Missionaries

Three pictures of missionaries looking over the balconies at their apartments. Top: Sisters Ika and Vanu. 2nd Down;Elders Early, Cook, Butler and Allred. At Church: Sisters Ika and Vanu, Elders Cook, Allred, Early, Butler(seated). Perry Baclu with walking stick was baptized in Nov. Around mango tree: Elders Butler, Allred, Tory Cepeda, Elders Roko and Delphin. Apt: Elder/Sister Jones with Elders Cook and Butler. FiniSisu Balcony: Elder and Sister Jones. 

Christmas Parties in Saipan

This is "Noche Bueno" a Christmas Eve Celebration of the Filipino culture.   Most of our neighbors in the apartment complex we live in are young Filipino families.  We were so glad that they invited us to join them.  We women had matching dresses from when Cherry Labana (2nd mom in from the right) had a surplus clothing sale at her apartment a few days before.  We thought we were very funny to wear matching dresses and it surely made me feel part of the group!   Elder Jones was asked to give the blessing on this midnight feast and we felt a closeness to all of these people. The Labana's and us, the Joneses, are the only LDS people who live here right now.

This is also Christmas Eve, but in the afternoon.  This is a little "servant's house" next to the big house that our Bishop lives in.  Sister Gloria is his housekeeper and the Relief Society President in our ward.  She made a huge array of Filipino food for us and Elder's Allred and Roco.

Here we are with the missionaries in our apartment.  Standing l to r, Elder and Sister Jones (in her Christmas dress), Elders Delphin, Roco, Allred, and Butler.  Seated, Elder Cook, Sister Ika and Sister Vano.   In the picture above is also Brother Roy Dolon, our wonderful ward mission leader.

Now here is a party at the Church.  It was a week before Christmas and we really got into the spirit with this children's game that was taking place on the stage.  The children were asked to line up and take turns at the microphone to see who could say the loudest and longest "Happy Birthday Jesuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuussssssss!"
Thank goodness the Bishop quietly and tactfully got it changed to "Merry Christmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssss!"

And one more game to show what good sports Elder and Sister Jones were in playing the "marriage game." 

another picture of Christmas Eve

The Skies Over Our Missionary Labors

We just can't stop taking pictures of the skies over Saipan.  Maybe it's the huge ocean all around us that causes these billowing white clouds and the lack of city lights that makes the night sky so clear but whatever it is, we love the variety of scenes painted in the skies over the labors of our days and nights.

First picture:  we were on a balcony of a home that was once grand, I am sure.  We were teaching with the Zone Elders the value of marriage to a couple who want to put their lives in order so they can both be baptized.  They even want to go to the temple and have their two children sealed to them.  They have alot of work to do to accomplish this, but we loved their sincerity and agreed to add our prayers to theirs. 

Next picture is just of some clouds as we were leaving the airport to see Elder Allred off to Palau.  Then we went to find Ladder Beach in a search to find a place for a beach cook-out with our Insititute group.  We hoped for a good sunset over the Island to the south of this beach which is Tinian.  This is where the US plane took off at the end of WWII to bomb Japan with the Atomic Bomb.  This was the best we could get that night. 

The last picture was a night sky with a full moon and clear stars.  We came our from a dinner at "Roy's" Hotel, and just stood and looked at the moon and the clouds.  The Hotel is really the Grand Hotel.  We have found that their are at least 6 really nice hotels on the beaches here, but our favorite is Roy's because he works there.  And because the buffet is spectacular Asian food.  Roy Dolon is our ward mission leader and we work closely with him in the missionary work here.  When we went to pay for our dinner, he came and told us that he already had paid for it.  We ate here one other time a month ago and loved it then too.  As we went to pay we found that Dolares from our ward had already paid for our dinner.  She is the creative genius in the kitchen and has taught me some neat (strange) Filipina dessert recipes.  There is one more ward member who works here, we may have to go eat at this restuarant at least one more time!
Seriously, the respect and honor that we receive here is beyond what we deserve.  We find that just by being the senior couple with enough faith to serve a mission, we are loved and honored.  We have alot to live up to!

One more thought about the skies from Mom; I think about the puffy bright white clouds against a dark blue sky of the night, I think of the billowy white clouds against the crisp bright blue of day and the sunsets and rainbows and I am reminded of a loving creator who made this beautiful world.  Much of Saipan with it's natural beauty is corrupted by what man has done here, but God still watches over it.  I can feel Heavenly Father from his skies watching over His Gospel being taught and spread here.  The Church members and the missionaries are reaching out to all the people of the Island and it is growing bit by bit. I believe that long after my turn here and even my turn on earth is over, that everyone I have seen here, everyone who has seen us with our "Church of Jesus Christ" name badges will remember and will have a better chance to accept Jesus Christ.

Bird Island and The Grotto

We visited Bird Island and the Grotto on a recent P Day. Bird Island offers a magnificent view of the ocean reef below as you gaze out toward Bird Island.

The Grotto is supposed to be the deepest grotto in the world as the ocean sweeps underneath the rocks and forms a beautiful and natural swimming hole. It is a haven for scuba divers and snorkling folks from all over the world. The steep, narrow stairway leading down to the grotto is very slippery and treacherous but Mom was very brave.

Suicide and Bonzai Cliffs

Nov. 28, 2011

Today Mom and I went to Bonzai and Suicide Cliffs,The Grotto and Bird Island. These sites are about a 30 minute drive from our apartment.
In June of 1944 a major and decisive battle took place on this island of Saipan. Over 40,000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives in the battle to control this small Pacific island. The Japanese had control of these islands after WWI and moved many people here to colonize the islands and produce sugar cane and other commodities for the Japanese Empire. Saipan was controlled by Japan and the local Chamorro people worked for the Japanese and were treated well by them. After Pearl Harbor in Dec. 1941 the Americans had to regroup and try to push the Japanese west through the Pacific Islands and back to Japan. These battles to control these islands were some of the most ferocious battles in the history of warfare. Major battles took place in such islands as Iwo Jima, Wake Island, Midway, Leyte, Guadacanal and many more. Much American blood was shed and many lives were lost. Saipan was the last major island as a defense to prevent American marines and soldiers from invading Japan. It also had an airstrip which was necessary for the U.S. in order to send aircraft toward Japan.  The Enola Gay bomber that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima actually departed from the neighboring island of Tinian.

In June, 1944 American troops landed on the beaches of Saipan and pushed the Japanese troops to the northern most part of the island.  Many of the Japanese civilians retreated with them. They found themselves caught between the Americans and the waters of the Pacific. The Japanese had a code of honor which required them to loose their lives rather than surrender. Japanese propaganda also warned the civilians that the Americans were evil and would commit great atrocities against them if they were captured. Thousands of Japanese soldiers and civilians took their own lives rather than be captured. They did so by jumping off Suicide cliffs from frightening heights to the ground below or from  Bonzai cliffs into the beautiful blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Children and infants were often in the arms of the mothers. The sight has become a place of reverence and solace for visiting Japanese who have erected memorials at the sight. It was a moving and  spiritual visit.

Service Project on Thanksgiving Day

Our District Leader Elder Early and his companion Elder Allred were trying to walk to an appointment in a neighborhood called Gualo Rai.  They were on middle road which is a very busy road and the sidewalk was completely grown over by the jungle.  With machete's and hedge clippers and coconut brooms we answered the call of our District Leader and cleaned this long sidewalk.  Everyone driving by saw a sight of young and old missionaries making Saipan more beautiful and useful.  We worked for two hours in a satisfying yet sweatifying project.  We plan to do more work like this and become a recgonized force for good in the neighborhoods; in white shirts and ties or in shorts and t shirts.

Thanksgiving 2011

Here we are in our apartment getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner.  The pictures are deceiving,  I didn't do all the work to get ready and Dad didn't do all the eating.  We both did lots of work and eating. 

Our apartment felt like home when we celebrated Thanksgiving dinner there with the missionaries that we have learned to love.  Sisters Vano and Ika are on the chairs.  Above Sister Ika in l to r order is Elder Allred, Elder Jones, Sister Jones, Elder Cook, Elder Early and Elder Butler in on the floor.  Brother Dolon, our wonderful ward mission leader is taking the picture.  He also surprised us this morning with a turkey already prepared which cut the work in at least half.  The other missionaries brought pies, salads and drinks. 
After eating and visiting we played UNO, then we laughed and visited some more. 

Since we had worked SO HARD at a service project this morning and some of the missionaries had eaten more than one Thanksgiving dinner we were glad to hear reports the following day that all had survived. 

Finasisu Inside and Out

Interesting accomodations at Finasisu Terrace Apartments. Most of the tennants are Filipinos.   Alot of very nice people including a wonderful couple who live exactly across the parking lot from.  They are Lito and Cherry Labana and four children, Li, Eli, Kelli, Keliv.  Lito (or Brother Lito - the Church members here often use "brother" or "sister" and then the first name) is 2nd Counselor in the our ward Bishopric.   One evening two of the little children came to our apt with their Dad; they remined us of Eliza and Cohen being about their ages.  They touched everything in our place and so I finally sat them down and read them some of the books Eliza sent along with us while Dad visted with their dad.  It is so nice to be near them, they have helped me (mom) especially in the adjustment here. 
It took some effort, time and money to furnish the apartment as it had no basic necessities.  We image it will be the apartment for Senior couples for years to come.  It does have filtered water, nightime security and excellent maintenance people. Anxious to see our electric bill projected to be around $300.00 per month.  Have tried to improve it and make it homey. I think the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright would categorize it as "early american adequate".  (says Dad)

Tennis in Saipan

 

There are only three public courts in Saipan and they are at the American Memorial. An inactive young adult named John Sario wanted to play and we play on Friday mornings. Good way to blend mission and tennis interests.

Clouds and Sunsets

Clouds and sunsets are marvelous to behold on this island. Seems like every time we turn around we see beautiful vistas of the sun or the sky. Diana and I are amazed at the beauty of the island skies.  We saw a brilliant double rainbow one morning, and we didn't have the camera.  We can remember it, but are looking for more rainbows in the sky.  Here's a partial one:

The Church

This the Church in Saipan. There are no addresses in Saipan so we refer to it as the Church next to McDonalds.

Morning Walks

In the mornings we go walking either on the beach or around the lagoon near the American War Memorial. We walk for 40 minutes and spend the time memorizing our scriptures from our scripture mastery lists. Diana also loves to add to her growing collection of sea shells which now dominate our apartment decor. We often dodge the raindrops but see some beautiful sights of Saipan.

American War Memorial

Saipan has a very important role in the history of World War II. After Pearl Harbor was attacked and devasted in December of 1941 the Japanese controlled all of the Pacific from China to Hawaii.  The U.S. gradually pushed west into the Pacific in an attempt to remove the Japanese from some of the islands they controlled. These islands were critical to the U.S. because they had landing fields that were necessary as bases that were needed to lodge war against the Japanese. Many of these islands became famous because of the bloody battles that were waged. Iwo Jima, Midway, Wake Island have become lasting resting places for many American soldiers. Saipan was one of these strategic islands. It was the westernmost island on the way to Japan. If the Americans could gain control of Saipan they would have a back door into Japan. In June of 1944 American troops and naval ships attacked the Japanese army on the western beaches of Saipan. Over 30,000 Japanese  lost their lives in these ferocious battles in Saipan. Many Japanese soldiers and civilians with children were pushed into the northern part of the islands and rather than surrender to the Americans they jumped off of steep cliffs into the waters of the Pacific. These cliffs are now named Bonzai and Suicide Cliffs. An American Memorial was built in Saipan to pay tribute to the heroic efforts of the U.S. soldiers and marines in defending our freedoms. If not for their efforts we could all be speaking Japanese.

Teaching and eating at Valenzuela's

Here are Dad and I going with the sisters for new member lessons to the Valenzuela's home in a village near the ocean called Dan Dan. Sister Valenzuela had invited us to plan to have dinner when we came. They are the most lovely and wonderful people.  
Dad is teaching Brother V. about the preisthood because he is soon to receive it.