Tuesday

After spending the morning in meetings with the Senior Missionaries and then a District meeting with the Elders...

Our District

We went over to 7 Brothers for lunch.  We hoped to see someone we knew because we always run into someone there....this time two Sister Missionaries.  It was very rainy this morning and we barely  made it to our second meeting as there was so much flooding and our little car rides low to the ground.  Kind of scary.  Dark and gloomy day!

Good and Yummy!

Then we went to Ace Hardware, bought some folding chairs and light bulbs and went home.  The Elders had asked if I'd make some cookies for their Book of Mormon class tonight as a girl there has a birthday.  I made two batches of cookies and after I was done at about 4:00 we walked over to the beach.  It was day 3 of the preliminaries for the qualifying for the Triple crown event.  With the rain we weren't sure it would happen but nothing stops surfers!  It was brown muddy waves and they were still at it.  David Bowen in our ward was filming it for TV.  He texted us that he put us on TV!  Then we ran into the Holmes, they are visiting from California for two months and are attending our Sunset Family Branch.  Great people.    Pictures of some of the beach...

This is where 
Dave films from

Monday

Whew, whirlwind weekend!  Yesterday we started by having church up at President Fullmer's house.  Our Rec Center was closed because the lady who usually opens the gate and doors is out of town and no one would substitute for her and help her out and open it up for us.  Although it was pretty neat sitting out on the Lanai (patio)  and taking the sacrament in the open air surrounded by mango, banana and plumeria trees.  Beautiful morning in God's paradise here on earth.

After we ran over to ward council for our Sunset Family Branch and then church there.  It was a full day but we were so happy and feeling spiritually fed.

Today we went into town for my infusion, it alarms me because I have to go into the chemo center of the hospital now and it is kind of uncomfortable.  I somehow feel guilty I don't have cancer around all those who do.  This is a much different way they do it here than in Springville at my doctor's office.  Slower and a little less precise...but it still works so I'm just happy it is finally set up and good to go from here on out.

Tonight we went to our FHE with the Senior missionaries at BYU, Dr. Jason Hughes was there speaking to us.  He is a member and a doctor many go to here.  We actually go to his partner a female doctor named Ember Christensen and we love her.  We even dropped by once without an appointment and she got us right in.  She is also a member.  He answered questions and was pretty helpful and nice.

After we went to our funnest FHE with our YSA kids.  It was CupCake Spooktifying night!  I brought frosting and decorations and Sister Fullmer made cupcakes.  They decorated them.  It was the largest group we have had so far...27 people.  It was nice to mingle and have fun with them.  One of the girls is named Marisa and I asked if I could call her Risi, cause my Marisa we call Risi.  She said she only lets certain people call her that and I could.   Such sweet kids.  Pictures are below.

Ikaika, Alora, Elder Collins, and Audrey

Char, President Fullmer, Elder Chandler

Gabe and Marisa (brother and sister)

Elder Collins, going home in a week...

Alora our master gamer!

President Fulmer

Friday

Today is "Trunk or Treat" night!   I made chicken noodle soup with home made noodles, (we could either bring soup or chili).   I spent a good part of the day making it but also had some time for visits with friends in our branch. 

Maile had called with Inde and they were on their way to their Trunk or Treat.  She went way out on decorating her car and they were dressed like Minnie and Mickie mouse.  They looked so cute and Inde says "grandma" so clearly now.  Miss my little guy.

It started raining as we left to go to Trunk or Treat and since we were having it outside at Sunset Elementary school I was a bit worried.  We had tons of food from people, everyone brought so much, but it got dark quickly and we had no lights.  So people were using their phones until Dave ran home and brought a light.  All the little kids looked so cute and the cars were decorated really neat.  Reminded me of our time in California with Ryan's family trunk or treating when the kids were little and then in our wards in LA trunk or treating in the church parking lots.  Everyone goes way out on this except these two old missionaries I know.  We did hang some solar lights around the trunk....

Brother Dave Bowen and Elder Sanft

Lilika Geronio

One of the Lee girls

Thursday

We had a  very productive meeting with Brother Bowen our mission leader in the family branch,  plus our two Elders and Sisters at our home this afternoon.  I baked them cookies and had cheddar popcorn and licorish from Costco.  I had run over to see Sister Kopp earlier with cookies and visited a bit with her.  Such a nice family.

Later we had the Elders and Sisters to dinner,  We had told the kids in the YSA ward we'd have them to dinner if they brought a friend...we don't call them investigators any more but friends.  Audry came with a neat friend named Marni, and she acted very patient and interested through the first discussion.  It was a very spiritual  night and she even wiped a tear or two away.  I served Cafe Rio and she loved it, had never had it and wanted the recipes.  Forgot the picture taking part....darn.

But here's a picture of recent shave ice and our bug collecting... the bugs are back, nastey little nats.

Pineapple and papaya

We have about five bowls out to catch them and
then change liquid about twice a day.  I finally
sprayed last night in the air some Raid stuff and
that helped a bit, at least we could sleep.

Tuesday

This day started with a Senior Couples meeting at the Allen's apartment at 8:00.  Then we ran home and baked three pans of cookies for the cookie drop tonight.  Then at 10:30 we ran back to the church in Laie for our District Meeting with the Elders.  Great meeting too. This ended at 12:00 and we ran  over to the PCC to the Tahiti Village to attend a performance at 12:30 of a group from Tahiti who had won 1st place in a contest.  We wanted to see them and they only performed once here.  It was a great show but very hot and humid inside the Fale.

After leaving the PCC we headed to 7 Brothers and were in line and I turned around and there was my old friends from CCH, Anna and Earl Cropper who live in Orem!  Their daughter Trudy was also with them.  So we all ate together and visited for about an hour.  They are here for another couple of weeks and we hope to get together with them one more time.  I run into lots of friends at 7 Brothers!  I must keep eating there!

Then we returned home for two hours and I packaged up some cookies in sacks to use for our cookie drop at 5:00.  We met over at 7 Brothers in Kahuku and made arrangements.  We ended up not going to houses but just letting Vita and others do the cookie drops and we came home about 6.  Busy but fun filled day.

Monday

Today was an amazing morning.  We went into Laie for the Visitor's Center Training Meeting and we are so lucky when Elder Allen decides to teach us.  Today he said he was going to tell us about the Rome Temple.  He was the head of the Missionary Department for the Church when it was announced that a temple would be built in Rome, Italy, in 2010 I think.  He told us he flew there with his wife and they looked out over the land where the temple was to be built.  He showed us pictures of this land and how they kept some large olive trees in the drive up to the Temple.  They also flew to Denmark to visit the Church of Our Lady, where the original Christus is.  This church is a quite famous tourist stop in Copenhagen.  It has statues in marble of the 12 Apostles.  They asked if they could replicate these statues and take digital videos of them and create an electronic file to have the statues made, to be housed in the new Visitor's Center at the Rome Temple.  The agreement was that if anything ever happened to these original statues, like a natural disaster or something worse, they could be identically reproduced with these files.  They agreed.

So then Elder Allen and another man went to the marble quarry and chose the marble for the statues.  They were also making a Christus for the new Visitor's Center in Rome.    A giant robot would carve out the statues by computer and then workmen would fine tune the statues by sanding and polishing them to a high gloss.  He showed pictures of the robot in action, it was amazing to watch.

So as he is talking to us in the large theater he starts dialing his phone and gets the man in charge of the building in Rome on the phone and then we all Face time this man live from Rome!  He took us on a live tour of the Visitor's Center, it is so unique.  It has a real "villa" inside it, that is two stories high, and this will have the teaching rooms, which are the family and living room of the villa for the Sisters to teach friends in.  It looks like a real home!  Then he showed us the theaters and some new things that Rome will have that no other Visitor's Center has yet.  It was fascinating, just like we were there.

It was about 7 p.m. there and we could vaguely see the Rome Temple through the large windows.  He showed us the Christus with the statues of the 12 apostles making a semicircle round the Christus.  In the back ground painters were creating a huge mural that was to be the back drop of the Apostles and Christ.  It was to be a country scene of Italy.  He told us things that were unique about this mural, like he showed us a basket painted with sand and he said it was sand that was actually real, and from the Sea of Galilee that was pressed into the mural.  Another spot was a sea shell from the Dead Sea that was set into the mural.

The Temple dedication is scheduled for March 10-17 in 2019.  So much of the Visitor Center is already finished and also the temple.  They check and recheck everything many times before the dedication.  They were checking the lighting inside the temple this night and so that is why we were able to see it.  The lighting outside doesn't go on until after the dedication.

So guess where I now want to go before I die!  I always loved those Gidget movies in Rome, but I think it was because of the Ocean scenes, I didn't know about Hawaii in those days.  I remember wanting to go on a mission to Italy because of this, but if you went on a mission in those days people thought you'd never get married and my parents discouraged it.  But now I can go!

Tonight we went to two FHE again.  One at BYUH where we learned all about the Hawaii Reserves and why no one can built or afford to buy in Hawaii.  Discouraging.  Then we went over to Kahuku to our YSA Branch FHE.  It was a fun night as usual.  We played a game called the Switch game, kind of like musical chairs but no music...?

Elder Collins shoes after 2 years on a mission!
He returns home with honor in 2 weeks.

Sunday

We had the most remarkable weekend.  We had Stake Conference and the Saturday Adult Conference was so enlightening.  We had Elders Michael Murray and Richard J. Maynes.  We received instruction in how to have the Holy Ghost in our lives and to follow those promptings.   Joseph Smith was visiting President Van Buren and he asked what made our church different and our Prophet answered:  "that in our church we have baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost".  In 3rd Nephi Christ prays to His Father that the Holy Ghost be given to the people, after their baptism.

Then in the morning session we got a new Stake Presidency and then Elder Maynes spoke again and gave us this poem:

 This poem by C. C. Miller titled “The Echo” illustrates the importance and impact parents have as they influence their children:

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.

After returning from Conference we prepared dinner.  We invited the Bishop's family to dinner with us today.  What a great time we had.  They have 8 children, the first 5 were girls and last 3 boys.  Such beautiful children.  I told them of how they reminded me of my sweet grandchildren, and the boys even looked like my own boys.  They have a new baby so my arms were full holding him, during dinner, little Toma.

President Hippolite's beautiful family

Friday

We had a meeting today with our two Zone Leaders and our two Sisters assigned to our Sunset Branches.  The came home and made a visit to see Kloe Ann and Charles.  I talked her into going to Stake Conference with us Sunday.

Then I decided to spend an hour at Sunset Beach, upping my tan, not thinking it through....think I got heat stroke, barely made it home to collapse and get in a cold shower.  I guess I'm used to getting hot and then jumping into the cool ocean to cool down my hot body...but the waves are too high for me and I wasn't thinking when I baked out there with no relief in sight.  Dumb.  Felt like I was having a heart attack.  Good to know and learn from!

Rough Seas

Wednesday

We went over to Sunset Beach to look at the high waves that  came in yesterday.  While there a man remarked on Elder Sanft's BYU shirt.  I told he and his wife we were missionaries, as I could tell they were members.  We talked quite a while, turns out he was the mission President in New York but was originally from Inglewood, California, our old mission.  And he and his wife now live  in Salt Lake City.  He asked us if we knew Raymond Moala, he was in our mission.  Small world.  I wrote his mother a short note telling her  all this.  They are a remarkable family with handsome sons and beautiful daughters.

Then tonight we had the Kopp family to dinner.  This is the family whose dog likes ME....I guess if he hasn't forgotten me by now.  Jenny, the mother, wasn't feeling well so just the Dad and kids.  Love this young family and they have the best view on this side for watching Sunsets and whales...pretty soon is whale watching time...FYI, found out Zack knows my friend Debbie Reynolds, he was about 6 when they were in the same ward in Smerna, Delaware.

Sunset, couldn't resist

Kopp family: Zack, Tadd, and Grace

Tuesday Oct 16, 2018

We had a district meeting today for a couple of hours with the Elders in our District, super young men!
We later, had the Bowen family over to dinner, forgot to take a picture of them. Then we went over toTurtle Bay and Elder Sanft blessed Diego's new home.  After we arrived home, Leilani brought over some unique fruit and two Papaya for us...such good people.  (I'm guarding these new papaya!)

These are called Tava, look like limes but aren't

Slimy fruit with large seed inside, a little sweet

Monday

Fun FHE tonight....19 people in attendance!  Love these young adults!

Broke my toe today but since that is a yearly occurrence I'm not surprised nor worried, I'm in flip flop country, so all is well.

Sunday night

I think I'm going to slow down on posting almost everything we do as it is getting pretty repetitive.  Plus, I really just want to note the really highlights of this mission.  I'm sorry I didn't do it earlier but we still have 15 months left.

Today, though, was a very spiritual day, we met some new people and talked a lot about conference.  It seems to be the consensus that the message about our two hour block now is to make our home a religious center.  In the world today where parents are starting to homeschool or be super picky about where there children are educated, then shouldn't they too step up and start being more focused on teaching religious values in the home.  We've seen it where parents expect the schools to teach our children and churches to teach moral values.  It is time for parents to increase their level of teaching in the home the things they believe about the gospel.  I wish more than anything I could do it all over again, knowing what I know now and how important it is.  I constantly feel like such a failure.

We heard a high councilman speak today and he said the two most important meetings in the church were Sacrament meeting and Family Home Evening.  I thought it was wise how we were told we don't have to have them (FHE) strictly on Mondays any more, we can be flexible as long as we hold FHE.  We are starting again our Family Home Evenings in our Family Branch and we will hold one in their homes and provide the lesson, the activity, and the dessert for those who sign up...we are excited to start this up here in Hawaii.

Friday

We had a Zone Conference all day today...long day.  We were excited though because after it was over we were going to a concert in town of Marie Osmond, her brothers, and Alex Boye.  But when we got about  half there the sky opened up and it rained like it only does here in buckets.  You couldn't see the road and down the mountain were rivers of muddy water.  We crawled along and finally gave up, turned around and came back.  They close the roads for hours when the flooding is bad and we didn't want to get caught on the other side and not be able to get home after the concert.
Wouldn't you know it, as we drove into Laie it started slowing down and stopped.  But there are still advisories out on the roads so we are glad we changed our minds, although it looks okay here now at 7:00.

We were tired after a full day of sitting and listening at Zone conference.  We sat through about 30 something missionaries testimonies, either the new ones just arrived or the old ones leaving in November.  All were enlightening and spiritual but after a couple of hours you get tired.  I took a quick shot of Elder Collins, our Zone leader and missionary here we are close to.  He bore his testimony and then we left about 3:30.  We are going to miss this young spiritual giant! Like I said he reminds me of my son Adam...

Elder Brayden Collins

I just talked to a new couple that have moved in our Sunset Family branch.  They sound really nice and know some Sanft's from New Zealand.  We will meet them on Sunday.  Always nice to have more people in our branch!

Thursday

I had a meeting with the Sisters and Michele our YSA Relief Society President.  We spent time going over the inactives in our ward and potential new members.  There seems to be quite a few that don't attend church. Michele is such a great leader.  I really admire her.  These two Sisters, Sister Mandajar and Sister Presler  are just great too.  Both strong women who have good strong testimonies.  Sister Mandajar is from the Philippines and already has a University degree, she hopes to go to BYU and get a masters in broadcasting.  Sister Presler is from a small town in Northern Utah and has attended BYU.  She is a accomplished pianist and plays the organ as well.  And she has curly beautiful red hair, she won me over!

We had the Elders and Sisters to dinner tonight with no investigator.  It was a nice chance to get to know them better and ask personal questions.  Elder Collins is being released in 3 weeks, he reminds me of my son Adam.  Elder Chandler was very tired tonight so was a bit subdued for him.  I cooked them a pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, broccoli, lettuce salad, watermelon and pineapple, they appreciated a home cooked meal, said it reminded them of home, at least the three from the Rocky  mountains said that!

Wednesday

 A good morning getting the laundry done and some clean up.  Then we went into pick up Lorraine and Eliu for our afternoon at Kualoa Ranch and the movie tour.  We boarded this old bus but all the windows were out and it was very cool driving around for an hour and a half!  The rain didn't hinder us at all.  We learned a lot about horticulture and Hawaii and some what about cows and pigs!

Ramon and Eliu by the King  (Kamehameha)

Jurassic monster and the boys...

Kong!

Now we finally board the bus for the movie tour...

View from bus

Watch out!!

Valley, imagine dinosaurs galloping over those hills above...
ready to eat you!
Then after it was all over we made a stop for dinner at 7 Brothers..where else?

Tuesday

Today finished with too many trips back and forth between Laie and home...busy day, tired of driving, mostly my fault....

We started by going into Elder and Sister Allen's house for our Senior Couple's meeting at 8:00.  We discuss things pertinent to us and our responsibilities.  Then we went back at 10:30 to our District meeting with the Elders at 10:30.  I wondered why we were in their District but Sister Allen explained it to me and it makes sense, and we thoroughly enjoyed our meeting.  These young Elders are amazing and really fun to be around...I was the only female and just felt a little weird.

Then we ran back home after noon to get ready to meet up with friends the Matangis to go to Kualoa Ranch to go on the Movie tour at 3:00.  We drove all the way to their place, picked them up and then
drove to Kualoa.  This is about an hour drive on windy roads.  We arrived only to find out our reservation was made for Wednesday and not Tuesday,  my fault, I made it!  The young people taking reservations were really sweet and tried to find if they could fit us in but they couldn't so we go back tomorrow.  We ended up back at Lorraine and Eliu's house and just sat outside and visited a bit.  Here's a couple of pictures...I love this location.

Front of their place

Then we drove back, and on the way our Elders called and

asked if we could bring cookies to their Book of Mormon class 

tonight and then also do a split with Elder Collins at 4:45.

So we ran home, baked two pans of cookies, changed clothes and ran back

into Laie to pick up Elder Collins.  Elder Chandler was on a split with an

Institute teacher and the young lady they were teaching only wanted 
two Elders there and she wanted her teacher to be one of them.  We went 
over to the VC to kill an hour because we didn't know where else to take 
him in such a short time.  While there we visited with a couple from Utah
 and a group of Chinese people.

We dropped Elder Collins back at the Chapel to meet Elder Chandler, 
gave them cookies and told them we were too tired to attend the 8:00 meeting.  
Ran by McDonalds for a quick dinner and home by 7:00.  Tiring day.  But
tomorrow is the tour at the Kualoa Ranch and in the morning we are meeting 
with the Drummondos.  Should be a good day.