February 14th - feel our love.

We are grateful for the people with whom we work at the Wellness Center and CLP. Elder Preston helped Tanner from the Wellness Center place new billboards about being healthy to be seen by people coming and going in Majuro. 

Building the frame.

Will it fit?

Can you see the LDS Charities Logo?
Third from right.

We were able to purchase a pump to send to the Atoll of Jaluit, so the satellite campus will have fresh running water in the bathroom.  We have been working with a young technology man from the island and the President of CMI. 

The wooden map is called a Stick Chart.

We passed it off to Stevenson and Ruthy this week.  Note that Elder Preston is pointing at Jaluit on the map behind us.

Elder Preston walks over 3 miles every day on the one main highway always facing the man-eating dogs, gas fumed cars, and areas that are often hard to trek because of the amount of water that pours from the skies often every day.  I, on the other hand, walk around our apartment complex to get my miles of walking.  This week I rode bikes with Sisters Seager and Doig as since Elder Doig needed to deliver three bikes to the Sister Trainer Leaders' house.  Off we went and then we walked back to our apartments.  I'm glad that it was just after 6:00AM so there were not too many cars on the road and it had not rained the night before. 

Sister Seager

Sister Doig

Sister Preston

We have a young woman living on Majuro who was called to New Zealand to serve as a missionary for 18 months.  Her visa has still not arrived, so she has been serving in her home country since November 2017. 

Youngest daughter, Creative mom, Sister Preston.

We have had the opportunity to meet her mother through Sister Doig. Sister Doig has been researching for 16 months to find someone who would make her a nativity scene.  So she asked Sister Jeremiah's mother if she would be willing to try to make one, if she provided the patterns  She was willing to try.  We are benefiting from this, too. 

It is a joy to pay this humble woman to make these crafts.  She lives in a very humble home.  We never get out of the car until she comes out of her home because we respect her privacy and don't want her dogs to have us for lunch.  We talk to her outside of her home; show her our desires; pick up our items; often speak through this daughter who translates; and/or pay for our purchases.  We know that she needs to the money.  We all benefit.

For our P-day, we walked on the lagoon side of the island, because Elder Preston was told that there was some great vistas of living coral.  Elder Preston put on his snorkling gear and made an attempt to see it.  He did some interesting living coral in many sizes and shapes. The tide was very low and he had a challenging time getting past all the long stringy green growth.  The view was nice for me, though.

Can't see Elder Preston, but one can see the other atolls
in the far distance.

We were on an errand and Elder Preston spotted a ship by Reimer's Dock.  It added another joy to his P-Day.  Upon investigation we found out that it was Google.com cruise ship that travels all over the world.  It will be docked on this little atoll for three day. 

Three young woman are cleaning the exterior. Two
are from South Africa and one is from NZ.
They are on the job for five months each tour.
Note the helicopter on top!

Google Ship

Elder Preston wishing.

Reality - maybe!  Laura local boat.

We were able to trade our missionary badges for visitors' badges, so we could walk around the dock and take pictures. Note the difference between local boat and Google ship.

We visited the Mum's preschool that was started by Rebecca Winchester, who now is a service missionary and is serving in our mission office, and Elder and Sister Doig who are serving as Self-reliant education missionaries.  The children were just finishing their butterflies.  Rebecca (Becca) and now Sister Winchester is so creative. 

Children love to have their pictures taken.

Becca loves teaching.  She has found
 her calling while her husband
serves as a high court judge in the islands.

Becca and part of her amazing class.

It is so great to see these sweet pre-schoolers having an opportunity to hold scissors, crayons, and/or pencils for the first time and then learn English words and/or sentences.  Their parents are learning, too.  

Some of the parents cannot read.  Great opportunity for the children and a lot of dedicated work from Becca and the Doigs.

Lojkar, my friendly pig.
He doesn't bite, eat garbage or leave a mess.

Every person if honest needs a release button to survive the days, when stress or circumstances might be gathering.  I was sent this for Christmas and it gives me comic relief and at times startles Elder Preston.  (Of course, I don't do it on purpose! hahahaha)

Driving to church this morning, Elder Preston spotted a mama pig and her little piglets.  Unfortunately when I scurried from the car to get some pictures, the shutting of my car door startled them. 

They were crowded together
until I shut the car door.

Mom is moving, too.

Notice that she is looking at the camera.  Likes to pose - Yes?
Or cause damage to my person if I got too close?

Yes this week many are celebrating the theme of "love."
Just so you never forget.  We love you every day, week, and month, which includes Valentine's Day. 
Elder and Sister Preston