November 5 - 30

The Visitor Center decorated for Christ

I've been a little remiss in my recordings the last month.  Not that many things haven't been happening, just because I got lazy.  Darn.  Now to remember what we have done. 

The first of November we received a new Temple Presidency.  and we are blessed by them.  President and Sister Halstrem, Ta'ala and Bridges.  All are local and have been on the island their whole lives and have served in the Church in many capacities.  The Ta'alas are a carryover from the last Presidency.  We are also blessed that the Kealohas are already serving as ordinance workers.  President Nihipali is still recovering from his back surgery.  He ended up having other complications but is finally on the mend.  We expect them to be back soon also.  We have grown to love them so very much. 

We have many university students who are serving in the temple.  They are a great strength.  Most have served missions and now take out 4 hours a week to serve as ordinance workers in the temple.  The only problem is that when they leave their shift the temple still has two hours of work left and we end up with a skeleton crew to finish up the day.  It's pretty ineresting for the coordinators but it is the Lord's work and He always makes it work out. 

On Saturdays we have been able to assist with some own endowments and sealings.  This is always really special because we can visit with them and get to know them.  It makes us so happy to see them starting out their life the right way, by making sacred covenants with Heavenly Father. 

Sunday we attended the Sunset Branch for Fast Sunday.  A tiny Branch but some powerful people in it.  The Nichols and Freebairns, both are coordinators in the temple, attend this Branch.  They have also had us to dinner several times on Sunday evening.  Wonderful people, so giving and loving. 

Thanksgiving was really fun.  the Jr. AhYou family and others provide dinner for all the senior, sister missionaries plus many homeless from the area at the PCC.  They provided all the turnkey, ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, gravy, rolls, rice, beans and the rest of us brought salads and desserts.  You can just imagine how much food there was.  Then they provided music and entertainment.

Jr. told the story behind this.  Thirty-three years ago his cousin, in Waianae, son on Thanksgiving day went next door becase of a domestic dispute and got shot and died.  He determined then to do something for the homeless in that area.  It has a large population there.  Every year he and his extended family cook 150-200 turkeys and feed them.  A few years ago Jr decided to still help with the turkeys but to help the people right here in his community and so that is how the Sr. couples and Sister missionaries from the VC get to enjoy this wonderful day. 

After attending this festivity we went to Koneohae to visit with the Akis.  We had a lovely visit.  They were our mission President in Hong Kong.  They sent us home with many leftovers so we got to enjoy Thanksgiving for a few more days.  People are so kind and welcoming to us.  We are very blessed.  Our greatest blessing and treasure is our family.  We love them and appreicate how they live the gospel and teach our grandchildren the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The Beuhrings, they serve at the temple once a week

Thanksgiving Dinner, one of the Elders 

Presidenet John and Lydia Aki 

Ray and Carol Anne Broadbent

Christmas lights at BYUH

Thanksgiving Day

Grandpa but up some Christmas lights for us this year

We have some other neighbors just up the street from us that have also been so kind and loving.  Emily and Stuart Wolfoest.  They had us to a wonderful dinner in their yard.  He is a professor at BYUH and they have been here for 14 years.  She is a sweetheart.  Would do anything for anyone. She has been subbing at the temple and is there almost as often as we are.  Her shifts are on Friday and Saturday.

Emily Stu Carol Anne Ray and Paul

Saturday we helped with a sealing for a couple from Utah who eloped to the Hawaii Temple.  How fun is that?  The Petersons.  We told them we could get tickets for them at the PCC so they called and we made arrangements for Monday at 2pm.  We forgot and headed out for haircuts and shopping and were at Costco when they called wondering where we were.  They were so kind and waited for us, about an hour to get back, only to not be able to find our discount tickets.  Luckily the ticket person gave them to us anyway.  The Lord is always watching over us even in the small things of our lives. 

Grandpa and I are doing well.  He love playing racketball Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, when he is not on the morning shift.  I'm still trying to get myself to do some kind of exercise.  We are healthy and feel strong.  We have been reading and studying Preach My Gospel, as suggested by President Bekker and we are reading Luke for the month of December.  If you start on the 1st by the 24th you will have read the life of the Savior.  It's been wonderful.  We are also taking the challenge from President Russel M. Nelson to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  We are on target.  This is my third time this year.  I love it more and more every time.  We are also reading "Opening the Seven Seals The Visions of John the Revelator" by Richaard D. Draper.  It is very good and explains many things I did not understand before.  I testify that God is in charge of this world and nothing happens that He has not set His hand to.  We are certainly in the last days.  How close we do not know for sure but the signs are being given and as I read the Book of Mormon I see us doing the same things the Nephites did.  May we always stay true and faithful to the covenants we make in the holy Temple.  There will be our strength and protection.  We love the Lord.  We recently saw a statement "are you serving a 12/18/23 month mission or are you serving the LORD?  We hope we can say, WE ARE SERVING THE LORD.

A visit to the PCC: 

FHe farewell

The Walls and Stricklands going home siinging the Aloha Oe

This month President Nelson instituted the following program.  It will be interesting to see how it prepares us for the Saviors coming.  

"The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining." —President Russell M. Nelson

seven elements:

1.     A weekly reading schedule to coordinate study with the entire Church, including what will be taught during Sunday meetings.

2.     Designated scripture passages.

3.     Space to record impressions gained during study.

4.     Ideas for personal scripture study.

5.     Ideas for family scripture study and family home evening.

6.     Images correlating to the material being studied, including art that is less well-known.

7.     A prompt or invitation to act at the end of the lesson to help improve teaching and personal study.