Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Best Talk I ever Heard!

What do you do when homesickness hits. It was perhaps an accumulation of events, of what we are coming to realize , as the missionaries and local brothers would say  “welcome to Majuro” or “ life in Majuro”.  High on the list of frustrations is trying not to feel completely  inadequate and continuing to learn a new language. Added to the list this month was tieing the flat tire record with another “need greater” at 3 in 3 months, actually our percentage is better than theirs. Then there  was finally the arrival of our water filter in a long lost box which took 3 months to get here and its the wrong kind.  To go right to the #1 event was a rat shows up in our toilet!  Unfortunately discovered by Lynn and fortunately rescued by a kindly and brave Marshallese sister who was helping her prepare lunch for the CO.  By rescued, I mean Lynn, not the rat!   It received it’s just punishment. 

  Now for the encouragement We had the first visit of our CO, of all places he is from Long Island and with him is a representative from the branch in Guam and it turns out he is also from Long Island and grew up with our former Helena Co’s wife. First  we receive a letter from  the branch in Guam with the most encouraging thanks and acknowledgement to the challenges we face most especially to not “give up” on the language barrier! Then the talks begin our CO with the admonition for all to tap into the power of God’s word and to “handle the word of truth aright”.  He also in a very exciting ‘moment’ for the entire Micronesian peoples discusses the new light for this area that the governing body has recognized the need to more accurately translate according to the original Bible languages the word for God’s spirit or God’s active force. In the Marshallese language it turns out that the word that has been used in Bibles and in our publications literally means ‘holy ghost’ or a spirit being not God’s power or active force as the original languages demand. Corrections are being made in the publications and no word yet if a NWT is in the works.   Next comes a special talk by the Branch servant with the encouragement to have faith like Noah! Not faith like the world in blind belief but faith based on a knowledge of God’s creative works and on his unchanging and assured word’s of truth.  But the very next afternoon our telephone rings and we would here “The Best Talk I Ever Heard”. Thanks to Jake and Kim  they let our grandson Justin call us after just getting home late from meeting (probably 10 pm your time) to say high and he was quite excited to tell grandma of his first non reading talk in Mt Helena and she says “why don't you give your talk to grandpa, here he is”. He told me about picturing yourself in paradise, imagine the things you would enjoy doing! Then he said he asked does this sound to good to be true. He talked about the Bible’s assured  promises. He used the illustration of would a landlord, if his renters were trashing his house burn down the house or get rid of the renters. I told him it sounded almost exactly like the co’s suggested presentation to start bible study’s  this week, and I am now telling you Justin that we have already three rv’s to study in the Bible Teach book using your talk as a presentation. It was the best talk I ever heard, kommol tada, thank you!       By the way your encouragement reminded me of another phone call with Kennedy about her commenting at the meeting at which I had sheepishly told her she had commented more than me at my last meeting. I have since made it a goal for at least one comment even if in broken Marshallese! Thanks Kennedy! So if you have endured this journal entry I hope you do not mind the “family” pictures. I only wish I had three pictures of the three Helena congregations to include , so please see yourselves here!IMG_0634

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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Minus What?

We have struggled with this one as to what to post or say to “Montana” when we  heard temperatures have dropped below zero and are planning to stay a while and as we recall the‘saying’  “ITS ONLY  DECEMBER!”  How about: ‘It could get worse.’ No, it is “worse” and it probably will get worse. How about ‘Here is a warm thought’ or ‘Warm up to these pictures’. Eww that would simply be cruel!  Ahh we’ve got it 1John 4:20  remember if anyone says he loves God they cannot be hating his brother and sister in Majuro. Or to put it simply in Marshallese “Jolok bwir” translated forgive us, literally ‘throw away my mistakes’.

P1010346 1. This is the ocean side by our house. Lynn is standing on the reef at low tide. You can see the small bit of beach sand in the background which is covered at high tide by water.

P1010345 2 Again the ocean and reef at low tide. This perhaps shows the rockiness of the reef. Also notice where the water is in the background where the waves are breaking. This is where the reef ends and drops down to ocean depths. Quite the snorkelers and divers experience when the waves permit and if you don't mind  an occasional shark!

P1010371 3 Oceanside, high tide and sunset. TOUGHEN UP COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS!   “JOLOK BWIR”

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Grandma on the loose!

P1010334 Grandma! What are you doing? Can you imagine, we are only in about chest deep water here ( and this is high tide)which continues to be shallow until  the reef ends about 100yards or more from shore.  In previous blog of map, the reef was outlined if you could see it. This is prime snorkeling we are told we have not decided if we should buy local (poor quality) or look via  the states. Behind the good looking grandma the airport is at the furthest point pictured. A future blog will deal with the airport.

P1010332 Can you see our house? It is the one behind the coconut tree! Dead center. Notice high tide and no beach.

IMG_0641 Hey KENNEDY  this snail is sticking his tongue out at you! Do not worry we ate him along with about 20 of his friends. Some friends caught them in the lagoon by our house while snorkeling. Chewey but good.

The Laura Congregation

IMG_0634  1.”Look! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together  in unity!”   2. Just in case you wondered how we wind down . This picture was taken on the “lik” side  or ocean side of the atol literally a one block walk from our doorstep.    P1010307 P10103183.After a really stressful day, we walk 20 steps from our doorstep in the opposite direction to the “yar” side or the lagoon  of “our yard” . Here poised for a deep breath before entering  the lagoon with one of our 2 newly “used” purchased kayaks (from where else but do it best hardware?—only on Majuro!) Yes both Lynn and I have been seen riding the waves in the lagoon. The standing record ride is ten feet on a curling 18 foot—ok it was only 18 inches. Take that you mountain biking, rock climbing, big sky skiing and 4 wheeling children of ours! Someone please come visit--- we have three bedrooms! Great rates!