week 7 in Tarawa

This has been a rainy Sunday afternoon.  The sun came out just long enough to show us a beautiful sunset, so we walked down to the lagoon to watch it.  How long has it been since we had leisure on an afternoon to go and enjoy the sunset.  Being here is helping to remind us of the important things in life. 

This past week the school put on their Christmas program.  That's right, on the day before Halloween we had a Christmas program.  Remember, the seasons are reversed here and so we are just about to summer vacation.  Some of the students leave this week, so if they wanted to do a Christmas program it had to be now. 

Over the years, I have watched many school Christmas programs, and even ward Christmas programs, but it has  been a long time since I have been moved to tears by one.  As I listened to the students in their Kiribati accent, telling the Christmas story, I could feel their simple and humble spirit.  They told the story, young as they are, as ones who truly believe in our Savior and love him.  After they finished, Miiram, and then Lita, the principal, spoke to the students about remembering  why we celebrate Christmas when they return to their homes.

This picture was taken while we were stopped on the road to Betio.  It shows several trawlers in the lagoon waiting to unload their cargos.

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