June - 8/18 or 4/9

The Wellness Center hired a new intern to replace Conner, who is returning to the states to finish his last year of college.  Tanner's new intern, Brianna is a nursing student from Utah State who is a LDS return missionary.  She served in Oregon in a Marshellese community.  She will be here for two months and she speaks the language.  She has already become a real asset to CLP and our ward. 

Conner leaving
Brianna arriving

On Monday evening, we hurried to the airport so that we could say good-bye to one of our institute students.  Bruce is leaving for two years to serve the Lord in Iowa.  This is a huge step for this nursing student.  He is such a dedicated young man.  We are so proud of him and his goodness.

Us with Bruce

Bruce with his family.

We actually had a partial P-day on Saturday.  Elder and Sister Doig joined us for an hour drive to Laura and then we walked along the beach.  There were some people playing in the water, but the pollution/bacteria is so great that it is not an area that we dare swim, but we did wade and enjoyed the breeze and the beauty of the ocean.  Then we headed back to our apartments to ready ourselves for the evening.

People playing

Happy beach boy.

Sister Doig and Sister Preston, plus Sister Preston's
new friend

Elder & Sister Doig and me carrying
Elder Preston's sandals.

The previous day, President Zedhkeia made a personal visit to the mission office to invite us to the first birthday celebration of two of his grandchildren born ten minutes apart - one girl to his daughter and her husband and on one boy born to his son and his wife.

 

Little boy's first birthday.

Little girl's 1st birthday.

We have heard many stories about the large celebrations, enormous expense, and importance of this Marshallese event.  This was our first personal invitation and attendance.  President Zedhkeia also said to invite all the missionaries.  There were approximately 300 guests and maybe more.

The evening was well planned: the live band and vocalist performed beautiful music which made me want to dance;  the Uliga sister missionaries and the ward sisters performed four Polynesian dances; and President Zedhkeia said a meaningful prayer for each of his  two celebrated one year old grandchildren. We felt  honored to be invited.

 

Ready for many guests.

Long food lines.

Uliga Ward waiting to perform dances.

Dancing with great rythym.
3rd lady on front row - 87 years old.

Each invitee was given a white container filled with a variety of meat, variety of breadfruit, papaya, macaroni salad, and/or rice along with a bottle of water, soda, or coconut mild in the coconut as he/she walked through one of the two looooong lines.

 

Two of our elders ready to feast.

The feast.

 

We were seated in the VIP section where our food was brought to us.  Each of us received a full container of a variety of meat (pork, chicken, turkey, fish) and another large container with the salads, rice, breadfruit, fruit, etc.  The delicacy - eel was given to just a few.  I was one of the special recipients.  I feel sad that it is not a desired food for me.

We were waiting to be served.

We ate a few bites of the food and took it home.  Today, Sunday, we shared the rest with the four young missionaries who live Lojkar area where we reside.  They were unable to attend because they had a wonderful baptism in the Long Island Ward.  So now we are all happy.

It was rewarding to attend church today.  I usually look forward to partaking of the sacrament and just receiving a spiritual rejuvenation, but we had added blessing this first Sunday of June.  It rained and the temperature was only 85 degrees and my brain cells were more capable of functioning.

Also as lessons are given, I have gained the perspective that there are many words that we say and hear that are a standard for us, but they make no sense to many of the Marshallese members and/or investigators. Today I asked my translator, if the people understood the word "qualify."  She said, "Probably not."  She asked and they did not.

Then some of the more knowledgeable and schooled members started to ask me to explain, i.e. . . . the field is white already to harvest.  The best part is what happened after I gave the explanation.  The people started to talk, contribute, ask questions.  Learning was happening.

I asked Elder Preston about his priesthood lesson as we driving home.  After a litany of questions, I finally was told that he taught the lesson.  He had notes from our last conference and he taught from four talks that were given.  I bet that it was powerful, because I know how much he enjoyed the lessons taught that day.

We attended a member's high school graduation at the Catholic Assumption High School for Limbuk L. Ackley, daughter of Bishop/Doctor Ackley and his wife whom we serve with in CLP, Neilani.

Limbuk's invitation.  

Limbuk is a very bright talented young lady who has been accepted at BYU Hawaii, but not until 2018.  Her English Proficiency Test results did not arrive in time for the fall of 2017.  She plans to major in math.  She has the ability to do so much.

 

22 in her graduating class.

They had many happenings for this graduation today, Catholic Mass, etc, but we were invited to the actual graduation that was to start at 4:00PM.  When we arrived there were no available seats, so standing it would be.  The first hour of standing was palatable, but going into the second hour, I was too comfortable any more. Tender mercy - a young man brought two chairs for us, but Elder Preston, being the true gentleman, gave his to the lady to his left.  In a few minutes, the young girl seated to my right gave her chair to him. 

 

Beautiful Limbuk.

The event ended at 6:45PM.  Almost 3 hours for the 22 graduates.  There were a lot of speeches and each graduate talked, but their talks were short. We were invite to the Ackley home for a feast, but we chose to return home to break our fast.

It is evident why the Isaiah has been quoted throughout time by the prophets and still is.  Isaiah 41:10 & 13 are two of my favorite scriptures lately.  Hope you enjoy them, too.
10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am they God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
13 - For I the LORD thy God will hold they right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

We love and appreciate your support.
Always,
Elder & Sister Preston

Memorial Day Week-end

Atypical week:  Not many resemble one another.  How can that be?  Welcome to the missionary world. 

We thoroughly enjoyed having Sam visit and bringing his horticulture expertise last week, but we were also grateful to spend more time in the office after he left, which as you all know is the hub of any organization.  Starting Monday, Craig had the typical four days at the end of each month to justify all financial transactions for 190 missionaries as well as all the happenings of the President and his wife.  This seems to be a challenge for most people in that hot spot. 

We welcomed a new elder and a new sister.  They seem bright, progressive, and ready to serve.  

Elder Apela, Sister Mohetua, E/S Belen

Elder Apela will immediately be going to Ebeye with Elder Helgenberger, who has been an AP since we arrived.  He is so lucky to be trained by one of the finest missionaries.

 

AP's until today - Elders Helgenberger & Bird.

Elder Thiel has become the new AP with Elder Bird.  This will also be a mighty set.  

Elder Thiel & Elder Bird
AP's

Elder and Sister Belen also arrived for four days and will travel on Sunday to Kiribati, which is another country in our mission to be the new office couple.  The president had them come here for a few days to get trained.  Very unusual days.  Since they were called as an office couple, we assumed that they would be in-serviced in the MTC.  No - they were not. Our work was cut out for us. 

E/S Belen (She is from Australia - him from Philippines
now both from Tennessee)
Note the 190 little pictures of missionaries on the board
behind them.
We have handled a lot of paperwork for all of them repeatedly.
Some we have not met and yet we feel that we know them
and continue to keep them in our prayers.

Elder Kennerley and Elder Uitu live with the AP's acros the road from us.

Four mighty missionaries.

Saturday evening we were fortunate to attend the baptisms of three young men and a darling girl. Listening to them share their testimonies was delightful.  We were blessed by their sincerity.  I meant to get a picture of all of them, but I only got one picture of this young man, whose wife is a member already.

New member of the church with
his wife.

We will be teaching our last institute class for this school year on Wednesday.  We walk away with mixed feelings:  joy that we were able to be with those who really want to learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ; sad that it is our last class until September; and relieved that we will have more time to give to our humanitarian projects during the summer.

This last lesson, Come Unto Jesus, is my turn.  I have thoroughly enjoyed studying for it.  Keep positive thoughts and prayers that our students will understand and feel the goodness of Our Savior in their lives. Let's all remember some of the words written by Orson Pratt Huish in the hymn, COME UNTO JESUS  . . . Come unto Jesus; He'll surely hear you, If you in meekness plead for his love.  Oh, know you not - that angels are near you - From brightest mansions above?   

Come unto Jesus from every nation, From every land and isle of the sea.  Unto the high and lowly in station, Ever he calls, "Come to me."

Remember that we love you,

Elder & Sister Preston

May News

Highlights of the week:

Sam Williams, who is based in New Zealand and is the agricultural specialist for all the Pacific Islands arrived Thursday morning and is with us until Monday evening. 

Sam Williams
from NZ
Agriculture Pacific
Specialist

He is not only large in stature, but in knowledge, patience, kindness, and ability to work with all types of people from all areas.  We have thoroughly appreciated his expertise and the opportunity to do some hands-on gardening.

We took him to the projects that we have started and he shared his quiet recommendations that have rejuvenated us and are a great support to those who are trying to be successful in getting people to be self-reliant.

We visited Allison, from Taiwan Farms:

Allison, Sam, Elder Preston

Vision for Taiwan Farms

Local Laura farmers selling their goods
under the support of Taiwan Farms

We met with our Stake President, President Zedhkeia and made arrangements to replant his key hole garden.  Little did we know that he didn't already have a functioning key hole garden, but he had a long narrow garden (2x10 ft) that had become a patch of fast growing weeds.

Sam bought the necessary items, plus we used natural substances from the President's land to build a small key hole garden, which did not need the key indention.

 In July we will return a third time to build a second larger key hole garden. The president is planning to have people from the stake and community in attendance to be trained as we plant the second one, in hopes that they will have a desire to do the same. We will need to wait until July, when most of our office duties will have ended.

Here is the picture story of our Key Hole Gardening:
                                                                                                 

2. Coconut husk wall & bark layer.

1. Making a foundation of coral rock.

It only took a couple of hours to assemble.   It will produce enough food every three weeks for six people. 

3.  Wire netting for compost

4.  More brown & green leaves

 

Because the nutrients are so enhanced due to the central compost setting, this will be wonderful way to model an easy process for members and neighbors to build their own small planter.

                        

5.  Chicken Manure & top soil

 In three weeks we will return with seedlings for President Zedekiah's plot.

6.  Actually had a hose and water.  This is rare.

8.  Final product for three weeks.
Hope the dogs, pigs, and chickens stay away.

7.  The working crew.

Mother's Day

Monday:  Two of our outstanding missionaries left Majuro to serve in Ebeye.  Elder Kendrick and Elder Anderson will serve well.

Elder Anderson & Elder Kendrick

A happy Mother's Day to so people in our lives, who have loved, prayed, provided, sacrificed, been a good example, have served us as well as others, and followed the Savior's example.  You have blessed us.  Thank you.

It has been exciting as we have observed our young missionaries wait their turn to call or Skype their mothers and families on this special Mother's Day.  For those who did not have mothers, we are grateful that they had connections with a grandmother or another person, who fits this important role.  As the excitement grew, Sister Shumway, our mission nurse, had provided a bag of homemade cookies for each missionary to help them pass the time.  I asked them sing me a favorite song, for they blend so well, and/or tried to keep them in interesting conversations, since our office is small and quarters are tight. I videoed them singing, but I couldn't post it here.

Over all it all went well.  Our phones were working perfectly the two weeks before Friday.  First time we have been able to call out and others to call in since December.  The internet has been a jewel.  All seemed great.

Then we returned after our outreach on Friday and none of the phones were working.  After Craig made some serious calls and NTA and Majuro Computer Service Techs arrived, they were able to make a connection where ONE phone could be used to call out.  We thought - "we can live with that knowledge."  We only have three missionaries who are planning to call home - That tripled, but we didn't know it at the time.

Saturday, the internet stopped working.  More phone calls from Craig.  They were able to give us some internet service back.

So when Sunday arrived, even though the phone lines had been limited, and the internet was not perfect, we were ready.  It would have been a little nicer, if the AC had worked.  When it is 95 degrees outside, the AC doesn't work, and there are no windows to open to even get a breeze, it can be uncomfortable.  We survived.  We knew we would. There were many smiling faces as individuals exited their assigned areas and a few tears hidden behind sunglasses.

Saturday evening, Elder Doig, Sister Doig, Sister Shumway, and the two of us went to a nice Mother's Day dinner at the Tide Table restaurant at Reimers.  Good conversation, nice service, and better food than some made the time great.  Discovered that they can actually make good onion rings!  Happiness!!!!!

We then attended a convert baptism at the Jenrok Ward, where E/S Doig attends.  What a beautiful young girl entered the waters of baptism.  The talks were meaningful and her sweet Marshallese grandmother beamed.

Sister Paku on the right with our newest member,
Kalani, with her grandmother holding her little
sister and her mom on the far left.

As we serve on our little atoll and learn to love more people every day, we realize how strong we want to be and how much we desire the people we meet to have the goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  How do we accomplish this?  Our desire to live the gospel has to be foremost.  If you can do it so can we. The scriptures are such a great source of strength in keeping our covenants and promises to the Lord.  Here is a favorite example:

In the book of Daniel, we learn of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol.¹⁶ The king warned them that they would be cast into a burning fiery furnace if they didn’t comply. They refused and said:

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. …

“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.”¹⁷

“But if not.” Consider the meaning of these three words and how they relate to keeping covenants. These three young men were not basing their obedience upon being delivered. Even if they were not delivered, they would keep their promise to the Lord because they said they would. Keeping our covenants is always independent of our situation. 

Thank you for keeping us strong and loving us.  We love you always ~~~~~  Elder and Sister Preston