Christmas with the Missionaries

 Christmas

We Love Christmas Time

Christmas was very enjoyable, most of our time was spent serving the younger full-time missionaries.  On December 23rd we stuff a Christmas stocking for each missionary.  On Christmas Eve the missionary couples (Bonnemort, Ogborn, Thorne) cooked a Christmas Dinner for the missionaries. Turkey with all the  trimmings.  They all enjoyed a traditional Christmas meal. There was plenty of food to eat and it was all very good.

Following the dinner, they watched a movie that had a good message about "overcoming the giants".  Can't remember the exact title.  Following the movie, the stockings and Christmas mail was handed out.  Unfortunately their packages from home did not arrive, due to the airline problems - but they appeared to really enjoy receiving a Christmas stockings.

Hungry Missionaries waiting for Christmas Dinner

Christmas Stockings for each missionary

Christmas fell on Sunday so following Church, about half the missionaries were able to use the senior couples SKYPE connection to call home.  The remainder of them called home on Monday, which was Christmas Day in the United States.  Eventually all of them were able to enjoy an hour visiting with loved ones at home.

We were able to call our families the day after Christmas to see what the grandkids got from Santa.  That is always special even if we are 6000 miles from home.  We have one more call to make to North Dakota when they return from Jackson Hole in a few days.

On December 23rd in Richfield, Utah they honored our National Guard Unit who all have arrived safely from their second tour of duty in Iraq.  For the past six years we have made small chairs honoring each soldier that serves in a combat area.  It is called the Freedom Chair Project.  Before we left we turned and assembled nearly 150 chairs for the soldiers.  Local businesses, government agencies, civic groups, and individuals donate money to sponsor one or more chairs.  This year we raised over $16,000 for the Family Readiness Group in Sevier County (the funds are used to help meet the needs of the soldiers families while they are deployed.  General Patrick Wilson sent me some photos of the event.

 Preparing for Banquet to honor 222nd National Guard Unit just returned from Iraq 

'Freedom Chairs and Gift Baskets presented to each Soldier

A supper was provided for the soldiers and their families along with a freedom chair and a large food basket for Christmas at the banquet.  This is a small token to thank them for defending our freedom through out the world.  The project started out as a simple idea to raise some funds to help and honor our brave soldiers, but during the past 6 years over 500 chairs have been handmade and presented to soldiers from Sevier County serving in combat areas.  Through the generous donations over $50,000 has been raised for military families.  The chairs take about 6 hours to turn, sand, stain, assemble and polish.  All chairs are made from hardwoods: Ash, Cherry, Maple, Oak, and Walnut.  A small plaque is placed under the seat of each chair with the soldiers name, rank, and a thank you for their service.

Overhead Photo of the 132 Freedom Chairs presented to Sevier County soldiers in December 2005.
 Over 100 chairs were presented to the 222nd in 2011

Christmas in Kiribati

Enjoying Christmas surrounded by the sea - on the Equator

in what perhaps, will be our Warmest Christmas Greeting Ever!

Christmas is just around the corner - only 3 more days to be exact.  Being on the international date line, Kiribati will be the first country in the world to have Christmas Day - - the rest of you will have to wait for 24 more hours (Naa Naa Naa).  That means Santa will land here first!   

Rudolph and the other reindeer will have to use water wings on their legs to land in Kiribati

Unfortunately we have no chimney for him to crawl down.  No snow on the roof where the reindeer can land.  No problem, Santa's sleigh will use pontoons, which the elves will attach so he can land in Kiribati to deliver presents to the boys and girls here and other places on the isles of the sea. We expect him to land on the ocean right behind our house, and then roll up his pant legs and wade through the shallow water to our back porch.  We will keep the backdoor unlocked - please don't tell the neighborhood burglars.  We will leave some breadfruit cookies and glasses of coconut milk for him, his elves and of course the reindeer. 

                                  After watching his video, maybe we should skip the cookies?

If I was Santa, I would stay in the sleigh and have the elves deliver the presents.  Santa needs to stay dry, so his beard doesn't freeze or have his sleigh 'ice up' at high altitudes, before he gets to where it is really cold such as in Utah and North Dakota.  After all we need him to deliver some really nice presents to some very cute grandkids.

Santa's Sleigh with Pontoons - making Deliveries to Kiribati   
Comparing a Kiribati Christmas on the Equator
To that of an Eskimo Village in Alaska  

There isn't a lot of evidence around here - that Christmas is nearly here, at least not like in the United States and other more developed countries;  where Chistmas is so often - overly commercialized.  We see a few decorated artificial trees in a some stores and an occasional manikin in a Santa outfit that look rather bizzare.  

Santa must have found the "fountain of Youth" in Kiribat                                                 

There are few lights on some of the huts and stores but not many. In some ways it is refreshing and in other ways we do miss some of fun the traditions - such as buying things for and spoiling our grandkids.  So far we haven't even sung a Christmas hymn in Church, that we really miss!!

Sister Thorne's 33 inch Christmas Tree

                                                                                                   
Sister Thorne has again put her creative talents together to make a cute little Christmas Tree that is held to the wall using thread hanging from a couple of nails in the wall and some duck tape.  


Air Marshall (or Scare Marshall) as some refer to it) is how the packages are delivered from the mission home in the Marshall Islands and then shipped via air freight to Tarawa. Unfortunately the only airplane that flies from the Marshall Islands to Tarawa had its engine replaced.  Thus, there have been no flights flights from there for over a month.  The mail and packages have been piling up in the mission home.  There have been no boats or ships that have traveled between the two island groups during the past month eithr. But, alas there still may be hope for a Christmas delivery.

There is a flight from there scheduled to be in Tarawa this afternoon, but because it is fully booked.  The 500 pounds of packages for the younger missionaries from their families and loved ones have been delivered to the airport, hopefully will arrive later today.  But with the flight fully booked with the passengers and their luggage, a high probability exists that the packages will get bumped.  Christmas away from home for these young elders and sisters is tough enough with out packages from home.  Letters and goodies from home really brighten their day, especially at Christmas time.   The mission home staff didn't even attempt to ship any packages for the senior missionary couples, which is Ok by us.  They  will arrive eventually, hopefully before Easter or at   least by the 4th of July or perhaps Labor Day or Thanksgiving. 

We couldn't get the Coconut or Palm Trees through our front door

The missionaries will call home on Christmas day - where their families live, not our time. The senior couples SKYPE connections will be used for the missionaries with a one hour time limit for each.  Hopefully, their families will also have SKYPE so they can see each other.  The missionaries from the Pacific area will be calling home on Sunday(our time) and those in the States will be calling on Monday.  We hope to work in some time for a call to each of our families at home.  Brian, Tracy and kids will be in Arizona with her parents,  Brian, Jalene and kids will be at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Keven, Carrie and their three will be in Richfield, Utah. 

On Saturday - December 24th the senior couples will again provide a Christmas dinner for the missionaries.  There will be turkey, ham, dressing, potatoes and gravy, cranberry, rolls - the whole works.  Sister Thorne will also be preparing a fruit custard dessert from a secret Kiribati receipt (hopefully we will soon get the secret receipt so we know what to buy).  Thank you President and Sister Shaw for sending the Turkey and other goodies from destinations unknown.

On a More Serious Note: Christmas in Kiribati

Our Stake President Iouta Tune, spoke last Sunday in church about how they celebrated Christmas when he was growing up in Kuria, a small outer island on the equator South of Tarawa.  He said the day before Christmas, he and his grandparents walked quite some distance through the bush to the nearest village.  They slept on mats on the floor of  the Maneaba (the traditional gathering place in each village).  They joined most other residents of the area, who also slept there Christmas Eve.  The parents put a package for each child on a tree placed in the maneaba.  At midnight the local minister would call out each child's name and give them the package that their parents or grandparents had prepared.  Then on Sunday the family would attend church services.

The following is what a tourist brochure says - happens in Kiribati during the Christmas celebration. We will wait and see if it is really true or just marketing by a travel agency.

The Christmas in Kiribati is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Lord Jesus as is done all across the world. Everyone rejoices to mark this special day which is basically a day of prime importance for the Christians. Christmas celebrations in Kiribati are one of the major events especially for the 2 major Christian Denomination Churches- Protestants and the Catholics. 

All the people even though they are not Christian get together to celebrate this festival in Kiribati as it becomes a meeting ground for all the cultures and traditions around the world. The celebration for Christmas in Kiribati usually begins on the Sunday when everyone attends the Christmas Service which is of great significance for everyone and especially for the Christians. The service at the church is followed by feasting and host of activities which are a favorite of the young and old alike. The main activities in Kiribati include local dancing, canoe racing, choir, sporting events like basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, boxing and game fishing.

Everyone enjoys the celebration mood till the New Year when people go in for picnics and excursion to the nearby islands and enjoy their holidays. The residents of Tarawa prefer to camp out in the Taiwan Park for about a week and here they have their barbecue feasts and entertaining activities every day until the New Year celebrations end. Be sure to visit Kiribati during Christmas for having a glimpse of the lifestyle of the islanders.

Our Christmas will be a time of gratitude for all the wonderful blessings we have received, for our great family, for the opportunity of serving among the wonderful people of the islands.  But most of all we will reflect on the birth, life, and atonement of our Savior, even Jesus Christ.

                                                   

                                          Video on why we have Christmas, that is often forgot

As the young Moroni High School students fervently declare, as they bare their testimonies, during talks and other church meetings; many of them express words to this effect: "My dearest brothers and sisters I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves each of us". Then they often sincerely express their love for their families and for each other.  Often they testify of the Divinity of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Almost all conclude their testimony with a great conviction that: "The Church is very True". 

Sister Thorne and I also testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of our loving Father in Heaven.  We testify that our Savior died on the cross that we may all be resurrected. That in the Garden of Gethsemane, our Savior took upon himself all the sins of mankind. Through His atonement each of us may have our sins forgiven and removed, on the condition that we truly repent and forsake our sins. We must also keep His commandments including loving and serving one other.   

God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ live and they know each of us personally and their  greatest desire is to have each of us return to their presence. The Father and His Son loves and blesses each of us in our daily lives, whether we recognize it or not. 

That is why we commemorate His birth at this special time of the year, may you also gain a firm knowledge and conviction of this truth is our humble prayer. In the name of His son Jesus Christ, Amen.

May the Lords choicest blessings be with each of you during this special time of the year.   

"Ask for His presence instead of Presents"

Wishing you each a very Merry Christmas!

Elder and Sister Thorne

School Christmas Social

We attended a Christmas Party on Monday afternoon with teachers and Church employees in the cafeteria.  Again there was lots of food.  We were divided into 4 groups and each group sang 2 Christmas hymns each. (Senior Couples, Teachers, Support Staff, Service Center Employees).  

Sister Thorne giving Christmas message

                                                                                                                                                                       




Sister Thorne and I were asked to give a Christmas message a few hours before the program.  Fortunately Lita had saw the minutes of the planning meeting and warned us a few days in advance that we were speaking. 

Pres. Tune giving remarks and thanking the employees

Administration and Office Staff singing Christmas Carols

Some of Moroni High Teachers harmonizing with Sister Boutara IOTEBWA as the lead singer 

Next we ate a large variety of Kiribati dishes.  The food we tried was all good, some I have been hesitant to try.  The Senior Couples then did a lip sync to the song by the Drifters, “I Dreaming of a White Christmas”.  Sister Ogborn made Santa hats for each of us.  It was a lot of fun as we took turns hold a fake microphone and acting like it was us singing.  Sister Thorne really got into it and surprised many of the teachers who thought she was always very serious and dignified.  Several commented how much they enjoyed her performing.  The rest of the groups were supposed to perform, but didn’t.  So I guess we one first place in the competition (also last place)

Service Center employees singing two carols

The employees love to sing.  Before the party began music was being played and there were always three or four who took the microphones and sang along with the music.  They are very good singers and love to harmonize, when the speakers are set up, you will see them singing for hours along with the music.  It is a joy to watch and hear them having so much fun and sharing their talents with others.  

Senior Couples (Elder and Sister Ogborn, Elder and Sister Bonnemort, and Elder and Sister Thorne) in their Santa Hats getting ready to finish off the evening with a glass of ice cream.  It isn't  as good as Utah State 'Aggie' Ice Cream but it is cold and hits the spot on hot days at the equator.

Leadership Retreat on Biketawa Island

Moroni High School Leadership Retreat

On November 30th through December 2nd, we attended a leadership retreat at Moroni High School.  The Department heads, administration,  secretaries, librarian, head cook, and school nurse were invited.  The first exercise was to divide into groups and complete a SWOT (Successes, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of each department.  Sister Thorne and I reviewed the ITEP program, since we arrived. We then used the analysis to set ITEP  goals for the 2012 school year. There were several other excellent training sessions.

Church boat which took us to Biketawa Island

Thursday afternoon we traveled to a government resort site (similar to a state park in the USA) which was on Biketawa Island.  Approximately 20 participants and their spouses were attended.  We traveled on the Church boat from Bairiki near Betio to for approximately two hours to the island.   With all the equipment and supplies only12 people, including Sister Thorne and myself, were on the first boat trip.  
The Church boat is about 30 feet long and has two 90 horsepower Yamaha Motors.  It is used by the Church Service Center to travel to the outer islands to take supplies, and people who have business there.  The trip to Biketawa was a bit choppy with some large waves so with all the weight in the boat, three men moved to the hull of the boat and everyone else moved forward as much as possible.  

When we arrived it was dark, and with no light from the moon the boat pilot had a difficult time finding the deeper channels through the sandbars to approach the resort's coast line.  By the time we arrived it was also low tide, so the propellers were hitting sand and had to raised out of the water.  The men and some of women got off the boat about one-half mile from shore and pulled and pushed the boat until we were about 50 yards from shore.  From there we waded through knee deep water to carry all the supplies and personal gear to the camp site.  It took several trips to get the supplies from the boat.  The boat later returned to get the rest of the group, who met it at the Kiribati Parliament building, so their trip was much faster than ours.

Map of Tarawa Atolls (Bairiki bottom left and Biketawa
is about in the center of the map 

Biketawa is one of 24 small atolls and islets that make up Tarawa.  The boat was launced at Bairiki, which is near Betio (see bottom left of the map).  
We arrived in the dark so we had to put up our mosquito netting up in a Tepius (not sure of the spelling) which is a small hut with a raised floor about 4 feet off the ground and its dimensions are approximately 8 feet long and 6 feet wide.  It has a sloped roof made from pandanus leaves that are woven together and placed in layers - similar to shingles.  The woven pandanus mats are the length of the roof.  The floor of the hut has small branches laid side by side attached to larger branches going in opposite direction.  We put up the mosquito net tent and placed woven mats and small pads on the floor for our bed.  It wasn't exactly like our mattress at home, but we slept well and enjoyed the fresh breeze that blew over and under us for most of the night.

We slept in mosquito netting on woven mats in a Tepius (sic) hut

Maneaba where all the meetings and meals were held

The meetings and meals were held in the maneaba.  It was constructed out of native logs from coconut and other trees.  Many of the pillars and cross beams are held in pace by small ropes lashing the logs and branches together to form beams and the roof structure.  The roof covering is made from pandanus leaves.  When the leaves begin to turn brown they are removed from the tree and soaked in the ocean water.  The village women then weave them into long mat similar to shingles which are approximately 4 feet in width and the length of the structure.  The mats are then placed in layers similar to shingles on a roof for the length of the Maneaba.   

It makes a water tight roof that slopes to the approximately 4 feet from the ground.

Getting breakfast ready in the Meneaba

We ate all our meals in the Maneaba on large mats and a large table clothe placed in the center.  Every person sits on the mats cross legged as they eat the meal which is served family style.  Again the food was plentiful, it included roast beef, sausage, raw and cooked fish, rice, breakfast crackers, mixed vegetables and many other Kiribati dishes.  The secretaries and other support staff did most of the cooking.  

Janis spent a lot of time gathering sea shells for the grandchildren and got a good variety, even though a few of them started to crawl away.  She finally stopped looking along the shore beaches and waded in the narrow water and found many beautiful and unique shells for her collection.  

Gathering seashells by the sea shore

A new freshly woven hat by Bwereia for Sister Thorne       

Bwereia, one of the secretaries at Moroni High sat down on the ground and weaving a basket with long and narrow pandanus leaves.  She then wove Sister Thorne the hat shown on the photo at the left.  She also wove another hat, all in matter of a few hours.  Bwereia met her husband when they both were working for the  police department in Kiribati.  He still is a policeman, with the rank of Lieutenant.  He went to Moroni High and has served as a Bishop and other church callings.  Bweria quit her job with the police force to work for much less money at Moroni High.  It was interesting to visit with many of the spouses of the teachers and church employees who were at the retreat with us.  The dorm father joined us latter on Friday. He and a group of Moroni students walked and waded for about 4 hours to get to Biketawa.  They had lunch at his families home in the village and later walked back to South Tarawa before returning home. Meaua, (one of our FHE students walked with the group).                                                                                          

Government resort on Biketawa Island (similar to a state park in the USA

Small islet to the West and across the bay, it has a small village and a private resort

For the return trip we traveled to Bonriki - South West of the airport, it was approximately an hour boat ride.  After unloading the boat, we waited for the church van and truck to pick up our supplies and our group to return us to the Moroni Campus.  The boat then returned to get the rest of the group. 

It was a great three days of training and fun activities.  We were all especially proud of Sister Thorne for surviving over 3 hours, round trip, on the boat.  She does not like to be on, in, or fly over large bodies of water. But overall, she really enjoyed roughing it.  Despite some inconveniences like no running water in the restrooms; having to take a bucket of water to flush the toilets; and showering by dumping a bucket of water over your head and rinsing your hair with another bucket of water.  The pump that normally provides stored rain water for the restrooms was not working. 

The boat returned to get the rest of the group and on the way back it ran out of gas.  As all the ladies sang and danced on the boat some of the men were trying to find gas to put in the motors.  So the boat drifted and the ladies sang and had a good time.  Finally they got one of the motors started, so their travel was very slow.  They eventually got home about 11:00 p.m.  We are glad we were on the first boat trip instead of the drifting adventure.

It was good to get away from the crowded conditions on South Tarawa and get a feel of island life where only a few people live and to experience island life at a much simpler pace.  Lita and the administration did a great job of putting on an excellent professional development activity.