Henderson's in New Zealand: Kiribati Trip

Feb. 4, 2016
We had a wonderful, life changing experience in Kiribati. We were met at the airport by our ITEP missionaries. They took us to our apartment, on campus, and got us settled in. We we spoke at the first day of school assembly and met the principal and some of the faculty. A first year teacher at Moroni High also spoke and related the following experience: When he was about 12 years old his father died. and being the oldest child he was responsible to provide for his mother and younger brothers and sisters. He desperately wanted to go to school, but felt it was impossible. A missionary on the island told him he could provide more for his mother by getting an education than by staying in the village. He decided to go to school. It took him 5 weeks on a fishing boat to get to Kiribati and Moroni High.
He heard students speaking English. He thought they must be very smart. He knew he wasn't smart, but he could work hard and learn. He worked very hard and earned a scholarship each year so his mother didn't have to pay for his education. When he graduated he received a scholarship to nursing school in Australia. He went and began his studies, but he kept receiving promptings he should go on a mission. Finally he went to his counselor and told him he was going on a mission. The counselor told him he was crazy, that he would never get a chance like this again. His mother told him she would not support him on his mission, that it was a big mistake, that he would never earn as much as a nurse.
He went on a mission and when he returned he got a job as a substitute music teacher. He did such a great job and contributed so much to the music programs and assemblies at school that he was offered a full time job as a teacher, earning twice as much as he would have as a nurse. His faith was very inspiring.