January 7 - 20

The temple opend January 7 and many were waiting at the door for it to open.  We were among them.  We attended the prayer meeting at 6:15 am and then were on the 7 o'clock session.  We went from there to sealings and went down for iniatorities but it was full so we came home and came back at 2pm for our shift.  All sessons were overflowing.  What a great day.  The rest of the week continued the same.  We hope it continues.  As I said before, there have been some changes and everyone is anxious to see the changes.  They are all a great blessing to all of us and we hope inspire all of us to do more work in finding families and completing their temple work. 

Saturday we did not have a wedding but each of us did an own endowment and lots of iniatories.  We love serving in the temple and being of service to Heavenly Father's work.  Sunday was filled with Sacrament meeting where we received a new bishopbric member, and a confirmation of an older man who has had a long road to the Church.  We then did Just Serve and from there went to Dan and Karen Nichols home for a delicious dinner.  We were asked that morning to cover at the VC for the Aallens who were doing a fireside.  It is always fun to be with the Sister Missionaries and get to know them better.  It was a great sabbath. 

This morning I went over to Jan Mecham's home to help quilt on a quilt they are making for the mission settlement.  That was fun. 

We are truly blessed by our Heavenly Father.

Sister Moyer and Che (from Korea)

Blake and Grandpa in the rain

Riley at the Laie HI temple 

January 17 Laie HI

Riley calling the baptistry

Riley at Laie Hawaii Temple

Waikiki Beach

Laie Temple at sunset

The pool at the Visitor Center

December 31- January 6 Welcome 2019

Wow, it has been a5 days since I wrote.  Hope I can remember what we did. 

The Temple closed on Decemer 29th.  It was a full day with six weddings and several own endowments and many people in the temple.  Always a good day for us.  New Year's eve was typical for us.  Paul went to bed about 10 and I stayed up and watched some spectacular fireworks from our driveway.  Poppers had been going off all night, just big bangs but at 12 it was quite a show with at least five firework displays going on around me and for home driven fireworks they were pretty good and lasted about 20 minutes.  They were in almost a circle around me.  Pretty fun.  We also watched the ball drop in NY and remembered our fun time there.

New Years day we were invited to dinner with Lydia and John Aki in Kaneohe.  They took their family and us and Sister Yen, who was visiting from China, to a Chinese dinner.  Very delicious with all kinds of food.  We were able to bring some home with us.

On January 3rd Kelly, Riley, Brody and Blake arrived.  We picked up the van and then went to pick them up.  From their we stopped at Costco to pick up the car and get something to eat.  We have had a wonderful time with them and they have really enjoyed it.  The Hukula Beach was their favorite.

This is what we spent our time doing.  They arrived on Thursday and we picked them up from the airport with the van.  It was late so just stopped at Costco to get some food and then home.  It would have been about midnight for them.  Friday we went to Hukula Beach and that ended up being their favorite beach.  I loved it because it was close and easy to get to.  In the afternoon we went to the PCC and saw three villages, by then they were tired out.

Saturday they were on their own.  They were going to the Botanical gardens in Koneohe to fish with bamboo poles and try out the white sand beach.  We had a special occasion in the temple.  A young couple from Canada were being sealed and just a few people would be in the temple since it was closed for cleaning.  We were able to escort the couple.  They received special permission because a grandmother had cancer and had to be home at a certain time for treatment.

Also we are very indebted to President and Sister Hallstrom who graciously allowed us to use their home to sleep every night.  Paul and I took advantage of that and it worked out well for everyone.  We only had one mishap.  The cleaner came in and also Brother Tuttle to do some work and he turned on the alarm so that night when we arrived it went off.  He had to come back and reset it and take care of it for us.  After that no more trouble.  Paul was his usual self and had to vacuum and leave it spotless.  What a great guy I have.

After the wedding we picked up Tessa Sullivan from the airport and on our way home stopped at the beach with Kelly and kids for a while.   Sunday we attended our Ward and drove to Just Serve.  Tuesday we went to Kaulua Ranch for the tour.  Beautiful country up there on top we could see the two valleys.  Wednesday we went to Honolulu for the Pirate ride which was great fun.  Thursday we took the van back and they went on the kayaks  and saw turtles and had a good time.  One of those days we went to Sharks Cove and did a very little snorkling.  Brody really liked it.  Riley no thanks.  Saturday we went to Waikiki and checked into the condo.  Checked out the beach, went to the Tabernacle for Church on Sunday and Monday we came home to get ready for the temple to reopen.

We did spend a few days helping in the temple during the week.  Wednesday night Paul and I drove back to the condo to pick up Riley and bring him back out with us so he could attend the Temple Thursday morning before returning home.  We were the first ones there and Brother and Sister Kinikini were so gracious.  He was able to do ten family names.  I took him back to the condo and spent the day and last night took them to the airport.  They were on the red eye and I guess things went okey because they are now home.  It was a wonderful trip and we enjoyed having them with us.

Now we are back at the temple.  It is beautiful and glistening.  The workers work really hard to keep it beautiful.  There are several changes and we were on the first session on Tuesday when it opened so we could experience the endowment before having to officiate it.  This was on January 15, 2019 that these changes were made in our temple.  We are so blessed to be here.

The sister missiionaries are now in the new teaching center across from us.  It is quite a experience.  I have been taking a few goodies over for them and so many of them in one place.  I think they can have 35 by the time they are all set up.  The VC  is closed for carpeting and wallpaper so they have been greeting guests outside.

We have been trying to remember them by taking over a few treats to help them out.  I took over 30 hard boiled eggs, a box of apple sauce left by Blake and a box of yogart.  They seem to love it.  I think they are often hungry. 

It's been a wonderful shutdown and now we are ready to get busy and work hard until the next.  We love our Savior and are so grateful to be able to help build the kingdom.

Arrival and stop at Costco

Brody and Kelly

PCC visit

Blake PCC

Snow cones by Seven Brothers 

Temple Grounds Kelly Paul Mar Jean

Bale at PCC

Mar Jean & Paul

at Temple Banyon Tree

Break the Fast at PCC with Sr. Missionaries

Vinay, Rimpy MJ Paul, India couple 

Sister Munson after the Christmas fireside

Sister Perkins, neice to Mike Anderson, my cousin

New Year's Eve dinner with Elder & Sister Allan and Sisters

December 17 - 30

This week as not as busy as we expected in the temple.  It was steady just not quite how we pictured it.  We did get to escort a few weddings during the week.  This is always a great joy to see these couples come and begin their lives together in the right way.  We also had a couple of sealings with children being sealed to their parents.

Monday at noon we met at the hale to celebrate Renee's retirement.  She has worked at the temple for 25 years.  An interesting story.  As a young girl she was in the mainland taking care of neices and nephews.  When they didn't need her anymore she came back to Hawaii.  She was not active in church at this time.  Her mother was RS secretary and started asking her to help her.  Finally the Bishop called and asked her to be a Sunbeam teacher, I think with her sister, which they did for a number of years.  Shortly after this someone told her there was an opening at the temple to work in the office and there she has been ever since.  Active and loving the Lord with all her heart.  She is a woman without guile and always has a sweet disposition.

Renee

Thursday evening we had Julie and Dar Weech come to dinner.  They are from Arizona and live next door to us in the Hughes apartment.  She serves at the Goo store and he works in the finance department of the PCC.  The campus is pretty empty since graduation.

We have been on the early schedule this week so are in the temple by 7 am.  We also had a meeting with President and Sister Hallstrom this week about how they could better use the missionaries.  We told them we loved the Saturday assignments and otherwise use us as needed, which is what they do.  I spent some extra time in the laundry, which I love.  The sisters down there are the best and I love chatting with them as we work.

Today, Sunday, we had one hour sacrament meetings.  We went to ours, which was very good and then decided yesterday, what were we going to do all day, so we went to one of the YSA meetings on campus.  Also very good.  Not many there.  A little later we will do our Just Serve and then pick up Scharee Munson tonight for the musical fireside at the Visitor Center.  The Chock family are singing.

We celebrated Paul's 75th birthday by driving into Wai where we had Panda Express.  He received calls and well wishes from family and some friends.  He got what he wanted--money.  I told him what comes around goes around because I gave him back the $100 bill he gave me for my birthday.  If we just keep passing it back and forth it won't cost us anything.

We had to go see the new 99 cent store in Honolulu, it's from Japan and not quite the same

 Josh turned 15 and passed his driving permit test on the first try.  We usually celebrate together with cake and ice cream.  This year he had a party of his peers.  Riley also called today to say he went to the temple for the first time Friday with Robbie, Amilie and  Mercedes.  They went to the Oquirrh Mt. Temple.  I challenged him to attending at least once a month but twice would be better.

Early in the morning he found a condo in Wikiki for Kelly when she comes so evryone is happy.

Sister Carter and companion 

Elder Allen in one of the new missiionary vans

checking out a paddle board experience for Kelly and boys when they come 

People have been so generous.  Sister Monteig, Coordinator on Tuesday mornings gave us this nativity.  Their Stake did a tree filled with them at the VC.  They are so beautiful.  One of the other shifts gave us these beautiful posters.  Sister Vim and Carole Ann gave us the camel with the sweet story that goes along with it.  We feel very blessed. 

Beautiful handmade nativity and card made by Sister Monteil.  Their stake did a tree of them for the VC 

Merry Christmas 2018 spent in Laie Hawaii

Christmas Eve we were invited to Brother and Sister Helen Goo for dinner and program.  It reminded us of home when their grandchildren reinacted the manger scene while Grandpa Goo read the story and the rest of us sang the songs that went along with it.  The kids were so cute and funny.  Little Mary who was probably 4 or 5 rode in on a bigger brother, who was the donkey.  She couldn't stop laughing.  At the end their son-in-law shared a talk he gave on Sunday.  He had asked all his children and wife and in-laws, "what does Christmas mean to you".  They all had something to say about the Saviour and how He blesses our lives and what a great gift He is from our Heavenly Father."

Sister Goo always has a wonderful meal.  This time she had a pan full of rice and different kinds of fish, shrimp, mussell, squid, clams.  I tried most of them but only shrimp do I really like.  I believe Paul and the Broadbents passed up that food.  They also had some smoked turkey which was very good.  She is a great cook and had homemade rolls.  For dessert we had different pies.  A lovely evening and we were so grateful to be invited.

Christmas day we spent time talking with the kids and hearing about how they were all doing.  Most were getting ready to go to Island Park.  Kimberly convinced her family, except for Mallorie, to open their presents Christmas Eve and open their stockings Christmas day while they waited for Kaylee to call.  Kelly's kids got up one or two at a time and opened presents and Kory's family pretty much slept in except for Gage who was the only one anxious to get up.

That day we went up and helped Emily and Stuart wet up tents and prepare food for the dinner she was having that evening for 15-28 people.  She wasn't sure who was going to show up so she got nervovus and bought another turkey and as usual we ended up not needing all the extra food so we shared a bunch with the Sister Missionaries across the street.

There are now 60 sister missionaries at the Visitor Center.  They should move into the new teaching center on the 7th or close to it.  The temple is now officially closed for two weeks.

We really worked hard the last week.  All of the shifts were short of workers so we went in in the evening to help out.  Friday I was in the laundry helping Zina and her crew for four hours.  I love being down there.  They are such wonderful women, especiallyZina, who has the most wonderful attitude, all she does she does for the Lord and her love for Him.  She is there at 5 or 6 evening morning and often until 9 or 10 at night.  I don't know how she does it but she loves it and the temple would not work without the work she does in the laundry.

We love the Lord and are so happy to be able to help and assist in His great work.  Not to toot our horns but it is something good to hear that what you are doing it noticed.  There is a Sister Reed who serves in the temple.  She is an order student at the university.  Her daughter lives in Manhattan and is RS president of the mid single adult ward.  They were visiting and talking about a couple who served in Manhattan and were always helping clean the temple and this girl also came and cleaned the temple and her mom was telling her about us here in Laie and they put it together that we were the same couple.  Guess we are doing something right.

Helping Leslie at the Assisted living home 

Leslie is so kind she prepared small packets of toothpaste and toothbushes for the homeless.  She is so selfless

some YSA came to the Assisted Living home to visit with the residents

Christmas 2018 at the Radford home

Christmas Eve at Brother and Sister Goo's home

The nativity by their grandchildren

Family in Island Park for Christmas

Debbie andd Mike are in Maryland with Sarah and Jaxson for Christmas. 

Tyler and Blake bonding 

Josh, Brayden and Robbie (the three muskateeers)

Tyler made it 4 

December 6 - 16

This week we were inited to send a letter for the Ward Bulletin, so here it is.

Mele Kalikimaka, “Merry Christmas” River Ridge 9^th Ward

What a wonderful time of the year.  Not quite like Utah but still pretty wonderful.  The Visitor Center is decorated with beautiful trees the different Stakes have decorated.  BYUH has some gorgeous lights up and many houses are decorated, along with our own.  It’s fun to walk home from the temple and see our lights on.

Many people have taken President Nelson’s challenge to increase their time in the temple.  We have been very busy and are now expecting over 30 weddings in the next two weeks.  BYUH has graduation and many families will be in town.

A few weeks ago we had a special conference with Elder Cook, Elder Au’una, Elder Kearon and Elder Kliebengot.  One of their messages to us and applies to everyone is “leave a trail of goodness and kindness wherever you go”.  "God lives and loves us and knows each of us by name”.  “Our first convert needs to be ourselves and then others”.  “The Book of Mormon is true.”  “If you partner with the Lord and don’t run away from your weaknesses, I will show you how to make them strengths.  Do things that are not comfortable for you”.  “Be warm, friendly and gracious.”

All of these can apply to each of us.  This is such a wonderful work and we hope you are taking advantage of sharing the gospel with all you meet. 

As we serve in the temple we better understand that this is where we will find peace and safety and where we will learn and receive the ordinances we need to return to Heavenly Father.  Our prayer for the River Ridge 9^th Ward is that we will become a temple loving people.  May our youth love the temple and find themselves there at least once a month and hopefully more often helping their ancestors receive the blessings they enjoy. 

We love you all and appreciate your prayers.  May you be blessed in your homes and family as you live the Gospel of Jesus Christ every day.

mahalo nui loa, which means "thank you very much."

Elder & Sister Lewis

Last Sunday evening we went to Karen and Dan Nichols home for dinner.  They are so generous.  We are invited any Sunday we would like to come.  They belong to the Sunset Branch and also serve at the temple on Tuedays.  The Freebarens, he also coordinates at the temple on Fridays, are always there along with another single friend.  It is so fun.  Last week she made Tai food for us and she had some wonderful hordvers (appetisers) for us.  

Saturday night we attended their Christmas party.  One of their members does all the food at the PCC and he provided all the meat.  A delicious dinner, ate too much.  I have also been busy making some English Toffee and fudge this week.  Mom would be o proud.  They both turned out really good and only because I gave them my undivided attention.  

This week has been busy in the temple.  Many weddings and own endowments because of graduation.  Elder Uchdorf was here and Elder Pearson has been here for a mission tour.  We unfortunately missed his meeting with the Senior missionaries because we were working late this week.  We also covered for the Visitor Center couple while they went to a meeting with him on Thursday.  So we were at the VC  from 9-1 and then the temple 2-9.  We have also been staying later at the temple because so many of the young people go home at 8 pm and that leaves a skeleton crew for the rest of the evening but it works.

I had a wonderful experience in the temple this week.  Before going in one day I asked the Lord for a special opportunity to know that He knows me and is aware of me.  In iniatory I had a sister who was returning after a long absence.  We were both very touched by the spirit that what we were doing was so very good.  Also at the veil I had a wonderful feeling of the spirit come overe me that this work is so necessary and needful.  What a blessing to be a small part of it. 

Riley turned 12 on the 6th and now because of the new announcement he will be able to move directly into the Deacons quorum and that means Josh, Brayden and Robbie will also be able to become priests.  

"An announcement on Friday, December 14, from the First Presidency changes the timeline of when children and youth complete Primary, move from one class or quorum to the next, and attend the temple for the first time—and for when young men may be ordained to priesthood offices. These changes are effective in January 2019.

These announcements stem from a “desire to strengthen our beloved children and youth through increased faith in Jesus Christ, deeper understanding of His gospel, and greater unity with His Church and its members,” a letter from the First Presidency states.

Beginning in January 2019, children will complete Primary and begin attending Sunday School and the Beehive class or deacons quorum as age-groups, not on their individual 12th birthdays as they have in the past.

In addition, young men will be eligible to be ordained to a priesthood office in January of the year they turn 12, 14, and 16, and youth will be eligible to obtain a limited-use temple recommend beginning in January of the year they turn 12—based on their “individual worthiness, readiness, and personal circumstances.”

We were told we can expect many more changes as we move forward closer to the time of the Savior's Second Coming.  We are excited to prepare to meet Him.  

Today took us to church at 8 am, came home and read Luke 16, PMG and the introduction to "Come Follow Me for Individuals and Familie" which we received instruction on during RS/Priesthood/YM/YW.  Had a bite to eat and Paul it taking a nap  and I'm working on the Blog and then at 2:15 we will go do "Just Serve", stop to see Leslie and the Assisted Living Home and then this evening we will go to the VC to hear "The Tongan Sisters" in a fireside.  A wonderful Sabbath for us.  We love the Lord and are so happy to be here serving.  The Broadbents spoke in Church today and we are blessed to serve with them. 

Following is the 2018 First Presidency Christmas message, released Dec. 6 and signed by President Russell M. Nelson, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring:

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, offers to us four incomparable gifts — the capacity to love others, the ability to forgive, the blessing of repentance and the promise of life everlasting. These four unique gifts will bring us more and more joy as we accept and act upon them. They were made possible because Jehovah condescended to come to earth as the baby Jesus. He was born of an immortal Father and a mortal mother. He was born in Bethlehem under the most humble of circumstances. His was the holy birth foreseen by prophets since the days of Adam. Jesus Christ is God’s transcendent gift — the gift of the Father to all of His children. (SeeJohn 3:16.) We joyfully celebrate His birth this Christmas season.

Laie 1st Ward singing at the Assist4ed Living Home 

Sister Carter in the middle from Rob and Larna's Ward 

Sisters Blodgott, Me and Sister Luker at VC

Paul and I working at the Visitor Center on Wedneday

The Morris family and Sister Malan's brother

snow at the PCC

Tonga Sisters at the VC Sunday evening fireside

December 2 -9

The first week of Christmas and we are trying to "Light the World" with some acts of kindness.  We made some donations to the Women's league to help families here at BYUH and our Ward's Santa's workshop, a little store for the children to come and pick presents for their family.  We missed the Ward Christmas party because we are serving in the evenings this week.  We heard there was lots of food and fun had by everyone.  The Sisters and YW had been practicing to do a hula for the last couple of months and they said it turned out great.  we have a wonderful ward Laie 1st.

Saturday we helped with a sealing of a couple from Molakai.  I spent the rest of the day in laundry and Paul in iniatories and veil.  It was a good day.  Saturday evening the Sister Missionaries across from us came caroling and bringing brownies.  What fun.  They are all wonderful.  We are so blessed to live near them.  The carpenters are also working on the new teaching center in the last two apartments on our street.  It looks like they will be ready by Jan 9.  They will have 34 stations ready adn working.  We are also receiving 14 more sisters next week.  That will bring the VC to about 60 sisters. 

Sister Missionaries from across the street

I got my Christmas letter out last week.  I didn't get the Christmas picture I was hoping for but decided it was better to just get it out. 

Here it is with a recap of 2018.

                                       

                                        Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Mar Jean & Paul Lewis 2018

Light the World with love, kindness and the gospel of Jesus Christ this year.  This is what will bring joy and happiness into our lives. 

Last Christmas found us in Island Park with our kids and grandkids.  What fun memories we have of spending time with them.  We were spending some free time serving as service missionaries by checking missionary cars and apartments.  In February we said goodbye to our granddaughter, Kaylee, who was off to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people in London.  Courtney returned to BYUI and finished up an associate degree and then took a course in Dental Assistant and is now working at her first job in SLC.  Mallorie is on the dance team and cross-country team.  The boys (Tyler, Robbie, Josh, Brayden, Riley, Gage, Brody and Blake) are all keeping busy finding their favorite sports and doing well. We now have them 22-4 years old and we love each one of them. We are very blessed.  Truly our treasure is in our children and grandchildren.

A blessing from our MLS Mission in SLCS was being able to go to the Draper Temple in February with our dear friend Lowell Tripp.  He lost his battle with cancer this October. 

March 13^th we started our Temple Training in the Salt Lake Temple where we spent three days and flew out to beautiful Hawaii on Friday.  The temple and temple grounds are beautiful, and we live right across the parking lot from it along with some of the Sister Missionaries who serve at the Visitor Center.  For six months we were the only missionary couple, so we served 10:30 – 6:00 and officiated two sessions every day.  The Broadbent’s joined us in September and we now split the day 7-2 or 2-9.  We love serving with these wonderful people. The spirit of Aloha is alive and well.   

Kimberly and family came for 4 weeks during the summer and Kory and his family came in August for two weeks. We are expecting Kelly and family in January.  Thank you for your love and friendship.  You have each enriched our lives.  Our testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ remains strong and firm.  We are grateful for eternal families.  Have a wonderful Christmas season and remember to light the world with your love and kindness.

Paul & Mar Jean Lewis

Kelly and Brenna at the Rooftop for dinner