Hopefully chronological this time - the first part of August

Sister Mills (Farnsworth cousin) and Sister Teichert at Laura Beach 8/7/10

Returning from our successful shell hunting for Sister Mills - met some great children.   Elder Mills patiently waited for us under the tree - reminded me of my brother when Debbie and I would go hunting for treasures in Madrid.

At dusk, wating for others to arrive for Family Home Evening by the lagoon...

...and it was a great Family Home Evening!

Newest member of the family - 2 days old.

Elder and Sister Mills...
and our jumbo at amimono shops

I taught piano the day that my newest granddaughter was born, little Reese Madeline!  This lesson turned into a conducting session when some teenage boys came to request being taught.  Reese was born on Aug 10th, but this was Aug. 11th here in Majuro - being over the international dateline makes for interesting histories, and being on the Equator (where there are no changes of seasons) makes time all run together for me. 

It was Elder Hill's birthday on Saturday, so after District Meeting on Friday, Aug 13th, we made a quick birthday cake, rice, and the Office Elders brought in Chinese food to celebrate...

Elder Hill brought his lucky horseshoe for Friday the 13th - I hope he carried it with him the next day because our 14th (his birthday) was the 13th back home...it was a triple ott, Kraig.

Baptism on Elder Hill's birthday - 8/14/2010 -a wonderful day of rebirth for her.

After the baptism, our Long Island Elders with our great Bishop.

The Office Elders anticipating a change in the Assistants - Elder Mackey leaving for home in two days will be replaced by Elder Nawahine. (8/14/2010)

Crazy Days of August

The second  Sunday (8/22) that Laurie and I went out to teach the second verse of "I Know That My Savior Loves Me", there were over 50 children and teachers packed into the little Rita Primary room - as Mark Mabry's stunning images came onto the screen, the children were so quiet and focused. When we sang and signed again "I Know That My Savior Loves Me", there was real understanding (melele) and testimony in their voices.Later that afternoon, Laurie is preparing the Jenrok Primary children to experience 'Another Testament.'

Aha - so the blog people have changed the format and this entry will be chronologically backwards - 8/21 now - Sister Hewstone's birthday party at Laura Beach

This remarkable couple is the reason that the Marshall Islands Majuro Stake buildings (5 of them) are being renovated to pristine condition - Australia should be proud.

Traveled to Laura to inspect apartments (8/17) - the gas pump was down in Woje...

but it was still possible to buy gas.

D-Day (8/16) - Elder Mackey's goodby luncheon.

Elder Mackey, Elder Nawahine, Elder Lasky - the three assistants about to go down to two.

Under Elder Mackey's lead, we are District 3!

Putting on the suitcoat that hasn't been worn for two years while on the Equator...

Parting shot of the three Assistants (8/16/2010) - Elder Lasky, Elder Mackey (as Elder Nawahine would say, "The Bomb"), and Elder Nawahine.

Laura Primary (8/15) - our first Primary to teach the second verse and sign language of "I Know That My Savior Loves Me," for the Primary program coming up - Elder Rareba and Elder Enlow translated for us.

Laurie preparing the computer for the DVD showing of 'Another Tesatment' to the Ajeltake Primary

The children riveted on Mark Mabrey's images of the Savior with the Nephites.

Elder Humrich and Elder Swain at the outside baptismal font in Ajeltake (8/15/2010)

July 17-August 1, 2010 - Snapshots

There is a tree of life outside my apartment window, and one afternoon a praying mantis perched itself in its branches.

July 20th - two happy adoptive families.

District Meeting role plays - Elder Blacker, Elder Hill, Elder Mackey - July 23.

Elder Gulbransen, Elder Dew, Elder Nawahine, Elder Isom.

My shell collection grows, Nancy!  Still no seahorse...

On July 24th there was a Stake YMYW Pioneer trek - 15.2 miles from Ajeltake chapel to the Laura chapel.  Laurie made 18 bonnets for the Long Island Ward YW and their leaders.  Rutha and Juana modeling...

July 26th - Elder Wright and Elder Lasky building bikes for the Sisters in Laura - Elder Lasky just happens to be a cycling pro.  It was kind of like Christmas Eve, only the bikes went together really fast because of the expertise.

Also that night the Davidsons returned from a trip to Ebeye, and brought back Subway sandwiches from Kwajalein!  Wonders never cease here in Majuro...

Just a reminder of the July 27th office disaster diverted by Elder Gulbransen...

and Elder Dew.  Our heroes...

July 29th - while waiting at the airport for Sister Fanga'iuiha's arrival, I ran into Samson, my singing student, and his mother, who works in this amimono shop at the airport.

President Shaw, Sister Shaw, and newly- arrived Sister Fanga'iuiha.  She became my second companion after Sister Hansen.  What a remarkable opportunity I have to welcome and orient new Sister missionaries when they come by themselves to our mission.  I get to be their companion for a day or two, have them in my home to feed them, and give them a place to rest and freshen up. I get to teach them their first Marshallese lessons and how to survive on the Equator, as well as to have them teach me what it is like to have a companion and plan and pray together.  And this time the Shaw's took us both out to lunch!

July 31st - Sister Ve'e and Sister Tuimoala adjusting well at their Rongelap house in Laura.

Some children I met at Laura Beach that day - they are standing in front of an ancient Marshallese coral fish trap that is exposed when the tide is low.  The fish become trapped inside of the coral 'corral' when the tide goes out, and it is easy to just gather them in for dinner.

A close-up of my little friends, who helped me hunt for shells.

July 31st - vegetables and fruits again!  Bless the ships when they come in from the States!

August 1st - What a way to begin a new month - family comes to Majuro!  Ed Kinghorn is a visiting professor from BYU-Hawaii - he just happens to be married to the cousin of my son-in-law.  Over here, that is family!  Anywhere, that is family when he has played with my grandchildren and loved my daughter at Jeremy's family reunions...

July 2-July 16, 2010 - Snapshots

July 2nd was the 28th annual Fisherman's Day - there were some great fish caught from the ocean - the 335 lb. marlin was thought to be the winner until another boat came in the next day with a 337 lb marlin!

The US Embassy invited me as a warden for our mission to the July 4th party to honor the birth of our country.  It was in the Melele Room of the Marshall Island Resort.  Tanintoa's band played during the gathering time.

Both national anthems were sung by Malaelupe Samifua and our Ambassador Martha Campbell and the Marshall Island Minister symbolically cut a cake to celebrate. It was an inspiring gathering with so many good people from both countries.  It is a 4th of July celebration that I will treasure, being far from home and proud to be an American where liberty is treasured                                                                    .

A few days later I was just arriving at the Delap chapel to teach piano, and these children greeted me with their arms around each other.  This is how one sees children all over the island, walking down the road with their arms around each other.  They let me take their picture for a memory...

July 7th Sister Ruiz was brought into the office early from Rita by the Assistants to catch the plane for her transfer to Ebeye -

Long live the Marshall Islands!

July 10th was the Stake Young Women's Fashion Show...

Great decorations, appropriate Sunday dress (Deborah), athletic wear (Julinta), evening wear (Julian),

Wedding day attire modeled with the help of YSA men, one being our mission's own returned missionary Elder Samson.

President and Sister Tibon, Sister Teichert and Maria, and the Long Island Young Women and some fun with the decorations afterwards...                                             

July 14th - A Departure Dinner at the Tide Table for the Office Staff

Elder Gulbransen, Elder Lasky, Elder Mackey, Elder Gilbert,

(There next two are out of order ) July 15th, welcoming the Shaws, our new President and Companion.

(continued from July 14th Departure Dinner...)

Elder Dew. Sister Teichert's chair, Sister Hopoate, President Hopoate...

AND, taking Sister Tuimoala and Sister Ve'e to their new home and assignment in Laura.

The Davidsons, Elder Tingey (District Leader), Elder Sanchez, Sister Tuimoala, Sister Ve'e

July 16th - Departure of President and Sister Hopoate...

and Sister Cummings and Elder Gilbert.