UNLIKELY PROFESSIONS

Cheryle and I are having a great time on our mission doing whatever needs done.  It seems like every day brings us new challenges and blessings as we strive to hone our talents or in many cases find new ones we did not realize we possessed or even needed.  Cheryle has become an excellent teacher and speaker.  I always knew she had this talent but she preferred and still does prefer not to advertise it.  However, it is very evident that whenever asked, she is ready, willing, and capable to step up and do what is needed.  It doesn't matter whether there is no notice at all or time to prepare, she rises to the occasion and performs amazingly.  I am so proud of her and all of the talents she has, especially her ability to show love to the people and their response to her.

We have been given a responsibility for Public Affairs here in the Solomons as part of our missionary duties.  This has not been one of my favorite areas of focus in past years.  My experience with the media has not been good so I have naturally concentrated my efforts elsewhere, until now.  A part of our duties here are to work with the media and surprisingly it has been a very rewarding experience.  They all seen to be open to us and are willing to accept input and report on what the Church is doing in the Islands.  At home the attitude of many in the media toward the Church seems to be rather negative or uninterested.  For instance, just try to get a positive article about the Church printed in the Standard Examiner.

Five weeks ago we met with editors from the Solomon Star, the leading newspaper here, and asked if they would allow us to prepare articles for them to print on occasion in their paper.  They welcomed the idea and suggested if we brought articles in on Mondays they would run them on their religious page on Tuesday. Cheryle and I, with our combined GPA of B- in High School English,  wrote our first article, copied it to a thumb drive, and took it to the Solomon Star on Monday.  Tuesday there it was big as life and word for word, published in the paper.  They have printed our articles each week and seem to be very happy to do so into the future, so it looks like we are unofficial contributing editors to the Solomon Star.

Some of you at home have requested that we include these articles in our blog to give you a flavor of what is happening here in the Church.  Or could it be that you are amazed that we might be doing something like this.  Well, we are.  It also might give you a good laugh, but that's OK too.

 Solomon Star 25 October 2011

LDS ELDERS COMPLETE MISSIONS

Four Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have completed their two year missions in the Solomon Islands and will return to their homes.  Elder James who has been serving in Burns Creek will return to Vanuatu, , Elder Pakalani who has been serving in White River will return to Tonga, Elder Gisa who has been serving recently in Honiara will return to Samoa, and Elder Vi who has been serving in Malaita will return to Tonga.

These four young men have faithfully proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ for 2 years to the people of the Solomon Islands and will be missed greatly.  They will return to their homes to pursue their educations and careers.   Elder Parere will also return to Papua New Guinea to continue his mission for the Church there.  Five Elders will be sent from the mission headquarters at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to fill these positions in the Solomon Islands.

Young Elders in the Church 19 to 30 years of age give two years of their lives to serve in the missions throughout the world.  They are normally supported by their families during their missions and are sent to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Currently 52 thousand full time missionaries are serving in the 344 missions of the Church.  88 young missionaries and 6 senior couples are serving at this time in the Papua New Guinea Mission which includes the Solomon Islands.

Solomon Star article 01 November 2011

LDS YOUTH CLEAN KOLA RIDGE CEMETERY

On October 1, 2011 young men and women ages 12 to 30 from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put on Mormon Helping Hands vests and spent the morning cleaning up the cemetery at Kola Ridge.  They filled hundreds of trash bags with debris. This service project was part of a Youth Conference held by the Church in Honiara.  Pres. Fata, the Mission President, and his wife traveled from Port Moresby to preside at the conference and instruct the youth.

 Service to others is an important principle of the Gospel and members of the Church often participate in projects that help and bless the lives of others in the community.   Church members believe that service to others as taught by the Savior Jesus Christ is a blessing in their own lives.  Opportunities for service are readily available to all of us and most service is just one person doing something good for another person in need. 

Youth groups and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Solomon Islands often plan service projects in connection with church conferences and other activities.  Thomas S. Monson, Prophet and President of the world wide Church has taught that prayers are often answered by the kind acts of another person.

Solomon Star article 08 November 2011



Five New LDS Elders to serve in the Solomon Islands

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has assigned 5 new Elders to serve in the Solomon Islands. 

They join three Elders who will continue to serve here.  Elder Aisa is from Papua New Guinea and will join Elder Daun to serve in the Burns Creek Branch.  Second and fourth from the left are Elders Wanopo and Yama both from Papua New Guinea.  They will serve in the White River Branch.  Third from the left is Elder Bourne from New Zealand.  He will join Elder Tamihana and serve in the Honiara Branch.  Elder Ramo in the picture on the right is also from Papua New Guinea and will join Elder Maesi and serve in Fauabu on the island of Malaita.

Each of these young men is dedicating two years of his life to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As you see these young Elders around town please welcome them with a Solomon Island smile.