Training and a little bit of Halloween from a scary spider who decided to visit

Hello family and friends,

Here are some of the highlights for the week.

Monday

We began the week with our regular S&I meeting with Katimal. Each week we alternate who conducts our discussion, and this week Darleen led. We always appreciate these meetings because they give us an opportunity to coordinate efforts and ensure we are all moving in the same direction as we work with teachers and students throughout Port Vila.

View of the harbor with a large cruise ship behind us.

On the way back to our apartment, we made our weekly food run for SIS classes. I'll admit that preparing snacks for the classes is not always my favorite part of the week. It isn't difficult work, but it is surprisingly time-consuming. Every week we have to determine what food is available, purchase the supplies, prepare everything, and then make sure it gets distributed to the various locations. It is one of those behind-the-scenes responsibilities that most people never see, but it is an important part of helping the students feel welcomed and valued.

Later that afternoon, I taught the older SIS class at the Stake Center. We spent time reviewing mathematical concepts to assess how much the students remembered from previous lessons. One thing I love about SIS is that it encourages students to think differently than they often do in their regular school classes. Many of them struggled at first, but as we worked through the problems together, you could see understanding beginning to develop.

Teaching math continues to be my favorite SIS assignment. It has always been something that naturally interests me. Darleen, on the other hand, has traditionally preferred teaching English and writing skills. What has been fun to watch is how much she has grown as a math teacher. Mathematics was never her strongest subject in school, but she has worked hard and become remarkably effective at teaching it. I am continually impressed by how much confidence and skill she has developed.   The youth she teaches love her and come running when we drive up.

That evening we had the opportunity to take two departing missionaries to dinner. Sister Chrisman had flown in from Santo that morning and would be returning home on Wednesday after faithfully completing her mission. Sister Creamer, from New Caledonia, was also finishing her service and joined us.   While Sister Creamer had not served with Sister Chrisman, they did serve in New Caledonia in the same areas and had worked closely together while there.

Sister Chrisman at the Monday dinner.

Our connection to Sister Chrisman makes her visit especially meaningful. Darleen’s older brother, Tony, is married to Amanda, who is Sister Chrisman’s aunt. While we had met Sister Chrisman years ago when she was a little girl visiting Amanda, we really got to know her during her time serving in Port Vila. She has been a wonderful missionary and an equally wonderful young woman. It was inspiring to hear both sisters reflect on their experiences and on what they had learned as their missions came to an end.   We also know how hard some of her mission was, but we admire how she just never gave up and stayed focused.

The evening also provided one of the more memorable moments of the week.

As we returned to our truck after dinner, I had just started the engine when Sister Chrisman suddenly screamed and launched herself across the back seat. She had spotted what she thought was a giant spider inside the truck. Fortunately, it was actually on the outside of the window, but that didn't make it much less intimidating. The spider was enormous, probably close to two inches across.

Not the actual spider, but what they look
like here.   A scary Halloween moment.

Thankfully, the spiders here are generally not dangerous, but they are certainly large enough to get your attention. When we arrived at the sisters' hotel, the spider was still riding along with us and suddenly sprinted across the windshield. I grabbed a squeegee broom from the back of the truck and slapped it off Darleen’s window, where it had ventured too. It may not have been part of my missionary responsibilities, but apparently spider removal was added to the calling that evening!

Tuesday

Tuesday was largely spent preparing for leadership training.

I began the morning scheduling conversations with bishops to discuss Seminary and Institute preparation for 2027. I was able to arrange meetings with the three bishops whose wards meet at the Stake Center. Two meetings were scheduled for Wednesday and another for Thursday.

Darleen prepared peanut butter and honey sandwiches for our evening SIS classes, while I worked on training materials for our upcoming leadership meetings.   That afternoon we went and dropped the sandwiches off at Etas Ward, ensured teachers were there for the SIS class, then we went to Erakor Branch where Darleen and I led the lessons.

Darleen teaching the Erakor Branch Foundation SIS class

As we continue working with local leaders, we are recognizing that one of our most important responsibilities may not be simply teaching students but helping leaders understand how to support Seminary and Institute in meaningful ways.  We also recognize we want to leave the mission with teachers who are dedicated to teaching, and leaders who understand how to be involved with the Rising Generation.

Wednesday

Right now our Wednesday’s are days where we visit classes and also get some of our key preparation done. 

We met with Bishop Basil from Ward 2 and Bishop Atkins from the newly created Bladinier Ward. Both meetings were excellent. As we discussed Seminary and Institute preparations, it became clear that neither bishop fully understood all of the steps necessary to prepare teachers, students, and families for a successful year.

Bishop Atkins is serving as a new bishop in a newly organized ward and has never previously served in a bishopric. He is a wonderful leader and eager to learn, but understandably there is a great deal of information coming at him all at once. At times he looked a bit like a deer caught in the headlights as we discussed responsibilities, processes, teacher recruitment, and student participation.  I did offer to help provide some bishop training, if he wanted.  He sent me a note the following day definitely wanting to take me up on sitting with  him and his bishopric to help with training.

We reassured him that he did not need to do everything immediately. The important thing was simply to start with what he could do now and continue moving forward. We also provided each bishop with a checklist I had prepared earlier that day to help them understand the key tasks they should be working on throughout the year.

One message we emphasized repeatedly was the importance of focusing on the rising generation. We asked each bishop whether discussions about youth regularly occur during ward council meetings. If they are not, they should. Seminary and Institute should be part of those conversations so leaders know who is attending, who is struggling, and who may need additional support.

The future strength of the Church depends greatly upon today's youth, and helping leaders recognize their role in supporting them is becoming an increasingly important part of our work.

Thursday

Thursday included our normal afternoon SIS class out in Erakor Branch.  After that class, we conducted the S&I training with the Blacksand bishop.

We met with Bishop Nanua in his office at the Stake Center. Earlier this year we believed their Seminary program was functioning normally, only to discover a couple of months ago that classes had quietly stopped when a teacher discontinued teaching. Unfortunately, this had happened without anyone informing us.

As we visited with the bishop, I asked how Seminary was progressing. His honest response highlighted why training matters so much. He knew someone had been assigned to teach but wasn't really sure how the program was doing or what was currently happening.

Our conversation focused on ways bishops and their counselors can stay more engaged with Seminary programs. We discussed practical methods for registering new students, providing recommended names for seminary and institute teachers to the Stake,  monitoring attendance, communicating with teachers, and ensuring students are being supported. We also talked about reviewing projected student numbers for 2027 and evaluating where students live so appropriate numbers of teachers can be called.

Once again, we were reminded that most challenges here are not caused by a lack of desire. The leaders are good people who sincerely want to help. Often they simply have not received enough training or instruction.

That realization has strengthened our commitment to spend much of the coming months providing training, not only for bishops and branch presidents but also for teachers. Our goal is to help wards have enough teachers identified and called well before the 2027 school year begins.  We are heading into our summer in Vanuatu when schools out, and we will have time to provide this training.   Last year we didn’t do this as we had the YSA Convention happening.  This year we felt we needed to focus on training.

Friday

Friday brought both challenges and unexpected opportunities.

During the day, an unexpected development regarding Tanna unfolded.  

For months we have been trying to schedule our final Fiji testing on Tanna, but repeated flight cancellations and limited airline service have made travel to Tanna impossible. The Stake First Counselor from Tanna happened to be in Port Vila and once again asked when we would be able to come. My answer remained the same: we simply couldn't find a way there.

Yet after those conversations, I felt impressed to look one more time. While investigating every possible option, we learned that the mission had chartered a small plane to transport missionaries to Tanna on Monday. To our surprise, two seats were still available.

Darleen and I discussed the situation extensively. The timing was far from ideal. We both had numerous responsibilities scheduled for the coming week, and there were no return flights available until the 13th, meaning we would potentially spend ten days away. After much discussion, we felt we needed to go forward. The testing needed to happen, and the members on Tanna had waited long enough.  So, I booked the charter flight, secured a return ticket, arranged accommodations, and reserved a vehicle. The only downside is that Darleen will remain in Port Vila while I travel alone. After serving together so closely each day, being separated for that long is not something either of us is particularly excited about.

On the positive side, the trip will allow me to conduct Seminary and Institute leadership training, similar to what we have been doing in Port Vila. I also hope to work with the Stake Education Leader to organize preparation activities that will help students be more successful on the upcoming examination.

In the afternoon, when I arrived at Etas for SIS, I discovered that none of the teachers had arrived. Our most consistent teacher was working on a university assignment and had sent a message asking other teachers to cover the classes, but unfortunately the message was sent too late for anyone to respond.

The more concerning issue was attendance. Only two younger students and two older students showed up that day.  That number was difficult to see because this same ward regularly had more than forty students attending when we were teaching there consistently.  Over the last several weeks we have noticed a troubling pattern. Some teachers arrive late, while others occasionally do not come at all. The students notice this inconsistency. While the issue is not about us personally teaching, it is about reliability. Young people need to know there will be a teacher waiting for them when they arrive. When that consistency disappears, attendance often declines as well. It was a sobering reminder that retaining students requires more than simply organizing classes. It requires dependable teachers who demonstrate week after week that the students matter.

That evening we attended a Young Single Adult activity at Simbolo Chapel. More than around fifty YSAs participated. Katimal taught an outstanding Institute lesson on scripture study aids, after which participants were divided into groups to perform skits. The skits were creative, entertaining, and generated plenty of laughter (or at least what we could understand as they all were in Bislama). The evening also served as a kickoff for preparations related to the upcoming FSY event in December. It was encouraging to see so many young adults willing to participate and help.

YSA Activity in the Simbolo chapel.  Just broken into
groups and discussing the plans for their activity.

We left before the activity concluded because Darleen had another special event she wanted to attend, although this one was taking place thousands of miles away. One of her dear friends from our years living in London, Monica, was getting married. Through the miracle of modern technology, Darleen was able to watch the wedding live over Zoom. Monica and her fiancé Robin met through connections in our former Slough Ward and recently became engaged. Following the civil marriage ceremony, they planned to be sealed in the temple later that day.

Watching from across the world reminded us how grateful we are for technology and for friendships that endure despite distance and time. It also reinforced our desire to someday return to the United Kingdom and reconnect with many friends we have not seen for years.

Darleen snapped a picture of the Zoom wedding.
The happy couple, Monica and Robin.

Saturday

Saturday was devoted to In-Service training with our Seminary and Institute teachers in Port Vila.

Darleen taught a lesson focused on becoming a covenant-keeping teacher. I was asked to train on a New Teacher Checklist that outlines important responsibilities throughout the school year. Both trainings were practical and well received. One thing we continually learn is that people are more confident when they clearly understand what is expected of them. Providing teachers with simple tools and clear direction can make an enormous difference.

The remainder of the day was spent preparing for Fast Sunday and getting ready for my unexpected journey to Tanna. I made sure all my clothing was washed and packed so I would be prepared for an extended stay on that island.

Sunday

Fast Sunday provided a peaceful conclusion to an unusually busy week.   We loved our testimony meeting today.  It was a very good one, with great testimonies born.   The young primary aged children are amazing at bearing very heartfelt testimonies.   They have such substance to their beliefs.   Brought tears to Darleen and my eyes as several came up bore their testimonies.

Primary aged youth bearing their 
testimony today at church.   

That evening we hosted our senior gathering in our home. Along with a few fun activities, including a Halloween candy game and a sticky-note story exercise, we discussed the teachings of Jeremiah and reflected on Elder Quentin L. Cook's 2013 General Conference address titled, "Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage."

Elder Cook warned us of four things that can become distractions for us and cause us to be like the people during Jeremiah’s time.   Jeremiah's warnings about spiritual bondage remain just as relevant today as they were in his day. Our discussion centered on the choices we make, the influences we allow into our lives, and how the Savior provides freedom through obedience and discipleship.

As we close this week, we find ourselves preparing for something uncommon in our mission service: spending time apart. While we know the work in Tanna needs to be done, neither of us is particularly excited about being separated for more than a week. Still, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve wherever the Lord needs us and look forward to seeing how the coming week's experiences unfold.

Pray for Darleen and I that we will be safe, and our separation will be beneficial to both Efate and Tanna Islands. 

Until next week, thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Darleen & Mark, Mom & Dad, Nana & Popa, Sista & Elda Lovelace

Drove by this resort after taking some of our
members home after church today.  Had to get out
and take a picture.   We will definitely come back
when it isn't the sabbath day.