June 30, 2024

Kiribati:  Part I

Flag of Fiji

In mid-June we headed to Kiribati, via Fiji, for real estate business and several other assignments.  Both island nations are spectacularly beautiful.

A church in Dadi, Fiji.  All church sites are simple, well cared for, and lovely additions to any city.

Most churches design a courtyard amid the classrooms and chapel.  The baptismal font rests here.

Imagine a baptismal service here with loved ones gathered throughout the courtyard.

Rick stands beneath a church sign in a secluded area of Fiji.  I enjoyed the green peaks and rolling hills of Fiji.  Splendid!

Some church properties include bananas, coconuts, and flowers.

We also viewed a location within a strip mall.  The church has been paying rent but the building needs renovations to house a church.  The landlords are a young couple, both doctors, working in the same building.  They feel great hope in having a church there, as they believe God-loving people will shine a positive light on their medical practice.  

Flag of Kiribati

We met two senior couples from Kiribati in the Fiji airport.  They spent two weeks in the New Zealand MTC and loved every minute there.  Now, they can’t wait to return home and start missionary service in their own country.  

Fiji Airlines.

Tender Mercy:  We arrived at noon for our return trip to New Zealand.  The flight was cancelled.  We booked two seats on the 7:30pm flight.  They offered food vouchers for our day in the airport.  We later purchased a hot sandwich and a bowl of fruit to share.  The girl serving us suggested we order more.  I quizzically responded that we didn’t have enough in voucher money.  She assured me we did and offered hot chocolate as she knew we didn't drink coffee.  I accepted a small cup and added the costs in my head.  We were over our allotment.  We picked up our order and there was an extra sandwich.  I pointed out the error and this girl responded, “It’s all OK.  I’m LDS too.”  After a frustrating and confining day, I felt so uplifted by her kind deed.  Paying it forward will be our best show of gratitude.

Kiribati from the air.  The water color seems unreal. 

The greeting committee seemed confused.  We were part of the real estate team, but the badges made them believe a new senior couple was arriving.

A common home site.  The thatched roof and covered sides offer ventilation for sleeping at night. 

At first, we thought shops were drying laundry.  No, they sell clothing and simply hang it for all to see.

Little stores line the street.  We saw mostly women and children managing these shops.

Morning is a busy time on the one road running through the slender island.

Children wear school uniforms.  Many varieties and colors present a beautiful scene as the students scurry off to school, most are barefoot, others don flip flops.

Trucks stop now and then to pick up a few more workers.  This must be some sort of carpool system.

I enjoyed watching the truckloads heading in both directions of town.

Motorbikes are another popular ride.  One morning I saw a man with two sons on a small motorbike.  All three were carrying large coolers.  I can’t imagine how they held those while traveling.  I suspect they fish for a living.

All church properties are simple, clean, and well kept.  The Church has a very good reputation.  One man would like to sell his property to the church because he knows it will be well maintained.

Missionary quarters rest at the end of the church property.  More of these buildings will now appear in many Pacific Island nations.

Kathy, Vernice and Mark from the real estate team.  Peter is a local member, a counselor in the mission presidency and actively involved in procuring property.  Rick rounds out the group.

This lovely sister walks the Moroni High School campus cleaning the yard areas.  She was baptized in the 70’s.  Now she awaits the new temple.

Makeshift shops line the single street.

Elsie stands in the center of her tiny office.  The church retains her local legal services.  Rick appreciates her timely response to everything.  She is an excellent attorney.  This office barely held all of us.  It’s a small room in a building of multi-use businesses.  She’s tried to cover the walls with colorful fabric.

Tabiberi, another local legal counselor, rushed from court to meet us in his office.  I feel special appreciation for his services.  He provided the country law section of the Religious Freedom Brochure for this island nation.  His contribution needed very few edits and helped to expedite the process.  The Kiribati brochure is now ready to be printed. 

I couldn’t view these colors often enough.  Turquoise water against a cloudy blue sky looks almost artificial.

Dr. Chisolm, from Monroe, Utah, adds the finishing touches to this dental clinic on the MHS campus.  He’s spent 25 years traveling through the pacific, using his dental skills to help the less fortunate.  At age 83 he claims he only needs his chair, tools, and a generator and he can practice dentistry under a coconut tree.  His granddaughter, a school teacher, will spend the summer assisting him. 

More from Kiribati in next week’s post.