The USS Pearl Harbor Visits Majuro/ July 4th

The USS Pearl Harbor came to Majuro for July 4th

The USS Pearl Harbor docked in the lagoon.  It is a US Navy ship and is part of what is called the Pacific Partnership.  There was a crew of about 300 Navy and other military personnel and several hundred volunteer medical, dental, and other type of volunteers.  The ship travels to several Pacific or Asian Countries every year and do medical treatments, surgeries, screening clinics, dental clinics, and other fun great things.  In addition they offer games for the kids, give away a lot of things to the people, and do a service project for the community.

We got to take a tour of the ship.  It was really neat.  We rode over to the ship in a barge type boat that comes out of the end of the ship.  The ship actually sinks the back half and fills with water and then the smaller boat can actually float out.  It is used to bring equipment to shore

Elder and Sister Barlow, , Sister Wayas and me waiting for the boat

Sister Barlow and I

Lander getting ready to dock with ship

Closer

Just about to dock

These are similar to  flares to distract a missle

The ship was equipped with guns and anti
missle equipment. 

At the top of the ship

Showing us how the ship is navigated

Stairway decorated for the 4th of July

Looking up to the top of the ship

The ship was decorated for the 4th of July.  There was a special party that night for the big shots on the island like the President of the country etc.  Our mission president and Elder and Sister Woods got to attend

Looking down from the top

Elder and Sister Barlow

The ship had a lot of areas to store things...big tractors, trucks and equipment needed for their projects and barrels and bales of supplies.  These are the bales of clothing sent over by the church.  The Ship had already visited Tonga, Samoa and was headed for the Solomon Islands and Kiribati

The bales of clothing

Our guide on the ship

The Elders and Sisters were asked to help with the translation at the medical clinics.  They had screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure, dental, body mass index and more.  There were also surgeries and procedures that were being done at the hospital.  The church sent over big bales of clothing, shoes, and bedding, hospital supplies, school kits, and sanitation kits that were given out to people in need.

Elder Swain doing interpretations at the medical clinic

Crowds waiting in line

Elder Morrisey and Sister Tago

Crowds waiting to be seen at medical clinics

Elder Parkinson helps with vision screening interpretations

Elder Fesolai helping with translation

Elder Morrisey helping with a dental screening

People selecting 1 item of clothing

It was a fun and interesting 4th of July for all of us.  The people here are very grateful for the services of the US and for the donations from the church.

kids waiting for games

Tidal Waves hit Majuro and Hello and Goodbye

Tuesday, June 25, 2013, Majuro was hit hard by a combination of a super high tide (Super moon) and a storm surge.  The waves struck  the South and West sides of the island hard, with waves breaking the sea wall at the airport in three places.  Sea water poured into homes, backyards, over the street and onto the lagoon side of the island in a few places.  Garbage was everywhere.  Roads by the airport had to be cleared of rocks and sand before they were reopened.  Sister Woods and I noticed a lot of water by our apartment and realized that the waves had come up over and into the new apartments that are being built.  We also went down the road to some of the little villages and saw the water way up in the houses with garbage everywhere.  The missionaries donned our helping hands vests and headed out to help with the clean up.

Mud, rocks and trash were everywhere

Sister Woods and I in our helping hands Vests

This is pretty far from the ocean and it still got lots of rocks and mud

It was pretty good

The people were really grateful for the help and gave us green coconuts to drink (and eat...its soft)  Its called Ni

One yard done

Enjoying the coconuts

In some places a big bulldozer came and pushed all the garbage out with dirt to form a barrier for water that was expected to some the next couple of nights.  It didn't come as bad though.  Now the next time there are tidal waves all the garbage will wash back up again.  CRAZY

Sister Tofa and Sister Tominey

Sister Mahit and Sister Tebwanei

After a long days work, Elders relaxing

June was also a month of gatherings and  saying good-bye and hello

Senior Sisters out to lunch at Chit Chat (Sister Shaw's favorite place)

We put together some of our thoughts in a special book

 Farewell Dinner for the Shaws at the Polka Dot Restaurant

Arrival of President and Sister Weir on June 29th

Me with both President and Sister Shaw and President and Sister Weir

Saying good-bye to Sister Shaw

The Wayas' with both presidents

The Barlow's with both presidents

The Woods and the two presidents

President and Sister Shaw with Pres Zedikah

With Raffe

With the APs and one ZL

With Anne

Sister Shaw, right before she left at the airport

June in the Marshall Islands

Me with Elder Kevin Pearson of the first quorum of seventy and his wife.

Elder  and Sister Pearson spent several days in Majuro.  The came for our Stake Conference and then stayed to do a zone conference  with our mission.  Elder Pearson is the first counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency.  It was fascinating to talk to him about the ways that the church is growing in the Pacific nations and the problems that they are faced with.  The seniors got to have dinner with them and we were able to ask questions

All of the Sister Missionaries and Sister Pearson, President and Sister Shaw

I played the organ for stake conference.  They gave me a wot to wear and a pretty necklace

Stake Conference was really good.  I also played the piano for a stake Primary Choir.  They sang We Thank Thee Dear Father in Heaven above in Marshallese and A Child's prayer in English.  It turned out really good.








   

Made of Fresh Flowers

Sister Tofa, me and Sister Tomney

Here we are again

Sister Hogg, Sister Tebwani, me, Sister Edmunds, Sister Tominey, Sister Roota, Sister Huni

The Sister missionaries always have a lot of fun together. I always have the sisters who live in Long Island over to dinner at least once a week.  I make treats or sometimes have the Elders over too

Elder Langrine, Finau, Elder Watkins

Sister Tofa and Sister Tominey

Ben, the security guard at the apartment complex.

The Senior missionaries were invited to come over to Keman Island, the 8th island over in the Majuro Atoll.  We hired a boat to take us over and then we spent the day with Jiki  (cheekie) and Sue and their three boys.  They are caretakers/gardners on this island .  The island is either owned or leased by a rich American Attorney and his wife from Thiland.  Jiki and his wife Sue take care of the gardens and yard.  The whole island is theirs.  Here are some pictures:

They had row after row of different types of vegetables and fruits.  Most of them were planted in pots and raised planters because there is not much soil...just coral 

They grow papaya and other tropical fruit

this is some kind of weird fruit

They had vines of tomatoes, and other kinds of vegetables and herbs

nice little trail around the island

Tai girl who also works on island

A cool tree house for the kids

Looking down from the tree house

Tire swing

Sister Wayas and Sister Saw in the Kayak

Jiki gave me a ride in the canoe

Sister Shaw and Sister Barlow on the beach

We also snorkeled, which was fun

Sue fixing food for us along with the girl from Thailand and her sons

The jungle part of the island

Jiki, Sue, and family and girl from Thialand

This is the next islet over.  Its so small and cute

Senior Sisters and Sister Shaw at the dock

When we got home that night there was a wonderful baptism in Rita.  Elder Sxhmidt and Elder Ingalls