We have learned a new meteorological term while living in Hawaii:  the Kona Low!  During the six weeks since our last report Hawaii has experienced record rainfall and very serious flooding.  A weather pattern known as a Kona Low has set up twice during this time and we are entering a third Kona Low period.  This means that moisture laden storms from the south — rather than from the usual north — set up and just hang over the islands for days at a time.  The mountain creeks swell with torrents of muddy water that flows to the ocean.  This brown water settles around many of the beaches and “brown water” warnings abound.  The water is deemed unsafe and the brown turbidity makes the pristine beaches look anything but pristine.

This too shall pass but even the locals are hard pressed to remember a time when this weather pattern has persisted for so long.  Needless to say, missionary work takes on a new flavor when such heavy rains and flooding occur.  One set of missionaries was evacuated from their apartment due to the fear of a local dam bursting, many other companionships lost power, and some church meetings were cancelled altogether.   On a very serious note a missionary vehicle accident occurred during the first Kona Low.  A large tree fell across a major highway and fell directly onto a missionary car while they were driving.  The car was a total loss but the elders were unharmed.  Shaken up, but safe.  Not something missionary parents want to hear about from their son!

Prior to the storms we were able to join Chris and Mary Clifford (Karen’s brother and his wife) in Hana for a weekend.  Mary’s family has an ancestral home in Hana and after many years of hearing about it, it was great to go and see what the home and the quaint, isolated town of Hana is all about.  We mingled with the locals, including at the high school volleyball game, as well as with fellow saints and the missionaries who serve there — one companionship of Elders and one Senior Couple — the Sherwoods.  The local branch is very dependent upon these missionaries and they are very involved in the community.  The church is well known in Hana because the missionaries have always served and volunteered at so many community events, including coaching the high school basketball team (shout out to Elder Chris Sherwood).  It is also evident that the town folk know Chris and Mary very well because of their many frequent stays in Hana over the decades.

We also received a visit from Curtis and Denise Clifford (Karen’s twin brother and his wife) here in Honolulu.  They timed their visit just right between the first and second Kona Low so the weather was acceptable.  We beached, hiked, dined, and enjoyed their company for several days while we squeezed in vehicle coordinator duties and the usual small emergencies (flat tires, fender bender accidents, lost keys, etc.)  Curtis and Denise served as an office couple several years ago in New York City and were our inspiration to serve our mission.  And, they will be off in several months to serve again in the office of the West Virginia Charleston Mission where Denise’s brother and his wife are now serving as the Mission Leaders.

The mission received a visit from the Area Authority, Elder Takashi Wada and his wife. He conducted missionary conferences and member/friends devotionals on three islands, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.  These were major productions, including a zoom of every meeting so that missionaries on all the islands could enjoy each conference, each of which focused on a different topic.

We continue to be able to take advantage of the Laie Temple which is a little over an hour away from Honolulu.  We attend every transfer with our zone of young missionaries, as well as on our own as time permits, and a few weeks ago we were able to help take a brand new convert, Tommy, to the temple to perform baptisms.  Karen stood in as proxy for Tommy’s departed mother while he, a recent recipient of the priesthood, baptized her.  A meaningful moment, indeed.

Of course, we enjoyed General Conference, and we hosted six missionaries at our apartment for an Easter Sunday dinner.  As usual, Karen’s culinary skills shined brightly and they left contented and likely a pound or two heavier!

We love serving.  We bear testimony often of the Gospel, its many truths, the mission of our Savior Jesus Christ, and the love of our Heavenly Parents.  We feel very blessed.

Love to you all,

Elder Michael and Sister Karen Mangum