Tuesday

Today I got up and baked and cooked for 3 straight hours.  Made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to take to the lunch for the returning Elders.  Also, made a huge potato salad to take to the Geronio's this afternoon.   The Elders and Sisters didn't arrive from the Temple until about 45 minutes late but they love cold Taco Bell so who cares!

They all sang again to us a "Thank you" song and then at the end they sang this funny little missionary song about Hawaii and being a missionary here.  Such bitter sweet moments.

We hurried home, grabbed the potato salad and leftover watermelon and ran over to Nick Geronios house.  He started early today and it's a Tuesday not a Wednesday.  The birds were out and being kind of annoying, their wing span is huge now and they were kind of in our face.  I gave one some watermelon and that keep him busy. I told Nick it was our anniversary tomorrow and next year would be out 50th!  He said we'd reserve the place now and have a big party and renew our vows!  Sounds kind of fun, I told him I'd get my kids to fly over for it.  We'll see.  In the pictures you can see how beautiful the place is, a lovely Wedding venue.

Nick, Nicki and Shy listening to the Elders give their spiritual thought

Elder Sanft took this of us listening to Elder Chandler

Monday

First we ran in to Honolulu for Elder Sanft to see his eye doctor, who decided he needed another shot in the eye... It was the second one in a month so I'm a little worried.  Then we had a terrific FHE with the Bowen family.  It was our first FHE here with Sunset Family Branch and we had a lot of fun.  Great kids and parents, Ashley is due to have another one in 3 weeks.  Dave is the cameraman for the surf championships for TV.  Fun fun night!

Sunday

Another busy busy Sunday.  Here are some picture of the "Break the Fast" dinner at YSA.

We had a potato bar this Sunday and not quite as many YSA people as usual.  We always have to rush through as we only have an hour between church meetings in one building and driving to the next, and our drive time is 1/2 hour.  It was a nice dinner then we went over to the Sunset Family Branch.  Elder Collins' last day here is today so they sang Aloha Oe to him and I took pictures to send to his mother.  It was kind of bitter sweet to have him bear his testimony and then we sang to him.  Everyone in the chapel then lines up to hug him and the men all take off their ties and put around his neck.  I have never seen that done before.  Interesting as Elder Collins just unloaded all his old ties at the last District meeting.

After leaving this church service at 5:00 we rushed home and I threw together a salad for our next break the fast at 6:00 in Laie, we were a little late but it all was good.  Got home at 8:00 tired.  A good days worship.  Met some new people and enjoyed the shared testimonies.

Saturday

Today we spent the morning checking for cleanliness in Elder's apartments.  Always a fun (?) thing to do, but it does make me appreciate the nice place we live in.  Then we stopped in Hauula at Papa Ole's to get a sandwich.  This is a new little place we heard about, Ramon actually loves it for it's hamburgers, I get the Teri beef sandwich.  It is very small but they have a very large fresh flower arrangement as you enter.  I took a picture and asked the girl who made it up each week.  She said her uncle grows the flowers and another lady arranges them.

After we came back home and did laundry, and cleaned.  We are having the neighbor's over to our place for dinner to night.  It has been raining on and off most of the day.  As I mentioned before it fascinates me as it is like a tap turning on suddenly and pouring out water,

Here are some pictures taken at dinner.  On the left are the Freebairns, Kathy and Craig and on the right the Handcocks, Dave and Peggy...we live in their house.

Friday

This morning we went to the Sister's District meeting, usually we go to the Elder's on Tuesday.  There was something special happening today and they invited us to join them.  We arrived and were hustled into a large room.  Then after starting the meeting we were told to blindfold each other's eyes and hold hands, then we were walked into the gym.

Still blindfolded we were told to be quiet and listen.  Elder Allen read from a script that started with the birth of the Savior up until He was crucified.  He read from the scriptures, from all parts of the Savior's life.  While reading we were experiencing physical things, for instance:  When the fishermen were experiencing rough waves out fishing, we were lightly sprayed with water, during the recitation of the Last Supper we had a portion of bread put in our hands to eat,  ( I just held mine and someone lifted my hand to my mouth and stuffed the bread in!), when Jesus was whipped we heard the  beating as He was lashed on his back, when He was wrapped at the burial we had a long strip of cloth laid across our laps, as the tomb closed a door was slammed shut, when it was dark for three days the lights were shut off and we were in darkness, when there was light again, our blindfolds were taken off.  These were just a few of the examples.

This was a very emotional experience.  Afterwards we had a few minutes for people to bare their testimonies if they chose to.  It was very meaningful to us all.  what a tremendous object lesson!

Thursday

We are getting super busy these days.  I got up, made a meal, Chicken Tetrazzini, fixed garlic bread, baked 5 pans of cookies, and put together a box of food for a family who's Mom is having a baby and struggling this last month.  I did it gladly, hoping someone will take care of my daughter as she is in her last month too.  I took them a huge bowl of chili from last night, the Tetrazzini, frozen spaghetti sauce with uncooked spaghetti noodles, garlic bread and cookies, plus salad.  This should keep them eating while Dad works and mom tries to take care of her two children while being 8 months pregnant.

Then at 10:00 the Elders and Sisters came over for a meeting for two hours.  Not much was
accomplished.  I think sometimes they just need a place to talk and relax.

Elder Chandler, hand standing, Elder Collins spotting

We then ran the food over to Turtle Bay and headed to the Visitor's Center where we did a shift from 2:30-5:30.   It was a very slow day there.  Then we rushed home and I went with Peggy (upstairs lady who is the RS President of Branch).  We went and did some "ministering" for me to meet 6 families.  We found 5 home and left sacks of cookies for them, as well as one for the person not home.  :)  Busy day, I'm tired but you gotta love missionary work  :)

Happy Halloween!

I made a huge pot of chili for tonight's Halloween VC party and then we went over to the Temple to do a session.  At first we were the only ones there and I wondered how that would work, but soon 3 more Sisters joined us.

Had a terrific time at the church for the VC Halloween party with the Senior Missionaires assigned to the VC and then the Elders and Sisters.  The Sisters were in charge and luckily got to use some leftover decorations from a former ward party that had been held earlier.  We had way too much food and I came home with lots of chili to share around.  It was a fun night, games they planned and they had a lot of fun.

Watching the Elders play basketball

Before we ate, as we were finished watching the Elders 

play, Elder Allen asked us all to be

quiet and close our eyes.  All of a sudden we 

heard this terrific organ music blasting out, playing

Phantom of the Opera.  I thought is was the Tabernacle

Choir organist on a recording, it was that loud

and professional...turned out it was our new Senior

Missionary Elder Luker from the chapel!  He is

amazing, we could have listened to him all night!