Taneti Mwamwau

Mauri ngkami!

This last week the Marakei Island Council turned 50 years old! It was a big deal, the President of Kiribati, Taneti Mwamwau, came to the island for a day. We had a huge party and there was some traditional Kiribati dances which were pretty crazy. There were probably like 2000 people in attendance, which is like 2/3rds of the island's population. I shook hands with the president of Kiribati.

Last night a member's son returned home from serving his mission in Papua New Guinea, we were able to have dinner with them and talk to the Elder about his mission. He got back the day after the President left and we told him that he missed Taneti Mwamwau but he thought we said Thomas Monson. He put his hands to his head and said "What? Really?" and he looked sad that he missed him. We corrected him and laughed but the message from that was that we should really be more grateful that we have a Prophet on the earth today. We are guided and corrected by God, our Father, through his Prophet.  That's a pretty cool fact that we take for granted I think.

I hope you all have a great Christmas season and that you are all healthy and well. I am still alive and we should start teaching a really cool family this week so there is the Christmas gift!

Alma 7:11-12: 

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

Love,

Elder Farner