Kona December 17 - 24

Kona December 17 – 24

Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka!

Its Christmas Eve and we are busy readying the apartment for the arrival of our oldest son, his wife and four of our Grandchildren.  This is a wonderful gift for us to have at least some of our family with us for the celebration of the birth of our Savior and the beginning of a new year.  Yes it will be crowded but full of love.  It will be happy but probably some waimaka haouli (happy tears)!!  We are excited!

This week at the Temple, we have witnessed new faces, new beginnings, and eternal sealings!  Locals and visitors alike seem to be even more happy than usual to be in the House of the Lord.  There has been no lack of hugs and kisses (Hawaiian Style) and of warm Christmas greetings from both visitors and locals alike.  Of course, in true Polynesian tradition, there has been an abundance of holiday treats in the tiny break room for all to share.  On Wednesday evening, the First Counselor in the Temple Presidency came into the office and asked me to translate some English words into Hawaiian so he could give them to some youth that had just completed a service project on the Temple grounds.  E auwe, I kela ho’omak’u!

The Christmas program at the Kealakekua Ward turned out to be amazing!  Like all wards, our little choir swelled in numbers for two of the practices we had prior to the performance.  This Sunday, many had not attended even one practice!  With high hopes, a red and green fuzzy lei for everyone, and an optimistic, radiant smile on our choir director, Sister Berry’s face, the program began.  Auwe (wow), where did that incredibly beautiful and joyous sound come from?  Surely not the little choir that sometimes has only three men and five women!  It had to be the result of all those prayers and the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ that brought these beautiful harmonies from those old familiar carols we sang.  Tabernacle Choir?  Maybe not…but nestled in my seat in the base section on the back row between Uncle Joe and Brother Kaipo, it sounded pretty heavenly to me and the look of astonishment and joy on Sister Berry’s face made it all a great blessing!  Perhaps, just perhaps, Sister Elwood and I will join the Fourth Ward choir when we return from our mission.  Assuming there will be enough other choir members to drown out our voices!!

Sister Elwood has made some Pumpkin Bread for all of us as well as a couple of loaves for two of our neighbors to enjoy.  I can hear the mixer running so she must be busy making something else to make sure no one goes hungry in B220!  I’m right; I was just presented with a couple of oatmeal, chocolate-chip, macadamia nut, craisin, coconut cookies, hot from the oven!  Yum!

We found a box in a closet from previous Missionaries, with a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree inside.  So, now our office/bedroom is decorated appropriately for the season.  All we are missing is a blanket of white and a temperature about 60 degrees cooler to make everything seem like an Idaho Christmas  I’m reasonably certain that I will get over the desire for snow by Wednesday morning but as we sometimes say in Idaho and Utah, “Well we really need the moisture!”

White or not, the view mauka (towards the mountain) is sunny and a mostly green forest of palms, avocado, papaya, macadamia nut and banana trees.  The green forest is accented by Red Ti plants, orange Mokihana blossoms on tall trees, and the scarlet red of Poinsettia shrubs.  Paradise…perhaps, but being home for Christmas can also be a paradise in its own right. 

We pray the joy of this Season may last through the coming year for all of us.  These are difficult times for all too many of us and some of the prospects for the future don’t seem too bright!  We do know, however, who is really in charge and we bear witness that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the living Son of God and that our Heavenly Father will not abandon those of His children who try hard to live the principles of the Gospel… to love and serve others as we serve Him.  We are not alone!  He is as close as we invite Him to be through our actions and our prayers.  May the Lord Bless you all!

I want to add my testimony to that of my ‘companion’ and sweetheart, that we are not alone nor are in charge as much as we think we are.  I am so thankful for this time of year to celebrate the birth of our Savior and feel the love of my fellow men & sisters.

With Aloha nui loa from Paradise!