AFTER MATH

It seems that we are still experiencing some tremors. Today was reported a 6.0 quake but I didn't feel it, I was probably at the sewing machine and things were moving pretty good and fast trying to get some things done.

So......what to do?? What to do? I want to help. My husband's boss is staying with us since there are no rooms in the inns. He is a great guy so that is not a problem, his home is in Hawaii, he is here to assess the damage.

So what to do???? Well.....so what to do? I can't sit on my hands....so I made a few quilts for my friend that lost all, she has five kids. but....that is easy...what to do.... So...I get a phone call.....need supplies, like pillow, pillow cases....sheets anything. So....I go to my closets, start gleaning through everything. Then I get another call....and yep...go to my closets again....and glean again.....then a third phone call...and you guessed it.....gleaned again. My husband calls me and said, so do we have anything left in our home....I just laughed and told him that our house feels lighter..... and it feels good, my hall closet is so nice and organized...it is great!!!

So.....what to do...what to do?????? I am thinking???? What to do???? Okay, I have a ton of fabric (you all have seen it). People here wear lava lava's (just about 2 to 3 yards of material) they tie in a bow around their waist or over the top ....like a sarong...you get it....so.....I thought...okay.....I can do this...I can give up some fabric.....and all you do is hem the ends...so I serged them....I went through my fabric and began making lava lava's (atleast that will allow people to wash the clothes they have on their backs)....

So....I am bored with this....I won't tell you how many I made, that is not the point..... So....okay, I am a woman, I like pretty things....so I thought pillow cases, pretty pillow cases...so you guessed it....pillow cases were made....aaaaahhhhhh I am doing something.....yepeeeee

All the items gleaned from my closet and the lava lava's and pillow cases went to our church to be taken to Leone....they have over 200 people living in the LDS Church Building, members and non members alike.... So we go over there and true to Samoan style....it became a ceremony....our people in charge had to find the people in charge and we all had to sit in a circle and our people in charge had to present the gifts and their people in charge had to give a speech and accept the gifts.... Hey, I am saying, lets just drop this off and leave...forget the cermony but....not the way to do things here in American Samoa.

So as I am there, I was told that they have 70 children and not enough food...the kids eat first and then the adults. The Bishop of the Ward was buying food for the rest...he can't do that....so hopefully, Fema will come in and help them but for now, the other wards (for those who are not LDS, there are so many wards, that make up a stake and this Leone Ward is part of our stake)...so I think each other ward will take a day in helping to feed them.

Tomorrow we are going to go and clean up Leone (they were hit real hard)...so Pat...you all have been to her blog....she sent me some gloves to sew with, they are garden gloves but...Pat, I am going to use them tomorrow, sorry....that is all I have and I want to thank you so much for them, sorry that I am not using them for the intended purpose.

So.....alot of you have asked what you can do to help and I am thinking pillow cases....never enough pillow cases...pretty ones....and they will not be too expensive to send if you use a flat rate envelope, if you just want to send a few. So....if any of you out there would like to make a few and send...just email me...and I will send you my address...if I can not get an email out to you with my address, I will have someone do it for me. Infact, I brought alot of pillow cases with me, don't know why but.....several times our church has asked for pillow cases...so even without this earthquake and tsunami, the pillow cases would still be needed.

Thanks again to all of you...you are awesome....you truly warm my heart.

Today bodies started floating up in the harbour. Momma's have found their babies. My husband said it just broke his heart to hear this family going up and down the harbour yelling for their little girl yesterday and today they found her in the ditch.....soooo very sad. People walk around in shock, not knowing what to do. Then there are those that have gleaned their closets like myself. One gal said, what do I need with three black dresses, one will do. Clothes she was saving for her grandchildren, she no longer felt a need to hang on to them. The youth going from family to family collecting items for the homeless. No one complaining just helping. There are alot of wonderful people out here in this world....yes there is the sadness and heartbreak but there is also hope and faith in mankind.

I was called by one friend to help this one village, I asked her if our little donations would be enough and she said, not to worry that what we will bring them they all will share....if one straves, they all starve but if one eats, they all eat. That is the true test of mankind.