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.

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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.