Thanksgiving Day in Hawaii

Thanksgiving Day we woke up to gorgeous sunshine and 80 degrees!  We left the apartment at 11:30 to help our single student ward set up for all the food the college provided.  I took pumpkin bars but we also had the best pumpkin dessert with walnuts on the bottom.  Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake was also a favorite.  We had so much food!  Gary's favorite - ham- simply melted in your mouth.  We hardly ate because we later left to dine at Tita's Famous Grill.
   
Elder Reynolds carving turkey.

Elder Reynolds feeding Jen Bennett from Cardston!

Ward members

Here we are at Tita's grill.  Tita's son below, also called Junior (Tita's Grill is named after his grandmother).
Also in the pic next to Elder Reynolds is Gene Walker (Sister Walker below), who are also from Idaho Falls and was once in our home ward before boundairies split. Nice to serve with friends from home!

 Live Band for Entertainment!  The band played "Oh Canada" and all the Canadians stood and sang.  Then we all sang "Star Spangled Banner". 

Hangin loose with fellow missionaries after we were stuffed!

Look who else was dining @ Tita's Grill?! Sis. Christensen & new comp.

To finish off our Thanksgiving weekend, we hiked up to Waimea Falls on Saturday  Was a great little hike with beautiful green foliage.  A bit disappointed in this trickling waterfall which emptied into a deep pool... but was still Hawaii Beautiful.

Tent City

Just across the road from our apartment (Kamehameha Highway) is the park, Kokololio Beach Park.  I walk here each morning.  On the weekends it turns into "Tent City."  Many local Polynesian People arrive and sometimes stay for several days. They don't pack very many things.  A little food, blanket and, I think, beach wear. It's free access to beautiful surf and sand.  I told Elder R. if we have to evacuate to "Tent City" in the last days, this is where I want to come!  

 

Huge party tent... often smaller tents are pitched under these big ones.  

There is no school here on Veteran's Day.  Some 5th or 6th grade students from  a private school enjoyed the weekend camping.

 


























 
I walked right past this person the other morning. Ran home to get my camera.  He didn't even wake up when I photoed him.  I should have left him some breakfast!

Laie Temple

Thoroughly enjoyed going to the Laie Temple.  What a beautiful view and gorgeous temple.  A great diversity of various cultures and races of people. A husband & wife from some African Nation were absolutely breathtaking in their beautiful white clothing contrasting their rich dark skin.  Woodwork and carpeting were unique to this Island Temple.

Party Time at the Motor Pool!

Nov. 8 Party Time @ Elder Reynolds Office (Motor Pool) 

These Polynesian people really love to eat!!  Once a year the missionaries sponsor a party for all their coworkers. We cook the food and get donations from local establishments here in Laie, including ourselves. 

Here's Elder Reynolds planning the party in his new wheelchair.  He has been repairing many of these wheelchairs, (gently enhancing their speed).  He's also been fixing baby strollers. Hopefully these are NOT breaking the speed limit!

Tables decorated with fresh flowers: hibiscus, magnolia, etc.

 Gifts donated

 Maui (a very nice single co-worker of Elder Reynolds)

 Gary handing out gifts

Dancing the Hula  - It was a fun program and this dance was the highlight!!!

Residence Housing (Hale)

Residence Housing (Hale)
Across the road from the "Give & Take" Store where I serve, is housing for BYUH Girls.  (pronounced Halleee).   Rumor is they will be torn down in 2 yrs. and new ones will be built.  They are very clean.  My friend Eva works there and walks across the street to shop at the store every day.  She is a fun Hawaiian friend and hard worker.    

Here is a brief tour of the facilities:

Kitchen - all the tile etc. is PINK

Bathroom, Showers, etc.

Pic. 37 - Bedroom - my cute friend from Alaska, Japan & Eva

Courtyard between the residence halls.  Very pretty with Palm Trees, picnic tables, clothesline, & bikes (most all students ride bikes & skateboards or walk).

Crazy friend, Eva

Outside view (all windows have rusted iron rods on them so no one can get in or out).  Very safe!

Lounge

Missionary Training

Nov. 5 -  Monday nights we hold a combined Family Home Evening for all sr. missionary couples.  President and Sister Dalton attended this one with several new updates from Salt Lake regarding the announcement in conference (age change for all young men and women who wish to serve missions). Young men can serve when they are 18 and young women when they are 19. The last age change was made in 1960.

Since the announcement, missionary applications (per month) are now at 12,000.  50% are young women.  The expectation is 20,000 by 2013 and 40,000 by the end of 2013. There should be 95,000 total missionaries serving by the end of 2013.  This is for North America only.

Can you imagine the overload at the MTC?  Remember, our church always has a plan in effect before announcements are ever made public!  To accommodate everyone, future English speaking missionaries will only be in the MTC for 2 weeks.  If there is still an overload, it will decrease to l week or if need be, when called, future missionaries will go straight to the mission they are to serve in and receive training from the missionaries who are currently serving there. 

Honolulu Hawaii Mission:  There are 322 young and sr. missionaries now serving here.  We're expecting 50 more new missionaries. (50% will be young women).  Housing is a big problem, but Pres. Dalton was just advised to "Make it Work." There are 28 languages spoken on 6 different Islands.  (No wonder we can't understand everyone)!!!  There are 56 sr. couples, 4 proselyting couples and 4 single proselyting sr. sisters. The majority are volunteer teachers or service missionaries.  WOW! How fortunate we are to be part of Helaman's Army at this special time.  Pres. Dalton said "We are part of History."   The work of the Lord is increasing at an accelerated speed.  He is in charge. He has a plan, which has never changed regardless of man or Satan.  We need to pray for our country.

    Watch for a new video to be released soon "The Mormons Next Door."  It is so informative and tells all about "We Mormons" in 30 min. in a loving and non threatening way.  It's awesome and answers so many, many questions.  Aloooooooooha!!!

Friends Visit & Haunted Lagoon

How exciting to see friends from home!  Friday night we were taking tickets at the Luau when Scott & Kathy Lemon came through our line.  They were neighbors of ours a long time ago and are now members in my daughter, Ranay's, ward.  It was great to visit with them.

Our friends, Kent & Dixie Cutforth arrived Thursday.  We enjoyed showing them around the PCC & BYUH Campus. It was wonderful to catch up on family news from home and enjoyed dinner with them at Prime Dining.  We are grateful they made room in their bags to bring Elder Reynolds his favorite blueberry jam from the LDS Cannery.  Yum! 

Halloween at the Give & Take

 

During the month of October, the waters all around the PCC where they normally put on shows, etc. turns into a Haunted Lagoon.  http://www.hauntedlagoon.com/
This is quite a big deal here at the PCC.  We have been serving off and on in the evenings at this Haunted Lagoon, serving noodles and hot chocolate.  We had the opportunity to take a spooky ride on the boats at the Haunted Lagoon and enjoyed experiencing first hand (on the water) the Haunted Lagoon. 

 

Nov. 3 - There was a Haunted Lagoon Celebration.  There were about 1,000 kids, missionaries, and volunteers from the local area meeting together enjoying one last "hoorrah" after Haunted Lagoon finally ended Oct. 31.  Lots of food, fun, dancing etc.

These are scary swamp people.  Notice how tall!  They walked around on stilts every nite for 4-5 hrs. Where would mature folks like us experience such Halloween fun...........only as missionaries @ the PCC in Hawaii!