Change is good!

We celebrated Elder Coombs 81st birthday.  We had a party at their apartment with pizza, salad, and homemade lemon cheesecake.  We played games that I have never played, but they reminded me of games from my youth, where money was absent and friendships were strong.

We played one particular game, where we were each given a piece of blank computer paper and a pencil.  We were given assignments, to draw a picture that starts with a chosen letter.  How do we know the letter?  One participant drew a number from a basket.  The number tells us the letter - number 8 would be H.  You get the drill.

The number 14 was drawn, which of course would be the letter "N." Each participant had to draw a small picture that started with the letter "N."  (Some pictures you had to draw with your non-dominate hand or with your eyes closed, etc.) If any other person drew the same picture as another participant, those pictures were disqualified.  You only received a point, if you were the only one who drew the picture and it started with the correct letter.

One by one, people said what they drew for the letter "n":  nut, nail, necklace, etc.  When it was Sister Doig's turn she said, "I drew "knickers."  Laughter was produced as another person said, "Knickers starts with a "K."  Sister Doig had a puzzled look on her face, and said "K-nickers."  Then it was Elder Doig's turn.  He announced, " first I drew a picture of a knot in a piece of wood, but then I thought that it might start with a "K.," so I changed my picture to a "knot" in a rope.  We all laughed again as he was told that that "knot" started with a "k," too.  Laughter just kept going.  I know that you had to be there to get the real humor.

Then Sister Doig said, "I bet it kind of scares you that we are teaching English to the Marshallese."  Another round of laughter rippled through the room.

It was a delightful evening.  

Elder & Sister Coombs
Two of our favorite people.

Elder Coombs with the support of Sister Coombs & Colin,
blowing out candles on two lemon cheesecakes.

Previous to this event, we went to take some pictures of Tanner's staff who were having a celebration party for Brianna Peterson, who has been working as an intern for him for two months.  She served her mission among the Marshallese people in Seattle Washington and has a great love for the Marshallese people.

Brianna's going away party!

Brianna with all her going-away crowns
and Elder Preston

The next day, we went to the airport to say good-bye to Brianna Peterson.  Now, she has just been accepted into the nursing program at the "U" and says that she wants to return after she becomes a RN.  We'll see.  She loved being here, made many friends, and was an outstanding example of being a good person.  

We had an enjoyable FHE at the Winchester home on Monday.  

The lesson was good and the conversation was enjoyable.  Plus, we got to start our celebration for Elder Coombs 81st birthday.  Why did I enjoy the lesson?  The theme was integrity - A topic that never ages and is so valuable, particularly in a world where it is not popular.  I remember learning about John Francis Bacon years ago in a history class.  I can't say that I relished everything about his life, but I still recognize the good.

His quotes remain a part of the good!

“It is not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.” ―Francis Bacon

Wednesday, July 26th, in between meetings, we took Elder McFall to the Airport, to send him to Ebeye.  After we checked him in, we took him to the airport cafe for a last Majuro meal for awhile.  I told him to pick anything on the menu.  They have breakfast, hamburgers, sandwiches, meals -- all the normal foods.  What did he pick?  Sushi and a bottle of water!  I thought that he picked it, because it cost less.  No - it was the same or a little more for two sushi packages.  What kind of fish you ask?  A rectangular block of rice topped with spam.  That was his choice.  He enjoyed it and life is good.

Elder Preston & Elder McFall

HURRAY!

We were finally able to finish planting the last of the seedlings in President Zedikiah's keyhole garden.  It is evident that the timeline of growth is not what we have been told.  Hopefully the vegetables will produce, so that we can return to build a second garden surrounded by community members in hopes that they will desire to do the same.

x

Sis vegetable plants ready for success

 On our P-day, we walked out and around/through six islands during low tide.  Since there were just the two of us, we had more opportunity to talk to people during our travels.  We did meet some interesting people, who were all so generous.

 

Beautiful pictures captured by Elder Preston as
we walked.

Typical outer island home.

As we were rounding the last island and were walking along the shoreline, we noticed a young boy paddling a long wooden surfboard with a young girl perched on the back end.  Craig took some pictures.  Since the water sparkled in hues of dark blue, light blue and different colors of turquoise and the sun was bright and beautiful, the children looked picturesque.  

Cement locks across the ocean.

Cement with children on surfboard.

Darling children

Then we heard, "Hello" from the shore.  There was a lady calling to us, so we replied and then a man appeared by her side.  We asked questions about the large containers out in the ocean and asked if they were the fish farms.  They explained that the fish were started in Laura and then transferred to this area when they were bigger.  The next thing we knew is that we were invited to their deck to have fresh coconut milk from coconuts picked after we arrived by a local boy.

One of the Fish Farms

We sat with them on their deck that had a spectacular view of the ocean and other islands. Her name was Mio and her father owns most of the island where she lives.  He owns the DAR store, apartment buildings, and many other businesses in Majuro.  Mio and her husband/companion are leaving to go to Ebeye for two years to oversee construction for her father, who owns a lot there, too.  Mio's oldest sister is in charge of United Airlines in Majuro and her middle sister manages the DAR store, restaurant, and the apartments. They also treated us to pandanas, which we found out the real way to get the fruit.  As Mio's husband watched us struggle with the fruit, he kindly said this is the way you eat it.  So much easier.  He probably thought that we were a little short on brain cells.

Friend, Mio, Sister Preston
View from their deck.

Leaving with my coconut milk.

Elder Preston with coconut and please note the hat.

 As we left they gave us two more coconuts and showed us the easiest way to exit the island to head back to our destination. I feel as though we have two more good friends.

Two of our young missionaries live in one of the DAR apartments.  Craig mentioned some needs for it, and Mio immediately told us to talk to her sister, Marian, for she would get things done.

We are grateful for good people who continue to bless our lives.  Tanner and Kristen, owners of the Wellness Center and leaders of the CLP, share their three beautiful children with us, since we are so far away from our own dear grandchildren.

Most of all we are grateful for you.  Thank you for making our lives so good through your support, prayers and love.

Forever we love you,

E/S Preston