Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Day 6 From Hamilton and Pokeno, NZ to Apia, Samoa!

Day 6 Hamilton and Pokeno NZ, Apia, Samoa
Today we had the opportunity to go to the New Zealand Temple.  We were a part of one of the morning sessions of baptisms.  It was an amazing experience.  After that we rounded everyone up and headed to Pokeno for some ice cream.  They had the option of getting a 19 scoop ice cream cone! It was really yummy.  Then we headed over to the airport and had to wait 45 min just to check in.  We had a little baggage trouble but ended up getting around it after 20 min.  We finally made it through security with no problems.  Maddie (Freshman MB) was very sick throughout the whole day, so getting on a plane was the last thing she wanted to do.  We all were running around the airport trying to get things to make her feel better before we got on the plane. We finally found some good medicine and made her a concoction of powerade and sprite to help her stomach.  She was in the fetal position holding her stomach most of the time while we were waiting to board.  We all felt for her.  Macky ended up being so nice and switching her seats so that she could have a window seat and no one sitting next to her so she could lay down.  After the 3 ½ hr plane ride, we finally made it to Samoa!! TALOFA!!! It was so humid and extremely hot when we got off. And it didn’t help that we were all wearing long pants.  We were greeted by some of Sam’s friends who gave us all leis.  On our drive to Pesega we got a glimpse of what its like to live here.  Most of the houses didn’t have windows or doors, it was just an open house.  You could see right into them and see everything they were doing.  We saw that most people didn’t wear shoes or even a lot of clothes.  It was a great experience to see that part of how people live out here.  I think that by the end of the drive, a lot of us were realizing just how lucky we are to have the houses we have and the other materialistic things we use on a daily basis. We take for granted what we have a lot of the time and aren’t grateful for the things that are given to us.  These people don’t have much, and just by the 20 min car ride I was able to get a greater respect for them and a sense of gratefulness for the things that I have. TOFA! 

-Jen Hardman
















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