Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Wednesday


Yesterday Sam and Isaac left us to return home.  It was a tearful leaving on my part.  Sam, I may not see for a long long time.  He is going to the Alpine mission in Germany and then on to Princeton for four years after returning home for four short days.  I hate them growing up and I hate me getting old.  Time goes by too fast these days.

We had a joyful day I guess, went first to jump the rock at Waimea beach early in the morning.

Thinking about it...

Sam

Isaac
Then we went into our District Meeting with the Elders  at 10:00.  We had four new Elders transferred in this past transfer.  Sam had the opportunity (?) to play the piano for our meeting as no one else could.
After wards we did another lunch at 7 Brothers and then home to pack.  We went into the Ala Moana Center to the ABC store for some last minute purchases and were going to eat at the food court but just as we arrived we were shuffled over in the entrance to the parking lot by emergency vehicles, about 20 of them.  Then the food court was shut down and we later found out it was do to a chemical that was making people sick, so that was a bit exciting.  The boys got off okay and we drove home, stopped at Sam's club to purchase items for our lunch for Zone conference for 120 people that we are now doing.  Sure quiet around this place without my boys!  :(

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Tuesday, Farewell to Sam and Isaac :(

Sunday was an especially busy day with  church meetings, Branch Council meetings and a special Fireside at the Visitor's Center.  We had a special Fireside with Elder Richard Heaton who is the Managing Director of the Priesthood and Family Department of the church.  Under his leadership the Come Follow Me curriculums have been developed.  He is also responsible for the new program which will replace Boy Scouts and the current YW Personal Progress.  He is also the former administrative director of the Provo MTC.

He instructed us for an hour and as well as introducing his family to us.  Turns out his son attended Timpview with Sam, knew him as a track "runner" and they live near by. He is also Shahara's neighbor's cousin who is Shawn Heaton.  One thing he said that was of interest to me was that in the Come Follow Me curriculum the learner is the main participant.  We need to ask ourselves "What does Heavenly Father want me to learn?  The teacher shares control of what is being taught and how it is to be learned and this controls the flow of the lesson.

Later we visited with them.   Then on Monday after of VCTM meeting we went into Hale'iwa for shave ice and the whole family was there again enjoying shave ice.  He came with a few of his 9 children and one son came who brought his 8 children.  Great family, they were very impressive.

Monday morning at our VCTM meeting at the Visitor's Center Elder Allen had asked Sam to share a scripture and bear his testimony.  I snapped a picture...
After the meeting was over and everyone left we had asked our German Sister, Sister Jentzsch, to play her saxophone for Sam, as she also plays in a Jazz band.  She is an amazing talent, and she played "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"  it was so beautiful.

After we left the meeting we went over to the turtle beach, Lanikai and the boys swam with the turtles and took some underwater pictures.  They said there were a lot of "my fish" there.  Here is a picture, in case we need to be reminded of God's creativity.

Isaac

Then we went into Hale'iwa for shave ice and then onto a
new beach our friends Carrie and Karla told us about. Spent the afternoon 
there.
Sam

After we ran home and I made cinnamon rolls and we went to YSA FHE at the church.  They played dodge ball and I took pictures.

Treats

The boys go home today.  I'm sad but know they have things to do.  We are going to go to Wiamea this morning to let them jump off the rock and then back to our District meeting at 10:30 then getting ready to catch the plane tonight.  It's been a wonderful two weeks with them following in our footsteps as we missionaried and also showed them why I love Hawaii so much.  They have been good sports about all the meetings we've dragged them to and they have also been very willing to participate in anything extra we asked them to do.  These are great young men whom we love and are so grateful they are ours.  Sam will make a great missionary in Germany as he has been preparing all his life for this time.  He is confident and has a special testimony of this work.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Saturday


Been a busy week with missionarying and showing the boys a good time.  So basically just pictures.


Returning missionary luncheon on Tuesday, our biggest group yet...24 RWH
Tuesday




Our Sister's leaving
Sister Buhler on right, our Sunset Branch Sister
Hanauma Bay




At the Dole Plantation eating a Dole Whip ice cream

Boys hiked this in 45 minutes!  We read....




At Punch Bowl National Cemetary
Looking out over Honolulu

Punch Bowl Cemetary


Kualoa Day (I'm
home catching up
on washing
and ironing and
"other stuff)...
Friday
Getting ready to Zip Line

Kualoa movie tour, Puaka

7 Brothers, two brother were starving after Kualoa!

We did several of these things each day and 
were on the go constantly




Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Tuesday morning July 16th

So blessed this day, my 73 Birthday and I am in a place where I never thought I'd be able to live again.  Hawaii has always been in my heart these last 53 years, ever since I came over here with my parents and brothers and then decided to stay for school.  I have such sweet memories of my time here and the love I felt for these wonderful Polynesian people.  Heavenly Father has answered a big prayer for me in allowing me to serve here with my Eternal companion and show him how wonderful it is here in Hawaii.

Second, how fun to have my grandsons Sam and Isaac with me to celebrate today.

Backing up a bit....Some pictures from Sunday worship.  We had normal Sunset Branch church then left it early to run into Laie for our YSA regional YSA conference at BYUH.  We had a great meeting in the Cannon Center and it was amazing to see them offer the sacrament to so many people.  I counted 24 Elders breaking the bread and about double that passing the trays.  Took almost 30 minutes to give the sacrament to everyone there.  Then we had amazing youth speakers finishing up with our Patriarch and Area Seventy.  After they gave everyone lunch!  Here's a picture of Isaac eating lunch...

After we went home, rested and them came back to Laie for a musical Fireside.  It was very good and we found out Elder Sanft was related to the couple who performed, (of course!)

The Motis

Future missionaries!

After Ramon's cousin Leilani had a box of mangos and papaya for us, they are such sweet family to us here....

Monday we had to run into the VA and see the audiologist.  Yeah!  Elder Sanft gets some new hearing aides, with blue tooth...but they won't be here for 6 weeks.  He's been down to one hearing aid for months and it has made us both use a lot of patience. After we went over to Diamond head and the boys hiked it while we read.  Then we shopped and shopped for our "returning missionary luncheon" which is tomorrow.  We are feeding 30 tomorrow, one of our bigger groups.

We came home and the boys swam for a while, I ran over and jumped in to cool off for about 1/2 hour and then we headed over to our FHE for fun.  It was an ice cream eating contest.  Both boys  participated and I think had fun.  There was tons of ice cream and we had our biggest turnout ever, 24 people!  I feel sad Elder Larkin is being transferred but only to Honolulu so we will see him at Zone conferences.  He is the one whose first name if Kameron like my son's name.  I have a soft spot in my heart for this Elder.
Isaac, he has to finish this 6 cups to win..Elder Larkin
and Gabe behind him

He almost won!

Jordan, Haley, Jordan and Elder Higa

Our group...Elder Larkin legs out :)

Haley and Joran



Sam and Shy trying to beat Gabe and Elder Larkin


Saturday, July 13, 2019

Friday Polynesian Cultural Center

Sam and Isaac with our friend and our Elder's Quarum President
in Sunset Branch Creasepaul Tofa, he's in charge of the Samoan
Village





Cook Island ...here for just 5 weeks
with their show and demonstration





US entering the Luau

Food!!