Trees

Trees with twisting roots

Reach in, around to the ground

Do they walk by night?

On the beach they seem to crawl

Legs and arms they seem to want

Independence Week

In Kiribati, Independence is celebrated for a week, and to get a good start on the week, the schools take a few days off for InterSchool Competitions before the start.  They spent two days in various track meets, often running barefoot.  After a win or a good run, they would do a little dance as they came back to their assigned area.

The young missionaries took turns at a booth. It was reported that they received about a hundred referrals for their efforts.  Once in a while they would use a bribe of popcorn to find a non-member.

There was a Farris Wheel at the celebration, however we never saw it going or riders on it. It looked like it was made out of tinker toys.  We weren't sure how safe it was.

They had various sports events going on during the week.  Below is a couple of volleyball teams.

Back in Tarawa

Back from Fiji, some old familiar scenes.

Fact Finding Mission to Fiji

Off to Fiji for a TVET Summit and a fact finding Mission.

We stayed in the Novotel Hotel. We spent our time eating, sitting, eating, sitting, 

eating, eating, sitting.

The Summit was held in Nadi. Sister Bogh was really thirsty.

 After the Summit, we stopped at a Hindu Temple and took a tour. We then traveled to Suva, which is across the island of Fiji.  We stayed with Elder and Sister Collins, who were supper hosts. The Goodlets from Australia, who are serving in Samoa traveled with us. We also met Elder and Sister Decker.  They had a grandson who served in Kiribati.  

While there we went on a River Trip. It got a little "soggy" when we had to go up the rapids 

and when we had to abandon our motor boat and get on a bamboo raft which floated just 

below the water level.

We went shopping and almost cried when we saw all the produce available. 

We went to Beaches and Restaurants. Life is tuff in Fiji. Watch out for falling Coconuts. I wonder what would happen to Coconuts that were not gravity affected.

We went to Church and the Temple. We met a Sister Missionary from Kiribati who wanted us to take a letter back to Kiribati. Her father teachers seminary at the school.  We met another Sister Missionary, her companion that knew Elder Bogh's sister in the U.S. from California.  

What a small world.

Life is Tough in Fiji.

But we miss Wilson, the Crab, and of course others on Kiribati.

Wilson and Others

We have a new companion now. His name is Wilson. We have great conversation with him and adventures also.  Tom (not Hanks) and family sent him all the way from the USA.

Elder Bogh had to paint a sign for the Independence day celebration. The Missionaries will have a booth and needed a sign. The young girl in the top photo is Sister Bogh's visiting teaching partner, Mawaruru. The other lady is the cooking teacher, Marinoa. The other lady is Babai. And then there is the crab (not Elder Bogh), climbing up the wall.

A big welcome and celebration was held for the area Seventy, Elder Hamula. We had to help with the Senior Missionary dinner and the dinner for Zone Conference.

The Bogh's are just about to leave on a trip.