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[Nov.] 17 Tonight a special Elders meeting held in Pesega. Much good instruction was given and a good time seemed to be enjoyed by those present. I was set apart as Mission Secretary and Bro. Edwin Moody was appt. as presiding Elder of Pesega Br.

[Nov.] 21 Mail came from U.S.A. tonight but mine if I had any went to Tuiula but I didn’t mind as I had plenty to do with out my own.

Nov. 30 Today we rec’d the yearly reports and also a large mail from home which had gone to Tuliula. The letters from home seemed to have just those things in to make me happy. I also finished my Xmas mail home.

Dec 2. Have finished many of the statistical reports but I am compeled to wait now on Conferences to send in their reports. I wrote all the conferences to be punctual in sending all things necessary.

[Dec.] 16 The past five weeks have been a period of hard work, trying times accompanied by some worrying but now, having finished the yearly report and sent them in I feel greatly blessed. // Pres. McBride gave me many flattering compliments, but I felt that what success had attended me in compiling the reports was from the Lord and received from faith and prayer and hard work.

[Dec.] 16 Report and mail left for America. I sent a large mail having written to most of the family.

[Dec.] 24 The books are all up and in good condition. We have been trying to prepare our village for Xmas and hope to have a good time.

[Dec.] 25 It being Sunday we held our two meetings which however were poorly attended on account of rain. After the meetings we went down to Kennisons to spend Sunday evening. They had prepared a good feast for us and after eating until we were “maona” we went into the front room, where we spent the evening in songs, speeches, and pleasant conversation.

[Dec.] 26 Today the Saints gathered and we had a big “Laulau tasi” in the meeting house. I lasted from 2 until 5 and all seemed to have a good time. //

[Dec.] 27 Having previously arranged a trip for Xmas Holidays, Pres. DC McBride, Elder Moody and I left here on horse back about 8 A.M. for the crater Lake of Samutao in the mountains about 10 miles from Apia.

Being well mounted we sped along much faster than we generally do (on foot) and soon found ourselves riding along the beautiful mountain trail surrounded by heavy rain clouds that seemed to be ready to break at any moment. To our left was a deep tropical Jungle, common only to the tropics to our right was a deep canyon gorge to bank we very high and so steep that the vines and vegatation hung like a large green curtain for more than a hundred feet in length.

We arrived at the Lake safe and sound after a Journey of about three hours and had no sooner arrived than it started to rain and blow like a winter blizard in America. It was quite cold but it seemed much colder when the wind howled and chilled. // However we gathered our shivering courage striped our trempling carcuses and bounded into the rippling waters of the lake we swam and rowed and boat rided and swam. We rowed around the lake twice and in all had a very nice time. The Lake is very beautiful, even though it was so foggy that we could not see it accept at close range.

[Dec.] 28 All night long the rain and wind howled and whistled so next morning we decided ot leave the wintery place and betake our selves back to sunny Samoa. So we mounted our poor shivering horses and beat it back down the muddy, rocky trail, getting home about noon.

[Dec.] 29 In as much as Elders were to meet in Sauniatu on New Year it was decided that I go up in the village boat so I prepared my little pack and with Bro. Bennett went up in the Sauniatu boat. ‘ We got to Sauniatu about dark and were sure tired.

[Dec.] 30 Pres. McBride, Con Pres. Taugreen, Elder Bennet and myself went over the plantation. // In the afternoon we attended the celebration and had a good swim on the dear old Sauniatu swimming hole. At night we had a social at which the Elders sang a quartet.

[Dec.] 31 The Saints we to make to preparations for the new year so I read, studied and swam attending a meeting at night.

[Jan.] 1 [1911]. Ward Conference was held in Sauniatu and two baptisms were preformed. At night a conjoint meeting was held and I think was about the best meeting I have attended on Samoa. Everything body seemed to be full of such a good spirit that it was a treat to be present.

[Jan.] 2. To day aside from the New Years celebration there was a big celebration Leo and Freda were married. Pres. McBride performing the ceremony. We had seven or eight big dinners just moving from one house to another. The Bridal party danced and sang all day and most of the night.

[Jan.] 3-4 Visited in Sauniatu—

[Jan.] 5 Con. Pres. Tangreen and I returned to Pesega in the boat. It rained on us // Bro Ima was very sea sick. When I arrived in Pesaga I found a fine letter mail awaiting me and in them I rec’d $25.00 which was very much appreciated.

[Jan.] 9 Pres. DC. McBride and I have been attending court on Acct. of the Ah Mu Estate and on Jan 7 we signed papers mortgaging the Estate to pay of its indebtedness. The Estate has three years to pay off the mortgage of 10.000 marks or $2500.00

Jan 10 to Feb 17.

Immediately after finishing the Ah Mu business Pres. McBride left for Saraii and Elders Tangreen, Moody and myself began to repair the house. We had to block all the uprights on the porch put in several sleeprs and stringers and several pieces of flooring, then we painted it with two coats of paint using shades of blue on the out side and green and orange on the inside. We had splendid weather even thu it was the wet season and finished about Feb 9. // Elders of Upolu Conference gathered in Pesega and we enjoyed one of the best Elders meeting I ever attended.

Immediately after the house was finished we rec’d a mail from U.S with $1300.00 which gave us permission to buy a buggy so we bought a buggy that we had previously ordered and made a nice little buggy house. After spinning around in Apia for about a week Pres. McBride returned took the horse and now we are a foot again.

12 On Feb 12 we were asked to call at the house of Bro Alford Kammison and administer to two members of his family who were then sick. We administered to his wife and little girl both of whom received immediate relief.

[Feb.] 16. Four members of the Kammison family have the measles and Elder E. Moody and I administered to them all.

[Feb.] 25 We have been trying for some time past to adjust the differences existing in our village among some of the Saints. // The marriage relation of the Lawrence family will come up tomorrow. We hope to properly settle this difficulty as it has run on for 7 or 8 years. I am to go to Saulii today and meet Fasoo who has been summoned to come to headquarters for hearing.

[Feb.] 26 Our expected meeting did not take place as the parties did not show up. This evening Bro. Ima and I visited Schultz and listened to Ghost stories until we were tired, but we received an invitation to visit Patersons on the following evening.

[Feb.] 27. Elder Tangreen and I visited Patersons and had the priviledge of explaining some of the principles of the Gospel. //

March 6th 1911

Elder Burton Farnsworth
Address Box 29 Apia, Samoa
Avocation Mission Secretary
Age 21 years-old
Weight 185 pounds

Unmarried and no immediate prospects, but still in Good health.

Elder Edwin Moody
Mission Companion //

April 1st 1911

Bro Rigby arrived a few days ago and is here at Peega. We are visiting every day and trying to preach Gospel to our people. He has been worrying about his hair coming out which started us to daring each other. It finally ended in that each of us under went the operation of having our head shaved We were shaved tight with a razor.

We left in the afternoon for Fasitoata, about 20 miles from here.

[Apr.] 2 We held two meetings in Fasitoata. We spoke in one and turned the other over to the Saints as it was Fast Sunday. I was presiding and when I went to turn the meeting over to them I said, “I will turn the meeting over to you to make ‘far ipoioga’ which means weddings instead of ‘apoapoaiga’ which means exortations. The Saints enjoyed a good laugh at my expense.

After meetings we returned to Malii and were asked to hold another meeting there which we did to a full house of attentive listeners.

[Apr.] 2 We returned to Pesega, having a lovely buggy ride thru the large coconut plantations lighted up by the big beautiful moon. One must first visit the tropics before he can comprehend the beauty of their balmy moonlight nights.

(To be continued)

Group photos: Top: Elder Farnsworth is in the back row, 2nd from right. Bottom: He is in the back row, 3rd from left. No dates or other identifications known.