CHRISTMAS LIST - 2011

Making a living has gotten harder each year for the Marsahllese people. Their needs are greater than ever.  Everything costs three times more on Ebeye where the only place they can shop is. 

Toys, games and books of any kind are always wanted by the kids.  Soccer balls, volleyballs and basketballs are most the popular balls.  You can take the air out of the balls to make more room in the box.  Lee has a hand pump and he pumps the balls back up for the kids.

Notice the type of dresses the women wear in this pic & the next pic and that most of them put the hair up in a pony tail.

We can use any size non-stained, clean clothes for the kids. Keep in mind that it is always summer here. The customs for the girls is to always wear a dress or skirt and blouse with short sleeves and shorts underneath so they can play and not worry about anyone seeing their bottom. The girls and women always wear their hair up in a pony tail or twisted up all the time.  Anything to put your hair up is always needed.  The boys wear everything that American boys would in a warm climate. Long pants, shorts, T-shirts, dress shirts, etc.
All the adults and kids wear flip-flops and sandals. We have a foot for any size. Diapers of almost any size and baby products are always needed.  The kids can always use school supplies of any kind.  We have about 10- 15 teenage girls and boys.  I saw some MP3 players for about $20 something at Wal-Mart on line the other day.  Any of the teens would love that.  Any of the adults would love one too.  There are very few radio stations to listen to in the Marshall Islands.            

It is much more important for the kids to get the Christmas gifts, but the adults appreciate your blessings too. The Marshallese people usually wear bright colors. They are usually short in height. The adult men wear pretty much what American men do. Long pants, shorts, t-shirts, dress shirts. The women wear short sleeve dresses, skirts and blouses but enough bright colored material to make a dress would allow them to have a dress made in their customs.  The women like American jewelry too, usually in gold colors. We have several teachers in the public schools and they always need teaching supplies.  Small umbrellas or ponchos are always good for the adults.

With everything costing three times more, personal body cleaning products, soaps, shampoos, tooth brushes, tooth paste, etc. are always needed for kids and adults.  I have been teaching English to the adults.  We can use any kids books good to practice reading.

If you can help in a big way or the smallest way, anything and everything is a blessing for the Marshallese people.

I will give mailing instructions next week. 

Time for Christmas Preparations

We had a good group of kids for Bible class. Our teachers do such a wonderful job teaching the kids God's word in Marshallese so the kids can understand God's word.


The adults are doing well in English class.  We will finish the pre-K level of phonics next week.


I know it seems really early to think about Christmas.  But, believe me, it is not when you live 7000 plus miles away. Lee and I knew that the Lord was sending us to the Marshall Islands to do his work.  But, we had no idea what he had in mind when we left for Kwajalein. Thus, we were not sent into this mission nor have been supported by any congregation or elders. Our thinking was much smaller than where the Lord has lead us in the past three years.  The Lord has provided a different group of Brothers and Sisters from different congregations to bless our kids with the only Christmas presents they will get. We have had some families who have blessed us every year. It is a good way to teach your children or grandchildren the blessings of giving to others. If your family, children's or adult bible class or congregation can help the Marshallese people have a blessed Christmas, we would be very thankful. Talk it over with your family or group  or class and I will give more details in the next couple weeks.
We usually get our mail delivered twice a week, but sometimes it gets delivered to Kwaj only once a week. That made half our presents arriving in time for Christmas last year and the other half arriving the week after Christmas.  The kids did not mind having two weeks of presents, but the earlier the boxes are mailed, the better.
Kwaj is a military base. Lee and I carry as many boxes as we can every Sunday when we go on the ferry to Ebeye for worship.  We either use a two wheeler or an aluminum cart we own. The dock security has decided lately that large items can not be taken on the ferry. We do not know how many boxes they will allow us to carry at one time this year, but I know the Lord will find a way for us.
Blessings to all.

First English Class

We had a good crowd at church.  The kids enjoyed their songs and class.
Lee & I ride a ferry that goes on the lagoon side from Kwajalein to Ebeye and back to go to church.  It is about a 25 minute ride. On Sunday, the ferry does not run as often. If you miss the ferry on the way back to Kwaj, you have to wait four hours for the next one. We stayed later Sunday to teach the English class. It was a long day!   It was hard to tell, but I think the class went okay. As long as there is one person who wants to learn, we will continue to teach the class.

We had a good adult crowd in church.  You can't see them in this shot, but there were several sitting in the floor too. We are going to have to get some more chairs.

English Classes Starting

 A big thank you to the Lightfoot's who sent a box of school goodies for our kids while we were on vacation.  We do appreciate you.

The Marshallese people speak English but they largely speak their own language.  Some of them ask me if I would teach them English.  I now wish I would have paid more attention in English classes in school. I will teach English to the Marshallese on Sunday afternoons starting next week. We plan to switch to the "Friend Speak" program when we reach the fourth grade level. Friend Speak teaches English, one on one, by reading from the Bible.  We will do the best we can to use it in a classroom. Please pray that God will help me to teach the class and to physically be able to do what HE wants me to do.

Thank you to Bonnie Howell for giving several boxes of kids clothes. The kids and parents were thrilled to get the clothes. If anyone is lucky enough to have a job, they make so little and pay three time more for everything they buy. That tends to make your priorities become very specific.

Praise God, our teacher for the kids Bible class today was, Cala.  Cala has been fighting an infection in her foot caused from diabetes for about a year.  She teaches at the Ebeye public school and has returned to work.  The Marshallese people have a very high rate of diabetes. Thank you Lord for her healing and please continue to heal her foot.

Blessings from God

The kids love the action songs.  They have such a good time doing them.  Look at the smiles on their faces.

We do not have any desks in our class room.  The kids have to sit and color in the floor.   At least in this class room we do have some tiles in the floor which helps the kids color easier.  Did your kids or grandkids sit in an air conditioned classroom today with nice chairs and tables or desks to sit at?  Thank you God for blessing us with a place to meet and teach your word.  Thank you to Heity Keju for opening up her class room.