New Elder
Elder MaDill seems to be adjusting well and doing great.
International Women's Day
There were probably a thousand women on the floor when they finished introducing the groups. It was an amazing sight. The colors of their clothing were bright and the women looked so happy and beautiful. They all sat on the floor for several speakers which lasted through the morning. We had district missionary meeting at 11:30 a.m. so we left during the speeches.We also had seminary that afternoon so we missed theiir dances in the afternoon. The crowd was huge and the parking for vehicles was indescribable. Even if we would have had time I don't think we would have returned in the afternoon. When we left in the morning, the aisles were clogged with people and the stairs. It made me a lttle clastrophobic and glad they do not have fires in Pohnpei. Next year we will take a day off to see the whole event hopefully.
Sunday Dinner at Sam's
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| This is the famous Sam Bailey in the dark shirt at the head of the table. He rents his house and the land it is on (separately interestingly). But the house was in dilapidated condition when he moved in because it had been empty for a few years. The house is on cement posts and kids had disconnected the water pipes, roof had a hole and leaks, etc. He has made improvements for rent and the house is really cute. It is small and has "tin" siding. It has a loft and the ground floor. He extended the deck about 6 feet. The deck goes along the back and one side of the house. The back of the house faces a bay where the Nett River goes into the ocean. It is a beautiful view. He built a porch swing that is very nice that sits in one corner of the deck--just past where I am sitting. This is Sunday dinner March 11th. He is quite a good cook. He served rice, sauage, potato, and carrot curry, fruit, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. We always play a game after dinner and this Sunday we played "truth or lie." You learn a lot about people by playing this game. We played it at Dad's and Uncle Teddy came just in time to join in. If there had been a prize, his first story would have taken it. Actually, we do have a prize for our Sunday game. Sam was given a big carved shark. It is missing a tooth now and part of a fin. It is a very "special" shark. The person who wins the game (the host chooses the game of the night), takes the shark home for a week and signs it. |
Janice's Apartment and Work
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| Janice lives in an apartment in the top of this building. The bottom is a store and a laundry mat. |
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| This is Janice's lunchroom/worker lounge. |
Relief Society Birthday Party
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| Sister LeFevre, Sister Kjar, Sister Simron (the Home Arts Teacher at the Pics H.S (Home Ec.) |
The Pohnpei District celebrated the Relief Society Birthday Party together. All the branches came to Pohnpei for a big celebration. It started at about 10 a.m. with talks until noon. They had take out for lunch: fish, rice, beef with peppers, and banana cooked in coconut milk. It was tasty. In the afternoon each branch performed a skit or a dance. Afterward, they displayed their talents outside under the covered porch. Sister Smith, the lady that made your hula skirts, showed how she ties the fibers to the waistband. Others brought fish they had caught, vegetables or fruit they grow, handwork they do, baskets, etc. They have many talents. The Relief Society sister's in our branch made skirts. The colorful pieces are like quilt blocks. They use every little inch of fabric. They surprised the sister missionaries in Kolonia and Sister LeFevre and I by making us skirts. I felt very guilty accepting it because they take a long time and a lot of work. I really love my skirt and will cherish it. None of our sister's came up with a local dance to do. Sister LeFevre and I taught them Cotto-Eyed Joe and several sister's from other branches joined us when they heard our music when we were practicing. The sister's love to laugh and have fun.
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| Sapwalap Branch |
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| Nett Brancn |
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| Palikier Branch |
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Mand Branch    |
Church Donation of Wheelchairs, Crutches, and Walkers
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| On Tuesday, March 20th, the church donated 280 wheelchairs, 50-60 each crutches and walkers to the State Hospital. All missionaries on the island were asked to come to the presentation if they did not have appointments. The young Elders and Sisters with vehicles will be delivering wheelchairs etc. to people who need that service. President Davis, counselor in the mission presidency, made the presentation and accepted the certificate of appreciation from the hospital. He explained that the missionaries would not proselyte when they delivered. There are no strings attached to the gift of the equipment. It is all brandnew and very needed here. |
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| Almost the whole audience for the program was missionaries. |
Zone District Activity
Zone Missionary Activity Monday, March 19th at Sapwalap Chapel
We were playing a game called Mafia.
New Missionary Couple
Hike
Monday, the 26th, to make or break the new couple, we went to meet a family that live in the jungle about a 40 minute walk from the Uh chapel. The father, Benjamin Dorus, was the first branch president of Uh, but has been inactive for some time. Our Uh seminary/institute teacher, Margarita, was our guide with one of Benjamin's sons. Benjamin is Margarita's uncle. Brother Vincent and his wife are 68 and brother Vincent has two artificial knees as I mentioned before. He fell 5 or 6 times on the rocky trail but was a trooper and always bounced right up again.
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| Elder LeFevre, Elder Vincent, Sister Vincent, Sister LeFevre, and Sister Kjar I told Dad not to get my tennis shoes in the picture , so he zoomed right in. I knew you girls would notice them. Honest, I do not wear my tennis shoes with skirts, this is the first time. But I'm really glad I wore them on this hike.  Benjamin's daughter and son  Benjamin is in the red shirt and his wife is in front of him. He has seven children. They were shy and didn't come out of the house that you can barely see in back of them. The children do not go to school.  They gave us coconuts--very refreshing! We had a good visit with the family. They took a little while to warm up to us. We asked Benjamin why he had stopped coming to church. He said it was because people in the branch believed in just the Book of Mormon and not the Bible now. I do know most of the people in Uh are new to the gospel and need a return missionary for a gospel doctrine teacher. Benjamin did come to church on Sunday. None of his famiy came with him. We were at Uh Sunday so I talked to him. He said he was coming next Sunday with his family. I wish we were going to be there. We visit a different branch each Sunday and then start our rotation again. I hope he comes again and brings his family. For me it was a memorable day on Fast Sunday because I bore my testimony for the first time in Pohnpeian. It was a memorized testimony. I have been working on it for three months. It is good to have said it. Our teacher, Pres. Hemen was there on District business. That made it a little scarier because I wanted him to feel like he was having some success with us--we are pretty slow at learning the language. Dad also bore part of his testimony that he has been working on.  Our hike on the way back to the cars. This is sugar cane.  Halfway back to the trailhead. We think we'll make it.  Do you recognize the two Tarzan's? They are considering swinging through the jungle on the vines. |
Nett
Nett is a very special area to us. It was recently made a branch. They met in a large Nahs which has open sides and ends. It has a tin roof and a cement floor three sides with open area of dirt floor in the middle. The branch president, Victorino Mallarme has about 10 brothers. They all are settled in the same area. Most do not speak English well. Pres. Mallarme speaks very little. We teach Seminary/Institute there on Friday afternoon. Knowing Pohnpeian would be very helpful to us there--we are still working on it.
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| Missyleen, wife of Romeo Mallarme, was baptized Saturday, March 24th. |
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| Nett Seminary & Institute |
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| Welsie and her new baby boy, Abinadi Welsie is the daughter of Pres. Mallarme and his wife Regina. Baby Abinadi got a terrible case of chicken pox when he was two months old. We visited him in the hospital and we have never seen chicken pox so thick. His little body was literally covered from head to toe with blisters and he had an IV in his little hand. About the 5th night in the hospital, they thought he was doing better and would leave the next day. He died during the night, March 27th. We went to his funeral the next day. They made a little wooden box the size of an orange crate and covered it in white cloth. The lid had some artificial flowers on top. It was very sad, but this family has a testimony of the gospel and knows families can be together forever. Pres. Mallarme and Regina went on the last temple trip and have been sealed in the temple. Welsie is 18, I think, and has a little boy about 18 months. Her husband was abusive and her family finally had him leave. At the funeral I asked where Amanda was, Pres. Mallarme's 14 year old daughter. Her mother, Regina, told me she was sick with the chicken pox. We were very worried but we saw her after seminary/institute on Friday and she was up out of bed and scabbed over. It looked like she had been covered as well but was recovering. Sister Salaio and the Airport During the same week Welsie's baby was in the hospital, Sister Salaio was also in the hospital. She is a young sister missionary from Papua New Guinea. She ended up having to go to Guam to have her gall bladder and appendix laparoscopically removed. At the airport we had another experience similar to when we came to Utah for Grandpa Stronks' funeral. They were not going to let Sister Salaio board the plane because the hospital had not sent a paper 24 hours before the flight about her health condition. They were faxing and phoning their Guam office. Sister Salaio was sick and possibly would have her surgery that afternoon when she would arrive in Guam. She needed to be on that airplane. Sister Kennach said, "We are missionaries, everything will be OK." Those were almost the exact words that young returned missionary had said to Elder Kjar and I in the LA airport when we were having trouble with a delayed flight. We had a prayer and waited and waited and waited. They checked Sister Salaio in and took her through security just in case she was cleared. A few minutes before take off they told us she had been cleared. Heavenly Father hears and answer our prayers.  Waiting at the airport    Last but not least of our airport photos, Elder LeFevre and Elder Kjar comparing the wear on the soles of their Crocs. Elder Kjar's seemed a bit superior but Elder LeFevre wears his daily on the 3 mile airport walk. Soooooo, the vote is still out on that one. |
