Elder McCain has arrived in Tarawa, Kiribati

Hello everyone! 

This is Dad writing for Elder McCain as Carter was unable to email on P-day which was their Monday and our Sunday.  He left Salt Lake on Tuesday the 12th traveling through Los Angeles and then after a 5 1/2 hours layover took a 12 hour flight to Nadi, Fiji.  After a quick 2 hour layover in Fiji, he took another flight for 3.5 hours up to Tarawa, Kiribati arriving on Thursday the 14th in Kiribati.  They are 18 hours ahead of us here in Missouri.  

On our Wednesday night around midnight we received an email from President Foster stating that he indeed did arrive with photo evidence! He was assigned to work in Bikenibeu which is on the island of Tarawa and his companion is Elder Ellis from Napa Valley, California.  

We anxiously awaited contact from him and finally last night we had a chat over google text message with him.  He was able to access the internet cafe where they have to pay by the hour. I thought I would share some of the highlights of that conversation along with some pictures he sent us.  

He started off by telling us that he loves it there and that was music to his mother's ears! He said that he and Elder Ellis are living in a house with 4 walls and has a running toilet! He was pretty happy about that.  He said it is extremely hot there and that every day feels like a humid Missouri summer day.  He said so far he is loving the food and his first night he ate raw fish, rice, bread and papaya!!! He said he loves the people already and says the language is pretty rough.  He told Brant that they kind of laugh at him when he speaks but that the people are so find and loving.

He and his companion are on bikes on Tarawa.  He is now a full time Sandal wearing missionary and he told us that the Jandals "are super comfortable".  We asked him if he really does take off his sandals every time he enters a home and he said yes they do! He said, "ya everytime I do and I have to sit Indian style and my legs cramp so bad it hurts!!!" 
I guess he should have been working on his flexibility! When asked if they knock doors, he said, "there are no doors on the homes"!!! He said that he is teaching all the spiritual thoughts for dinner and parts of some lessons as well.  The language is tough but we told him to keep working hard!! He said that he is getting eaten by mosquitoes but is using some of the repellent and oils he took that have been helping.

Overall we could not been happier to hear how well he was doing just 4 days in the field! It was a confirmation that the Lord really did choose this mission for Carter and he will serve with all his heart and love the people of Kiribati.   

Here are a few pics he sent to us.  

Ryan McCain 



 Elder Carter McCain looking like an "Islander" already! 

 Tan dio on the ocean side 

 He says this is tan rake on the lagoon side


 Local home in Bikenibeu
Elder McCain and Elder Ellis (new companion) 

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