Author Archives: MiLinda Hudnall

I can’t take credit for this illuminating February info, I received it in a newsletter entitled Rich Civic Times in Garden City, Utah. I enjoyed these tidbits of info, so I shared. . .

Monday, February 2, 2025

A week of friends and fun. . . Began the week with the required meetings and appointments in the morning but I spent the afternoon at the PCC. Then we volunteered for Ask Me and the Night Show, “The Breath of Ha”. What a wonderful reminder of this historical place we get to serve in:

Tuesday, February 3, 2025

Devotional Day:

Honolulu Mission Leaders: Dean and Colleen Andersen

From Sister Colleen Anderson, “The Blessing of Work”

In my childhood home, right next to the wall-mounted phone with its long, tangled 12-foot cord, a piece of paper was taped to the kitchen wall. On it was an African proverb that stuck with me through the years:

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion, or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle—when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

My parents were a great example of work. They taught us mostly by their example, but sometimes used words. . .

Likewise, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have shown us by Their examples and teachings that work is an important, even crucial, eternal principle.

With Adam and Eve, work was introduced as part of the eternal plan. In Genesis 3:17 we read, “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” [1]

President Marion G. Romney taught: “Note that the curse was not placed upon Adam, but upon the ground for Adam’s sake. Rather than a curse upon Adam, it was a blessing to him.” [2]

Work appears 1,100 times in the scriptures. . .

Elder J. Richard Clarke said, “Work is honorable. It is good therapy for most problems. It is the antidote for worry… Work makes it possible for the average to approach genius. What we may lack in aptitude, we can make up for in performance.”

From President Dean Anderson, “The Nature of God”

I would submit to you, my young friends, that it is worth the time and our greatest efforts to work to qualify for all the richest blessings that God has in store for us. Don’t short-change yourself by choosing an easier path. The greatest blessings are reserved for those that are willing to work through hard challenges and do hard things. If we shy away from work, we limit God’s ability to bless us. As Sister Andersen beautifully explained, work is a key part of God’s plan and is a blessing, as well as being a prerequisite to all the greatest blessings God desires to give us.

So, if we come to truly understand that God is merciful and just, then we can read the scriptures with that enlightened, more optimistic understanding, which eliminates doubts and concerns. I testify that the more we come to understand our Savior and His gospel, the more we see how perfect the gospel is and how much happiness it brings to literally every single person it touches. We see that as missionaries, the gospel blesses every person it touches.

We finished up Tuesday with a trip to La’ie Temple with Brenda and Julie.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Pearl Harbor Day!

Today started out VERY rainy. We set out for the Swap Meet and shopping before our scheduled time at the memorial. It didn’t come to fruition. TOO wet!!

By the time we made it around the island, clear skies and a beautiful afternoon:

My favorite part of this time at the Memorial was the addition of a VR (Virtual Reality) experience. I didn’t take a picture with the gadget on my head, but we were given the big eye/headpiece covering and sat on a swivel stool. We were offered a video game anime type of view of the day of infamy in 1941 by watching the torpedos fall from the Japanese airplane and hit the battleship, and the map of the attacks and results.

We had walked through the museum, took the boat to the Arizona Memorial, watched the historical movie and finished off with the VR.

Thursday, February 5, 2025

Start off at the office for meetings, but skipped out for fun. We went to Waimea Valley Falls. It is a beautiful walk/hike up to the falls with examples of flora and fauna and old Hawaiian lifestyle along the way.

Next stop Ted’s Bakery for lunch and a piece of Chocolate Haupia Pie! Final day of the trip and what a day!!

Friday, February 7, 2025

Early start to get to the airport by the 6am drop off! It is always a beautiful sunrise drive back with this morning flight drop offs. So hard to see “home” leave. But, a wonderful and memorial time on Oahu.

Saturday, February 8 2025

Another early start for the day.

Our fellow senior missionaries Elder and Sister Spilker serve in this area and put on this wonderful conference. Our neighbors from home President Eric and Sister Carolyn Shumway were in attendance to hear their daughter in law Mae Shumway and their son Aaron Shumway who were wonderful presenters in the conference:

One of the counselors from our Counseling Center, Aliah Hall gave a presentation on “Be Ye Therefore. . .”

And finished with a picture of the Provo Temple and the symbolism of the Children of Isreal relying on the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and the round white “cloud” and the gold “pillar”.

I have to admit, I was quite homesick all DAY!

Even got to a couple of Pday assignments:

We finished out our day in Kaneohe with Elder and Sister Johnson at Don Goyo’s Mexican Resturant. Not sure why I didn’t get a picture of us at our favorite Mexican place, but when we returned home up on La’ie Point. . .

This was happening next door!

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Church at 8am. Sacrament Meeting was so uplifting. We got to listen to the new Sister Missionaries assigned to our ward. And Then we had a homecoming for a ward sister missionary who was returning from the Las Vegas East Mission

Sister Ulima served where our granddaughter Hermana Gunn is serving. Her talk was wonderful and included this:

Spiritual CPR

Church- Pray – Read

3Nephi 18:19-21

19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.

She had examples and experiences that are similar to the ones we hear from Hermana Gunn. (It was wonderful to give a Hug to Jayden and vicariously to Grace)

THIS was a busy Sunday. . .

We had an appointment with our friends Elder and Sister Parker and Elder and Sister Wayt!

Then we had our La’ie District 2 Dinner/Testimony Meeting and farewell for one of our single sisters, Sister Kim Manley

and Elder Hudnall had a double book evening, having to leave after the dinner and his testimony (and before the picture) to present at the Hau’ula District 1 meeting which had been booked first!

I’ll close with this morning at La’ie Point and a lone crab that had washed up on the rock:

I’ll end with my testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and how grateful I am to be able to be a full-time missionary and study, represent and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love,

Elder and Sister Hudnall

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

Monday, January 20, 2025

MLK Day – Campus/Office closed

Monday Holidays are nice when it gives you a three day break! To wake up and not have an agenda set up for you. We celebrated a birthday with a neighbor at Papa Ole’s. Yummy… and we extended our Pday cleaning and yard work through the weekend.

Checking in by camera on Mizpah in Garden City, Utah

compared to our current location

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Devotional Day! I look forward to these days.

Today it didn’t disappointment. One of our fellow employees Heina Hanohano provided a heartfelt, humble and uplifting devotional.

Amazing start to the day!

We have an addition to our office. They gave us a table with wheels:

Our Evening Senior Missionary Devotional. . .

Start the day and end the day with devotionals. . .

It was a wonderful testimony filled event. Friday of last week, Elder Thompson asked for a musical number, I said no thank you. Saturday, Sister Fisher and I said ok. Sunday we practiced and Tuesday “whew” it was over:

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning. . . and starting out at 60° F

We started with regular meetings and scheduled today. . .

Today is the first introductory meeting of The Hope Squad. . .

Next week will be the official kick off, Class/Meeting will be on Wednesdays throughout the semester.

A full day at the office and on Campus

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Another jacket day:

Campus and Office day and:

Ended the day at the temple, what a wonderful ending of the day:

Friday, January 24, 2025

Morning Meetings –

Getting ready for the big event tonight on campus . . .

Family Feud – Speed Dating – Newlywed Game – Crafts – Bowling – finishing off with a Dance

Saturday, January 25, 2025

MTC District Meeting – on the Ocean

Going North on Kamahemahe Hwy can be an experience, it is surfer heaven and a competition today:

We did finally make it to the Haleiwa turn off and . . .

Marine Life Tour with Ocean Outfitters out of Haleiwa Boat Harbor

We are off:

We aren’t seeing any whales on our whale watching tour, and wondering of we are on 🎶 a Three Hour Tour 🎵 (cue Gilligan Island)

Our Shipmate spots a blue object and we turn around for trash collection, a errant blue tin gasoline car was retrieved and it had stow-a-ways:

Rescued octopus journey this trip . . And then we saw them:

I don’t think I would have been wetter if I fell overboard off the boat:

We still need to make a trip to Wal-mart for a prescription pick up. THAT is not an easily accomplished errand. We leave the habor in Haleiwa and it takes three hours to drive over to Kapolei and back home to Laie Point.

Sunday, January 26, 2025

In today’s lesson:

I Am He

“So, if sometimes the harder you try, the more difficult it seems to get; if, just as you try to work on your limitations and your shortcomings, you find someone or something determined to challenge your faith; if, as you labor devotedly, you still feel moments of fear wash over you, remember that it has been so for some of the most faithful and marvelous people in every era of time. Also remember that there is a force in the universe determined to oppose every good thing you try to do.

So, through abundance as well as poverty, through private acclaim as well as public criticism, through the divine elements of the Restoration as well as the human foibles that will inevitably be part of it, we stay the course with the true Church of Christ. Why? Because as with our Redeemer, we signed on for the whole term—not ending with the first short introductory quiz but through to the final exam. The joy in this is that the Headmaster gave us all open-book answers before the course began. Furthermore, we have a host of tutors who remind us of these answers at regular stops along the way. But of course, none of this works if we keep cutting class.

“Whom seek ye?” With all our hearts we answer, “Jesus of Nazareth.” When He says, “I am he,” we bow our knee and confess with our tongue that He is the living Christ, that He alone atoned for our sins, that He was carrying us even when we thought He had abandoned us. When we stand before Him and see the wounds in His hands and feet, we will begin to comprehend what it meant for Him to bear our sins and be acquainted with grief, to be completely obedient to the will of His Father—all out of pure love for us. To introduce others to faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and receiving our blessings in the house of the Lord—these are the fundamental “principles and ordinances” that ultimately reveal our love of God and neighbor and joyfully characterize the true Church of Christ.”

-Jeffery R Holland

2024 October General Conference

I loved the comparison to a college course and attending class and the “open book” answers we can obtain while on this mortal test of ours. As this Newsletter for the week began, FAITH is the only way to wake up in the morning and the only way to settle down in the evening.

“I only have one thing to do today . . . Follow Him. . . The rest takes care of itself” – as stated in an episode of The Chosen

Christ has told us, “Come Follow Me”. It is my prayer that I can do that and you also can find your way in Him. In His name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,

Elder and Sister Hudnall

Mid Winter‼️ AND the Wolf Moon

The Hawaii 2025 first full moon

Monday, January 13, 2025

First Monday of Winter Semester. Regular Schedule and meetings begin the work week.

Finish our Monday at Ukulele Class and here we go. . . .

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

First Devotional of Winter Semester 2025

A beautiful Musical number, here is a snippet of it:

From the devotional:

Ended the day with a wonderful couple from Kahuku Ward:

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Morning Meetings.

Trip to “town” for a students medical appointment. Back in time for our weekly temple appointment.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

A Beautiful Morning Sunrise

Another BYU Hawaii office and meetings Thursday.

But we were asked to do a presentation for one of the districts and it was a great way to end the day

Friday, January 17, 2025

And a VERY busy campus Friday. We did make it to all the places and people we were assigned to meet with today.

We met Sister Gray who is a Senior Service Missionary (and a friend of a friend) here on campus for Winter Semester ( and other months)

AND

Finished the day at the PCC:

Saturday, January 18, 2025

P-Day-but a bike ride first

And Honolulu errands. . .

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Meetings still at 8am. And it was a wonderful Missionary Farewell:

And we ended the evening with our La’ie District 2 meeting. Elder Hudnall made an amazing Pineapple Upsidedown Cake

And Elder Greiner gave in an amazing presentation. He has a book:

My take away this week is from the devotional on Tuesday:

Things that Matter most:

Child of God

Child of the covenant

Disciple of Jesus Christ

“To consecrate is to set apart or dedicate something as sacred, devoted to holy purposes.  True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives – that is, our time and choices – to God’s purposes.  In so doing, we permit Him to raise us to our highest destiny.” 

-Elder D. Todd Christofferson

The musical parts of this newsletter are my testimony, “How Great Thou Art” – “I Hope they call me on a mission” – “I know that my Redeemer Lives” (I hope they come through and you can enjoy them)

I am a missionary, I know that My Redeemer Lives and How Great Thou Art – In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Elder and Sister Hudnall

Another Week in Paradise. . .

January 6, 2025

The sunrises here are always unique. The changing of the waves coming in, the tide, and the clouds. The horizon isn’t flat as you can see. At times it seems like a straight line, and then there are these times when the clouds give it a look of a mountain ( I get homesick then) and these as a cityscape. BUT, it is the flat end of the world with the water/ocean at the end.

Monday Office Day, CARE meetings and student visits and meetings. We get to end the day at Ukulele lessons with Elder Thompson and our fellow senior missionaries.

January 7, 2025

The Winter Semester 2025 is just getting started. Tomorrow is the first day of classes. So there is a lot of activity at the office and with the Dean of Students as there are holds to satisfy and continuing stress and commitments that some of the students struggle with.

We received our Christmas package from home:

We ended the day with our neighbors and friends the Gathrights at LeiLei’s in Turtle Bay with a wonderful celebration dinner:

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Another beautiful start with a morning walk:

Mis-step on the way down, darn what a not fun way to start the first day of school:

Thank Goodness we have all of these from my Achilles experience.

He stayed off of it all day. First day of school for Winter Semester 2025. More meetings and visits with students. Transitions for those incoming freshmen students. It is a privilege to be here on campus and working with these students.

10:30pm – call and return to campus. . . A couple is distress. . .

Long day on campus, rain on the way home:

Thursday, January 9, 2025

No Sunrise walk, . . Didn’t get home until almost midnight. . .but, my turn for devotional at the counseling center staff meeting. . . 9am

In the October 2024 General Conference, Elder Ronald A. Rasband said:

“The Savior is not absent from our mortal journeys. For the past two days we have heard Him speak through His chosen leaders that we might draw closer to Him. Time and again, with His pure love and mercy, He sustains us as we face the drama of life. Nephi describes: “My God hath been my support; he hath led me though mine afflictions. … He hath filled me with his love.”

Brothers and sisters, we need to do more lifting and less murmuring, more upholding the word of the Lord, His ways, and His prophet, who has said: “One of our greatest challenges today is distinguishing between the truths of God and the counterfeits of Satan. That is why the Lord warned us to ‘pray always, … that [we] may conquer Satan, and … escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold [the adversary’s] work’ [Doctrine and Covenants 10:5; emphasis added].”

We all need to be lifted up by the Lord with peace, with comfort, and most of all with personal revelation to counter the fear, darkness, and contention encompassing the world.”

The Savior doesn’t judge us or begrudge us. He knows life is messy. He loves to help heal our hurts.

Friday, January 10, 2025

This was a day of adventure!

One of the students needed to travel to Honolulu for a dental procedure. Elder Hudnall had the car today to take the Gathrights to the airport. So, we ( the students and I) took The Bus. I wanted to show pictures, but I can’t take pictures of all our activities.

We got on #60 The Bus at the La’ie Foodland stop at 6:04am. They had an 8am appointment in Honolulu. It was an interesting 2 hour ride to travel that 32 miles. Thankfully it coincided a bit with the airport trip. We had breakfast at Zippy’s while we waited for the Toyota Prius to chauffeur us back to La’ie. Gratefully it was a one way bus trip and return Prius Trip.!

We made it back by noon for our Elder Brown Bag Luncheon and the Sister Lunch Bunch Friday get to get her.

Office took up the remainder of the afternoon and we made it to our 5:30pm temple endowment session. It was so nice to be there, our friends The Timothy’s were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

FaceTime with Mindy ended the evening and a little homesickness

Saturday, January 11, 2025

This was our P-Day – Morning Walk – Bike Ride around La’ie. We found the La’ie Cemetery. Not the Pioneer one behind the Temple. It is an amazing site:

Finish the chores, clean up and off to Haleiwa for Lunch, then around the island for groceries and gas:

Finishing the day with Friends, Card and Fudge. . .

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Early start with District Leader interviews at the Mission office:

Before our church at 8am. Elder Hudnall is looking spiffy with his Grandkid Socks:

And we finished the day with homemade Chicken Pot Pie (cobbler)

Sending you all well wishes and looking forward to another busy week. I came across this quote from President Thomas S. Monson that I have put up on my wall to keep reminding myself:

Of others, but also of ourself. . . Thank Goodness we can repent and keep trying. Our Savior Jesus Christ has made that possible. I am a recipient of his love and sacrifice and I am always trying to be aware of that place I have. I KNOW that Jesus Christ is my Savior and we am serving as a disciple of Him.

Love,

Elder and Sister Hudnall

Christmas Week

First Presidency Christmas Witness:

At this joyful time of year, we are grateful to celebrate with you the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Although He was born in humble circumstances, He is the central figure in all human history. His mission affects all who have lived and will yet live. Through His Atonement and Resurrection, He did what we could not do for ourselves: overcome death and be reconciled to our Heavenly Father.

We testify that He is the Son of the Eternal Father, who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We share our witness and knowledge of this most important gift and invite you to do the same this Christmas season.

I add mine, that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son and that he gave his life and suffered in Gethsemane for me and for you. I love this Christmas Season and the focus of Him and his birth and life.

I am humbled this Christmas Season to be serving as a full-time disciple and representative of Jesus Christ. I love Him and rely on him every hour of every day. -Sister MiLinda Hudnall

Monday, December 23, 2024

We had an office morning to try to keep up on things on campus. It is between semesters and things are slower. We are still getting things settled with the move to the new office.

I took one of the sister missionaries down to Kaneohe and Kailua to pick up things for our Mission Christmas Dinner. It was a fun trip down and back.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Mele Kalikimaka Eve

We have many different skits and numbers for the Christmas Dinner tomorrow, but we also have the Mission Christmas Eve Devotional tonight with numbers to practice for.

But first:

We were able to have a Christmas Conversation with our Missionary Granddaughter, Hermana Gunn who is serving in Las Vegas Nevada:

Then we had “It’s a Wonderful Life” with our Daughter Sherri and her family from Farmington via FaceTime.

Then the Devotional:

I played a duet with Sister Fisher tonight, Away in the Manager,

and Elder Hudnall organized and sang with the Elders Choir, Little Drummer Boy.

What a wonderful Mele Kalikimaka Eve!

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Christmas Day!

A very different busy – Sister Parry and I had to start the 12 Christmas Hams baking at 6am .

We “dressed, basted, and put to bake” all 12 hams.

And Elder Hudnall was our go to delivery and cutting the ham helper:

Dinner and the skits went off very well.

We had the first skit, “The 12 Days of Christmas”. You will recognize a couple of them:

Then we had missionaries from BYU H represent themselves and the area they serve in this skit.

Sister Parcell taught us the Hulu to Mele Kalikimaka and then performed for us.

Our Christmas Dinner finished with us serenading each other on the Ukulele:

We were finally had some Christmas time together. We exchanged our gifts and were able to go down to Secret Beach for a Christmas swim.

Some friends invited us over for games and soup to finish off the evening.

Thursday December 26, 2024

Day after, Put away the Christmas, took just a few minutes. Boxed it up and sent it home to Provo. We took a drive down to Kaneohe and Kailua. Nice Day after Christmas!

Friday December 27, 2024

Office Day – Got a lot done and organized. It is helpful when everyone else takes it off and it is quiet in the Office.

Saturday, December 28, 2024

P Day

Yard Work – with our Landlord

I worked on the apartment and the laundry. Then came the BYU Bowl game. Congrats BYU, this one was a W.

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Today is the 5th Sunday of the month. The wards in the church use this extra week for “specialty” classes during the second hour. These are usually VERY busy Sunday’s for us, both at home and on the mission.

Today we had 4 different wards scheduled. The first was a 7:30am set up time for their 8am block of meetings which started in Kahuku and then we moved back South to campus for the YSA wards scheduled today. I don’t take pictures during their church meetings, but I did get a picture of the last ward afterwards with Cake and Ice Cream!

The day is finally winding down, and I have this ready to go. It is nice to start the week with the Newsletter on its way. Our landlord invited us for Sunday Dinner and it is so kind of them to feed us on a busy busy day.

We are grateful to be able to serve and be amongst these students and members in this area of the world. It is a humbling and remarkable experience.

As we look toward the New Year and 2025. . . May we be more aware of our neighbors and loved ones. May we reach out with tender hearts and helping hands. May we remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and keep our focus on His will.

We love you all and are grateful for your connection to us and support as we continue to serve here in La’ie.

My Mantra:

Alma 7:23 “And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.”

Love,

Elder and Sister Hudnall

Mele Kelikimaka – Merry Christmas – Feliz Navidad

Our family is celebrating this Season in many different cultures/ways

Monday, December 16, 2024

Today began a new mode of transportation in La’ie for us. Our friends and fellow missionaries, the Wadman’s have completed their mission and sold us their trusted e-bicycles on their last day on the island:

We are so excited!!

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Temple Morning!

We also needed to finish up paperwork at the office and pack for our Island Hop trip. But first. . .

Finish up meetings with students, and volunteer at the PCC for the Marketplace Ask Me:

Polynesian Cultural Center ready for the Holidays.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

We started the morning with the usual walk to La’ie Point. Today wasn’t a usual walk. We didn’t leave the point for quite a while, it was spectacular.

But, today is our start day for our trip to Maui. Other senior couples have traveled and told us all about “island hopping”. Now that the semester is over, we have the opening to experience this too.

Merry Christmas to each other;

We made it to the hotel and tomorrow is “the road to Hana”

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Breakfast at “4 Sisters Bakery”. The lady at the Southwest Airlines desk suggested we look up the “Butter Rolls” that her co-workers bring back from Maui!! So we did. . .

I think every roll I eat from now on will be compared to this!!

Now off to THE Road to Hana. . .

But a quick stop at Ho’okipa Beach to see some Waves:

First stop on the Road to Hana- A fun hike and Beautiful falls.

Haiku-Ke’anae

And on to Sandy’s Banana Bread. The “Guide Along” self audio tour we were listening to took us to this “world famous banana bread” stop.

Obviously I finally figured out the “Gallery” feature and I’m going to make the most of this!

We made it all the way down the Road to Hana – An ALL day adventure

The Hana Harvest Garden spot, all ready for Christmas?

Long Day on the ROAD . . . To Hana and back to the hotel:

Friday, December 20, 2024

Started with a Breakfast Stop at – 4 Sisters Bakery and our Butter Rolls

Then off to LaHaina – and our Whale Watching Tour

The pick up point is at Whalers Village – No pier or Wharf to load from

The captain called it in and the Whale Rescue crew needed us to follow the whale until they could load up and come out to cut the rope off!

So I could show how we got to the boat and back on this dingy by filming the family we toured with (our ski boat is in the background with the shade up) as they came back to the beach:

“When I tell you, jump off, run to shore and don’t look back”. . . (Instructions from the captain of our ship)

Leaving the Wharf and saying aloha to Santa and his “dolphins”?

We continued on to the top of the roadway where we had to turn around and come back. . .

Enough driving for a second day in a row. Didn’t we pass a “Chick fil a” on our way here. . .

Saturday, December 21, 2024

No early wake up. Slept In!! Then. . . Off to 4 Sisters Bakery for our breakfast of butter rolls (great Cinnamon Roll too)

The hotel has a hot tub and this has been the place of healing for Elder Hudnall. He was able to have a morning of pain relief and then, back in the car for the trip up the volcano.

Haleakala National Park is today’s destination. For the drive up the 10,000 feet, for the Sunset. . . But mostly for the Stargazing in the total darkness.

It was an amazing trip and felt a bit homesick for my mountains:

We drove through the clouds and spent the rest of the evening above the cloud bank and the beautiful open sky above us.

A few people also had this in mind:

But when we went down below to the Leleiwi Overlook, we only had to share with a couple of people.

The Sun went down and the Stars came out:

driving down 10,000 feet to sea level in the dark. . . No sweat!

Sunday, December 22, 2024

We attended the Tongan Ward, they had a start time of 12 noon! And we had a flight time of 3pm

And this is the end of the week for this Newsletter. . .

I’m going to send this off (Publish this) to the Post and write a separate Christmas Post for this week!

Thanks for taking our tour with us. . . We miss you all 🌴❤️

Welcome to the Hawaiian Christmas Season

Monday, December 2, 2024

When I picked up the mail today, I had a fun surprise. A friend created my “Short-timers” calendar. Our 18 month mission is now down to 11 months. It is in the shape of the island of Oahu:

BYU Hawaii held their Employee/Missionary Christmas luncheon. It was a beautiful event this afternoon:

Mahlo for a wonderful luncheon! We finished out the day with our Ukulele Class. We are so grateful for the instructors and the fellow senior missionaries that attend with us as we learn the ukulele and these wonderful Christmas songs that we get to play.

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/live/ufwB-ZFzwls?

This was a beautiful Christmas Music Devotional. I don’t think I got the correct link before it was removed, but I wish we could share it with you. Here are a few pictures of the devotional:

The day began with this wonderful music and just kept going.

Office schedule and meetings and then our office Christmas Dinner. . .

What an obscure location, but wonderful food and great people!

Back to campus to end the night with the Steel Drum Band Christmas Concert:

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Elder Hudnall had a busy day on campus, with teaching class and attending meetings. Sister Hudnall had the opportunity to take a sister missionary to town for appointments. We stopped at Costco and I picked up a standard that brought me a little homesick comfort:

We were privileged to finish the day with a Mexican dinner with our neighbor Pat.

Thursday, December 5, 2024

It is the end of Fall Semester 2024. We have many students who are needing some extra guidance and assistance (especially our new batch) with maneuvering this new environment and the expectations it requires. We are in a position to be able to help them.

We hosted our MTC/Friends Root beer Float Sunset:

Too cloudy for a “sunset” watch, but fun friends and good root beer. . .

So the students at the office gave us a substitute version of a December Sunset

Friday, December 7, 2024

We love to start our day off at the temple. So we have our Sunrise photos today on our way there:

With the semester coming to a close, there are a lot of “lasts” for a large wonderful group of senior missionaries. These are the mentors that have helped us get settled in, it is difficult having these changes come to fruition. So today we had our final senior missionary sisters lunch and the senior missionary elders lunch with these friends/comrades.

The day was far from over, in fact it was just beginning. La’ie Annual Christmas Carnival and Parade was this evening at the La’ie Elementary School.

The Carnival itself was stunning, but no pictures. They started off with “fireworks”, THE loudest most intense fireworks show that we have personally ever experienced. It was a short night for us – Merry Christmas La’ie!

(Tomorrow is our Ward Christmas Brunch – tonight I put together the Christmas Casserole that we made when our family gets together on Christmas Morning)

Saturday, December 7, 2024

The Calendar today is pretty full:

7am – La’ie Community Christmas Breakfast 9am – Mission Settlement PCC Devotional

10am – La’ie 6th Ward Christmas Brunch

Great beginning to our new ward assignment!

We got the rest of our Pday chores completed in the afternoon and made it to the PCC on time for our volunteer shift.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

We are enjoying our few weeks of late afternoon church start time. We have had an 8am start time since we began here, now we have a 1pm start time. (At least for this month)

Choir Practice

Dinner with missionaries

Our first District Meeting as district leaders and we were able to watch the First Presidency’s Christmas Fireside.

This was a wonderful Sabbath Day! I hope you enjoy this too

Sorry this is a day late. It was a little busy yesterday. . . And it got a little more today . . . But here it is.

Luke 2:13-14
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men

Love,

Elder and Sister Hudnall

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 118:1

Instead of a charge to give thanks for the things God has done or given us, it’s a request to give thanks for who God is—a merciful, unchanging, loving Lord. And that’s always something we can be grateful for.

Monday, November 25, 2024

I began our week at the office attending the meetings and arranging the visits with students. Greg traveled to Honolulu to pick up one of our ward members arriving back on the island after a work trip took him to the mainland. He arrived back just in time to teach a class for one of the professors, and then another mental health visit to finish up the day.

It is always nice to finish our Monday with other senior missionaries at the ukulele class!

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Another Devotional Day:

Enjoy Traveling Island Style. . .

I had to listen to it afterwards like you because I had to take a student down to Honolulu for her doctor appointment. They seem to be on Tuesdays!!

We ended the day with dinner at Seven Brothers with a sweet couple from our student ward. They are in the mist of making decisions and just wanted a sounding board.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

The Thanksgiving holiday is being anticipated and the island style busy-ness is new to watch. The imu is being dug and the smell of burning wood is definitely in the air.

This is just a funny for multiple reasons. Span is not a budget item anymore. Pig in it’s original form (or in Ham form or a real turkey) is in the Imu

But, we had another student dinner at Pounders for the Intern class this semester.

Thursday, THANKSGIVING DAY! November 28, 2024

We had two Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner invites today and they were at different times, so we could attend both comfortably.

The Ahu family host the senior missionaries for the holiday. It was held at the Gateway Terrace (where we hold the Fast Sunday Munch and Mingle). We began with a song and prayer:

Our friend Sweets Crichton from Provo now serving with us in Laie.

Ok, Thanksgiving has been wonderfully celebrated. . .

DECORATING can begin. . .

And to remember the season of Thankfulness:

• The Savior, our brother Jesus Christ as his life and sacrifice
• Family (whom we are celebrating with from afar)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and our membership so that we can worship in the temple
• Being able to learn and change and grow daily (hourly)
• Serve others
• Be served by others
• Friends both near and far. . .
• Eternal Life and forever family

This Holiday weekend just kept going. . .

Friday, November 29, 2024

BYU-Hawaii Campus

We started the morning with a walk to campus

We drove to Honolulu and spent the weekend with an overnight stay in “town”

The Sheraton Princess all decorated for Christmas

We’re dressed appropriately for our State Football Championship Game held on the University of Hawaii campus. Kahuku High School vs Saint Louis High School. . .

One team got to celebrate and one team did not!! The Red Raiders were the later 17-10 . . . What a game.

Glad we stayed over, it was 11pm before we got out of the stadium/parking.

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Fun trip to see the Ala Moana Mall. Lunch at the Food Court

We made it home to get our Pday chores done and the BYU Football game on TV. . .

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Our day was different today, we didn’t have 8am church. We have been officially transferred to our new ward L6 (Laie 6th Ward, Laie Hawaii North Stake. They have the 1pm time slot. So, for the next four weeks we have a later start time.

Fast Sunday and a wonderful Fast and Testimony meeting at our new ward. Our Gospel Doctrine class was taught my President Grace, the CEO of the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). We really enjoyed the class. We will finish the day with the Senior Missionary Munch and Mingle.

We will sign off with a scripture from the class:

Ether 12:4

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

We are Thankful for y’all and being a part of our lives and mission and Welcome to the Season of our Savior Jesus Christ. . .

Love,

Elder and Sister Hudnall

Mid-November

“Work hard and don’t give up—even if you fail. Listen to the prophets, keep moving forward, and ultimately you will be blessed.”

November 18, 2024

Monday morning meetings and scheduled student meetings. But, the lungs just don’t like to behave and It is still necessary to baby them a bit. Spent the rest of the day at home.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Today’s excitement was a trip to Long’s Drug (CVS Pharmacy) here in Hau’ula. Besides the cough syrup and lozenges. . .

“Kana ka loka” is not a common phrase, but. . . “Kana Kaloka” in Hawaiian, it means “Santa Claus“. “Kana” is a variation of “Kanaka” (person) and “Kaloka” is a Hawaiian adaptation of “Claus

Ended up staying in the PAD again, Elder Hudnall valiantly attended our monthly Mission meetings. We were made the District Leaders of our district Laie #2. He connected with me so I could listen (and cough muted) in the apartment.

Thursday, November 20, 2024

Doctors visit. . .I found a wonderful PCP here in Laie, Dr. Prichard. . . Who happened to do her residency hours with my PCP in Provo!!

Yes, I have bronchitis AGAIN, so maybe now it will be in the rear view mirror. At least it wasn’t the walking pneumonia of the past! Antibiotics, Inhaler, and Pneumonia Shot scheduled.

We did sneak down to the movie theater for the matinee. . .

We watched Bonhoeffer, a movie about a German Pastor during WWII. What a difficult time to learn about but the amazing people that are in our world too.

Lunch at “The Crouching Lion”

Friday, November 22, 2023

The medications and the beautiful blessing I have received are giving me great relief. I was able to go into the office for part of the day and not cough 😷 too much! It’s nice to have lungs that try to work.

I was so hoping to be on the other side of this, we were able to end the day at the temple

Saturday, November 23, 2024

So fortunate to get back to our expected schedule of things. P-day, we planned a birthday breakfast with the Jr missionary sisters that we serve with in our ward. Sister Michalek’s birthday. (Also my brother Hugh’s bday!). We celebrated at Papa Ole’s:

Errands, BYU Game, groceries. . . And finished the day at the PCC volunteering:

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Our last Sunday with our Married Student 4th Ward Family. We’ve transferred to a residential ward, Laie 6th. So, led the music in Sacrament Meeting, gave our testimonies, played the piano for Primary, and finished with our cute Temple Prep couple:

Kaleb and Bella Morris

Then we finished off the morning with FaceTime in three different states, Ohio, Utah and Arizona (family traveling).

We are grateful for the opportunity we have to serve here in Laie, Hawaii. . . It wouldn’t be possible without our “team”! We love you all!

We have been studying Ether in The Book of Mormon this week. It is a beautiful and tough book to relive with them. There was a commentary attached to one of the readings:

“Com is a lesser-known hero of the book of Ether, yet he failed miserably. He was born into captivity, worked his whole life to reclaim his kingdom, and yet, Ether 10:33 explains that secret combinations threatened to destroy everything he had created. The next verse teaches a powerful phrase that I hope you and I will remember:
“Now Com did fight against them much; nevertheless, he did not prevail against them.”
Even when we do everything in our control, sometimes we will fail. You and I might have a righteous cause, work hard to make it happen, and still not prevail. When this occurs, we can follow Com’s example by continuing to press forward with faith. Ultimately, God will prevail—you and I take comfort in that fact. We can have confidence in the Lord’s eventual success, even if in the meantime you and I are not always victorious.
To me Com is so “real.” He’s like you and me. He faced difficulties in his life. He worked hard and overcame some of his challenges. But in others—even in some of his righteous desires he failed. But that’s okay. It’s okay to try hard and fail.
Across the centuries Com tells us, “Work hard and don’t give up—even if you fail. Listen to the prophets, keep moving forward, and ultimately you will be blessed.” I hope you and I can follow Com’s example by faithfully pressing on through both failures and triumphs and as result come closer to Jesus Christ.”

I know that Jesus Christ lives and he does help you and me with every and anything that we give to him and work together on. This I am grateful for. . .

Love,

Elder and Sister Hudnall