Wow. I've been a bad blogger. We've been pretty busy here (as busy as you can be in Samoa) and I've just keep putting this blog on the back burner. Well, today I decided it was time for an update. I'm hoping to write at least a couple more entries before we leave because this, along with pictures and facebook, will be my way of remembering this last 6 months. So far, it has been such an extraordinary experience on so many levels. And so many things have happened over the last month: Levi started school, we visited Western Samoa, we've made many friends and have been able to participate in so many interesting Samoan events and cultural experiences....... I don't even know where to start.
Last sunday we had the fun of experiencing one of the bigger holidays here called "White Sunday". It's a celebration honoring the children of Samoa. One of Grant's co-workers said it was almost as big as Christmas. And sure enough leading up to Sunday, people were out in force at shops, and traffic was slow around the island. Everyone was buying food for their big Sunday meal, shopping for toys and treats for the kids and finding that perfect "White Sunday" outfit. I could just feel the excitement oozing from the kids too.
We were invited to visit a church for the "White Sunday" service and I wasn't sure what to expect. Were Grant and I supposed to wear all white too? How formal is it? etc. I couldn't find an all white outfit for Levi that fit properly, so we just went with a white, button-up shirt and khakis. But I wanted to make sure that we fit in OK and was hoping we weren't going to stick out more than normal. So as we drove up to the church we all felt a little trepidation..... It was in a village we hadn't visited before and we just weren't sure what to expect.
Right as we got out of the car Grant's co-worker warmly greeted us as she was beginning to lead the children into the church for the opening song. She assured us that we were welcome and we could sit anywhere we wanted and to just enjoy! And enjoy we did! The kids marched in wearing their best whites, singing and clapping. For two hours we were entertained with gospel songs, pop songs, scriptures and dances. The kids were very talented. A little boy, probably around five years old, started things off with an acapella version of the gospel song "Majesty" and it was so sweet and heartfelt. It was such a great experience and I'm really glad we stepped out of our comfort zone a bit and did it.
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