A Little History

Dear Family and Friends,

 
I thought I would do a post on a  little history for you. 

The Republic of Kiribati straddles both the Equator and the 180th meridian.   It's 33 Atolls and islands all cluster about the Equator, 12 to the north and 21 to the south.

In 1788 Captain Thomas Gilbert of the British vessel Charlotte passed through what is today known as Kiribati,(where I am at)  accompanied by the HMS Scarborough under the command of Captain John Marshall. Thus the two group of Islands, " Gilbert Islands" and the " Marshall Islands"  Have been named after these two men.  They were the first Europeans to see the islands that had previously been known as collectively by the indigenous name " Tungaru". The Gilbert Islands became part of the British Crown colony and in 1979 the Republic of Kiribati gained it's Independence.

All the Atolls and Island are low-lying, only about 4 or 5 meters above sea level. The only high ground can be found up a palm tree. (I haven't mastered that one yet but I will…)

 

The Kiribati people are Micronesians with links to other Micronesian peoples to the north, and also influenced by their Polynesian neighbors to the south. The language is Kiribati. Just within the last year they began teaching it at the MTC in Provo, Utah.

At the start of the Second World War the population on Tarawa was approximately 30,000. It now estimated that there are over 90,000 people living on this tiny Atoll. Bairiki is the capitol. This is where the President of Kiribati lives and most of the government offices are located.

Betio is a much larger town and can be reached by a man-made causeway.  Betio is where the Wharf is located and all the shipments and cargo come in to port. This is the most populated area of the island. At the other end of the Atoll is Bonriki this is where the airport is located. 

I live in the town of Eita on the Moroni High School Campus.This is a church owned school and everyone wants to attend school here. There are 45 girls and 45 boys that live in the dorms; most of them coming from outer islands. The rest of the students live here in Kiribati. There's over 600 students that attend and there could easily be over a couple of thousand if there was room. The education the students receive here is the best on the island and most everyone here wants a good education.

 WW II

Two days after entering the war with their attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the Japanese captured the Gilbert Islands. The British had departed months earlier when it realized that Japanese occupation was imminent and thus began in 1941, the " Battle of Tarawa"  This was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war.  Many of the people suffered at the hands of the occupying forces, and the Japanese used the islanders as slave labor. Later the Americans recruited them and shipped them off to work on other islands in the Pacific.  

During the war some 750 Kiribati people lost their lives. 1900 Americans, 60 Tuvaluans, 5,670 Japanese and a handful of British, New Zealanders, Australians and other Europeans were killed. The estimated total reaches approximately 8,730.

There are still many remnants of war that can be seen and heard here. The large bomb shells are used as a bell for meal time. The locals will take a large metal spoon and pound on it. It can be heard from a long way off. But when the sound rings through the air you can see a lot of people and a whole lot of children go running. 

I have loved these people at first sight. I felt at home the minute I walked off the plane. They are so kind, loving and gentle. I am so humbled and honored to serve a mission for the Lord here in Kiribati. May we all hold on to peace and let go of any and all contention. I know firsthand just how difficult it is to surrender but as I have and will continue to repent and be refined, my heart is filled with the peace and the love of my Savior.

Love to all of you - my dearest family and friends,

Sister Cassita

Jesus Take the Wheel

Dear Family and Friends,

If you thought I was lost, well... you would be right. But I believe that there is a scripture or saying. 

           "One must lose their life in order to find it."

There have been many, many blessing poured out to me; the Lord's tender mercies. I find myself in a very strange place at this point in my mission. I love to help, to care for, to love, to rescue, and to serve my brother's and sisters here in Kiribati, and actually anywhere in the world. But here in Kiribati they are so, so poor and yet they are some of  the most humble people in the world. My frustration is that I can't help them all. There is such a great need for help here in so many ways. 

So I left on my mission broke and I'm still broke. Not really, because I have shelter, food, and clothing. But I don't have money to relieve their suffering in some small way. This past week it was as though a 2x4 smacked me upside the head; or just one of those "duh!" moments. It's the same thing that Jesus asked Peter to do. "Feed my sheep!"

So I felt myself hearing the same words. "Elizabeth, What are you doing? Why are you still thinking this way? Just go and feed my sheep - and I'm not talking about food. I'm talking about spiritual food. I'm talking about sharing the Gospel, teaching out of the scriptures and Preach My Gospel."

Its not that helping others through service isn't good, but it can't be my main purpose anymore. At least not now. I feel that the Lord has been trying to turn my steering wheel and I've been resisting with white knuckles and all. So now I'm saying, " Jesus take the wheel; take it from my hands, cuz I can't do this on my own. I'm letting go!"

In doing this I know that I must fine tune my ears/spirit to listen to His spirit and then to ACT!  Act NOW!  The Lord is hastening His work. I do love being the Lord's missionary.

Another thing that I've learned, is that one cannot serve and not be changed. His molding and teaching are far greater than anything that could be learned in a classroom.

I love my Savior, I know He lives! I know time is short for His return and that we must change our thinking and what we are doing to be fully engaged in building the Kingdom of God upon the earth NOW! Our living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and the 12 Apostles have asked us and warned us. It is my prayer that all of us can and will ACT in Faith to follow this counsel from our Heavenly Father  through His worthy priesthood leaders.

It is official. I was asked to extend my mission for 5 additional months and of course, I said yes! So my finish date is September 8,2014.

Even though it will be hard for my dear children, I know that they know, that the Lord has to and always will come first. So to my dearest children, Zachary, Houston, Maddison and Taylor. It is for you that I serve the Lord. You may not see it now but He will send blessings your way.

I love my Savior and Redeemer with all of my heart. Thank you to everyone for your continued love and support. I couldn't do this without you.

Sending all my love,

Sister Cassita

These Things I Know...

Mauri Family and Friends,

I know it has been way to long since I updated my blog. I have been trying to stay afloat with everything. I will be short in my writing but just know how much I love and miss all of you so much. I do so love being a missionary but I have experienced some of the most challenging days of my life out here. And because of this I have truly come to know my Savior and Heavenly Father with a deeper trust and binding love I had not known before.

I have also learned that as I "Act" upon the promptings of the Holy Ghost I find myself in situations or with certain people that I would never have planned myself to be in. More than anything else, I know that as I am about my Father's work, I am helping to build the Kingdom of God upon the earth in these, the days before His coming.

I know God lives and loves each and everyone of His children. He knows you by name and is inviting all of us to Come Unto Him - No matter your station, color, age, or wealth. He loves you and needs you to come back to His fold/family.

I know that we are all brothers and sisters and that our Older Brother, Jesus Christ, willingly suffered for our sins, and by and through His Atoning sacrifice we can all be saved.

I know that Joseph Smith was chosen by God to bring forth the Book of Mormon in these Latter Days. I personally know that you can find the answer to any question in life in this book, along with prayer, for no prayer to our loving Heavenly Father ever goes unanswered.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the "only" true church upon the face of this earth and that President Thomas S. Monson is God's living prophet; our prophet to guide us.

I should like to leave a blessing with all of you that as you pray, study and ponder the words from the Book of Mormon, God will bless your minds with His peace.

I share this testimony with all of you in His holy name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

SISTER CASSITA

  Moroni  High School Graduation

  President and First Lady Tong this is the dinner that some of the missionaries were invited to, to welcome the Presidents from Morocco and Brazil. I gave them some gifts, BOM, Proclamation on the family and a taupa from Fiji that reads Families are Forever.

Me, head of  Unceph , secretary to the ambassador of Taiwan , Ambassador of Taiwan Abraham is his name,  ambassador of Australia George and his wife Denise.

Me and First Lady Tong

Vice principle Bauririue, Principle Leita , English teacher

Nedi, a pioneer of Kiribati and my companion for the day of graduation.

Couple from Ghana, he’s with the government and there daughter attends Moroni.

The graduation celebration and where I  would try, to do a Kiribati dance.

Ready or not here we go ladies

   In action

These members and non-members were so thrilled to have a white shirt and tie. Thank you Trisha and to all the young women for their service project.  It made a huge impact on these brethren.

Me and Sister Weir headed over to Aubito to deliver some supplies to the only pre-school on this island as well as some food for a family that I’ve been teaching. The father is the one that got baptized and I’m still working with the mother and some of their extended family.  It was a beautiful day and Sister Weir had a great time.

Planting Seeds....

Dear family and friends,

I received this email yesterday from a dear sister in Cape Verde where I served the first 3 months of my mission. 

If anyone had doubts about the importance of sharing the gospel, even if we are only "planting seeds"...Doubt no more.

We may not always see the blossoms, 

but no one will, 

if the seed isn't planted in the first place. 

I love this gospel and I love "planting seeds"!!!

“And now, I ask, what great blessings has [God] bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?”

“Behold, I answer for you; … this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.” ^{(Alma 26:2,3)}

 

Sister Cassita

Hello, Sister Cassita!

How are you doing?

Do you remember a woman tha works at the hospital (she is the sister of the man who was Gracinda boyfriend)? Suzy is her name. She told me you talked to her about the gospel (the day you took Gracinda to the hospital), then she searched for the missionaries and she, her 2 sisters and their kids (aprox 10 person) have been baptized.

I'd like to share this with you, and let you know that you left a seed (in a simple conversation) that flourished.

Love,
Fernanda Mascarenhas

Off to Fiji again!

Dearest family and friends,

(Sorry for the long delay in updating my post. I am having problems with posting pictures that I haven't been able to resolve. So I guess, for now you will have to go to my facebook page to see any pictures I refer to. Go to "albums" and click on "Off to Fiji Again" Sorry...)

I think it is time to check in and update all of you of the happenings, which are many. 

I've been to Fiji and back again. The manger of the Service Center came to my home at 1:30 am with signs and symptoms of having a heart attack. I climbed in the car with him, his wife, and Turian (our bishops wife). We drove as quickly as possible to the hospital-on our one road to the hospital. One might call our road a "holy" road and I'm not talking spiritual... There are more holes in some sections of the road than there is pavement!

When we arrived at the hospital the emergency doctor was an anesthesiologist. He loves to speak English with me but I told him this wasn't the time. We put President Tune on a rusted old stretcher but were grateful that he didn't have to lie on the floor as some do.

I reported off to the doctor and he just sat in the chair and asked what I thought we should do! Wow! Really? Okay! So I hooked up the vital sign machine; He was hypertensive; 192/107; sweating profusely with crushing chest pain and burping... They have no Nitro here. I gave him an aspirin and told him to chew it.

Then I told the doctor that we needed to do an ECG. He said, "Oh that won't be possible; the lady that knows how to work the machine goes home at 5:00. I asked where the machine was and told him that I could do it.

This entire time the doctor remained in his seat. I was a little confused. Did I become his colleague because I've helped him stitch more than one trauma victim or because I took the time to speak English with him? Not sure. The ECG was normal, so I asked if he knew what a GI Cocktail was. He said "No," so I just asked if he had any Maalox for heartburn. Yea! They did! It helped a little and he was admitted. I will have to do a post of the hospital another time. Just wait!

While all of this is going on I had Sister Johnson and her companion, Sister Lavulavu, staying at my home. Poor Sister Johnson arrived here in Kiribati with strep throat. I treated her with antibiotics but after 10 days she continued to have high fevers, headaches, body aches, swollen lymph nodes , sore throat, poor appetite and low blood pressure. I knew we had to get her off the island. So all four of us boarded the next plane off the island - Sister Johnson, President Tune and his wife May, and me.

We landed in Nadi, Fiji and then took a smaller plane to Suva, Fiji. At the hospital they put both of them in the same room so I could watch over them both. It is a very nice hospital. They released President Tune with some follow up appointments for further testing. His heart was fine!

Sister Johnson was not so lucky. She was admitted and would spend the next four days in the hospital, diagnosed with Bronchitis and Septicemia (bacterial infection in the blood). She received IV antibiotics and IV fluids. She was amazing. I asked her if she would like me to stay with her and she said, "No, I will be fine!" Well fine she was. By the time we checked her out of the hospital Sister Johnson had taught her roommate 5 lessons and made arrangements for the missionaries to visit her at her home. Her high fevers finally stopped on the 3rd day and she was feeling a bit better but still very weak. However, she was strong enough to go for a walk. So Sister Balenacagi and I walked with Sister Johnson down the hall and outside to get some fresh air, down the side walk, turned the corner and there just so happened to be a Taxi.

Yes! I snuck her out of the hospital and took her to the Suva Temple. I thought that she could use some spiritual healing as well as physical and the the temple would be closing for 2 weeks for cleaning. Success, she made it and she loved it.

President Tune is still in Fiji undergoing some more tests. I pray that he will return well and strong.

Sister Johnson is more than better. She is still in her 12 weeks training and has been told to be ready to be a trainer with the next transfer. I love serving with these young missionaries. They are so fun and so happy doing the Lord's work.

As I was driving today and pondering on the latest of my own life lessons and trials, the spirit ever so softly whispered, "Look up..." As I looked up and to the right, my breath was taken away with the most beautiful sky and sunset. Shades of pastels, pinks,yellows and oranges. The ocean was so calm that it looked more like a lake. I stopped my car, got out and went and stood by the water and just took it all in. I hope that you enjoy the photos.

In closing I would just like to share some of my learning:

What is the process of a trial?

Time is priceless and cannot be bought or saved. One must communicate in the present moment. It is therefore essential that we gird about us the whole Armor of God! Every morning and with much prayer throughout the day. When we can communicate one with another in a loving way, desiring understanding and enlightenment the spirit can be present. It might be possible that through our communication with someone, no matter how angry or mad they may be, we are (through Christ) able to be the vessel for greater learning and gaining knowledge.

I know God lives! Oh, how my heart is filled with joy as I have come to know Him more. I love my Savior and Redeemer and I know that we can all be healed through His Atoning Sacrifice.

I know that the Book of Mormon was written for our day. Don't focus on the darkness of the world but fill your hearts with Truth and Light. Darkness cannot exist where there is Light - the Light of Christ. I love you my dear brothers and sisters. May God bless and keep you all in His tender loving care. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sister Cassita

Not for the Faint of Heart

Mauri!  (hello) Dear family and friends,

 

Not a whole lot to report on…

3 weeks in bed with a very bad respiratory viral infection…

It got scary there for a few days and then I made a turn for the better.

There was one exciting day I should tell you about. On Saturday I received a phone call from a senior missionary, Elder Youngberg. He told me that he had cut his finger pretty bad and asked if I would get his wife, who was at their house and bring her to the hospital. He hadn't told Sister Youngberg so she was surprised when I showed up at her house. We got to the hospital and when I walked into the room where Elder Youngberg was, the nurse’s aides were just starting to wrap his hand and I told them that I needed to see it.   WOW!

I told them that this had to be stitched up. They said, "Are you sure?" I said, “Yes, I'm positive!” Then they informed me that there were no doctors available. I asked them to call the surgeon and have him come in. They came back and said that there were no doctors available.  The nurse in charge looked at me and asked, "Don't you know how to do it?”  I said, "Well, I've never done it before, but I think I can do it.”  The other nurse just looked at me like I was crazy. I told her to give me the surgical kit; that I would do it. And the fun began!

The Holy Ghost is truly an amazing gift! I was calm and steady, for a first timer. It was not a clean cut...  There were pieces of his skin that were missing and other parts that were jagged. It was just like putting together a puzzle!

Elder Youngberg was a real trooper. I don't know who was worse - him or Sister Youngberg. They were both pale and she had to walk out of the room a couple of times.

When I opened the kit,  which consisted of an old sheet with, (what I hoped were stains all over it), I assessed his hand movement to make sure that he could make a fist and move all the joints in his left middle finger. Yea! That was a blessing! But more than that, it was a miracle!  After I numbed it with lidocaine and pulled back the skin, I could see the tendon. There were cuts and tears on both sides, up and down his finger, but there was not even a nick in the tendon.

Here is what happened. Elder Youngberg was working with another young man and they were trying to move a large metal corrugated door. It slipped and the weight was too much for a bare hand. He's lucky that it didn't cut his fingers all the way off!  Elder Rasmussen gave him a wonderful blessing and he was told that he would not have any pain. God truly is a God of miracles!   I love Him!

I love being a missionary! It's the best!  The Spirit is so strong and wonderful. There are hard days too, and on those days, I just have to say what my best friend always says: “One more Day!”

Have a wonderful day! I love all of you so much more than when I left on my mission. My heart is changing for the better and that is because I know each one of you. Thank you for all you love, support and encouragement! 

Love always,

Sister Cassita