Excitement at PICS

The students weren't paying attention during class.  They were looking out the window at something.  It turned out that a truck was fully engulfed in flames  I went outside to watch but then thought better of it.  I thought maybe the gas tank might explode.  We waited for the entire class period for the fire truck to arrive.  The police came with a small extinguisher but the fire department was a no show.  It finally went out on it's own.

Mission call for Marcia Alex



We delivered a mission call to Marcia Alex of the Uh Branch.  Pictured below in the pink is Sister Bulewa.  Marcia's mother is standing by the fire.  They were cooking chicken in the pot.

Marcia is pictured below.  She was so excited and a bit scared to open her mission call.  She is going to be serving in the Port of Spain Trinidad Mission.  She will leave for the Provo MTC on May 10th.  We are very happy about that since we will be leaving on May 16th for home.  We love to see these young people off at the airport.  It is often that they are flying for the first time and have never been off the island.  She was one of our best students last year in seminary.

 Getting to her home was a bit of a challenge.  The trail from the road down to their home was very steep.  The rocks were slick, the mud was slick and the wet grasses and weeds were slick.  It's a wonder that they don't fall and get hurt but they seem to take no notice to the terrain and walk down in flip flops with no problem.  I eventually just backed down the path and used my hands to steady myself.  I consider myself a fairly experienced hiker but my feet flew out from under me on the way down.  No major damage.  Just wet and muddy.

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 Sisters Hedgpeth and Furstenau take to load off their feet and talk to Marcia's mother who was tending the fire.  It's a bit hard to tell but her father is standing to the left and he is preparing coconuts for us to drink.  Coconut juice is very good and quite healthy.  The people here are so thoughtful and give us the best of what they have.  It's quit a humbling experience.

Young Men-Young Women Fireside

On Sunday evening, January 31, 2016 there was a youth fireside at the Palikir Ward for the stake.  The youth on Pohnpei will eventually become the leaders here.  Several of them spoke and they were as good as any we have heard. 

 

 All but one of these boys attend our seminary class at PICS high school.  Three of them are beginning their missionary paperwork so they can leave on missions as soon as the graduate from high school.

 Of course there are always refreshments at any youth function.  They are waiting in line for the goodies.

Student Lounge at PICS High School

An old turned over school van serves at a resting place for students during a break between classes.  It doesn't look all that comfy but hey what am I to say about it.  The girls are only too happy to pose for a picture.

 This old van is at least sitting on the four wheels.  Well not really tires but you get the picture.  There were about five boys in the van but they scattered when the camera came out.  As we have come to say almost every day, "this is Pohnpei".

Guam Senior Conference Jan. 2016

Here we are in Guam, waiting to get on a boat to take us to Coco Island. We do have fun when we get together with all the other senior couples.

 One of the Senior missionaries, from Bear Lake area, is a real cowboy. He showed us some rope tricks during our conference. Mel had to try out his secret wish to be a cowboy.

 We are at the Guam airport,  waiting to come back "home". This Water Buffalo stands there to greet all passengers.

We  have fun going to Guam for a reminder there is a modern world out there, somewhere, but we are always ready to come back and become a part of Pohnpei again.

Hamming it up in a Hammock

Just when you thought all missionary work is hard, we thought you might want to see another side.
The Sister missionaries have this hand made hammock by their house and we took advantage of it.

 

 Elder Hedgpeth is still awake, but Sister Furstenau is ready for a nap. These apartment inspection trips take most of the day and we are ready for a time out.

Apartment Inspections Christmas

This last apartment inspection showed us that even though these missionaries are far from home, they can bring in the Christmas Spirit.
Elder Bisschop's mother, from Canada. made this Christmas stocking for her son and another one for Elder Nelson. Very cute!

 Elder Slack and Paewai put together this work-out bench. I'm sure these pink beads from the 70's are just what they would have chosen.

 Elder's  McCluskey and Takau brought in a banana tree to make their Christmas fronds.

 Sister's Walquist and William created a cozy fireplace scene. How perfect it that?