Our Mid Mission Month – not officially until the 6th – BUT. . .
Monday, January 27/2025
Not a regular Monday Work day! It actually started out with the regular meetings and appointments, but FINALLY the neurologist appointment I’ve been trying to get into for the last 7 months. This does require the 1+ hour drive to “town”. We left with plenty of time to get waylaid, and didn’t. Thus we were able to get some lunch. Just a block down from the doctors office was a bakery. Liliha Bakery:
Amazing bakery with a side diner attached. We sat at the bar and watched the magic in front of us. The Butter Rolls, the pancakes, the platters of goodness!! We chose the mahi mahi/beef platter to share!
I don’t mind going to the doctors office when you can start off with this! We shared the pictures and destination with Mindy and what do you know? This is an iconic place for the show “Hawaii 5 O”. Who Knew?
Finished the day with Ukulele Class!
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
DEVOTIONAL Day
It began with a beautiful Cambodian song performed by the chamber choir and an amazing tenor soloist.
It was a very full house with a lot of security and preparations, we sat with last week’s devotional speaker Heina Hanohano.
Thanks to all the facilities and security personnel that helped make this possible.
Our first speaker was Sister Camille Johnson. She gave us a great analogy with a ship and winds. (Little did we know the winds we were to experience in a couple of days) It wasn’t the “Kona low” that she told us about, but what about “windage”.
“Friends, students, faculty, do you have windage you need to remove? Do you need to reduce resistance so that you may weather the storms that are inevitably coming or bearing down on you now? Removing your personal windage will help keep you safe. Windage adds load. Eliminating windage reduces load. It reduces load on the attachment point which will keep you safe. And to what should you be attached so you will be safe? What is your dock, your mooring, your anchor? It is your relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ.”
The Savior is steady and sure and rock-solid. He is an anchor that is never displaced. He is a mooring buoy that doesn’t dislodge. He is an immovable dock. It is us who detach from the rock, the anchor, the buoy, the dock when we let windage take us and carry us away.”
I have kept this image in my mind all week.
Elder Rasband’s talk was uplifting, he also announced that the Lee’s in the audience have been called to be Mission Leaders in Canada and the focus on missionary work.
Elder Christofferson concluded with great words and analogy’s about our ancestors, heritage, their works and our works.
“History tells us that in ancient times, Laie was “a pu’uhonua, or place of refuge wherein transgressors of law or custom could come to be cleansed of their transgressions and return to society.” Just as ancient Israel established sanctuary cities, so also did the early peoples of these islands. It seems most appropriate then that Laie should have become a place of refuge and gathering for the Latter-day Saints.
. President Clark’s talk was titled, “To Them of the Last Wagon.” In concluding his classic address, President Clark said :
In living our lives let us never forget that the deeds of our fathers and mothers are theirs, not ours; that their works cannot be counted to our glory; that we can claim no excellence and no place because of what they did, that we must rise by our own labor, and that labor failing, we shall fall. We may claim no honor, no reward, no respect, nor special position or recognition, no credit because of what our fathers were or what they wrought. We stand upon our own feet in our own shoes.”
We ended this day at the La’ie temple sealing families over the alter of our Lord.
What a humble and enlightening beginning to the week.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
The Winter Storm Warning for Hawaii came through today. But, we didn’t feel it today! Meetings and Student scheduled for the day. Class for Hope Squad, and The Night Market on the Aloha Plaza this evening.
USPS brought me a care package from a dear friend and a little bit of home:
Thursday, January 30, 2025
I didn’t capture the temperature but it was 59° and our morning walk was breezy and overcast, Major migraine, and then the power went out
All over La’ie. Meetings and classes were canceled. The shopping and one traffic light went out. Temple not operating, Rain! Rain! And more Rain. It is really wet here when it rains!
PCC – Polynesian Cultural Center is Business as Usual:
And we were scheduled for today so, we were able to eat hot food because the Luau and Gateway Terrace Buffet fed us all.
Electricity came back on at bedtime and the storm finished for us!
Friday, January 31, 2025
The public school system celebrated its 100th school day today. Our kindergarteners back home in Utah and Ohio shared their Old Man and Grannie outfits with us:
Gosh I love these “old” little people!! Hugs and Kisses from Gramma!
The storm yesterday brought some very unwanted guests INTO the Pad:
Regular Friday schedule through the work day – and then a trip to the airport to pick up dear friends.
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Saturday Devotional at the PCC in the Hawaiian Village:
An amazing way to start the Saturday and then . . .
We drove around the island to introduce them to Oahu, up and over Pali with a stop at the overlook. Hiked to Makapu’u and saw about a dozen humpback whales from that height! A magical day!
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Church at 8am – Fast Sunday
I can’t believe how much I rely on power. This afternoon was spotty again and it took all afternoon to download and get things ready for this. But I’m grateful I had the time.
Senior Missionary Mandatory Munch and Mingle – this month our assignment was a side dish. I put together the green bean casserole that our grandson Owen loves. It made me feel closer to him just making it.
Our friends were able to attend the Munch and Mingle with us which made it so much fun:
And we said Aloha Oe! To our friends the Tempany’s and Sister Manley. So many comings and goings each month.
We’ll close this week with gratitude for friends and the opportunity to serve and grow. I am grateful for my knowledge and belief in our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. For the privilege and reliance I have on the Holy Ghost and the guidance we receive on a daily/hourly basis. In His holy name Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder and Sister H
