This evening (Sunday evening for us) we had another beautiful sunset, made all the more beautiful by the inclusion of the lovely Sister Sumner. That’ll get me some brownie points! ;-)
We have been here almost three months already. Time is flying by so quickly, soon this will all seem like a dream. School is out for their summer break and everything is strangely quiet here. In the morning there are no sounds of students cleaning, in the day the bells ring but no one answers, in the evening there is almost a stillness. I say almost a stillness because the basketball court, soccer field and tennis court are always in use in the evening. Lately, volleyball has been the game of choice. It takes up half of the basketball court but there are games of basketball going on at the same time. We have found that this is a good time to play a little tennis. We also play a little in the mornings, but I usually go in and do other things while Elder Sumner plays with the good players. So far he’s 4 and 0.
This Thanksgiving we have had cause to think of the many blessings the Lord has given us. Starting with the simple things, we are grateful when there is electricity and water to take a shower. Four mornings this week there was no water, and on two of the mornings, no electricity. As we spoke with our children and family members, we were grateful for the goodness we see in all of them. We are thankful for the love and support we have felt as we’ve been away. We were also grateful for turkey legs (poultry in Tarawa only has legs) when we got together with the other senior missionaries for a Thanksgiving dinner. We had a very traditional dinner. We all met at the home of Elder and Sister Waldron and everyone brought what they had. We had turkey legs, dressing (stove top of course), mashed potato pearls, jello sweet potatoes, rolls, and condiments. Not to forget the pumpkin pie and carrot pudding. We had much to be thankful for.
Today, in church, I was impressed with the talk one young man gave. He told of an incident that happened on the bus yesterday. Buses here are vans with lots of seats. They are independently owned and some are in better condition than others. They are all overcrowded but essential for people to get around the island. He and his friends were on an overcrowded, uncomfortable, bus. The bus stopped for a woman and baby who wanted to get on but she couldn’t unless someone gave up his seat. The bus driver looked back through the bus and looked at this young man. She said, “You, boy, get up.” He was angry and felt like the bus driver had been rude to him. He was about to give an angry reply and refuse to get up when he remembered the” 10 B’s”. You may be familiar with President Hinkley’s “6 B’s”, but here they have added four more. One of the B’s is “Be humble”. He gave up his seat and felt good when the woman was grateful to be able to get on the bus. He then gave a beautiful talk on humility. We recite the 10 B’s everyday in our leadership devotional, and during school the students recite them everyday in their devotional class and they are posted everywhere. The “B’s” are Be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble, be prayerful, be involved, be strong, be kind, and be still. The world would be a better place if everyone lived by those inspired standards.
Today we gave the Relief Society – Priesthood 5th Sunday combined lesson. We chose to present Elder Dean Davies’ talk on the Law of the Fast. He spoke in the Priesthood session of the last General Conference. We invite you all to read it and secure for yourselves and families the great blessings the Lord has promised to those who live this law. Next Sunday is Fast Sunday. Be sure to fast from the biggest fanciest meal you can imagine when you contribute your Fast Offering.
All our love,
Elder and Sister Sumner
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