The blog of our last week in Tarawa was delayed because the internet was down over the weekend. So while this blog deals with the last week of February 2016 in Tarawa, I'm actually writing while at home in Ogden, UT. Maybe I'll include a few pictures of our arrival and make this our last blog for Wayne and Janet in Tarawa. This picture was taken on Wednesday, Feb. 24th at the Moroni High School assembly we spoke at. It was hard to hold back tears as we told them to always show their love and to be true to their trust (the school motto).
On Wednesday evening we were invited for dinner by the Solomone family. From left to right are Isaac, Armine, Tipo, and Samuel. Missing is Leilani, who was conducting the Young Men/Young Women meeting as YW president. Tipo is one of our two Vice-Principals. During the renovation of houses 8 and 9, they were asked to move to house 5, right next to us in house 6. We wish we had gotten to know them better earlier on our mission. They are a wonderful family.
On Thursday the last two boxes of books sent by our daughter, Janet, arrived. Unlike the first box, these books arrived while school was in session, and the students' delight at the new books surprised us. They were genuinely excited and could hardly wait for the books to be labeled and catalogued so they could check them out to read. While unboxing the books, I saw a biography of Julius Caesar which I read on the spot, much to the chagrin of Sister Sumner.
The faculty surprised us Friday after school with ANOTHER farewell, this time just for us! The singing, dancing, and food were great even though we felt embarrassed at all the praise they heaped on us. We told them that they must like to see us cry. We turned their praise back at them, telling them that their work and the sacrifices they make each day are just as important as ours, and probably even more so.
Saturday was spent cleaning, packing, and giving away stuff. On Sunday we were asked to speak again briefly in Sacrament Meeting, bearing our testimonies and saying goodbye for the 7th or 8th time. After church we had Elder and Sister Waldron and Tioromaia, Eutita, and Gloria (asleep on the couch between them) over for a fried chicken dinner. Tioromaia told us it was the first time they had even been invited to dinner by I-matangs (white foreigners), which made us sad. We should have invited them over long ago.
This is the last sunset we saw in Tarawa. The pastel colors only added to the melancholy we were feeling. We want to hold on to these memories for fear that all our experiences here will become as if they were all just a dream.
After our last faculty meeting Monday morning, Boutara, the head of our English Department presented Sister Sumner with a Tita, a type of blouse common in Kiribati. The embroidery across the top says "SUMNER".
At the airport, just as we were about to enter the boarding area, Sister Cross came running up with more gifts, including freshly made garlands to honor us. She is an amazing Kiribati sister who is so proactive in going about doing good. What a great example she is to us and her fellow Kiribati citizens.
Leaving on the same plane with us were the members of the dental team who volunteer their services for three weeks every year. Under relatively primitive conditions they perform an amazing amount of dental work on the missionaries, prospective missionaries, and the faculty, staff, and students of Moroni. We wish them Godspeed.
Taking pictures in front of the ATH (telephone/internet company) poster at the airport has become a tradition in the past 3 months.
We boarded the plane right behind Elders Johnson (left) and Miller (right) who were being transferred to Christmas Island over 2000 miles away.
Our last picture taken in Tarawa shows the Bonriki International Airport. We hope they continue to upgrade this facility to make it more accommodating for passengers. There's nothing like starting a 27 hour trip covered in sweat!
Nothing we can say or show you can express the sweetness of the past one and a half years. We have been blessed beyond measure with increased love for each other, for our families, for the people of Kiribati, and for our Savior, Jesus Christ. We see more clearly now than ever before how our many material possessions often keep us from the love of God and of our fellow men. We pray this perspective will keep us determined to serve God and our fellow men all the rest of our lives.
Seeing Jeramiah, our 4 year-old great grandson, coming running up to us almost before we left the secure area filled our hearts with great joy.
Being greeted by 30 people holding a giant poster and wearing matching Kiribati T-shirts was also a joyful experience. There was a whole lot of hugging and a few tears as well. Families make life so worthwhile!
Going to the Provo Tabernacle Temple open house the next day with our daughter, Kim, and her family was a great reminder of the eternal nature of families.
OK, OK! So I'm hamming it up just a little, but is was really great to have a real salad again!
