Week 4 - WARNING this blog may be boring

First off I want to warn you that the following may be boring to many of you but I was asked to give more detail on what we are doing day to day.

4 weeks have gone by and we feel we have settleda in to the routine of things. Routine can be an  arbitrary word. When I think of the word routine I sometimes think of it in terms as repetitive or mundane and most our days are not repetitive or mundane. Our routine is the overall daily schedule we keep in mission life. Bill is up around 6:00 am, study scriptures until 6:30. Susan is up at 6:30. Bill exercises from 6:30 (sun up) to 7:15 am. Exercise schedule is each day, run 2 laps around the school to warm up. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, lift weights in weight room. Tuesday, Thursday, and sometimes Saturday do Insanity Workout. Susan showers and gets ready for the day. 7:15 Bill showers gets ready. 7:30 - 7:50 we eat breakfast and go over the day's activities. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:00-8:30 is the school office staff devotional. Each Monday instead of the office staff devotional there is an all school staff devotional. Then each Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 is an all School Devotional. Each day except Wednesdays kids start school at 8:30 - 9:00 in their homeroom. They have a devotional and discuss anything the students need. Then regular classes start at 9:00, lunch is at 1:00 and then school ends at 3:30. On Wednesdays first period is the all school devotional then classes start at 10:00. On Wednesday evening we perform an ITEP function which is administering the SLEP tests to those who wish to take it. The SLEP test is a requirement for those who are applying for University studies. The person must pass the test to be considered for admission. It is an English language test to insure that the person understands both the spoken and written language. It is necessary since all the universities are taught in the English language whether it is BYU Hawaii, or Universities in New Zealand, Fiji, or Australia. Potential students at these schools must have a command of the English language if they are to succeed in their studies and graduate.

The Wednesday all school Devotionals are used not only for spiritual discussions but also for community involvement. There are guest speakers that come from the Kiribati Government Ministry to talk to and encourage the students. There are business executives who come to talk about careers and the importance of schooling. Higher education people come to talk about what is needed for entry into and scholarships for universities. Former students come and talk about their experiences they had at Moroni and what it took for them to get scholarships and acceptance into a university and/or to prepare for a mission. These speakers are exceptional because they were once right there where the students are today and can speak from first hand knowledge the struggles the students are and will face. They give them encouragement and ideas on how to get through it all.

Friday last period is the activity period when all of the school clubs meet. Susan is involved with the Drama Club and Bill is involved with the Dance Club and with the Sports Clubs.

Once classes start, each day is different as to what we are doing at any given time. But no matter what we are doing, our purpose is to help the school improve it's TVET program first, and second to help with the overall school needs including the Facilities Maintenance group. So each day you may find us in a classroom watching or helping a teacher teach a lesson. We may be in our office developing spreadsheets or looking for lesson support material for a teacher. Or we may be at the Service Center working with the Facilities Maintenance group or finance team.

We are assigned priorities from the Pacific Schools TVET Manager and from the School Principal. We have been working at completing our first assigned priorities these last 4 weeks. Those were:

• Work with each TVET Teacher to insure they have, maintain, and understand their live inventories. Help them bring their documented inventories up to date.
• Work with each TVET Teacher to help them understand their respective budgets and help them get ready for the next budget cycle which starts in March.
• Perform some of the ITEP duties until a new set of ITEP missionaries arrive. They are due to arrive in June.
• Work with the FM group to try and help them get caught up on their back log of work orders.

The staff understands the need for inventories and most have attempted to put one together. They had a template of sorts to work from but it lacked all the needed information for a good inventory spreadsheet. Then the concept of maintaining a consumables inventory was not understood. Most of the teachers just ordered what they needed without ever having it as a part of their budget or documented in an inventory spreadsheet. So once Sister Belshe and I understood the situation we began working with each TVET Teacher in developing their inventory spreadsheets which included their consumables. We have been working with them also on preparing their inventories and budgets based on their yearly lesson plans. The budget cycle for 2018 starts in March with requests for capital equipment being written up and submitted for approvals. Then the next phase is consumables and classroom budget requests for 2018 being submitted for approvals sometime in May.  We nearly have all the Teachers completed with their inventory lists. The next training we will do will be on the budget process and how to write their budgets and justifications and then submit their budgets for approval. You would think that with the school being in operation for as long as it has the teachers would know all of this. They don't. The budgets have been submitted by the school Principals all these years without much involvement from the Teachers. It has just been in the last couple of years that budget requests and responibilities have moved down to the Teacher level. In general in the past there has been a lack of structure and responsibility. The structure and responsibility is now being put in place. The Teachers are all for it because it gives them greater input as to what is needed for their programs and lesson plans.
An example of what it was before and what it looks like now is the Carpentry Teacher's inventory sheet. His sheet had a total of 53 line items which included all power tools, hand tools, and consumables. He and Elder Belshe worked on his inventory spreadsheets to reflect what he actually had, what was needed to complete his lesson plan and projects. The result was a power tool spreadsheet which showed all of the power tools he needs in the shop, a hand tool spreadsheet which shows all of the hand tools needed, and a consumables spreadsheet which has all of the consumables needed to complete the yearly lesson plans. Now with this inventory list he knows what capital equipment he needs and what lesson module he needs it for. This helps him in writing his justifications. He also knows what hand tools he lacks that need to be ordered, and what consumsbles he will need to include in his operating budget. Those spreadsheets together now have a total of over 200 line items which reflects exactly what he needs and uses each year in his training programs.

So as you can see we are not just sitting around. Each day is very busy in helping the TVET program here get to that next level in accomplishing their goal of having certified programs which are recognized throughout the Pacific area. And that is not all, Elder Belshe is also helping the Facilities Maintenance group streamline some of their work processes and assist them in areas they are weak in such as electrical troubleshooting.

Well I won't bore you with any more of this. We are enjoying what we are doing knowing that it will help the lives of the students and faculty.

The Cost of Living in Tarawa

These scouring pads made me laugh!!! Read the bottom.

We thought we would devote this post to the cost of living here in Tarawa. Now remember when I give dollar amounts that it is in Australian dollars.

We have been able to find most staples such as flour, rice, sugar, salt, pepper, oatmeal, butter, milk, cooking oil, canned vegetables, canned fruit (peaches, mangos and pineapple), fresh eggs each week, hamburger, chicken, pork, bacon (in fact their bacon is excellent since they include the loin as part of the cut of bacon), and a few resturants that serve decent entrees. Bread is sold on the street so I just make bread every week for Susan and I. Still trying to figure out the oven as it cooks weird. I'll get the hang of it eventually. I have found some decent ice cream but it is a bit pricey. They do have soft drinks but the only major brand is Coca Cola which is fine for us but it too is a bit pricey. Then from time to time you find oddball stuff like french fries, hashbrowns(There are no whole potatoes on the Island and none imported), flour tortillas, etc. . When you find that stuff and you want it then buy it because it may not be around again for quite some time. An example is canned tuna in water brine that Susan likes. When we first got here she found some and bought 4 cans. There was more available but she figured it would be there. There is none to be found now and they don't know if they will get any more. I was happy to find flour tortillas but there was no cheddar cheese to be found. We did find some mozzarella cheese. Not that good for cheese crisps

The lobster man came by the school on Friday so I bought 2 medium size from him. We had them for dinner tonight along with some fried breadfruit. They are spiney lobsters, not as big as Maine Lobsters but they are still a decent size. Brother Suri still brings us breadfruit and coconuts weekly. The breadfruit we use in place of potatoes, they are quite good. We drink the coconut water and scrape the coconut for baking.

We have a cherry tomato plant growing in a pot on our front porch along with a leaf lettuce plant, a squash plant, and a spinach plant. So this little garden gives us a few greens. Breakfast foods are usually either eggs and hashbrowns, eggs and toast, oatmeal, or a breakfast cereal like Sanitarium Corn Flakes, or granola.
Dinner varies some. Since we have hamburger meat then we make most things that you would use hamburger for. We make instead of a BLT we make a BS sandwich, bacon spinach. If we get enough cherry tomatoes then maybe on one occasion we can have a BLT. The leaf lettuce I don't care for much.
OK now for some costs. We pay $690 a month for our apartment which includes water, electricity. There is no TV on the island so no need for that.
The average cost of a meal when we go out to eat is about $10 each. Some of the resturants have a nice ambience and others just good food.

Here is a break down of some of the food prices;
Bacon is $22 a pound
Hamburger is $7 a pound
Butter is $8 a pound
Milk is $5 a liter
24 pack of Coca Cola is $25 these are the tall skinny cans 12 oz
1/2 gallon of Strawberry icecream was $16.30
1gallon on Vanilla icecream was $23
1 large jar of  Mustard $18
1 small whole chicken $13
1 can of spam $12
1 can of corn $3
1 box of Kleenex was $5
1 small jar of honey $10
1 ham roast $32
1 small bag of Doritos $5
1 bag of mozzarella cheese $31.50

So as you can see this is why most families subsist on what grows locally and what they can catch out of the ocean. Rice and flour are fairly cheap so they can buy those items. Things are getting a little better as each year goes by. Susan and I are very careful since we are on a tight budget. Plus we just don't need a lot. We enjoy eating the local foods like breadfruit which helps with our budget. And when we do eat out it is not that expensive. We bake a few goodies from time to time. Today Susan baked some Petits Pains Aux Raisins, a French Pastery. She got the recipie from her Dad. It was a favorite of his when he and his wife served a mission in France.

Of  course when Susan was done cooking these treats she was done for the evening and just wanted to relax. 

Sunday Feb 12

On Sunday we were invited by the Reese Couple to go with them to Abatao and another smaller branch Tabiteuea on a couple of the outer islands. Susan and I were up for a change in pace. We drove past the airport to where the road ended at Buota. We then walked across to the first island and went to the Abatao branch, a small congregation.

The water was nearly at low tide and was about knee deep

As we walked along the trail it was amazing the difference in life style. Most of these families live a more traditional life style.

The members meet in a traditional gathering place called a mwaneaba. They hold sacrament meeting and then Sunday School. As you can see we all sit or kneel on mats laid out on the floor. I felt the Spirit there as much as I have in any church I have been in.

Right after Sunday School started we had to leave in order to travel on to the next small branch in Tabiteuea. It was about a 20 minute walk. Again we past by a few traditional home sites.

The other gentleman walking with us is the Branch President for both of the small Branches.

We finally arrived at the Tabiteuea Branch and held a Sacrament meeting with them in their small mwaneaba. They asked me to speak. There was a young woman there who could speak english and she translated for me. I kept it simple since her english was limited. I spoke on the Sabbath Day, that it is a day of love and service. What a wonderful opportunity it was for Susan and I to feel of their kindness and their love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There were 7 members there in that small meeting but they had the sacrament and renewed their covenants with the Lord just as each of us do or should do each Sunday.

When the meeting was over we made our way back home the sun was out in all its warmth and intensity and I ended up with a burnt head.

 Brand new coconut tree growing right out of a coconut.

We got back and I wrote down a few of my thoughts in my journal. Susan took a picture of me in my flip flops.

Week 2 Feb 12, 2017

The week started off well. Monday we attended the all Church Service Center monthly devotional. The local Stake President spoke on the importance of being strong in Christ so that when we serve we have the strength to help others. The humility of the Ikiribati people amazes me. The scripture Mark 10:15 "Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." comes to my mind. It is not that they are childish, the opposite is true. They are strong and have a desire to be and do better. But their faith is as a child. They have complete trust in the Lord.

Monday afternoon after school I went to talk to the Mission Nurse, Sister Shumway, about something. This is what I found at her doorway.

And then inside I found most of the missionaries serving here on Tarawa wishing Sister Shumway a warm farewell. They had made her a cake and sang her a song. Sister Shumway is being transferred to Majuro, Marshall Islands this Friday. She will be missed by all of these missionaries. Not only is she the nurse but in the 8 months she has been here she has sewn over 35 new dresses, repaired another 50+ dresses, repaired numerous pants, and sewn several children dresses and clothes.

Later in the evening all the senior couples took Sister Shumway to dinner in town. An interesting note; Sister Shumway is from Eagar Arizona and was my mother's visiting teacher. She is a sweet lady and spoke highly of my mother.

I have started working out in the mornings. I start out by running a couple of laps to warm up and then I go to the school's weight room and lift on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have started doing my Insanity workouts again. Nothing like a good workout in 80% humity. Gets a good sweat going.
Here is the weight room. Nothing special but it gets the job done.

This week our computer crashed. All we get is a flashing question mark. I had my sons help me research the problem and it looks like the hard drive crashed. Luckily I have an IPad Pro which is now serving as my only computer for personal use. I do have a school assigned laptop for use in my work at the school.

On Friday Sister Shumway flew out to the Marshal Islands. The other Senior couples took her to the airport. After her plane took off an American military C? Transport Plane landed. It turned out that it was a Marine Honor Guard sent to bring home the remains of 17 marines who had died in the battle of Tarawa during WWII. The couples later told me that when it was over and the plane had left they realized that they should have contacted Susan and I to come and see the ceremony also. I told them that it was OK and that I was happy that these Marines were finally able to go home.

Saturday Susan and I went to town by ourselves to pick up a couple of items we needed. It was my first time driving here on Tarawa. I was driving a Toyota pickup with a manual transmission. No problem except everthing is on the wrong side. It takes some getting use to driving on the wrong side of the rode and on the wrong side of the truck. Shifting with my left hand was a little strange too. I only bumped into the curb along the road while driving about 3 or 4 times. Luckily the speed limit is 40 kph which is about 30 mph. Susan was still pretty nervous though.

Today, Sunday, we had quite an adventure going out to one of the outer Islands to hold church service with the small branches of the church there. I will share that adventure in my next post, maybe in a couple of days.

1st week at Moroni

It's hard to think that a week ago we were in Auckland getting ready to fly out to Fiji. This first week has been busy. School started on Tuesday. We helped with getting the kids lined out with their schedules and visiting all of the TVET classes. The TVET classes are - Fashion Design, Baking and Pasteries, Computers, Intro to TVET, Life Skills, Self Reliance, Agriculture, and Carpentry. The Kids grade levels are called Forms rather than grades. So the Seniors are Form 6 but can be in Form 7 classes. Form 7 is grade 13 in the US. The Form system is the British system of schooling.
The school is near the town of Eita.
Our apartment is right on school grounds in the back. It is to the right of the car in the picture.

Our view looking out front

Our view looking out the back.

We have a washing machine on the back porch but we hang our clothes to dry.

It is a nice small apartment like the one we had in Tucson. It may not be as modern but it has all that we need.

The other senior missionaries helped us get settled and fed us until we could get to town to shop. Now shopping here is more like hunting. You go from one little store to another until you find what you need. But to our surprise we were able to find most of what we needed. Do not expect the same kinds of food as we have in the USA. But the necessities were there. Could not find any fresh fruits or vegetables except Susan did find some carrots in one store. They do have frozen vegetables and canned vegetables. Never the less all food is expensive. We spent around $800 for 3 weeks to a month worth of food if we are cautious. We found some Coca-Cola. A 24 pack cost $21. I bought a half gallon of ice cream for $16.50. We will be savoring our coke. One can split between us maybe twice a week. Below are 2 of the 4 stores we went hunting in.

How about some Sanitarium Corn Flakes!!!

On Wednesday we were asked to speak at the High School Devotional. We were the guests of Honor.

We spoke to over 600 students who attend the high school.

I finally got a router installed in our apartment. Internet is spotty. Think late 1990s modem speed. So I finally figured out how to do my blog quicker than I had before. I downloaded a photo compression app which really sped up the uploading of photos and the final publishing of the blog. Douglas tell Mike that I love my iPad Pro. That is what I use all day for my computer work and to write this blog.

I baked some bread on Thursday.

On Thursday evening Brother Suri told us all about coconuts and their nutritional value. He had Elder Takias climb a tree and get 4 coconuts. Elder Takias was the missionary serving in Draper that we took to lunch. They then husked the coconuts and gave us each one to drink and one to take home for later. Then on Friday Bro. Suri brought us some Bread fruit that he had prepared from the Bread fruit trees in front of the school. He told us to slice it up thin and fry it. We did and it tasted a lot like potato chips, very delicious.

Friday night was a school celebration celebrating the kids coming back, the new students at the school, and the Form 6 & 7 students in their last year. They met out on the basketball court and had a dinner and dance. It was suppose to start a 7pm but didn't start till 8. The kids had a lot of fun. They even drug Susan and I out on the court to dance with them. I have videos but I can't get them to upload. So here are some pictures.

I took a picture of our first sunrise last Tuesday. It was the dawning of our mission life here in Kiribati. Quite the week and I didn't tell half the story. I need to save some stories for later around the campfire when we get home. We think of our Family and friends often. Please know that we feel your love and prayers.