Marshall Islands Mission Call

Meicey Ramsin received her mission call to the Marshall Islands. We got to know her from Institute and to look forward to her great smile.

 We were so impressed to see how neat and clean her home was. Her father was a builder in Guam and he obviously took great care in building the kitchen and then open Nas. The people in the Marshall Islands will love her.

Uh Branch Primary

I love going into Primary. That's where the fun happens. The first time I went into Uh Branch Primary, they didn't have a chalk board, manuals or anything to write with or on. Sister Furstenau brought them a CD of Primary songs and that was the start of improving their Primary.

 We bought them a chalk board, color crayons, etc. and ordered manuals and a songbook. We delivered it Sunday and they loved it. Included with the manuals were all the pictures, which provided the teacher with material for a Sharing time. They are preparing for their first Sacrament Meeting presentation.

 Sister Mataitoga, from Fiji taught them a song for their presentation. They never tired from repeating it over and over. We will definitely be there to watch them that Sunday.

Baptism

On August 15, 2015 we attended our 58th island baptism.  This is the path leading down to the ocean.

 This is nine year old Jeremy from the Sekere Ward who is ready for the ceremony.  With him is Elder Furstenau and Elder Fiscus who performed the baptism.

 The water in the ocean is like a bath tub it is so warm.

This little piggy went to market

Actually this little piggy weighs about 185-200 pounds and he isn't going to market.  He is on  his way to a funeral.  He also might appear to be dead but he isn't--yet.  When he gets to the site of the funeral he will receive a sharp knife to the heart get his throat cut in a most humane manner.  He will then become a the main course for dinner.  It is tradition on Pohnpei to roast a pig underground for the funeral dinner.

Along with the pig these men are carrying the yams and the round, green breadfruit to compliment the roasted pork.

 Entire villages turn out for the funeral and the celebration can last for up to ten days.

Goodbye Elder Kim

Our Sister Missionaries "Hamming it up" for a picture.

 Our Elder Missionaries saying good-bye to Elder Kim.

 Elder Bunn and Elder Kim were Zone Leader companions for awhile.

 The other Sister Missionaries who didn't make the first picture. Some people called them twins.

Emergency Appendectomy in Pohnpei

This is the door into the Emergency room and also the "corridor" that they wheeled Mel down to find the door to the operating room. I was pretty surprised to see them take him outside on the gurney and take off down the sidewalk.

 Just inside the Emergency room door is the bed where the doctor does his diagnosis. It is private when the curtains are pulled.

 Mel after the surgery (ruptured appedectomy) with the "call bell" to use if he needs anything. There was no table going over the bed for such things as water or tissue or anything. Things like that needed to be brought from home (towel, soap, water, decent food, etc.).

 It is difficult to really get the whole enjoyment from the food, but suffice it to say that Mel wasn't up for this "fare".
He was pretty happy to get home and his first meal was a toasted cheese sandwich. Delicious!

We think the closest way to describe the room was the "50's" as far as the furniture and the absence of remote control anything.
Other than that he had a great surgeon from the Philippines and a member of our church. He gave him excellent care.

Senior Conference-Guam July 2015

This was a three day Senior Conference focusing on CES. Our Area Authority, Elder Jung is sitting on the floor on the left and our "boss" Bishop Nicerio is next to him. Our Mission President and his wife are on the far right. These are all great missionaries and we have fun together.

 The last night we were all treated to a very nice Asian buffet and for some reason there was this "decorated water buffalo" there.

 This is the last night that we will be on the beach, walking barefoot on the sand and into the warm ocean water. Who would know that Mel's "flu" symptoms would end up being a ruptured appendix very shortly.