we made it to majuro11/1/07

11/1/07
We arrived in Majuro at about 10a.m. and were met at the airport by President and Sister Beckstrand the lst counselor of the MIMM. Another senior missionary couple, the Randalls met us also. We didn’t have any trouble getting our bags through customs at Hawaii or Majuro. We gave the bag porter $10 at the Honolulu airport and he efficiently took care of all six pieces of luggage and then in Majuro the only problem was that it took time to get the bags from the plane to the baggage area.President and Sister Beckstrand then took us on a tour of the island and we then met at the Randalls apartment for dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn and a desert.The Randalls took us to buy a few groceries and then dropped us off at our apartment. $750 a month for rent. There had never b een a senior couple living there before so as you can imagine it wasn’t exactly the Taj Mahal. Elder P. Hi Kids, This is Mom, We arrived as Elder Patten said - the apartment needed a lot of help and I was expecting something a little better, but we didn’t whine, just started cleaning and made it more like a home than the young Elders apartmen t.
11/2/07
A little bit of studying and a lot of cleaning and scrubbing this morning. The Randalls picked us up this morning for district meeting. I didn’t know those meetings lasted three hours but it was a good meeting and we were impressed at the quality and competence of the young elders and sisters. They all know the language very well and for the first half hour conducted a language training session. President Bleak really wants all missionaries to learn the language. We met an elder Aiano? Who is the nephew our samoan driver back in mesa. We spent the rest of the afternoon getting more cleaning supplies, etc. A few more groceries and our drivers licenses which it doesn’t sound like we’ll be using as it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting a car. Lots of taxi’s so it will be mostly shank’s pony and taxi’s for the time being. It looks like it won’t be all fish and rice. You can get pretty much anything that you want here to eat. Chicken is from Tyson’s and it really isn’t all that expensive. Hamburger $3.59 a pound. I saw Kirkland peanut butter in the two pack for about $5.50. I think it’s about that at home. Yams, broccoli, onions, etc. more but not outrageous. Last nite we went to a young adult social. Volleyball, ping pong, and the board game aggravation. The young people were having a wonderful time. We thought of the youth at home and wondered if they would enjoy that kind of an activity. Ha. There were some young children that noticed something going on at the church and decided to stop in also. One little girl about six was very interested in Lois’s lip stick. Popcorn and water were served.
11/3/07
Today was pday. The Randalls, Beckstrands and the mission nurse Sister Fedderson picked us up and we drove out to visit the Roses who are serving at the end of the island in Laura. We went to the beach and then to the Roses apartment for lunch. It is quite beautiful on that end of the atol. We are back home for another few minutes then Elder Randall and I have appointments with the two branch presidents that we will be working with. We are sort of feeling our way. Still a little overwhelmed. We will meet with President Bleak when he returns from zone conference in Kiribati next Thursday. Hopefully he will give us some more direction. Our two branches have almost 500 members each. The estimate of 1000 members in the marshall islands was not at all accurate. The Marshalleese people are good and kind people. Happy and friendly. The weather here is very comparable to south florida. We have found it to our liking. I’m so grateful that I lost the weight though. I noticed a couple of the senior missionaries that are a little heavier were sweating and really not enjoying it all that much. ElderJP Its Mom again, I miss you all very much and hold in my heart all the times we have been together. I keep thinking about our last party at Danas and I am so grateful for each of you and all the goodness you bring into our lives. We pray for you each day and I know the Lord will bless you and keep you safe while we are gone. The tears come into my eyes as I think if you and its hard to look at your pictures and not cry. Please tell us.about what you are doing and what each child is doing. Please hug and kiss the kids for us. I just got back from shopping with Sister Randall and Elder Patten had meetings with the Branch Presidents. We ran into the missionaries and they told us that they found an apartment that is really nice – so maybe the president will let us move. We’ll see. This is a third world country but the people are so nice and the children are so beautiful. We went to the end of the island today where there is a sandy beach and it looked just like Hawaii or Cancun, it was beautiful. That end of the Island is lush and green and the water is about 80 degrees and so clear. We have so much to do because as of Monday we will be watchers over two branches – one branch pres. Speaks English and other doesn’t - good luck Elder Patten.
Sunday 11/4 We spent 6 hours in church going to both branches. We are now the guardians over them and some of the organizations need a lot of help, others are doing fairly well. Its hard when we don’t speak the language but somehow that will come. The young elders and sisters are just great and we love them all ready. Yesterday was fast Sunday so we were hungry when we got home so we age spaghetti and went to bed very early.