We are packing our bags today after being on Ebeye for three days in
hope that this afternoon we can catch a copra boat that will be stopping
by on its way to Namu. A copra boat is a freighter that goes from island
to island trading and dropping off supplies. We will only leave Ebeye if
we have a scheduled trip back to Kwajalein next week to catch our
flight back to the states. Pastor Tommy has been working very hard to
find a way for us to get to Namu and back. We feel that our current
plan of taking a copra boat is the most realistic option that we have
had since arriving on Ebeye Tuesday. We are putting our trip in God’s
hands and hope that if we do not get to Namu we can make a difference
wherever we end up visiting.
We have had a really good time in Ebeye with the school, the students,
the staff, and the student missionaries. Yesterday we visited the school
and watched their spelling bee. It was a lot of fun to see how much the
students got into the event. All of the grades participated, and it was
impressive to see some of the words that the younger students could
spell in English.
After visiting the school, Matt and I set out to get video of footage of
Ebeye for a video that we are going to be making on the Ebeye school. At
the beginning of this school year, the school here only had four student
missionaries to help teach. Slowly throughout the year more have
trickled in and they now have 13 missionaries who are working to run the
school. Since we were stuck here we felt that we could do our part, with
the equipment that we have, to spread the word that this school in Ebeye
is in desperate need of help of missionaries on a yearly basis. We have
gotten footage of the school and students as well as video of what the
island looks like and interviews with the principal and current
missionaries. We hope that by making a video and sending it to different
organizations we can help the Ebeye school have a full staff to begin
next school year.
Paul had a great idea yesterday afternoon to provide dinner for the
student missionaries here. We decided to send someone over on the ferry
to Kwajalein to pick up some pizza. It was a lot of fun to sit around
and eat pizza while talking about what the student missionaries have
experienced here so far this year. It is interesting to see that while
many student missionaries return home and say what an amazing and life
changing experience being a missionary is, however, many of those that
we have had a chance to talk with say that their time here has been very
challenging. Most of them have had their faith tested in a big way at
some point or another along their journey here, and I thought that was
very interesting. After hearing them it seems as if sometimes the
picture that is painted is a little brighter than is the reality.
We thank you for your continued prayers. Even though things have not
gone as we were planning, God has blessed our time here in Ebeye. At
this point we believe that the next time you read an update it will be
from Namu, we have put that in the Lord’s hands. God Bless!
-Joe
Yesterday Hess and I went to the sunken ship to go swimming and to take
pictures, unfortunately neither one of us had our snorkeling gear so we
really couldn’t swim as effectively as we could have with them. There
where a few of the Marshallese that where laughing at us which deterred
me from getting into the water right away. I swam out to the boat and
noticed that there was oil on top of the water, I asked Wade and Hess
why that was later. I just happened to meet two young kids that where,
in my opinion crazier than I was. (which, to do that is relatively easy,
just get someplace high, higher then I would go, and jump off it. just
like these kids did.) I tried to get as many under water pictures that
could, while trying to conserve my meager 27 exposures allotted me by
the underwater disposable camera that my mother was gracious enough to
buy me. we didn’t have our snorkel gear right. which means I couldn’t
see very much under water, and I don’t know whether or not we will be
coming back to Ebeye again or long enough to thoroughly explore the
sunken ship. I wanted to see what type of engine it was so that maybe I
could find out what type of ship it was. (a little hobby of mine I guess
you could call it.) I went to examine the engine and could only
determine that it was a inline motor, everything was so rusted that it
seemed to be a single mass. I did find out an interesting fact though.
all the engines around here are diesel. The trucks, the boats, the
tractors (duh). everything is diesel because that is all they can get
out here. there is a small mechanics shop here right next to Lucky Star,
which is a hardware store of sorts), that one discovery actually gave me
hope that there might be a need for good mechanics or wielders on this
island. I’ll have time to think about that on our way to Namu. I’m
actually surprised at the climate here, its relatively easy to adapt to.
Minus the humidity it is just like a normal summer day at home. Paul,
Wade, and Hess all seem to be dieing of heat but I’m just fine. I even
tried wearing my coat out there to. Paul told me that I should check my
thyroid. He’s most likely right. I really wouldn’t mind living here.
People are friendly, and food is cheap what more could you want.
Hopefully we’ll get to Namu today. I mean, its fun here but I really
want to get to the place that we were suppose to go to originally, but
what ever happens will happen that’s the way it is around here. Lets
pray and see.
-Matt-
