Justy, gets baptized

Justy with Joseph Alex
both from the Uh branch

Elder Lyman, Justy, Bro Elias

Elder Lyman and Justy

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Elder Lyman, Justy, Elder Madill

Leevaughn & Awalt
at the baptism

2 beautiful little Pohnpein girls at the baptism

     Justy is Sis. Smiths son, the Elders in Uh have been teaching him for a while now, and Saturday night he got baptized.

A Keyboard for the Kalio Family

         There is a music grant through the Harman Foundation. The purpose is to get keyboards and music lessons to area's that may not get the opportunity other wise.  So back in February, I applied for a grant from them for 16 keyboards. 2 for each branch on the Island. (that was the limit). The Keyboards have to stay in the buildings and we teach the lessons in the buildings.  We got the grant and the keyboards arrived in mid March. So we have been teaching piano lessons in 7 of the 8 branches on the Island. Well part of the grant is that when you find 2 or 3 students who really show progress and understand well the skills. You can apply for a keyboard for them to keep, to have in their homes.  So about 2 months ago I applied for a keyboard for the Kalio family. They have 13 children and 7 of those kids have been taking lessons and are doing really well. We found out last week, that the Kalio family was awarded a Keyboard for their home. So we took it to them. they were thrilled. I also had written to a Music company that I dealt with, before our mission, and had ask them if they ever donated piano books to humanitarian causes. They said yes and had sent me piano books, all kinds.

The Keyboard

Can't wait to open it

Layvon, opening it

Still opening the keyboard

Why do they use so much tape?

Finally

Keyboard and books

Now the whole family can learn, even Mom

Walking back out from Kalio's house

Walking back out of the Jungle, before dark,
I hate the Jungle in the dark, Scarrrrrrrrrry!!!!!!!

Picking Coconuts for us to drink, after our hike in

Renster, climbing the tree

   So yesterday, Elder LeFevre and I delivered the keyboard and books to the Kalio family. Enjoy the pictures.

Farewell, for now, to Elder Vance

     Elder Vance is a great missionary  so of course, he got transferred to Guam. We have had the opportunity and blessing of being able to go out and teach with Elder Vance and his companion, Elder Eyre.
Also with Elder Vance and Elder Gasu. In fact it was Elder Vance that saved me from falling in the mud, the first time we went to the Lozano family. I wrote about that on an earlier blog.

Elder Vance getting his farewell Lei, from Sis. Lefevre

Elder Vance and Elder Eyre

Elder Vance and Elder and Sister LeFevre

Elder Vance & Elder & Sister Kjar

Sister LeFevre & Elder Vance

Elder Vance with us, again

Elder Vance, surrounded by all the Sisters on our Island
Sis. LeFevre, Sis. Beautler, Sis. Salaiau, Elder Vance
Sis. Varea, Sis. Varea,  Sis. Kjar, Sis. Vincent

Elder Vance & Elder Gasu

All our young missionaries

All our young missionaries showing their best faces

All the old missionaries and Elder Vance

One last wave, and off he goes to Guam.

    We will all miss Elder Vance, he has been a great missionary here. So for now, goodbye, we will see him in January, when we go to couples conference. Hope he has a burrito for us at Taco Bell on Guam.

P.S. to Marlene

   We went to FHE last night at Marlene's families house, and all of her brothers and sisters and parents, that live on the Island came. There were over 30 people there. We had a great lesson and evening with them. Next week we are going to go again and show them the movie "The Testaments", we think it will really touch them. Great night. I love this work.

Marlene finally goes on her mission...............

     So back in May ( I think) I wrote about an amazing girl named Marlene Epina getting a mission call to Australia. She was suppose to leave in July, in fact the 1st of July, but because of visa issue's she kept being put off. Well, she was going to be put off again, but because of an awesome mission Pres., Pres. Mecham,  who pleaded in her behalf, we got a phone call late (about 10:15 p.m.) Saturday night from him, saying he had just gotten an e-mail saying that Marlene was leaving on the "red eye" flight Sunday night.( last night) We were suppose to let her know.
 We tried to call, but no answer, so we called the Elders (Elder Madill and Elder Lyman) and ask them to let Marlene know in the morning, as early as they dared. So, they got a hold of her early Sunday morning and we got a hold of her a short time later. She was so excited and scared at the same time.
     Well last night at 10:00 p.m. we went with Sam Bailey ( Sam drove his truck, so he could bring Marlene's friends and family to the Airport to see her off, because they do not have a vehicle to get there) to get Marlene and her family and friends. I rode in the back with everyone and all the way to the Airport ( about a 40 minute ride) we laughed and sang hymns and cried. We got Marlene checked in, she said her goodbyes and finally after a 2 1/2 month delay, she is off to the MTC in Provo to learn English, and then off to Australia, we hope. ( if Visa issues continue, she may be reassigned)

Arriving at the Airport in Sam's truck

Marlene, does she look like a great missionary or what?

Mary, Marlene, Lisa     BFF's

Mary, Marlene, Lisa & Marlene's sister Maggie

The scariest Sr. couple on the Island and Marlene

Marlene & her cousin Joseph

Sam, Marlene's brother Patterson, and me
Patterson filled out all of Marlene's
immigration papers for her

Marlene with her family and friends

Marlene, with her brother and sisters that were able to come to the Airport

Sam and Elder Kjar

     Here are some pictures of her leaving, after you look at the pictures read the rest of the story, The ending will strengthen your testimony that God answers prayers and works miracles.



Now for the rest of the story.

Let me tell you why (my personal opinion and this is my blog, so I am entitled to that) I think Marlene did not leave when she was suppose to, the 1st of July. This story starts about 9 years ago, give or take.
  About  9 years ago, Marlene was baptized. Her brother Patterson was also baptized about that time. In the past 9 or so years, Patterson has fallen away from the church. Marlene has stayed strong and continued to pray for her parents and the rest of her family to have their hearts softened and listen to the missionary lessons and join the church. Always having Faith, that one day her prayers would be answered, if she did her part, by staying strong and setting an example.
    When Marlene opened her mission call, her parents were indifferent, in fact, they said  "We don't care where she is going, we just want her school refund"
     In the last 2 1/2 months, since Marlene was "suppose" to leave, her little brother Jack was baptized, her brother, Patterson has come back into activity and her parents have been listening to the missionaries, in fact they invited us out to there home tonight to have FHE with them.
    Marlene's family needed her "Missionary" spirit, just long enough to see and feel.
The Lord answers prayers and gives us miracles, maybe not in the time frame we think He should, but he always answers righteous desires, if we are faithful and do our part.
     Australia (or wherever Marlene finally lands) watch out, she, along with the amazing spirit she has, will convert the whole nation.