56 Days and going strong

Had a great meeting with Dr. Teresa, President of College of Marshall Islands, on Tuesday.  She is one classy bright woman, who has truly tried to make a difference in the islands. We are excited to do more projects with her. Get ready to learn about water pumps, establishing a library on an outer island, creating a childcare center at the main CMI campus, and the anticipation of the proposed Wotje Center, which we hope provides a computer lab with needed equipment.

Friday we had our follow-up screening at the Laura Salvation Army Church.  Great turn-out by a group of people where many want a healthier lifestyle.  It was a rewarding place to serve.  We are so fortunate.

At the end, they sang us a song and gave our group three big sacks of coconuts.  

Elder Preston and our team listening while the
Captain and his assistant of the Salvation Army
thank us for coming and supporting their desires to
have good health.

Last Sunday evening we attended the New Beginnings for the Delap Young Women.  The girls were so well prepared and their musical numbers were outstanding.  Rubida, the YW President and vice-principal of Marshall Islands High School, is an amazing leader who really tries to lift the bar for the girls 12-18.

Beautiful young women in the Delap Ward.
Leaders at each end on the back row.

For our P-day on Saturday, we had a delightful time.  With five others, we went to the island of Eneko.  Yes, we have been there before, but it is so good to get away and actually be able to snorkel, kayake and just enjoy the day. Good weather, great friends, and a safe boat helped.

Elder Preston took the pictures of our island hop.  He'll share pictures with all of you.

We rushed home to prepare to attend baptisms for two girls in the Delap Ward.  Of course the event started an hour late, because the Bishop had all the young women at his home for an activity and was late in arriving. (Like dad used to say, "We hurry hurry hurry, so we can wait."

 

The Jack Family.  Lillia and Kania
are waiting for their big moment.

Sister Wilson and Sister Mascoe are the missionaries
who had the opportunity to teach the lessons.

We are now added to the picture, too.

When we drove up, we were shocked that the mother of the two young girls is a lady that we have worked with at our CLPs since we arrived.  She is so intelligent, positive, and has an amazing sense of humor that is contagious.  When her daughters announced to their mother and father that they wanted to attend the Mormon church, Lizabeth (mother) asked why.  Lillia, the oldest daughter, said, "We want to study the Bible with the sister missionaries."  Her mom said, "Sure - go ahead."

After receiving all of the missionary lessons and having their questions answered, the 14 year old and the 10 year old really wanted to be baptized, so mom and dad agreed and attended their baptisms.

After the talks were given, the ordinance of baptism took place, and we had all reconvened in the chapel, the two young girls sang the song, I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS, with the sister missionaries who taught them , and last but not least, Lillia and Kania shared their testimonies. The spirit was so strong.  Tears were rolling down the cheeks of their father and many others in the congregation. What a great day!

On Sunday, we sat in the congregation when Lillia and Kania received the Holy Ghost by the Laying on of Hands by one who has priesthood authority.  Once again we were all blessed with a quiet reaffirming blanket of goodness.

We have sincerely been blessed this week by great contacts to produce needed projects, time to play, and time to be spiritually rejuvenated.

We pray that your week has been good.  We all know that Hard is Good! As stated by Elder Ellis, "Hard makes us stronger, humbles us, and gives us a chance to prove ourselves. . . . " During weeks like this, we know that the hard things that we have tried to accomplish reap blessings of all kinds.

We love you and pray every day for your well-being.

Elder & Sister Preston

2018

Tuesday we were two of eleven members from our mission, Ebeye Stake, and our Facilities Team who flew to the outer island of Jaluit with assignments:

Four senior missionaries; 2 APs; Stake President from Ebeye &
two of his leadership; ITT man from Kiribati; & our
FM person.

The plane was supposed to leave at noon, but we left at 1:35P.  Could have been worse - There are two planes that fly Air Marshall.  One is broken down, so we were fortunate that our flight was not canceled.

 

Waiting for the plane.

Elder Preston standing under the AC.

Finally loading the plane.

Hope the plane door holds since it
is sealed with duct tape.

Single seating.

Jaluit Island/Atoll

Note the runway.

Jaluit Airport.

We flew in a small plane that could transport about 17 people then add the pilot and co-pilot.  All the seats are single except for two seats across from the entrance door and three people could sit in the very back.  Craig and I had the double seats. We liked that.

We safely arrived.

We were given the assignment to ask the person in charge at the CMI satellite campus computer lab which is on the high school campus to get permission for our two missionaries to use their internet facilities one hour on Mondays to e-mail their families. 

Yours truly with Computer/Internet director
for CMI satellite campus.

High School students who
live in dorms standing in front of
college sign.

We had a great but short visit and we were given permission.  The young man, Gannet, who was in charge is from Sirlanka, India, and we were impressed with his abilities. He has worked at this small satellite campus for seven years.  Wow!  The whole population is 1100 people including the high school students, who live on the campus during the school year, because they are from smaller islands where there are no high schools. We are also hoping to do other projects with the people on that island.

A note to remember:  When traveling to an outer island in the Marshall Islands, there are: no restrooms on the plane; most places have no restrooms on their island for public use; no food to buy; and no place to stay if the plane is unable to return to Majuro.  We were fortunate for Elder Seager made a deal with the pilot, who is LDS that he would stay on the ground for two hours, so we could all get our assignments completed.  Elder Seager and the Stake President from Ebeye and others have traveled to five different islands in four days.  Quite an endeavor!

I had the opportunity to meet a lovely woman, Vonnie, who has lived on the island for two years with her husband, who teaches at the high school and their young son and daughter.

Vonnie and I.  

During our visit, Elder and Sister Seager presented the same training/instruction that the missionaries on the main island had received the previous week with the support of the APs.

The Seagers, me and the two APs and on the
far left the two missionaries serving in Jaluit.

Four of the finest!

We ended our two hour stay with the Stake President from Ebeye speaking to the members in the small chapel.  

Stake President speaking to members in the little chapel.
Note the door to his right is where the missionaries live
in a small room.

Vases to decorate the chapel.

Green building is the one bathroom.  The table next to
the bathroom is the missionaries' entire kitchen. They
eat freshly caught fish every day for one meals with rice.
Other are - what they can get!

The missionaries live in the connected bedroom; use the outside bathroom facilities; and their kitchen is outdoors.

Please remember when life seems rough and we don't have all the conveniences that we desire that there are millions of people in the world, who have much less.

We love and miss you always,

Elder & Sister Preston

Time is flying

The delights of a CLP follow-up health screening are shown in these pictures:

Getting ready to try on her new walking shoes, earned
because she had continually walked for over 30 days.

This recepient received a Bluetooth
speaker from the raffle drawing.

The lady in red received some incredible headphones from
the raffle drawing, so her neighbor is laughingly choking
her in playful envy.

The day that we had the APs to our apartment for a meeting coupled with lunch (peanut butter sandwiches, & chips),  Elder Preston was not feeling the best.  We had taken Tanner, Head of Canvasback Wellness Center) to a buffet at MIR on Wednesday.  I don't know if that had any impact, but he "thinks" it might have. Either way, it is challenging to not be feeling well in a country that has very limited health care.

Our outer island P-day trip was cancelled due to one of our senior missionaries not feeling well, so it was a tender mercy for us, too.  Craig would not have to miss the trip or worse he would have gone and not really enjoyed it, but we will go in two weeks.

 

Anyone for peanut butter cookies?
I know that my dad would be ready.

Due to the fact that Craig does not know how to relax, we now have treats for the week.  Life is good!

Even though we have watched all the conference talks more than once, I'm reading the talks with my eye on WHAT I NEED TO CHANGE.  My list continues to grow, but the following is sound and gives hope and value to me.

Sister Joy D. Jones stated:

Let me point out the need to differentiate between two critical words: worth and worthiness. They are not the same. Spiritual worth means to value ourselves the way Heavenly Father values us, not as the world values us. Our worth was determined before we ever came to this earth. “God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever.”

On the other hand, worthiness is achieved through obedience. If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less! We continue to repent and strive to be like Jesus with our worth intact. As President Brigham Young taught: “The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth … is worth worlds.” No matter what, we always have worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

This brightens our day and we hope that it will brighten yours.

We love you,

Elder & Sister Preston

Plan for the good!

Yes, a new year has arrived, and we have the ability to be rejuvenated.  For many weeks, I have constantly realized my many weaknesses and how I need to really look at them head-on and change or I will not have the gift of the atonement in my life. Elder Preston and I don't want to be without the many blessings that are promised by being obedient to the eternal guidelines that we are taught when we listen to our prophets and read the scriptures.

As we continue to follow the reports of the death of our beloved prophet and once again review the incredible example that he was to all of us, why would we want anything else?

This new desire has come at a perfect time, because challenges are ongoing, so we always need to be prepared. 

On a lighter note: The gym equipment that was purchased through LDS Charities, one of our projects, has arrived and we were able to see Tanner and a few of his employees doing the assembling.  We will have an official celebration after it has all been installed next week.

Tanner deciding what to do next.

Employee showing how the new weights work.

Lots to assemble.

Tanner is having fun, too.

On P-day, while Elder Preston was serving his famous NZ spinach/onion omelet samples for the first Farmer's Market of the new year, I had the opportunity to be with Sister Larkin as she led a discussion about White book guidelines to remind the young sister missionaries how important it is to live within good healthy boundaries and the great progress and incredible blessings that will be theirs. We had a great time as we taught, gave examples, laughed, and shared inspired thoughts.

My favorite part of the event was the scripture: Ephesians 4:29  "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers"  (I guess that the reason that I appreciated this so much is that I need it more than anyone.)

One of our missionaries "Returned with Honor" this week, and we were able to help her pack and see her off at the airport.  

Returning home with a big
smile surrounded by
our STL's.

Sister Seager, one of our remarkable senior missionaries, was her companion as she traveled to her home country, Samoa. 

When Sister Key arrived at the airport in Samoa, there was a big WELCOME HOME sign and she was immediately surrounded by family and friends. We are grateful for her safe return. 

We wish that all our missionaries had family/friends to greet them when they arrived after serving the Lord or after other times where they have been away from loved ones.  Sometimes we take our families for granted.  We just assume that everyone has a support system.  This is not always the case.

Let's remember to honor, love, and cherish those around us.  

We are so very grateful for our ongoing support system.  We are blessed to have each other and that we truly love serving together. Then we are doubly blessed to have family and friends, whom so readily inspire and support us.

We love you,
Elder & Sister Preston