part 2

The plant in the bag is called a no excuse garden.  When we went across the bumpy roads we were told that they were no excuse exercise.  The flowers and plants are very pretty around the school.

This door goes to our someday office.

This is the entrance for the school.  It is one of the better looking places on the Island.  All the LDS Churches and this school is kept up better than any other areas.  We hope to teach the kids how to pick up their own trash.

This is a picture of the halls and the auto shop and the carpentry room which are to be remodeled.

first month

We had a 'good bye' for the Youngbers and a welcome for the new teachers at the Learning Garden.  They cooked barbecue  chicken and various other dishes.  We were among those who were invited to eat first.  The ladies danced and then gave us all another garland for our heads.  They have very pretty voices.  Brother Tune played the guitar and Bouri played the ukulele.

We moved into our new house on the 22 of March.  We now have hot water on sunny days.  It is a solar water heater.
Our office is to be built someday.  We will see how long it takes.  We tried to use the microwave and couldn't figure it out.  Hopefully we didn't break it.  We now have a new one from the mission.  So far we haven't seen any visitors, like critters, bugs or rats.  I did see a rat in the home economics room at the school one night.  I hope they stay away.

First Two Weeks

There are many churches on Kiribati. The LDS Church has at least five chapels. They are some of the nicest looking buildings on the island.  We have seen a Catholic, Seven Day Adventist and Protestant Church.

We have also seen many beautiful sunsets.  God does have an endless supply of beautiful colors.

  We went to dinner with some senior missionaries and the Principal Lita and Vice Principal Tipo, his wife and  some other school employees.

This is a Chinese restaurant.  We had various dishes including these fish.  You had to take some tongs and just pull the meat off.  It didn't look like it was cooked very long, but it didn't taste too bad, inspite of its appearance.

These are various scenes around the island.

We went with other senior missionaries out to dinner just before the Youngbergs were to leave.  We waited for three hours before everyone finally got served.  John Millar the TVET trainer from Australia joined us.  The lizards are supposed to be good because they eat the bugs.

Various homes and stores

We went to the "Learning Garden" just after we arrived.  They had a program and dedicated the area. The Youngbergs spent most of their mission building this area.  They helped construct the buildings and plant garden produce all around.  They figured out how to grow tomatoes, corn, pumpkin, cantaloupe, beens and sweet potatoes and many other vegetables.  During this dedication Richard Turley, and the Vice President where there.  We were given garlands as a welcome to the Island.

The roads here are full of pot holes that are filled with sand and when it rains all the sand is washed out. One has to drive very slowly to avoid destroying the car.

Flying to Tarawa

Richard Turley is an interesting person.  He flys all over the world learning Church history and recording it.  He has written several books that might be quite interesting.  He could really tell the stories.  He reminded us of the movie The Librarian.

ROMANS 8

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

 26 Likewise the Spirit also ^ahelpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should ^bpray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh ^cintercession for us with ^dgroanings which cannot be uttered.

When we got to Tarawa we found that our luggage decided to stay behind in Fiji.  It must of liked it there.  We later found out that the plane was full and last Thursdays luggage hadn't all made it; so, they loaded it first and then bumped several people's luggage on Sunday's flight.  The plane only lands in Tarawa twice a week, Sunday and Thursday.  Several other people had to wait for their luggage,  including Brother Turley.  

The MTC

At the MTC we ate then sat, then ate then sat each day (gaining about 50 lbs).  We were fed spiritually as well and met several wonderful people who were going all over the world to serve.  

We found Kiribati on the large map (it took a large map). Along with the Johnsons, who are from Mayfield and will be serving in Cap Town Africa, we posed for pictures.  They came in the MTC one week after us and had their farewell the same day with us.

We met Elder Paul Tune who was from Tarawa and is now serving in Salt Lake City.  His mother teaches at the school that we are to be working at.  His uncle is the Elder that the Dec. 2000 Ensign article Sea Birds of Kiribati was written about.