September 10 - 16

Monday we spent a little time at the PunchBowl National Cemetery.  Monuments and information on the Korean, WWII wars.  

The Philippeans

My favorite trees, Monkey Trees

views from Punch Bowl

Pearl Harbor, Battleship row, Arizona monument

Some of the big ships there today

Tuesday we went in at 6 for prayer meeting.  Paul went on the session and I was a follower and then I was assigned to a new patron.  I was able to help in the clothing area and she attended our 11 am session.  She is going to Australia for her mission.  They are from New Zealand but their temple was closed so they chose here. 

Hurricane Oliver missed us and except for a little rain and some power outage on Thursday we didn't notice much change.  Very humid and muggy.  I was able to help Sister Munson get home two days this week.  Luckily it was not raining as I pushed her home.  Thursday they needed some extra help so I sent in at 7:30.  Later in the day around 3:30 the power went out.  I was on a session and it finished and then they determined it would be some time before the power would be back on so they closed the temple.  I took Sister Munson home and Paul picked me up.  We went over to the PCC and walked around and by then the power was back on so we had dinner at Pounders. 

Today, Friday, Elder Ray and Sister Carol Ann Broadbent should be arriving.  They have been preparing their apartment. They did arrived that evening.  Saturday they came to the temple and were set apart and we began introducing them and taking them around the temple.  Of course, they were pretty exhausted by the end of the day.  After the temple we drove them to Walmart and Costco so you know they had to be really exhausted.  We got to Costco just as it was closing so didn't get a pizza or hot dog.

Sunday they got up and came to 8 o'clock church.  they have been trying to get settled in.  We are so happy to have them with us.  They are going to be great.  Very personable, fun people from Evanston, Wyoming.

Judy and Tom Everton from Camarillo

Sunday evening Judy and Tom Everton were in town with some friends they work with at the Temple in LA.  They came out and we all had dinner together with the Allens.  The Allens were their mission president in Arizona.  A really fun visit.  Learned about all the people we love and care about in Camarillo.  They were headed to Maui on Monday and we were able to meet up again because Sister Dain left her purse at our house so we met them in Kaneohe before their flight out. 

We learned by Elder Allen that they will have about 70 sister misionaries at the VC by the end of October and they received 25 new lap top computers that the sisters will use in their apartments.  Now they will have enough missionaries to take care of the four things they should do.  1) Visitor Center, 2) PCC, 3) teaching center and 4) assigned to Wards and proselye.  They do an amazing job.  We are fortunate to live close to them. 

Kaylee was moved to a new area last week and is now a Sister Trainer Leader.  She is doing a great job.  So very proud of her.  Courtney is into her third week of dental assistant school and is liking it.  She fills up her extra time working for Rob.

Hope everyone has a great week and most importantly get yourself to the temple before the end of the month. 

White caps out in the ocean

August 27 - September 9 (Kory' Family)

I guess we have just been having too much fun and I could not get back to this so now two weeks have passed by.  Now can we remember anything that we did during that time.

Saturday, 25th we left the temple and drove to the West shore where we stayed in Kory's condo for a couple of days.  It was beautiful over there.  We had a nice stay in the condo and walked around the grounds but never got into the ocean or pool. 

Sunday we went to the closest church and met several people from the temple.  Brother Jones, who Paul knew from LA Temple, was the High Counselor speaker and then there were a couple of Sister ordinance workers and also a couple who come and bring a friend who is in a wheel chair.  So it is always fun to make a connection outside of the temple.  There was a 140 Primary celebration that evening at the Stake Center so we went to that.  Each Ward and Branch had their primary sing two of their favorite songs.  It was really good.  Especially the Tonga Branch.  They wore traditiional clothing and sang like crazy.  A very fun evening and also a beautiful Stake Center.

Monday Kory and family arrived.  So fun to see them.  We stopped for dinner at Big Taco out by their condo and then we had them drop us off to get our car so we could head home.  We rented a van for them and spent all day Monday waiting for them by shopping at our favorite places, Costco, Sams Club and Walmart.  Where did the day go. 

We were back at the temple all week and they were off having fun at the beach and trying out new foods.  Saturday they came out and stayed with us for the rest of their visit.  Monday we went snorkeling at Sharks Cove and I went out to edge of the rocks with them.  Dad had to go get the car checked out because the light came on.  Monday we also went to the PCC and walked thru the villages and wen to the night show with them.  A really fun time with them.  The boys are getting so big.  We were wall to wall bed so Paul and I ended up in the garage on the queen mattress.  Couldn't get the boys to go out with us except for Gage the first night.  We also had a guest, Sister Morales brother, David, was here for a week and needed a place to stay.  They only doubled for a couple of nights.  They flew out early Wednesday morning so we both had to drive down and drop off the van and then pick Paul up.

Now we are back to normal and preparing for another hurricane or tropical storm this week.  Today was a typical Tuesday.  We went in at 6 am for prayer meeting and then I ended up following the 7 am session and Paul was a patron on it.  Afterwards he went home for an hour and I met and helped the own endowment sister and then we continued our work for the rest of the day and came home at 6pm.  It's good to be busy doing Heavenly Father's work.  I got some new names from Darlene this weekend and today while I was waiting for the OE four sister missionaries came in and took some of my names.  So happy.  Today we met a couple on our session who recently returned from the Tiijuana Temple and knew my cousin, Elraine and Larry Thompson, who are serving there. 

Jayden Tuttle, husband of Lauren, granddaughter of Charlene Bushman who is living here in Laie

The Wongs from HK here for the wedding of a neice

The wedding party at Matsimotos

The Wongs

Spear throwing at the Tonga Village

pictuare at their condo 

Mermaid caverns

PCC

August 20 - 26

Monday evening for FHE we had a zone conference with President & Sister Bekker.  Sister Bekker spoke on the blessings that come from serving a mission.  Many thoughts came the D&C.  D&C 105:15  I will fight your battles; Alma 2:28 pray mightily Lord will bless them  Joshua 4:1-7, none shall stay thee.  he will be with you; D&C 31:5 sins are forgiven  great faith, ask, knock, seek, seek and pray for opportunities to find.

President Bekker spoke on Preach My Gospel and challenged us to EVERY DAY BOOK OF MORMON AND PREACH MY GOSPEL.  PMG speaks to the missionaries -- do not use anything else.  Eight things PMG will do for you while you are a missionary and afterwards.
accountable to the Lord; help with our personal conversion; learned to rely on the Spirit; promised blessings that are personal and powerful; find spiritual gifts; becoming better rather than doing better; well rounded--Christ centered life; help we answer gospel questions.

IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!  Paul and I gave the prayers for the meeting.

Tuesday morning we arrived at the temple at 6 am, attended prayer meeting then I went on a session and Paul helped with an own endowment brother.  At 9:30 we met the Stone family.  We helped them with their preparations for their own endowment, they were on our 11 am session and then we assisted with their sealing.  Paul got to be a witness.  They were also sealed to their 12 year old daughter.  Very special people from Miliani.  We finished out the day with the 4 pm session and then I took Sister Wong and Lee with me to the RS Pool party at Gunstock Ranch where we had a great taco salad dinner then we had to leave.

Hurricane Lane is headed our way so there was lots of talk about preparation.  We'll see what happens to us. Can't say I feel totally prepared.

We are preparing for Hurricane Lane.  It looks like a really big category 4 which may hit us.  The following message was written by one of the sr. missionary's grandson.

"Elder Farnsworth's grandson sent the following text:

“I feel that you guys are safe now. We just were reading family scriptures and Alma 26:6. . . it’s talking about the missionary’s. 

“Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall gather together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.”

Wednesday in the temple I did three sessions.  Two we followed and one I went as a patron.  Paul spent the time helping with a sealing.  We came home and went out and got a little more water just in case we need it.

The temple, the Visitors Center and the PCC were all closed Thursday and Friday because of Hurricane Lane which was expected to hit us  late Thursday night.  We spent Thursday and Friday hunkered in our apartment waiting for it to arrive.  We kept our eyes on the news most of the day.   In between we watched some movies and did some reading and studying.  The Hurricane slowed way down from 16 mph to 5 mph.  The State had really prepared for this hit.  They have had everything in place in case of a disaster.  Fortunately prayers were answered and today it started to break up and turn west and was downgraded to a tropical storm.  However, the Big Island, Hawaii, did get hit pretty hard with rain, flooding, landslides because of saturated ground.  today we saw some rain and winds but nothing harmful here in Laie.  From the forecast it should come thru tonight and everything will be back to normal tomorrow.

Temple Street before  Hurricane Lane

Pine outside our apartment

Some rain and wind on Friday

Wind on Friday 

It has been an experience and we have been grateful for the calls from friends and family about our welfare.  We feel very blessed.

Saturday we will be back in the temple.  We and all the sister missionaries have had enough of sitting around.  We are all ready to get busy again.

Today August 24th Robbie Meier celebrated his birthday.  He is 15 and also passed his permit drivers test.  So proud of this young man.

August 13 - 19

FHE Monday night we played some more getting to know you games and then Sister Madsen said her goodbyes.  She showed a lovely video and accompanied it with her voice singing.  She is from Provo and was a PCC greeter.  She was on our 4 pm session every week.   She also wroae a book on Gratitude.  I must look that up. 

Tuesday we went to Prayer meeting at 6 and then stayed for the 7 am session.  I just about have all my sister names completed, because of the help from several sisters who come often.  Some of them being Shary Munson and Peggy Hopkinson and I have enlisted some of the young sister missionaries.  

Wednesday we did the 11 am session and then I checked in but they did not need me so I spent the next couple of hours in the laundry with Sine, the laundry coordinator.  I always love helping her.  We had a nice visit.  Then we did the 4 pm session.  

I was able to do a session at 1 pm on Friday because they only had 1 sister and 1 brother on the session.  That finished up the names I have in my possession.  We also were asked to stay late and help with some sealings at 6 pm for a family from Japan who had been on two sessions and wanted to get some sealings done.  We were also able to do about 14 of mine.  I still have a good ten to do.  I'm going to have to find some names or call Darlene for some more.  Paul still has plenty, he has not been so lucky to get people to help him.  

We had a wonderful lesson today in RS on Elder Runlends talk on Family History and Temple work.  Today we will be off to "Just Serve" to pick up food and then stop to see and help Leslie at the Assisted living home.  

Davor and Stanka Mitz children from Ljubljana Slovenia mission. They are growing Zion

Davor mowing with the mower we helped get for their wedding

Paul and I at the Banyan Tree behind the Temple

Rob and Robbie doing a fun datering

Laie Temple Visitor Center Sister Missionaries coming home from exercise 

Sunday we did "Just Serve" and also stopped by to help Leslie at the assisted living home.  She is such a sweet lady, always has something to give to the homeless.  She likes to save some of her food to give to them but I finally had to tell her Pastor Virgil can't take anything that is not packaged.  

We are preparing for Hurricane Lane which is suppose to hit us on Thursday.  

Sunday evening we brought Scharee Munson to the fireside at the Visitor Center.  President & Sister Bekker spoke along with the Sister Missionaries singing and two recent converts bore their testimony and told of their conversion.  Very inspiring evening. 

Sister     who serves in the office and cafeteria at the Temple

At the Banyon Tree behind the temple 

The VC Fireside with Sister Munson, she attends the temple Tuesday thru Friday and does sealings, iniatories and our 4 pm session every day.  What an inspiration

President & Sister Bekker of Hawaii Honolulu Mission

August 6 - 12

This week we had a group from the Marshall Islands come to the temple.  There were five couples and one single sister and two children.  We were called in to come and help.  They spoke a little English and we were able to help them get dressed and ready for their endowment.  Wonderful people.  It takes a five hour plane ride and $1700 to get here.  We were able to see them several times during the week.  A very special experience for them.

Kimberly with the dolphins

Courtney and I walked around the PCC on Monday afternoon taking in the last of the cultural center.  She bought a painting from Kap and I got a table runner for my birthday from the Mission Store. We also tried some Hawaiian food during the last few days.  Some laulau, garlic shrimp.  Neither of them our favorites.  We still love the shaved ice and pineapple whip.  Tuesday while we were in the temple Mallorie and Brayden came to finish up their baptisms, Courtney came a did the 4 pm session with us.  That was very special for us.  We went to 7 Guys for dinner and then I drove them to the airport for their long trip home.  It was very fun and enjoyable for us to have them.  Thanks for coming.

It didn't take Paul long to get the apartment whipped back into shape.  Our new kitchen table is something to behold.  Barely room for two plates.   The furniture is very nice and we appreciate it, but the table is just too small.  We also got a new washer and dryer. 

We saw Zach and Melinda Golden at the temple on Wednesday morning.  We were expecting them and it worked out great.  We were going in and they were coming out.  Katie and Kory are watching their three children while they are here with her family having a wonderful time.

Zach, Melinda, MJ, Paul

 Hurricane Hector came by Wednesday.  Lucky for us it veered South and missed all the islands.  These are some of the waves it created.  Not much on our side of the island.  Much higher on the South.

 Our new kitchen table.  We put up another table to hold the computer and printer now that we have so much room in the kitchen.

Monday we drove all the way to the end of the North Shore to see what was out there.  There is a Salvation Army camp out there and a small glider air base.  We drove as far as we could but did not walk to the poiint.  

windy point 

Sunday Peggy and Jim Hopkinson invited us to dinner.  It was delicious, roast, potatoes and all the trimmings.  They also invited some students she works with at the Sweet Shop and a couple and their son from India.

Peggy and Jim Hopkinson for dinner 

 

Vinay, Rimpy, Ryan Jurial from India.  They were sealed in the Hong Kong temple when we were there.

We did our Just Serve Sunday and on the way home stopped to see Leslie at the Assisted Living. She gave me these beautiful earrings.  She is a very caring and thoughtful person.  She always wants to help the homeless.  We drop off food and clothing for her when we deliver food to Pastor Virgil.

 This is a painting Larna Meier painted of her and our grandson, Riley.  She did a terrific job.