Sunday was a wonderful day (except for the part where I had to speak in church). We attended 2 branch meetings, and one unit meeting. A branch is a group that's not big enough to be a ward, and a unit is a group that's not big enough to be a branch.
The people were so kind to us. We felt like royalty, with all the Mauri's and handshakes. The children are the sweetest - they are unspoiled, and pure. The first branch is the Christmas branch, it is the biggest. They meet in a building with benches. I wish I could explain their music. They don't have a piano, so they all sing in acapella. One person will sing the first couple of notes to get everyone on pitch, then they all sing in parts. The sound is what I imagine the choirs of heavenly angels to sound like. And they aren't shy to sing. I think they could probably be heard all over the island. I'm grateful I had the priviledge to get to hear such beautiful music.
The children were especially interested in us ematongs (white people). They wanted to shake hands or be held. We just loved them.
This is where Christmas branch has their Sunday school, primary, young mens, young mens etc., in these huts.
This is the picture of the Christmas branch church house. It is the chapel, and the cultural hall, with a sidewalk connecting the two. Behind these buildings is where the sisters/elders live, and where the sunday school huts are.
This is me with my parents in front of the Poland church. My mom and I are wearing the shirts that the women all wear.
Elders Anderl and Alberts in front of the sacrament table. They used a cooler with a white cloth. The man on the right is the only priesthood holder in this small branch of 6 people. He is an Elder. If you look to the right of him, you can see a netting. Inside this netting, there was a woman and her newborn sleeping. This church building has become church/home for this family. I guess when there was a big flood last year, and the missionaries couldn't get to this part of the island for several months - the members just dissolved and started going elsewhere for church, because there wasn't any leadership to keep it together. Only 6 or so remain.
Ira speaking at the Poland unit. Elder Alberts interpretting. This is a better picture of where the family moved in.
This is Elder and Sister Moser in front of the Banana Branch building. It also serves as a school classroom.
Ira in front of the Banana Branch building.
This is home sweet home for the Elders.
Christmas Branch party at the beach. They had it scheduled for the week after we would be gone. But when they heard we were coming, they rescheduled it so we could be there. I'm so grateful they did, because it was a wonderful experience to be part of this branch family.
Ira and I drinking coconut juice.
(gotta love that expression!)
The branch gathered together for a program of singing, skits, and dances.
Ira and I tried making rope out of the coconut fibers. These two ladies were really good at it. Us on the other hand...needed practice! They made it look so easy - but I just couldn't get those fibers to twist the way they were supposed to.
Grandpa eating fried bread fruit. It was really good, it was a similar taste to french fries made from sweet potatoes.
I've never seen so many fish in one place. And they were all ready to be cooked and eaten. As we would tell people that we don't have much fish in Idaho/Utah, and we eat beef, they would say, "No fish?...I couldn't do that." I'm thinking..."No beef?...are you kidding me?"
They cooked the fish on a piece of tin right over the fire. For a girl who doesn't love fish, this wasn't too bad. (If I could get past the fish's eyes staring at me :) ).
Ira has a stomach of steel, he can eat everything and anything without it bothering him a bit. I have never seen more rice in my life then the rice that was at this party!
We explored the ocean for sealife. This boy came to show me the sea cucumber he found.
Lavinta worked hard for this clam.
When she got it open, this is the beauty inside. I (Nicky) was told I had to eat some, so I did. Me...who doesn't love seafood, especially slimy seafood - swallowed a piece of it. Why?...just so I could say to all of you that I ate it!
Me and my daddy. He's making the sign that the kids like to make when they are having their picture taken. My dad...always a kid at heart!
This next picture, I posted just so you could fully appreciate the one that follows. This picture was taken a couple years ago while my dad was farming his corn field.
This was taken while dad (Elder Moser) is farming the ocean...some things never change! He would help the kids dig up the clams with the shovel.
This vine stuff grows all over the bushes. I don't know who was disguised beneath it - but it was pretty funny.
Notice how Elder Moser is holding this guys hands - again...some things never change. He's known on Christmas Island for his hand wrestling, just as he is at home. The kids like to give him knuckles, then they shake their hands and say, "Ow".
For part of the program, these young men did the "hakka". It was really fun to watch them. I think they were actually doing a mockery version of it, because they all kept laughing. But me know knowing the right way from the wrong way - thought it was pretty great to see them do it.
These kids liked playing games with Ira. He played baseball with them with a stick and coconut shells. And he played this game where they held onto his arms, and he'd lift them up and down until they couldn't hold on anymore.
The following two pictures are of the people going home in the transports. They crowd into these things, and away they go.
This is the view from our picnic hut. Yes...it was a bit of paradise!
Ready for the big feast. We had our dinner in the church cultural hall.
