odds and ends in Tarawa

Young Men and Women Activity

You may think that table manners are something that you just should know.  Not so in Kiribati.  Sister Ogborn asked Sister Bonnemort to help her teach Mutual about Table Manners.  So Sister Bonnemort made a visual  aid showing a typical table setting.  These kids really had no idea on the setting of a table. Most don't use utensils.  After she had the instruction, she then had some students come up and try to set the table using the paper visual.  It was amazing.   

After the visual aid instruction, it was time to put what they learned into practice.  Each twosome had to prepare the table with the correct setting, then invite their partner to sit.  We had four stations going at once to get the entire 80+ students through.  After the tables were set, it was time to eat.  They served each other a banana.  As a side bar, forks are not a common utensil here, rather a spoon.  Introducing a fork and knife was very funny to watch.  Many didn't know how to hold both at the same time, nor did they know how to pierce the banana with the fork.  Many picked up the spoon first and tried to cut the banana with the spoon, while others attempted to cut the banana with a knife, only to find that you had to hold it with the fork to prevent it from flying off the plate.  It really was a scream.  

We had four new missionaries arrive this month.  Above is Elder Birrell.  He is from Lenox Massachusetts.  He is a long way from home.  I don't believe I have met a more energetic missionary.  He is going to be very successful.   

As you can see, I didn't much recognize Elder Birrell from his application picture.  I asked him where his Justin Beiber haircut went?  

With all that enthusiasm Elder Birrell had, it didn't keep him from going through the stomach initiation phase.  Here he is in bed for a much needed day of hydration and rest.  

Sister Nakibae from Kiribati

Elder Monson from Firth Idaho.  We are getting a bunch of missionaries from Idaho.  And no, he is not related to President Monson.  He was sent right out to the outer island of Marakei.  I'm sure he will be asked that President Monson question a lot.  

Elder Paora from New Zealand.  You say his name like "powda".  

Look out...Elder Norman takes the wheel.  We welcomed Elder Norman as a new West Zone Leader.  He of course hadn't driven on the left, but seems ok now.  But I haven't ridden with him...

Elder Jared Whippy is our new West Zone Leader.  He is serving here with his twin brother Joshua.    

Elder Raisor came with "the haircut".  He really wasn't interested in anyone cutting his hair.  On the last p-day I guess he had come to the realization that he needed a haircut.  He really didn't ask, rather I offered.  The hair on the floor was the longest hair I had cut.  

After...now this kid is going to need some sunscreen.

There comes a first time for everything.  This day was Sister Bonnemort's first IV.  She had ordered the IV fluid many months ago.  And just last week we had a missionary who was very dehydrated and could not hold any fluid down.  The fluid perked him right up and it was a blessing that she was able to have it here.  

Elder and Sister Youngberg are coming to Tarawa to serve in the Humanitarian office.  They are from Payette Idaho.  They will be replacing the Ogborns who have completed their mission. 

This is Andrew visiting with the Bushes.  He is on his way home for a few weeks in New Zealand.  He has been here just about a year managing the building of the Temwailu Chapel.  He has 3 daughters who miss him terribly.  He stays about 3/4 of the time here.  They are all involved in sports and he misses most of their games. The chapel should be done in early 2013. 

Elder and Sister Bush are the funnest couple.  They are here on a Leader and Member support mission.  They teach dancing, piano, and everything in between.  This particular night they are teaching the swing.  These kids are so talented.  Sister Bush says she has never seen anyone pick up the moves as quick as Kiribati.  

During World War II, Japanese military murdered 17 New Zealand unarmed Coastwatchers.  This is their memorial. This year marks 70 years since that day.  We were invited to attend the ceremony.   

After the ceremony, Elders Katene and Paora performed the hauka.    They were very loud and really took the crowd by surprise.  It was an honor to be there.  

Speaking of World War II, we passed the Airport the other day and there was this giant C-130 plane.  This plane was commissioned during the 1950s and is one of the only planes that has been in continual service since.  We stopped and asked what was going on.  They were just unloading, and the US Embassy was here to great them.  They are here on a mission to recover human remains of World War II.  There was a very bloody battle on this island.  Google "Battle of Tarawa" for a good read.  

Sister Bonnemort spent two evenings teaching the young women how to make rolls.  Most of these girls had never seen dough, let along use it.  They had a blast 

People do the strangest things

We caught these ladies (a Nurse and Doctor) at the hospital cutting grass.  The interesting thing was not only were they using scissors, but they were surgical scissors.  They said they had to get this task done before they could go home.      

These girls just outside our flat were using the downspout during a downpour for a shower

The method here for changing a lightbulb....