Jabot

As we enter into the last week of September, projects are progressing and time is flying.

Actually yummy cucumbers from President Zedikiah's keyhole garden that we planted in June.

President brought the cucumbers
to us.  He was delighted.  They
were very good.

Our support given to Assumption High School teacher, Jonathon, is showing great results.

Assumption HS garden.  Success is
happening.

Our week has been filled with collecting data at 1/2 of the public elementary school in Majuro.  We have statistics on 1000 children grades K-6 for this week.  Now through the middle of October, three teams representing, (us)LDS Charities, Wellness Center, MoH, and Taiwan Health Center are working to gather data from every public and private elementary school on Majuro. The data consists of weight, height, and Screening for Acute Malnutrition using a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Tape. All of the data is being gathering using UNICEF equipment that is statistically accepted throughout the world.

 

Kindergarteners ready, but afraid.

Children lining up to be measured.

Height measurment.

Weight is important, too.

All K's had to answer a survey.  Those
who didn't want to talk, just showed
numbers with their fingers.

Elder Preston making sure the height was exact.

Some children were afraid of this MUAC measurement.
Thought they were getting a shot.

Glitter makes life fun.

Tanner shared that over 30% of children in this country have stunted growth, mostly due to the fact that they are underfed or fed a poor diet during their first two years of life.

This Sabbath Day has been rewarding.  Delap Ward is my favorite.  I shouldn't have favorites, but it is.  They are reverent during Sacrament Meeting.  It is easier to feel the Spirit as I reflect on the true meaning of the Sacramental Prayers and renew the covenants that I made when I was baptized.

As we were standing outside of the chapel talking to the members of the Uliga Ward, since their meetings were over for the day and greeting those arriving for the Delap Ward (where we attended today), we met a gentleman from Utah who works for the American Embassy.  His assignment is in Bangkok, China, but his wife and five children were sent back to the states, because of a Zika outbreak.  His wife is pregnant with their sixth child and the US Embassy will take no risks.  She and the children will stay in the states for the rest of the school year.  Since they are gone, he is traveling to parts of the Pacific where extra man power is needed. Majuro only has four American at the Embassy, and one left for a month's vacation.  So, he is filling the gap.

He shared that Zika causes permanent damage to the growth of a baby's head/brain and nervous system and may cause blindness. The baby usually dies young and never has a normal life.  He had some rather scary facts about adults that have Zika, too.  It was rather concerning since my grandson was contaminated with it in Mexico.

Today, I was asked to speak at the Delap Ward RS Devotional.  Now, I really thought that it would be RS members in attendance.  Not here. It means that the RS presents the program, but everyone is invited.  So part of my visual aid to make reinforce the theme of my talk involved chocolate. I brought enough for the RS sisters and the YW, but not the extra young men, adult men, and children.  I was sad that this happened.

Except for my miscalculation of treats, it was a wonderful evening.  My goal was to help all of us feel the way that we did when we were baptized.  To quote Elder Quentin L. Cook "Can Ye Feel So Now?" was the basis of my talk.  Rubida, the Marshall High School Principal and  the ward YW President, translated for me.  She did an outstanding job.

Saturday, Elder Preston and I in-serviced the RS sisters on planting seeds in egg cartons, so they would have seedlings to plant in grow boxes in 4-5 weeks.  We were encouraged by the number of ladies who attended.  It was held at the RS president's home.  Her husband, the Bishop, provided an incredible barbeque for all of us.  He added his special sauce to chicken, pork, beef, and hot dogs.  Of course, there were mounds of white rice and cold bottles of water.

Bishop getting food ready with the
help of some ward boys.

Big yard with toys for their
children and all the children
around them.

Beautiful ocean backdrop.

Some of the boys from the ward, playing
and helping.

Wonderful RS sisters ready to produce seedlings.

Instructions from Elder Preston

Elder Preston instructing and
RS President translating.

Food was very good!!!!

They have a beautiful modern home, which is not the norm for Majuro and the view from their backyard was amazing.  We had a great time.  

Here's hoping that their seeds grow.

. . . Much like medicine, prayer works only when we use it as directed. . . .

Remember that we love you and you are in our prayers every day.
Love, Elder & Sister Preston