Another mission trip to Lae and Ujae Islands!

One of the last things I said six months ago upon our return from Lae Island was,  "Boy, I hope I NEVER have to do that again!" Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the people and the island is beautiful and we had some amazing experiences.  It's just that the nine-hour boat ride was trying and LOOOOONG, and like I said.... nine.hours.each.way.  Nine hours of just sitting and staring into the open ocean (some people can sleep, but I can't because it makes me even sicker to my stomach).  We went in a 50 foot fishing vessel out in the elements on the open sea with nothing more than a pillow and a mat to sit on.  I know, I know.  Never say Never!  I have always said that as a parent with growing children as you never know when you are going to eat your words.  Well, judging by the title of this post, you now know I ATE MY WORDS!   President Weir and Sister Weir, our mission President and his wife, were supposed to go with us last time, but got called away on other duties.  Six months later, they were rearing to go.    So, go we did.

I told Elder Becker going on this trip is something similar to child birth...... you might have some extreme pain and discomfort through the hours of childbirth (boat ride), but as soon as you see that wonderful creation (the island and it's people) then all that pain was so worth it.  And so with this trip, as time dulled my memories of the boat, my sea sickness and the heat, what stood out to me were the GOOD memories of the island, the wonderful new friends, and inspirational and spiritual meetings.  The beauty of the island beckoned to us once again.

OCTOBER 24, 2014
There were about 25 of us on the boat this time around.  We had the same boat, the same crew, and a few of the same people with us.  For Sister Weir, this was an entirely new experience.  And that's saying a lot since she has seen some amazing things from all her travels around the mission from the Marshall Islands to Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) and to Christmas Island.  I felt blessed to have three wonderful women with me from the Kwajalein District to help with the training, Annmarie Loeak, District RS President, Maria John, District YW Counselor, and Sandy Bellu, District Primary President.  Just the week before I had asked the Priesthood leaders for more help for the women, and these sweet sisters stepped up to the call.  Amazing!

It was our intention to start loading the boat at 6am, but it was pouring rain.  So, we had just a bit of a delay as we waited for the storm to pass.  After we filled the hold with goods and ice we managed to slip away from the dock at 10am (only 2 hours behind schedule).  We left the rain behind us, and never saw it again!  Smooth sailing all the way.

loading the people!

loading the ice with Carl Kilma

So long Ebeye!

Pres and Sister Weir on the right

goodbye Kwajalein Atoll!

The boat ride this time was SMOOTH SAILING!  It was so nice.  And much, much better than last time.  The boat engine and the waves are so loud that you can't really talk much unless you are real close, so most of that time is spent in introspection.  That's what I call it.  Elder Becker just calls it SLEEP.  He takes the Dramamine pills and falls asleep for hours on end.  Me?

Bro. Thomas,the missionaries heading to Lae,
Elder Barlow and Elder Whetstone, and Pres. Weir

Sister Loeak, being the "stewardess"

I just sit and read my Ipad, play a game or two, sing to myself, and just stare out at the endless waves.  I'm not much at sleeping while traveling as it makes me more sick, so I just sit and sit and sit and wait.   With the Dramamine, it's kind of a mind-numbing trance at times.

Some people enjoyed some homemade bread (pilawe),
chicken (bao) and rice, but I stuck to my peanut butter and honey sandwich.  I don't have much of an appetite on the boat.  Many of the islanders like to smell orange rind, as they say it helps relieve sea sickness.  Once I remembered that, I pulled mine out and shared my oranges with those around me.  I don't know if it helps or not, but it does smell good!

my "spot" for the next 8 1/2 hrs! yikes, not too lady-like!

I did get in lots of reading!

these 4 brought us in, Thelma Ned, Langbata, Elder Becker, and Drebon

We managed to make it in record time, only 8 1/2 hours!  Yahoo!  Land ahoy! As Elder Becker and his cohorts "guided" us into the Atoll, Langbata pointed to a small island (2nd one on the right) and dubbed it "Becker Island".

Becker Island!

And that's what we called it all week long.  Hmmm, better write up the papers and make it legal so we can start building!  ha, ha.

royal greeting by the locals; greeted with singing and flower leis

arrival feast of rice, salt fish (raw), breadfruit, sea clams, pork, coconut milk and a coconut drink

visiting the sisters

our visit with Doreen outside her home.  they sat on the coral, but gave me a mat to sit on!  wimp!

fresh coconut to drink; great knife work!

visiting another sister in her home

Sister Weir sharing her testimony after our sister visits

beauties!  I love them all!

Sister Weir and some of the children

Young Women training with the YW leaders

Elder Barlow, Actson Langbata, Elder Whetstone

I LOVE these women!  Sandy Bellu, Annmarie Loeak, me, Maria John, all from Ebeye and Sister Weir.  We helped strengthen the Lae sisters through Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary trainings as well as home visits.

The men went to Ujae on Saturday to see the missionaries and to check on the progress they have been making in the church.

Ujae Elders Siale and Price with Elder Becker and Pres. Weir

walking through Ujae

Ujae visit

representatives to Ujae from the District and Lae.

Monday Morning Bro. Langbata and his dad took us on a cruise around the Atoll in a small motor boat.  There are about 20 small islands in the Lae Atoll.  This is the same boat they use to off load us and all our supplies from our fishing boat.  We went to Langbata's island and then on to Becker Island!

our "three-hour cruise" around the Atoll

walking around on Langbata's island

stepping foot on "Becker Island"!

Weirs and Beckers

daily afternoon volleyball game in the church courtyard

always looking for another shell....like mother like daughter!

We had a wonderful weekend filled with church gatherings, Lae Branch District Conference, leadership trainings, Family Home Evening, relaxing under the coconut trees, searching for shells, visiting with the locals, women doing "rescue visits" (visiting people who haven't been to church in a while that might need some encouragement or help), men going to Ujae, playing with the children, a boat "cruise" around the Atoll, and trying to stay cool.  Remember no air conditioning plus high humidity = hot and sticky ALL.the.time.

I gave out some lice combs to the sisters

typical home

love these ladies!

Pres. Weir speaking at the Conference

my buddy, Steven, and the Nebo girls

Steven playing thumb wars with Pres. Weir

Training class under the trees

bringing in supplies from the big boat

Lae church grounds

 All in all, we had an amazing time on Lae and Ujae.  We made some wonderful connections (and re-connections) with the people, had inspirational training sessions, and we felt the spirit guiding us.  There are approximately 350 people on this small island, of which there are 108 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  At our Sunday services we had about 135 in attendance, and then on Monday night at our Family Home Evening we had 177 people present!  It was amazing! We would dance if we had attendance percentages like that back home.  Several members of the High Council spoke at the FHE meeting, including Elder Becker.  I felt the spirit so strong there in that meeting.  It matters not where you gather as Heavenly Father and Holy Ghost will be there to lead you and to guide you.  Even on a remote island in the Pacific.  Elder Becker's talk that night was the best talk I have ever heard him give.  I felt the spirit so strong, and I knew he was being guided in what to say. He stopped reading his notes and the words just flowed.   He spoke on charity and the love of God.  He talked about helping one another, and then he spoke about the highest form of charity, that being forgiveness.  The best act of charity we can give one another is to forgive others their tresspasses.  That is a very good lesson for all of us to remember.

Now, it was time to say good-bye.  That is always hard to do as you never know if you will be coming back.  But, I have this sneaking suspicion that we will be going back in six months.

I must say, the boat ride home was a ride to remember.  I do not say that lightly, nor do I say that with any degree of fondness.  We were met with the typical fall storms.  In fact, we were already drenched before the captain even turned over the engine.  Needless to say, it was a ride we will always remember.  In fact it was too wild for the men to even fish.  Now I know that's rough when they can't do that.  Sorry no Tuna or Mahi Mahi to bring home this time.  And it was too wet and wild to even take a picture.  We were just glad we MADE IT HOME in one piece.   Elder Becker's description of our trip was the most accurate of all, "it felt like we were on the spin and rinse cycle in a washing machine for nine hours."   We tossed and turned, were rained and sprayed on by the waves, and were wet for the entire trip.  As I sat there in my solace the words of two songs kept running through my head.  And then I sang them out loud since nobody could hear me any way.

Master the tempest is raging!  The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'er shadowed with blackness, No shelter nor help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish? How canst thou lie asleep.
When each moment so madly is threatning A grave in the angry deep?
Chorus:
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will: Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea or demons or men or what
ever it be, No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean
and earth and skies.  They all shall sweetly obey thy will:  Peace be still;
peace, be still.  They all shall sweetly obey thy will:  Peace, peace, be still.

I prayed and prayed and prayed that the waves and the sea would be calmed.  But it did not happen. The wind did not die down and the waves kept crashing in on us.   What happened instead was that I received calm in my own heart.  I had the faith that Heavenly Father could calm the seas if He wanted, but that was not His will.  I knew that he was with us and protecting us, and I felt comforted by that thought.  Then, my thoughts began to change gears and I started singing another song in my mind.  At first it came to me in Marshallese (crazy, I know!), and then I would sing it in English.  Funny how prayers are answered sometimes.  But, this gave me peace, especially as I thought about the words to the hymn.

Count your Blessings
When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, 
thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Chorus:
Count your blessings; Name them one by one.  Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.  Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.  Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.

Marshallese chorus:
Bwini menin joij kajo iair! Bwini im lo bwe ej Yokwe Yuk!
Bwini im lo watok kajo iaiar, Bwini menin joij an Anij non yuk.

I have been blessed in so many ways that I will never be able to count them all.  I am grateful for all the experiences and people in my life who have made my life so rich.  Jerammon aolep! (Blessings to all)

Lae & Ujae Island #4 - Ujae Island Trip

Sister Becker and I went to Lae Island for five days back in May and I am finally getting around to writing about an additional excursion I took during one of those days to Ujae Island.  The reason for going to Ujae Island was to open it up to missionary work for the church.  A few months ago the District Presidency, High Councilors and me went to see Iroij (King) Mike Kabua, who lives on a small island just a couple miles north of Ebeye.  We needed to get permission to go to Ujae Island and open that island up for LDS Missionaries to proselytize.  One has to get permission from the king of the island in order to go there and do this type of work.  Iroij Mike Kabua was very polite and granted us permission to do what we requested.

After spending the first three days of our five day trip on Lae Island doing church related work it was time to head to Ujae.  The District Presidency, High Councilors, three elders and me (about 17 brethren) woke up at 2:00 AM on Monday, May 26th for our one day trip.  By the time we all got on board the 50 ft. boat and were ready to leave it was 3:00.  The trip to Ujae was rather uneventful.  The stars and moon were so beautiful.  It is amazing when you are out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a dark and clear night how many stars one is able to see.  It reminded me of the beautiful starlit sky at night while camping in the mountains back in Idaho.  It does make one believe what I have heard that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on the earth.  What was supposed to be a three hour, 30 mile, boat ride to Ujae in reality took five hours.  It actually did take three hours to get to Ujae from Lae, but what I didn't know is that one has to go past Ujae for another 10 miles before one could find safe passge for the boat into the Ujae Atoll.  It was very sad to see Ujae and then lose sight of that island for one hour before entering the atoll and heading back for one hour to the island. 

All of us brethren had worn comfortable casual clothes while on the boat, but once we reached Ujae we changed into our white shirts, ties, and dress slacks since it was missionary work that we had been asked to do.  Upon arriving at Ujae Island the pilot of the boat had to blow the fog horn in order to get the attention of the people.  Within a few minutes we saw a few men get into a small motor boat and head our way.  It took a few trips to haul all of us to the island along with all of the supplies we had brought.  We took with us gifts of rice (always), ramen, crackers, chicken, etc.  We were greeted by approximately 100 islanders and were adorned with leis around our necks.

Elder Becker pictured here with several of the brethren on the boat as we approach Ujae Island.

 After a three hour boat ride we passed beautiful Ujae Isand on the outside of the atoll and returned two hours later on the inside of Ujae Atoll.

 We approached the shore in a small boat where a few people were waiting to greet us.

After arriving on Ujae Island we followed Brother Joel Jeik and one of his nieces around the island.  Brother Jeik is a High Councilor in the Kwajalein District and was raised on Ujae Island.  He has a few siblings and many other relatives still living here.  His father, who now lives in Nevada, owns a few houses on Ujae and he has offered to rent one of the houses to our two missionary elders once they arrive on the island.  Our main goal in going to Ujae was to visit with a few of the people, let them know that LDS Missionaries would be arriving soon, and find appropriate housing for two elders.

 Typical housing on Ujae island.

 This is a view of Ujae Island on the ocean side of the island.  You will notice that there is very little sand and mostly very shallow corral which makes it impossible to land or unload a boat.  This is why we had to go an hour past the island and find a place to enter the atoll.

 Joel Jeik holding hands with one of his nieces and leading us as we begin our tour of Ujae Island.

 Several of the brethren and a couple of women on the main path.  There are no cars on Ujae.

 Carlson Kilma, Johannes Seremai, and Stimpson Kejai

 Johannes Seremai, Rafael Abaya, unknown islander, and Elder Becker

This is a picture of most of the brethren that went to Ujae Island.

After walking for about 45 minutes from the northwestern end of the island to the southeastern end we reached the area where Brother Jeik's father owned several homes.  Brother Rafael Abaya (Marshall Islands Church Facilites Manager) and I along with the others inspected the first house.   We soon discovered that conditions inside and outside the home were not suitable for elders to live in.  The house itself needed a lot of work, the water catchment for drinking was green, slimey, with no cover and definitely was unsuitable for drinking (even using the church water filtering system that we have), and the outside toilet was a community toilet.  The Church requires that missionaries have their own private restroom facilities.  There was also a large 4 inch spider that had taken up residency in the toilet.  Brother Abaya and I mentioned to Brother Jeik that this house was not going to work and that we would like to look at another house.  He told us that this was the only empty house that his father owned and that there were no others to look at.  We asked him if there was anyone we could possibly talk to on the island that may have a suitable house to rent and he did not know anyone that did.   Brother Abaya and I both talked and came to the conclusion that we had just taken a five hour boat ride to Ujae only to get here and not find a place for elders.  We figured we would just have to report to President Weir (Marshall Islands missionary president) that we had been unsuccessful. 

 The water catchment container at the first house we looked at.  Notice that there is no cover plus the water is green and slimy.  I don't know about you, but I don't think I would drink the water.

  The outside toilet with the large spider that took up residency

We started the discouraging walk back towards the northwestern end of the island with Rafael Abaya and me leading the way.  We had only walked for about five minutes when both Rafa and I stopped and looked on the right side of the path at a small pink house.  We both said look at this nice looking place.  It has nice paint, the interior is clean, it has two bedrooms with a large living room, the restroom outside is only for this house, there is a nice covered cooking area outside, the water catchment container has a cover on it and the water is clean, and finally the patio cover outside would be ideal for church services and meetings until the church grows and a chapel could be built.  We both agreed now if this was the house then there would be no problem having missionaries stay here.  We had no sooner said this when up walks Brother Jeik.  He asked why we had stopped and we explained to him that the house we were looking at right now was the kind of place we were looking for.  He looked at both of us and said, "Okay that is fine.  You can have it to rent for the elders."  We explained to him that it looked like it was already occupied.  He said that it was and that his sister and brother-in-law lived in it.  He proceeded to tell us that they would fix up the one we had previously looked at and that they would move into it and the elders could move into this one.  Neither Rafa or I could believe it.  We tried to explain to Joel that the last thing we wanted to do was to upset people on Ujae and have them spread rumors about the LDS Church and about how mean we were to force people from their homes.   Joel Jeik then told us that he was the eldest sibling in the family and the Marshalleise custom is that the younger siblings have to respect the decisions of the eldest sibling.  Later we also found out that the islanders believe that if they do anything nice for missionaries (or spiritual leader) of any religion then their own lives will be blessed.  We met a little later with Joel's sister and brother-in-law and they both smiled and agreed that they would be more than happy to move.  This event that had just taken place increased my faith and testimony.  The Lord was not going to let us leave Ujae Island without having us complete our mission of finding suitable housing for two elders.

.

 Bill Albert standing under the patio of the house that we are renting for two Ujae Elders.  Standing in the back in the yellow shirt is Joel Jeik's brother-in-law and that is his son standing by Bill Albert.

There is a covered water catchment container next to the right of the patio that will be used for the elder's drinking water.

After having completing our mission of finding suitable housing on Ujae Island for two elders it was time to head back to Lae Island.  We had been on the island for three hours and it was now 11:00 AM.  It took about an hour for us to board the large boat as it took a couple of trips to load everyone using the small motor boat.  We were surprised upon boarding the boat for the return trip to Lae that there were already nine people (also a large live pig) on the boat that had not come with us from Lae.  Come to find out that if a boat arrives on your island and it is going where you want to go then it is okay to get on whether there is room or not.  

The five hour ride back to Lae Island was not nearly as smooth as the ride to Ujae Island earlier in the morning.  Once we left the atoll the weather turned bad.  The wind picked up creating huge waves, some clouds moved in and it rained for a while.  The waves were so large that the front of the boat, where I happened to be seated, would lift up out of the water and slam back down causing water to splash everywhere.  In fact the waves were so large that a couple of the men that were seated in the bow of the boat were lifted off their seats back and onto the floor of the boat.  I then chose to wedge myself between the edge of the boat and the holds in the front of the boat.  I did get wet, but at least I wasn't going to get get thrown out of the boat.  I had taken enough Dramamine before we left Ujae that eventually I was able to fall asleep.  Once we entered the Lae Atoll the lagoon was nice and calm.  It had been a great trip to Ujae and our mission of finding suitable housing for the elders had been accomplished.

 

A picture of the beach and palm trees on the lagoon side of Ujae Island.

 Stimpson Kejai and Elder Becker

Looking back down the path as we are leaving Ujae.

The next morning, May 27th at 8:00 AM we boarded the boat one last time for our nine hour boat ride back home to Ebeye Island.  The return trip had about 47 people on board along with two live pigs and one live chicken. The nine people from Ujae plus some additional people from Lae boarded the boat.  They attempted to get approximately 60 people on board, but that was too many.  We found out later that the occupancy for the boat is not to exceed 25 people, not counting the pigs and chicken.  The weather on the return back was rather calm and the waves were not too bad.  Joel Jeik caught a yellow finned tuna and Carlson Kilma caught a mahi-mahi.  Once the fish was gutted and cut up the people pulled limes out of their pockets and consumed most of the fish right then and there.  Brother Kilma offered Sister Becker and I some of the raw mahi-mahi to eat but we declined and said that we would love to take some home.   He proceeded to cut off a huge piece and gave it to us. We took it to our apartment and cooked (not raw for me) it the next day.  It was by far the best fish I have eaten in my life.  

After being gone from Ebeye for five days Sister Becker and I were so happy to be home.  The trip was one of the best trips we have ever been on in our lives both physically and spiritually.  The beauty of the Pacific Islands and the wonderful friendly people that we met and associated with is difficult to match anywhere in the world.  We have come to love Ebeye and indeed it has become our home.  As we went to bed that night after a long shower, in an air conditioned apartment with running water, and internet (we emailed all of our children and let them know that we had arrived safely back on Ebeye) we said our prayers to Our Heavenly Father and thanked him for the memorable and  safe trip to Lae and Ujae Islands.

As a side note we have already placed two elders on Ujae Island.  Elder Price and Elder Tui'tupou hopped on a boat on June 13th and arrived there the next day.  It is unbelievable that after opening up that island to missionaries only nineteen days earlier we already have missionaries there.  This week we received an email from the missionary office in Majuro that the two elders there are in need of baptismal clothing.  The Lord's work moves along quickly and in the right direction when He wants things done.