Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island is a small island of the coast of southeast Saipan. On P Day we went with the Elders and Sisters on a hike to the island. It involved a very difficult hike down the side of a cliff with only steady feet and an occasional rope to steady the climb. We did not go all the way down to the island because we knew from experience that what goes down must also go up and we were not sure about that commitment. We did sit on a ledge for about an hour overlooking the beautiful scenery and watching the ocean waves of the Pacific slam against the island and surrounding rocks. The area is a top attraction for snorkeling and scuba diving and is a resting place for sharks and large turtles.

Probably against the rules but the truck was the only vehicle capable of making the journey down the terrible road



Two intrepid missionaries about to make the descent

One intrepid missionary trying to decide

This is as far as we went. The view was gorgeous

The Saipan District Hikers

The final view of a great trek

The Bad Side

THE BAD SIDE
This blog sight has probably given the impression Saipan is an island of spectacular natural beauty and wonderful people. It is both. The natural jungle and seascapes are indeed spectacular and the cloud formations and sunsets are unparelled. The people are very humble yet courteous and friendly and loving. What the government and the economy has done to Saipan is equally spectular and almost criminal. This blog will provide some sights that show the dismal economic conditions and decay that is also part of the island. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Saipan was a vibrant and exciting place to live. Many US companies like Nike, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Levi Straus and others set up garment factories in Saipan where they could hire cheap labor and also put "made in the USA" on the labels as Saipan was a US protectorate in the Pacific. Jobs were abundent and paid at least the minimum wage for Saipan which was near $3.00 an hour. Saipan was also a major tourist destination for the Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans. Many wonderful hotels were built along with golf courses and an exciting new La Fiesta Mall. Then a couple of things happened. Government ignored criminal activity against tourists and tried to extort Japan Airlines who brought many people to Saipan. JAL discontinued service. The garment companies found cheaper labor in Malaysia, Phillipines and China and closed the factories. The economy has gone into a tailspin and has never recovered. The La Fiesta Mall closed as did several of the grand hotels. Unemployment soared and new building stopped. Today the decayed remains of the glory years still dot the landscape as an ugly reminder of when things were good. The decayed factories remain and the small barack type housing are spread throughout the island. All is not well in paradise.

                                     

The Finest Hotel in Saipan..The Palms Hotel......Now Empty and in Decay

Former Garment Factory

Garment Factory Remains

Another Former Garment Factory

The Remains of a Once Vibrant and Busy LA FIESTA MALL

La Fiesta Mall.....Gates to Nowhere

Lavish new airport hotel. Never finished. Now ghost of the runway

Some Missionary Doings in May

I (Sister Jones) love to put pictures in order in a scrap book.  But trying to do that on a blog is different.   The pictures don't go on in the order I tell them to.  So these are mixed up.  I wonder where these words will be when I push "enter...."  

Well the picture on top is at the paint ball house deep in the jungle on a dark night.  We are  teaching (l-r) Roly and Belle with Jie Jie Garrett - Jie Jie is the member who's husband died a few months ago.  We spent a lot of time with her then and now we enjoy her teaching with us as she translates the lessons into Tagalog. 

Next is Elders Mafi, Lapeyrouse and Roco relaxing for a few minutes after a District Meeting at the Church.  All of the Elders play the Uke and once in a whle they teach me a little.   I in turn teach a little piano while we are waiting for the meeting to start.  That is Elder Roco trying to find the right notes with  Elder L. watching.  Every time we walk into this room it seems someone wants a piano lesson!

At that same District Meeting we had "role playing."  Sister Piukula is trying to convince her investigator to come to church.  A few pictures down, Elder Mafi joins in because this investigator is pretty tough :-)

The next picture is the missionaries at our new apartment after carrying all our stuff up 3 flights of stairs.  The pizza is in the oven!

This next picture makes Sister Tuileto'a and I laugh now, but it wasn't very funny at the time.  Elder Jones had to drive the car wheels over the chain of this dog because he once bit Elder Jones - teeth marks in his pants - and he also bit Sister Ika's skirt when she was still here. 

Elder Cook is such a good teacher!  First in District Meeting and then in Gospel Principles class for investigators and missionaries. 

The last picture is Sister Jones with the Primary Board at Stake Training.  I am on call to help in the Primary.  l-r:  Amy Sario, Lou Valenzuela, Jie Jie, Bernie Fejeren, me, Diane Esplin, Lillian Tamayo, Sister Moran from the Stake - she came over from Guam - Frennie Fransico and Janell Robinson.

Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, Sister Bernie Fejeren met us at the Church with a fragrant lei and a wmaremare that she had made for me.  It made me feel so special all day.  I also smelled soooo good!   Here we are at her house after Church.  She comes to the Institue class that Elder Jones and I teach after the block and then goes  missionary teaching with us before we finally finish up the Sabbath Day meetings together. 

In the evening, the missionaries came to our house for dinner and song practice for an upcoming Missionary Fireside.  They had made this big Mother's Day card with pictures of many of our activites together inside. 

It was truly a special and memorable day. 

Missionaries are:  kneeling, Elder Mafi, l-r Elder Lapyerouse, Elder and Sister Jones, Sister Piukala, Sister Tuitulo'a, Elder Roco, in the back is Elder Cook.