I was assigned to Majuro, the Marshall Islands for two years and lived on the edge of a 175 square mile lagoon. I could sit in my living room and watch freighters and huge tuna boats make their way to the port. The other side of the atoll was barely visible on the horizon. With an average temperature of 80 degrees, I enjoyed this “island life.” The Embassy was only 200 yards up the tree-lined street and the entire atoll was only 30 miles long. In places, the land was just wide enough for the two-lane road and we were only a few feet above sea-level. Directions were given as “ocean-side” or “lagoon side” and each section of land had a name. With towering coconut palms, gigantic banyan trees and bright red flame trees, what more could I ask for?
I would have liked to have had a little more help and time to appreciate my surroundings. The ocean was beautiful, but the saltwater made things rust and fall apart. The air conditioners we depended on frequently failed. Our water source only pumped a few days a week. We stored water in huge tanks, pumps gave us water pressure and distillers produced drinking water. Everything ran on electricity and our supply was uncertain, so we depended heavily on aging emergency generators. My household electric bill was over $700 a month. I couldn’t have afforded this “island life” if everything hadn’t been provided with my job.
How do the local residents get by? Most Marshallese people have little money and their culture allows them to rely on family if needed. With low wages and few jobs, many can’t afford high electric bills, so they don’t have air conditioning. Water storage is limited and they can’t afford distillers. When the power fails, they lose the few amenities they had. Schools provide an opportunity, but motivation is lacking. As young people get older they see the world passing by and too many choose suicide as a way out. Marshallese citizens can move to the US and some have made new lives for themselves in Hawaii and the mainland.
Our Marshallese Pastor had moved his family to the US to Pastor a Marshallese congregation. This highly educated, man of GOD would have been an asset to any Church. Instead, Telja Anni returned home to lead the Marshall Islands School of Theology, under the Assemblies of God. The School is a sparsely furnished, two-story structure that shelters them from the sun and intense rains. With no air conditioning, students and teachers alike swelter in the tropical heat and humidity. Pastor Telja lives nearby under similar conditions. Though they have little money, this small school provides the means to educate local pastors. Few of their students would qualify or could afford to attend Bible school overseas. Add in cultural sensitivity and native language skill, and Pastor Telja and MIST are God-given miracles. This soft-spoken and humble servant of GOD is a mighty spiritual warrior on the front lines. His lovely wife and multi-talented children play important supporting roles in the ministry.
You see “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). The Marshallese people are included in that “world” GOD gave His son for. Pastor Telja answered the call to come back to his “island life” so others might come to know “everlasting life.” Have you answered your call?
Wayne Lance (2018)