The Adventure Begins in East Tarawa

February 15, 2015

This weeks been all over the place. packing, moving furniture, making sure nothing's been stolen, and a lot of other stuff. I was suppose to get to my new area yesterday but that didn't happen so they are coming to take me to my new area after I finish my email. I'm super excited to get there. East zone is the poler opposite of West zone. The Zone Leaders are hard working (and one was my trainer). Most Elders and Sisters are hard working, and P- day is at the Senior couples house. My area (from what I've heard) is one of the best in the mission. Good statistics and great members. I've heard even better things about my companion. He's from Fiji and a super hard worker. Everyone I've talked to says that he's "The man". 

Elder Scott Johnson

History in Tarawa

February 8, 2015

As far as transfers go. they announced I would be transferred. I'm going to Teimaiku. that is the area in Tarawa that has the "International Airport." I will work with a Fijian Elder that everyone says is the most loving and humble guy, so in excited! 

My MTC companion is in my zone and yesterday we went on splits in Batio (his area). The last time we taught a lesson he and I were in the MTC. At that time neither of us could speak. We sat in one lesson quite for 10 minutes once then we closed it prayer because opening and closing was all we knew. This time we taught a 45 minute lesson on Word of Wisdom and God's commandments.

We went to a lot of his investigator houses but they where either not home, busy, or drunk (and a rare few all three at once). Batio is cool. All over are relics of the war. old bunkers are used as pig stables, 

boats from the war are stuck rusting in the shallow waters (we hope to go look at thoughts today) of Red beach, which we visited yesterday. I will send pictures of the stable and Red Beach.

How's the family doing? Love you tons!

Love,

Elder Scott Johnson

Feb. 1, 2015

Everything is good here. We went sight seeing in Batio. I saw the guns and bunker there and the Kiribati MTC (marine training center). Transfers came through. I'm going to the east side of Tarawa sadly. I've heard it really really nice but I wanted to go outie. I feel that where I can work best. I know the culture and I live it out here. It's a lot like America here; food, culture and people wise.

Elder Scott G. Johnson

       Our House on Tarawa    

The Year is New and So Is The Journey

January 18, 2015

Mauri,

So after a lot of confusion and a catholic government agent thinking he can hinder the work, I finally got to Tarawa. I am working in Beiriki. I am really excited because this was the area I was at while I waited to go out to Aranuka. I was really sad to leave, but there is one thing we learn a lot from life; don't look back. I will always remember the people, but God called me here. Two things that I never thought I would dislike, I now I can say I do dislike and cold drinks and AC. I feel like the guy from the movie Castaway when he gets to civilization. Everything goes to fast. Cars going back and forth stores, you walk in to and lots of other stuff. The cold water, when I drank, it burnt my throat. Our house has AC was so cold I couldn't sleep. The cold is a scary place. Last night a got so cold before bed that I went out side and lied on the basketball court. My companion is great! His name is Elder Marselli from Kiribati. He is a really hard worker and is almost done with his time. We just "whitewashed" the area which means the last two elders left and the new Elders came in. My first day of work is tomorrow so I am excited to see what happens. I am way excited to work on Tarawa. 

I love all of you and hope everything is well back home.

Tiabo,

Elder Scott G. Johnson

January 11, 2015

Mauri Everyone,

Sorry for the wait, and if anyone thinks I was dead...stop it. This isn't that scary of a place. but the honest to goodness reason why I haven't written is because I didn't feel like it( stupid excuse right). I was feeling a little down in the dumps because of a few things. First I was reading my friend's emails and how happy they where to Skype with their families for the holidays; while for Christmas me and my companion tried for three hours to update the Skype but nothing we tried worked. Second we ran out of food. It wasn't like other side of heaven or anything we still has fish bread fruit and coconuts. but all the crackers bread and Rumen noodles where gone. And as you can imagine a missionary without instant noodles is a sad missionary. and also baptisms and transfers fell thru. I was feeling pretty down.

We then got a last Christmas present it was a stocking made by the

senior couples. It has a shirt, a can of peanut and most of all a

letter from the first presidency. I felt like it was a bit of an

encouragement. A few days later my companion got a package with

Twinkies, Ritz, Nutter butters, and other Food from America. Then we where riding to the council and saw the boat. Imagine the seen from 17 miracles when the rescue party comes and everyone is crying for joy. That was us. it seems like everything is picking up for the better. We are getting out to Tekiaing, we have 3 investigators really close to baptism and we have less actives coming to church, but as you would guess right before there dates I get transferred. That's right, this is my last week on Aranuka. I leave for Tarawa on the 16 of this month (on my 6 month mark). I loved this area and part of it will always be in my heart. I thought this day would never come and know that its here I don't know what to think. Will I tell more on my feeling next week when I'm in Tarawa with AC. 

Until then, love you all.

Tiabo Moa,

Elder Scott Johnson

January 4, 2015

This is our Branch in Aranuka

One of the staples here are Coconuts

One of my favorite thing here is Cumin or how ever you spell it. Its the kind of spice. One I put in everything. 

Winter in Kiribati

Me Baptizing Tekenna

December 28, 2014
Mom,
I am so jealous of all the food that you've eaten. I would kill for
any kind of food from America. From what I heard there is no American food in Tarawa, it's all from Australia. I am also jealous of Sushi Ya as well. Even with all the fish on the islands they don't know how to make sushi. The answer to your question on spices. The answer is none. There is one person that went to cooking school in New Zealand. She uses salt and sugar, but other then that I have never seen any. After the Catholic Father's party, ships haven't come. So canned food and stores bought food in short supply. We can't even bye rice or flour because it's out. Tarawa is shy to sent a boat because a few 10 minute rain storms came thru here and they thought they would be bigger. don't worry though. the members feed us what they have and there are plenty of fish, coconuts and kerewe to go around the whole island. Thank you for
the picture of Benson. I miss that dog. He better still be around when I get home. Is there a lot if snow? How was Nana's? and Hows Dave's new job?
Love you tons and can't wait to here from you.
Elder Scott Johnson

Our House in Aranuka The houses hold up really well. The roofs protect and cancel sound so we only hear rain when it falls on the ground not the roof.

******************

Christmas Conversation with Elder Johnson

Some of the conversation emailing with Scott of Email:

December 25, 2014

Christmas day we woke up to a huge rainstorm. It was the biggest I have seen here. The rain was coming so thick it looked like fog. We could only see ten feet in front of us. We hopped on a truck and rode to Abera's house and helped build a new buia; it's like a small house. (Their homes are made up small houses that are kind of like rooms) I cut down trees with a machete and helped make the support beams for the house. We then rode home and got ready for bed. 

This is Tereke's house. It's against the law to make a 2 story house in the city because it shows you think you higher then others. So Tereke made it in the sea so it's not on the island and not in the town. This is a two story house. 

On Batio, The airfield is on Batio. the airstrip is gone but the bunkers and anti-ship artillery is still there. in some areas tanks and landing crafts sit rusting. There where other battles fought on their islands but they where so minor that most the locals don't even now they happened.

Red beach is where thousands of American soldiers stormed at low tied and where all massacred. Not a soul survived that low tied assault. The US government still pays for any American remains that are found.

Our branch is 12 people I've already given the news about being transferred to Tawara. 

Your Christmas present has been made but you may have to wait a year and a half to get it. It is very special because it was made by my Kiribati grandma (The older lady I told you about).

 Me with a Mantic Shrimp

Real Lobsters for Dinner

Yesterday (Christmas Day) it was so cold with the rain, the wind and the clouds. I wished I had one (and a jacket).

I'm literally right in the equator. It runs through the island. There are no seasons here and you can only bring 30 lbs to outies so you pack light. But a jacket would be nice please. 

So the word is I'm going to Bikinibiu

(be-ke-ne-beoo), Tarawa. Good internet, washers, and other missionaries.
Probably the people are my favorite thing about the island because they help me with the language and like to joke around. There are some really funny people.

Beach worms surprisingly tasty

The texture of the Beach worms are like old gum. The flavor is the salty little sardines.