December in Chuuk

We are always happy when the missionaries find and teach those who accept the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  

 Here are two young men about to be baptized.

 We are hiking up a hill to visit people with health problems.  One of our purposes here is to help with medical care.

We were able to visit the Island of Patta where we have missionaries. It is the farthest place from Weno (the main island of Chuuk) where we have missionaries.  After about 1 1/2 hours by boat across the Chuuk lagoon, we entered a small inlet through the mangrove trees. 

 The missionary house in Pokocho can only be reached at high tide due to the shallow water in the inlet.Here is our boat driver.  He said "It's like being in a movie to come here."

 Missionary house in Patta.  There used to be two missionary houses in Patta, but the other one was destroyed in Typhoon Maysak.

 Next to the missionaries' house was a small chapel.  However, it is not in use now because church is held in Sopota where most of the members live.  It is about one hour's walk from Pokocho.

The missionaries joined us in the boat to ride to Sopota.  

Coming out of the inlet into the open sea.

 We traveled on to Sopota where the other missionary house used to be and got off the boat on this long dock.

 Children coming to greet us.

 I loved this baby cradle/swing!  He looked very comfortable.

 The children love to have their picture taken.  The baby in the background was named after one of the missionaries.

Here is a closer look at the baby.

Helping a sick member (who also wanted reading glasses)

 We passed this person on our way and she was still washing clothes on our return.

 Fish have been salted and are drying on this rack.

 When returning to our island of Weno, we stopped bfiefly in Romanum.  We have seen children all over Chuuk making these "poppers" out of rice bags.  They are folded a certain way so that they make a large "pop" when they flick their arm in a certain way.

 They tried to teach us to make the popping sound.  They got a good laugh because we couldn't do it!

 Romanum has a nice beach.  We also had a pretty good boat that day.

A branch party in Mechitiw.

Mechitiw Primary children

 Mechitiw members gathered for the baptism of a brother and his sister.

 The baptism was held in the ocean.

 Christmas Eve with the other senior couples.

 A Christmas breakfast with the missionaries.

 Downtown Chuuk had lots of traffic on New Year's Eve day.  

At the fish market.  Here we can buy fresh fish that are brought in by the fishermen each morning.  They will even clean and filet the fish for us.  

At midnight people started drumming on whatever they could find.  They had special drum beats and chants.  I was surprised that this continued all night and all the next day (even after we went to bed).  During the day groups of people walked the streets changing and drumming.  They really wanted to celebrate the New Year.

 More people celebrating.

 One day we had trouble at the laundromat because the water did not have enough force to fill the washing machines.  We had to take buckets, fill them at a tap, and pour them into the machines until there was enough water to start the cycle.  This was repeated for the rinse cycle.  I know the picture is blurry, but I wanted to show the color of the water we wash our clothes in!  No wonder our whites don't stay white!

Celebrating the New Year with the other senior couples.

We hope you all have a Happy New Year!!!