Sister Bonnemort wanted to get close to a General Authority
We were able to bring all the missionaries from the outer islands to attend the Zone Conference. Also coming to Tarawa were the six missionaries we have on Kiritimati (said Christmas) Island. This island although part of Kiribati is located 2000 miles to the east of Tarawa. It is a long journey and takes 2 days via Fiji to get here. Sister Bonnemort is greeting Sister Valo, who is from Papa New Guinea. With her is her companion, Sister Babo, who is from right here on Tarawa. They have been on Kiritimati for the past four months.
It is very difficult for these missionaries who have family here on Tarawa, many who live just down the road. Above is local islander Sister Babo greeting her father (with President Shaw's permission). With the island being only 12 square miles and one road, they are bound to run into each other in two years.
Speaking of running into each other. Above is Elder Eneri. He was our Zone Leader, but is now on Kiritimati. He came home for the conference also. We really do miss him. He says he loves just being a regular old missionary. He is from Tarawa but his family is away at BYU-Hawaii. He will be ending his mission in November, just in time for his family to return to Tarawa, so no trip to Hawaii for him...bummer.
Elder Hosler has been Elder Eneri's companion on Kiritimati. He only made a short stop here as he has departed for the outer island of Marakei.
And finally arriving were Elder and Sister Mabey who are the senior couple on Kiritimati. They are truly troopers. They live in a little tiny church owned flat. Imagine a single wide trailer and chop it in half.
Just a picture of a few of our Elders chillin' at the Bonnemort Flat. Elders Turner, Maddy, Bradshaw and Enderl.
Our Zone Conference Feast.
Elders Hosler, Packer, Puleiku, Tuihalingingie (Tui), and Maddy
Feeding a cast of 70 isn't very easy, but with a bunch of tubs and crock pots, one can make just about anything work.
Elders Wells and Gawkoski enjoying the dinner
Elders Simpson, Staley, Saksak, Sister Balenacagi, Elders Raisor and Taorobwa
Elders Norton, Saksak, Hosler, Wells, and Atata
I know I have said how hot and humid it is here. Well here is the evidence. I accidentally left a vitamin and stomach pill in my pants pocket during the zone conference. The top is before, the bottom is after the meeting. The power went out half-way through the meeting, so even the ceiling fans were off. I don't ever remember being that hot.
Elder and Sister Bush are teaching a piano class. I wanted to snap this photo as it was not anything I thought I would ever see....grown men learning how to lead the music. They are so dedicated and want to lead in their own wards.
This is Sister Bonnemort with our neighbors Kate and John. They came over to make cookies. Kate has "perfect" English...with an Australian accent.
Of course, what is an event without dancing. We all were treated to dancing by two wards. I took this picture of President and Sister Davis from the Fiji Temple (foreground) .
The Church begins in Kiribati....
President Davis spoke at our Stake Conference. He told the story of when he was the Fiji Mission President back in 1972.
There are no records of missionary activity or visits by any Latter-day Saint members prior to 1972 when the Church was first introduced to Kiribati. During that year, Waitea Abiuta, a school teacher and headmaster of Auriaria Kokoi Ataria School (A.K.A.S.), a small secondary school, asked to have graduates from his school attend the Church-owned Liahona High School in Tonga. Then Fiji Mission President Ebbie L. Davis visited Kiribati in September 1972. When he arrived the first time, he was disappointed to learn that the government pretty much made it impossible for the church to get started, as you had to have 30 members to start a church you couldn't preach the gospel unless you had 30 member...kind of a catch-22. President Davis returned three times before the government finally let the church in. Twelve students were selected to be enrolled on a trial basis. Twelve more were enrolled the following year. By the end of 1976, 60 Kiribati students had been enrolled at Liahona High School. All of these students were non-Latter-day Saints when they arrived in Tonga; however, all but a few joined the Church. Six of these former students were later called to serve in the Fiji Suva Mission and assigned to labor in their native Kiribati, arriving in Tarawa on 19 October 1975. Thus the beginning of the church in Kiribati.
We said goodbye to Elders Norton (pre-haircut) and Mills who have completed their missions. We always have a goodbye lunch. This day we served enchiladas with homemade tortillas.
Is this a new hairstyle or a bad haircut? Elder Norton came by for his "homecoming" haircut. He was leaving for home the next day. I have cut many Elders hair over the past year, and have never made this mistake before. I got all done with the cut and saw some stragglers. So I picked up the clippers again, but didn't realize that I had taken the #2 guard off the clippers. I made the first cut and realized my mistake. This is what happens. Now it wouldn't have been so bad, but gosh he was going home the next day, so we had to make the back really short. I hope his mother will forgive me. It turned out ok, and Elder Norton was a real good sport about it. And to make matters even worse, Sisters Valo, Babo, and Balenacagi were there to witness the mistake. Sister Bonnemort said this was the second time this has happened, but the last time she caught me just in time. She has great trust, cause I cut her hair the next day.
Elder Anderl who has been on the outer island of Abemama with his ukulele. We have missed him, he will be going home in September. He said he will come by when we are home and play us a tune.
These poor, simple people don't understand what they are getting into.
ReplyDeleteThey will swallow almost any doctrine willingly; even Mormonism.
Don't they have the internet?