One more week!

My ticket is purchased and I will be leaving one week from today-- Monday Oct 2. I will be heading up to the base at the end of the week to say my goodbyes . Not looking forward to a 9.5 hour flight to LA and then another 3 hours to minneapolis. Thanks for the prayers for my travel!! ...~alissa

New week

So the new week has begun... Ive been sick the past few days (cold/cough)and have spent a lot of time just 'resting'. I must admit I get bored. The household should quite down tonite because the Fijian ministry team that has been here returns home tonite. We will miss them though. My guess is that I will be in Samoa for another two weeks before being able to head home and am comparing prices (EXPENSIVE). Trying to make the most out of being a 'tourist' (Without spending alot of money) . Hmmm Ive been thinking about Souvenirs to bring back...how do you capture an entire culture and adventure in one item? Ha! I feel I am starting to close the door to this chapter and looking ahead to the next one. Things are slowing down a bit now the South Pacific Games are officially over. It was great seeing so many cultures in one place and even hearing french (New Caledonia). I am starting to feel my thoughts go to "This may be the last time I eat... or This may be the last time I go to....". Funny things too - like Ill miss 'breadfruit', and taking taxis everywhere for cheap, and wearing Lavalavas (and going barefoot) etc... Once Im home my goal will be to rest and visit family/friends the first few weeks back and then start working until after Christmas time. Hopefully I will have more pictures and touristy info next time I write. Here is an overview of where some of the other students are after graduation:
Sai and Liti - stayed in Australia for two months in order to fundraise to send them to Asia for missions
Vinepa- back at home here in Samoa
Nuu- back at home, he is looking into opportunities to travel to New Zealand or elsewhere in the future
Jennifer- after a week of goodbyes she is flying back to the US tonite and will be working for YWAM in Colorado
Ameto- Back at home here in Samoa, think he wants to work before travel/missions
Solepoi- working at the base as base staff and looking ahead to being in Australia in one year
Akuila - working with the YWAM base until the next ministry option (australia, usa?? who knows)
Me- two more weeks in Samoa and then heading to the USA to work before off for the next adventure

Graduation!

Me dancing the Kia Kaha, a warrior song about being strong and curious, steadfast in the Lord.

Below: The graduating ladies: Jennifer, Alissa and Vinepa (stage was on dining room in background)

Finally graduated from the DTS at YWAM SAMOA!! WOOHOO. Here are just a few pictures, we dressed up in our "uniforms" because we danced two numbers. Graduation was basically a quick speaker, some worship, handing out diplomas, prayer over the students and then a series of island dances done by us, the base staff and a few guests. It was fun!

Another trip to Savaii

The picture below is of the beautiful beach in Manase, the town we stayed at in Savaii. I have never seen such diverse and bright colors in the water. The second is of me in front of one of our fales. (under the coconut tree...)

Back to Samoa

We arrived safely back from our stay in Emerald yesterday, the drive was terribly LONG. We stopped at a zoo on the way back so I can say I saw a Koala in Australia, just not in live action. Although when we got back to the base I found out there was one out in the tree behind where I am staying while we were gone and they had to call animal control. Wonder why God didn't wait another day for that one? And imagine Ive come down with a bad head cold. In fact I can't remember the last time I had a cold this bad. I slept eleven hours last night and the director here, Waqa, informed me that I had big black bags under my eyes so it was good that I slept. Unfortuntaly the leaders, against my wishes, made the decision not to allow me to perform during our last presentation in Emerald due to my sickness. What a disapointment! Im ready to be done with the outreach, and am looking forward to the next season in life, whatever that will be!! Right now I hop on the plane again tomorrow and fly into Samoa. I guess our graduation should be the following day. After that I plan on staying in Samoa a bit and catching up on all the tourist things that I couldn't do while in school. I imagine Ill be able to get to the internet shop in Apia by the weekend since they are a day behind us and update everyone. Sorry for the lack of details lately... it seems my time on the computer is limited!