Missionary Graduation

Attended a Missionary Graduation this morning.  When it's time for senior couples to leave after serving their mission, there is a huge farewell party.  All the different countries represented here at the PCC give wonderful compliments and gifts to the couple leaving. They tell about the various services they have given and improvements made while they were here.  This particular Elder & his wife had done so much.  He had taken some old box cars, welded them together and fashioned a train that is used at Christmastime. And she had performed countless hours of sewing costumes, muumuus and various other items. Some of the gifts given: a  wicker rocking chair, beautiful quilts, pillow, pictures, just to mention a few and at least 10 different leis, each representing the countries.  The spirit was so strong during this Missionary Graduation.  I had teary eyes throughout most of the meeting. I am sure God was visiting the PCC today.

Getting Settled

Today, after our orientation, we drove down to Kailua to purchase our car.  It's a Buick Regal, 2002.  We paid $4200.  It's AOK for here!!  It has leather seats and air conditioning!!!  A huge blessing when it's 85 degrees.

Tuesday was a free day so we drove around the Island to Mililani.  Found Costco & Wal-mart.  Mililani reminded us of Maui.  Lots of sugar cane fields, and agriculture. A great place to live!!  We will get a picture of this when we go back.

Orientation Day

We had a devotional where we introduced ourselves and met several other service missionaries.  When leaving the room, we were stopped by a distinguished looking elderly Hawaiian Gentleman.  He inquired about Pres. Wood (former Cardston Temple President) and then proceeded to compliment Elder Reynolds (who was wearing his suit) how nice he looked.  He said he thought he was a general authority.  Apparently no one wears suits @ the PCC except for general authorities.  Elder Reynolds had made a mistake wearing his suit!!! 

We were then invited to meet with President Orgill, President of the PCC.  WOW!  What an awesome man.  He talked nonstop for over an hour, telling all about the PCC and how to respect the Polynesian People. He told us there are only a few places where God has a special interest in and that he visits here daily.  He was quite emotional as he told us how critical the training of these students who attend the college is, because they will be future leaders of the Pacific Rim Countries like Japan, Philipines, Indonesia, China as well as all the Polynesian Countries.  We were overwhelmed to realize how blessed we are to have been called here.

-Pictures to come

(More tidbits of information about Elder and Sister Reynolds from Ranay:  Although their apartment is nice, there is no air conditioning.  So it has been an adjustment getting use to the humidity. I told them they were absolutely, under no circumstances, allowed to complain about the heat!  They reported that they have several fans - so I think they'll get by!  Also, they reported that they are getting use to the surrounding noisy animals and traffic from the highway.  
Elder Reynolds was able to visit the place where he will be doing the repairs on the golf carts.  He was a bit disgusted when he first viewed the "shed" and said it was quite run down and in need of some sprucing up!  There are no walls around the shed, just covered over top.  He has already requested a care package with some additional tools and shop attire!  He also said that their overall mentality of the Hawaiian people is laid back.  They are witnessing this firsthand with their landlords.  Needless to say he has also requested his "all-in-one, around the house tool" to make some minor repairs at their apartment!
And Sister Reynolds, the healthy, diabetic eater, has requested 2 lbs of steel cut oats from her hometown, local grocery store, Winco!  We shall get a package sent off right away!)

Feel free to comment on this blog - Elder and Sister Reynolds will receive them all!

Airport Departure & Arrival

The morning we left the MTC a nice lady who I became friends with, originally from Hawaii, made a beautiful lei to bring to me that morning.  So kind of her.  

We flew from Salt Lake Airport on Saturday, Sept. 22.  It was wonderful to have some family there to hug and wave goodbye to. Yes, there were a couple of tears shed!  Thanks Kylee & Kayla & Brynley, Caden, Brennen, Nathan & Brianna for huge hugs.  Thanks Ryan & Angie for trading in our car on a new Camaro for yourselves!!!  Nice joke Ryan!!!  We were happy to have family come to the airport in SLC. 

Our connecting flight from Salt Lake was to Seattle, then on to Honolulu.  We sat by a really nice young lady who had been training at Hill Air Force Base for Water and Air Quality.  She asked about our name tags and it was easy to tell her about our mission and the kind of service we would be doing at the PCC.  I told her to talk with the missionaries the next time she saw them walking down the street in Seattle.  She said she has seen them many times with their "black name tags" and promised she would.

Everyone was so kind to us, knowing we were missionaries.  One lady from Kauai gave us her seat so we had an extra seat to stretch out in. It was great to have the extra room and I did survive the 7 hr. flight without '"fighting" too bad.  Gary was happy for that!!  We also met a young Bishop from Hawaii who was so kind in telling us about the Island of Oahu.

Elder & Sister Palmer greeted us @ the airport with gorgeous violet leis made of orchards.  I've never seen that many orchids all woven together in my life!  It took about 45 min. to travel up the Kamehameha Highway to our little apartment. We had a beautiful fruit basket on our table and several food items in our fridge, compliment of the PCC for new missionaries. We dropped off our luggage, then Elder Palmer took us on a tour of the PCC.  We were pooped since it was now 2 a.m. 

First night was a nightmare!  We have 3 Labrador dogs under our window, one little terrier upstairs and a German shepherd next door.  In addition to the barking dogs, we were awakened EARLY the next morning to wild roosters crowing.  In speaking to the landlord, he thought there were wild boars in the  back yard (thus the dogs barking so much).  What an Aloha Welcome!!  

Our little apt.  We stay in the bottom half and landlords up top.

MTC Experiences

How exciting and scary to enter the MTC.  It was great to have our son Randy, his wife, Stacey and their youngest son, Brennen come with us.  We were welcomed by some missionaries who would be leaving for Russia in a couple of weeks.  They carried our luggage to our room.

 

 What wonderful training we received while we were here for 5 days!!  We were taught what most missionaries would receive in 6 - 8 weeks . On the first day, Elder Reynolds was made a District Leader of our district with 4 couples in it.  One couple was going to Uganda, one to Nashville TN, and one to Washington DC Temple and us going to Hawaii. I met several fellow Canadians who were going all over the world to serve also. We enjoyed hearing about Hawaii from Elder & Sister Della Roza.  They are going to serve in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
 

 I provided prelude music and opening hymns for two of our meetings.  We connected with so many people, who were going on missions everywhere in the world.  We enjoyed eating so much food.  Our days consisted of eating, sitting, eating, sitting!! We loved learning about our Savior, feeling the spirit, learning and studying   "Preach My Gospel".  This has been an incredible week which will bless our lives forever.

Farewell

The Farewell came as quickly as expected and yet everything has seemed to fall into place.  After making it through our tearful talks, we headed to the luncheon. 

 Our daughter, Robyn surprised us with this awesome sign.  Aloha 'oe means farewell.  How appropriate!

 The decorations and food were exceptional! 

 And the company was even better!  Thank you thank you for all who came to share lunch with us and see us off.