We have been here in Hawaii now for just over a week. We worked at the Laie Temple Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00 until 8:00pm. We were trained for a couple hours on Tuesday and then set out on our own. We were both able to do some training of new Ordinance Workers which was just a little intimidating since we are just learning our way around the temple ourselves. By Friday we felt a little more at ease. The temple is now closed for their two week maintenance schedule so we will have some time to reflect on our responsibilities.
We have tried to get out and walk each day for our exercise. We have to go either early in the morning or just before sunset because with the humidity, it is quite hot. Monday morning we walked for about a mile and a half before we were caught in a rain shower. Having no choice but to continue, we kept walking to our two mile mark and turned around. The rain stopped about half mile from home. Yes, I was quite a sight. Looked like I had taken a dip in the ocean. One thing I have learned is that it rains a little every day here. It may be a downpour for 10 minutes--then it is finished. It is raining now, even as I am writing this post.
We are so close to everything in the community so we can walk to BYU HI, the grocery store, PCC, Church, Temple etc. However, if we want a Walmart, a mall or Costco we drive for an hour or more depending on traffic.
We found out last night that we can volunteer to work at the PCC for a couple hours each week or two weeks and get free admission. I think we will do that just to use our extra time wisely.
Oh, one other fun? little fact. Geckos are all over. Today I went to the kitchen to get some water and-you guessed it-there was a tiny one scurrying across the cupboard. Now I am NOT fond of having crawly things in my house but Larry said they eat the bugs-which could be a cockroach or something. I just hope I don't see it again. So really there are three of us living in the tiny apartment now. Maybe more.
One of the things I am learning while being here is the humility of the people. They don't feel a need to try and outdo their neighbors when it comes to material things.
They are happy with what they have. Some of their houses are very small and in need of attention but as long as they have family they are happy.
So much for this week. Hopefully I can stay dedicated enough to update my posts each week.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
First Day On The Job
After yesterday's long flight from Salt Lake City to Honolulu we were greeted at the airport by Sister Konekoa, matron of the Laie Temple. They had arranged to pick us up and have a driver take our luggage to our apartment. After we got the bags put into the truck and it was on its way, President Konekoa and his wife took us to lunch at a place called Zippy's. Pretty good food and great company as we chatted and got to know each other a little bit. Then they brought us to our apartment where we were greeted by the neighbors and other missionary couple, the Fry's (Judy). The oriented us as to where things were in the apartment, garage, ward building etc.
We unpacked our luggage and started making a list of things we would need to pick up at the grocery store and Walmart to begin our 12 months in Hawaii.
Even though we were both very tired, our internal time clocks were still on Utah time. We didn't get nearly enough sleep. Hopefully tonight will be better.
We took a couple hours this morning to make a trip to Walmart (nearly an hour away) to get some supplies and stopped at Foodland to finish our shopping list.
We met with President and Sister Konekoa this afternoon to be set apart and receive some orientation. Then brother and sister Robertson took us independently on a tour of the temple and taught some procedures that we need to know. Tomorrow we will have two more hours of training from the Robertson's. Next week we will be on our regular schedules of three days a week.
All in all, a very good day.
We unpacked our luggage and started making a list of things we would need to pick up at the grocery store and Walmart to begin our 12 months in Hawaii.
Even though we were both very tired, our internal time clocks were still on Utah time. We didn't get nearly enough sleep. Hopefully tonight will be better.
We took a couple hours this morning to make a trip to Walmart (nearly an hour away) to get some supplies and stopped at Foodland to finish our shopping list.
We met with President and Sister Konekoa this afternoon to be set apart and receive some orientation. Then brother and sister Robertson took us independently on a tour of the temple and taught some procedures that we need to know. Tomorrow we will have two more hours of training from the Robertson's. Next week we will be on our regular schedules of three days a week.
All in all, a very good day.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Our Temple Group
These wonderful people are our friends in temple training. Learned so much from each of these good brothers and sisters. I hope
they all have a wonderful mission.
they all have a wonderful mission.
TOMORROW WE FLY...
June 17, 2015
Well, I mentioned that we would be in the Salt Lake Temple for training before our mission begins. When we first got our call I was a little disappointed that we wouldn't get to experience the MTC. I needn't have worried at all about that. Our experience has been so very spiritual. We have met several wonderful people and felt of their testimonies and love of the gospel and temple work. We met as a group at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City on Monday morning. Brother and Sister Hicken. in charge of logistics of the temple department, met all of us and took us to the temple where training began. So helpful to all of us in finding our way around, making it where we needed to be and on time. There were a total of 15 couples and five single sisters that have been assigned to temples literally all over the world. Hong Kong, Peru, Philippines (both temples), London, Washington, D.C., Argentina, Samoa and of course Hawaii. As we introduced ourselves we were humbled by the trials that some of these people were leaving as far as very ill children and grandchildren, a flooded home just three days before leaving, family events and yet they were willing to drop things in their lives to serve the Lord. One sister said her daughter is waiting for her mission call and won't even be there when the daughter leaves for her mission.
Our trainers were Brother Richard and Sister Kathleen Walker. She is the oldest daughter of President Hinckley. What a treat to be in their presence. They have served as Temple President in Madrid, Spain; MTC President in Preston, England; and
Temple President in Salt Lake city. They also served as Mission President in Washington, DC. How privileged we were to glean from their wealth of experience.
So we were not disappointed in the content of our training. Some of the things on the agenda were a great review of things we have learned previously like proper administration of ordinances but most things were given with a new or more in depth outlook to things we have been doing for years in the temple. One very important message was the importance for members of the church doing their family genealogy and finding names to complete ordinances for. The work will mean so much more if we are bringing our ancestors into our eternal families.
Today we were able to take a "walk-about" around the Salt Lake Temple. Such an historical building. We started in the basement where the workings of the temple are, went in to the Baptistry (how beautiful that room is). Then we climbed the beautiful spiral staircase to the fifth floor (yes, 104 stairs!) We went in the room that James E. Talmage used when he was commissioned by the church to write Jesus The Christ. We were able to spend some time in the Solemn Assembly room and even listen to fun stories about President Hinckley told by his daughter. They were so awesome to answer any question we could think of to ask them about temples, ordinances, procedures and the like.
So happy to be able to serve my Heavenly Father in this capacity as a temple missionary. Stay tuned for more experiences, feelings and adventures as we begin in Laie, Hawaii tomorrow.
Well, I mentioned that we would be in the Salt Lake Temple for training before our mission begins. When we first got our call I was a little disappointed that we wouldn't get to experience the MTC. I needn't have worried at all about that. Our experience has been so very spiritual. We have met several wonderful people and felt of their testimonies and love of the gospel and temple work. We met as a group at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City on Monday morning. Brother and Sister Hicken. in charge of logistics of the temple department, met all of us and took us to the temple where training began. So helpful to all of us in finding our way around, making it where we needed to be and on time. There were a total of 15 couples and five single sisters that have been assigned to temples literally all over the world. Hong Kong, Peru, Philippines (both temples), London, Washington, D.C., Argentina, Samoa and of course Hawaii. As we introduced ourselves we were humbled by the trials that some of these people were leaving as far as very ill children and grandchildren, a flooded home just three days before leaving, family events and yet they were willing to drop things in their lives to serve the Lord. One sister said her daughter is waiting for her mission call and won't even be there when the daughter leaves for her mission.
Our trainers were Brother Richard and Sister Kathleen Walker. She is the oldest daughter of President Hinckley. What a treat to be in their presence. They have served as Temple President in Madrid, Spain; MTC President in Preston, England; and
Temple President in Salt Lake city. They also served as Mission President in Washington, DC. How privileged we were to glean from their wealth of experience.
So we were not disappointed in the content of our training. Some of the things on the agenda were a great review of things we have learned previously like proper administration of ordinances but most things were given with a new or more in depth outlook to things we have been doing for years in the temple. One very important message was the importance for members of the church doing their family genealogy and finding names to complete ordinances for. The work will mean so much more if we are bringing our ancestors into our eternal families.
Today we were able to take a "walk-about" around the Salt Lake Temple. Such an historical building. We started in the basement where the workings of the temple are, went in to the Baptistry (how beautiful that room is). Then we climbed the beautiful spiral staircase to the fifth floor (yes, 104 stairs!) We went in the room that James E. Talmage used when he was commissioned by the church to write Jesus The Christ. We were able to spend some time in the Solemn Assembly room and even listen to fun stories about President Hinckley told by his daughter. They were so awesome to answer any question we could think of to ask them about temples, ordinances, procedures and the like.
So happy to be able to serve my Heavenly Father in this capacity as a temple missionary. Stay tuned for more experiences, feelings and adventures as we begin in Laie, Hawaii tomorrow.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
We Are Nearly Ready
June 11, 2015
This is the first post of our mission experiences. Larry and I have been called to serve in the Laie Hawaii LDS Temple for the period of one year. We received our call December 10, 2014 so it has been quite a wait. Now, six months later, we are ready to leave in three days. We will attend some training in the Salt Lake Temple for three days and then off to Hawaii. Yes, I have a little anxiety as to what we will be doing, meeting new people, living in a very small apartment, being so far away from my family for the year and knowing that only two suitcases each for Larry and I can accompany us across the Pacific Ocean. That translates to just a few pair of shoes, about seven or eight dress outfits, about the same for casual and a few temple dresses. I know I'll survive but it has been hard thinking of only having what I take with me. Those concerns aside, we are happy to have the opportunity to serve our mission in such a beautiful place with wonderful people. We are up for the challenge and excited for the adventure.
In this blog, my goal is to record the many experiences that we are about to embark on. I know that there will be many inspirational moments that we will want to remember so this will be our way of doing that. Feel free to follow us through this new chapter in our life together.
Kay Pierce
This is the first post of our mission experiences. Larry and I have been called to serve in the Laie Hawaii LDS Temple for the period of one year. We received our call December 10, 2014 so it has been quite a wait. Now, six months later, we are ready to leave in three days. We will attend some training in the Salt Lake Temple for three days and then off to Hawaii. Yes, I have a little anxiety as to what we will be doing, meeting new people, living in a very small apartment, being so far away from my family for the year and knowing that only two suitcases each for Larry and I can accompany us across the Pacific Ocean. That translates to just a few pair of shoes, about seven or eight dress outfits, about the same for casual and a few temple dresses. I know I'll survive but it has been hard thinking of only having what I take with me. Those concerns aside, we are happy to have the opportunity to serve our mission in such a beautiful place with wonderful people. We are up for the challenge and excited for the adventure.
In this blog, my goal is to record the many experiences that we are about to embark on. I know that there will be many inspirational moments that we will want to remember so this will be our way of doing that. Feel free to follow us through this new chapter in our life together.
Kay Pierce
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