We have visitors from New Zealand

 Our Humanitarian Supervisors Gary and Susan Winters came to see us the end of May.  They have lots of experience.

We took them to meet many key individuals related to diabetes prevention. Here are a few pictures. This is Dr. James Yaingeluo, Director of the Majuro Hospital Diabetes Clinic.

 This is a group shot showing us with nurse Nicki Hsu and Dr. Paul Chiang of the Taiwanese Medical Group.

 In between meetings one day, we took them to WAM, an organization that teaches young adults how to build the traditional Marshallese canoes. We hope to go for a ride one day.

At the end of the Winters' visit, they asked us to develop a framework for diabetes prevention in the Marshall Islands. In this picture, we met with the National NCD Committee about diabetes prevention ideas and they supported us.  We will work together - WODDE JIBBEL.

Intensive "Reversing" Diabetes" Workshop

We were invited in May to participate in an 11-day  Leaders' Wellness Workshop at the Diabetic Wellness Centre. We learned through a variety of instruction, games, exercise, cooking, and complete biometric measurements that were conducted by a doctor and nurse.

Through the game shown above and to the right we learned how our cell absorbs food and the interplay between sugar, fat, insulin and other factors. Each of us had to take the part of one element of the cell. Sister Barb Dalton is the one on the right in the cute red mask.

We learned a lot about growing food on the islands. The coral sand and heavy tropical rains cause the soil and nutrients to wash right through our coral reef to the ocean. The Wellness Centre has 5 gardens to grow food for their kitchen and restaurant.

 One day they showed us how much fat is contained in some of the foods that the Marshallese people like to eat.  Here is Dr. Zach showing that one can of SPAM has the equivalent of 19 grams of fat.

 We were expected to walk at least 30 minutes a day and also do 45 minutes of cardio exercise.  It was fun. Following our exercise we went back to our classroom to cook our lunch and supper.

This is a picture of our graduation class. There were 33 community leaders. We made many friends in the community and now all of us are expected to go out and teach workshops. We want to reduce the incidence of diabetes.

WAM - canoe builders

 We took our special guests from New Zealand to visit WAM - a youth training facility which teaches young people how to build their traditional canoes. This sign which is beside their front door says that it is an alcohol-free, smoke-free and betel-nut chewing-free zone.

 Here is some of the pretty coloured wood that they use to build the canoes. It is from the breadfruit tree. Tom and I love the taste of breadfruit curry and breadfruit soup.

H

 Sister Winters (in the blue sweater) and I are looking to see how they put together the canoes.

Here are the young people building another canoe indoors. And below is a finished model hanging from the rafters.

We plan to book a one hour trip on a canoe with the other missionary couple. We can ride for $20/per person.

When it rains its pours

 On Sunday, we walked to the Mission Office to send a message and the heavens opened up on us.  Needless to say, we had to camp in the office for about an hour while the storm blew through.  The pictures are not the best but we tried.

 In a matter of minutes the road was flooded and everyone was looking for shelter. Except a few people who began to body surf on the streets.

 After a short while the road became nonexistent and the cars were forced to drive up into our apartment complex to get around the high water.

Finally it quite raining and we were able to walk home.  Even though we received many many inches of rain, within 20 minutes the water has already settled into the ground due to the island being all coral.

Mother's Day Celebration 2015

Mother's Day in our little branch was a big celebration and feast. The Church and even the outdoor pillars were decorated with ferns and posters.

This picture shows Branch President Banny and some of the men saying kind words to the women/girls assembled. The men do not have flowers around their neck - those are bubblegum necklaces which were given to each woman (the kids promptly took the gum.)

 Here are some of the women and children assembled to hear the speech then everyone went outside to have the feast.

We are introduced and thanked each week in Sacrament meeting for our help with the Branch. On this special day, we were given a crown and a necklace to show that we were honoured guests.

 This is Elder Crooks with Brother Rakin. He was the former Stake President when our Stake was first established and now teaches priesthood classes with Elder Crooks. He translates for Sister Crooks in adult Sunday School and for Elder Crooks in priesthood.  He must be hoarse by the end of the meetings. His family is really terrific.

 These little boys have sweet faces now but you should see them in Primary!

This is a picture of some of the people waiting for the feast to begin. They served fried chicken, rice, boiled pumpkin in coconut oil, potato salad, breadfruit roasted over coals (absolutely delicious), a raw weiner, tuna sashimi (very good), yellow cake and a fresh coconut for everyone to drink. I didn't have room to try the mashed green banana rolled in fresh coconut.  I believe the lady in the picture front right was one of the original missionaries for this branch.

Fine Wine and Dining

Mark May 2nd in your calendars and get your recipes to us for Elder an Sister Crooks' first Spam cook-off.

Just as in Canada we tap maple trees to get the sap to make maple syrup, here in the Marshall Islands they tap palm trees to get a sap that makes a pungent drink that turns into wine.

Maybe not as precise as with the maple trees, here any empty container will do.

Some bottles even come pre-labeled!

Majuro Hospital Clean Up March 27, 2015

Our local hospital wants to clean up their hospital and the grounds around it, so we got 33 Church missionaries and volunteers to get started in March. This will be volunteer help we give on a monthly basis.

We picked up trash from wheelchairs to rat skulls, then cut and whippersnipped the grass...

 Here are three of the pretty sister missionaries who helped that day.  Notice their bright blue gloves.

 Our final project that day was to paint a large brick wall that surrounded the back of the hospital.  It looked so much better when we were done.

The Minister of Health, the Hon. Phillip Muller, came out to have his picture taken with us when we were finished.