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.