hosted a senior missionary couple who serve in our mission. The Mortensens, Reed and Diana, are assigned to serve in Port Vila. They are from Astoria, Oregon. Elder Mortensen is 1st counselor in the mission presidency. We met them briefly when we visited Port Vila in October last year and this visit gave us the opportunity to become very good friends. Their visit was specifically to train the Priesthood leaders in preparing families to go to the temple in Fiji.

During the week we showed them the sites of Guadalcanal.

Elder and Sister Mortensen on the Black Sand Beach at Selwyn College

Native Solomon Islander with her pikinini

WWII caterpillar abandoned on the beach near Savo Island

It was rainy most of the week which made the vegetation brighter and the scenery more beautiful than normal as we drove west from Honiara.

We visited the outdoor museum of WWII relics

Cheryle and I are standing by a wing from a crashed B-17

An amazing butterfly also visiting the museum

The rusty steel parts in the wing of this crashed WWII fighter plane, are two Browning 50 caliber machine guns

Our day ended at the American WWII Memorial in Honiara

Saturday, the Mortensens held training from 9 am to 4:30. Our assignment was to prepare and serve lunch in our living room for 20 people and clean up while they finished the training.

We prepared rice, with pork and pumpkin gravy, vegetables, and fruit. For desert we served home made cake with ice cream.

Saturday, February 9th, 100 youth and young adults of the Honiara District

provided a very much needed service project at the White River School.

They cut grass, cleaned up rubbish, trimmed bushes, and cleaned out drains.

All ten Elders participated as well.