June 16-23, 2013
This week was busy, I guess that's why it passed so quickly.  I was training the new Sister Petty. Funny that I can train her, I must have learned more than I thought I did.  Somehow it's easier to hand the plate to someone else.  Sister Petty has worked in her husband's fountain company and she really wants the job.  She likes the big office window, and nice desk etc., I hope she likes the rest of the job. We had a pretty playful week however, because we had an employee retire after 35 years and a missionary graduation.  These Polynesians party hardy.  They play and eat for half a day.  So, short week!

At FHE this week our Stake President and his wife talked.  They had their love story to share.  She was Catholic and told of her journey to becoming a Mormon.   They had similar experiences to Dad and I.  They are a nice couple.  Dad enjoys working with him on the High Council.

The plumera trees are in full bloom here.  It just takes my breath away each morning to see them around the PCC parking lot.  They smell so good.  The wind is blowing slightly everyday and the aroma consumes the air.  The colors at the PCC are white, but I have seen yellow and pink ones too.

There have been many "Father's Days" pass by in my lifetime.   Grandfathers, brothers, a father a husband and son and son-in-laws all fill the example of the role of fathers in my life.  All of them have been great examples to me and their wives and children.  My father was a loving patient man. Never can I remember him having a temper.  He walked away from contention, conflict and the influence of Satan in his life.  I married a man who has these qualities and is also loving, tender and patient and he is a wonderful father to our children.  I am grateful for this blessing.

Today at our Student Ward the young RS sisters had made plumera lei's for all the fathers.  They smelled so good!  Then they had each of the student sisters give the fathers, husbands, and boys a 100 Grand Candy Bar.  This brightened the priesthood meeting up.

Adding some pictures of Father's Day.  This was when the Student RS sisters as they brought all the fathers and "Elders"  candy bars. The Sisters are here waiting to get into the Priesthood Room.   Dad said it was quite a treat to see all of these young sisters and a couple of cute older ones come into the Elders Quorum and bring us candy bars.   The young elders were impressed.

The kids called us on Father's day and we opened up cards and gifts from the kids.  It was a treat to hear their voices.  It seems like a long time since we have seen the kids and grand kids, so any communication we get is treasured.

Our Ward has many Asian, Hawaiians and Polynesians too.   The RS President is a native Hawaiian here.  The Elders Quorum President is Hawaiian and he is working on his PHD.  Our bishop is trying to put the two together.   They are always trying to make a match.

We have had rain this week.  We carry our umbrella's with us every day.

Most of the week I was helping Sister Petty with scheduling.  I will be relieved next week to not have to worry about this night and day.  On the bright side, I know all the missionaries now.  It's interesting to also know their personal lives, vacations, time taking off, family coming etc.  The Laie volunteers are the hard ones to plug in.  They will only work on specific days, and only at the venue they want. We have been so short handed, we have been plugging them with their wants first just to fill the slots. Ron and I have been working and filling in this month.  Good thing is our grocery bill is next to nothing.   On the other hand, we get to eat at the Prime Dining, which has prime rib, crab, and full buffet.  I have learned to make the best green salad with the fresh fish they serve each day.  Now to get Papa to eat fish salad!  I took some pictures walking out of the PCC, including the fancy Duck. The Duck is for Sarah and Elle to see.  Did you see anything like this at the Farm?

Ducks walking around the PCC grounds.

Banana trees at the PCC

Papa's new Tongan Friend...found him at the PCC

PCC about 7:00pm

Evening at the PCC

Brother Ofahengaue (Bro O to us)  He is Volunteer at the PCC

New bridge and tied ropes at the PCC

Papa showed up at the office with a dozen beautiful red roses for our Anniversary Friday.   They are still smelling and looking good in our apartment.  This picture was taken at home.  It's a picture of the roses and card and pictures for our Anniversary.  Thank you so much, we love you all.  The picture Mike and Tammy sent to us is hanging on our wall.

The missionaries got wind it was our 50th and planned a surprise party for us.  Some of the couples asked us to decide where we would like to go to dinner and they would come.  Well, we didn't want to leave anyone out, so we were trying to decide where to have it and asked where was a place big enough for everyone, and about catering food etc.  Finally, we had asked so many questions about planning it ourselves, we popped their surprise... and they told us to just come to our own Surprise Party!  Brother and Sister Maples had planned to have it at their home.  We had a good time, and they had garlic shrimp and BBQ chicken.  Everyone brought salads, and they had bought us a yummy cake from Ted's Bakery.  The cake must have weighed 15 pounds.  It was the biggest two layer cake I have ever seen.  It was a chocolate pudding cake.  Very moist and good.  A favorite here on the island for the locals.  It was so big everyone took some home.  It was a fun party... it rained, so the outside party was moved inside and we were cozy, loud and funny.  They said to tell you, our children they were trying to take good care of us!!!  I still missed you........

Taken at the office when Papa brought the roses.  Bamboo Plant was gift from Sister Petty for training her.....go figure that one.  She may want it back next week!!!

This is Papa's Desk

Food for our 50th Party

Some of the Missionaries

Elder and Sister Maples

Our 15 pound Anniversary Cake

Papa sneaking some frosting

Cutting the Cake!

These are pictures from the Popped Surprise Party.  Food was Yummy.  Elder and Sister Maples were the couple that hosted the party.  She was the Sister who helped us with housing, and both have become good friends.  They are from Tennessee.

Today, Sunday 23, was the Church World Wide Leadership Meeting.  We watched it at the Aloha Center with two Student Stakes.  It was so good, I hope all of you were able to see it too.  We felt we are so lucky to be a part of the missionary movement in the Church right now.  What a blessing to know there are so many faithful men and women serving all around the world.  Can you even imagine all the stories they will be able to tell their children.  I had a real warm feeling, Erik, that you were called at the right time.  Both Papa and I have been wondering how you would like the transition into missionary life, but I felt today you would do just fine.  The Church is catching up with technology and all that text messaging will help find people just waiting for the gospel.  What a special time on earth.  It's history in the making and we are living in it.  It gives me a good feeling to think of the people who will be brought into the gospel by these young vibrant smart missionaries. That will be our very own grandchildren!!!

June 2 - 9, 2013

We had a big sunday today, we went to our new ward, it is called the Laie Young Single Adult 5th ward.  The ward is made up of students attending BYUH.  They are from all over the world, Nigeria, Mongolia, China, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, USA and lots of other countries. We went to Sunday school and they did not have a teacher, so guess who was chosen to teach, Elder Tremea and fortunately Sister Walker helped out.  We got through it, but not the best performance.  In the afternoon Elder Tremea was set apart as a Stake High Councilor, I think my church work is going to use up some more of our mission time, which is already busy.  We are going to be very busy over the next several months.

Each fast day the missionaries have a break the fast pot luck dinner.  The missionaries bring enough food for all to share.  Each couple is assigned something to bring, we brought Costco Lasagna, yummy, I think?

We enjoyed the evening and met more missionaries.  They serve at the PCC, BYUH and at the Temple Visitors Center.  We have approximately 100 missionaries serving here in Laie, Hawaii.  They are from all over the states and Canada.  The PCC missionaries serve working in the maintenance area, office, sewing, laundry, the Mission Settlement, and many other places.  The BYUH missionaries serve at the College in teaching and administration. They don't have to work the hours that we put in, darn, but its OK...we will receive more blessings.

The PCC is open every day except on Sunday, and special holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.  They provide a Luau dinner and show each night for their guests.  Their goal is around 2,000 people per day, in the summer they will exceed their goal and in the winter they will fall short.  The picture shows two students taking a pig from the pit and taking it to the luau to show the guests.  They wrap the pig in bamboo leaves, put it in a pit with hot rocks and let it cook for several hours.  This pig weighs about 100 lbs.  These students have to work for their education, they get paid so that they can go to BYUH.

This is a closeup of the pig which will then be carved up and pulled apart.

 I guess that is how we got the name "pulled pork."  The students carry the pig around and let the guests take pictures.  They love taking pictures of the Polynesians and the pig.   The Polynesians are a beautiful people, but the pig is ugly!
















Nona needed a hair cut, her first in Hawaii. We met a young student in our new ward that cuts hair.  She works in a little store call the "Haircut Store,"  surprise, and is less than a mile from where we live.

 They don't take appointments and they only take cash.  The price was reasonable $30 and I think Nona was OK with it, she didn't complain too much.  You would think they would have more salons for women, but I guess the Hawaiian women don't require special treatment.  Most of them have very dark hair and not too much grey so they don't need beauticians as much.

 

What makes our mission life fun is meeting new friends.

This is my new friend Sam from Mongolia, they take on English names so that people can pronounce their names without them having to say it 10 times.  The kids are really nice and a treat to be around.  They go to BYUH from many foreign countries, primarily though from the Polynesian countries (Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand and Hawaii) and China and Japan.  Most of these young people could not attend college in their own countries because they are so poor.  They are required to be church members to attend BYUH and to work at the PCC to pay for their education. After graduation they will go back to their own country to work and earn a living.  They will become the backbone of the Church in these countries.  

Hawaii has a state holiday called King Kamehameha Day.  This is their July 24th holiday if it was Utah.  This king brought all the Hawaiian Islands together by winning the wars with the other tribes in the mid 1800's.  He also allowed Christianity to be preached in Hawaii. We went to this parade in Honolulu celebrating their King.  We were watching the parade from the second floor of the parking lot of the Ala Moana shopping mall.

The PCC had a float in the parade, that is why we were their to support the young people on the float and the performers walking the parade.  The PCC is also going to be in the Days of 47 Parade in SLC.  Last year they won the top prize and they are going back to try again.  I think the float in SLC will be much bigger and more decorated than this float.

On this day they also had a farmers market, these things are very popular here.  The local farmers bring their fruits and veggies and sell them.

Nona was in heaven with all of the flowers.  Hawaii is such a beautiful state.  I have gained a new appreciation for the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  The east side of the island has some of the the most beautiful places in Hawaii.  The mountains are totally green, the sky usually dark blue and the water blue and green.

May 26th - June 3rd 2013

Aloha Family,

Sunday we went to Church.  After church we met with President McCarther.  He asked Ron to be on the High Council. We were also assigned to the 5th Ward.  It's a Student Ward on campus but takes in youth that are living at home in the area adjacent to the college.  We will start next Sunday.

Monday was a holiday.  Nice change to sleep in.  We scouted out the beaches near us.  The best ones on the North shore are right here in Laie.  We found a great park and beach about one mile from us.  It's hidden from the road, and if you didn't know about it you would pass it by.  We walked the beach and decided to invest in two beach chairs next time we went to Walmart.  Turned out to be a beautiful day...what I mean by beautiful day is we get a little sun, a little rain, and lots of cloud movement.  The little brown Hawaiian kids were running and playing in the rain and ocean like the sun was shining. When the rain comes it's actually cooler than the ocean water, so the kids lay in the water to keep warm.

We had to work at the PCC and take tickets at 4:30 pm so we didn't stay long at the beach.  It was a big night at the PCC.  We took a lot of tickets from Japanese and Chinese people tonight.  They don't talk much...just nod their heads.  We ate at Prime Dining after.  This is becoming all good for my "NO COOK MISSION".

Papa has graduated from beauty school 101. The things one does on a mission  He did his first color job.  I think between us we did a pretty good job.  Only problem we dropped hair dye on the bathroom carpet and I can't get it out.  Goes to show the dyes are good these days.  Now if I can just find someone to cut my hair....I don't trust Papa to try that one.

We have devotional every morning.  I was asked to pray.  I guess I have been here long enough to participate.  I will be the one to schedule in the future and maybe will be able to conveniently add and delete my name!!!  HA HA   We have 14 people leaving this month.  PCC Missionaries and BYU-H volunteers and scheduling is becoming a nightmare. Sister Clark is coming the end of the week from St George.  We need people, anyone want to come here on mission or as a volunteer?  If so, go to Polynesia.com or PCCwebsite and go to missionaries and volunteers.  It's updated every month so our pictures will be on it soon.  Information is also found for openings and people who are needed.

We worked again Friday night.  I'm not sure why it's so hard to schedule people.  The dinner is worth it alone, plus it's fun to greet and visit with all the people who come. Everyday in the office at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm I can hear the Tongans beat their drums.  They are loud.  Papa said he can't hear it (down in the dungeon) but I'm sitting by the big picture window of the PCC and can see and hear it.  It rained Thursday very hard too.  Water was pouring off the roof like someone had dumped full buckets of water down.  Parts of the PCC were being flooded and I could see the Blue Shirt Workers (PCC Missionaries working on grounds etc.) with hip boots on trying to divert the water from flooding the village.  Water was everywhere, the parking lot was flooded.  After about an hour and hearing the flood alerts on our I Phones it stopped.  We had flood alerts until 10 pm.  Everything was clean.  We haven't seen dust since we left St George.

Saturday we drove to Mililani to visit Costco and Walmart.  We left early missing the traffic.  Picked up goods and beach chairs and started home to North Shore.  Duh, not good.  Everyone from Honolulu was driving to the North Shore.  All those big green turtles were slowing the traffic down too.  We drove 10 miles at 5 miles an hour.  I think we will have to rethink the times we drive to Mililani.  

Today we went to our new Student Ward.  We met in the McKay Auditorium.  By September we will be in the new Chapel that is being built on campus.  Elder Oaks is coming for the dedication and 50th Anniversary.  We went to class today and there was a no show of the Gospel Doctrine Class.  Guess who taught the lesson?  Papa jumped right up to volunteer.  There was another couple who had been there a long time, the Walkers, and she said she would help him.  Turned out great, kids helped and participated.  Tonight Papa was set apart as High Councilman.  President Lee gave Papa a beautiful blessing.  I sit there listening and missing family.  

We went to "Break the Fast" after and ate with all the Missionaries and Volunteers.  Sister Cindy Clark from St George was there, we got to talk to her.  Sang to the missionaries going home.

Sounds like you had a great week in California.  The rides must have given your heads a spin.  Nothing is too fast nor high nor scary for you guys anymore.  I'm amazed.  When you get our age you will be able to tell your grandchildren you did it!!!

It's a month now since we left.  I can hardly believe it, but then again I have a switch of homesickness.  I have only stayed in Hawaii three week max.  This is going to be a test.  I decided it might be easier if I count the PCC Schedules I have to get out each month. Only 17 more!  That doesn't sound so long. 

I love to read and reread the letters from home.  Thanks Elle, Sam and Anna.  In the future I hope to address each one.  It's also good to hear your voice on the phone. The Cevia is up and running.  Better tell Becky how to send pictures again.  Can the kids send pictures on their phones?  Mangelson's need to send us a picture of their new boat!   Send us some CA pictures too.

Love you all, Nona and Papa   

  

  

May 23, 2013

Aloha,

Just read your e-mails.  Sounds like you are keeping busy.  These are memorable times. Maybe sometime in the future you will be able to laugh at the piano story Aimee!  I remember the fingernail polish story....we had saved a long time for family room furniture and then...some lovable little girl tweaked it.  It's been a great story and lots of laughter since.   All the end of school parties sound fun for the kids.  It's good you’re such good parents and having all the parties at your homes!  That way you get to know your kids friends.

Our Ceiva arrived and we have it up and running!  We were excited to see new pictures. Great fish you caught Mike.  Did you get to eat it too?  Relieved to hear Sam survived the week.  We had him in our prayers every day.  In fact all you kids are in our prayers, and I'm relieved that you survived some of the things you do!  Little miracles every day.  Cloe is as big as Gus?  What you feeding her Elle.  Love all the emails and updates, they have kept me going this week.  Well, I get thinking of all you wonderful grandchildren and know I can't quit!

So glad the new boat floats.  Erik texted us that you all survived the first run.  Just watch for the little dark rain clouds and head for shore.  Here that wouldn't be possible; it rains and shines 4-6 times a day.  Everything is clean, clean, clean...well, kinda.  We are finding that the air has an ocean mist that leaves a layer of salt on the car, and probably us too.  Everyone says we'll get used to it.  But it does wonders to your hair. I am finding I don't need all the extra lotions/Jafra stuff.  Just the toners.  Natural moisturisers all around us.   Sorry you lost your soccer game Amanda.  In the back of my mind I was hoping for a win and a trip to Laie for you and me.    

We've had a better week.  Lots of tears and emotional ups and downs but the weekend has been good.  Just a day to not think so hard has been good.  I still just don't know how I'm going to handle the job, but Dad said he would help me and get me set up with excel spread sheets.  This week I will have to keep learning her job the way she has already set it up. 

We were called into the Stake Presidents Office (Pres McCarther).  He called Dad to be a High Councilman in our Stake.  He assigned us a Student Ward, and said it was the largest Ward in the Stake.  Both BYU Students and eligible youth living in the area or at home. Apparently some of the youth that are not attending school are quite a challenge.  I am to be a mentor to the RS. 

It has been nice to have two days off.  With my new job, it will be 6 days a week and holidays too.  The PCC Show must go on.....only Thanksgiving and Christmas off, might as well do that with our time than sit home!!! I will need 18 people to help with the Luau's each night PCC is open.  We decided we might go home teaching every day...and evening until we meet all the people that are eligible to work.  Take them cookies and see it they will work any place anytime.   Then pray it works.   Maybe you kids can give us some other grand ideas!!

We worked a shift at the PCC Friday night.  It was a fun experience.  We took tickets at the Kaui Luau.  It was amazing where people were from.  New Zealand, New York, Kansas, Japan, California, Texas and France.  We take their tickets and a cute little gal gives them a lei and 4 other students take photo shots with them.  Then they go into the luau buffet and show.  When we take tickets we are given the choice to eat on the property for free. We went to Prime Dining.  It's the full buffet, crab legs, prime rib and the works....Dad's favorite.  I can easily see how easy it would be to add some circles to the middle here.  

Hope you all have a great holiday.  We drove through the Laie cemetery tonight. It was covered with flowers.  I'm sure we were watched and talked about (crazy Howlies) because we drove into the cemetery and there was no way out!  We had to back out....we were embarrassed.  People were gathered around graves and cleaning up graves etc. There wasn't a road out.  Once you’re in your in.  Dead or alive!

Love and miss you.  Have a great weekend.    

Nona