Missionary Times: Our Trip to Eneko

This is a little islet in our atoll. You can go and stay on some of the islets and have your own little island for a day or two

On our P Day, the Senior missionaries went to Eniko, an islet in our atoll for the day. You take a boat out into the lagoon and then its about a 20-30 minute ride to get there. On the way, we passed lots of little islets in the atoll. Most of them are privately owned, but some have picnic facilities or places you can stay overnight. This one pictured above has a little private cottage on it. There are a few that you can rent for the night or day and just have your own little party or honeymoon. They probably have solar power and rain water to drink. That would be an adventure to talk about. One of the senior couples is going to do it before they leave.


More islets along the way. There are 64 islets that make up Mauro atoll

We rode over in a small boat. Along the way we passed an airplane wreck and a helicopter crash and were able to get out and snorkel down by the wreckage. It was fun. When we got to Eniko Island there were some Sea Kayaks that we could use and a picnic area, restroom, and lots of great snorkeling. We had a Marshallese Family with us who work for the church and they brought their children. We had a fun day. Here are a few more pictures at Eniko and on the way to and from there.


A private island along the way

Our boat coming to get us to take us back to Majuro

This Islet is supposed to be owned by one of the richest families in the Marshall Islands. I think they rent it out though to people to come and stay. It totally looks like fun. In the old tradition, the women are the ones who inherit and pass the land along from generation to generation. The present system of government in the Marshall Islands Republic adopts some of the old traditional ways. This includes the Iroj' Council which is based on the ancient social system of the Marshall Islands. The Iroj are the landowning chiefs. There is also a president and a Nitijela which is an elected parliament. The Iroj and the Alaps (lords) still have a huge influence on the people and government because they are the landowners and have a lot of power. If you are a land owner, you can collect rent or kick anybody off of your land if you want to. All of the land is owned by an Iroj. If you are a regular person, you are called a Rijerbal or a worker. You will be poor and probably always struggle. I want to learn more about the history and how this all got started. It totally doesn't seem fair though that only a very small number of people own all the land and are rich while the rest of them really struggle.

On the boat going to Eniko


On the Ocean side of Eniko

This was so fun. Sister Jorlang, Sister Hillbourne, Me, Sister Woods, and Wayas in the back riding to Eneko.

One of the Islets

There are palm trees everywhere. The beaches are very much in their natural state. There are sea shells everywhere. I collected a bunch. I have never seen any Marshallese women wear swimming suits. Most of them don't go in the water either except maybe to wash up or use the restroom. Yes, a lot of the people do not have plumbing or toilets in their houses and just go in the ocean or lagoon. You see them going out to the ocean behind some rocks or a tree all the time