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