Ronald (who was baptized in December) was married to Margaret on the 3rd. We missed the ceremony but arrived in time to help them celebrate. It was pretty fun. They are a sharp couple and will be a great blessing for White River Branch. On Saturday, Ronald then baptized Margaret! What a great occasion. Her parents are going to , be baptized on Saturday April 1. Both Ronald and Margaret are very involved with the activities. Ronald helped with New Beginnings decorations and they came that evening. Here is their story: They meet in 2011, and lived together for a year or so. Then Ronald went back to his village on Rennell Island. They met again last year, then Ronald joined the church and Margaret came with him and decided to join also. But they needed to get married first because they were living together. We didn't know this when Ronald was baptized. Ronald's name has been presented to be the branch clerk. And now that everything is legal, hopefully it will happen soon.
I left out how Ronald was introduced to the church. The missionaries were teaching Ronald until they were transferred. Ronald felt the spirit during the discussions. But then no missionaries came back. Later he saw the missionaries with George Oto a 17 year old member, who was his neighbor. Soon Ronald was asking George questions about the church and George (who doesn't remember any of the questions or answers) was able to answer everything Ronald asked. In November, Ronald came to our English class and talked with Lynn about his feelings, knowing that the church is true and wanting to be baptized.
Margaret & Ronald with her family
Margaret & Ronald
District Food Fest and Dancing
Each branch was assigned an island group in the Pacific that they needed to research and find out about the food and dances for that area. Yeah right...no one has internet over here. Thank goodness Sis. Tui does know how to research and helped White River with their recipes and the dance was just a simple one that the women did—even me! The event was scheduled to start at 2 p.m so White River and Burns Creek people were there ready to go but no Honiara! They didn't start coming until 3:30. What? Did the time get changed? It finally got started by 4, with everyone lining up and taking just a taste of food, not whole big servings like the people are used to here. Then the branches did their dances. It was a fun to see the different cultures dances but it went so long. A lot of people had to leave to get a transport. It was fun to get together as a district...just would have been nice if it could have started on time.
District Relief Society program
To celebrate the birthday of relief society, there was a whole week of activities planned...service, rescue, branch program and a district program/video Saturday with a lunch, with a musical fireside Sunday. Saturday morning, 9 a.m, the sisters were to gather to watch a video, 17 Miracles, and talk about being pioneers in their branches. By 9, there were maybe 5 women there. After some technical difficulties, the program started at 9:30. Sister Kwanafia spoke for a few minutes because she has been a member for 20 years and then they started the video. After, they wanted to serve lunch but realized that the word hadn't been given that everyone needed to provide their own plates. So we waited and waited and finally plates arrived. And of course, there are no utensils—all finger eating. We had rice, chicken wings, bananas or taro. The sisters are so thoughtful because they served me (it was a hugh plateful that I knew I wouldn't be able to eat). I ate just a little bit and then gave my food to Ronald. And I went home and had a sandwich.
Sunday the women met at the chapel for a musical fireside, where each branch was given hymns to learn and sing. Sister Fuimaono and Sister Mary read a script and when promoted each branch sang their hymn. Afterward, there was birthday cake—no plates or forks—hands only.
Funeral for Brother Juju
Brother Gideon Juju had fallen down and hurt his head about a month ago. And he hadn't been too well ever since then. He passed away on Friday, March 3. He was a great person and had worked part time as security here at the compound. Last fall, he had joined the church. His funeral was Monday, March 6 and was the first LDS funeral to be held here. After the services, we walked to the cemetery where the grave had been dug and bricks placed with a cement stucco. They lowered the casket into the ground and immediately worked on putting the cement on top.
Indiana Jones Ride
The roads are so bad. Every time we leave, I think I am on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. The potholes are everywhere and not just little ones but big ones that you have to go over very slowly. Lynn has become pretty good at dodging them. It is almost like a dance to watch the vehicles try to go around the holes. We are just waiting for the time when two vehicles both decide to swerve inside the lanes to avoid potholes and they hit each other. Some of the back roads are ideal motocross courses—small hills and muddy.
Zone Conference
We knew that Pres. & Sister Granger were arriving Wednesday, March for zone conference on Thursday. We didn't hear anything from them that night but had learned from the missionaries that zone conference was going to be on Friday. We found out that one of the AP's didn't have the correct paper work and was arrested. Pres. Granger was told that he would be in a room by himself. But when they went to visit him to give him some food and clothes, they found out he was in the prison, with a criminal! Sister Granger immediately knew that they needed to get him out of there and back to Vanuatu ASAP. They spent Wednesday evening and Thursday morning trying to figure out what to do. They arranged a travel plan that would get him back to Vanuatu but with several stops. It was crazy. When Pres. & Sister Granger went to pick him up, he was pretty relieved and gave Pres. Granger a big hug. He did teach several prisoners and had an opportunity to do a devotional the night he was there. The elder was put on a plane, given a phone and told to call at every stop to make sure he makes it back okay. What an experience he will have to tell.
Zone conference was a good spiritual lift, even though it was a short time. Saturday, the Granger's attended the baptism and then left from there. A short visit but full of interesting stuff.
great big cheer
Sign
meat lovers sign...place we buy our meat.
What the?????? Whole bug of what???
Hospital Computer Hand-off
We were finally able to get the computer hand-off worked out. We originally had 13 computers for the hospital but we found out that we needed to pay tax on them. So we ended up with 11 computers to give to the hospital. We were able to have our hand-off ceremony, where the CEO and Nelson, the administrator were able to say a few words along with Pres. Sauseru and Elder Sanders. It is such a great feeling to know that in a small way we were able to help the country.
New Beginnings
The district had planned to have a district wide New Beginnings program. But Pres. Granger said that there had been too many district programs in a month, so each branch was to have their own. I was so happy when I learned that White River was doing their's this month. It was to start at 4 p.m, Saturday afternoon. We arrived but there weren't many girls there and Sister Tui wasn't there, even though the room was decorated. So we waited and finally Sister Tui arrived, then the girls started coming. By 5 the program started. The girls did a great job. It was very touching to see them get emotional during the program. The songs were great. And the girls were given their pendants. This is the first time they have even received pendants. Pretty special.
Our Wake up call
We think there was a dog was in heat in the neighborhood. We heard dogs barking and growling during the day and night. This video is actually just part of the dogs barking. The squeaking is our door..which .I couldn't keep still.
Tui's
This is the Tui family from Fiji. Sister Tui has been a member for many years. Bro. Tui a couple of years ago. Their daughter, Mary Ann, is 7, same age as our Brookie. We really enjoy visitng with them. They invited us to dinner...lobster. Now I really have decided that getting the meat out of the lobster is more work than it is worth...besides spilling my drink when I was trying to crack open the thing, I just don't enjoy digging for little morsels. Give me a big fat steak any day! Their house isn't a typical one. It felt so good to walk into their home...and feel a little normal.
baptisms, classes--English, piano, typing
School Visits
St John's library entrance
St John's library...not many have libraries
Joyce & I
St John's bell
Bishop Epalle school
Marana Kindy
Marara Kindy outside
Marara CHS
Marara CHS class
Marara prep class
White River CHS...Jeron & Lynn
Four Square School
Mandella School
Mandella...
Florence Young
stsudents at Florence Young
We went to several schools to pay student fees. Most of the schools have a campus that includes kindy, primary, and high school. These are pictures of some of the schools. The students are so helpful when we ask where to go and need directions. The little children love to see us. At the Four Square School, the kids wanted to hold our hands and cling to us because they were so happy to see us. What a treat it is. The funny thing about the schools...we have to pay one check for the high school, one check for the primary, and one check for kindy. We couldn't find the Bishop Epalle school so we asked someone on the street. He offered to show us where it was and climbed in the truck. Later, I thought, we are so trusting...a complete beetle-nut chewing stranger in our truck. Thank goodness he was very nice and didn't think about it taking up his time or being out of his way.
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