Teaching with the Missionaries

TEACHING WITH THE MISSIONARIES

 

We went to visit Linore and her boys.  They live in such a poor place.  They enjoyed having us come and bringing a lesson about keeping the commandments.  The neighbor children who were there had not been to Primary yet, but they sang "Keep the Commandments" with us and listened to a story from the Friend magazine about not swearing.  They enjoyed laughing at one of Elder Jones' jokes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we posted the other 8 or 9 pics we tried to take this night you'd know why we are laughing.  We were with the Sister Missionaries, Sister Mataele and Sulog teaching this Chinese group and the mother didn't know how to use our camera that apparently wasn't made in China.  This picture was finally straight, facing forwards and had no hand covering it.  We had just enjoyed a spiritual experience teaching this good little family and their friend, Victor (his chosen English name) standing next to Sister Jones.  Victor loves the church, wants it in his life but still feels confusion about some teachings.  The next day he was leaving for China, that huge place where the Church is hard to find.  We hope his prayers will be answered for him concerning the Gospel. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Arnold's house.  It is really one of the nicer ones we have visited in, even though we did have to step over many kitty-cats as we went in the front door.  He said they have 22 kittens!  Kittens in Saipan are different than at home.  They don't even know they are kittens cause when you call "here kitty," they ignore you.  I've been told that you call "eechy" and they might come.  Well, there you have it.  But how do you feed 22 eechy's?  I don't know if you do, any eechie we've seen here looks hungry and skinny. 

Arnold was baptized last month after waiting years for the opportunity.  He seemed to find great strength and encouragement from a friendship with Elder Jones.  He asked Elder Jones months ago to baptize him when the time came, but when the time came, Elder Jones had the torn rotator cuff that would probably allow him to put Arnold under the water, but never get him up out of it again.  So the day following the baptism, Elder Jones conferred the Holy Ghost on him. 

 

 

Baptism Day for Arnold with us, Sisters Mataele, Sulog, and Brother Roy Dolon, January 26, 2013.

 

 

 

We went with Elders Loveless and Lina to this place of residence just before Elder Lina transferred to Guam.  A young single mother, Redge, watched with interest the DVD of the Restoration as we sat outside the house.  When asked if she had any questions, she asked where the gold plates are now.  She is studying many religions right now and we wondered if someone from another church asked her to ask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a FHE with Elder Loveless at a home in government housing.  Many Chuukese and Carolinian people who are native to the island live here.  Some of them still have houses in the jungles and live there part of the time.  They have "family by the dozens; aunts, uncles and cousins," so having a couple of houses is a pretty good idea.   

 

 

 

Things Growing in the Jungle

   Just look at the miracle of a growing banana.  From the 3rd floor walkway of our apartment building we have a bird's eye view of these bananas and the huge purple blossom hanging below the growing bananas. Bananas don't grow on trees, but from huge stalks that grow up from the ground in a cluster. The large swaying "leaves" are tree-like and as they blow in the wind the sound is as rushing, rustling waves.  The leaves then begin a lovely shredding process making the impact stunning. The blossoms are a surprise to see and apparently are a delicacy to eat. When allowed to grow, the blossom pulls back layer by layer revealing little fingers of bananas and then another.  It then takes weeks for the bananas to mature. The miracle of it all is entrancing when one has this view of the creation of bananas.
 

 
Once these stalks have completed their purpose, they turn brown and die away.  It is  a big job clearing out old banana leaves from the jungles.  Here Elders Stewart and Roco are joined by Tori Cepada in clearing away the remains at Linda Castro's property.

 

 

The picture below is a betel nut tree and for all its beauty, it brings ugliness to many islander people who chew the betel nut.  The price paid for its euphoric effect on users is stained red teeth and disease to gums and mouth.  This tree covers islands of the Pacific and causes problems for those who want to join the Church since the betel nut drug is against the word of wisdom.

It probably wouldn't be wise to park you car or stand under this coconut tree. Coconut trees are everytwhere on Saipan of all different sizes.  The palm leaves are beautiful.  Coconut milk is used in alot of cooking and for just drinking staight from the fruit.  There is no industry here to make more of the coconuts which seems a waste.

Can you see the papaya tree?  They also come in all sizes and heights.  This slender trunk reaching up against the banana leaves has fruit up so high that only a young, strong barefoot man can reach it by climbing like a monkey up the trunk.  We have seen that done for betel nut and coconuts, so we assume that is the way to reach high fruit of any sort. 

And one more banana plant.  This is a different variety.  Reading on line about the growth of a banana, it sounds like it takes as long as a human baby before birth, that's right, from start to finish a banana can take up to 9 months. 

 

 

This is the smallest bunch of bananas and tiniest bananas we have ever seen.  They were delicious, but almost too much trouble to peel  and eat, because eating just one doesn't quite do it. 

 

 

Here is a young mango tree with ripening fruit that you can just reach out and pick, this is on Lumbana's place.  The other mango tree is old, how old we don't know, but it is huge and looks very, very old.  This is the mango tree which our four church buildings surround.  In May it fills up with fruit. 16 year old Andres it the topmost branches picking ripe mango for us.

 

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