Weeks 19-21

Aloha and Happy Holidays!

The past three weeks have been so sweet here in the Honolulu Mission.  Being away from home during this special holiday time of year has presented many opportunities to serve our missionaries who experience many highs and lows.  We said good-bye to our awesome district on Dec 16th.  Our transfer was only 5 weeks due to holiday timing so it felt a little short-changed but they continued to meet new friends and baptize those who felt the desire to make covenants with our Heavenly Father.  We are continually impressed with their level of gospel understanding and their willingness to share.  Michael and I help with lessons now and then when we’re not helping missionaries with their cars, both of which are sweet opportunities.

Our new district is also great.  We fed 10 missionaries at our small apartment on Christmas Eve.  And on Christmas Day, Michael and I spent a few hours with the zone where they made gingerbread houses; we were the judges!

The Auwaiolimu Ward Christmas party was held on the 19th.  Our new friend Mary Ann attended; she loved it.  I even sang in a women’s quartet for the event.  And the Dual Stake Christmas event was so amazing.  Michael and I sang in a 75-member choral group.  Our numbers included singing the Hallelujah Chorus and Silent Night in Hawaiian.  We’d practiced for over 3 months for the event. BYU friends Paul and Heather Sandstrom were in attendance.  They were on Oahu for a wedding; it was so sweet to see them.  And we love seeing good friends from home.  Jim and Becky Holland met us in Laie for lunch which was very fun to catch up with them as they will be moving to North Carolina.

The mission office filled with lots of holiday packages for missionaries who would come and gather them for their zones.  This represented only Oahu’s load as all other packages for missionaries serving on other islands were mailed directly to our senior couples who serve there; I bet they had fun playing Santa Claus.

Mission Leader Council takes place very transfer. I prepared the lunch for these awesome missionaries. Our wonderful leaders, the Andersens, are doing an amazing job of leading this mission.

For an after transfer activity, the office staff and the mission leaders enjoyed a day of zip lining in the Kualoa Ranch valley.  It was absolutely breathtaking and exhilarating, even in the pouring rain. We’ve learned that ALOHA means sharing breath of life with others, meaning I see you, I hear you, I want to mingle with you.  The Hawaiian culture is full of Aloha.  We feel it.  It is the Love and Peace of God.  We love each of you and continue to express our love for our Savior Jesus Christ.  He is the reason we are here.  We are participants in His work of LOVE, shared with much ALOHA.  Have a very Happy New Year.  It’s going to be amazing!

The weekly bouquet provided by Auntie Helen for our church meetings. She also makes the bread for the sacred sacrament we partake each week. She is ALOHA!