Petrol is Finished

 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 big rain storm.


This becomes a small lake when it rains


One of the areas that takes longer to dry out. You can see tire tracks in the mud.

One piece of information for the wheelchair order to be place was the Ministry of Health's Tax ID Number. We asked everywhere with no luck. So off to the Ministry of Finance in Bairiki. We had a map where it was located but finding it is a completely different animal. We are so grateful to all the people that kept us going in the right direction. We would walk in the general direction of the map and then ask a complete stranger. We would get directions, go where they indicated and then follow the process. We found the Ministry of Finance sign with two young ladies sitting at a desk outside. She understood English well enough to understand that we actually needed the Department of Taxation within the Ministry of Finance. She was kind enough to walk us to the office. Five minutes later and we had a signed letter showing the Ministry of Health's TIN. (Everything official is done with a signed letter in Kiribati).

On Tuesday, we had a follow up assignment to deliver a wheelchair to a couple in Betio (Betio is at the western end of Tarawa). We had also reached that magic gas level of half a tank. Because it was easier to enter the gas station coming back (remember we are driving on a very narrow road and driving on the left) we decided to get gas on the way back, bad choice. The closer we got to Betio, the longer the lines got at the gas stations. By the time we headed back the roads were fairly open because everyone was in line for gas and many of the stations were "finished". 

Wednesday we had a training call with Uraia. He is one of two humanitarian managers for the Pacific Area. He is stationed in Fiji. He provided great council and direction for us to follow. He let us know that he would be visiting Kiribati next week with Tulia, Director of Humanitarian Services for the Pacific Area. They plan to visit the hospital and some schools if there is time.

Thursday we had the opportunity to meet President and Sister Kendall. They had a lunch for the Senior couples. It was a great opportunity to mingle. After lunch we met in the mission office and President and Sister Kendall answered any questions we had about the mission.


Restaurant as we walk on the path leading to it.



Inside after lunch was completed. Arleen, Elder Stoddard, Sister and Elder Frehner

At the end of the day on Friday, we walked a 1.5 mile loop around Bikenibeu. We leave about 6 when the sun has almost set and get back as it gets dark. We stopped by the Bikenibeu chapel and took a few picture of the lagoon side of Tarawa. We also included a picture of the gym at the Tarawa West Stake Center.



The Tarawa Lagoon looking west from the Bikenibeu chapel




The Tarawa Lagoon looking north from the Bikenibeu chapel


The Tarawa Lagoon looking east from the Bikenibeu chapel. The airport is located in that direction


The gym in the Tarawa Kiribati West Stake Center


Baptismal Font at the Bikenibeu Chapel


Have a great week. 

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