Happiness is ~~~~~

We are sure that each person has moments that just bring happiness.  We rapidly recognize these moments by manuvering through times that are hard. This week has been very busy, but laced with some very happy events.

We were given the assignment to take pictures of both of the RS's in the Delap and Uliga Wards.  One of the pictures makes the Uliga Ward group look quite large for this area, because the YW joined us during opening exercises. Two beautiful pictures of good women were captured. 

Uliga Relief Society & Young Women

Delap Ward Relief Society

After our fourth outreach at Salvation Army Church in Rita, part of our CLP group decided to have a treat.  Little did we know all this time of living here that there was a store that had Hagen Daz ice cream bars found by someone who has only been here since the beginning of January.  Life is good!

 

Great CLP group having Hagen Daz Ice Cream Bars

We had an exciting event planned with our CLP group to do health education and exercise/games with the public school students (K-12) on the Rongrong Atoll/Island.  Elder Preston was so excited that it reminded me of children getting ready for a trip to Disneyland.  An hour before departure it started to rain.  A while later there were torrential rains.  The trip was cancelled.  To say that Elder Preston was disappointed is a crystal-clear understatement.

It was decided that we would meet with our group for a picnic at the Wellness Center, since we had all prepared food and could not go to RongRong island/atoll.  We found out that our "picnic" would be at 6:00PM.  Of course that is one hour before our Delap Ward going away party for us and Sister Greenburg, who is leaving on Monday, was taking place.  So we needed to get ready for two big meals.

Our time spent in our Friday evening going away celebration by our Delap Ward was wonderful.  So many good people appeared with food:  rice, potato salad, hot dogs (never buns) beef ribs, pork, and chicken, and of course red cool-aid to drink. 

When food is displayed and ready to be served, people are asked to fan to the food to keep the flies away.  Elder Preston and friend had the job for awhile.

Elder Preston and Ward Missionary
leader swatting flies.

 

A great group of hungry elders.

During the entire evening, music was played on an electric piano by our RS president's husband.  Singing was done by the two of them, the Bishop, and Sister Marie from Fiji. 

 

RS President, her husband playing the electic piano, and
2nd counselor in the ward.

Sister Greenburg is leaving on Monday, but not without
fun from our ward missionary leader.

Marshallese tradition is to walk/dance in a line
while singing a special song before gifts are given to
those departing.
We were very blessed recipients.

After dinner, the members walked and/or danced around the room singing and many bearing going away gifts for the three of us.  Such sweet memorable people!  To end the evening, a talk was given by our High Councilor and then by the 3 of us.  It was challenging for Elder Preston and I as we looked out at people, whom we have loved  and served and to be able to say a meaningful good-bye without tears.  We have been so blessed.

The night before we found out that our trip to Sister Ned's island with the Delap Ward had been cancelled because the boat needed repairs.  Good news followed:

Saturday arrived and the Bishop called and asked if we could meet at the boat dock behind MIR at 3:00 to go on the sailing canoes. We were so excited.  We planned to not dressed like missionaries.  It was P-day and we were going to get drenched while riding in a Marshallese canoe. 

When we arrived we saw airplane balloons and blue and white balloons hanging from canopies.  There many people whom we knew from the Delap Ward and a few from Uliga.  We had no idea what was happening.  After we were seated, we finally realized that we had crashed a 2nd birthday celebration for Hirobo and Linda's grandson.  We were recognized, honored, and asked to go to the food line first.  We were rather embarrassed.  We certainly were not dressed for a celebration.  Then we were presented with a huge fish just for us at our table.  Our plates were full.  We ate some of the fish and shared it, which we probably should have taken it home, because it was given showing respect to us.

Hirobo appeared and invited us to go on his boat to see the women's paddle boat races and the canoe races.  We had a spectacular time.  

Hirobo on the far left, with crew and us.

The women were incredible.  The two women who took the championship for the last few years came in second.  It was exciting to see the under-dogs win. The strength, skill, and balance needed to maneuver these small canoes while paddling at solid speed is mighty fine.

Great race by the women.  The previous
 championswere defeated
by two who had never won before.

The canoe are in full swing.

We were supposed to go on one of the canoes after the race with Bishop Ned, but time ran out because the three of us were supposed to be at a baptism at 6:00PM.  We left the boat dock at 6:55.  We rush home, spottily did a ten minute clean up and dressed in church clothes to rush to the baptism.  We were still not late according to Marshallese time.

We were able to observe and soak in the goodness of the evening as we documented the baptism of the third of the Jack girls, Kania, new into the Delap Ward and Natalie, who is in her 20's, as they entered the waters to become members of the true church of Jesus Christ.

  

Pearlina, mother Elizabeth, Lillia, Kania, S Preston.
Great evening for a baptism.

The Jack girls' father is Seventh Day Adventist.  When the third daughter said that she wanted to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her father asked her mother, if that meant that they were all to become members of that church.  Elizabeth, the mother, said to me, I told him that he could go back to his SDA church, but I was following my daughters.  They are an amazing group and would be blessed by all being members of the same religion as well as being great contributers and examples to many.

A Marshall Islands/Kiribati Mission picture of us taken by one of our elders in front of the Delap/Uliga Ward.

Yokwe

Please remember how much we love you and know that you always remain in our thoughts and prayers.

Love, Elder & Sister Preston