Saturday

Yesterday we had meetings and then worked at the  Luau taking tickets at 3:15 til 7:00  and then went over to the Stake Center where our Sisters were putting on a "talent show".  It was hilarious, reminded me of girls camp where the kids come up with ridiculous talents.  Although a couple of Sisters are amazingly talented...our Sister from Germany plays the Saxophone, she is so gifted and plays the hymns so beautifully.  She played last night and it was so professional, we were in awe. She gave up her music to come clear out here on a mission but brought her Saxophone with her.  Another girl did ballet from the Nutcracker but in socks not toe shoes.  She was amazing.  Our lovely Tongan Sister from New Zealand is a singer and sings like Adele and then she also danced the Tahitian and she is a great dancer too and of course, very beautiful.  Us lowly senior couples put on a skit to Book of Mormon stories but like the Haka and with actions.  The girls loved it.

Sister Shumway and Sister Hensley, our Sunset Branch Sisters

Our Tongan Sisters

Today we had our annual Slip and Slide at Waimea Beach.  It started at noon and went until 5:00.  It was a beautiful day, the water was pristene and so refreshing! I love these waters so much, they are so clean and cool.  But the clean is what I love, the color is pure.  Look at how beautiful it is.  Who wouldn't want to be in this paradise on a mission?  Heaven!   It was all great for a couple of hours then someone saw jelly fish and we all exited the water.  It did not slow down the slip n sliders a bit though.

I was a little disappointed that only about 5 young adults from our Branch showed up with the exception of our Senior Missionary Couples and the Branch Presidency and their families.  But we had quite a few BYUH young adults, as the whole stake was invited and we had a bunch of people from the beach participating.  It was a great missionary tool and hopefully we showed people we like to have good clean fun.  One surprise was two pregnant ladies, one my friend who is  due in September, so that was okay, going down the slide.  The other lady was due due now, in a bikini and the baby was barely hanging on inside I am sure.  She was hoping to start labor I think!

Tuesday

Sunday was Father's Day and it was beautiful here in Hawaii but I know Ramon missed being with his children, his legacy.  He had to speak at the BYUH ward at 9:00 and miss our Family Branch, which we love.  He did a good job.  I tried to make the day pleasant while missing the kids by making his favorite foods, stroganoff, lupulu, and pecan pie.  He ate so much stroganoff the lupulu was put off for another day.  They gave him a lei at the BYUH ward, a tuberose lei, that smells devine.  He immdiately gave it to me but I protested and made him wear it to our YSA Branch, I could still smell it since I sat next to him!  He was contacted by most of the children by phone and that made his day, that and I agreed to play two rounds of Cataan with him!  He's such a good patient Father to his children and grandchildren.  I feel very blest today.

Last night we have some great people over for dinner with us, our new Sunset Branch President and his family, the Daniel family.  It was really nice, all were here except their daughter Taya.  We had  nice dinner, (except my ribs were horrible and tough) and a nice visit.

Cruise, Blair, Terra, President Daniel, Annsley,
Susan (grandma) and Elder Sanft

Ramon had spent the morning after our VCTM meeting shampooing the carpet while I prepared the food.  After the dinner we ran over to one of our Elder's apartments and checked it...this apartment has been having some much needed upgrades, but also needed some cleaning! Then we ran to the store to get Draino for them, then to the Sebrings for a few minutes and then back to the Elder's apartment and finally home and bed!  Long day.

Today we have our District meeting with the Elders.  It will be like Christmas for the two we visited last night... they are getting bikes after walking all over Kahuku, and a pot and pan set after having only one pot and a two burner hot plate, no stove.  We got them new beds and made them rearrange the furniture so it wasn't so crowded.  Still isn't livable up to most standards but they will survive until they get transferred out.  This is probably the worst apartment for living, but it does humble them and it could be a lot worse.  Gotta love these strong Elders who sacrifice for the Lord.

Saturday June 15

We had a full week but nothing exceptional to report.  President Oaks was here but we actually didn't personally see him.  He dropped by the VC but it was a quick in and out, not many saw him.  He had family with him so I guess he had lots to do.  We didn't go to the Geranio's Wednesday night for dinner. I cut up watermelon and pineapple and when we got there Nicki said she felt bad Nick forgot to call us.  So we left the fruit and went in to 7 Brothers for dinner then had a meeting at the Jaussi's house for mission council.

Thursday we did go into Waikiki with the Sebrings and had a nice day.  Ended up all of us having Hot Fudge sundaes at the Cheesecake factory.  While there our waiter was from Utah and his parents live in Provo, but we didn't know them.  Small world. Picture of Elder Sebring and the huge hot fudge sundae!

Sister Sheila Sebring and Elder Glen Sebring

Flower around the gardens at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Beatiful

We are busy cleaning today, Father's Day is tomorrow and then on Monday we are having our new Branch President Daniel and his family to dinner at night.  We are headed at noon to go check our Kahuku Elder's apartment.  It's been a mess, hardly livable, so we've gotten them some items and are delivering a bed frame and few things today.  Elder Sebring is in charge of items needed for the Sisters and so every time I need something he comes to our rescue!  He's meeting us there with some items.  He is great, we sure are going to miss them.  They go home in 3 weeks. 

Here are two more pictures...one is of Esme, Maile's new baby, and the other is Alexis as she gave her Salutatorian speech at graduation in Grand Terrace, CA.

Mini Mouse!    I'm missing these moments!

Alexis, so proud of who she is!  

Friday June 7, catching up...

On Tuesday we had our "Returning Missionary Luncheon" at the Temple Pavilion. This is the last one the Bekkers will attend so I wanted to make it extra special.  We also had two Sunset Branch missionaries returning home.  I usually give the Sisters leis I have made.  This day I made a fresh lei for Sister Bekker out of Plumerias from Kathy's garden, my over the fence neighbor I love!

We had a nice luncheon with 13 missionaries returning home.  Great young men and women!

Wednesday, because they were having "girl's Camp" at the Geranio estate, we didn't have our usual dinner there.  Instead we took Nick and his daughter Marisa over to the Visitor's Center for a tour.  Marisa is not a member but is receiving the lessons from the Elders.

It was nice but the most impressive part was when Nick bore this testimony...he said that he had studied many religions throughout his life.  He was born Catholic and then when he was married they moved to China and he studied the Jewish religion.  He took all the lessons and become a Jewish convert along with his family.  He then studied Buddism and other non-Christ religions.  He said he hung out in California as a youth with many members of our church but never did any of them approach him about learning about our church.  Then they moved from China here and again he surfed with members here on the North Shore.  It wasn't until one newly returned missionary, who was surfing, asked him if he'd like to know more.

Nick said from then on his whole family except Nicki were baptized.  He said he had met the Pope, met with many Rabbis and not one of them is 100 no 1000 times as spiritual as a Mormon missionary, like our Elders and Sisters.  He tearfully related this as we sat in the Visitor's Center.  Here is a man, he is 55 years old, who is an entrepreneur, who has lived all over the world, done everything and finally found the joy and peace he was looking for.  What a testimony to me this man is.  He's now been a member for 3 years.  A temple attending member.  He gave a talk at the baptisim last week.  Such a humble man.  We love the Geranios!

Last night I gave a Bridal Shower for Marisa Santego at our place on the deck. Marisa has been the Relief Society Secretary in our YSA Branch.  Michele helped decorate and Alora did the games with help from her fun Mom!  We had good food and laughed for three hours.  Ramon was surprised it lasted so long!  Marisa is such a sweet one, love her.  She is marrying a wonderful guy from Mexico in the temple here.  She isn't having a reception so this was a party for her.  Marisa's Mom and sister came and it was nice to meet them.  Of course, some fun games too!  I made those ham and cheese sliders, salad, fruit platter, and lots of chips and artichoke dip.  Bitter sweet because now she won't be in our YSA Branch!

Marisa!

Sister Jenkins, Marisa and I

Side note:  Marisa felt she needed to cancel her wedding plans. It was very hard for her to be this brave but she did and gradually got over the sadness of having to cancel.  Through it all she came to church and was a valiant branch member.  I just love this girl!

Monday June 3

Today we ran into Costco and Sams and Walmart for some major shopping.  Tomorrow is the last "returning missionary luncheon" the Bekkers will be to as they are leaving July 1.  I want to make it special for them so I needed some major fruit.  As I've mentioned President Bekker likes me to order from Taco Bell, but I can do the drinks, dessert and fruit any way I choose.  So we got a bunch of fruit and I will have it displayed for their enjoyment.  I am also making my pinacolda cake, it's easy and pretty Hawaiian for here.  I have to make two of them as there will be 19 of us. As we were getting fuel at Costco I saw these beautiful trees all in bloom, they looked like lilac trees not bushes!

 I feel sad, a few of my favorite Sisters, whom we've worked with in our Sunset Branches are leaving tomorrow.  Bitter sweet, except a couple are from Utah so I know I'll see them when we return.  They say they have big plans!

Later after we were home Brother Reuel brought us 15 papayas!  Wow!  I had just bought 5 at Costco!  He said they were leaving for the mainland tomorrow and the birds would just eat them.  What a sweet surprise!

You pick papaya green and they ripen in about 3 days.  You can see some of these ripening.

Sunday June 2 - Kam's Birthday!

Well, a report on the Zip Line and baptism...

First, I will never do that again but I did enjoy the day.  The kids (the young adults) helpers were all LDS and the guy a returned missionary from India.  They were cute with us and very patient with my fears.  I did 7 lines, and every time figured I'd crash into the pole and or hit my head so bad, but I didn't and was so relieved when it was over!  It was so hot wearing helmets and the gear!  Elder Sanft (who loved every minute of it) took some pictures.

Beautiful Kaawa Valley

Leslie and me

Ramon and me

One of our "waiting" platforms...

Me and Noah

Ready to go...not!
After we rushed home and wanted to get ready for the baptism, we had about 1/2 hour to get ready, and Dave had shut off the water.  He was quick to turn it on but we decided we'd just go dirty and so put on "clean" clothes over our stinky bodies and rushed into Kahuku.  Then the baptized guy wasn't there and didn't show up for 1/2 hour!  So we could have showered, that is where he was, stopped at someones place to shower.  He had been homeless but they found him a room to live someplace, but maybe it didn't have a shower!  You have to have an address to get baptized.  It ended up being a nice baptism.  I hope to take pictures of him today after his confirmation.  He is 66 years old, and his name is Ray.  He's a nice guy, seems very smart, and has loved reading the Book of Mormon and has grasped the doctrine rapidly and seems really sincere.

Raymond Kritkz

We went to our Sunset Family Branch were Raymond was confirmed and given he gift of the Holy Ghost.  Then later we went to our Sunset Branch and after we had Break-the-Fast with Nachos. 

Christian Fullmer who was responsible for converting Raymond

Then at the end of the day we went over to the Visitor's Center for a Fireside by the Bekkers.  What a wonderful spirit was felt there.  These are tremendous people and they have blessed our lives while we have been here.   We are surely going to miss them when they leave in July.  The musical numbers brought everyone to tears.  I think it is also because we have 9 Sister's leaving this transfer and they have been such good worthy Sisters.  I love them so much but lucky for me most of them are in Utah and promise to come visit.

President and Sister Halstrom, Temple President

Elder Luker, President and Sister Bekker

Sister and Elder Allen 

Sister Bekker, I love how she uses her hands!

Sisters singing at the end, just beautiful!

Sister Beuhler (2nd one) Sister Boyce

Super Saturday

Wow!  What a way to start the weekend.   First our grandson Sam (Doran's) got his mission call. to Alpine Mission, this mission covers southern Germany, all of Austria, and German speaking Switzerland. He'll go to the England MTC in October.  We are so proud of this boy, our first missionary!  He's also coming here with his broher Isaac to see us in July!  Can't wait!

Then Doran ran in the Utah Valley 10K this morning and came in 1st place in the Master's Division (40 and older).  Way to go son...again!

                                                       Good weekend for this family.

Lot's happened in May, three graduates, one mission call, Marisa won her election at UVU and got a scholarship,  Jozy got to meet his namesake; Jozy Altidore...

Sorry it's blurry

Now we are off to do a 7 line Zip line with Leslie King.  Hope I don't have a heart attack!  Then back home for a special baptism of a man who is 66 years old.  An old surfer dude that found the light!