Kona December 24 - 30

Kona December 24 – 30

View Towards Heaven

 

Aloha!

It’s a beautiful, warm and sunny Sabbath day here in Kona.  We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas filled with family and love.  Our Christmas Day was great with our oldest son and his family arriving Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with us.  We had some great adventures starting when we picked up the first group of four at the airport.  The airline had shipped all the checked luggage on the same first flight to arrive so we packed the trunk of the car full then everyone had their carryon luggage on their laps during the ride back up the mountain to our apartment. Once unloaded at the apartment, we set off again to pick up the last two family members for the trip home.
The next adventure involved finding enough floor space and bed space to sleep an additional six people in our little home. The whole scene added new meaning to “Twas the Night Before Christmas” with the children all nestled, snug in their beds!  Actually, one in a single bed; one on the floor on an air mattress; one in the recliner; one on the couch; and mom and dad on an air mattress (which lost its air during the night)!  Along with luggage everywhere, Santa must have had a tricky visit to avoid stepping on someone.

Christmas Day dawned and we were all still asleep.  Thanks to Skype, we were able to be joined electronically by most of the rest of our family so, all together, we had a great Christmas morning.  By common approval, we decided to go to the beach in the afternoon and experience for the first time, Christmas on the beach!  We loaded all eight of us into our old silver Buick and headed for Honokohau.

Christmas at the Beach

 

After sunset, we headed back up the mountain to get ready to go to the movie theater to see Les Miserables.  This was a much different Christmas than we are used to having but it was a great day and the weather cooperated superbly by washing the car in a downpour at the end of the day.  Family is a beautiful thing!!

After picking up a rental van for our son’s family on Wednesday, we were able to move about the island more comfortably and a new air mattress improved the sleeping accommodations. Thursday we were back in the Temple for our regular shift while the family tourists do what tourists do when in Kona; go shopping and see things! 

On Thursday evening, the adults traveled back to the Temple along with our granddaughter.  We had made arrangements with one of the local wards for our granddaughter to join a youth baptism while we were blessed with the opportunity to fulfill the main purpose of the Temple, to seal families together forever.



Families Can Be Together Forever

Sister Elwood’s parents had not been active in church before their passing and therefore had not been sealed together in the Temple.  All the necessary ordinances were completed earlier and the time for sealing her parents together and to seal Sister Elwood’s mother to her parents had arrived.  With our son and his wife serving as proxies along with us, we were able to experience and participate in this marvelous blessing for them.   After their sealing, Sister Elwood was sealed to her parents.  We all felt the spiritual presence of many family members who had died and who came to witness this ultimate expression of the love our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ have for all of God’s children.

 In this special and beautiful setting, we were joined by two members of the Presidency, the Temple Matron and her assistants.  All felt the spirit of love and gratitude for the Priesthood authority that has been restored to seal families here on earth and in heaven for time and for all eternity.  Now, some branches of Sister Elwood’s family dating back to the Twelfth Century are sealed in an eternal bond.

Friday and Saturday were days of travel and sightseeing for our son and his family while we enjoyed serving the last two days of the second busiest year in the Kona Hawaii Temple since it’s dedication in the year 2000.  We have been so blessed to have been able to participate in this wonderful work of the Lord!

As the New Year begins, we pray that you and your family will be able to enjoy good health, prosperity and a spiritually uplifting year.  While our time here shortens each day, our love for the opportunity we have been given grows greater each day and we continue to look forward to the reunion with family and friends!

Love and Aloha from Paradise!