Odds n Ends

Well dad is driving!! We had to go and get a phone !!!!!!! My number is 931-1325 but we don't have our country number just yet but thats not hard to find-dad is a wizard. There are some funny moments here I want to share. When the saints from Christmas Island came there were so many touching moments. We've told of drinking fountains etc. Every time I write etc. I can't help and remember the King and I and etc. etc. etc.... and catherine all dolled up. Oh before I forget I am getting an Indian sari, before I go. I'll tell how I goes and they are so very cheap and I want one all sparkly [sp] there at least 6 good shops here for them and tons of trashy stores. Save your money girls they are about 25 bucks, what a deal! I also found a very nice men's store, with tailored suits and all, and bought dad a really nice bula shirt that doesn't make him look like a whale. That goodness for the Aussies {another good store } they carry big sizes that are true sizes. We, [ who am I kidding ] I found a great shirt for Uncle Frank. It is basically a large trampoline shirt with writing in the bottom corner. We have to kiss up good for all of the mouching we do up there. Now don't argue with me Frank. I'm getting Cindy a sari, too. Midget size. Oh back to Kritmati Island, yes that is how it is spelled. It's a part of the Kiribati Island group. Actually it is an atoll. And it was discovered on Christmas day by Captain Cook, I believe. When they nurse their babies they call it milking the baby or the baby needs milking. And every time the baby burps up a little milk they are so proud and genuinely happy. These saints have severe hardships. Their soil is leached out to nothing and the remainder is crushed shell and sand. So the soil is so porus it holds nothing. I asked if they have trees and was told yes, but visitors only a few real trees like were know. There are others on the island. A Chinese restaurant, stores, court house and 2 high schools, but with the saints there is only one flushing toilet and that is in the couple missionaries tiny,tiny 450 sq ft house. Ans they don't have hot water either. On the island there are only male dogs. When one wants a dog they go off the island and it must be a male. This their dog birth control. Sr. Nubee said you can hear the dogs fighting all night long. That is one way to move up the doggie ladder. Watch out Harry, Claudia sais good ol' Potter is to fat to fight. You think that the sacrament must come in a certan way only, white bread. NO. On the Island they have used pancakes, cookies, crackers, crumbs, baggles [sp]and bread. They didn't say if the cookies were white or not. I think, not, or she would have stated so. Their water supply is tainted. Being that they are on an atoll there are no real soil levels. An atoll is not an island and doesn't have a deep water well source. All the people have is a low level water level that is polluted daily by urine of people and wild animals. They have not had rain in 7 months. The missionaries have a water collection system on their roof and it has 6 weeks left. I have learned a great truth, while here in Fiji. The Lord will watch us forget small things and great things. Just so He can help us remember, while calling on Him. The missionaries have not prayed for rain. We asked them if they had and they said " no, we never thought of that." These are not stupid or forgetful saints, no, It is just the Lord has to bring all of the members to the same point in their trials that they can grow. Just like the handcart saints these good, good people must endure strife and hardships to find their Lord and that is what will make their souls grow , deeply, like the trees they don't have. I think that I wrote of how the saints had no food for 5 months? Just remember that these events are all happening at the same time to everyone on theis little island. There is a supply boat that comes once a month, but it was damaged and their food was ruined. However, the boat continued on it's rounds and then went into dry dock for repairs. Dry dock means the ship was elevated and repaired while it was dry- dry dock. And no supply boat came to the island for 5 months!! The entire island suffered especially the small children who were not nursing [ milking ]. Br. Nubee lost 30# and they were starving. Finally the Nubees called the Church. The Lord is bringing this entire island of people to the point of prayer and deliverance. Just like the whole seagull story in Utah, or frozen river crossings and wagons. Immediately, food was sent from Fiji. {rice, powdered milk, flour, sugar, and more] The price was horrendous and no one knows how much it cost except God himself. So these good starving saints broke down their food rations into smaller packets and began giving them to everyone on the island!! But to just show how satan works, one Methodist minister[of which god I know not] " It's better to starve, than to take food from the Mormons," he declared. He didn't want to lose any money from his church group!" And one mother did join the church just because of the saints sharing. So now that the food...crisis is over ..... they must now address the water problems. The saints need water collection systems but, they are very simple people and time will tell just how they handle this new cross to bear. To drink the water they put in sugar and a sweet syrup that drips from the coconut tree. It is called a toddy and when warm , a hot toddy.

A funny thing happened wednesday night. Here there are family connections that must be kept... A brother had extended his hand at the veil and when he saw the womans hand he with withdrew saying that she was his sister. It wasn't, but still it was!! So another receiver helped. This is the story and this is the only time in the Well's 3+ YEARS it has happened. Family members who are 1st cousins may never touch ... not even hands.[incest] Also a husband and a father in law may not be in the same house, and they may never speak. So we speak here of the culture of the church being greater than the village traditations. In reality this will take 2 generations to break down. Also we use the term culture of the temple, to help people understand which is greater. Dad drove to the store and was reading the Fiji Times and saw this article on Mariah Carey stating that she was telling "porkie pies" about her weight and touched , so greatly touched up pictures. Yep it sure looks to me like a severe case of the dreaded " porkie pies." That will stay in our family vocabulary just like Aunt Cindy's sleeping policemen, and holy crap____ how did your brother get up there? Now that Kalvin was quick thinking and your mother should smile when she hits you on the head for me. Stand there just like your poor ol dad, so many years ago did, and just take it. I am blessed and have a great maid named Sr. Seru. She takes the bus into town for 85 cents Fijan. Last week was a holy week and we worked on friday morning. A different schedule for Good Friday, anyways, I had Sr. Bahn call because I didn't have a mobile. So she called Sr. Seru's sons mobile and told him to tell his mother to come to my house on thursday morning. Well he had loaned his phone to another villager, and his mom came to Sr. Bahn's to work. Sr. Bahn [Bun] was so sweet she took the fall for me, which show how she likes me. Sr. Bahn is always right, really. She is a great friend and all were impressed by her calmness and were amazed. Another funny word phrase in Fiji. A worker was owed back pay for being wrongly "sacked." Oh yes, the Fiji soccer has had the curse removed from them and will beat the Samoans, handily! says a local Methodist minister. Can he do weight loss? Well loved ones gotta run , Love mum.














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