Tarawa, Kiribati Part Two

Sunday we went to church with the Waldrons in the Teaoraereke 2nd Ward on Tarawa, Kiribati.  The entire meeting was in Gilbertese with the exception of the opening and closing prayer which were given by Elder and Sister Waldron.  The speakers for the meetings were a young elder who was going home, and three stake speakers.  The young missionary elder spoke most of the time.  He recently had his appendix removed (about 2 weeks before).  Mission leaders were a bit nervous about him having the surgery on Tarawa, but they had to do it there because of his acute condition.  They felt he would not be able to make the flight to Fiji.  His companion translated for us and we learned that the spirit let him know that he would be okay.  When we left, he was doing very well.  He was dancing with everyone else on Saturday at the Dance Fest.  After the closing song and prayer they had this young missionary stand up and everyone sang "God, Be With You Till We Meet Again".  After church we went to the Waldron's apartment for a quick lunch.

Two great young missionaries

Young elder

Sister and Elder Waldron and Susan in front of their apartment

We then drove to the other end of the island where Elder Waldron, Sister Waldron, and Gary all taught Self-Reliance classes.  Susan entertained all the children.  After the classes we returned to our hotel and packed our clothes as we would be leaving Kiribati for the Marshall Islands about noon the next day.

Susan's  Class

Monday morning the Waldron's picked us up early and we went to the Monday morning devotional at the Service Center. After the devotional we were able to meet and train the new Kiribati County Welfare Manager, Peter Eria.  We also met President Weir, the mission president for both Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.  We had met his wife on Saturday at the Dance Fest.

Peter Eria

When the training was finished we drove to the airport to check in for our flight.  In Kiribati you are able to go to the airport early and check yourself and your bags in.  You can then leave the airport until it is time for the flight to leave.

Tarawa Airport

Departures

We checked in and then drove to the middle of island where we got something to eat.  Upon finishing our meal we drove back past the airport and visited the village of Buota.  Buota also has a challenge with the tidal flooding.  We visited with the people of the village, took some pictures, and discussed what they would need to build a sea wall to stop the flooding.  While we were there we saw our plane fly over so we went back to the airport bid the Waldrons farewell and boarded the flight for the Marshall Islands.

Buota shoreline

Good-bye to Kiribati

"Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives."  Thomas S. Monson, October 2009 General Conference "What Have I Done for Someone Today?"