December 28, 2007
I guess we had better start with the Christmas celebration. We all sang at the hospital and saw some brand new babies and a lot of sick people. That is a hospital that you probably wouldn’t pick to have your next baby or surgery at. That evening we served dinner to the missionaries at the Bleaks home – it was really nice. Good food and fun games. That evening the Marshallese band played for us outside the Bleaks home and they were really pretty good. Christmas day was the beat and let me tell you . . . . . . . AND THE BEAT GOES ON . . . . . AND ON . . . . . AND ON for twelve hours. All six branches have practiced for nearly a year and they make costumes and sing and dance and whistle and whistle and whistle. I can’t really explain what it is like but a cross between hip hop, marching, Polynesian dancing and something else thrown in. The whistle part is blown by the leader of the dance – he blows it to signal a change in the routine and by the end of the evening that whistle rings in your ears. Actually it is a great effort and the kids love it. We had a Christmas meeting in the chapel before the beat and all the boys and men were in white shirts and ties and then they moved to the cultural hall and it all began. They had a band on the stage and the women sang and danced and the youth were really into it. There are so many youth and they are so wonderful – its better to have them there then on the street. Sister Beckstand’s son came to visit and brought boxes and boxes of white shirts and ties donated by the people in the states and so we passed them out to those who didn’t have a white shirt and tie for church. So the boys danced in their white shirts and wiped the sweat off their faces with their ties. It was great!
Wednesday the 26th, we taught with the missionaries in the afternoon and I started to feel sick so we went home for the rest of the day. It was a little of the island gumbo. Thursday morning everything was good and so we went with the senior missionaries on a boat trip to a small atoll. We chartered a boat and went to a little island about 45 minutes away. The boat ride was nice and we stopped at a small resort and cooked hamburgers, explored the atoll a little and waded in the water. It was a sandy beach so it was very nice. I will let Elder Patten tell you about what he saw in the water. The water is so blue (many shades) clear and warm, lots of little shells with little creatures living in them. When we returned we had Josephine’s baptism and the 12 step meeting at the same time, so Elder P went to the baptism and I did the 12 step meeting. I was in the primary room and he was in the chapel about 20 feet away so we went back and forth a little. Josphine and Nemia are leaving for Naru in a few days so she will probably be very helpful in getting the church into that country. Today we went to district meeting and then out to Laura with another couple and went through piles and piles of books that had been donated. Some were good and could be used in the schools that teach English but there were many that were just thrown away. We just got home from an appointment with the sisters visiting a man (Migon) who is now ready to be baptized – but he needs to get married first. That will happen in January and then he and two of his children will be baptized together. His wife is coming along but slowly.
It’s been a good week. Notice the picture of the ww11 B-26 that we saw in the water. Kind of erie. We are ready for the holidays to be over so we can really get back to work. We have made appointments and had many of them cancel but have still been able to teach quite a few this week. We are loving the work and we know many people already. Today was our p-day and we were in town and have to be really aware of those around us. We seem to run into someone we know every time we turn around. Someone is always saying “ hello” to Elder and Sister Patten. Tomorrow is the Sabbath and it’s usually one of our busiest days. This Sunday will be Sister Patten’s last in primary for awhile. She has been spending all of her time there since we arrived. Both branches are doing well in that area now and its time for visit the R.S. and Y.W. We will take pictures of the two branch primaries tomorrow and send them to our home ward so they can see what primary looks like in Majuro. The children from Olympus 1st ward send us a card and signed it. We love you all. We had a chance to visit with Ryan and Mike and Michelle today on instant message and skype. It’s good to hear your voices. We’re going to try and finish out the year with a bang. Elder/Sister Patten
The Relief Society sisters really getting into it - the sister in the front really knew how to shake those hips.
I don't think we would get away with candles in a ward at home.
The young women singing - notice the beautiful long hair of the young woman leading the singing. She is very active in the church and is about 17 years old.
Then the young men in their white shirts and ties dancing in to met the girls in the background in red and white dresses.
The Marshallese band - they were really pretty good, they played for us Christmas Eve at the Bleaks. Next picture is the Relief Society in their white dresses, singing and dancing - notice the cute little girl that really got into it. Next the primary children with bubble gum strings hung around their neck. How would you like to take this little cutie home - sitting on Sister Pattens lap.
The missionaries getting ready to sing at the hospital, next picture is the sisters in our district, third picture is inside the hospital. Sister Bleak is in the front, Sister Patten in the back looks a little like a nun. Last picture is "feeding the thousand" at the Pres. and Sister Bleaks home later that evening. Notice Elder Nielson looking a little homesick.
The top two pictures gives you an idea of what the small islands look like. In places there are many in a chain and when the tide is down you can walk from one to another. Next is more of the jungle and the last picture is for you Mike and kids. We have pictures on the walls of our apartment and hang them up as we get them. 
Elder Patten in the jungle - don't you think he looks good! Next picture gives you an idea of the vegetation on all the islands. It is really beautiful. You have heard us talk about Josephine and Nemia, the third picture was taken just before she was baptised. Nemia is standing with the little boy who is really her grandson but he was given to Nemia as a son to raise. We have taught Josephine and Nemia since the second week we were here. The last picture is our christsmas tree. Our sweet grandchildren didn't know it but they did the decorating with their pictures and homemade cards. Thanks kids, we love you!
Some more pictures of our little excursion. This is classified as a "hardship" mission. It really is. The buildings are located on a small island which is only accessable by boat. The people who live here were relocated from the island of Bikini when they tested atomic bombs after ww11. The pink building is a home and the blue one is a community center. No cars on the island. You can't see it but on the left side of the blue building is a white pole about 25 feet tall. When someone becomes intoxicated they just take them to the pole and handcuff them to it. They let them sober up and then turn them loose. You see a couple of figures quite a ways from Sister Patten. They are from our group. There were only about four other people on the island besides the missionaries.