New experience

Week of March 6-12, 2017

Blogs are new for us, so please be patient as we learn the ropes.  Our good friends, Kenny & Becky Kapp, who are now serving a two year mission in Tonga, have tried to teach us the process.  Just remember, if we aren't successful, it is certainly not because of our teachers.

We have had a productive week and are grateful for all the good events that have happened.  

March 6th is a very special day for me.  My dad would have been 101 years old.  I wonder how old he is eternally.  I doubt that years are calculated except by earthly men and women. We would have celebrated mom and dad's 71st wedding anniversary, if they were still with us.  This is a wonderful miracle.  I'm sure there were moments in their lives that they questioned their lives together, for their backgrounds were so different.  Time, humility, serving, and turning to the Lord changes lives.  I am so grateful that they are together, and that my siblings and I had the opportunity to be sealed to them.  What a great eternal blessing!

Craig prepared his caramel pie for FHE and he presented the lesson on the barges built by the Jaredites.  It was a good lesson and promoted good conversation.  If you haven't ever seen it, please go on Utube.  

This week Community Lifestyle Program (CLP) had three health screening opportunities (The CLP consists of the Wellness Center, which is run by the Canvasback Mission- 7th Day Adventist; the Ministry of Health; CMI College representatives; and LDS Charities, which is where we are added):
1. We had 53 people, mostly employees, come to our screening at EZ Price (Market/Store), and 12 were referred to the health clinic for blood glucose levels and/or high blood pressure.  The morning went by quickly.
2.  A new experience was ours, when the CLP offered free car washes for many taxi drivers, if they had a health screening.  It was a slow start, but a great event. It was delightful to see Dr. Lusi, nurses, newly added intern doctors from Taiwan, and all of us washing cars or doing the health screening at the same time.

Sign along the only main road.
Inviting participants.

Washed Elder Preston's glasses, too. 

 

Screening started slowly, but took off.

CLP Team ready to work!

Great team of professional car washers.

A clinician & medical doctor.

We had a few referrals to the clinic, but one lady had to be taken immediately to the clinic, for her blood glucose read 600.  The meter stops at 600, so we don't really know how high it was.  She kept saying that she felt fine. This event takes 3-4 hours, plus the hour of travel to and from.

Health Screening in process.

We attended our first Marshallese Wedding on March 10, 2017 at the Delap/Uliga Ward Building.  It is not unusual in this part of the world to have a common law marriage, where no legal ceremony has taken place, but the couple considers themselves married.  

As the bride to be started to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, when she was taught by the missionaries, she realized that being legally married was important.  This is a big step for her and now her husband, for they have been together for awhile. Did I get a picture of the bride and groom together? Unfortunately - no! Here is a picture of the sister missionaries who taught her the gospel.

If you look really hard, you will see the new groom with the circle of men in the far back of the women.

Hurray!  I did obtain a picture of the wedding couple coming into church today.  Life is good!

We were looking forward to the baptism of the lady who was married yesterday.   Due to the fact that we received incorrect information, we missed the baptism and all the talks except for last talk by Bishop Ned, because, it really started at six but we arrived at seven.   It seems that most of the time we are early for everything because of the local timetable,so when we thought we were arriving on time, we missed most of the event.

I thoroughly enjoy the writings of good solid authors, who rejuvenate me.  Today, I would like to end with another quote from Robert S. Wood's book. 

Every day in large and small ways, each of us makes choices and undertakes "works" that reveal the source and depth of our faith.  and, perhaps without thinking, we also act according to things not seen and with a confidence born of our reliance on Christ, His word, and the testimonies of His servants.  Accepting a call to serve in a position for which one feels inadequate, resisting a temptation to cheat in at school or in business, freely forgiving the unrepentant---these and many more decisions show forth not only honor but an abiding confidence in the Lord's promise, "and great shall be thy reward"  (D&C 42:65).

Please feel our love and prayers,
n & c or our titles for the next 14 months - Elder & Sister Preston