Wednesday

Today we spent the  first part of the day on an outing with two other couples here on a mission at the Visitor's Center, the Sebrings and the Lukers.  We went on a short cruise out of Kualoa Ranch to look for whatever was out there, they saw 5 turtles swimming, I only saw one.  It was just fun being with others with like mind set and enjoying the company.

Us, Lukers and Sebrings
So nice to have made new friends!

We  made wrist lei's for May Day at Kualoa

Chinaman's Hat

When we got back home we got ready to go to our weekly dinner with the Geronio's.  It was  "curry" night.  I've never been a fan of curry but it wasn't too bad tonight.  The Sister's were there to give us a message and a good time was had by all!

Saturday

Just a normal week, nothing new to report, so the week just went by and I forgot to blog.

Today we got up early and picked up my good friend Leslie, (who is also here on a mission, but she works at the PCC in the sewing part of it, ) we went in to the PCC and went to a morning devotional.  We hadn't been to one yet , they have about 6 a year.  This one was very nice, about 6 speakers and musical numbers, and then they brought us each a styrofoam container of Samoan food!  It was very nice but way too much food for one.  We brought Leslie back with us and we changed and went into Sharks Cove to swim and snorkel for a couple of hours.  She had to return about 3 to help take tickets at a PCC luau....(we start doing that the first week in May).  We had a nice day and then Ramon and I played two games of Cataan tonight. 

I took about 10 pictures of the devotional from the flay raising to the entertainment on the lawn afterwards but my camera isn't letting me download all of them to this computer.  I hate technology problems.  But here is a few from today...

Flag ceremony - two Samoan and our American

Girls dancing

Pulpit

Village

Meeting

Tuesday

Today is a very special day, but before I go there I will report that we had a great District Meeting at 10:30 and have 4 new Elders in our small district of 8 Elders and us.  Super young men who love the Lord and are willing to sacrifice two years of their life to show their love.

We had a good meeting and were reminded again as it is repeated so many times in the Book of Mormon, those who live the commandments of God will prosper in the land, a common theme and evidence of this fact.

Then we came home and I prepared food to take to a friend who had a new baby.  I did a few special things I'd do for my own and she is becoming a good friend and like "my own" in many ways.

Now on to the fun!  It was our new friend Tanner Cheel's wedding day to Min Edwards!  He has become one of our favorite people here in our YSA Branch. When we first came we were meeting over at the Rec Center and being hooked to Elder Sanft we were always there before the doors opened.  Tanner would ride up on his motorcycle and we'd always invite him to join us in the car while we waited for someone to open up the center. After a few of those days we became good friends with this young man.  Tanner is the Elder's Quorum President, and the Branch Mission Leader.  He just graduated on Saturday too.  He works hard at Turtle Bay at Roy's restaurant and his bride is a beautiful young lady.  We love Min too.  We are so happy for these newly weds.  They had a reception up at President Fulmer's house and it was lovely. My kids are going to be especially jealous when they find out they had a Leonard's Malasada wedding cake, (picture below) and a shave ice station, and a fruit station with LiHiMui coated pineapple!  All our favorites.  Our friend Louis roasted the pig and I tried again some Poke...still not something I like yet!  What a fun evening and getting to meet their parents and tell them what great kids they have.  Such a sweet night full of happiness.

Us with Tanner

Wedding Cake!

Tanner and Min

Monday

This morning we ran into Laie at 7:45 to be at the Visitor's Center for pictures and our meeting at 7:30.  After our meeting we changed out of our  Visitor's Center clothing and went into Honolulu with the other senior missionaries to go to the Atlantis Submarine.

Getting on the shuttle boat...
It was a fun day with good new friends.  The submarine was smaller than I thought and we really didn't see much under the sea but it was a fun thing to do together.  We ate lunch at 3:00 at a new place for us by  Pearl Harbor.  Because it was 3:00 they weren't serving lunch or dinner but appetizers were half price and we could get a "bowl" which are smaller portions of the dinner menu...so about the same items. I got fish and chips and Ramon got a LocoMoco bowl, and we got coconut shrimp for our half off appetizer!  Good food, I'm glad to know it near Pearl Harbor.  I'll post pictures below.  It was a beautiful day and we didn't get home until 6.

Elder and Sister Allen with Elder Sanft

On shuttle over to Submarine

Sheila and Bill Luker with Steve and Nancy Allen

Us with the Sebrings, Glenn and Sheila

Inside sub

Lunch with friends

Easter Sunday

We had a great Easter Sunday even without our most loved ones near us!  First we had Stake Conference with the Sunset Family Branch, superb speakers and then our Stake President simply stood and read from the Bible the account of the Saviors last few hours on this earth.  He read it so eloquently and with such feeling and emotion that the tears just flowed.  I think this simple account he read touched me to the heart of my testimony.  What stirring  feelings it brought forth.

Flower outside the Cannon Center, so beautiful this Easter morn!

Then we had our Sunset YSA ward and Elder and Sister Jenkins talked.  She was last and simply  told of how when they went to the Holy Land and saw the tomb and a simple sign was by the door that said "He is not here, He is risen" and how she had such a profound spiritual feeling come over her that it was so true.  We were all touched by her simple but powerful testimony of our Savior.  Today I was so touched by all and so grateful my testimony is growing daily, while here on a mission,  of our Savior.  I am learning to know Him better and can see how if we truly believe, we will do all we can to honor and ease his burden a bit, by living the commandments.

Then we came home and got ready to have an Easter meal with our good friends, also missionaries here, the Sebrings and the Lukers.  I cooked a ham and "funeral" potatoes, made deviled eggs and aspargus and cauliflower, they brought salads and dessert.  It was a great meal and unfortunately I forgot to take a "before" picture, so here is an "after" picture.

Elder Sebring (Glen), Sister Sebring (Sheila) the Lukers, Janice and Bill
It was too hot in the room, so I am in a muumuu cause it's my house and
I can wear what I want!  I made rolls, and made some cinnamon rolls, for
 them to take home for breakfast.

I wanted to post this picture of a meeting we had at Bowen's last Missionary meeting, before Elder Gunderson got transferred to Kauai.

David Bowen is standing, then the two Elders
Gunderson and Larkin, and
our two Sisters, Beuhler and Wu

Thursday

Today we had the Easter Egg Hunt for the Family Branch.  We first went into Turtle Bay condos to exercise at the pool there.  We love it there, it's so clean and private and beautiful.  I got some sun once in a while around the clouds but had a good workout and so did Ramon.  Then I went in to Laie for a hair cut.  Which the girl cancelled on me and so I went to the only other shop by Foodland and they fit me in about 45 minutes later.  I am trying to grow my hair out.  We'll see how that goes.

Then our Easter party....

These is our good friends and neighbors, Craig and
Kathy Freebarin, as well as Brooklyn and then
Jeremy Daniels, who is in the Presidency of the
Branch

Tomorrow we have the couples meeting and then we are doing a session at the Temple.  Beautiful Easter weekend here in paradise while we miss our daughter's birthday and our Inde's birthday party.
That is the only hard part of a mission, missing family and events.  This weekend we would have had our annual Easter Egg hunt an lunch with the kids on Saturday and dinner on Easter.  I hope we can continue when we return home.

Wednesday

Today Ramon got his boot off!  He was so happy.  The ankle looks good although it is still swollen some.  We had lunch in Kailua and then stayed around for the Farmer's market at 2:00 where we bought some produce.  I was kind of rushed and somehow misplaced my onions I bought.  I've been wanting to cook up some stir fry but never have enough vegetables.  I hope to do that one of these days.  We rushed back for dinner at the Gerionios.  We have a new Elder.  I'll have to take his picture some day.  He's a nice man, older at 24 than most of our Elders.