Thornes-in-Tarawa: July 4th Celebration in Kiribati

4th of July in Kiribati

The missionary couples were invited to a special morning devotional at Moroni High School. When we got there the place was decorated with a large American Flag on the back row of the choral room. There was a large sheet cake decorated as the American flag with fifty white stars on a blue background all made from frosting along with red and white stripes in the flag. The missionary couples sat on the top row just in front of the Flag as the honored guests.

In attendance was the Moroni High faculty and the service center employees.

The program began with singing "My Country Tis of Thee", I was asked to give an inspirational thought. So I spoke of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution and the importance of each document. President Tune then also spoke on the same topics and added how the Japanese had captured Tarawa and were using the I-Kiribati people as slave laborers and how grateful he was that the US was able to recapture the island and allow it to become an English protectorate until it gained its independence as a nation. This was followed by all of us singing "The Star Spangled Banner" as we all arose placed our hand over our hearts and sang with gusto.

Lita then showed a YouTube video clip on American as part of the video was the song "I'm proud to be an American". The sister missionaries then cut the cake, all posing holding the knife. The closing hymn was "America The Beautiful". After the closing prayer we had refreshments.

It was a wonderful surprise and helped us remember our basic freedoms. Kiribati will celebrate their independence day beginning July 8th for the entire week.

The room was decorated in Red White and Blue

From Left to Right Elder and Sister Bush, Elder and Sister Thorne, Elder and Sister Ogborn, and Elder and Sister Bonnemort were honored guest at a July 4th celebration in Kiribati

Patriotic Cake for 4th of July

Lita conducting the celebration and Pres. Tune with his new I-Pad getting ready to display the word to the songs on the screen

Pres. Tune talking discussing the importance of the US constitution and the religious freedoms
now enjoyed in Kiribati because of the sacrifices of US service men at the Battle of Tarawa

One of the teachers really got in the spirit of independence day with his US Flag Tie.
Everyone wanted a photo of his tie.

Another I-Kiribati Tradition is to have honored guests cut the cake. Here the four senior missionary sisters are all holding the knife getting ready to cut the cake, prior to refreshments being served

Kiribati Independence Week

The second week in July all schools and government offices are closed to celebrate Kiribati's Independence Day. There are many special events scheduled for Kiribati independence week including singing, dancing, talent show, high school drama competition, canoe races, kite races, soccer, power weight lifting, and many other events. Unfortunately, we will be in Fiji for a doctors appointment during that week and will miss all the festivities. The people do know how to celebrate in Kiribati.

July 5th and 6th was the inter school track and field event, which is the major high school sporting event of the year. There were nine schools represented and the grand entry by each squad was very impressive. They marched in step in their track uniforms with the school banner out front. When they got in front of the bleachers where the honored guests were seated each squat did a dance routine, some lasted only for a minute and others went nearly ten minutes.

We were able to watch part of the events the first day and then had to leave, unfortunately we forgot to bring our camera. But it was very impressive. Most of the final events will occur on Friday. It has rained off on on most of the day, but each school brings large shelters for the squads and other students to sit under to watch the events. We were able to return Friday morning and watch the boys and girls distance events which took several hours to complete all the heats. We sat with the student body as they cheered each runner every time they passed the Moroni tent.

Moroni High School won both the senior and junior divisions at the track meet, winning most of the distance and intermediate events (5000, 3000, 800, 400 for both boys and girls. They placed high in the sprints but didn't win them and also won most of the relay and field events. They have trained hard for several months and it was very evident.

I-KIRIBATI STUDIES CLASS

As part of the curriculum at Moroni High is a class called Kiribati Studies. As part of the course, students are taught traditional skills that have been passed down for generations. For this part of the course students meet in the maneabea to learn skills such as basket weaving and making fishing nets