July 11, 2008

Friday July 11, 2008
Looks like some of the pictures we tried to get on the blog last time didn’t work so we will try again. That is Elder Patten’s job. We have taken more pictures and of course, there is much more to tell. The Elders Quorum Party was last Saturday and so we went around the
Villages with Arebonto to invite Elders to come. It soon became apparent as we also invited the wives that they were not invited. Arebonto said “oh yes, yes they are invited but it is to cook”. It is truly an Elders Quorum Party, no women but actually it was nice. At first I thought “hey wait a minute”, but you know, it’s their party and they did a good job. It was a progressive dinner and at each house, they opened with prayer, sang a song, and gave a talk on the priesthood. The women didn’t seem to mind, they said “Oh we have our Relief Society Party”. Another Christmas Island experience.
We sent Salona home on the Wednesday flight, he is the contractor from Tarawa that came in to save the day on the kit house. He certainly did that, he discovered that some of the material was missing from the kit and will have to be flown in. He also had to recalculate the roof because the plans they had did not match. What a great job he did getting this project up again. The roof is on and most of the framing is done. We will send a picture.
Jeff flew in on the same plane that Salona flew out on and it was so good to see him. Yes, it does make us homesick but it is worth it. We have enjoyed visiting with him so much. Independence Week started on Monday so it is a big deal here. Celebrations going on each day and evening. The little couple that we taught the dancing to, won and so she is now “ Miss Christmas Island” and guess what, her highest scores were on the dancing. We were there last night or rather this morning until l:30 A.M., it got started about five hours late (island time) and went on and on. They have a competition for 10 year old girls as well and one of our LDS girls did really well, I don’t know if she won yet because we left before all of that but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did, she danced so cute in her grass skirt and answered all the questions correctly. It was fun to work with them, the girl is already LDS but can’t come to church because her Grandmother, who is lives with, is KPC and won’t let her. So we have some work to do with the Grandma. The young man who danced with her is not LDS but the missionaries have talked to him and have an appointment so we will see. Actually his Father is LDS but doesn’t come to church because he is the Principle of the KPC school and would lose his job is he came to church. It is really hard here to find jobs but I guess they need to make a choice.
Jeff has been fishing two times, was going to go octopus hunting with Takin and scuba diving but a fishing trip interfered and so he didn’t get all of it in. I think he enjoyed living in the little Kia Kia and showering with the land craps. He spoke in Sacrament meeting two times – here and out in Banana and also blessed the sacrament in Banana and even taught an English class with us. Our two missionaries had fun with him and the people loved him and brought gifts for him when he left. Jeff has gone home now, it was hard to see him go but we will get back to work and there is a lot to do.
It is Sunday again another busy Sunday we always have two Branches to attend and together we had 200 people in church. After dinner we visited a family here and invited them over for home evening tomorrow and will try to get another family to join us. We would like to work our way around the island and continue to bring them in if they will come.
The kit house is coming along and the contractors have only about 9 days left to finish it and then they will have to go home. I hope they get it done. That has been an interesting experience. We will put pictures up if the blog will let us, sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. It is good to hear all that you kids are doing – it sounds like a very busy summer for all of you. Will continue to work hard and do whatever needs to be done. Every week we find more and more that needs to be done, like we discovered two days ago that the tithing settlement and report has never been finished or turned in. They need a lot of training and just as we think we have it done, there is more. I have been meeting with the YW Pres. and we are getting the New Beginnings started here – also the Primary needs to start working on their Sacrament Meeting program, I don’t think they have ever done that before. I think we will have two more missionaries here in August and then it will help to baptize this island. The KPC’s and Catholics won’t know what hit them. We actually could use three sets of missionaries and have room for them but we will see. Sometimes I feel like I am living a dream out here and one morning I will wake up in Salt Lake City and it will be all over, never to return again so we need to work hard and do what the Lord expects of us while we are here. Its all good, we are good and you all are good. What a blessing. We love you all, thank you for your prayers, we feel them and I hope you feel ours for you because they are offered many times each day.