Family Home Evening

We were invited to a Family Home Evening at past Branch President Ongesel's home, We were well fed. Some of them had lived in America, so we had a mix of Pohnpeian food and American food. The potato salad tasted so good plus the Bar-B-Q chicken and the bananas they grow themselves.
There were three generations there and President Ongesel told us his story. His wife and children joined the church and he would drop them off at church, but then go on  his way. When the missionaries would come he would say Hi and then leave the room.
For a long time he was a BIG drinker and smoker. They would have parties in their humble home with all their friends who would drink into the night.
One day he was talking to the missionaries. He was at a point when he wanted to quit drinking so much and wished he could quit. They told him they had been praying for him and they knew if he had faith he would be able to quit. From that night on he quit and that showed him what God could do. His testimony never wavered after that.
He had a 10 foot long and 10 feet deep by 2 feet wide ditch. He walked all through his property and gathered all the beer cans and alcohol bottles and it completely filled that opening.
They are a wonderful family and example to many.

Seminary Christmas Party

This is our Seminary Christmas Party, The missionaries were our choir and the girl in blue sang 2 solos. She gave us goose bumps or tears, she has an amazing voice. Several missionaries arrived after this picture and 6 couldn't make it. This choir would rival any I have ever heard.

Sapwalop Ward party

On Friday Dec. 5th 2014 we attended the Sapwalop Ward party (potluck) in honor of the Chandlers who are leaving next week and we are their replacements.  It was fairly typical of ward gatherings.  Typical "Pohnpei time" which is at least a half hour late.  There were over 50 small children and a dog that kept sneaking in.  It was so noisy that you could hardly have a conversation.  The food was great: fish, chicken, breadfruit, bananas presented several ways, rice dishes, noodles and cake.  We sang Christmas carols and several bore their testimonies.  I was asked to say a few words.  Pohnpeians always want to know how old you are and we were the oldest in the cultural hall.  There needs to be some benefit for being older as in the respect and honor they give you.  They treat us like royalty.  We were seated in front, given leis and ate first.  They also had brought us fresh coconuts with a straw to drink the sweet juice inside.  They like you to eat a lot and unless you fill your own plate it comes heaping high.  They give us spoons but the locals eat with their fingers.  I soon found myself eating with my fingers with some of the dishes like rice that is easy to ball up and eat.  The only problem I found with eating with the fingers is how to clean your hands.  No napkins were provided so you just have to lick your fingers clean.

The top photo is of the stake president (on the right), Pres. Lenspur Kalio.  The Panasang Pohnpei Stake was just created last year.  Pres. Kalio is a very humble man and has proven to be a great leader among is people and stake.  His is a bit famous in that there is a great you tube video of him and can be easily  found by googling "I'm a Mormon, a Pohnpeian and a spear fisherman".  Look it up for great views of our island and stake president and his family.

Missionary housing

As you can see from the picture above the missionaries live in very humble circumstances.  The refrigerator isn't dirty its just rusted but works fine.  All the missionaries seem happy even in these apartments and homes.  Most sleep on mattresses or cots on the floor.  They must be very careful about the water they drink.  Sometimes the water supply is shut off during certain times of the day so everyone in the village will have enough water.  For all you thinking about a mission you better learn how to cook.  No McDonalds or Burger King within a thousand miles of here.

In the second picture a pair of inventive missionaries cut down a small banana tree from the jungle behind their house and set it up as a Christmas tree.  They decorated it with native red flowers.  You might notice a small ginger bread house in the background next to the key board.  This elder has a family tradition of making a ginger bread house for Thanksgiving so his mother had sent him one to make.  All the missionaries, 24 of them, will be coming to our apartment in December to skype or facetime with their families.  Lenda will be making a ham dinner for them.  We are looking forward to that.

Beautiful Pohnpei

The pointy rock in the background is called the Witch's Hat.  On this day we were traveling around the island doing an apartment and car inspection for the missionaries.  This spot is the location of the Ice House where they produce bagged ice for the island.  The flowers and trees are very beautiful.  We have seen one particularly beautiful bird called a Cardinal Honeyeater.  It has a long curved bill and is red and black.  We are loving island life even if it is a bit hot and humid.  The locals say we'll get used to it.  Time will tell.

Seminary students

Here are some of the students we have at the seminary class at the high school (PICS).  They are so enthusiastic and love to learn.  Many are preparing for missions.  There are 34 missionaries serving from this small island.  Amazing!  Their faith in God and Jesus Christ is astounding.  They come from such humble circumstances but as you can see they are cheerful and positive.  I think they will teach us more than we can ever teach them.

Members to temple

This is a family who left Wednesday to go to Manilla to the temple for the first time. They were baptized a year ago and it is amazing how strong they are in the gospel. This night they had all their extended family at their home for a celebration. There were at least 70 there to witness this big event, even though most were Catholic and against them joining the church.
As soon as many arrived they began pounding a root called Sakou. After pulverizing the root, they squeeze out the thick brown liquid through a big yellow leaf. Then they drink it, It has a sedative effect and is highly part of their culture. It is very difficult for new members to turn away from that and also Beetle Nut which they chew. The Beetle Nut eventually causes their teeth to turn yellow and red and many develop cancer of the mouth.
When teaching the youth, they know it is wrong and try to tell their friends and family what is right.
It must be very exciting for these members to leave this isolated island and be able to fly to Manilla to go to the temple. Most of them have no money and the church provides this opportunity for them at least once in their life.
Sorry for the blurry picture.