Memorial Day Week-end

Atypical week:  Not many resemble one another.  How can that be?  Welcome to the missionary world. 

We thoroughly enjoyed having Sam visit and bringing his horticulture expertise last week, but we were also grateful to spend more time in the office after he left, which as you all know is the hub of any organization.  Starting Monday, Craig had the typical four days at the end of each month to justify all financial transactions for 190 missionaries as well as all the happenings of the President and his wife.  This seems to be a challenge for most people in that hot spot. 

We welcomed a new elder and a new sister.  They seem bright, progressive, and ready to serve.  

Elder Apela, Sister Mohetua, E/S Belen

Elder Apela will immediately be going to Ebeye with Elder Helgenberger, who has been an AP since we arrived.  He is so lucky to be trained by one of the finest missionaries.

 

AP's until today - Elders Helgenberger & Bird.

Elder Thiel has become the new AP with Elder Bird.  This will also be a mighty set.  

Elder Thiel & Elder Bird
AP's

Elder and Sister Belen also arrived for four days and will travel on Sunday to Kiribati, which is another country in our mission to be the new office couple.  The president had them come here for a few days to get trained.  Very unusual days.  Since they were called as an office couple, we assumed that they would be in-serviced in the MTC.  No - they were not. Our work was cut out for us. 

E/S Belen (She is from Australia - him from Philippines
now both from Tennessee)
Note the 190 little pictures of missionaries on the board
behind them.
We have handled a lot of paperwork for all of them repeatedly.
Some we have not met and yet we feel that we know them
and continue to keep them in our prayers.

Elder Kennerley and Elder Uitu live with the AP's acros the road from us.

Four mighty missionaries.

Saturday evening we were fortunate to attend the baptisms of three young men and a darling girl. Listening to them share their testimonies was delightful.  We were blessed by their sincerity.  I meant to get a picture of all of them, but I only got one picture of this young man, whose wife is a member already.

New member of the church with
his wife.

We will be teaching our last institute class for this school year on Wednesday.  We walk away with mixed feelings:  joy that we were able to be with those who really want to learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ; sad that it is our last class until September; and relieved that we will have more time to give to our humanitarian projects during the summer.

This last lesson, Come Unto Jesus, is my turn.  I have thoroughly enjoyed studying for it.  Keep positive thoughts and prayers that our students will understand and feel the goodness of Our Savior in their lives. Let's all remember some of the words written by Orson Pratt Huish in the hymn, COME UNTO JESUS  . . . Come unto Jesus; He'll surely hear you, If you in meekness plead for his love.  Oh, know you not - that angels are near you - From brightest mansions above?   

Come unto Jesus from every nation, From every land and isle of the sea.  Unto the high and lowly in station, Ever he calls, "Come to me."

Remember that we love you,

Elder & Sister Preston

May News

Highlights of the week:

Sam Williams, who is based in New Zealand and is the agricultural specialist for all the Pacific Islands arrived Thursday morning and is with us until Monday evening. 

Sam Williams
from NZ
Agriculture Pacific
Specialist

He is not only large in stature, but in knowledge, patience, kindness, and ability to work with all types of people from all areas.  We have thoroughly appreciated his expertise and the opportunity to do some hands-on gardening.

We took him to the projects that we have started and he shared his quiet recommendations that have rejuvenated us and are a great support to those who are trying to be successful in getting people to be self-reliant.

We visited Allison, from Taiwan Farms:

Allison, Sam, Elder Preston

Vision for Taiwan Farms

Local Laura farmers selling their goods
under the support of Taiwan Farms

We met with our Stake President, President Zedhkeia and made arrangements to replant his key hole garden.  Little did we know that he didn't already have a functioning key hole garden, but he had a long narrow garden (2x10 ft) that had become a patch of fast growing weeds.

Sam bought the necessary items, plus we used natural substances from the President's land to build a small key hole garden, which did not need the key indention.

 In July we will return a third time to build a second larger key hole garden. The president is planning to have people from the stake and community in attendance to be trained as we plant the second one, in hopes that they will have a desire to do the same. We will need to wait until July, when most of our office duties will have ended.

Here is the picture story of our Key Hole Gardening:
                                                                                                 

2. Coconut husk wall & bark layer.

1. Making a foundation of coral rock.

It only took a couple of hours to assemble.   It will produce enough food every three weeks for six people. 

3.  Wire netting for compost

4.  More brown & green leaves

 

Because the nutrients are so enhanced due to the central compost setting, this will be wonderful way to model an easy process for members and neighbors to build their own small planter.

                        

5.  Chicken Manure & top soil

 In three weeks we will return with seedlings for President Zedekiah's plot.

6.  Actually had a hose and water.  This is rare.

8.  Final product for three weeks.
Hope the dogs, pigs, and chickens stay away.

7.  The working crew.

Mother's Day

Monday:  Two of our outstanding missionaries left Majuro to serve in Ebeye.  Elder Kendrick and Elder Anderson will serve well.

Elder Anderson & Elder Kendrick

A happy Mother's Day to so people in our lives, who have loved, prayed, provided, sacrificed, been a good example, have served us as well as others, and followed the Savior's example.  You have blessed us.  Thank you.

It has been exciting as we have observed our young missionaries wait their turn to call or Skype their mothers and families on this special Mother's Day.  For those who did not have mothers, we are grateful that they had connections with a grandmother or another person, who fits this important role.  As the excitement grew, Sister Shumway, our mission nurse, had provided a bag of homemade cookies for each missionary to help them pass the time.  I asked them sing me a favorite song, for they blend so well, and/or tried to keep them in interesting conversations, since our office is small and quarters are tight. I videoed them singing, but I couldn't post it here.

Over all it all went well.  Our phones were working perfectly the two weeks before Friday.  First time we have been able to call out and others to call in since December.  The internet has been a jewel.  All seemed great.

Then we returned after our outreach on Friday and none of the phones were working.  After Craig made some serious calls and NTA and Majuro Computer Service Techs arrived, they were able to make a connection where ONE phone could be used to call out.  We thought - "we can live with that knowledge."  We only have three missionaries who are planning to call home - That tripled, but we didn't know it at the time.

Saturday, the internet stopped working.  More phone calls from Craig.  They were able to give us some internet service back.

So when Sunday arrived, even though the phone lines had been limited, and the internet was not perfect, we were ready.  It would have been a little nicer, if the AC had worked.  When it is 95 degrees outside, the AC doesn't work, and there are no windows to open to even get a breeze, it can be uncomfortable.  We survived.  We knew we would. There were many smiling faces as individuals exited their assigned areas and a few tears hidden behind sunglasses.

Saturday evening, Elder Doig, Sister Doig, Sister Shumway, and the two of us went to a nice Mother's Day dinner at the Tide Table restaurant at Reimers.  Good conversation, nice service, and better food than some made the time great.  Discovered that they can actually make good onion rings!  Happiness!!!!!

We then attended a convert baptism at the Jenrok Ward, where E/S Doig attends.  What a beautiful young girl entered the waters of baptism.  The talks were meaningful and her sweet Marshallese grandmother beamed.

Sister Paku on the right with our newest member,
Kalani, with her grandmother holding her little
sister and her mom on the far left.

As we serve on our little atoll and learn to love more people every day, we realize how strong we want to be and how much we desire the people we meet to have the goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  How do we accomplish this?  Our desire to live the gospel has to be foremost.  If you can do it so can we. The scriptures are such a great source of strength in keeping our covenants and promises to the Lord.  Here is a favorite example:

In the book of Daniel, we learn of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol.¹⁶ The king warned them that they would be cast into a burning fiery furnace if they didn’t comply. They refused and said:

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. …

“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.”¹⁷

“But if not.” Consider the meaning of these three words and how they relate to keeping covenants. These three young men were not basing their obedience upon being delivered. Even if they were not delivered, they would keep their promise to the Lord because they said they would. Keeping our covenants is always independent of our situation. 

Thank you for keeping us strong and loving us.  We love you always ~~~~~  Elder and Sister Preston