Just so you know what you are looking at:
- The blue highlight is new computer installation = 7 (We found two that had already been replaced last year.)
- The red highlight is firewall installation = 9
- The yellow highlight is copying 188 gig of Church Videos to the computer harddrive = 10 (This takes about 2 hours each computer to copy it over--that's 20 hours right there.)
- 4 Family History Center installations = 9 new computers total
- 3 Training sessions
Saturday At 9:00 a.m.,we attend a Coordinating Council meeting and teach 5 stake clerks. The meeting is on the far west end of Upolu island. Our scheduled ferry time to Savaii is 4:00 p.m. That evening when we arrive in Savaii, we check into the hotel and travel to a chapel that is close and install a new computer. All is going well until the new monitor goes blank; one monitor down. We did not bring extras!
Sunday, We were supposed to meet Elder Fata at noon for another Coordinating Council meeting half way up the east side of Savaii. On the way, we attend a sacrament meeting, and install 2 new computers and one firewall in the building. We arrive at the Coordinating Council meeting just about noon and no one is there. The councilor in the Mission Presidency shows up and we wait for another 45 minutes and no one else shows. Finally we make some phone calls and find that Elder Fata wasn't able to get on the ferry. This weekend was Father's Day and everything was full. Meeting cancelled! So we continue up the east side of the island and install 3 more firewalls and 3 FHC computers. We travel toward our resort, Via'Moana on the north/west end of the island and stop just before there to start one video copying. It's now about 5:00 p.m. and we are hot, sweaty and tired. Dinner is at 7:30 p.m. so a little nap is in order!
Monday We are working this week in the Savaii West Stake and the Savaii Sagone Stake. These are both located on the west side of Savaii. It's a fair distance down that side and the buildings are not close to each other. Today it's installing 2 new computers, videos on two other computers and a stop at the Savaii West Stake building (Neiafu Village) to check on the satellite and sound system. There was no internet at the stake building for us to test the computers. The satellite rack didn't take as long for Theron to complete so we went further down the road and installed videos on 2 other computers. We have 3 USB harddrives and start one copying, then move on to another, etc. Then go back and collect the harddrives.
Tuesday Install 2 FHC computers in the Savaii West Stake and a couple of firewalls. We have training at 4:00 p.m. with the stake presidency, clerks and STS. Found a computer with a virus and will be taking it back with us to wipe it and then re-install all the programs. We are still finding some problems with wiring of power to the internet cabinets and I plan on doing a flowchart of all work that is done and needs to be finished when we return to Upolu. (Always planning ahead, got to keep myself busy for 6 more weeks.) The training was great and they fed us tuna and cornbeef sandwiches. STS training is scheduled for 10:00 in the morning.
Wednesday It took most of the day training the STS. Theron had the STS and a ward clerk come and they were young adult age. So, they had a great time. The STS's mother made us cornbeef on crackers to eat. They always think we are big eaters, she made a full plate (probably 10-12) for each of us. The people are so, so, so generous and giving. Elder Smith, one of OUR missionaries from Pago showed up so we got to visit with hi for a while. After the training we traveled to the next ward building and installed a new computer. Then we decided to head back to the resort for some down time - a little snorkel and kayak trip.When you travel as much as we do you always get good shots of other vehicles. A public work truck at the garbage dump.
Thursday It was training in the Savaii Sagone Stake at 10:00 a.m. We arrived an hour early to start installing 2 new FHC computers. As we were finishing this up, the stake president comes in and asks if we can delay the training for a half hour, he has two weddings to perform. Great, we get to attend a wedding. The two couples were going to get baptized this weekend and needed to get married first. One couple looked like they could be grandparents and they were just now getting married. The other couple had a couple of young children and were really shy and cute about getting married. There was a song, a talk from the Bishop, the ceremony with both couples standing in front of the pulpit and the Stake President giving the marriage ceremony, then another song, a prayer and then dismissal to our training. We had a full group because the Stake President had invited bishops and clerks. Now realize, it's 10 in the morning, how can they be there -- these guys are all farmers and can come and go as they please. Interesting life! The FHC Director was also there and we trained her on the computers - well as it goes - one of the new CPUs would not power up, so we are bringing it back to the office. As we were talking after the meeting with one of the bishops, we found out that he had seen our Christmas lights in NSL.
There is no STS in this stake - the stake president told us he can't find anyone qualified. So there will be no training tomorrow. Great, we can finish everything else up. Oh, by the way, earlier that morning the stake president told his wife to prepare lunch for all of us. How's that for planning. She prepared fried chicken, a macaroni salad and rice. It was very good. We left around 1:00 p.m. and went to a couple of buildings to install firewalls and a new computer, but we found the computer was already new so we just did the videos.
Friday This was a super day - do everything that is left over. That means a total trip around the island. Install a new ward computer, finish installing firewalls, install several video packages and finish one FHC. Theron wanted to get some drone time in so we planned on stopping at the blowholes. We arrived in early afternoon, the tide was high and wild, a perfect day for filming here. The woman that went with us to toss the coconuts, was cordial all the way there as we collected a box full of old coconuts. Theron then went about setting up the drone and told her he was going to fly it and take pictures. Here reply was, "That will be 500 Tala." Theron said, "What?!" She said "Yes it's my land." Theron said, "Okay then, I won't fly the drone," She countered with "How about 100." He was mad at her and so finished putting the drone away. We watched a couple of coconut launches and then Theron said let's go.
Now, the ward we were working at was about one mile away. Yes, you are with us, he went back to the Church and flew the drone one mile to the blowholes and got some pictures. He had to keep it high to get signal so the pictures aren't the best, but he will not be deterred, just re-adjust the plans.
We arrive back at the resort at 8:00 p.m. just in time for dinner and sleep! Week ended, tomorrow time to go home. Time to have a hot shower at home, also. Yes, it was another week of cold showers.
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