July 1 - , 2019

Stewart Wolthuist in the pilot seat 

We started out Monday by taking the Broadbents to the airport at 4 am.  They were going home for shutdown.  We stopped at Walmart on our way home but decided not to hang around for Costco to open.  The first week of shutdown we went over to the temple every morning to help clean.  The first few days were just getting things ready, moving all the chairs out of the sealing rooms, then dusting all of them.  I went in one evening and helped with the chandeliers in the sealiing rooms 4, 5, and the brides room.  Worked with some lovely ladies, Sister Kinikini and Sister Beard and her friend.  Emily was in charge of us.  Found out she is the sister to President Nihipali and learned about her life and the strength of her mother in keeping them in the gospel and sending them on missions.  She sent Pres. Nihipali on a mission by cleaning the Church and was paid out of welfare funds and then eventually became in charge of custodial services in this area.  She sent Emily and her two brothers on missions.  Emily is now second in charge at the temple under Mel, who is also a wonderful man. There are so many faithful and wonderful people here in Oahu. 

PCC, BYUH, VC and Temple Missionaries May 2019

Two sister missionaries across from us 

On the 4th of July we joined the other senior couples for  breakfast out at the Church Farm with the Ellingsons.  They have done a lot of good work since last year making it look beautiful.  Everyone brought toppings etc and the committee provided sausage, eggs and pancakes for us.  The ukuleli group sang some patriotic songs for us.  It was a fun time to mingle.  At 6 pm we went to the PCC to help with the celebration there.  We maned bouncy for the little kids.  It was kind of a job because we didn't have a long line so the bigger kids would come over.  We soon learned they were way too rough for the 2 and 4 year olds.  It also rained on and off all day long but the kids had a wonderful time getting soaked.  Water would gather on the bouncy and they would slip and slide.  At 8:30 we were dismissed so went home and watched the fireworks from the top of the street with several others, Emily and Stu being part of them.  She got some great pictures of the fireworks and the temple.  The rest of the night was quiet. 

4th of July Breakfast at the Church Farm with the Ellingsons 

4th of July in Laie with the templein the foreground

Mar Jean working at the PCC 4th of July celebration

Friday we went back into the temple to help again.  Paul didin't hae to help with the carpet cleaning.  Mel had a younger worker help him which was very good becasue it is really hard work.

Saturday we left for the airport at 7:30 to go to Kauai for the week. Emily Woltheist took us and picked us up.  What great people they are.  We had a time share at Pono Kai.  A very beautiful island, small but gorgeous.  As it turned out we were right across the street from the Church which made it wonderful for Sunday.  We attended all three wards.  It was their first week of all three wards.  The chapel in Princeville was damaged by water from last year.  So Sunday was the first day three wards were meeeting in Wailua.  We meet several friends from the temple and many new ones.  We also learned that the new Mission President and his wife would be visiting the missionaries on Monday afternoon.  We invited ourselves to join them.

We had a car and drove around the island.  First seeing the Grand Canyon.  Very beautiful and on a very smooth road.  That is one thing we noticed about Kauai, they have pretty good roads.  Other places we visited during the week was the Museum, very interesting and informative, went kiaking up the river for an hour.  We went to the spouting hole, drove thru the tunnel of trees, went to visit the Kogas, who serve in the temple one week a month at a great sacrifice for them, played at the resort doing croquet, golf, tennis, shuffle board, weight room and swimming and sitting the hot tub.  Maybe only once but we did them. We also visited the Kauai Museum.  It was a very interesting place with lots of information.  Hawaii is a wonderful place. 

The highlight was meeting the new mission president.  We missed their meeting with the senior couples on Saturday night so were happy to get to join them.  They are President and Sister Walker from Bountiful Utah.  They just got in one week before and felt impressed to visit all the missionaries when they first arrived so they were making the rounds of the islands.  There are 12 Elders and one couple, The Deckers, on Kauai.  They shared with us their family and background.  His grandparents are President & Sister Ezra Taft Benson.  His grandmother and great-grandmother both served in Hawaii and his Great, great, great Grandfather, Ezra Benson also served in Hawaii.  They know President Nelson very well.  They are fun wonderful people.  They made a big point of letting the missionaires know they Love the Bekkers and the great work they have done here.  They are not here to replace them but to continue the work.

President and Sister Walker in Kauai

The Kogas from Kauai who serve one week a month at the Temple

Saturday morning we checked out and came back to Laie.  Emily and Stu picked us up at the airport and we stopped at the commisary for a few groceries.  They are such wonderful giving people.  I think they have a run to the airport everey day this week.

It was a glorious break and now we are ready to get back to work.  The Hunts have arrived from HK and the Broadbents will be back Monday and we start with a new schedule on Tuesday with three couoples serving in the temple.  We are excited to get going again.

Today we are speaking in a ward down by Diamond Head.  it turned out really well.  Several of our loyal  workers and patrons were part of the Ward.  On the way home we stopped to do "Just Serve" and stopped to help Leslie by changing her bed and taking some things to the homeless.  She is such a caring person.  That evening we took the Hunts with us to dinner at the Nichols.  Karen made a delicious mango chicken over rice.  She is an excellent cook.  From there we left and went to a fireside at the Visitor's Center where Brother Chaney played the steel gaitar.  He has been playing at the PCC for over 30 years.  He always has his wife with him who is wheelchaired bound and who is u nnable to speak because of a hereditary disease.  They have 8 children, built their own home in Huluka where they raised their children.  He always did music as a second job. It was a wonderful day. 

Kory adn Katie and family are in Florida for a vacation.  Tyler has submitted his mission papers, Robbie has returned from a coupel of fun weeks with friends to Lake Mead and a mountain cabin, Riley had a great week at Scout Camp, Brody had two days of day camp, Brayden celebrated his birthday on the 13th of July, Courtney has two weeks off work and will be coming in tomorrow, Mallorie is spending the summer life guarding, Kaylee will be home in four weeks, Blake wants a swimming pool in his back yard.  We are so blessed.

exercise room 

croquet

miniture golf

shuffleboard

Light house in Kiluaea

Grand Canyon of Hawaii 

Spouting Hole in Kauai