Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Jenn's Amazing Trip to Micronesia

We've heard some requests to post some more photos of Jenn and Mom and Dad (Gordon's parents) in Micronesia on the island of Kosrae.  Jenn took Grandma Evans to visit the new Foote missionaries.  Here are a bunch of pics.  Enjoy!

Jenn and Elder Foote went and looked at some ancient ruins.
Here is Jenn and Dad (Elder Foote) at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the ruins 
Jenn and Mom (Sister Foote) are standing infront of the Island of the Sleeping Lady. You cannot see it very well in this picture, but the island resembles a lady on her back.
Dad is holding a coconut tree growing out of another coconut husk, he found that  sitting on the ground!
This is a member family on Pohnpei (pronounced: pon a pay)
Mom and Dad seem to be doing great.  While we were on Pohnpei, the Facilities Manager told me how great they were doing and that Dad had already remembered everyone's names and that mom was trying to learn the language.  None of the other senior couples have tried to learn the language.  But what really struck me was Dad learning every one's names.  Remember when Dad used to call everyone "Sunshine" because he couldn't remember their names?  While I was in the zone conference on Kosrae Mom loaned me her notebook.  It happened to be the notebook that LeeAnn had written the notes from their setting apart blessings.  While reading that, I had forgotten that Dad had been blessed to remember names and love the people.  Loving the people was easy, but the remembering of names was a blessing to be sure.  The people there love Mom and Dad and Mom and Dad love the people.  Mom learned to introduce Grandma and I in Kosrian.  She would say, "This is my mother" and "This is my daughter".  Everyone would look at me, then look at her.  Then the conversation of she's really my daughter-in-law would commence.  I'm a little too tall!  Everyone would always say, "She's so smart!" talking about Mom, because none of the other senior missionaries had tried to learn the language.  

Their home is really nice and roomy for Kosrian standards.  They have two bedrooms, one used as an office, a large living room and a good sized kitchen.  Compared to here it's not spacious but on an island where an entire family lives in one or two rooms and cooks outside it's pretty nice.  

Mom is teaching anyone who wants to learn how to play the piano and they've taught the young women how to lead so they can do it instead of the missionaries.  Mom helped the youth put together some hymns which they sang at District Conference as well as in the youth fireside.  The islanders sing beautifully and as loud as they can.  When I was at church on Sunday here the difference was sad.  60 people from Kosrae could put our entire congregation to shame without even trying.  I really loved singing with the Kosrians.  

I could go on and on, but I'll end here.  Mom and Dad look and are doing great.  I didn't get to spend tons of time with them, but what time I did get was so wonderful!

Miss you all!

Love, Jenn


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Anna wanted to tell the world about her amazing guitar recital this past month. She performed several songs with her group and we all enjoyed it. We are so proud of our Anna doing so well and practicing so hard!! We Love You Anna! 

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Hello blogging world, the Footes are back in the system once again! We know its been a while since we've blogged so here's the run down. In this extremely short (but seemingly long) month our family has done a bunch of things. Maddie went to her first dance at Sunnyvale with a bunch of her friends, Jenn and Maddie had their b-days, Jenn went to Kosrae with Grandma Evans, Ellie and Tanner had their Sunshine Generation music program, and we all had fun!

This is Maddie and her friends before the dance......
Maddie and her friend Sarah
Gord and Maddie before the dance.

Jenn had a great time and was super excited! She said it was a 
very humbling experience and it taught her a lot.



This was one if the many kitchens, yes, they all had outdoor kitchens.
Jenn and the people she was with climbed some ancient ruins.
They hiked to a majestic waterfall and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
 She also found out that pineapple grows on stalks like this one and produces 3 pineapples in its lifetime. It puts out one pineapple each year.
 

Ellie decided at the last moment that she would belt it out and take over the show.

Time for a stretch.... or is that a dance move?
Couldn't be cute cuter!