Majuro, Marshall Islands

We boarded the plane on Tarawa, Kiribati, and flew to Majuro, Marshall Islands.  Both Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are very narrow long islands.  They are made up several small islands called atolls.  Here is what we learned about atolls.  An "atoll" is made of coral.  There are four atoll nations in the world.  Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Maldives, and Tuvalu.  Atolls can only be found in tropical ocean regions.  Coral reefs, which form the foundation of atolls can only grow in waters with annual temperatures between 23 (73) and 25 (77) degrees.  We also learned that neither country is very big.  The Marshall Islands is really 29 separate atolls.  It is also one of the world's youngest nations, becoming a nation in 1986. Majuro is the capital of the Marshall Islands.

Kiribati

Marshall Islands

Another view of Marhsall Islands

Elder and Sister Crooks were at the airport waiting for us and we were delighted to see them.  Elder and Sister Crooks have been in the Marshalls since the middle of February.  During that time they have been very busy making contacts and getting to know the people of the Marshall Islands and conducting a basic needs assessment.

They took us to our hotel where we dropped off our luggage and then we drove back to the mission office where we were able to get the Internet and check our emails.  After dinner we spent time with E/S Crooks, planned the next day and went to our hotel.

Our hotel room

Gardens

More gardens

Our room was right next to the ocean

Notice the clouds - it rained in less than 30 minutes 

Out of 50 countries with poor dietary habits, the Marshall Islands is ranked #1 as being the country with the most cases of diabetes.  All of our meetings were focused to gather information in support of  a diabetes prevention project.  Tuesday morning we met the Crooks at the Mission Office where we participated in a district meeting with them and the other missionaries.  Then we went to the U.S. Embassy and met with the U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands.  We discussed the needs of the health sector on the islands.  For lunch we met with the Red Cross and again talked about the needs of the people on the islands and efforts to prepare for emergencies.  That concluded our meetings for the day and we went back to the Crooks apartment where they made another delicious dinner and we did some laundry.  Following dinner and some planning we drove back to our hotel which was on the other end of the island.  The mission office and their apartment are in the middle of Majuro Island.

Wednesday morning we did a little work in the mission office and then we went to the hospital where we met with medical personnel from the USA who were there conducting a vision screening and surgical clinic.  Next we met with the head of the Hospital Diabetes Clinic and discussed how we can support their efforts at diabetes prevention.  We then visited and toured the Diabetes Wellness Center which is a part of the hospital where we had a very healthy lunch.

 In the afternoon we met with the assistant Minister of Health and the acting Secretary of Health.  Again we discussed the need for diabetes prevention on the island.  We then went to the Hospital Rehabilitation Center and discussed their challenges and needs.  Diabetes often results in amputations which leads to the need for wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

Our final meeting of the day was with a nurse and doctor who are part of a group from Taiwan.  They  work the Ministry of Health and are building a medical database.   In our discussion with them, the doctor made some interesting comments.  He said three things which struck a chord with us.  He talked about the power of peers, that most power is in the people and that "the body is a temple".  

Thursday morning we visited a workshop where they are teaching the youth how to build boats.

When we got to our next meeting they told us that it was for Friday so we headed back to the mission office to work on diabetes project development.  When it was time for our next meeting we went to the hospital where we met with the assistant Minister of Health and the acting Secretary of Health.  Again we reviewed the need for diabetes prevention on the island. At lunch time we went back to the Wellness Center which is run by an organization called Canvasback Mission, which is associated with the Seventh Day Adventists.  This is a wonderful center.  Four times a year they hold a seminar to teach people better lifestyle habits.  During the training sessions a person learns about diabetes and how to control it. People can come to the center and eat for $5.00 a day.  They also have an exercise room which is free to the public.  In addition to the specially prepared meals and exercise programs, people learn how to cook.  The wellness center has a garden which is located between different wings of the hospital.  They also have a very unique gardening and composting methods.

Ray and Tanner, Directors or Wellness Center

Liquid Fertilizer Ouside

And inside

Hydroponics

After our visit to the wellness center we put on some more casual clothes and drove the the other end of the island to visit the Taiwan Technical Mission.  They had an excellent gardening operation.

Andy, the man in charge

Taro

We then drove to the beach where we checked out the ocean.

Friday morning we visited with the Ministry of Education and talked with them regarding their needs including diabetes prevention teaching in the schools.

That meeting finished we went back to the hotel to check out and then went back to the mission office to continue working on developing our diabetes prevention project.

The Crooks fed us an early dinner as our flight was leaving at 8:00pm.  We arrived at the airport at the appointed 5:00pm, checked in and waited till we could go to the boarding gate.  We boarded the flight with all the medical personnel who had spent the week doing eye surgeries.  They said they performed over 100 surgeries. We really enjoyed working with E/S Crooks and are very positive about the shape this diabetes prevention project is taking.

"Great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands "anxiouly engaged in a good cause" (D&C 58:27)" M. Russell Ballard, October 2012 General Conference