Graduation and a Wedding

Seminary girls

We held our seminary and institute graduation on the last weekend in May.  We had some great youth who were getting credit for completing this years course of study.  We couldn't be prouder of them, as all those in seminary who completed the year, also memorized all of the 25 scripture mastery verses in the Old Testament.  No one graduated this year, but look out for next year as we will have some graduating from high school and also getting a diploma for completing four years of seminary.  Tulpe was our only institute student who received a Certificate of Advanced Achievement.  She completed eight credit hours after already graduating from institute two years ago.   With all the problems we had with transportation in getting everyone to class each time, we ended up with one student, Jason Linus, who got 100% attendance.


This is only a portion of our institute students as some of them did not want to get their picture taken. 

Our theme for this year comes from
Proverbs 3:5-6.  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

 Teachers, leaders, students and some future students.

Many of our students participated in giving talks about their reflections of Old Testament stories that had meaning in their lives.  All of our students came to the graduation, but we did not have too many that came to support our students.  Would you believe that they scheduled a wedding for the same day and just two hours before our graduation program.  The great thing about it was that all the people were at the Church for the wedding and so that made our graduation start on time, although many left to go to the reception that was held at a home about a mile away.

This was our first wedding to attend since coming to Kosrae.  What a great event to witness. It was the wedding of our Branch President's daughter, Kenye, who married a young man, Jared Albert,  from the Branch. The bride was lovely and the ceremony was somewhat different from those we have attended at home.  They did not play any wedding music as such. The bride and groom sat in chairs at the front of the Chapel and were rather serious looking as President

George officiated at the ceremony. 

 After he gave a wedding talk they stood up for the saying of their vows.  Everyone was able to greet them afterwards before they left for the reception.  The Chapel was filled with many friends and family who came to support and wish the new couple well.   The graduation program kept us from attending the reception, but we heard it was fabulous.