Week 57 in Tarawa

It has been a busy week as we prepared for the Bell's from BYUH and the Pearson's from New Zealand.  As we were out shopping last Monday we gave this group of three boys small lollipops while they watched us gas up the truck at Betio Gas.  They followed us as we drove next door to the Wishing Star store to purchase food and paper ware for the upcoming dinners.  I snapped this picture as we were leaving the store.  They were obviously enjoying the lollipops, but we couldn't help wonder why they weren't in school.

On Tuesday morning we enjoyed some of the fruits of our labors.  Three of our teachers completed the requirements for their ITEP Teaching Certificates.  We asked John Bell, BYUH Academic Vice President to do the presentations at the faculty meeting.  From left to right the teachers are Titeebwa, Rebwa, and Tanouea.
We are so proud of these teachers for doing all their classwork for us on top of their regular teaching responsibilities.  Earning these certificates is not a trivial thing when you are raising families, serving in the church, and working a full time job.

One of the marvelous traditions in Kiribati is the way they honor guests.  Their singing and dancing is a joy to behold.  It's obvious to us they enjoy doing this even though it means after-school rehearsals the whole previous week.  The teachers in our Tuesday and Thursday classes were excused from the rehearsals, but nearly all other faculty members, their families, and service center people were there.

John and Rhonda Bell were the recipients of the singing, dancing, feasting, and souvenirs.  We felt a closeness to them because John was the Stake President back in Provo who set apart two of our grandchildren, Corey and Shelby, for their missions.  We had a chance to share memories as well as discuss the needs of our students as they prepare to attend BYUH.  They were so kind and loving to us and everyone on campus.  We will remember their visit for a long, long time.

We spent a good part of Thursday preparing two crock pots of chili and 3.5 dozen Halloween cookies for the Missionary Training meeting with President and Sister Pearson, President and Sister Weir, the senior missionaries, and the young elders and sisters from Tarawa on Friday.  Needless to say, the physical food was as wonderful as the spiritual food.

Friday morning, as we were loading the truck with the food and drinks for the meeting in Temaiku, a group of Form 7 (grade 13) students came by to sing us a farewell song.  This coming week is the end of school year dance, and most of the Form 7 students will either go on missions, find jobs, or begin taking classes at local colleges or trade schools.  I wish we could download the video so you could enjoy the wonderful words, harmonies, and spirit of their song.  The student with the baseball cap is Bwereniko, a very talented pianist who will be greatly missed at Moroni High School.

Here we are a Temaiku awaiting the arrival of the Weir's and Pearson's.  It was decided that after they arrived, only one person would take pictures and then share them with everyone, but that hasn't happened yet, so you only get to see the preliminary pose.

President Pearson, of the Seventy, who is our Area President, along with President Weir and their wives presented a marvelous, spirit filled training session.  The emphasis of the training was on remembering who we really are and being a disciple of Christ.  He taught us that we all were disciples of Christ before we came to Earth.  Our job as missionaries is to help people remember who they really are (sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father) and re-awaken that knowledge in them through the power of the Holy Ghost.  We were truly lifted and inspired by their words and by the Holy Ghost.

After the meeting, while we were waiting for President Pearson to finish his interviews, the missionaries spontaneously began singing hymns.  I got to accompany them on the piano.  Another joyous treat!

Speaking of treats, the lobster lady came knocking at our door Saturday.  It had been many months since she had come by.  We bought these two beauties, which I promptly cleaned.  We invited Sister Alldredge, our mission nurse, over that evening for a sumptuous lobster feast.  They were delicious!

Next week we begin teaching EDU 200, Human Growth and Development.  It is sobering to realize that this is the last class we will be teaching this year.  Time truly "flies on wings of lightning".