Summer Fun!!

It’s hard to believe two months have gone by so fast.  We had a difficult few weeks with sickness with our Elders and Sisters.   We had measles!  Yes, I know!  They all had their shots, but 5 of them still came down with ASKA (Pohnpein word for measles).  It was an epidemic on the island for a couple of months.  They also suffered from flu, respiratory infections, and even some things, I will not mention on the blog, but are common on the island for both Sisters and Elders.  A couple of missionaries took a turn in the local pink hospital. Someone is always sick with something, but we are so much better now.  Two of our Elders had to go to Guam for health issues, but are feeling well enough to come back!  Hurray!!  We have missed them dearly.  Elder Chandler was sick for a couple of weeks also with the flu two different times in June.  He is a skinny little thing (lost 15 lbs).

We have enjoyed our extra time the past couple of months.  We had a wonderful visit from our son-in-law, Rocky and granddaughter, Abby in June.  We played hard.  We hope you enjoy the pictures we took of the island's beauty while they were here.  Thanks to an Eagle project we gave out reading glasses sent to us that were so needed.  The Pohnpeins loved getting glasses more than I can express in this blog.  Rocky and Abby also brought fun things for the youth on the island!  The members loved having them here and spoiled them!  They did not want them to leave.

President and Sister Mecham finished their mission sprinting to the finish line!  How we have loved them for their devotion and direction for our Micronesia Guam Mission. We were truly blessed to have them at the helm for 3 years.

We have a wonderful new Mission President and his wife, President and Sister
Zarbock.  We loved them from day one when they came to our island!  They got the Micronesia initiation with three plane cancellations.  They were here a couple of extra days, which we loved!  We were able to go out with the Elders and Sisters teaching.  Then when they arrived in Chuuk, their plane was cancelled again!!  Welcome home, President.  All these plane cancellations are just part of being in the mission.  You can always expect the unexpected!!

We enjoyed a few days in Guam for Couple’s conference.  It is always such a breath of fresh air.  Food never tasted so good!  It is nice to get away, shop for food to bring home that you cannot find on the island and enjoy wonderful friendships with other couples serving on other Islands.  It is so nice to hear their stories, trials, and successes.  We love them all and pray for them.

The work is moving forward at an amazing pace even with all the sicknesses that our Elders and Sisters suffer with.  We have loved soooo much going out with the Elders and Sisters teaching these past two months.  Last week was a fabulous week.  We taught Mission Preparation and Temple Preparation 3 nights and the other 4 days or nights we were out teaching with the Elders & Sisters.  I wish it could be like that every week. 

We are missing our seminary youth so much.  School will start in a couple of weeks and not to soon for us.  We have had many youth baptisms since seminary ended, so we are so looking forward to new converts coming. 

We have had 6 mission calls this summer.  What excitement in the lives of the youth here!  Four of them are going to Australia!!  Two of our sisters were called to the exact same mission, leaving the exact same day.  They feel very fortunate to have each other to travel together. 

Elder Cook from Utah finished his mission so strong!  No looking back for this amazing Elder.  What a wonderful missionary he was.  We truly miss him.  In two weeks two more Elders are going home from our Island.  It is so hard to say good-bye to Elder Hansen and Elder Lyman.  We have truly been blessed on this island for their service here.   We certainly love our Elders and Sisters who serve here. We will be eternally connected.  

How happy are we!  Snuggled together in the arms of love!

Momma Serena and Sister Tim greet our family at the airport

After Church on Sunday Abby is giving gifts of love to the children

Abby at her finest jumping from a cliff.  But we did avoid the Eel that almost got us!!

Abby's favorite island past time was catching the baby chicks

Abby and Grandma walking through the beautiful path to the waterfalls

Oh, how the children love the glow sticks!  They had so much fun that night.

Renster Kalio climbing the tree to get a coconut for us to drink

Rocky just had to try his hand at cutting it open!  Yikes!

Abby loves uhpw (coconut drink)

Humble President Albert with his new chainsaw!

Abby stood for two hours making glow-in-the dark jewelry for all of the children

Abby played for two different baptisms while they were here.  The locals put her right to work.

Saying Good-bye to our wonderful Elder Cook

We are as the Army of Helaman

What a powerful Sister Missionary force.  Hey, Elder Cook, how did you get in there!

Saying goodbye to Mary Sahm who is now serving in the Sacramento California mission.

Her family did not want to say good-bye.  They will miss her!

Janette Raymond opening her mission call to Brisbane Australia

Jersen Elies opening his mission call to Australia Perth Mission

Hermerihna Makaya going to Australia Adelaide Mission

Couples conference FHE with Bishop Nicerio

What a force for good in the Micornesia Guam Mission

President Zarbock's first Zone conference in Pohnpei

Looks like Elder Chandler and Sister Zarbock are helping President figure it all out.

Sister Zarbock teaching with Sister Roberts and Sister Illaoa

A wonderful night teaching at the Mark family.  How much we love this family!

Elder Hansen baptizing a long time investigator.  She finally did it!!

Elder Hansen and Elder Gardner.  What a team they are!

Reading glasses anyone

Oh, how they loved receiving glasses

Drew on his sealing day to his family!

At home our newest adopted grandson Andrew was sealed to his family!  What a wonderful day for our family.  We were there in spirit! Thank you to our good friend Grant Williams for sealing them in the Bountiful Temple.