Relief Society Birthday Party

The Relief Society birthday party here in Majuro was an event unlike anything I have ever seen before!  I snapped this picture halfway through a walkathon of 6 miles, just as the first rays of light started to penetrate the darkness.  We got up at 4:00a.m. and started walking at 5:00.

The Sisters from our ward in Laura actually slept over in the church the night before because they had to leave at 4:00 a.m. on Sat. morning.  I wondered where they would sleep in that church, we only have folding chairs and a hard tile floor; they sleep on cement floors at home though, so I guess this is nothing different. I was glad that they were meeting at the Mission office because I could sleep in my own apartment!  I woke up at 4:00 and ate breakfast before we started walking; they were all without breakfast.

As it became light, I got a few pictures.  Nosie is on the left in the flowered dress.  I wore pants and walking shoes, but most of them were in dresses and flip-flops!  I spent most of the time walking practicing Marshallese with these ladies.  When we got to the Delap Chapel, they had a breakfast prepared for us of a hot dog without the bun, a quarter of an apple, and a Marshallese donut.

Marie is the girl in blue in the back.  She is the one that we finally got her visa to Australia, and she is leaving tomorrow for her mission.  She said this big party must be for her because she is leaving.

All of these sisters walked the six miles down the middle of the road, with a police escort,to get here for breakfast.  Some of them had to walk back because they didn't have any transportation!  I was lucky that I had a ride back.  The sun was up and brutal by this time.

This is Marie going for seconds on the apple quarters.

That night after cleaning my apartment and doing the wash, I joined the rest of the sisters back at the Stake Center in Long Island for a devotional and dinner afterwards.  This is the plate of food that was served.  I couldn't eat the raw tuna on rice part.  I haven't gotten used to the thought of raw fish.  Our nurse, Sister Perkins gives worm pills to the young missionaries because of the raw fish eaten here.  I just can't quite handle that risk, so I secretly dumped that part of my dinner.

Each ward had a dance and skit to perform while everyone ate the dinner.  We practiced several nights last week for our dance.  I wanted to say that I had been a part of one of these performances, so I joined in.  It was great fun.

Our dance was the story of harvesting the "taro root."  I heard that we were the second best dance of the night.  I am sure that the Rita Ward was the best.  They had had sewn colorful Marshallese dresses made just for that dance and they practiced for months.

This is Rita's group.  Karen, one of my tutors is on the right in front.
The dance, dinner and skits had gone on for three hours when I gave up and went home; I was absolutely exhausted!  I missed the big birthday cake, but I was ready for bed.  I hate to think who had to do the clean up for church the next day.