May 2010, the month of celebrating good friends and good food

Starting off the May birthdays: Sister Bell on May 5th! We celebrated together by going to lunch at La Bogie with Linda - great time.

Elder and Sister Steed's last full day on Majuro. We will miss them - lucky Kiribati...

Two flowers from Conrad - one for me and one for Susan - May 6th.

District Meeting May 7th - front row: Elder Bulloch, Elder Jaksina, Elder Hill, Sister Teichert, Elder Ahlstrom Back row: Elder Waqateirawa, Elder Isom, Elder Taylor, Elder Blacker.

Uliga Ward YM/YW choir rehearsal where they asked me to help them - this is why I am here.

Six missionaries leaving for Ebeye, May 8th - Elder Adams, Elder Taylor, Sister Hansen, Elder Mackey, Sister Hopoate, President Hopoate. Lucky Ebeye. Lucky missionaries.

On Mother's Day, May 9th, Laurie and I went to two more Primaries to teach the sign language to "I Know That My Savior Loves Me." How special is that - to be with the children on Mother's Day and share this song with them and FEEL the Savior's love for them and for us. Rita Ward Primary (Sister Davidson in the back:))

Jenrok Primary signing 'Love'

A great surprise has happened to this side of the mission - Sister Lata and Sister Toki came to Majuro for a stopover from Christmas Island to Kiribati - they speak Gilbertese, and due to Air Marshall's cancelations of flights, they are working here temporarily - what a dynamite companionship!

May 13th came quickly - the departure day for my Filipino neighbors to their homeland for a vacation - we're sure hoping for a reunion in a few months.

My wonderful neighbors - Antonio, me, Sarah, Esther, Papa Joe. Sarah will have a little brother for AJ soon.

My last conversation with AJ.

One last parting shot of AJ....til we meet again, little friend... Pizza lunch at Sister Teichert's after District Meeting May 14th - those Kiribati sisters spread good cheer - they organized this feast.

Eating a rainbow of colors in Majuro...as long as the ships come in...

JoJo and I singing our hymns together (in English) in the Saturday night session of Stake Conference - she went on a mission to Australia, so singing in English is special for both of us - we got the memo about red, Elder Lytle.

Sister's lunch after Stake Conference: quesadillas! - Sister Ve'e, Sister Toki, Sister Lata, Sister Kitiona.

On the morning of my birthday I opened the package from Kim and Wyck's family - thank you for some wonderful gifts! The card from my parents and the card from Kim's family were filled with so much love - Indy's P.S. on her card said, "Are you coming back?" YES, Indy, in 10 months!

The Senior missionaries took me to lunch at MIR and I had a fresh fish sandwich to die for...then the missionaries surprised me with a special tribute - a homemade cake made by Elder Fu'e and a mural birthday card signed with pictures,when I delivered the mail to the rugby field - I took a picture of the semi-circle of missionaries with my heart. On the mural card they had printed "48th!" Your idea is working, Timmy!

The end of a wonderful day - the homemade cake, the flowers, the cards of love, the mural card of love from the missionaries - thank you forever, Mom, for having me and giving me life here.

Our beautiful JoJo graduating with her GED - so many were to be congratulated that evening.

The graduating class assembled in front of the canopy - it threatened to rain, but never did.

Lydia, JoJo's counselor in the Stake YW Presidency, and Jojo, so happy for her accomplishment.

My neighbors, Vic and Miriam, gave me a fresh lobster that had come in from Kili with some friends - my first lobster ever.

Here's looking at you, merry month of May...this lobster tasted sooo good cooked in butter and garlic...ummmm!

More Mother's Day sightings...

Perhaps Moms of new missionaries are wondering how their missionaries are - here's a lunch break during the eight hours of orientation the day after they arrived (4/30/2010). Four Elders back in from outer islands for our May 1, 2010 Zone Conference - ElderPritchard (Ailinglapap), Elder Moimoi (Jaluit), Elder Christensen (Ailinglaplap), Elder Tingey (Jaluit). It's like having the sons of Mosiah get back together...

Sisters at Zone Conference - Sister Ruiz,Ve'e,Kitiona, Cummings, Teichert, Anterrea, Santos, Hansen

Elder Christensen taking more dessert - they don't have Rice Krispy squares on Ailinglaplap...

Our newest missionaries - Elder Amram, Elder Kimbar, Sister Hansen, Elder Sippy.

Sisters after Zone Conference. Laurie and I have been going around to the 6 other Primaries on island to help teach Pirmary music after teaching in our own ward (Long Island) - by far the favorite is "I Know That My Savior Loves Me." I wish this blog had sound so that you could hear them. Most all the children on this island look to the Elders and Sisters with respect and joy and love - many have taught them and their families and have changed their lives.

Ajeltake Branch Primary signing "LOVE".

Laurie at entrance to the Ajeltake Branch building - if you have a son who is or has worked here, it is one of the most beautiful LDS Meetinghouses on island and definitely has the most beautiful setting on the lagoon side.

Laurie teaching primary music at Laura Ward. - 5/2/2010

Laura Ward Primary signing "LOVE".

Elder Ahlstrom and Elder Christiansen at Laura Ward May 2, 2010 - Laurie and I ran into Elder Christensen there and he was able to video us doing the sign language to "I Know That My Savior Loves Me." He is going to teach that Primary Song and the sign language to the children of Ailinglaplap - he and three other Elders went back to that outer island two days later.

Elder Isom and Elder Ahlstrom at the Laura Church. It won't be much longer that Elder Ahlstrom is here - he has been an outstanding Zone Leader, Mom.

Moms, if you have ever had a son in Arrok, this is the Elders' apartment there in this pictoresque setting on the ocean side.

Elder Enlow and Elder Rareba at their home in Arrok - home for more water as they walk the miles to their appointments. They are doing well in their big assignment out in "the country."

(For my Mom) Mom, Laurie and I took each other's pictures at the palm tree Canopy out in Arrok - we had to hurry - see the car in the background?

Sister Hansen, Sister Santos, Sister Ruiz at the entrance to their home in Rita - they were able to get a ride with me from Payless after grocery shopping on their P-day - they were grateful for an air-conditioned car ride instead of a taxi...I'm taking care of them when I can, Moms!

Three sisters at the Purple Turtle on P-day - Sister Hansen, Sister Teichert, Sister Ruiz

Sister Ruiz from Pleasant Grove - living and working by the Marshallese Purple Turtle. The children adore her - thanks, Mom Ruiz, for sending her here to the Pacific.

For some Moms back home - Happy Mother's Day!

Elder Chef Enlow beginning his gourmet brunch of omelets and pancakes in between sessions of the Conference of Easter Sunday as we watched the DVDs as a District. It was an unexpected blessing to have two Easters this month. Moms, thought you would like to see how these sons are spending some of their training time - this was a District Conference to write home about.

Elder Blacker grating cheese - the other Elders wondering what to do while the seven omelets are being made...

Elder Jaksina found Sister Lytle's "Apples to Apples" game.

Elder Enlow's omelets and pancakes were to die for! Your sons ate well in between the last two sessions of Conference. It was a feast for body and spirit all morning long, for two days. I wish you could have been with us to hear your sons sing with everyone in the Conference Center "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". I wish you could have seen them reverently and solemnly sustain the Prophets. I wish you could have seen them taking notes and listening intently for hours.

Elder Waqatairewa, Elder Hill, Elder Blacker, Elder Jaksina - departing after 2 wonderful days as a District watching Conference (4/23-24/2010) Moms, thought you might like to see the light in your son's eyes...

Some flowers and a song for you, Mom...Elder Fu'e...

...Elder Rareba.... Elder Gardner. On their P-day, they each took a lot of thought about which flowers would be best for his Mom - hope you get them. Happy Mother's Day!

Elder Christiansen and Elder Pritchard, on island from Ailinglaplap for Zone Conference (4/26/10) - they look terrific and are on fire to go back with new companions each. Hi, Mom - we're doing great!

My first real companion, Sister Hansen, and her first day in the mission field (29 April 2010) - watching me teach piano lessons and meeting her first Marshallese. Mom Hansen, you have sent a remarkable daughter - she has already made a difference here, and our companionship that lasted two days will bless our lives forever. Happy Mother's Day!

Each missionary in our mission deserves time on this blog, but some are on outer islands and others have not been in front of my camera - you have sent remarkable sons and daughters. It is my privilege to serve them and to try to keep them healthy. Today is our Mother's Day in the Marshall Islands. I will add more pictures tomorrow, on your Mother's Day. How great is that, to have two Mother's Days!