Our First Institute Class

Jessica

M.J,

Jennifer

Kenjo

Jingkle

Permider

Delinda

     We had our first Institute Class this last week (Bishop Clark we sure know why you love your job),It was wonderful. We had 7 students, now I know that does not seem like many, but it was great. This is the first time there has ever been an Institute Program on the Collecge of Microniesia campus, so we were thrilled that we had 7 students, as word gets around we will have more.  We had a short lesson on the Book of Mormon, we bore testimony of the Institute Program and of the miracle of getting the Institute here on the campus. We shared how we had the guidance and help we needed when we came to ask and how the Lord knows where all His sheep are and helps to get the things they need. Then we played a short get to know you game. We love this mission and we know the Lord loves all the people here on the Island of Pohnpei.

Benjamin's Family

    Monday (March 26,2012)  we had the opportunity of visiting a family that use to be active in the church, but have not been to church for about a year.  It is the Benjamin Doras family.  They live high up in the Jungle, so the only way to get to there home was to hike in the jungle. so off we went, us, the Kjars, and the new sr. couple the Vincents (I think we killed them) and Margierita( one of the members that helped us to get to Benjamins house). It was about a 45 minute hike up some pretty rough terrain, right through the middle of the jungle. Several of us fell more then once, but we finally made it.  At the top, the family gave us freash coconuts to drink and we rested as we visited with the family.  Benjamin was the first branch pres. when the UH branch was created and he has been a member of the church for about 30 years.  He had become frustrated with some things at church, so he stopped coming, him and his wife and 8 children.  We had a good visit with him, and he seemed to feel better about things, so we will see if he comes back to church.
     We tried to help him understand that he and his family are really needed in the UH branch, because the UH branch is really struggling at this time. Hopefully he will feel the quite wisperings of the Holy Ghost and come back. He could be such a strength to the branch.   It has made me realize that every ward and branch out there really needs all the members, we all bring different strenghts and help one another. We all need to do our. job to help each other stay strong in the church and help those that have strayed come back. We all need each other

Drinking Coconut Juice after a long hike

Benjamin and his family

Sis. Vincent, Margeritta, Sis. LeFevre

the 3 Sr. Couples walking out of the Jungle

there really are vines like Tarzans in the Jungle ( who knew?)

Ahh, Ahh,Ahh,Ahh,Ahh

Our 2 Tarzans

        As we walked out, we had a little fun, Elder LeFevre and Elder Kjar decided to see if they really could swing on vines in the jungle like Tarzan.

A Hard Day in the Mission Field

     Today was one of the hardest day since we got here.  As we were leaving for our walk this morning we found out that one of our branch presidents, Pres. Malarma of the Netts branch, his grandson died early this morning.  The baby was 2 months old and had gotten chicken pox about 10 days ago, he has been in the hospital for the last 6 days, and we really thought he was getting better, but about 2 this morning he passed away.  There are laws here that require that the body be buried within about 12 hours of the death, so we went to his funeral today.  When we got there, we went and sat with his mother and grandmother, Sis. Malarma, and sang hymns for about 2 hours, then they put the lid on the little wood box and carried the baby to the little grave and talked for a few moments and dedicated the grave and buried him..They have no shovels, so they put the dirt back in the grave with there hands, just like they had dug the grave with there hands.  It was really sad, but the family was so strong, the grandparents, Pres. and Sis. Malarma, have been to the Temple and been sealed to each other and there family, and they were explaining where little Abinadi was and that his parents would see him again.  I am grateful that I know what I know about where we go when we leave this life.
       To add to the already hard day, we have had several of our missionaries that have been sick over the last few months and weeks especially, it is like Satan is trying hard to stop the work that is going on here on Pohnpei and he is really working on the missionaries and the members Faith right now.  Last week on Friday, Elder Gasu had a bad bike accident and he has had to go to the hospital each day to get his injuries redressed and checked, then Elder Stewart had to have his toe operated on, Elder Davis was sent to Guam to have his kidney stones blasted, so they will pass, Sis. Kennach has hurt her back, and Sis. Salaiau has been in the hospital for the last 3 days with  gall bladder problems, she is flying to Guam tomorrow to have her gall bladder removed.  Please remember our missionaries in your prayers, we could really use the prayers for them.
    There was a bright spot today, we started our 1st Institute class at the College of Micronesia today and we had 7 students come. They were really glad to finally have an institute class on campus. We are going to finish teaching the Old Testament this year and then do a 6 week class on either the Teachings of the Prophets, or the Articles of Faith for the summer session. Then next fall we will be teaching the New Testament.  It was a ray of sunshine to see those happy faces in our first Institute Class.  We needed it after the rough start to the day.
   I am grateful for the medical miracles we have in the states and especially for Immunizations for children, they don't have that here and so many die from childhood diseases.
    I love the Lord and hope I can do His work to help all His children here in Pohnpei. Keep us in your prayers and Thank You for all the prayers you have already prayed for us here, we feel the extra blessings and help and comfort from them.

New Sr. Couple

Sister Vincent

Elder Vincent

the presentation of the traditional MaraMar

    We got a new Sr. Couple in our mission last Wednesday, there names are Elder and Sister Vincent, they are staying with us, until they can move into there apartment. We love them.  They are going to be a great help to our mission. They are here as MLS missionaries, the same as us.  Sis. Vincent is going to help with the Piano lessons, which will be great, it will give us the time we need to do the institute and young adult stuff we have been ask to take care of. We are excited to have them. They will be such a blessing.

New Wheelchairs for Pohnpei

       Yesterday we had the opportunity of participating with all the missionaries and leaders from Guam in presenting 280 wheelchairs and 40 walkers and 40 sets of crutches to the Pohnpei State Hospital.
     There are many people on the island that have lost use of there legs, either through amputation, or disease.  So many have been home bound for years and yesterday the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints donated all of the items to the hospital specifically for those who qualify for them. It isn't enough for all of the people that have a need for one, but it will help a lot.  They actually presented 3 to individuals who had lost a leg, and all three were so touched. 2 of the 3 have been home and bed bound for a long time and for the first time, in a long time, they were able to leave there homes and now will have a way to have some measure of freedom of getting around, so they can have a life.
     We as missionaries will have the opportunity of delivering many of the wheelchairs, walkers and crutches to those that have no way of coming in to the hospital to get them. It will be a great blessing for all of us to get to help so many.

Cargo box with all the wheelchairs, walkers and crutches

The Dewyeyes

     It was a great day.