Navy Ships

This week is one to remember and has reenforced the fact that we can move faster than we thought we could.  Monday our first commitment started at 9:00 with a CLP meeting that was productive and good planning took place to plan for the rest of the month.  We asked the group if we could have our last CLP meeting on March 28th, so we could invite Elder & Sister Skibbe and introduce them to so many important partners as they serve in the Marshall Islands.  

We have had many rain storms this week.  Not unusual to have at least one a day.  Elder Preston thought his early morning walk would be sunny.  Not quite.

Drenched! Please note his rod for escaping
the dogs.

Tuesday we spent the morning doing apartments checks.  We did six apartments and talked to 15 missionaries and of course shared some homemade muffins and cookies.  It was a good day.  Five of the apartments were really good and one was good.  No complaints about their good work, but we have a lot of supplies to take them and need to talk to four landlords, who need to kick it up a notch.

Zone Leaders

Delap Elders

Delap Sisters

Jenrok Elders
Two Rita Elders are teaching an
investigator

Long Island Elders

Uliga Sisters

Tuesday evening Louisa, one of my friends who work at the Taiwanese Embassy took Sisters Seager and Doig and me to dinner at Eastern Restaurant.  We have driven past it many times, but never stopped.  Louisa ordered some incredible food and even got both of the sisters to try the tofu.  Actually it was a very good dish, but the two of them are very picky eaters. Had to take a picture of Sister Seager eating tofu, so she had proof for her son, who has served a mission Taiwan and her husband.  We had a nice evening. 

Sisters Doig & Preston, Louisa, & Sister Seager

Louisa wrote our order

Our selections

Sister Seager actually eating Tofu.
She was being very brave for her.

Louisa is a very bright woman who has worked here for five years.  It looks as though she will return home next year.  She and her husband have a son who teaches elementary school and a daughter who is an attorney.  I wish that we did not have the language barrier, because I'm sure that our conversations could be so much deeper. 

How did we meet?  On my early morning walk, I would often see her walking her dogs, before she stopped by the Taiwan Embassy, and then she would be off to play tennis. At first I would say "Hello" and then our conversations got longer.  When one of us were not seen walking, we would check on each other the next day.  Making new friends does not take much effort.  It just takes desire.

Wednesday was Zone Conference.  It was completely organized by the APs with support from the STLs.  It was the very best conference that we have had in 18 months, except when President and Sister Arden from the Area Presidency were in charge.

They assigned each of the missionaries an attribute of Christ's from Preach My Gospel in which to speak at zone conference.  Some of the newer missionaries thought they would not be chosen because of their newness.  Surprise!  All of them were during the last two transfers. Then four missionaries were randomly selected.  It made everyone lift the bar.

Elder Tuilagi came in one transfer ago from New Zealand.  It was evident when I first met him that he was much more mature than many of our elders.  It also showed that he is very deep and has studied the gospel and has been diligent in learning the language, but he is humble, teachable, and never tries to expound or show that he knows more.  He quietly listens.

He shared that he is a convert to the church.  When he started taking lessons from the missionaries, he was playing professional rugby and we later learned that he was very good.  He lived the lifestyle of the world and he was soon to be married.

When he decided to join the church, he lost his family, his fiancé, his friends, and the loyalty of his neighbors. During the long walk to church each Sunday he was taunted by people from the community, family, and friends.  He said the trip was so long, but he was rejuvenated when he was in church which gave him the peace to live the gospel during the week, and once again travel the long walk to church the following Sunday.

At the age of 25, he took a leave from playing rugby, and submitted his papers to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I will say openly that he is already a star missionary.  His countenance radiates his goodness and righteous desires. His topic was patience and he covered if well.  He quoted Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The most exciting project for the Marshall Islands is the official signing by Mayor Laddi Jack for our Water Pontoon Projects that will provide water for five new areas on Majuro for the communities surrounding the five LDS Chapels. Since our chapels have the best roofs in Majuro, the head of the local government, Russell Languine and LDS Charities have partnered to provide this great service. These 3 projects have been in the works for over a year and hopefully we will have a groundbreaking ceremony before we leave.  If not it will be a great introduction for our replacements, Elder and Sister Skibbe from Australia. 

Elder Preston has done an incredible job on this project.  It has taken over a year of diligent work. It is a joy to see this project come to a close, but even better for me to see all the talents used by Elder Preston to make it happen. Of course, it is only really beginning, but at least the legal work is almost done.  The actual building will take another year before all the pontoons have cement foundations at each of the ward buildings and are connected for use.

Mayor Ladi Jack of Majuro, MI

Elder Preston sharing the process with Mayor Jack.

Friday - late afternoon, we receive an e-mail that the office in NZ needed the original signed copy of the Pontoon Contract and that we could send it in the pouch.  What pouch?  We don't have one here.  Elder Preston was sick, because it would postpone everything and we had already made plans to have the opening ceremony next Friday.  I immediately said, "Talk to the auditor (he was in our office for a week as the Pacific Area Auditor for the church."  Then Elder Preston said, "He's leaving today.  He can take it."

I called the number for the office as Elder Preston was putting on his missionary clothes.  He caught him just as he was putting his bags in the car to head for the airport.  Another tender mercy in our lives! 

Before we went for the signature signing, we walked on one of the three Taiwanese Navy Ships that are in port for three nights and two days during an open house.  There were a lot of children running around who had to be carefully monitored by the crew and some Marshallese adults.

When we boarded the ship, we greeted the crew and immediately a young lady in full uniform was beside us to be our guide.  A young man took at least a hundred pictures of us. 

Easy way to remember our
guide's name.

Sister Preston, Tour Guide, Photographer

 I really thought that we would get to see the actual ship, but we got to go down one corridor where there were some great pictures, models, and real items that showed the history, sites, customs, missiles, and equipment that represented their country.  This is definitely a good-will stop.

Largest Taiwanese Navy Ship with a smaller
ship next to it.

Third Taiwanese ship stayed off shore.
It was built by the French.

Elder & Sister Preston ending our tour of the ship.

We actually received an invitation the previous night for the on-board dinner with the high ranking officers of the Taiwan Navy.  Once again, we met people who made this night even better.  The doctor from Taiwan, who has just finished four years of a very high pressured residency, was sitting next to me and we started to talk.  In a very short time, our conversation became substantial and we were invited to see the infirmary and the gym.  Places no one else was able to see.

From the deck looking into the food
and entertainment area.

Ship Infirmary.

The doctor who invited us to see this is the
second from the left.  The other doctors and staff
on in white.  Ingrid, Dr. Willie, and Dr. Michael are
working in Majuro at the Twainese Health Center.

Got to go down a level & see their gi
gym.

The talent within these six hundred marines, navy sailors, and university students was commendable.  I just wish that you could have heard their incredible voices and seen their exhibitions.  It was impressive.

Our friend, guide, and host & Sister Preston

Three marines performing.

As we were walking away from the main hall and heading for the exit, we heard, "Wait, wait, wait."  A young man was running towards us.  He said that his name was Michael and that he was a member.  It was so rewarding to talk to him for a few minutes.  As far as he knew, he was the only member on the 3 ships. 

Michael, our newest friend.

 I asked him about his ability to have any type of church, etc; he said that he reads his scriptures every day.  This is his last tour as a marine and then he will be returning to Taiwan to finish his missionary paperwork and hopes to serve soon.  He is 24 years old and he and his family has always been member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I just wanted to take him home with me and have him serve in the Marshall Islands.

We said good-bye to a missionary this week.  This will leave only one US sister missionary on this island of 14 sisters.  She has done a remarkable job. The next picture is of the two university graduates from Taiwan, who are serving their military obligation at Taiwan Farms in Laura.  They cook next to us two times a months during the Farmer's Market.  Great young men.

Sister Greenburg, Sister & Elder Preston, & Pres. Larkin

Taiwanese University graduates
and us.

Words cannot express how much fun the Marshallese women have when they celebrate.  After the hour devotional that was 2 1/2 hours and be sure to add the talks from Sister Doig and Sister Preston, we entered the cultural hall to observe each ward as they sang, performed a skit, or danced.  No matter who is performing, women from other wards join in the dance.  They join the dance, mimic the dance/people, or disrupt the dance by spraying cheap perfume or water on the performers. The laughter is contagious to say the least.

Last year, I found this type of celebration rather challenging, but as we have learned more about the cultures and truly learned to love the people, it has become joyous.

The Stake RS president surprised Sister Doig and me when she place two chairs in the middle of the cultural hall for us to be seated. Every single woman who attended danced in long lines and sang and many presented us with artistically crafted gifts. Headbands are one of the gifts that are often presented.  Sister Doig had three on her head along with two flowers.  I got the giggles and had a hard time stopping.  I looked funny, too, but she looked like queen for a day. 

Love Sister Doig.

Sisters Preston & Doig ready for the
celebration

Hugs, gifts, and tears, with the young sister
missionaries standing behind us.

They had prepared a lot of food and the women stood in line to receive dinner in a "to-go" box.  Of course, we senior sister missionaries were to start the line.  I love these boxes, because you can close them and no one knows that most of the food is left in them.  Some of the food is a challenge for us to eat.

We left before they cut the two huge cakes.  We were all exhausted and had to return home to prepare for Sunday.  Elder Preston and I are speaking in Delap Ward today, Sunday.  It will be interesting to see if anyone comes, because the sisters partied until pass my bedtime.

Every once in awhile a favorite picture appears.  I found mine for this period of time.  Love this missionary.  I could not ask for a better companion to spend 24 X 7 for these 18 months.

Just in case you forget ----  We love you, pray for you, and miss you.  See you soon.  
Love, Elder & Sister Preston

My favorite missionary!