Lizards, Spiders, Rats, and ATM machines

A recent week in the life of Sister Belshe;

  "I was helping in Baking and we were having the TVET rotation class help us with some clean up following Elder Belshe and the FM’s removal of the section of shelves along the wall and into the center of the room (in preparation of the arrival of our stainless steel benches!)  I was showing the students where I wanted them to clean and organize the books – suddenly 2 Geckos jumped out into the air in front of my face, my arms started waving and I was jumping, going into circles as I thought they were on me.  The students just laughed. Later we were working on cleaning and organizing the kitchen tools when some cockroaches ran across my hand, this was followed by more hand waving and jumping around to get them off of me “ewe” I hate cockroaches.  At the end of the day I was helping a teacher make some cookies for her anniversary and lifted a fire extinguisher that was in the way to get into the cupboard and out crawls the biggest spider I have ever seen which sent me running out of the room – ran right into a student who I then asked to come in and KILL it.  The teacher and student just laughed saying that it wasn't that big!  But when they tried to step on it but it ran way – it was very fast and got away.  I don’t think they tried very hard.  The next day I was at the ATM with Elder Belshe to get some cash. As I went to take the cash I wasn’t quick enough and the cash door came down on my hand like it was biting me – Elder Belshe said, ”I’ve never had an ATM machine bite me.”  On Wednesday I was helping again in the baking room preparing food for the in-service training with the teacher and some students from Form 11 & 12. While we were waiting for the items to bake, 2 large rats come out from under the prep tables, and as you can guess I was up off my chair and up onto the teachers desk (almost in her lap).  They were all looking at me like” what, they’re just rats” they said.  It was time for me to leave the room, too many encounters with Kiribati critters these last few days."

It has been a while since we posted last. There has been a lot of network issues and power outages. We left off at our 40th wedding anniversary. Elder Belshe planned a special surprise for Sister Belshe. We had a romantic dinner outside to the sound of the ocean and some singing by the office ladies. Elder Belshe gave her 2 local made dresses, a necklace, bracelett and earings. He also had a special mat made commemorating their anniversary.

The school had a fire drill exercise that went well except for a few students who just lollygaged along. Once all of the students were out in the field we held a short exercise session.

Some teachers just chilled under the shade of the coconuts.

Father's Day was nice. Susan gave me a nice Lei to wear to Church. Then after church there was a Father's Day celebration in the Maneaba.

We had several birthdays in the family again. Nicole, Tylor, Amanda.

Each year the school does a "Moroni Star" a musical performance competition. They had their finals and we and the Needhams were asked to be the judges. There were some very good performers. We enjoyed all of the performances.

 The Stake put on a dance festival that was quite enjoyable. Nearly all of our Tarawa young missionaries were a part of the dances. They performed with the wards that they serve in. There were some very good performances.

Our office finally was finished and we moved in to house #7. It is nice having the office attached to our home. Makes it convenient for snacks, bathroom and water breaks. But we spend a lot of our time  in the school working with our teachers.

The footings are all in on House#1. They should be pouring floors soon and then laying in the block walls.

Everything has been moved to the new Mission Office. The President's desk finally arrived. He had been using an old table.

We now have 6 Senior Mission couples here in Tarawa. Belshe and Needham working at Moroni High School, Olson working Self Reliance training, Reese working Humanitarian projects, Belen working Mission Nurse and office duties, Lander working Office duties.
Sister Reese in the picture looks weird because she moved when I was taking this Pano shot. This was taken at our weekly Family Home Evening which we held at our home this past week.

This past Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday was the Interschool Track Meet. On Wednesday there was the opening ceremonies along with the school marching event. Then Tursday and Friday were all of the races and competition. We had rain nearly all day on Friday.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday was a very wet day, a lot of rain. But the racers raced on even in the rain.

We made it through all the rain. Moroni Girls swept all of their races, the boys won most of their races and Moroni was the top school overall. We left at the end of the events and went to dinner with all the senior couples to a little resturant called Marys. They make a good hamburger and a chilli steak sandwich.