On Saturday July 20, 2008, we arrived in the Marshall Islands after a good flight, on time and with great expectations. Our warm greetings from our new friends, Steve and Shawn Clark, missionaries serving the Marshallese for over three years and their great team. The humble sweet spirited people. Majuro is an atoll sitting out in the middle of the Pacific ocean. It is thirty miles long in a horse shoe shape and less than a mile wide. The amazing wonders of God's creation.

To learn more about the work that Steve and Shawn are accomplishing, go to: http://www.clarkmi.org/index-old.htm

Before leaving, we received this blessing:

"The Spirit says! The glory of the Lord will be manifested through you as you minister in the Marshall Islands. Signs and wonders will be poured out. Generational blessings for marriages and families will flow forth for the people as a result of this impartation that will be planted there as a result of your ministry. The joy of the Lord will be your strength and all fatigue will be washed away. So minister in the anointing of Jesus' power and grace. The angels of the Lord protect and propel you!"

In His Love,

Dr. Larry and Judi Keefauver

Sunday morning worship, church was packed and people gathered around outside, singing from their heart. The message "Live the Life of Christ, Take a Stand for the Lord." Let His Spirit fill you with His anointing power, changing you and setting you free! The Marshallese were touched by God's presence. Then an overwhelming surprise at the end of the service. The first time this has ever happened to us! The Marshallese shook our hands and gave offerings to God's servants, Rick and Sharon. The people are the most gracious! Rick and Sharon gave blessings to the women's conference with the offerings taken to use as the Lord leads. Continue to pray for God's mighty outpouring of His Spirit.

Monday we ministered on personal time with the Lord. The ladies were touched by the power of God.

Tuesday we ministered on strongholds that keep us from going and sharing the Gospel. It was a time of healing for many of the women in the area of strongholds. Many were set free by the power of God. Praise the Lord.

Wednesday we ministered on bringing everything to Jesus. Surrendering every area of your life and bringing everything to the cross and leaving it there. During the morning the ladies received communion and just worshiped the Lord. That night Rick ministered on "What is in your hand". A powerful message on giving everything to the Lord and using what God has given you. After the message the Spirit began to move and leaders were touched by the Spirit of God. All of the women were encouraged to pray for the sick and share what God has done for them. Thursday we taught on the Holy Ghost. During the morning many women were baptized in the Holy Ghost and many received a fresh filling of the Spirit of God. Rick that night taught on "Being Led by the Spirit." A great message on how to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost in your life. During ministry time the ladies prayed for each other and worshipped the Lord. God by His Spirit is truly moving in every meeting. Please continue to pray for us as we minister here in the Marshall Islands. Friday we ministered on the fruitful servant. The morning services started with a time of worship and testimonies about what the Lord has been doing in the lives of the women. Rick then delivered a powerful word on the fruitful servant. After the word the ladies washed each others feet just like Jesus did for the disciples. It was a very special time and the women were blessed in the presence of the Lord. Friday night Rick ministered on Psalm 23. It was a very special message and emphasized that the Lord is our shepherd. During this time Rick gave a word encouraging the men to persuade their wives to be all that they can be. For them to recognize their wives as equals in the ministry. Afterwards Rick and Sharon prayed for all of the pastors and pastors’ wives as couples. God is so good and during this conference He has touched everyone is so many ways!

A little about this part of the world………………

Marshall Islanders are known throughout the Pacific and the world for their friendly and peaceful nature. Sharing with family and friends, a warm welcome for strangers and caring consideration for others are values inherent to the Marshallese culture. The people have nurtured these values over the centuries. Cooperation and caring are necessary elements of survival on these small islands, surrounded by the sea. The concept of family and community thus remain inextricably intertwined in Marshallese society. People still consider grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and far-flung relatives among their closest family. The strong family ties contribute to close-knit communities rooted in the values of caring, kindness and respect.

Time has also introduced new elements into the culture. While the local population is mostly indigenous, there are many mixed German, Japanese and American Marshallese. Both Marshallese and English are the official languages of the Marshall Islands. Marshallese belongs to the Austronesian Language Family, the most geographically widespread language family in the world. Of the Austronesian languages, Marshallese is a member of the Malayo Polynesian group, a group which contains 880 different languages.

In the Marshalls, two major dialects have emerged, one in the Ralik Chain and one in the Ratak Chain of atolls. The differences between the two dialects is minor. Majuro population 25,400 people (as of 2004) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Built on an atoll of 64 islands, the Majuro Atoll, Majuro has a port, shopping district, hotels, and an international airport. The major population centers are the D-U-D communities, the islands of Delap-Uliga-Darrit. Uliga is the main business district, and banking and tourism are increasingly important. Uliga is home to the College of the Marshall Islands, Assumption High School, and Uliga Elementary School where English is taught to all students. The government offices are based in Delap, and located at the eastern point of Majuro Atoll is the capitol building for the Marshall Islands. Delap also has several large stores. Darrit is mostly residential and has a primary and a secondary school. At the western end of the atoll, about 30 miles from D-U-D by road, is the community of Laura, a growing residential area with a popular beach. Laura has the highest elevation point on the island, estimated at less than 10 feet above sea level. Laura has the best soil for planting and is the home of several farms. Marshall Islands High School is near the north end of Majuro, in Rita. The atoll itself has a land area of only 3.75 sq mi (9.7 km²), but encloses a lagoon of 113.92 sq mi (295 km²). Copra (coconut oil) is one of the main exports in the Marshall Islands, and receives copra shipments from most of the smaller populated atolls surrounding the area. Sport fishing is popular, and underwater divers are attracted to the area. Majuro and Kwajalein serve as the transportation hubs for the Marshall Islands, both for air service and shipping, though Majuro is more used because of Kwajalein's restricted military status.

Majuro, like many atolls, consists of extremely narrow land masses which allows a person to walk from the lagoon side to the ocean side within minutes. At some points the island is narrow enough to throw a rock from one side to the other. Most of the roadway from Delap to Laura is a single two lane paved road with houses on either side.

Rainbows are a common sight in Majuro. Local legend tells that the expression "iaKwe!" (You are a rainbow) once developed into the traditional Marshallese greeting, "Yokwe Yuk," which means "Love to You.”