Anxiously Engaged in Kiribati

Our big day this week was working with the Pathway Senior Missionary Couple, The Frehners,  with their big presentation on the pathway program. President Ashton and Vice President Eyring from Pathways was there along with Vice President Kau from BYU-Hawaii. They all spoke to help promote the Pathways program.  I can't believe what an amazing program it is.  The students must pass an English proficiency test and take a computer competency class. Then they are given a free refurbished lap top and can apply for some of the many on-line jobs the pathway program has. They will work for minimum wage for one year and then they can move up and get a much better job that pays more money. All chapels will be equipped with star link internet that they can access for their job. All of this is free!  And all of this is in preparation to start the pathway program.  Where they can get a bachelors degree for about $800. That's before all the scholarships that are granted. ...

 It's been a pretty slow week because Kiribati celebrates their independence day for an entire week. This year the holiday lasts from Thursday July 11th through Wednesday July 17th.  Lots of singing, dancing and sports events. Keith and I went to see the fish weighing event. The winner was a 235 lb black marlin.  We were able to inventory the natural disaster emergency container. It was so well organized. I was truly impressed. We will send in the results and see if they want to restock anything.   Have I mentioned how much I love the children here. They are not shy in the least. We walk down the street and they all say "Hi" and give us high fives.  They saw us coming and ran to salute us.  Of course we saluted back and then took their picture. 

 This week, we went to our first gratitude ceremony. The government of China installed 4 dehumidifier  water systems for the hospital.  Basically, these machines pull water out of the air and then adds the necessary minerals and thus you have clean water to drink!  Each machine puts out about 250 liters of clean water per day for a total of 1000 liters of water. Pretty amazing technology. The Kiribati people have a tradition that they have a gratitude celebration every time they receive a gift. This celebration includes speeches, dancing and food.  The Chinese ambassador, Kiribati's president, the Australia's High Commissioner, Representatives from Doctors without boarders, and other high ranking people were there. So Cool! President of Kiribati and the Ambassador from China drinking the first glasses of water  We also spent time with the other senior missionaries serving here. They went from having no senior couples to 4 couples in less than 6 months....

 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 ...

Arleen and I received some great news today. Our Entry Letter has been issued and now we are waiting for a call from Church Travel to determine when we will depart. We have been trying to stay busy for the last two weeks, getting Latter-Day Saints Charities shirts made and attending conference calls with the Pacific Area. This time has allowed us to help our children get more prepared for the 3 younger ones to live in our house together with their families. There will be 5 adults and 6 children living in the house. Can anyone say PARTY! We had the opportunity to spend  Memorial Day  with most of the family. We went to the Provo Cemetery in the morning where we celebrated our infant daughter Julie's 40th birthday with her. We also ate at the BYU Creamery and took the grandchildren to the Beam Life Science Museum on BYU Campus.     Julie's head stone Kneeling by Julie's grave Grandma and Hailey at BYU Creamery Grandpa and Emma at BYU Creamery We are so excited to be he...