The Big Move

We moved! Yea, into a new apartment, it almost looks like home until we look out the window at all the shacks and proverty. Its is great - tile floors, tile countertops, two bedrooms a desk, nice furniture and no bugs. What a deal! The question is "how long can we stay here before a transfer?" More time spent this week with missionaries. Another baptism and a marriage. Elder Patten and I made a four layer wedding cake and decorated it with a picture of the temple cut out of the Ensign and printed Daniel and Rutemae on it - hey you do what you can. Anyway we arrived with the sister missionaries and they put us at the head table with lae's and gifts, we don't know why but they did. So they got married, cut the cake, the youth danced and danced and we left with our boxed chicken and rice, two hotdog (no buns), mashed taro (don't ask) and other stuff that I am not sure about. We had to leave before the party ended but it was fun and they are wonderful people. I am still not sure why we got the gifts. Daniel and Ruthmae have three children and she is a member but now he can be baptized so that is great. It was zone conference last saturday so there were some changes and they are all good, but we are still traveling around and enjoying the opportunity to bear our testimony and preach what we can. Many do know english and understand more than they can speak. We met with a prosecuting attorney who lives here on the island and he is very interested in the church - I think that can be a baptism. When we were with the missionaries last night we saw a lady with a very swollen leg that was infected so this morning we found Sister Federson the nurse here and took her to the ladies home. She was able to help her and will continue to see her until the leg is healed. A woman on the island who treats people here with herbs has been seeing her and treating her with juice from the noni plant and maybe that helps who knows anyway she needed an antibiotic and that will help. The children are always so cute and run up to our car and to us when we see them. They want their picture taken so we accomodate. The seniors got together this past week for FHE at the Roses and it was nice. It is our turn in February so we are looking forward to that. We really enjoy being with the Roses and the Randalls - they are great couples. Because of the move and zone conference which took up a lot of time, there is not much more to tell except that we love you all. Keep writing, talking and praying. We feel your prayers and you are in ours each day. Elder & Sister Patten - John and Lois - Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grampie in other words...... US.