not fair.

Dearest Family,

One of our investigators names is, "Maii"
She is a nurse at the hospital here in Bikenibeu.
Her duty as a nurse is to care for the malnourished children under the age of five.
She is the only nurse.
She is in charge of all the malnourished children in Kiribati.

She invited us to hold a family home evening at her house..and while we ate.. we talked about her work. I was fascinated. I was shocked. I was a little sad..as she told us stories and experiences that she has had working with malnourished children. How painful it is to her when her patients die. How hard it is for her to carry the work alone..as we talked..I wanted to do something to help..these sweet children..I asked her..What do you need? Milk? What can I do..how can I help..what needs to be done?

She said that the hospital provides for milk, and provides for everything while the children stay in the hospital but the problem is when these children go home from the hospital...they return to their homes..and the same problems happen. They are neglected. They are not fed. And the return to the hospital.

 You want to fix malnourished children? she asked.. You have to fix the family.


Teach the fathers to find work, teach the mothers to love and nurture their children. But before that, teach couples to marry. Teach them to MARRY. Then have children.

As I listened to her.. I was amazed...the key to stopping starving children..is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The answer to malnourished children -- is to follow the Church of Jesus Christ. Do we not teach couples to obey the Law of Chasity..and hasn't the prophet told us in "The Family: a proclamation to the world" Exactly what our duties are as families? That fathers should rear and raise their children -- and mothers to provide for the emotional and physical needs of their families?

If the gospel was lived. And people tried to do their best to follow God's commandments. If we headed to the words of the prophet...this world would be a better place.

On Thursday we were able to go visit her ward in the old run down Bikenbeu hospital..to do some cleaning service for them..and to look at these sweet little bodies..boney, bodies..the life barely clinging to their bodies...was a little haunting...and honestly an experience I can't quite describe..nor will ever be able to but into words the feeling I felt as I watched these children suffer to fight for their lives.

That night in my prayers I prayed to Heavenly Father...I prayed and said, "Father, this isn't fair..why do I have food, and they don't? Why do some in this world live in abundance..and others don't?? How is that fair?" As I prayed I felt so much anger and confusion.

The impression I got to answer my prayers was this: "It is because we have not learned how to share."

I went back and talked to our investigator and nurse, to thank her for the experience we had in the hospital. Before I left..she asked..."Sister Johnson..are there a lot of malnourished children in America?" I shook my head, "No..not like this.."  She said, "Maybe it is because they do not know...maybe you could be the one to let them know.." I told her.."I don't know how..but I'll do my best. I'll do my best to let those who live too abundantly in America realize there are those who don't..I don't know how I'll do it..but I'll do my best."

And that was this week. I don't know how. But I gotta do it. I gotta let people know..I gotta let them see - we can make this world a better place..we really can..if only we live the gospel..and share what blessings we have been given.

I, from this day forward am changed. I cannot go back. I have seen the suffering and must do something about it.

This is my prayer.

Sister Johnson

A week of laughter...

Dearest Family,
Whatta week..what..a...WEEK! Oh my word. Okay, here I go trying to
compose an email...

This week was FULL of laughter. Laughter, laughter, laughter...and it
was a miracle from Heavenly Father because it was honestly the only
way to get through this work.

There is a lot of things I wish I could explain about this strange
little island..that I guess just wouldn't make sense if you didn't see
them..but I'll do my best to give you an image, a little idea of
what's it's like to be here. I think one of the hardest things about
this island is the heat..it is all encompassing..literally suffocating
at times because of the HUMIDITY of this island. It's so thick it's
almost visible and with the direct rays of the sun screaming down from
the sky...it has a tendency to kinda zap your energy. We stay
hydrated, and the Lord does bless us..but I think yesterday was the
hottest day of my life.

It was Sunday yesterday and we set out to church..I got to teach
primary (which was the best!) and then we headed off to lessons...the
heat was piercing..but we kept moving from lesson to lesson...but
nobody seemed to be home. We biked from one village to the next..and
everyone had gone for the weekend. Out of the four hours of bicycling
here and there we found two investigators out of the seven we had
planned. I was really tired...and the sun seemed unusually
annoying..as we biked and biked and biked..I was getting pretty
discouraged. My bike's seat is broken..and it slants downward..so
every three or four pushes on the bike and you've slipped off the seat
..sit back on it..and four or fives pedal pushes later..your back off
it.. Biking on sandy trails feels more like the intensity of mountain
biking -- because you really got to push just to stay moving.

As I was biking thinking, "Man I feel kainanno.." which is a funny
remix of Kiribati and English just meaning...I feel like I'm a little
tired/suffering a bit. A little thought came into my head the My
Savior has suffered more. We kept going.

We finally got into a home of one of our investigators. His wife is a
member, he is not. He has had lessons with missionaries for over a year.
He has never been baptized because he has never come to church. I
really prayed for the Spirit..to help us know what to say..we gave a
thought about the purpose of this life..and then Sister Itioa handed the 
discussion over to me. "Binoka," I said, "You weren't able to come to church
today..was there a reason?" He said..."I feel really embarrassed to
come to church because I know all the members are going to look at me, and
judge me for all the things I do wrong.."

..and maybe it was a accumulation of all my tiredness, but I'd like to
think it was the Spirit..when I teared up and told him.."Who are you
more scared of:.the members from Bikibeu First Ward..or God?" His head
hung down..and I continued to talk. "Binoka..I left my family, I left
America. I left everything I knew to come on a mission. To come to
serve you and your family..and to tell you and help prepare you to
meet God. (see Alma 34:32) When it comes the time of the
judgment..it's not going to be you and all the people from Bikienbeu
Ward...when it is the time of Judgement..it is you..and your God. So
what are you going to do in this life to get you ready for that day?"

Binoka quickly apologized for not keeping his commitments and told his
wife, "We are going to church on Sunday.." the wife replied, "I have
always told you that it's up to you, I will never force you..it's up
to you." Binoka replied, "I'm going to church."

Keep him in your prayers this week as he can keep his commitment to
come to church...

There was some other really cool spiritual experiences this week..but
maybe that was the only one I really needed to share this week...but
like I said..I got through this week with laughter..

I though of my little Goose, Sarah Jane, this week..because really
everything was SO funny. Maybe you had to be there..and maybe this
heat is getting to my head..but top five funnies of this week:
..okay truth..I just typed them out..and they were not really
funny..hahahaha! Basically it boils down to this: a bird pooped on me,
our investigator ran away from us..but not just run..i Mean he ran for
his LIFE away from us....our Recent covert tried to teach me to dance
in Kiribati (HA!) and our bathroom has no door on it. Hahahahahaha. OH
THIS LIFE!

Well, I sure love you guys. I love this work..I am definitely being
tested..but I love these people so gosh darn much I couldn't leave
them if you made me.

your daughter, friend, and coconut girl,
sister johnson

These pictures were sent to us from a young woman that got to go visit her parents on

Christmas Island. That was the last area Lizzie served in. We just got them this week.

 doing laundry!!

Back to Tarawa

[Lizzie has been transferred this week back to Tarawa and has been assigned to be the Sister Training Leader. Devin (her little brother) is doing his Eagle Scout project and collecting white shirts and ties for the priesthood brethren on the island.]

Flight was good, but we had two nights with no sleep because of the flights that were scheduled in the weeee hours of the morning..but thanks to the goodness of God, I was not even tired..can you believe that? He has given me strength.

I'm glad President and Sister Weir approved of the Eagle project. Please send as many shirts as you can..because a lot of the island Elders here only have a couple of shirts too -- we need them mostly for missionaries as well as investigators and diligent ward members. I'm so excited for you guys! BEautiful idea. I'm truly grateful.

As far as the sister missionaries we have 10 sisters on Tarawa and 2 on Kirimati so a total of 12.  Mom - if you could see these people -- these sisters -- what they sacrfice to go on a mission -- how much they trust the Lord -- man, it is inspiring! Anything that you think they could use would be helpful - simple things like bobby pins, or nail clippers or lotion. Don't worry about good brands of anything -- brands don't exist here...cause there is usually only one brand of something. 

The beauty of giving gifts to these sisters is that it is not just going to the sisters -- because when you give an islander a gift...it goes to the whole island..I guarentee the sisters will give to their investigators, to their family..they are so sweet to share..so just know by helping the sisters, you are helping Kiribati be a better place.

I'm really grateful to be in my old area...six months later..to see the recent converts staying faithful means more than anything to me!! 

I am working on obedience - exact obedience!! I know that the most important thing to do is put the Lord first! I know I cannot build my life upon anything but the rock of our Redeemer.

I love my family with all my heart and I love this work!!!!!!!
your girl,
Liz