"...and God saw that it was good."

More happenings in February

Here we have a FHE in February which the Sisters planned.  It got a little crazy, but, hey! we got to know each other.....which was nice since most of the people there had just wandered into the house to see what was going on.  Dad is in the "circle of trust" next to his buddy Jonathan.  This activity actually followed a very nice lesson about how even though we are different from each other in many ways, Heavenly Father loves us all. 

Missionaries at the zoo on "P" Day.  Everyone looks pretty good and the Elders aren't even making "Hafa Adai" signs with their hands or anything. 
At the transfer 6 weeks ago a couple of our missionaries changed.  Here is who's working together in Saipan since January 19th and will be together till at least mid April:  Elder Meldrum, Elder Cook, Sister Ika, Sister Tuileto'a, Joneses, Elder Rokodakunivosa (Roko), and Elder Allred.  We will post some of the other zoo characters later. 

These two wonderful sisters that live in the same house always have the missionaries over for lunch whenever there is a transfer.  We have been invited to these lunches and enjoy the Filipino food that they make, but mostly, today we enjoyed their testimonies of faith and trust in Heavenly Father.  They probably really can not afford to feed others, because everything they earn at the store they work at goes to their families.  But the Lord always makes a way for them to care for themselves and to share what they do have, and they do so with such cheer.   Ophelia, in the yellow shirt has 4 grown children in the Philippines who receive all her wages since none of them can find work there.  Amy, in white, has a daughter in Hawaii with mission papers in and is supporting her.  We realize how blessed we are to have the income to support us and that we are blessed to be able to serve a mission as seniors.  We love blending hearts and faith with the good brothers and sisters in Saipan that we're coming to know. 

Happenings in February

2012 is the 100th year anniversary of the Seminary program in the Church.  I wish that all the youth who were at the commemoration program this evening were in these pictures.  There are about 30 faithful kids who come every school morning.  But I had to hurry and take the photos with whoever ran to the refreshment table after the broadcast because they were anxious to have cake and ice cream!  Serving refreshments with me is Sister Conner and Sister Robinson, Seminary teachers.  The broadcast we saw was of the meeting held at the Conference Center in January with Boyd K. Packer as the main speaker.  We received a CD of it a few weeks later. 
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February 29th was missionary transfers. No missionary in Saipan was transferred to another island with this transfer.  The 6 young missionaries in Saipan have been exceeding the goals for lessons taught and member-present at lessons. Baptisms are coming along almost every week. We were all glad that such great work was not interrupted with transfers We are glad we can help in baptism lessons and in doing what we can to help at the baptisms themselves. Here are pictures of baptisms in February and there more are scheduled for March.
The first picture is of Ragee Paulis. He is the young man in the center of the photo in black - of course he wore white to be baptized in and the missionaries are going to start teaching the value of wearing church clothes to church starting with their baptisms.

The second picture was a baptism on February 26th with three young people.  They are Jerilynn Paulis - next to Sister Jones, then Jerika Sekool and her brother (or cousin, it's hard to keep cousins and siblings straight) Jersey Sekool.  We got to know Jerika and Jersey better at a fabulous Family Home Evening last month presented by Sisters Ika and Tuileto'a.  It was outside someone's house in the area of Saipan called Kagman.  I felt like I was at mutual camp under the stars doing role plays and games and feeling the Spirit of the Gospel.  I was in a "family" with Jersey and Jerika putting on a skit of the "sower" found in Matthew 13:3-9 and the seed being planted in good ground.  Elder Jones (Dad) was in a "family" with Jonathan (Ilene's son), Elias Ferejan and others. Their seeds fell by the way-side.   I will try to get pictures of this FHE from the sisters.