We let the Davis couple into the office on Saturday, March 14 to familiarize themselves with the housing files. Then we enjoyed the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center as it will close after today. We went to the different island exhibits, drank and ate a fresh coconut, had dinner at the Prime Rib buffet and watched the Ha Breath of life show. While we were walking around, we went to a ukelele demonstration of how they are made and while there, we talked with a Filipino from Iloilo. We spent at least an hour talking with her. She knew everyone we knew. It was so delightful. Also when we went for dinner, our friends the Newman's from Jerome were taking tickets so we had a lovely visit with them. They are serving at the PCC. Tim repairs the boats used there and Fran works in the plant nursery.
Sunday we were scheduled to speak in the Manoa Ward but church was cancelled because of the coronaviras-19. We did have church at the President's home and were blessed to partake of the sacrament in renewing our covenants with the Lord and we had testimonies for one hour and then back to apartments. Each zone in Honolulu repeated this on their own turns and time during the day. How blessed we are to know and to participate in the sacrament, the symbols of the Lord's atonement, his sacrifice to allow us to be reunited with our Father in heaven, to be forgiven of every big and little sin, a time to ponder and become aware of what we need to know to become one, or to become like Him. Every personal revelation can show us our own weakness and offer a chance to change . If it weren't for Jesus Christ, there would be no hope, no resurrection, no repentance,...but He did come, He did die, He was resurrected and He lived that we might know His character and His works that we might learn of Him and adjust our behaviors and allow our hearts to look to Him and become more than we could without Him.
Monday we had a senior missionary meeting with the President over conference call and learned that some seniors may go home—that's us...yes, because of my asthma. By evening there were more directions: all seniors will go home except office staff. And we were just changed from office staff last week to mls (member leadership support).
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday was constant change of direction going from more and more missionaries to return home. It was constant change and our poor leaders could hardly keep up with the new directions, which seemed to come hourly. The world was changing constantly: countries closing their borders, requiring foreigners to return to their own countries, parents calling in panic, the constant need for reassurances ...
At the same time the calm reassurance for God's prophet that this will pass but how exciting to see the Lord's hand in all things. He is in charge. There is no need to fear but to watch in anticipation and faith, knowing we are preparing for the second coming. Look to Him in all things. All is well. He is giving the world a chance to repent, including me and these happenings are a blessing to help us REMEMBER HIM , our covenants, His commandments and His promise that as we keep His commandments we will still prosper in the land. We have an opportunity to come home and be families again. That's what it's all about, being a family, learning to love Heavenly Father and His family. We must start with enjoying our own family that we know but have been so separated by so many activities. Now we have the chance to be home and learn to become together a family who enjoys each other and loves Heavenly Father.
We had a fantastic meeting with Elder Klebingot of the Seventy who talked about the goal. The goal is to become like Him, Heavenly Parents. Living together, working together, loving each other, respecting each other—losing ourselves and looking outward was the theme in the mtc by Elder Bednar.
Friday we went to the airport at 7:30 with masks on and flew to Seattle and then to Salt Lake arriving there around noonish. Raymond picked us up. We went to our apartment in Raymond's basement to quarantine and enjoy the "outward reach" of Raymond and Julie, Charity and Jonathon, and April and Mike as they have served us with cleaning our apartment, filling it with food, bringing us meals and leaving them at our door while we are in a 14 day quarantine. We are still wearing our missionary badges. President Jackson, our stake president called us before we left to make sure we had a place to quarantine ourselves. Some senior couples have gone to air b&b's as they did not have places to go. We have been so blessed, our apartment is wonderful and we can watch the children go outside to play and watch April and Charity and Jonathon and Julie bring us food. The God in heaven has truly prospered us—what amazing children He has given us to bless our lives. As we "contemplate" (gather) our children around us (in our minds and hearts). Each one we fondly embrace, Each a gift from our Maker, God has such wonderful taste!
Sunday we had our own church meeting in our apartment but no sacrament until after the quarantine is over. We love you are and are grateful that you each know to Whom to look for life eternal, peace, here and now.
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