Saipan Family History Fair, Our Lady of Camarin Procession & Christmas Lights at the Governor's Mansion

We spent the weekend following Thanksgiving in Saipan participating in a school sponsored family history fair.  This is Lino Olopai, traditional story teller and entertainer.

Sisters Benson and Burton taught a class on gathering stories from your family history.

Sister Hurst taught a class on the basics of family history research.

Members of the Saipan Ward enjoy refreshments following the fireside on Sunday evening.

Saipan Ward - Brother & Sister Wiswell and Sister Benson

Our Lady of Camarin is the Patron Saint of Guam.  It is a statue of Mary that was washed up on the beach in the 1700s, apparently from a shipwreck but legend has it that it was brought to shore by two crabs, each with a lighted candle on its back.  December 8th is her Feast Day and a holiday in Guam.  In 1992, so goes the story, the legislature eliminated this day as a holiday.  Unfortunately the good Lady did not take too kindly to this and shortly after this a huge typhoon was unleashed causing massive damage - especially to the legislator's house who had introduced the bill to eliminate this as a holiday.  The holiday was soon reinstated!  Message:  Don't mess with the Lady of Camarin.

The Lady on her cart with procession.

The procession consisted of children from all the different parishes and schools as well ceremonial guards and caretakers.

And on and on and on . . .

The Governor's Mansion overlooking Agana was decorated reminiscent of Temple Square - well sort of.  There were the traditional and then the more local - Santa from his shell being pulled by dolphins and a fisherman with his nets (above).

Elder Thomas, Elder & Sister Reed and Susan Alek at Brother & Sister Laanan's for holiday lunch of island foods.  Delicious!

 

Brothers Bedrikdrik Henry (Marshall Islands), Ilden Ioanis (Pohnpei) & Elder Hurst deep in conversation about the goodness of island food!

A smattering of the families at the luncheon.  A Ioanis at the left top, three Taiwerbwe (red shirt and two in front-Yapese), Kalima boy and top right Brother & Sister Ioanis.