We watched conference today at our church. (10-03-09) We got up at 4:30 a.m., and watched the sessions at 5:00, 9:00, and Danny went to the Priesthood session at 1:00 this afternoon. We will go again tomorrow morning.

This week has been very different, because of the earthquake and tsunami. Someone asked us, “How did you enjoy your first tsunami here in Samoa?”

We felt the earthquake on Tuesday morning. (9-29-09) We were studying about 6:45 in the morning when the quake began. We had experienced one a month before, and so we knew what was happening. This was more intense. It shook the house up and down, and then when we thought it was going to stop, it began to sway from side to side. We realized that the mission home, where we stay, is built very well. Next time, we will go outside. We just crouched down by a table. Everyone, except us knew to go outside.

We were leaving to go to Pago, Pago for immigration permits because we had transfers that day. They rang the village bell. Ali, our neighbor, called us and said it was a tsunami warning. We stayed put because we are quite high, but watched the main road, in front of our house, pack up bumper to bumper with cars as everyone headed up the mountain.

There has been a lot of damage to property, and lives. Our mission President is on Upolu, another island. We spent the day trying to get in touch with the 28 missionaries we are responsible for. It took about 8 hours. It was very stressful. Cell phones did not work. I sat by the land phone at home and Danny drove around to some of the missionaries homes to see if we could find them. It was a miracle, all the missionaries were safe. Some of them had some really close calls. I know we are in the Lord’s hands.

We did have Institute students that lost loved ones, and their homes. Many missionaries that serve in Samoa are from Samoa. One is continuing to serve faithfully, even though his family lost most of their possessions and their 86 year old grandmother from the tsunami.

A missionary, from Tennessee, has been here 6 weeks. We met him in the MTC. He lost everything, except for the clothes he had to quickly put on as he ran away from the sea. He, too, was in the shower. He felt the quake, got out of the shower, just as someone yelled, “tsunami, run!” He slipped on some pants and he and his companion began to run. As they passed children they picked them up. The land is flat and they weren’t getting any higher. The Spirit told him to climb the trees. He yelled to his companion, “Climb the trees.” Everyone around listened, and obeyed him, which saved many. His companion handed children up to him in the tree. After 15 minutes the waves subsided, so they came down. The water was still about 5 feet high, as they waded to higher ground.

In the village of Amanave the missionaries ran up the hill and watched the tsunami destroy their village with 3-5 waves. Many people are living in our churches.

We since have heard about the devastation in Indonesia. There are many natural disasters happening around the world. I have reflected on my prepardness at home in Utah. I feel peaceful about some things, yet I already have goals set for when we return home.

At the airport, we met a group from California. Whenever there is a disaster in which the local morgue cannot handle the dead, the national mobile unit is called. Of the group we spoke to two Catholics; a dental hygienists and a CSI professor. They noticed our badges and I explained about how important it is for us to find our relatives, and we know we will see our loved ones again. She seemed impressed. Barbara said, "All the dead on this island were identified by sight, but sometimes they use dental records."

We are trying to be good representatives of Jesus Christ and be kind to everyone. We hope all is well at home. We love and pray for you.