mission this week

I have been struggling all week about posting, as we seemed to have a "run of the mill" couple of weeks. I have taken a few pictures, but I just couldn't get motivated to start the blog.  We have been on our mission almost four months.  I have been thinking about the people here, their place in life, their homes, their membership in the gospel and the struggles they face every day. My struggles pale to theirs.  

We were called to serve the missionaries, keep them healthy, keep them safe, so that they may serve the Kiribati people and teach them the gospel.  That seems fairly simple, but place that mission here in Tarawa, and you have a very big task.  I so admire the missionaries, their zest for life, their positive attitudes, and their faith in the Lord.  They were sent here for a specific purpose, being chosen to serve in a tiny far away land with many physical and mental challenges.  Not only do they have great faith, but their families also have tremendous faith in the Lord.  I also know that their families have ongoing concerns for their health and safety and any news from their missionary is welcome.  Communicating with home as missionary here is very challenging. If he/she is on Tarawa, they use an Internet Cafe.  Now that sounds rather "cosmo" or "hip", but it is just a small little shop with one or two computers.  The missionaries say that it takes sometimes one hour or more for them to login to their myldsmail account, then they may have time to send a few emails.  If they are on a outer island, communication is by snail mail, if at all, it all depends on if there is a boat/plane going, when it goes, and when it returns. 

    

The gospel is very young in Kiribati.  The first missionaries came to the islands in 1975, and in 36 years, the gospel has truly covered this island.  Most of the members are first generation, with some second.  I know that our lives have been enriched by our association with the Kiribati people.  

P-DAY

  On the first Monday of every month, we have a combined P-Day, (P for preparation) where all the missionaries on Tarawa come to Moroni Campus to relax, visit, play tennis or basketball, and eat treats.  Sister Bonnemort gets a little anxious with all the testosterone in the house, and all the sweat.  Above are Elders Norman, Green, Mickelson, Katene, and Atantaake.  Give them an hour, and they will be stinky and sweaty.  

 Elder Banks just had to get in the picture.  We don't see him much anymore, as he has transferred to Beito.  He says he misses coming to our house.  That makes us feel good.  

 This is Elder Katena.  He is from New Zealand.  What a neat young man.  I love to listen to his accent, and all the funny phrases he has.  He worked as a butcher before his mission, and has pictures of his tasks.  It isn't very good if you like beef.....But what was amazing in this picture, was he had a hole in his pants, and his "mum" had packed him a sewing kit.  So this Elder whipped out the sewing kit and began to fix his own pants.  Some young lady is going to get a good catch someday.  

 The wall of pre-field missionaries.  We decided to put up pictures of our incoming missionaries, where they are from, and when they are arriving.  It is HUGE topic of conversation.  But it gets the missionaries excited about those coming and who will be their trainer or their Father or Mom as they say.   

 Sisters Valo and Roota and Sister Bonnemort.  I love the hat sister Valo wears for P-Day.  She is ready for a competition  

 Sisters Rebeta and Barlow, with two sisters who are stuck here in Kiribati until their Singapore Visas are approved

 Boys at basketball.  This is the Moroni High Basketball court.  

That is Elders Everett, Anderson and the tall dude is Elder Enderl.  We lost Elder Bradshaw (another tall Elder) to an outer island, so for these short elders to make it happen, they need Anderl to leave also.  

 I caught Elder Tiree with this beanie hat on.  I couldn't understand why someone would were this hat in the heat and humidity.  He said, to keep the sun off.  I said, go get yourself a baseball cap.  

 Sisters Balenacagi, Valo, Gardner, and Roota planned a dance for the senior couples on P-Day in the Maeaba.  Sister Bonnemort says that they were very graceful, even an Sister Gardner, an American danced like a native.  

 I took this picture because out in the bay is where the big ships come to deliver goods.  It is a bit hard to see, but when we see these, we know that new supplies have hit the island.  We have learned to "stock up", cause you never know when you might see it again, if ever.  

Thus our 12 cases of diet coke.  This is our one luxury.  We get it from Tarawa's Costco.  It is a warehouse that sells to the public as well as wholesale.  The diet coke is 92 cents a can compared to $1.30 in the stores.  

You know the saying "sink or swim".  Well we finally bought our first fish.  Elders Eneri and Green called one afternoon and said how much do you want to spend on a fish.  I had told them that I would spend say $40.  Well in about an hour they showed up with this fish, caught just in the morning, and hauled it into our house on a windbreaker.  This is a Yellow Fin Tuna, or also known as Ahi Tuna.  Would run you about $35 for a tuna steak in a good restaurant.  Luckily, it had been gutted at the dock.  But we still needed to cut the thing up.     

Elder Eneri knew just what to do.  He is from Kiribati, and went to town on that fish.  

A few cuts later and.....

presto...we had our first filet.  

This is Elder Green, and I know this looks very gross....Eventually, Elder Eneri cut them into Tuna Steaks and we froze them.  It took me about a week before I would cook it, but you know, it is quite tasty.  We have even had some encrusted in bread crumbs and coconut flakes.  

We love and miss our family and friends.  We can feel your love and prayers.