We want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving this week, and trust you enjoy your time with friends and family. Here's a thought ... as you gather together, take a moment to say a prayer for your missionaries, whoever they are and wherever they are. This is not a special prayer request from Nauru, but think of this ... No matter how careful we are to wash our hands, take our vitamins, look both ways before we cross the street, we are indeed in the Lord's hands and the recipient of His mercy and watchcare. What a lot we have to be thankful for!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

As I mentioned, I have been reading some Nauruan history.

"The rat belongs to a harmless species .. which arrived from Japan on a ship. The rat is often a protagonist in legends, and symbolizes the ungrateful type, even so, the rat does not arouse any hostility."

This is a quote from the book, and now I will tell you why this was particularly interesting to me this week.

I have been able to continue working (sort of) while living here on this small island halfway around the world. The reliability of both electricity and internet service is sketchy, but the whole concept that I am able to work at all is still quite amazing to me. When in the US, I can work in the comfort and security of my own home; however, while here I must go to a central office where there is a LAN connection. On Friday, just as I was finishing up my last job, something caught my eye and as I looked over my shoulder I saw something run across the floor about 3-4 feet behind me. As I focused in on this "shadow" I recognized it as none other than a rat, tail included about a foot long! Unable to get past the manager's office door which was closed, he promptly climbed the wall, ran down the counter and behind the receptionist's monitor. She was facing the opposite direction totally unaware of the visitor. Across the room a girl (about 10 years old) was grinning ear to ear, but not the least bit alarmed. I, on the other hand, closed up shop and called it a day. I was sitting there wearing flipflops and the thought of this "harmless species" running across my feet or worse, biting my toes, gave me the creeps! I must admit, this had a more profound effect on me than the mice behind the apple box. I am scheduled to return to work on Monday .. I certainly hope the rat does not!

Have been reading some Nauruan history this past week. The island must have been a really beautiful place when the first outsiders came across it. I am always interested in history and how people relied upon their environment. In particular the coconut tree is called the "tree of life." Was told this week that you could build your entire house from the coconut tree plus sustain good health from the fruit. Think this is just amazing and what a testament to God's creation. The arrival of outsiders to this island cannot improve upon that!

Update! The ship came in! About 10 days after we saw the supply ship off the coast, the shops began to set out some new products. I kept my eye peeled for the new supply of bread (see previous post), and voila! ... new bread, best used by Sep 26! ... At this rate, I don't believe it will have the chance to catch up with me. But it really does make quite nice toast!

Enjoyed a "Nauruan BBQ" recently, beautiful setting on the beach. One lady "wove" the plates with palm tree leaves and another split a bamboo branch making a set of tongs to turn the meat. We enjoyed the freshly caught tuna on the grill; however, everyone else preferred it raw! After a full afternoon of sun and fun, we loaded up the trusty wagon and got everyone home just after dark. The next day (Sunday) everyone wanted to know when the next BBQ would be!

How many people can you get in a 5-passenger Landcruiser? On a recent Sunday we put that question to the test and the answer is "at least 18!" ... (7 adults and 11 children), and honestly we did not hear one complaint. These 18 were picked up in a neighborhood where the wagon is unable to enter ... narrow roads, overhanging trees, and DEEP ruts ... and then transported to where the wagon is parked and we hitch up again and return for church. The whole transport experience is something they obviously enjoy. We have found the Nauruan people to be very personable and easy to approach. Most are outright friendly and those who are not as extroverted, show nothing more than a shyness in speaking to us. We have seen no rudeness or what the Nauruans describe as "bad manners" directed our way. Even after being here this short time we are greeted on the streets, waved to by passing vehicles from people we have met.

In Nauru, there is one main general store and a few smaller kiosk-type shops with food, soft drinks etc. Shipments come in weekly, and you can find what is available that week after checking 2 or 3 of them. Some items are better priced at one store over the other. I stopped at my second store of the afternoon in hopes of finding some apples that were reasonably fresh. They are kept in refrigeration and in order to open the frig I had to move a box away from the door. To my surprise from behind that box scampered a family of mice. No one in the shop, except me and the mice, seemed to be alarmed. Bread is kept in the freezer section, which I thought was reasonable since the climate here is so warm and humid. However, I noted on each of the loaves, the "best if used by" date was August 28. Optimistically, I figure it won't take so long to toast or make croutons ... and no, there is no Walmart in Nauru.