Happenings

A week packed with many good-byes and a very rich Mission Tour Conference led by Elder and Sister Ardern of the 70's.  He is our newest counselor in our area presidency.  This incredible day reminded me of the zone conferences held by Presidents Rowe and Grant each month in the ANM.  We were consistently rejuvenated and ready to serve more thoroughly with the knowledge that it was possible.

 

Great group of missionaries having lunch
prepared by the senior missionaries.

Sister Ardern shared a true story about her interactions with a nine year old girl when she and Elder Ardern were the Mission Presidents serving in Fiji eight years ago.  They befriended this young girl, who was the only active member of her family.  Twelve years later as the Arderns were driving to the temple in Fiji and passed the area where this young girl had lived, Sister Ardern wondered what happened her.  Upon entering the temple, a temple worker met them and asked them if she knew the little girl standing with a woman in a picture that she showed her.  Sister Ardern recognized her little friend standing with herself and said yes as she stated the girl's name.  The lady hurried outside to retrieve the now 20 year old girl in the picture.  They hugged.  For 12 years that picture hung on the wall of her very humble one room home in Fiji.  The young girl's mother was the one working in the temple and became reactivated after many years.

We loved her statement:  "Ordinary people can do extraordinary things."

E/S Preston and President & Sister Ardern

For FHE, we went to the airport to say good-bye to two of our missionaries.  Sister Paku, from New Zealand, was an absolute jewel.  She stayed true to her mission no matter what happened.  She is will be very missed.

Elder Polson is on his way home to Oregon.  He has served during the hard times has survived it all with a smile on his face.  He worked very hard as one of our APs.

Elder Polson is in the suit and Sister Paku
is second from the right. Her companion
is next to her and the other two are the APs.

We learned that our dear friend, Allison Hsu, is being transferred to Thailand after only one year.  She is the first woman to be the administrator over Taiwan Technical Farms.  Her work ethic, honesty, abilities to get the most difficult projects productive, and over all goodness to everyone has been such an enormous support for so many of our projects as well as the schools, local government, and the Wellness Center.  She was hoping to be here for the normal 3 years and then retire.  This transition was a unexpected.  (A lot of this - lately.)

She is being replaced her with a "nice" man who has been working in Central American.   Hopefully he will be as proactive as Allison, who has obtained 94% of her projected goals in her first year.

Sister Preston, Allison Hsu, Elder Preston

We had the last office meeting led by Elder Coombs.  I had the spiritual thought and had worked very hard to keep it in check because my heart is so sad to see Elder and Sister Coombs leave  for Tonga for the last year of their mission

.

Sister Seager said the opening prayer and when she stated her humble words about the Coombs, she could hardly be heard through her tears.

At that moment, my tears and emotions were difficult to contain. 

I shared the following:

D&C 49:27 Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded.

Isaiah 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

I related that with faith we are able to move forward and that the Coombs would be blessed by in their new area/country/mission.

Wednesday evening we said good-bye to our dear friends, Elder & Sister Coombs.  They served six months in our mission as the very important and outstanding office couple.  She was also our mission nurse.  We were in good hands.  They have received a transfer to Tonga, where they will serve in the dental office.  Elder Coombs is an oral surgeon.  We will miss them so much.

Back row:  Elder Seager, Pres. & Sis. Larkin,
Elders Coombs and Preston.
Seated:  Sisters Seager, Coombs, and Preston

MI flag standing tall as the Coombs leave.

 It is unusual to do an Outreach Clinic on Thursday, but we did so.  President's Day was on Friday so all schools, national businesses, etc were be closed.  - Holiday Time.

Exercise education
for Outreach Clinc.

Many came to be screened
and to learn.

Exercise can be fun even it is 93 degrees.

Children who don't go to school enjoy copying funny
adults as they exercise.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 was World Diabetes Day.  It is nice that they had it on the same day as Elder Preston's birthday.  Yes, it is the big one.

We had a wind rain storm that swept through the tents.  Everyone grabbed a pole to keep the 20x20 foot tents from flying away.  Then sunshine and heat returned.

Two of our Japanese friends

Another tent raising.

Jon Overy, member of our Uliga Ward,
and his band relaxing  before they perform.
(Assumption Catholic HS students)

The first icon on the bottom of the CLP banner
is LDS Charities.

Band in action.

Rain storm hit - hang on to the tent.

People trying to avoid the rain & taking pictures.

Dancing in the rain.

Saturday, we attended and help with WORLD FOOD DAY!  Yes another celebration.  

When we arrived at the World Food Day, I had no assignment.  Craig did blood pressure and my job was taken over by the nurses, which was great.  They speak the language.  I talked to Allison and a few other people and took a lot of pictures.

Tried to buy some cherry tomatoes from the market set up by Taiwan Farms, but I was too far back in the line.  Maybe another time.  I miss tomatoes.  They are a favorite.

They had cars decorated; Assumption High School Band; local walking clubs who walked to the event and then danced for us (this was delightful); many fruit and vegetable plants were given away; many booths; cooking by CLP and Taiwan Farms; vegetables, fruit, items, and fish for sale.

There was good participation. 

#5

#1

#2

#3

#4

True - the pictures are not in order. 

Surprise.

 To do something positive for Craig, on our return trip from Laura when we gave Allison her gift and said, "Good-bye," Craig found 3 more mile markers.  One was lying across the roots of a tree and he had to lift over 200 pounds to get it standing, so that I could take pictures.  It was concerning for a few minutes.  I knew that if it slipped onto him, I would not be able to lift it to free him.  His determination paid off. 

When we finished the picture taking and Craig laid the cement monument down again, the on looking children clapped.  It was cute to see their celebrating smiles.

Found another mile marker.

This one was harder to find.  When Elder Preston spotted it,
a young man was using it for a bench.

Lifing over 200 hundred pounds of concrete.

Age is no barrier.

Success again.

Half buried - 3rd marker.

We are so grateful to all of you.
This has been a challenging week on the
home front.  We appreciate the support
to those whom we love.
Love, E/S Preston

Dig it out with a tire wrench.
Use what is available!