Susan and I traveled to two outer islands to administer the Moroni High School entrance exams. The first one we went to was Makin. We spent 3 days there and had a wonderful time meeting the local people and members of the Church. It rains much more in Makin than in Tarawa. We had no running water or electricity. For Susan it was quite an experience and an eye opener to how our young Missionaries live and serve on these outer islands. We both have a greater appreciation and love for these young men and women.
These are the chain of islands called Makin. We were at the island at the top where most of the people live. It is not a big island. We rode around it on bicycles in about an hour
Home of the Church Group Leader. They were so kind to us and took good care of us.
Its a good thing that the cats and piglets get along.
Our "Hotel" room. No running water, no electricity. Bucket bath for a shower.
Susan trying to flip the bucket in order to draw water from the well. She couldn't quite get it. The members ended up helping us draw water.
This is looking out from our room towards the Group Leader's home.
Had this spider jump out of my rolled up sleeping mat. A large female with an egg sac. She was about 4-5 inches in diameter.
We ate lunch and dinner every day with the church members, and breakfast with the Church group leader’s family. Pancakes for breakfast and fish & rice for all lunches and dinners. It is amazing the different ways you can fix fish & rice.
After meals naps were appropriate. In fact they encouraged it.
The land that the Church maneaba sits on was given to the Church by the granddaughter of the last King of Makin. She was a wonderful lady to meet and talk to. She is the one in green.
We had 4 kids show up to take the exam. It is a 2 hour exam. The young lady got tired so she took a 5 minute nap. They all worked hard to finish the test. The test covered English and Math proficiency.
Even Elder Belshe took the test since he didn't have anything else to do.
There is our luggage awaiting our flight out.
While we were waiting for our flight out we rested in a Bula.
This quote was written on a beam inside.
Makin is a beautiful island with beautiful people. We will always remember it and the people we got to know there.
The week after we got back from Makin the mission had a Zone Conference. It was good to see all the missionaries from the outer islands.
During the week we moved the Elders out of the beloved "barn" house in Temaiku into a new apartment. They felt like they had died and gone to heaven.
The Teachers were asked to perform their Garlanding dance for the students to see.
What fun activity day isn't complete without a tug-of-war contest.
That weekend was District Conference. They held a cultural night celebration which was a lot of fun. Many of our missionaries danced with the branches they were serving in.
The next week we flew to the island of Abemama to administer the Moroni High School entrance exams. This time Elder and Sister Hansen came with us. They were there to perform some financial training to the Branch President and his clerk.
The planes are a little small inside.
There is the airport on Abemama
This was our taxi truck driver. He remembered us from the last time we were on Abemama. A very nice man. He was always available to take us where ever we needed to go.
This is the Missionary's house on the north end of the island. It sits right at the end of the airport runway.
We stayed at the Taotin Hotel. They have bungalows right on the water with bathrooms, showers and solar power.
We had fish and rice for every meal except one, we had lobster.
This is the Branch President and his Clerk that Elder Hansen did the training with. They did the training while we did the testing.
We spent a little time with the Elders on their Pday.
This is the wreckage of a F4 or F5 Wildcat WWII american fighter plane.
An island gas station.
This was a WWII Japanese barracks.
Yes, there is a man inside that fishing net.
On our last day there we went to the KSS School and gave them some sports equipment for the students to use. They were very happy to receive this gift.
Our area manager and the CITVS moderator will be coming next week to do a year end review of the programs.
I have been cleaning up my garden area since most of the plants are done producing. The cucumbers did very well and the leaf cabbage is still going great. The egg plant is still producing. The tomatoes only produced about 5 tomatoes and kids stole 2 of them. My banana tree has put on fruit but will be ready to pick after we leave.
There are 3 farewell celebrations that we have been informed of.
As the old cliche goes, time has gone by so fast.
We will see you all stateside. Until then may the Lord be with each one of you.