PILLOW CASES

These are just some of the pillowcases I have done but I just wanted to tell all of you that I am sooooooooooooooooo excited. I am getting over 13 boxes in the mail....what is even more exciting is.......what I have planned for your boxes.

I belong in the Presidency of our Womans Church organization. We had a meeting. I had a fun activity already planned for the ladies before the tsunami but while there I told the ladies that I wanted to scrap my previous idea and do a service project. Well....the light bulb went off while sitting there...it was amazing. I said, I have all these boxes coming....and continued talking .....got interrupted by "What boxes"? I had to explain about the pillowcases and clothes and hygene kits etc. Then it just snowballed from there.

We are going to actually make pillows, how awesome is that? Then we are going to make lava lava's and then a group of ladies will be sorting the clothes. Then on another day we will take the items to Leone or where ever else we feel the need. We also are going to put a few hygene kits together ourselves. How awesome is this? little did any of you know that your wonderful pillowcases would snowball into somehing so awesome. I am so excited and if i think about it, will take pictures of the actual activity.

Thanks so much to all of you for making this possible and thanks to all of you who wanted to do something but couldn't....I know that shipping can be expensive and I so appreciate the fact that you wanted to and would have..... This activity will take place October 29th. I will keep you posted.

Pictures of the aftermath of the tsunami.

For those of you who are interested, I loaded pictures on my personal blog. I did this because when I leave this island, that blog will be made into a book. If you would like go to www.fivesons4barb.blogspot.com...there will be more pictures tomorrow.

THE SOUTH PACIFIC IS ON THE MOVE AGAIN!

I am sure you all have heard that there was another earthquake here in the South Pacific. If I could spell the island's name I would tell you it but needless to say it caused quite a stir here on the island.

Everyone here is alittle water shy, so when the earth moves just alittle, you think, was that an earthquake? Remember we felt tremors for 2 days after the earthquake last week. So....today as I was sitting at the computer, I thought.....was that an earthquake? Didn't pay no mind. Then the electricity went out....okay...no big deal, it was off and on all day Sunday.

The villagers have these oxygen tanks hanging from trees or poles that they gong all of the time. Sometimes they gong it so much that if you let it, you could go insane. The tanks are I would say about a block apart (just guessing).... So they are gonging like crazy....but still...no worries...... So.....I go and sweep, fold laundry and take a nap(what else is there to do). Two hours later the electricity comes on.

Life is back to normal....until my husband comes home and tells me about the 8.0earthquake on one of the islands in the Pacific and we went from a tsunami watch to a warning. All the shops and schools closed down. The roads were jammed, people trying to get their kids from school and get to higher ground all while I was taking a nap. Didn't phase me a bit. He asked, "didn't you hear the gongs"? Hummmmmmmmmm I can't tell a warning gong from a crewfew gong. I better start listening better.

So...FEMA is finally after a week, getting supplies to everyone that need it. You would think from all of the disasters they handle that with each time they would become more organized. You would think???? But in all fairness the Samoan Government is slowing the process down as well. I say, forget the politics, forget pride and just get the job done!

Still takes forever to post but tomorrow I am hoping that problem will be resolved.

Before and After

I received these applique pins and needles from Chris over at Crispy Quilts the day before the earthquake and tsunami. I was so excited and wanted so badly to share my excitement with you but for obvious reasons couldn't. Chris has a wonderful blog, she has tutorials on how to applique. Infact, I had a block I had appliqued (needle turn) for my family's round robin but it wouldn't post. I wanted to show her that I do applique and these needles will make that process easier along with her turotials. Thanks so much!!



Then the Saturday after the tsunami, I received this wonderful towel from Betsy over at the Quilting Fiesta. I received these gifts so close to my birthday that I feel like I am celebrating early. I just love this towel, but I don't want to use it, it is on my freezer. I walk by and run my fingers over it and say lovely words.....my husband once again thinks I am nutzzzzzzz. I am only confirming it for him, he just needs a tape recorder and he is set. Thanks so much Betsy.

There may be some of you who are wondering about Amerika Samoa and what is going on. FEMA is taking their sweet time in getting supplies to the people but they are here. The Coast Guard, the FBI, you name it they are here and seeing to the needs of the people. There are so many different agencies here on this island that a person could get paranoid.

It took me three hours to get these two pictures to post but I am going to post the pictures of the tsunami on my personal blog, and when I do, I will let you know if you are interested. I am getting back to my passion in life and that is quilting and will leave my personal blog for just that. I posted about the happenings on this blog because so many of you were concerned and interested in the news here in Amerika Samoa.

But I will post the articles people send since we know most of them and it is always fun to get packages in the mail. As of right now, I think I have about 10 boxes already on their way....how is that for speed? You ladies and gents.....ROCK!!!!

MY APOLOGIES

I keep saying flat rate boxes and not to pay for priority but I went and looked on my flat rate boxes and it has Priority Mail at the top of the box and then either Large or Small flat rate oon the box in the middle. That is the perfect way to send. Sorry pat....but do not pay to have anything shipped here faster, no extra money because it does not make a difference....they all get here when they get here...but theses boxes tend to get here (usually, there are the exceptions) within a week....

Thanks again, sorry for the mix up...just didn't want any of you to put out extra money for speed (not the kind your ingest...he!!)

Barb

BIG THANK YOU!!

Today I was amazed that I was able to answer a few emails, then it hit me, maybe I can post some pictures for all of you to see and so I left answering emails to post but....3 hours later...nothing.....

I wish that I could meet each of you personally, your prayers, thoughts, williness to help have totally warmed my heart and I don't think words will ever express my gratitude to all of you. I want to answer each of you and I will, it may take me a while but I will.

Not to beat a dead horse but please don't send priority, there is no such thing here, will just be a waste of your money. Those flat rate envelopes and boxes work perfect.

So.....we go to clean today. Talking to one lady from the village. She is afraid, she wants to leave the island. She did not see the water coming but she saw the rocks, wood and debris being held up in the air and she knew what it was, she grabbed her little girl and ran. She was lucky she saw it quick enough. Her house is one mud pit. She is not the only one that wants to leave. If you even mention earthquakee, people run.

Alot of people are just waiting for Fema to come and appraise their damage. Some are not waiting, the stench is so bad and it is so unhealthy that they refuse to wait. I was there, it does stink, it is gross. Dead fish, slime, your head starts hurting. Can't get enough water.

It amazes me, the kids and youth can make fun out of anything. So they are working and goofing at the same time......my goofing is just taking a break, I have realized someting today, I am not able to run with the big dogs anymore. I had to come home and take a nap before I could continue on. I am laughing at myself...but hey, it is what it is.

It is amazing how fast the clean up is going. I am thinking in a month most things will beb back to normal. Fema will set up tents for people who don't have homes and they can rebuild. As soon as I can post pictures, I will...infact I will just post and leave it on tonight before I go to bed and hope that it will work?

Thanks again to all of you. Pat, you are awesome for taking on the challenge of answering my comments. My sister has even offered to mail my address but remember send it to my husband....not me.

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.