Mother's Day, Parties, Hellos, Goodbyes, etc.

 The Ogborns, who are here in Kiribati on a Welfare Services Mission, completed a major project.  The project was to get running water to the toilets at St Anne's Pre-school.  That may sound fairly simple, but not in Kiribati.  What you see in the background are the bathrooms.  They had no running water, the toilets, floors, walls, and roofs were in poor shape, and the kids couldn't reach the toilets.  First, they had to deepen the well, it was too shallow.  Next, they had to get a tank for the water, build a tower for the tank, install a pump to the water with electricity, lay tile on the floors, paint the walls, build stools for the toilets, and get it all done on American time in Kiribati culture.    

Elder Ogborn, Atake, Sister Ogborn, Sister Katarina, Sister Bonnemort and Burentia  

 Of course, nothing is done until the celebration.  They love to have their pictures taken.
They sang and danced 

 This is the Mothers dancing for their kids

 These are the 3 year olds, and when they were given the "word" they boogied like crazy.  Those girls will have their hips in good shape to dance when they are older. 

 With each new sickness, comes challenges for Sister Bonnemort.  She has been learning all about throats and what they should and shouldn't look like.  She wants to be able to send a picture of a sore, red throat to the doctor, so she has been practicing throat picture taking.  We have taken turns in snapping some pics.  We are getting better, but I'm not sure the doctor will be able to diagnose from these shots.  

 

Changing of the guards.  We said a sad goodbye to Elder Enri this week as he has gone to serve on Kiritimati (Christmas) Island for the rest of his mission.  He has been a Zone Leader since we have been here.  He is from Tarawa.  It has been a honor to know him these past 6 months and learn much about their culture and language.  He loves to learn the phrases that we American use.  One time after a Baptism, I said, well Elder Enri, "another one bites the dust".  He gave me a funny look, then I told him that it is just a silly saying that we use.  He laughed his infectious laugh

Elder Turner, our new Zone Leader behind the wheel for the first time.  He has been serving on Christmas Island for the past 5 months, so we are just getting to know him.   

Sister Bonnemort wanted to follow protocol regarding disposal of old medications so she put them all in the can and Elder Anderl set fire.  Don't try this at home.  Seems the medicine is so hard, that even a bonfire couldn't touch them.  I don't know how they can dissolve in our stomachs, but they certainly don't burn.   

Mother's day calls.  We had all the Elders over to Moroni Campus to call home for Mother's Day.  This is Elder Kidder.

Elder Lewis 

The Ward gave all the Mothers a lei.  Sisters Bonnemort and Ogborn, and Elder Ogborn

Elder Anderl

Elder Turner

Elder Everett waiting for his turn to call his mom

Elders Everett and Anderl.  They seem to have a very unique relationship, they are always teasing each other. 

Elder Everett (in middle) is such a little dude and Elder Anderl and Turner decided to give him a bear hug

Elder Banks was serving on the outer island of Makin for quite some time.  As you can see, he needed a haircut bad.  

I had to talk him into a smaller guard on the clippers, but finally got him to agree.  He cleans up rather nicely doesn't he?

New missionary arrivals.  This is the airport scene twice a week where a bunch of islanders come out to greet the plane.  

Elder and Sister Bush arriving

We finally have a new senior couple.  This is Elder and Sister Bush from Sugar City Idaho.  They are on an 18 month mission and will be helping us with all the missionaries.  We are so exited to get a new couple to be here.  And guess what?  We will be going home before they will, which makes it especially nice.  In the background are Elders Taorobwa and Gittins who just returned back to Tarawa from Chistmas Island.

This past weekend, President and Sister Shaw where here and all the sisters got together for a sewing party. The learned how to do smocking on their tiuputa. (you will have to guess what that is)   I had no idea that we had 12 sister, until they were all together.  We need some more Elders.  

In case you didn't know, we have not had any ice cream for about 3 months on the island.  So when we found it, we had to buy.  But buying came at a cost.  5 liters, which is a little over 1 gallon was $28.  

Sister Bonnemort took a tour of the Maternity Ward at the hospital.  They are doing the best they can with the little that they have.  They have very knowledgeable staff with very little resources.  She said that she had never seen such primitive equipment in her 35 year nursing career.  

Elders Anderson and Anderl came over to our house for dinner.  We thought it would be fun to serve them an American dinner.  We had green beans, roles, Mountain Dew and Hamburger Helper and brownies for desert.  They loved it

All hats are on.  Elders Lewis, Packer and Banks showed up at our flat with these hats.  One was a 1984 Los Angeles Olympics hat.  I'll bet it might be worth more than $3

They start them young with tennis here.  

We love you all