Anxiously Engaged in Kiribati

 It's been a whirlwind week.  Elder Jaggy of the Seventy of the Pacific Area Presidency and his wife came to Tarawa.  They held a missionary conference for all young and senior missionaries.  It was a spiritual feast. They brought all missionaries, even those from the outer islands, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island) to Tarawa to be at the conference.  Kiritimati is a 5 hour flight one way.  It was fun talking with those young elders and hearing their stories of living conditions there and the people they are teaching and serving.  We have some of the most amazing young missionaries! Dinner with President Kendall (Mission Leader), Elder Tune (Area Seventy), Elder Jaggy (2nd Coucilor Area Presidency) and senior couples Next we had our boss, Uraia and his boss, Taulia come to Tarawa.  The four of us met with the hospital officials not only about the road project but any other needs they may have.  Keith and I met with them earlier in the w...

 Mauri from Kiribati, Another week of adventure getting settled in. When we first arrived, Elder and Sister Stoddard counseled us to never let your gas tank get below half because there are times when the petrol on Tarawa is "finished", meaning they have run out of gasoline. We experienced it this week, that didn't take long!😟More about that in a bit. On Monday morning we were able to meet with TCH rehab at the hospital. We ironed out what was still outstanding before the latest wheelchair order could be placed.  Us, the repair technician and Tekoaua, the manager of the rehab center at the hospital Us with Ruth Cross, manager of Humanitarian and Welfare services for the church in Kiribati While we were at the Hospital, we took the opportunity to walk around the perimeter to get a feel for the road project that we are working to get approved by the end of the year. The current process of maintaining the road is to fill the holes with reef sand. That works until the next b...

Keith and I arrived at the SLC airport Saturday at 2:30p.m., crossed the international date line and arrived in Tarawa Monday at 11:00. We lost Sunday. I need my day of rest! After 26 hours of traveling we were exhausted but very happy to arrive, checked bags and all.  We were greeted by Elder and Sister Bennett,  Elder and Sister Stoddard and Ruth Cross. Ruth is an employee of the church in charge of Welfare. She is amazing! Unfortunately for us, she resigned so she could run for an office in the parliament. Fingers crossed for her. I'm sure she will win and do a lot of good for the people of Kiribati.    The Stoddards, Us, Ruth and the Bennetts Exhausted and glad to be here In Ruth's back yard It is stifling hot and humid here. But we have "air conditioning" in our apartment, so we are comfortable. It already feels like home.  The people prefer to speak Kiribati but can speak English if necessary so we are getting by. Many people here live outside with just a ...