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Mermaid

Christmas Parade

The next group of pictures includes the Christmas Parade and our hike between islands when the tide was out.  Christmas Parade:  We were actually driving over to the end of Majuro island where we would start our walk when we noticed many, many children with their parents lined along the road.  Each child had some sort of plastic bag.  Trudy remembered hearing about a parade that was to take place that day.  Rounding the bend we saw what we thought was an accident, with one police car with it's lights flashing.  We pulled over to the side of the road and then realized it was the parade.  The parade consisted of the police car, two golf carts decorated with palm leaves, a truck with boxes of candy and men to throw it out, and a large, flat bed truck decorated as a float. That was it. So we then continued on our way.

We walked across the newly exposed coral ground to the next island, named Edjit (sp), and visited the only two member families there.  While walking across there were hundreds of small pools filled with very small fish and a lot of starfish.  Edjit was quite remote as the people usually only commuted to Majuro by boat.  We visited the one bed hospital there.  As remote as it was there was a fairly nice basketball court there, the people like their basketball in the Marshall Islands, even though most are not very tall.  We continued on to the next island and then started back instead of going to the next island, because we had spent a lot of time on Edjit.  A very interesting day, as each island looked like the stereotypical deserted island we see in the movies, with lush undergrowth and lots of banana, palm, and coconut trees.

Thanksgiving Meal

We had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving meal, attended by all the Elders and Sisters on Majuro Island.  With the Couples included we numbered about 45.  All the Senior Sisters helped prepare the meal and they satisfactorily whupped the young Elders, they couldn't eat another bite.  They all left with take home food though.  After the meal we all sat down at the Mission home and watched the movie - Joseph Smith, The Restoration.  Afterwards, time was given to the bearing of testimonies, which was the most special part of the day.

A Fun Church Activity

Ajeltake (agile-talky), is an area on Majuro Island. The Elders and Sisters held a huge activity and included members, less-actives, nonmembers, and investigators. It was located on the Ajeltake LDS Church grounds and it was an overcast but very hot, humid day.









Lunch was chicken and pork ribs cooked over an open pit barbecue, rice (of course), and bananas. We ate like those from the old culture, with our fingers, on plates that had just been made from the leaves , or fronds of the coconut tree. I learned how to make those plates and also leave baskets, which were used to carry coconuts. We drank the milk from the coconut, using the coconut shell as a glass.













Marshall Islands Banana! These are the best bananas I have ever eaten
They are really sweet on the out side and tart in the inside.





Many games, which the Elders and Sisters somehow related to events or stories in the Book of Mormon, were played.  A very interesting and fun day indeed. I'll bet there will be many more active Church members and islanders with stronger bonds on that area of Majuro.

Laura Beach

We went to the other end of the island and spent a day at Laura Beach with the senior couples. We spent the day collecting beautiful sea shells There is a long, sandy beach there and the water is that aqua blue like in the Caribbean. The water is only waist deep for a few hundred yards out, then drops off suddenly. The drop off is where the coral ends. This island, like all of them out here, is actually an atoll. They are all ancient sunken volcanoes, the coral formed around the periphery,so the sunken center part is ocean too, resulting in long, narrow, circular islands formed from coral. Areas, homes, and buildings are referred to as being on the ocean side or the lagoon side.









This dog decided to be part of the fun at Laura beach he played in the water forever. Yes I do feed the dogs, we have several apartment watch dogs. I just put the food in front of the cars so they don't know where it came from. But Max has figured it out. Max likes to walk me home when it's dark, he takes me right to my door.

Halloween in the Islands

Yes, they celebrate Halloween here in the Marshall Islands.



My grandsons knew I needed some Halloween decorations.



Michelle made sure that we and the Elders had our Halloween treats!

The Children in the Marshall Island sing trick or treat to the tune of London Bridges. They sing and sing until you come to the door. You have to show them your empty bowl before they will believe that you are out of candy.

Fun In The Rain

When it rains here, it POURS!








But it doesn't stop the Elders!  Elder Dew and Corry caught in the rain.

The Island

These pictures show a little bit of the island, taken as we were flying in.



You can see how long and not too wide it is.




As we come closer and begin to land it looks like there is no place to land, just water!



You can see a few of the houses as we come in closer.



You also can see the Airport landing strip, and yes next to it, the one and only road in the Marshall Islands.




This picture is of the airport. Planes only land on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

Another Peek at Our New Life

It's been another exciting week in the Marshall Islands.  Here's a little peek at what we've been up to.



Can you guess what we did on our P-days?




Here's another hint.




These pictures were taken inside the hospital one Saturday when some Elders and YSA were doing a volunteer community service project.  We painted the main entrance  and foyer and the end result was pretty good.  The following week another hall was painted and this Saturday we'll complete the project (because that will finish off the paint supply). The new paint makes the hospital look a bit brighter and cleaner.








Senior Couple are Brother and Sister Davidson.  They help plan many  Humanitarian projects and are also the CES Couples.



We received some new missionaries this week... 2 elders and 1 sister. Here they are with the mission president and his wife.



And we said hello to our neighbors... they live in our backyard.



 When I left for my Mission to the Marshall Islands, My grandson Ty thought it would be nice if I took something along with me so I could have some fun on my P Day's.  To my surprise it was his treasured BYU FOOTBALL.  


It comes to the mission office with me.  Steve and I spend hours at the computer!




And here's our mission president, President Shaw throwing the ball around with Elder Nawahine.




I want to Thank Ty for his wonderful example of sharing and how much I treasure this football. Yes I followed your example Ty and shared your football with President Shaw and Elder Nawahine.  They love football as much as you do and of course BYU is their favorite collage football team.

This wonderful gift that Ty game me is a constant reminder of a poem that President Monson Shared a few years ago at conference.

I have wept in the night
for the shortness sight
that somebody's need made me blind
But I never have yet felt a tinge of regret
for being a little too kind

In General Conference President Monson reminds us a grateful heart.....comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his blessings and to those around us for all that they bring to our lives

Please know of my gratitude to my Family and Friends for the love they have shown me and the kind and helping hands this last summer with all the preparation for Chad's wedding, for the help in getting us ready that we might serve in the Marshall Islands.