It Is Not Too Early!

We have had a good number of kids for bible class for the last couple months. It is not too soon to start thinking and planning for Christmas. We have to start early because of the slow mail and because Lee and I have to carry everything over to the church building on our backs, so it takes us more than one trip to get it there. We do not have any church backing so we have to rely on individuals who are willing to help on their own or who can organize their class or friends to help. It is best to mail boxes no later than the week right after Thanksgiving. Any time before that is great. It can take anywhere from one to three weeks to get a package to Kwaj. We have gotten mail as much as two months later.

I have thought about taking pictures of individual kids but I fear someone being left out. I think we will repeat what we did last year. The Marshalleese people's needs are even greater than last year. Everything is so expensive here that they don't buy the things you and I think are basics. Toys are always wanted most by the kids, but any size clothes you can send we can find a kid to fit into them. Any personal body cleaning products can be used. Soap, shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste, etc. Any baby clothes , diapers, or baby bathing products never go to waste. Keep in mind on the clothes that it is always summer here. The customs of the people is for the girls to always wear a dress or skirt and blouse with short sleeves (no sleeveless)and shorts underneath so they can play and not worry about anyone seeing their bottom. The boys pretty much wear everything that Americans would wear in a warm climate. Shorts, long pants, T-shirts, etc. Almost everyone wears flip-flops and sandals. You can take the air out of the balls to make more room in the box. Lee and I have a hand pump we put the air back in them before we carry them to Gugeegue.

If you or your class can help, please let me know. It isn't too early to start because of our time restraints with the mail. If you can help in a big way or the smallest way, anything and everything is so appreciated by the Marshalleese people.

Blessings to all.

Growing Babies

The baby boy above was almost nine lbs. when he was born. The locals are all short people so he is much bigger than the other two babies that were born with in weeks of each other. This little girls mother looks like she might be out of high school, but I wouldn't bet on it. Thank You to Monica Wiggins for sending little girl clothes and some baby toys for the kids. Also a big Thank You to Gina Blankinship for sending diapers, wipes, bottles and such. The mother's appreciate everyone's generosity. They have so little, it amazes me how they make it. Our internet has been down most of the week end and it is still questionable as to how many times I will have to try to post this. Wish me luck! I have already tryed three times.

Softball Field

It's pretty hard to see but there is a baseball backstop in the background of this field. This is the softball field on Ebeye. It is also part of the trash dump. The mounds you see in the background are mounds of trash. They play softball on this field during the week in the evenings. No sliding into the bases. Count your blessings people!! The plane that delivers mail to Kwaj broke down at the beginning of the week so we did not get any mail until Saturday night. The mail employees came in Sunday and sorted everyone's mail and opened for a couple hours so everyone could get caught up on their mail. We should have another big load on Tuesday. Just part of the package. We had a good number of kids and adults Sunday for worship. We took two very full taxi's over and ended up with three coming back. I'm not sure how we did that, but whatever works! It was a good time to worship God. The babies that were born at the beginning of August are all growing so fast.

New Address

Our Post Office has changed our address to further assist in their sorting process. Our new address is: CMR #701 PO BOX 1652 APO, AP 96555-0017 It will get to us with the other address but probably not as fast (which is crazy anyway out in the middle of the pacific ocean). There is no such thing as fast on Kwaj. It comes with the package.

Baby Clothes and School Supplies

Lee and I carried as much as we could carry to church yesterday. Thank you to Monica Wiggins who sent some baby girl clothes and school supplies for all the kids. Monica's children, Austin and Rachel, also sent a cash donation they had saved and given to the children on Gugeegue. What a wonderful way to teach your children at a young age to give to others. The mothers divided the school supplies among the kids. Thank you also to Bonnie Howell who sent several boxes of baby boys clothes. I intended to get a pic yesterday of the mothers dividing them up, but the taxi's were waiting on us. The mothers were so grateful to get the clothes. They said to give you all a big "Thank you." Most do not have a job and they would have so little without your help. One of the mothers gave me the plant hanger on the left. It really is pretty with a plant in it but I was afraid it would walk off outside. It is made out of sea shells. The fish on the right was given to us for Christmas. God's Blessings to you all.