Stories: Marion Wilson, construction 1959
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| The following comment has been submitted by Mary Kaye Wilson Mahon
<mahong@lompoc.k12.ca.us>.
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12/26/2005How can I get a password and log on?
My name is Mary Kaye (Wilson) Mahon (m.Donald Mahon) In Fiji, I attended LDS Sunday School under a magnificant avacado tree in the green court yard of the Masonic Hall where church was held during construction of the first Suva, Fiji Chapel. My Pesenga, Samoa school friends were Mareko, Ati, Sengai, and others. Lois [Sterling] and her sister were daughters of another missionary family in the Pesenga Mission Compound
>>My father, Marion W. Wilson was called to a LDS Chuch Construction Mission in both Suva, Fiji and Apia, Western, Samoa 1956 thru 1958, together with his wife, Ortell Drake Wilson, and we three childen.
>>Daddy, Bro. Marion W. Wilson, died Jan.1, 2005, some days before his 89th birthday. Within a month to the day my beautiful sister, Judy Rae Wilson Brewer (m. Ronald Brewer) died Feb. 1, 2005. Her Pesenga school friend in Samoa was Via and others. Judy Rae Wilson sang lead parts in the several school musical productions one of which was Hansel and Grettle, we both danced in the Pesenga school productions. And in the Fijian celebration of the Suva Fiji Chapel we were dressed in authentic Fijian tapa costumes to sing songs in the Fijian language taught to us by Bro. Pene Sokia. Whose children were Joseph, Mary, Mariah, and ... My Mother, Ortell Drake Wilson will be 90 years old come May 2006. Mother did
compassionaate service in Fiji for the Samoan Elders in their illness, food, helping to wash clothes, and sage counseling when they felt sad for "back home". She provided the Fijian branch relief society leadership and directed fun dramatic plays, and taught Bro. Sokia to sing "The Donkey Seranade" for the Suva Chapel celebration. Mother worked in the Pesenga
compound Mission Home helping to translate English Relief Society lessons and other church materials in to Samoan. She was asked by the Samoan women to dress Fa'a Samoa, learn the dances, sing the songs to participate in the
special ceremonies for the Church dignitaries from Salt Lake. Brent Wilson, our brother then age seven turned eight and was baptized in in the Rhewa River (sp?) in Suva, Fiji. He was baptized by Elders Markham and Whacker (not sure now of the name spelling). He enjoyed Fijian banana pancakes at a Samoan sister's home He was dressed by the Samoans in
traditional costume, coconut oil and all and taught by the Samoans to fire dance with two knives. A daring dance! He didn't miss a beat. Thrilling.
>>Bro. Wilson's mission was to teach his construction craft to ten Samoan Elders and to build LDS chaples in the South Pacific . His construction crew both in Fiji and Samoa was ten LDS Samoan young men called on missions to serve as construction missionaries to build LDS Chapels in the South Pacific and to learn skills for a trade to be able to compete economically and support their families within their small countries that were fast emerging into the political process of becoming Independent
Nations. The Prophets are wise men. Daddy shared his tree year supply of those JCPenney stripped work overalls and bleached, heavy duty canvas tool aprons to hang tools around the waist. Every man on his crew in Samoa had
an outfit! Some of the Samoan Elders from Fiji crew finished out their missions with did in Apia. Many Samoans invited us to their villiages wnd
we had such joyous times. On one particular occassion we went to the village during our visit Bro. Wilson was honored by the family. He was
given and dressed in the rich traditional costume of a Talking Chief. We still have the it his shelf in the cupboard at home. And a picture. |
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