News from Tarawa, Kiribati

We were given the opportunity to fly to Tarawa, Kiribati, another country in our mission, to offer support to the senior couples who are serving in a new mission office by President Larkin.  We have been so fortunate to serve with such incredible senior missionaries in Majuro, so we are hoping to share the planning and unity that keeps us working toward the same goal - supporting the Mission President and the young missionaries, so that they can be successful as possible.

After we landed in Tarawa, Kiribati on Sunday around 11:00AM.  Checked in our hotel, dropped our luggage in our ****Star Hotel and went to ward/church on Moroni High School campus with President Larkin.  Who came to say "hello" when we sat down? Our own Elder Peterson from Majuro.  He and five other young elders were transferred here from Majuro, MI in April.  He is the most exceptional missionary that I have met anywhere in our mission.  He translated for us in Kiribati, even though the first year of his mission was spent speaking Marshallese. He also translated for President Larkin as he was the final of three speakers during Sacrament Meeting.  What an amazing young man! The counselors in the Bishopric spoke first, and the depth of their talks was a couple of steps more involved than I have heard in awhile.

We are living this week in a motel that is actually a few buildings behind the mission office. Not quite as elaborate as a Motel 6 built in the 1950's, but we have a bed and a shower that works.  When we wash our hands in the bathroom sink, our feet also get showered by the leaking pipe.  Very efficient.

Modern bathroom
in our hotel.

Our double bed is our desk and chair.

Hotel is built on a swamp.
Fish swimming.

Back of our hotel next
to restaurant.

We are in #12.

Our place for five nights.

President Larkin took the time to take us for a tour of the island, took us to a local store to buy a few groceries, and then took us to a very good small Chinese restaurant for dinner.  We saw some beautiful sites.

Can you see the pigs?

Lots of green!

This island actually has water inland.

This is a very nice home.

We have thoroughly enjoyed being able to walk along the one main road, which has real sidewalks and few dogs.  The views are new and enjoyable to see.  There seems to be much less trash all around; people are very friendly; the economy is humble and basic.  People bath in the ocean where they fish and use it as a latrine.  Many people are walking away from the sea wrapped in towels from having their morning bath. 

There is more soil; so there are wells, which are contaminated - but regularly used; many people plant gardens and use the food; a large percentage of the homes are made of pieces of metal, coconut tree products, and maybe some cloth or towels.  Some of these little shanties have one source of electricity so there is one light bulb working. Few have any type of plumbing facilities. 

Many of the churches and/or community centers are called maneabas. This an imposing structure, with slabs of coral supporting a huge roof formed from coconut wood, held together with coconut string and thatched with pandanus leaves. The whole community is involved in its construction, and every aspect of the maneaba has a symbolic as well as a practical function. Some of the LDS chapels are built in this style.  When a large group of members arrive from the outer islands for a conference, the community maneaba is rented.  All the members sleep, eat, etc there. 

The chapel - maneba style -has a regular roof -
not made of coconut trees.

We were fortunate to be able to have dinner with all the senior couples serving in Tarawa and President Larkin before we left for Majuro.  Good People!

Good people. Last meal in Tarawa, Kiribati.

We were ready to leave for the airport at 5:20AM for our 7:14 flight.  After arrival, the flight was delayed for 3 hours. We waited on cement benches without anyway to contact either office in Kiribati or Majuro.  Our cell phones do not work in another country and the one pay phone had the receiver ripped off.

So happy that the plane really did show.

Waiting at the Bonriki International Airport in Tarawa, Kiribati.

Comfy cement benches.

Elder Preston - not really sleeping.
Just resting his eyes!!!!

Life before Tarawa:

We had a busy week doing humanitarian projects:  It is great being back into this area:

It is worth our time here just by observing that the grow boxes are being used; people are attending the cooking demonstrations in the neighborhoods where the grow boxes have been delivered; the new tent/canopy (20x20) that we were able to purchase is being put to good use (even though it takes a village to set it up); new people are attending our outreach clinics ( unfortunately 37% of this week's group are diabetic (hopefully they will be able to follow through with the great information that is being presented); we were finally able to cook and share a local food soup, created by our dietitian from Japan during our bimonthly Farmers' Market - , who is an RN working here for two years - the people loved it (breadfruit fish soup with vegetables).

Cooking demo - using grow box vegetables.

LDS Charities' donated grow box.

Drying clothes on the ground.

Trying to put the Outreach canopy/tent for Friday Outreach Clinc.

Still going!

Health Screening in action.

Summer is here.  Children have nothing to do.
So our Health Clinic is their entertainment.

I do weight, height, and record keeping.

People just keep coming.

Life after Tarawa:

We jumped back into our Humanitarian Roll and are busy closing projects, working through the process of others, and hopefully arranging new ones.

We had a delightful P-day going on a second trip to Eneko Island.  A day spent with other senior couples, enjoying the water, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and meeting new people is always an enticing adventure. Watching Craig enjoy the day is part of my greatest pleasure.  He loves water and being in it. Unfortunately, he didn't get captured in any of the pictures.  He was our photographer.

Waiting for the boat.

Still waiting with Sisters Seager & Shumway, Elder Coombs.

Boat ride to island.

Water fun.

I love to Kayak.

Senior missionaries are allowed to do things that our young missionaries are not allowed.  So this a plea to all senior couples!  Mission fields all around the world need you.

Love, Elder & Sister Preston