Halloween in Samoa

We traveled thousands of miles to a tropical island thinking we would get away from the pagan US holiday of Halloween.  Two wards in our stake asked if they could bring their children around to our houses so they could trick or treat.  I asked them why they wanted to corrupt their children by having them participate in this pagan american custom.  Their answer was one word, "CANDY".  It actually turned out quite well. We got together with some of the senior missionaries for a Halloween party and the children from the 2 wards came by the party to collect their treats.  The only casualties were a couple of the senior brethren coming down with a bad case of food poisoning which they blamed on the pizza.  Sister Partridge and I survived admirably. 

The next day, Thursday we said goodbye to some of our Elders who were returning home.  I might be the 2nd tallest one in the mission now since Elder Liebregts was one of the Elders that went home.  We are pictured here. The tallest is Elder Feagai who is 6'9".  We were hoping to get a photo of the 3 of us but the timing didn't work out. Elder Liebregts is from Upolu.

We also said goodbye to Elder Bonar, who is went home to Utah. Elder Bonar has been a zone leader on the South East side of the island since we have been here and was a very dedicated missionary.

This next week will be very quiet.  President & Sister Leota are going to New Zealand for the Pacific area Mission Presidents seminar.  I joking tell them, "So you are going to New Zealand to play with your mission president friends?"  They roll their eyes at me.  The assistants are going to American Samoa for the week to split with missionaries there.  So they've left the office to us.