Our Walk to the Office and Kawaikui Beach Park

Kawaikui Beach Park

Hawaii Honolulu Mission

We left Bountiful at 8:30 am and arrived via Delta at 3:00ish.  Elder and Sister Alldredge picked us up at the airport, took us to our apartment at the Banyan Tree 2902, showed us our car and spot #51, and our mailbox.  Then we went shopping at Safeway.  Even that was an experience.  Shopping is up about 2 stories, so we send our bagged groceries in the shopping cart down it’s own kind of escalator.  We were a little concerned but we made it down and so did our basket of groceries intact.  We went to our car but had some challenges getting back to our apartment as there are one-way streets and no outlets and dead ends.:). We made it, made some fish tacos for dinner and unpacked. We were pretty tired.  We unpacked and ate fish tacos in our apartment. SOOOOO tired!  I am having a bout with vertigo; hopefully it will end quickly.  

Sunday we looked over all the papers we need to read and sign for our apartment. We read our scriptures and went over “Come Follow Me” manual.  2 Nephi 3:  9, 10, 11. Joseph Smith was raised up, like Moses, to set God’s people free, free from ignorance or lack of knowledge of God’s covenants and His way of happiness.  3:23  “they shall hearken unto the words of the book.”  Because God and His Son, Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and led him to translating the Book of Mormon, we have His way of happiness as we choose to follow the precepts in the Book and follow His modern day prophets.  I love the Book of Mormon and the Restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  There is no better way to live and following Jesus Christ is the way to prosper in the land.  We have been so magnificently prospered:  15 grown children, 38 grand children!  There is no greater joy than to see our children choose the only true God to follow.  Testimonies are a start, conversion is the goal.  Life together with our Heavenly Parents is the hope.  We can do it.  Keep His commandments and study His character, fill your mind, heart and time with this.  We’ll go together.  

 Church is a short walk at 11:30 in the Manoa Ward at Tabernacle. Three o'clock here was our family call.  Thanks for being on "hangouts".  It fills us up to see you and hear your voices—doesn't matter what you say though we are happy to hear the news of the month and appreciate the spiritual thoughts.  We love you. 

At 5:00 we went to the office and started learning our jobs here. 

Monday we were at the office at 7:45.  2 Nephi 6:14 "none will He destroy that believe in Him".

We start our day officially at 8:30 with an office devotional:  prayer, thought, then business sharing of information.  I sent out notices for family home evening with the senior couples (mls) and office couples with food assignments.  Once a month we have family home evening and dinner together at the mission presidents home, so he sets the date. I cut out run-off phone numbers for handouts, made a new "master" for training for missionaries.  New missionaries arrived, 8 sisters and I set out luncheon for them and the office staff plus Elder and Sister King who were in our training group at the mtc.  They are serving as directors of the Visitor Center in Laie.  It is a new model of leadership that the church is trying out.  It was so fun to see them again.  Also there was a couple from Burley who knew Uncle John and the group of family there.  She had served with Aunt Denice on the stake young women.  That felt really good to talk with them.  And, Sister Juliette Hart from Logan was in the group of sisters.  She will be teaching on another island to begin her mission.  Then cleanup etc.

Tuesday I put outgoing missionary pictures in the Book of Life (President Walker wants to keep pictures of all his missionaries in a large binder that we have titled the "Book of Life".)

I pulled files out of President's office and shredded all the information on those missionaries, made new files for those just coming in, labeled pictures and put magnets on them for the transfer board and for the board at President's home, redid zone notebooks for President's interviews, marked and tagged one Book of Mormon.  Ray and I with Alldredge went to President's home and delivered all the luggage for the missionaries.  Around 7 pm we went shopping at Costco.  We finally have groceries $600 worth—maple syrup, vegetables, kodiak cakes etc.  

Wednesday I began writing in birthday cards for serving missionaries for the rest of February. Jacob 5:72 "...the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them...". What a blessing for all of us to be laboring in the Lord's vineyard with Him.  Today we put together lunches for the departing missionaries (13), collected their phones, had a fireside in the tabernacle at night for their last farewell and testimony in the mission.  So many mixed feelings—happy to go home to see their families, but what is in their futures?, not wanting to leave those they love here. ..  Oh, the heart-wrenching feelings.  Lots of hugs going on.

Thursday, I quit putting down what I did.  Too many details but I did check mail for responses, shredded more papers, labeled more Book of Mormons, worked in the mail room.  

Friday I made lemon pancakes with yogurt and pineapple and berries for office and AP's for valentines.  I made letters for bishops and stake presidents and labels for mailing home for missionaries.  Marked and labeled more Book of Mormons.  Alldredge 's goodby day.  President took us all out to Mexican dinner before their flight home to St. George, Utah.  

Thought for the day:  "None of us came to earth to gain our worth; we brought it with us."

                                                                                    Sheri L. Dew

Saturday P Day for seniors.  We first went to one of the Sisters apartments who were having trouble with their disposal.  It smelled terrible.  Ray had brought a tool to help with working on it.  :). As he tried to put his hand in the disposal to clear it out—there was a glass that had dropped into the hole stopping the water from going down!  :) :). :). It was an easy fix.  Ray pulled the glass out.  After that we went to the huge mall in Honolulu.  It's pretty great.  We just went to Target and purchased 4 placemats to protect our kitchen table, some q-tips, and a rubber spatula.  Then we went to Office Max to try to get more printable labels for the Book of Mormons but they didn't have what we were needing.  

Now for relaxation, we went to Kawaikui Beach Park.  The breeze was wonderful and the view was for the soul.  Pictures included if I can figure out the technology.  

                          We love you, Aloha

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Arrived -- Honolulu Apartment pictures

MTC-Second Week

The Book of Mormon records much contention, jealousy in one family.  But the father continues to exhort them to righteousness.  Be of good cheer no matter what part you play in a family.  Be believing and trust God.  “Frankly forgive”. Look for God’s hand as trials change my nature.  

I love this by Dallin Oaks:  “any philosophy or organization that opposes belief in God brings captivity of false ideas.”  Ensign March 2015. The Lord prepared us a liahona—the Book of Mormon.  If we feast on it and follow Christ, He will lead us to the Promised Land.  His word helps us face challenges and teaches us how.  Liken the scriptures to me.  

So wonderful how we can look at each story we read about the Savior and we can discover His character.  

Sunday Ray and I went and spent the day with my mother and her husband at Courtyard at Jamestown.  We went to fast and testimony meeting with them and Sunday School, had lunch with them.  Some of the nicest people live there.  We really enjoyed our time with them.  Monday morning at 8 am found us in class learning IMOS, the computer program the missionaries use.  I am really good at touching the buttons the teacher tells me to touch.  I would like to take one of the teachers with me!  Monday night we attend fhe again and listened to Elder Bednar.  I would like to listen to it at least 4 more times.  

Tuesday was more office programs:  Lettters to family of arriving missionaries, ...

At night it was a fireside with Elder and Sister Bassett for all the missionaries.  I was responsible in our district during the day for the spiritual thought.  Of course, I told what was still on my mind:  the story of Lucy Mack Smith’s brother, Daniel, who has admonished his friends not to go swimming in a river they were by and other fellows were there too.  But one fellow said, I’m going anyway and he jumped in followed by 2 others.  All were doomed for a watery grave as they got caught on undergrowth.  Daniel asked the rest of the group if any of them would dive in to save them at the peril of their own lives.  No one spoke.  Daniel dived in and pulled each one out, one at a time and told the others to roll them over barrels to get the water out of them.  As they recovered, they told Daniel they would always remember him, that they wanted to always live by him.  Though the spurned his counsel, he still went in after them.  

So much like us.  Sometimes I don’t recognize the Lord;s counsel; but He jumps in and saves me anyway.  I learn good from evil from my experiences in life.  And hopefully I love the good and seek His counsel as I develop and turn from the natural man.  

Wednesday was more office programs:  entering baptism records, how to split the screen, making the President’s message, transfers...  Yes, I’m over my head and my brain has turned to mush but with God nothing is impossible.  

Thursday there was training for the finances, the vehicles, ...wow!  The vastness of the mission and the Lords church!  We received a thought today by Ezra Taft Benson: 

 “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in the moment God will endow us with power.” 

Friday we returned to Bountiful to wash and repack.  Tomorrow the Lord’s WORK.  Aloha!

Farewell Program -- Obedience is a principle of power

MTC pictures

Finding the mission on the map

Missionary Training Center

District Week 1

District

Mural of Esther

Farewell -- First Week MTC Provo

This has been an amazing week.
On Monday, it was expressed, “With one touch of the  finger, we can bring heaven or hell into our life.  Speaking of our devices.  When we think of the Character of Christ, He turns “out” in compassion—not “inward”.  He is not self-absorbed, selfish, self-centered.  In Matthew 4 as we read of the temptations, it was pointed out that in all the temptations, it was about “if” you are the Son of God, “if” is the key of pride, self-centeredness.  What a glorious gospel to be centered on the atonement, change, conversion—being consistent in living what we know. The opportunity to turn away from self (what I want, like the Cookie Monster “I want cookie”) to turning back to God.
Tuesday We spent more time looking out:  What are we doing each day to become more converted to Jesus Christ:  How can we serve?    How do you know if it’s the Holy Ghost or just me? Elder Bednar said: “  Quit worrying about it! “. 
Elder Bednar told a story about a time when Elder and Sister Packer came as visiting authorities to Elder Bednar’s mission as a young missionary.  Elder Bednar was working in the office and so it was his opportunity to pick the Packers up and send them on their way to their destination.  As Elder Bednar put them on the train, he thought they might get hungry so he gave them 20 marcs because he knew that was the only exchange that would be useable. 
Well, as the Packers were on the train, the Germans came to check on their passports and his wife’s passport was one that had a three year extension on it.  They were not recognizing the passports with extensions.  They were going to throw her off the train at the next stop.  Elder Packer reached into his pocket and pulled out those 20 marks and  put them in their passports.  She was able to stay on the train.  Elder Bednar said, “Was
 that the Holy Ghost or just him that put those 20 marks in Elder Packer’s hands”?  Quit worrying about it.  Just move on those impressions without trying to figure out if it’s the Holy Ghost or you. 
Wednesday we learned some basic teaching skills.  Help \ Invitation \ Promise\ Doctrine
We discovered the meaning of being a true disciple:  student, learner, example. Our purpose in life is to become like Him, to be one with the Godhead.  Oct 2012 Conference Daniel L. Johnson spoke on “Becoming a True Disciple”.  Jeffrey Orlando said in an mtc devotional, “Remember this truth, everything in the conversion process must happen to you before it can happen to them—-everything.”  So important to remember as we raise families, influence friends...  Each of us must be converted first before we can extend our influence on others.
 When we went to another building to see some murals, I was holding the door with Sister Bartschi and her husband tripped and fell on his hip.  They were in our district; he was our district leader.  Ray and Elder Noel went and administered to him at the hospital.  They were assigned to the Salt Lake City Mission.  We’re down to two couples now.
Thursday’s theme for me was communication.  What?  I’m a good communicator!  Well, I’m a good talker and easily sidetracked. I don’t know if I’ll learn this one lesson:  LIsteN!
Do NOT think of my own experiences.  ASK questions:  Why?  How do you feel about that?  Tell me more...  Have a clear purpose.  Avoid prying questions???!!!  What.
More important than speaking is listening.  Once I heard a statement that went like this, “God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a purpose.  Listen twice as much as we talk.
We watched a video of the blind man since birth and his healing.  There were some interesting observations for me—-the blind man went and did what the Lord told him to do and then he could see.  Another wonderful day.  Our district is now just us.  The Noel left tonight to begin their travel for their mission.  They are driving to see family first and then they are called to Tempe Arizona Mission Addiction and Recovery.  This is their second mission.  Previously they served in New Zealand Addiction and Recovery.  They are amazing people.  What insight and and deep understanding they have.
Today we saw the mural of The Sons of Mosiah. 
Friday.    Who do I want to be when I return from this mission?  I want to be more Christlike.  I want to be better at listening to others and through the Spirit, engage others to feel heart to heart experiences with the Spirit.  We love you!  Aloha!
~Teresa, Mom, Grandma