Home June 23

Auwe!  Now, it has been almost two months since we left all our Hawaiian ‘Ohana to return to our home in Idaho. 

This has been a very busy time for us with family activities, gardening, an ambitious upgrade to the floors in our house (tile and carpeting), and even a few rounds of golf.  We have been called to serve in the Boise Idaho Temple as Ordinance Workers on Wednesday mornings and we are volunteering in the Temple Office one day each week.  While it is wonderful to serve in the Boise Temple, we miss the more intimate setting of Kona.  The Boise Temple in contrast to the Kona Temple is more than four times larger with busy sessions every half-hour from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday.  We love the Boise Temple but it still doesn’t match the joy of serving in the “Second smallest Temple in the world, but the one with the Biggest Heart!”

It is Sunday afternoon, it’s a quiet time and we are listening to another of our favorite Hawaiian CD’s performed by Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm.  Added to our view from our “Sun” room of all the green trees, shrubs and flowers in our back yard, there is a white flower pot with a green ‘stick’ placed carefully in its center.  It’s a White Plumeria cutting brought from Kona that we are coaxing along with high hopes for some blossoms and leaves sometime soon.  We watch the temperatures closely and carry it in the house when the overnight temperature is expected to be below 50 degrees and put it back out the next day to catch the morning and afternoon sunshine.  With the forecast for later this week, we may have to provide some shade!

 

It will grow to be another living reminder to us of our love for Hawaii and our friends living there.

We often find ourselves reflecting on and missing our loved ones in Hawaii.   Finally, this coming week will also mark the completion of the one final task we had to perform for the Kona Temple relating to the phone system. Soon, it will be time to begin planning for a two-week “vacation” to Kona in early 2014!  Until then, we hope to hear from you and will say “A hui hou!”

Much love and Aloha!

Home May 26

Auwe!  It has been almost a month now since we left all our Hawaiian ‘Ohana to return to our home in Idaho. 

This has been a very busy time for us as we hosted two family gatherings with our children and their families; spoke in two different Wards in our Stake; embarked upon an ambitious upgrade to the floors in our house (tile and carpeting); prepared a garden spot for planting; attended the High School and Seminary Graduation of a grandson; played golf (Rich); and generally tried to establish a ‘returned missionary’ lifestyle. 

In the few moments we have between tasks and activities, we find ourselves reflecting on and missing our loved ones in Hawaii.  We sorely miss the hugs and kisses of greeting and, in spite of our best efforts, we are making little progress in getting used to all the white faces and in changing the greeting habits of all these Na Haole around here!  On the positive side, we have been somewhat successful in soliciting an “Aloha” greeting from a few of the members in the Wards we have visited at the beginning of our talks.

It is Sunday afternoon, and we are together in our “Sun Room” listening to one of our favorite CD’s, “As Temples Fill the Earth” which reminds us of the blessings of serving in the Kona Hawaii Temple.  While we have a great view of all the green trees and shrubs in our back yard and the three colorful hanging baskets of Mother’s Day flowers, there is not a Palm Tree nor an Orchid in that view.  There is not, however, any VOG to cloud the beautiful clear mountain air we have enjoyed for the past few weeks.  During the first week we were home, we did get a small sample of the Boise summer heat when the daytime temperature rose to 96 degrees.

Friends and Ward members ask us how it feels to be home from our mission and we tentatively answer that “it’s good to see our family and friends again but we miss the spiritual focus and blessings of serving in the Temple every day.”  Often, we find ourselves reflecting upon the dedicated service of the Presidency, matrons, missionaries, volunteers, and workers in the Kona Temple.  We’re certain that everything is in good hands in the Kona Temple and that the work is progressing without interruption as Elder and Sister Cox have quickly settled into the ‘best Missionary experience in the world!” 

We especially miss the Mossman’s, Heinzen’s and Nihipali’s!  They set such a wonderful example of dedicated and loving service for us!  I even miss President Mossman’s greeting of “Elder Elwood!” which usually meant a new report to be prepared.  Perhaps we have been a little slow to complete the one final task we have to perform for the Kona Temple, relating to the phone system, because of the finality of completing that task, but, we have not forgotten!

This coming Tuesday, we have an appointment with the President of the Boise Idaho Temple and we are hopeful the call will come to once again serve in the Temple.  While we will be thrilled to return to temple service, we do not anticipate a repeat of the joy of serving in the “Second smallest Temple in the world, but the one with the Biggest Heart!”

Much Love and Aloha!

Home April 29 - May 5

Forever Beautiful Orchids

Aloha dear family, friends, and our Aloha ‘Ohana!

Well, we have now been home for almost a week; been formally released from our Mission; reported to the High Council; and attended our Home Ward this morning.

 

                                                                               The Last Sunset

A wistful last evening

 

Monday had been a long trying day of travel from our beloved Big Island through Seattle and on to our beloved home in Boise.  The flight was bumpy nearly half way across the Pacific and was crowded all the way to Seattle.  We are thinking we will find a bigger aircraft for the return trip to Hawaii within a year.

It has been a very busy week for us, beginning with a wonderful Boise airport welcome by our family at midnight Monday evening.  Thanks to SKYPE, the shock of being away from home for a full year wasn’t as big a surprise as it would have been otherwise as we hugged, laughed and enjoyed the homecoming! 

 

The GXP

I had an extra surprise as we all walked into the parking facility and there in the front row all polished and black sat my GXP, full of power and anxious to be driven by the Kupuna again…Mahalo Brady!

 

Welcome Home Bouquet

Arriving at home began another round of emotions for us.  When we entered the house, everything looked great and seemed to be exactly the way we left it.  We are grateful to our youngest daughter and her family for staying in our home while we were away and taking care of things…Mahalo Aly!  Our oldest daughter had made the effort to make up our bed so that it looked so natural and welcoming we felt we were truly home…Mahalo Jennifer! 

After family greetings and homecoming, we were finally left to begin the unpacking and resettling into our home again.  By 3:00 am we were exhausted and turned in for the night…our old bed really felt great!

This week has been full of unpacking and resettling!  Maybe we will get everything back to normal in a week or so!  It also seemed like a good time to get started on some planned upgrades to the house!  A new washer and dryer have been ordered while the planned new carpeting in the “sun” room appears to be leading to also installing tile in the kitchen, entry foyer, and part of the dining area.  We think we’re back!

Boise Temple Tulips

 

It has also been of week of some happy reunions with friends and ward members.  We took advantage of an invitation on Friday to come to the Boise Temple (closed for cleaning and maintenance) for a ‘tour’ of the spectacularly beautiful changes made during the renovation.  It is so beautiful inside and out, even with lots of cleaning going on while we visited.  Although it’s more than four times larger than our beautiful Kona Temple, they are equal in our eyes for we love serving in them both so much.  We hope they have a spot for us and we mentioned to our Bishop today that we would like to have paper work started for serving once again in the Boise Temple.

 

 

                                                                Sweet Sisters

Today has been a time of reflection over the past year of serving in the Kona Hawaii Temple.  We grew to love the Presidency and Matrons so much and will forever keep them in our hearts and prayers.  Relationships such as these will last for all time.  We also miss the wonderful saints we served with in the Temple and their Aloha spirit.  It has been firmly established in our minds that some of the choicest of Heavenly Father’s children are those who faithfully serve in the Kona Temple.  If kindness, love and charity are key attributes of the ‘elect of God’, we have been blessed to serve with and come to love them all.

Our hearts are full with gratitude and deep appreciation to our Heavenly Father for the wonderful blessing of being called to serve in the Kona Hawaii Temple for this past year.  While we anticipated a joyful experience before we began our service, it has far exceeded all expectations.  In this light we offer our testimonies of the truthfulness and glory of our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness. The Temples represent the crowning summit of this Plan through His Son Jesus Christ, so that every one of God’s children, through their faithfulness, can attain their presence for all eternity.  We express our love to each of you for your love and support. We bear this solemn witness in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen!

E na Pomaika’i  i pili mau ke Akua  ia ‘oe!

                                        A time to go!  We love you, we miss you!

Kona April 22 - 28

Kona April 22 – 28

White Hawaiian Splendor

Aloha!

Today is a day of tender emotions and the joy of anticipation!  This was our last day in our ward before we leave for our home tomorrow morning.  In keeping with Hawaiian tradition, the ward members stood and sang the Hawaiian song of farewell, Aloha ‘Oe, while we stood on the rostrum with na maka wai (tears) in our eyes and gratitude in our hearts.  Towards the end of the song, members lined up to offer greetings of Aloha while many included a lei or other gift of remembrance.

Aloha 'Oe

 

We have often participated in this most wonderful tradition over the years of visiting the Islands and once, we, along with other visitors, were even invited to join a family that was moving from Kaua’i.  That first taste only slightly prepared us for today’s moving experience! There was a visiting couple from Sugar City Idaho who were so moved by this tradition that they joined in the line of well-wishers to experience firsthand the joy and happy tears of the occasion.

President and Sister Mossman

 

Saturday was our last day of service in the Kona Hawaii Temple!  We walked out of the Temple with President and Sister Mossman and the door locked behind us for the last time.  Not wanting to say Aloha quite yet, the four of us visited as we slowly walked down the beautiful “Orchid Aisle” for the last time as Temple Missionaries.  We have grown to love and appreciate the temple Presidency and Matrons so much over this past year.  They will be forever in our hearts and prayers!

Our replacements have served for a week now and we have tried to teach them everything they will need to know to serve in the temple.  Elder and Sister Cox have quickly become beloved friends and we are sure they will quickly fill the full measure of serving every day in the House of the Lord.

This week, we have also been hosted for lunch and dinner by members of the presidency and others we have grown to love through their service in the temple.  Our favorite restaurant in Kona is Sam Choy’s and after three visits this week, we are even recognized by the waiter!  Have you ever tried Ahi (tuna) Bellys? Well, we did and they are onolicious!

There is so much more to tell you about these last days of our Mission that we will post a final chapter next week.  For those of you in our dear family, you will just have to experience the 1000+ pictures we have taken since we arrived.  For the rest of you dear friends, we will share more next week.

Our hearts are full of gratitude for this special opportunity to serve a full-time mission in the Kona Hawaii Temple.  The blessings are legion and will stay with us forever.  We send you our love and Aloha from Paradise. For the family in Boise…see you tomorrow!

Aloha ‘Oe!

Pau...It is finished!

Kona April 15 - 21

Kona April 15 – 21

Newest Orchid

 

Aloha ‘Auinala  Kakou!

It is sobering to be keying the next to the last entry on our Mission Aloha Blog!  We met our replacement Missionary couple on Friday and after a few hours introducing them to the Kona Hawaii Temple; we took them to our apartment and welcomed them to their new home.  This last week of the maintenance closing of the temple gave us a little time to finish cleaning and packing the apartment in preparation for our move to our timeshare condo in Kailua.

Elder and Sister Cox were great to meet and to get to know. We’re sure they will fit right into the spirit and joy of temple service.  Monday morning will begin their week of training for the best Mission in the church.  We all say that but it’s true!

The very first thing we missed from the apartment was the cooler temperatures we have enjoyed for the last year.  We are now within a couple of hundred yards of the ocean and the temperature is well into the upper 80’s.  I’m sure will acclimate to the heat by the time we leave for home a week from tomorrow then we will start the process back to much cooler temperatures.  Oh well, it’s all good!

Monday, we were invited to a genuine luau in Hawi hosted by a former Temple President and his dear wife.  They have been hosting luaus for nearly 37 years for tourists, friends, corporate sponsored events on the Islands and on the mainland… nearly 650 luaus in total! Joining us were two Sister Missionaries serving in their Ward, the missionary couple serving in the temple with us, and another couple from Ogden who attend their ward and who live on the Big Island for three or four months each year.

Nani Missionary

 

As I mentioned last week, this was a ‘hands on’ luau which, as we found out, meant we participated in nearly everything associated with an authentic Hawaiian Luau from food preparation, loading the Imu (underground oven), husking coconuts, sampling the inside parts, making leis, learning the Hula, being taught the Conch shell ceremony, given the traditional Hawaiian welcome chant (‘Oli) in fluent Hawaiian, and of course, the eating part.  The menu was excellent with pork roast (not the whole pig), ginger chicken, purple sweet potatoes, and a Polynesian dish called Lua??? (consisting of spinach, onions, corned beef and coconut milk) all baked in the Imu.  Added to this were dishes of Lomi Lomi (raw Ahi tuna with finely chopped tomatoes, onions, salt all “cooked” in coconut milk overnight in the refrigerator), sticky rice, and fruit salad (pineapple, papaya, banana and mangos with scoops of vanilla ice cream melted into the fruit).  Oh, did I mention the Pineapple Upside-down for dessert!

Scrape 'da Coconut

 

After we were appropriately ‘stuffed’ with good food, we were all assembled into the living room for two beautiful songs from our hosts accompanied by the ‘ukulele!  After 7 hours of festivities including great food, hula, music and much aloha, we decided we loved these wonderful people and island traditions even more.

Tuesday was our turn to feed the full-time Elders serving in our ward area.  Our friend and former neighbor Mary Lou, joined us accompanied by her ever-present standard red poodle.  We noted that our first guests in our apartment were also the full-time Elders as well as the last.  A good beginning and end!

Thursday, we were invited to dinner at Auntie Dorothy’s home along with our dear friend Auntie Gracie and another young couple from our ward that were moving to Maui.  More great food covered the table, coconut shrimp, rice, teriyaki beef,  shrimp, vegetables (Brussels sprouts and mixed vegetables), a baked chicken dish, and noodles. Oh, did I mention the sweet sticky rice with fresh mangoes topped with a sweet coconut sauce!

We know what you’re thinking and you’re right!  Auwe!

Today, we spoke in our ‘home’ ward as the last of our assigned speaking tour on our mission.  Sister Elwood offered her uplifting talk based upon the Primary hymn, “I Love to See the Temple.  With a Youth speaker and a song by the older Primary girls, I was left with about 7 minutes to give a 20 minute talk.  Nothing unusual about that and not a problem (aole pilikia) since it’s usually easier to cut than to add.

Monday begins our final week of serving in the Kona Hawaii Temple!  This has been such a wonderful blessing in our lives. We will never forget the special spirit that we have enjoyed serving in the House of the Lord for the last year and for all of the very beautiful Saints we have met.  It is hardly possible that we are leaving for home so soon.  Seems like we just arrived!

Much love and Aloha from Paradise.

Ti Leaf Leis

Kona April 8 - 14

Kona April 8 – 14

The Apartment

 

This is the last Sabbath Day Post from the Kona Coffee Villas (KCV), our home for the last 11+ months.  There is much we will miss about living here, mostly the cooler weather!  It has been a nice apartment to live in, with everything we have needed to be comfortable and safe.  There have been noisy times and a few times when the police had to break up domestic disturbances in the complex late at night but we have been safe and secure.  I suppose it comes with living in a complex with about 120+ units built on the side of Hualalai volcano but we won’t miss the traffic noise and the steep driveways that kill the knees while walking.  We are just listening to one of our favorite Hawaiian albums by Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm while keying this post and Keola just sang “Our Time for Letting Go.” I guess he’s right!

We have missed serving every day in the Temple this week.  As we noted earlier, this week and next week the Temple is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Our assigned week begins Monday but we had the opportunity to substitute for the other Missionary couple last Wednesday so they could take some visiting friends to Hilo to catch their flight.  It was good to be back in the Temple and dressed in white again even though the Temple was not as orderly as it usually is. 

Our expected duties were to answer phones and schedule appointments but things turned out to be more exciting than we anticipated.  Shortly after we arrived, the First Counselor in the Presidency asked me to assist him with a problem with the AV system.  Apparently on Tuesday, there was an upgrade performed remotely from Salt Lake to the system.  A problem arose after the update was completed and Salt Lake had lost the ability to communicate with the system. Between the two of us, we were able to diagnose the problems and with their assistance, restore the system.  Just another technology adventure to be solved with the help of the spirit!  I do have a greater appreciation for the skills of those folks on my former professional staff (in my working days) who routinely fixed networks, computers and complex communications problems without my limited knowledge or assistance.

Last Monday, we received a phone call from some of our friends in Boise who were visiting in Kona for the week.  They had been here last October and when they left, they gave us their beach chairs and umbrella due to the cost of shipping them back to the mainland.  They asked if we still had them and if they could borrow them for a few days while they were visiting.  We met them at our favorite beach, Honokohau with the chairs and had a nice visit.  They returned the chairs today at church and are heading back to Boise this evening.  It was great to see friends from our home stake again.

Last Car Wash

Monday begins the last two weeks of our mission.  We’ve been invited to a “hands on” Luau at a former Temple President’s home Monday afternoon.  On Tuesday, we have the two full-time missionaries into our home for dinner.  Thursday, we have been invited up to Auntie Dorothy’s for dinner and another dinner invitation for Friday at Auntie Arlene’s.  At this rate we will have to buy a new wardrobe before we leave for home.

The new Temple missionaries arrive Thursday evening and we will welcome them into the apartment on Friday when we move into our Time-share for the last 10 days.  It’s good that we will be busy moving, training, and saying Aloha to dear friends because it will help the time pass quickly and ease the sorrow of leaving this most beautiful Mission.

Today, the Ward sang Aloha ‘Oe to a family leaving the ward and it was even hard to join in this beautiful song of farewell.  While we will be speaking in our ward next Sunday, we hope they will wait for the following Sabbath to offer this honor to us.  We will be a basket case of Na Maka Wai, (tears)!

Love and Aloha from Paradise.

Packing for the First Move

Kona April 1 - 7

Kona Hawaii Temple - Second Smallest...Biggest Heart

Kona April 1 – 7

Aloha on this Conference Sunday!

I’m sitting here at our desk looking out at a passing rain shower.  Some of the Coffee trees are in bloom and I can see a Papaya tree loaded with green fruit on the hill side behind our apartment.  It is hard to realize that we will only be in this apartment for one more Sunday before we move down to our time-share on the edge of the ocean for the last 10 days of our Mission.

We have been experiencing a bunch of pending ‘lasts’  recently and the time keeps marching right along. For instance, Friday was the last day we will serve by ourselves in the Temple office.  Our replacements will arrive on April 18^th to begin their service in the Kona Hawaii Temple.  The temple is now closed for the next two weeks for the semi-annual cleaning and maintenance and when we reopen on the 23^rd, the new Missionaries will be joining us in the office as we will have the opportunity of teaching them everything we know over the next five days.

We also received our travel itinerary this last week and the reality of our leaving ranked pretty high on the emotional scale.  We are amazed by the mixture of emotions we are feeling…we’re looking forward to seeing all our family and friends at home and at the same time, sad to be leaving the temple and people we have grown to love so much.

Last Tuesday, we were invited to lunch by one of the temple Sealers, one of our Ordinance Workers, two of our wonderful office volunteers and some dear sisters from our ward.  We had a great time over lunch as we had the opportunity to learn more about each other, reminisce and to enjoy each other’s company. 

We will share a little story about our host, Brother D. (our policy of privacy).  Brother D is a Sealer in the Kona Temple, serving on the Tuesday morning shift.  When we first got to know him, we noticed that whenever we would provide materials for him, he would always respond with a “Thank you very much!”

Sister Elwood and one of the office volunteers soon decided that when he said “Thank you very much!” he sounded just like Elvis Presley, who had made that phrase of appreciation famous.  It soon became a big deal after they commented to him about how much he sounded just like Elvis.  From then on, everybody looked forward to the light comic relief whenever he came to the office and gave his best impression of the King of Rock ‘n Roll!  We got him to do that impression at the luncheon and we recorded it for posterity!

A Fond Rembrance from the Heinzen's

The President and Second Counselor are now off Island during the shutdown and the First Counselor remains in charge of the maintenance and cleaning for the next two weeks.  They will be leaving for the mainland to visit family during the last week of our mission so we will not see them when we reopen.  They surprised us with a parting homemade gifts of a plaque, noting our length of service in the Kona Temple and two ‘treasure’ bowls made from coconut halves mounted on Koa wood bases…one marked “Rich’s Stuff” and the other marked “Carolyn’s Stuff.” We will truly treasure their love, friendship, and the gifts.  They insisted we keep the key to their home in Hilo in case we ever needed a place to stay.  Auwe, the Aloha Spirit is real!

General Coference was uplifting and, as always, rewarding to be led by such men and women chosen by the Lord to lead His Church.  Viewing Conference live here means setting the alarm for 5:45 am, putting the laptop computer in the middle of the bed, and watching the proceedings in our pajamas.  Now we know what you’re thinking…we stayed awake for all of the Saturday morning sessions but we do seem to have missed a couple of speakers from the first session this morning.  Oh well, there is the Internet!

Speaking of the Internet, last October we both watched the Priesthood session live on the computer.  Expecting the same opportunity for the April Conference, we turned on the computer a few minutes before 2:00 pm (6:00 pm MDT) and were disappointed by a message that it was not being streamed live this time.  Guess we will spend some quality time later this evening attending Conference again.

Much love and Aloha from Paradise!

Plumeria...first comes the blossoms then come the leaves

Kona March 25 - 31

Newest Orchids for Easter

Kona March 25 – 31

Hau’oli La i ala hou ai ka Haku!  Happy Easter!

We awoke this morning to an absolutely beautiful clear day here in Paradise.  It was truly an Easter morning to remember!  Perhaps it had something to do with being able to sleep in about four hours longer than we had for the past four days.  In the last four days, we, like the faithful Tongan saints from the Pi’ilani Ward on Maui, have risen very early to come to the Temple to serve in the House of the Lord.

"Oh How Lovely Was the Morning"

 

Shortly after 5:00 am each morning, they would come streaming into the parking lot in their rental cars; warmly greet each other then quietly gather near the front door of the Temple for a song and prayer before coming into the Temple for a long day of service.  Early Friday morning, they were gathered at their usual place and just as the sky was lightening with the glow of sunrise, they offered the Hymn “Oh How Lovely Was the Morning” in the Tongan language. Such a reverent and joyful spirit they bring to the Temple.

This was the last time we will have the opportunity to serve with the Pi’ilani Ward in the Temple.  As they were leaving Saturday morning to return to Maui, Brother He (his Tongan name is much longer and not easy to pronounce) came into the office to thank us for our service.   He is the Temple coordinator for their ward and we have worked together when scheduling their visits.  Brother He is a tall and very powerful Tongan and when he gave me an embrace of farewell, I felt humbled by his physical and spiritual strength and by his expression of love for us.  We will truly miss all our wonderful Temple friends!

On Tuesday, President and sister Mossman invited us to join them on a trip to Waimea that evening to attend a concert by the Kamehameha School Children’s Chorus.  The Chorus is from the Kamehameha Schools on Oahu and was touring and performing on the Big Island. Past performance venues include Disneyland.  The Mossman’s granddaughter had been a past member of this Chorus along with some of the children of President and Sister Nihipali.  

Kamehameha School Children's Chorus

 

It is difficult to describe in words how very good these Fourth, Fifth and Sixth graders perform!  There are 85 in the choir and all have some Hawaiian ancestry to qualify for enrolling in the Kamehameha Schools.  Their musical director was so enthusiastic and animated; it was clear the kids loved her and followed her direction perfectly.  We have attended many excellent choir performances as our children were growing up but we have never before witnessed the performance level of the Children’s Chorus.  We purchased a CD from one of their performances which we will share when we get home.

After this uplifting and joyful performance, we were greeted by a full moon rising through the wispy clouds over Mauna Kea as we rode back to Kona.  Altogether, an excellent evening!

We noted last week that we had received a surprise gift from the Young Women of the Meridian 4^th Ward.  Before we left for church this morning, we opened the last egg of the Twelve days of Easter.  We then went back to the first plastic egg and reopened them in sequence, reading the scripture in each that lead us back through the last days of the Savior’s life, His Atonement, crucifixion and Resurrection.  That last egg contained only the scripture from Matthew 28:6, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.”

The scriptures and the tiny reminders we found in each egg were very much appreciated and were a special reminder of whom we worship and of His suffering on our behalf along the path leading to Eternal Life that He opened for us.  We are grateful for the opportunity we have been given to serve in His house and feel of His love for each of us.

Much love and aloha from Paradise!

Jungle by the beach at Honokohau

Kona March 18 - 24

Our Home Volcano...Hualalai

Kona March 18 – 24

Aloha Auinala…Good afternoon!

It’s been a very interesting and long Sabbath day, as we have attended three Sacrament meetings in three different wards, speaking in two of them.  Today, we nearly concluded our Big Island speaking tour with only our ‘Home’ ward remaining, scheduled for April 21^st.  We have enjoyed the opportunity to visit the other wards and branches under the assignment from the Temple President. It is great seeing friends and acquaintances from the temple as well meeting new saints and making new friends.

Kona winds blew a piece of Palm Tree just missing our Kela Uhane!

As we mentioned last week, this was to have been a very busy week in the Temple with three Wards from Maui and Moloka’i visiting.  Well, it truly lived up to the forecast because a great number (for the Kona Temple) of faithful saints gathered at the temple beginning each morning before 5:00 am.  For good measure, we even had a group from the Lana’i Branch come to join in the joy of temple service.

Getting up at 3:30 am for three days in a row proves telling on the energy level, even when serving in the temple.  On Saturday, we received a reprieve and slept in until 4:30!

Inviting campfire

Last evening, we were invited to join the First Counselor and his wife at their little ‘home’ on the slopes of Hualalai, the volcano we live on, for a barbeque.  This is our second visit to their ‘home away from home’ for an outdoor barbeque over an open fire.  The menu included Dutch oven baked bread, wonderful steaks, baked potatoes and beans followed by Carolyn’s coconut cream pie sprinkled with chopped Macadamia nuts.  (See our previous post from our visit to the Hilo side of the Island when we stayed with the Heinzen’s at their permanent home in Kea’au.)  A brief rain shower followed by some quality time around the fire with a light mist, only enhanced the evening.  We’re glad we brought light wind breakers with us to Hawai’i!

Toasting feet around the fire

This week, we also received a special box in the mail from home!  We waited until we completed our day of service in the temple and got back to the apartment before we could thoroughly investigate this surprise.  Inside, we found a dozen plastic eggs numbered 1 through 12, some mints, candy, a puzzle and a note of instructions.  All this was a gift from the Young Women in our ward.  We were instructed to open one of the plastic eggs each day before Easter.  Inside was something to remind us of the last days of our Savior (so far) leading up to the Atonement, death and Resurrection.

Easter Puzzle from YW

 

It took us a while but we were able to complete the puzzle (do the intricacy of how it was cut out)  which turned out to be hand written greetings and wishes from the young women and their leaders.  It was a great and welcome greeting from home and we say Mahalo Nui Loa to everyone involved!  We look forward to opening the remaining ‘eggs.’

Still no travel orders from the Temple Department so maybe we’ll be here forever!  OK, we know they haven’t forgotten us and we are looking forward to greeting our replacements on April 18^th.  Goodness, that’s only 25 days!

Love and Aloha from Paradise.

Mountain Apple Blossoms

Mountain Apples

Kona March 11 - 17

Cool day for the old Blogger!

Kona March 11 – 17

A cool Aloha from the Pacific!

Another Sabbath day has arrived and it seems like we just got back home from our Hilo trip.  But, that was a week ago. 

We have been so engaged in making preparations for one of the busiest weeks we will experience in the Temple that the days passed even more quickly than usual.  It will all begin early Tuesday morning with the Temple filled to overflowing with the Saints from Moloka’i and Maui.  On next week’s post, we will provide more details but suffice it to say, that by 1:00 pm Tuesday afternoon, we will have witnessed about the same number of living ordinances equal to an average three to four month period in the Kona Temple.

Today, we were given an unexpected blessing at church.  When we arrived at our ward this morning, we saw the Second counselor in the Temple Presidency and his wife in the Chapel so we sat down next to them.  They asked if we had heard that a special choir from Laie was on the Big Island and they had sung the intermediate hymn in Hawaiian during the Sacrament meeting in the ward that meets just before our ward.  We were not aware of this choir and that they performed their hymns in the Hawaiian language so we were disappointed we had missed hearing them sing.

Well, all was not lost because President and Sister Nihipali told us that the Laie Hawaiian Choir was also singing during the Sacrament meeting of the ward that follows our ward.  So today, we attended two Sacrament meetings for the second week in a row, in order to hear the choir (there also were two excellent talks). 

The first hymn the choir performed was Secret Prayer (Pule Malulia).  It was wonderful to hear this beautiful hymn sung in the Hawaiian language which is a very musical sounding language when spoken by a native speaker, not by me!  For the intermediate hymn, they chose a medley of short hymns about the Savior.  It brought a little maka wai to hear these hymns sung in Hawaiian.

In addition to a very busy week coming up in the Temple, we will be speaking in two more wards next Sunday.  These two wards will mark the end of our Mission’s speaking tour.  We will speak in our ‘home’ ward on April 21^st, just a week before we leave for home.

Much love and Aloha from Paradise!

Kona March 4 - 10

Splendor of Dawn

Kona March 4 – 10

A warm Aloha dear family and friends!

We just realized that all you ‘mainlanders’ have moved another hour away from us with the beginning of Daylight Saving Time.  To us, it seems simpler to just go one way or the other permanently and quit changing the clock twice a year.  Hawaii does not participate in DST but our clock radio thinks we do, so now we have to double check the time to make sure we don’t get up before we have to.

Another week has hurried past and we enjoyed the opportunity to serve in the temple with the Saints from the Lahaina 1^st Ward in Maui.  It was good to greet many familiar faces we’ve served with during their previous two visits since we arrived last May. 

On Thursday, they completed their morning sessions and had left for lunch. We were completing our office tasks and preparing for the afternoon schedule when the doorbell rang.  Yes, the Kona Hawaii Temple does have a doorbell!  Due to our small size and limited staffing, we usually lock the entry doors after scheduled sessions begin and rely on the doorbell between sessions.  In this case, there were two young men from the Lahaina 1^st Ward with a box of Subway sandwiches, chips and cookies for the Presidency, Matrons, Sister Elwood and myself, compliments of the Bishop!  It was a sweet and welcome gesture that symbolizes the love and generosity of the Saints we have the blessing of serving with in the Temple.

Saturday afternoon, we packed a bag, left our apartment and headed for the Hilo-side of the Island to fill our speaking assignments at two more Big Island wards.  We had been invited to stay overnight at the home of the First Counselor in the Presidency and his wife to avoid the need to arise early on Sunday morning for the two and a half hour drive to Hilo.  They live in a town called Kea’au on the outskirts of Hilo, spending the week serving in the temple in Kona then returning to their home in Kea’au during the weekends.

Harvesting Oranges 

Harvesting Bananas 

Mountain Apple Blossoms

 

They are such wonderful hosts and have been a blessing to serve with them in the Temple.  Each week when they return to Kona, they always bring us a bag filled with whatever fruit is in season (which is usually year-round); oranges, bananas, lemons, and pineapple!  In addition to spending Saturday evening with our gracious hosts, we were able to visit the source of all those bags of fruit! The bounty of this land is remarkable!

This morning, we visited the Keaukaha Ward at 9:00 am and the Ainaola Ward at 11:00.  While we organized and printed our talks when we began this ‘speaking tour’, we seldom give exactly the same message each time we speak.  Sister Elwood speaks on the topic of “I Love to See the Temple” while my subject is “The Temple, A Priority.”

We are always pleased to see many of the Ordinance Workers and Patrons that we have come to know and love during their service in the temple when we visit their home wards.  They greet us like family (‘Ohana) and make us welcome.  We have visited 6 wards now and have only 3 more wards to visit.

What we know of in English as “The Big Island”, is called “Ka Mokupuni Nui” in the Hawaiian language.  This really is a ‘Big’ island and our journey this weekend was over 230 miles roundtrip!  The variety and diversity of this island is amazing with eleven of the earth’s thirteen climate zones.  We had a safe and pleasant trip around the southern part of this beautiful land, plus our trusty Buick delivered over 31 MPG!

We are looking forward to catching up on a little sleep this coming week as we return to our regular temple schedule.  Hopefully, we will be able to store some of this energy because on March 19^th, we will begin two weeks of visits by four wards from Maui.  Perhaps the blessings and opportunities we receive from temple service explain why time is going by so quickly.  In any case, we are so blessed to be able to serve in this very special place!

Love and Aloha from Paradise!

Fresh Orchid Table Centerpiece

Kona February 25 - March 3

"Pansy" Orchids

Kona February 25 – March 3

Aloha,

We awoke this morning to a beautiful, clear day which has continued into this afternoon.  It was good to be back in our ‘home’ ward again and feel the lingering excitement from last evening’s “Fifth Annual Kealakekua Chili Cook-off” held in the Stake Center.  Of course we attended and enjoyed an evening of talent, noise, and good food.

Chili Cook-off Entries

There were at least eighteen ‘chili ‘entries from traditional to vegetarian; with beans to beanless; beef to chicken; and of course, mild to hot and spicy.  Traditional rice, salads, rolls and desserts added to the chili and filled everyone to the top.  Interspersed with eating was a talent show and drawings for door prizes.  One thing you can say about a ward party in Hawaii is that there is no lack of kids, food, happy people and general chaos!

My Kinda Chili!!

A couple of talent highlights were first, a traditional Hawaiian Chant by one of our good friends who speaks fluent Hawaiian.  Brother K. had taught his two sons (age 6 and 8) plus one of the other boys in our ward to join in the Chant while wearing warrior costumes.  They were great! 

At church today, during the break between Sacrament Meeting and Sunday School, we complimented Brother K. on the performance and asked him if he knew a Chant (‘Oli) concerning the importance of gaining knowledge that the Temple Matron had tried to teach us at a Christmas gathering at their home over the Holidays.  He indicated that he knew the Chant and recited it right there in the hallway (in a quiet manner).  We were impressed and asked him if we could record the Chant.  He said sure and we stepped into the kitchen where Brother K. recited the chant while we recorded it on our Droid.  We will be happy to share it when we return home.  Perhaps if I listen to it enough times….probably not!

While it may seem like a broken record…we had another great week in the Temple!  There are a lot of visitors coming to the temple from places where there is still a cold, snowy winter and we are always happy to see them at the Temple.  I greeted one couple at the recommend desk and noted they were from Hyde Park Utah, where my father was raised and his family lived for many years.  After a few questions, turns out they are acquainted with one of my first-cousins that still lives there.  Not only is time flying by but the world is clearly shrinking!

Temple Wall

One former visitor called the Temple and asked if anyone could take some pictures, of the hand built wall lining the back property of the temple grounds, highlighting the contrast between the temple grounds and the tangle of the Kiawe brush and grasses on the other side of the wall.  This sister had noticed this during her visit and had returned to Utah before realizing how the contrast could be used effectively in her Relief Society lesson.  Never turning down a chance to take a picture, Sister Elwood made it a priority to take some pictures and email them to this sister.  We hope her lesson turned out well and we will share one of the pictures.

Sister Elwood celebrated her birthday this week in a pleasant but different way than usual. 

We had talked about going out to dinner at Sam Choys or some other good restaurant in Kona to have a quiet celebration.  Tuesday morning, Sister H., one of our great Office Volunteers, invited us to join her and the Missionaries at her home for dinner on Thursday evening.  It seems that her husband often has to work late so, when she invites the missionaries and she learns her husband won’t be home in time for dinner, she has to meet the missionaries at the door, explain the problem, and give them money to go out for dinner.  Understanding the situation, we agreed to join her for dinner so the Missionaries wouldn’t have to go out for a hamburger or pizza instead of getting a home-cooked meal.

Earlier in the month, we had signed up to host the full-time young Missionaries for dinner on Tuesday evening.  Over dinner, we told them we would be eating with them again on Thursday evening at Sister H’s home.  They couldn’t remember their dinner schedule but looked forward to meeting us again for dinner.  The Elders do like to eat and they’re sort of grandsons for us. 

Thursday afternoon as we were leaving the Temple, the Elders met us and explained that there was a mistake somewhere because, on their schedule, they had another family hosting them for dinner that evening. 

Some "Grandkids" to hug

Before leaving for dinner we got to SKYPE with some of our family and electronically celebrate her birthday, including an electronic, candle blowout on the Birthday cake.  Long story made short… we SKYPED with family; enjoyed a great roast beef dinner; met some of Sister H’s family, including five grandchildren which provided Sister Elwood the opportunity to hug and enjoy some non-adult company; and were later joined by the Elders who ate some dinner and dessert.  All-in-all, a good way to celebrate a birthday.

Next weekend we will be back on the speaking ‘circuit’ traveling to the Hilo side of the Big Island to visit and speak at two wards over there.  President and Sister Heinzen, he is the First Counselor in the Temple Presidency, have invited us to stay at their home in Kea’au on Saturday evening to avoid an early Sunday morning 100+ mile drive.  We look forward to the visit and speaking in the Ainaola and Keaukaha wards.

Much love and Aloha from Paradise!