Islands of Abemama and Marakei

After Tylor left Susan and I went to the Island of Abemama to look for new housing for the missionaries there. I also was sent to perform a financial audit of the local branch.

We waited at the Abemama airport for a few minutes for our host to arrive.

This is a house at the end of the runway that we are looking to rent for the elders to stay in.

This is the Abemama chapel for their branch.

That is the Branch President's office in the back.

We stayed at the Taotin hotel in this little bungelow. It was actually very nice.

The hotel had a restaurant where we ate at each day.  They even had satellite TV all 8 stations.

After the audit meeting I went with one of the Elders out tracting in the local area. we met one of the local judges for the island. He was very interesting to talk with. After a while he asked me why I was there on his island all the way from the USA. I told him I was there for him. That Jesus Christ loves him enough to send me all the way to his home to share the message of the Gospel of Christ. We asked him if he would be interested in learning more and he said he would. So the Elder set an appointment to go back and visit that family.
The last evening we were there the restaurant brought us more food than we could possibly eat so we asked if the Elders could eat with us. They said yes so we invited the Elders to eat with us. It was a great meal and we had an enjoyable visit with these young men.

As soon as we got back to Tarawa I was off again to the Island of Marakei.

Susan did not go with me on this trip. There I was to do another financial audit. I stayed at the local motel which was far more primitive than the last island.

But as with all of the Islands the people were great, helpful, and willing to do whatever was asked. The food mainly consisted of fish and rice but I did have a nice breakfast one morning that consisted of banana bread, rolls, and bananas.

The Elders live at the Church Chapel House. I went to the branch family home evening that they hold each Monday. usually there are 8 - 12 people that show up. We had about 6 show up. We had a nice lesson and then some refreshments after.

The first day I was there I was given a tour around the island. The island is similar to a doughnut with the lagoon in the center.
This is a picture of a 2 story kiakia. This is unusual for the islands here.

There are monuments around the island called The Ladies of Marakei. When you visit each monument tradition has you leave a small gift to that Lady. We left a piece of candy at each monument. Of course after we left each monument I saw the local kids run up and snatch the candy out of the monument.

At one point of the tour we crossed a very narrow bridge. The truck was just barely able to fit on the bridge as we crossed over.

The audit went well with a few issues that I addressed. Soon it was time to leave. That last morning we, me and the Elders, rode bicycles to the airport for me to catch the plane. It's a good thing I travel light.

Not long after I got back the US Ambassador for the Pacific Islands came and visited Tarawa. She asked to have a meeting with the US missionaries serving in Kiribati. She asked us where we were from and what our mission responsibilities were. Then she opened the meeting to questions and so we asked her what sort of aid programs was the US pursuing here in Kiribati. She danced around that question. So then I asked her what trade talks were or are going to be made to improve trade relations with Kiribati. Again a song and a dance. I immediately thought of the Texas Governor and his song and dance in the movie "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". None of us were very impressed. All fluff and no substance.

Well I am behind on my blogs but will try to get caught up. School has started and we are very busy with school and mission responsibilities. Till the next blog, we love you all.