As you can tell from the title of this post, we have had a lot of rain here this week. It is a nice warm rain but nevertheless, rain. It really hasn't affected us though because we are generally in the temple and when we get home we just chill a bit. It is typical Hawaii weather-rains then the sun comes up for a few minutes then it clouds over and rains some more. It is really nice at night because it tends to put me to sleep.
We are still house sitting for Keith and Debbie so we hear a lot more noise from the street since they are right on the major road through town but the spaciousness of the house and the conveniences out weight the noise.
We were pretty busy in the temple this week despite the rain so that is always good. When it slows down the time seems to do the same. Always better to be busy than idle-even in the temple. It is always interesting to me how many people come to the temple while here on vacation. We can usually tell since they have to be shown where to go so we talk to them and find out where they are from. I love it when someone has ties to Utah. We actually have a couple sisters working in the temple that are from Logan area. It has been fun to visit with them about an area I am familiar with.
Today I was tempted to stay home from church due to a little stomach issue. By 7:30 I felt fine so I went. As always, I was so glad I did. I don't know how this happens but each week the speakers and the lessons seem to speak to my soul--like the messages were just for me. Today was no different.
One of the speakers (a new couple in the ward) made the analogy of branding and how we need to be branded in the Savior and the things that we are supposed to do to be more Christ-like. Of course service was brought out along with just persevering through adversity. He gave an example that was very close to my heart right now. He said he had a missionary companion whose father died while out on his mission (serving in Arizona). He was given the option to go home and come back, go home and stay or just stay on his mission. He thought about it a few minutes and replied "I'm going to stay here and be the best missionary I can be, and do it for my father." Of course that brought tears to my eyes remembering Michelle's mission when her dad died. He made the comment that God gives his toughest trials to his toughest children.
Our Relief Society lesson came from Elder Bednar's conference talk where he reverenced the memories of the three recently deceased apostles, Elder Packer, Elder Perry and Elder Scott. The discussion centered around the wisdom, knowledge, experience and testimony of each of those wonderful men and what we can learn from those men of God even though they are aging. Then the challenge to us was to think of how one of the past General Authorities have impacted our life. I guess I would have to say President Hinckley because of his love of temples and temple work. While he was Prophet of the church, temples began to dot the earth. With his vision, we have even more now. Also, I think of him as a very positive person and always with a smile and a great story to remind us of a principle of the gospel that we should be perfecting.
And finally, as usual at this time of year, my thoughts are a little heavy. It was 12 years ago this week that Carl unexpectedly died due to a fall from our roof, just days after our 33rd wedding anniversary. I don't think the sting from death of a loved one ever goes away but with time we can be healed and life can be good again. That is where I am at now. I have the faith and knowledge that we will be together again in the eternities if I live up to my covenants and stay strong in my belief in Heavenly Father and his teachings. In the past 12 years I have also been able to do a great deal of traveling, have learned how to take care of things around my home by myself, have welcomed 12 new grandchildren into the family and two sons-in-law as well. Each of these people have brightened my life and I am so grateful for them as well as my children and those already in the family when Carl died. I have also remarried, something I didn't see myself doing, but Larry has brought great joy to me over the past eight years and I am so grateful for that. He is in large measure responsible for my being on this mission today. I don't know that I would have had the courage to go by myself as a single sister.
It seems that each week my blogs get longer and longer. They are nearly at the definition of an epistle so I had better quit for this week.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Standing Strong In The Face of Opposition
This weeks blog gives you more of the same things we have experienced so far while serving our mission. I'm pretty sure that because we spend our time in the temple that it may seem a little mundane to the outside reader but let me assure you it is anything but mundane to me. Every day brings different responsibilities, different personalities to work with and a different level of responsibility. Today I would like to talk about some of that.
As we have served under a new presidency for the past two weeks we are learning more about each of them. This week we were able to serve with President and Sister Nihipali. They have had experience in a temple presidency while they served in the Kona, Hawaii temple until last year. Their expertise will be of much value I am sure. I have enjoyed being on their shift because they give us (Larry and I) the opportunity each day to be involved with the sealing process of couples. These couples are taking the next step in eternal progression by being sealed (or married) to each other in the Holy House of the Lord. It is fun to see their level of excitement and nervousness-both at the same time. One day we were scheduled to be the temple escorts for a couple who were coming to the temple for the first time and then being sealed after their endowment session. For some reason they decided not to come, at least that day. I'm not sure if they will reschedule or not but it made me stop and think about what commitment level they have when the date has been planned and arranged for, family was invited to join in the joy of being there but for some reason they didn't follow through. This gave me a little glimpse of what our Father feels when we disappoint Him. I felt a disappointment that this wonderful couple and their two children were missing out on those temple blessings. I'm sure that Heavenly Father felt that as well. Our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ must feel that disappointment when we choose to alter our behavior in living up to our covenants that we have made with Him. I have done a great deal of thinking and pondering on that topic lately and really hope and pray that I can always remember the importance of keeping my covenants.
Now just a little review from our sacrament meeting talk today. I was quite impressed that both the sister RM and the high councilman talked about weathering the storms in our lives. It is oh so important to have a firm foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ as we go through temptations, trials, problems, illness or any other thing that could take us away from the gospel. Wind storms will come and go but if we are steadfast and immovable we can survive. The problems arise when we waver in our belief system and our testimony. Satan is always trying to put a wedge anywhere he can get it and his job is easy when we aren't strong. I think this has to do with commitment to attending the temple and being faithful no matter what comes in our path. I, just like most people have had my own trials in life but I hope and pray that my foundation is cemented deep enough that I won't cave on the things I know to be right and true.
It was interesting to note that in all three meetings today, the message was much the same. Stay strong, don't let go of the iron rod and look forward to the final goal-living with God and Christ as well as those loved ones who have passed on.
The thing I like about writing these blogs is that when I begin I usually don't even have a direction that I want to go. I like to let the spirit guide me in my thoughts.
Can't wait to see what next week brings.
As we have served under a new presidency for the past two weeks we are learning more about each of them. This week we were able to serve with President and Sister Nihipali. They have had experience in a temple presidency while they served in the Kona, Hawaii temple until last year. Their expertise will be of much value I am sure. I have enjoyed being on their shift because they give us (Larry and I) the opportunity each day to be involved with the sealing process of couples. These couples are taking the next step in eternal progression by being sealed (or married) to each other in the Holy House of the Lord. It is fun to see their level of excitement and nervousness-both at the same time. One day we were scheduled to be the temple escorts for a couple who were coming to the temple for the first time and then being sealed after their endowment session. For some reason they decided not to come, at least that day. I'm not sure if they will reschedule or not but it made me stop and think about what commitment level they have when the date has been planned and arranged for, family was invited to join in the joy of being there but for some reason they didn't follow through. This gave me a little glimpse of what our Father feels when we disappoint Him. I felt a disappointment that this wonderful couple and their two children were missing out on those temple blessings. I'm sure that Heavenly Father felt that as well. Our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ must feel that disappointment when we choose to alter our behavior in living up to our covenants that we have made with Him. I have done a great deal of thinking and pondering on that topic lately and really hope and pray that I can always remember the importance of keeping my covenants.
Now just a little review from our sacrament meeting talk today. I was quite impressed that both the sister RM and the high councilman talked about weathering the storms in our lives. It is oh so important to have a firm foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ as we go through temptations, trials, problems, illness or any other thing that could take us away from the gospel. Wind storms will come and go but if we are steadfast and immovable we can survive. The problems arise when we waver in our belief system and our testimony. Satan is always trying to put a wedge anywhere he can get it and his job is easy when we aren't strong. I think this has to do with commitment to attending the temple and being faithful no matter what comes in our path. I, just like most people have had my own trials in life but I hope and pray that my foundation is cemented deep enough that I won't cave on the things I know to be right and true.
It was interesting to note that in all three meetings today, the message was much the same. Stay strong, don't let go of the iron rod and look forward to the final goal-living with God and Christ as well as those loved ones who have passed on.
The thing I like about writing these blogs is that when I begin I usually don't even have a direction that I want to go. I like to let the spirit guide me in my thoughts.
Can't wait to see what next week brings.
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Heavenly Father's Tender Mercies...
Man, I can't believe how the time seems to rush by. We are soon completing our fifth month here. It has been so great even with the extra hot and humid summer we had. This week has been so wonderful. Some days have been overcast and a little cooler and breezy because of trade winds but that is a welcome relief.
We are house sitting for Keith and Debbie this month, as of today, while they are on the mainland. They left last night and will be gone until mid December. We moved some of our things in today-a few clothes, our food from the fridge and toiletries. It should be good having a little more space, no, quite a bit more space. We actually have two bathrooms, a big living room and a VCR and movies to watch on our down time.
It will be strange this year not having any family around for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I thought we would have Keith and Debbie here but not so. I did find out that all the senior missionaries from PCC and BYUH are invited to Thanksgiving dinner together at a place called Tita's Grill (owned by our bishop). They provide dinner for homeless people so we get to help with that too. Should be fun.
Recently I started back up with the B of M 365 reading program. This is an instagram site that has daily reading assignments to read the Book of Mormon in 365 days. I started it early this year but got busy with my mission for a while and now I am back on course. Today's reading was 3 Nephi and the question going along with that chapter was, "Why is it important for us to keep a journal?" I have not been a very diligent journal keeper in the past and I keep promising myself to get better at it. I feel that the blogs I write each week are a good start but I need to be better at it. One of the conference talks this last October was titled "What lack I yet?" That is one of many things I lack on my journey to perfection so I need to improve. So, in keeping with that, I want to talk about my week in the temple.
I was a little nervous about having our scheduled changed to five days a week. However, I think anything worth having in life is hard and I knew it would be hard to wake up at 5:00 a.m. or before and be at the temple by 6:00 every day. After the first couple of days it got easier. I won't say I wasn't tired during the day but I was able to do it day after day. There were other concerns I had as well but due to the tender mercies of my Father in Heaven I had very little to worry about. After leaving the temple each day I noticed that the pain that I experience occasionally with my back was almost non existent. I didn't even take my normal ibuprofen. Another tender mercy has been that the temple is busy. I am not one to enjoy just standing around with nothing to do but we have been so busy that the time went by so very fast each day. I love that.
And maybe the biggest tender mercy I was able to experience this week was a special spirit with me. Our new temple president, President Kealoha, gave some very inspirational messages in our training/prayer meetings and mentioned time after time how close the spirits of those who are having their temple work done really are. One particular day I was talking to a young girl who told me she was doing the work for her grandmother who happened to be a Queen in that culture. I actually felt so strongly that her grandmother was indeed right there in the room with us. I got tears in my eyes as I could feel the connection between this sweet girl and her grandmother. I was so happy to have prepared myself that day to be able to receive that testimony of the work that we do in temples. I hope I can be in a spiritual enough place each day to feel the love of our God as he prepares His sons and daughters to spend eternity in His presence.
Well, I know I have gone on and on so I'll close now since Larry and I are going to watch a movie, a luxury we have while house sitting since we don't have a VCR or movies in our apartment.
Have a great week everyone!
We are house sitting for Keith and Debbie this month, as of today, while they are on the mainland. They left last night and will be gone until mid December. We moved some of our things in today-a few clothes, our food from the fridge and toiletries. It should be good having a little more space, no, quite a bit more space. We actually have two bathrooms, a big living room and a VCR and movies to watch on our down time.
It will be strange this year not having any family around for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I thought we would have Keith and Debbie here but not so. I did find out that all the senior missionaries from PCC and BYUH are invited to Thanksgiving dinner together at a place called Tita's Grill (owned by our bishop). They provide dinner for homeless people so we get to help with that too. Should be fun.
Recently I started back up with the B of M 365 reading program. This is an instagram site that has daily reading assignments to read the Book of Mormon in 365 days. I started it early this year but got busy with my mission for a while and now I am back on course. Today's reading was 3 Nephi and the question going along with that chapter was, "Why is it important for us to keep a journal?" I have not been a very diligent journal keeper in the past and I keep promising myself to get better at it. I feel that the blogs I write each week are a good start but I need to be better at it. One of the conference talks this last October was titled "What lack I yet?" That is one of many things I lack on my journey to perfection so I need to improve. So, in keeping with that, I want to talk about my week in the temple.
I was a little nervous about having our scheduled changed to five days a week. However, I think anything worth having in life is hard and I knew it would be hard to wake up at 5:00 a.m. or before and be at the temple by 6:00 every day. After the first couple of days it got easier. I won't say I wasn't tired during the day but I was able to do it day after day. There were other concerns I had as well but due to the tender mercies of my Father in Heaven I had very little to worry about. After leaving the temple each day I noticed that the pain that I experience occasionally with my back was almost non existent. I didn't even take my normal ibuprofen. Another tender mercy has been that the temple is busy. I am not one to enjoy just standing around with nothing to do but we have been so busy that the time went by so very fast each day. I love that.
And maybe the biggest tender mercy I was able to experience this week was a special spirit with me. Our new temple president, President Kealoha, gave some very inspirational messages in our training/prayer meetings and mentioned time after time how close the spirits of those who are having their temple work done really are. One particular day I was talking to a young girl who told me she was doing the work for her grandmother who happened to be a Queen in that culture. I actually felt so strongly that her grandmother was indeed right there in the room with us. I got tears in my eyes as I could feel the connection between this sweet girl and her grandmother. I was so happy to have prepared myself that day to be able to receive that testimony of the work that we do in temples. I hope I can be in a spiritual enough place each day to feel the love of our God as he prepares His sons and daughters to spend eternity in His presence.
Well, I know I have gone on and on so I'll close now since Larry and I are going to watch a movie, a luxury we have while house sitting since we don't have a VCR or movies in our apartment.
Have a great week everyone!
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Mission Updates
Here it is November 1, 2015. This marks four and a half months here in Laie, Hawaii and serving in the temple. What a wonderful experience it has been to this point. I am so humbled to be working with so many wonderful people who love the Lord and the gospel of Jesus Christ so much. Not a day goes by that I don't hear from someone how wonderful it is to be working in the temple and most often they refer to it as God's Holy House. It brings tears to my eyes to hear of their true devotion to our Heavenly Father. This calling has really strengthened my testimony of how the work of the Lord is moving forth from all directions. For a small temple and a small community the amount of temple work that is done is amazing from baptisms for the dead right up to having families sealed together for all eternity.
As I reported last week, we are now under the direction of a new temple presidency. I believe I misspelled the name of one member of the presidency so here it is again.
President Kealoha, President Nihipali and President Taala. Although I don't know President Nihipali at all, I have been in meetings with the others and they are wonderful men of God and their wives are equally wonderful. We did find out about a few changes that will take place in our callings so I will explain those now.
In the past, there have been three couples used as trainers for the new ordinance workers. We also were responsible for re-certifying all ordinance workers. Thus our shifts were fewer per week. We were working three days with an additional few hours for a meeting each week. From now on there will only be two couples as trainers and they are the missionaries. That means we will be covering more shifts. We (Larry and I) will be working every morning (Tuesday-Friday) from 6 am-1 pm. The other couple (the Fry's) will be working 1 pm-8 pm. Both couples will be working on Saturday with a little overlap time because Saturday is our busiest day with weddings and new patrons. We will trade shifts each month so that will be good. Working the same shift for a month will bring continuity to our training procedures. That is actually what we did for the first 3 months but the last month our shifts were all mixed up.
I'll be honest. I don't have a problem working more because there isn't much to do on our time off but I am not really a morning person anymore and it is so hard to get up at 5:00 am and be out of the house by 5:45. I come home exhausted and it is only 1 pm. I don't know how to unwind and take naps so I am just tired all the time. On our previous schedule we had a day in between to recoup. I am sure the Lord will help me with what I need to do. I know the blessings of service way out weigh the getting up early issues.
The weather has been great this week. We have had big waves on the North Shore of the island due to hurricanes out in the ocean so we have stopped a few times to take in the beauty of the ocean. Wednesday we stopped to look at the waves at Sharks Cove and came upon a seal that was laying on the beach getting a little sun. It is amazing to see so many sights that are not found in Utah. The mountains here are so green and in great contrast with the blue of the ocean and the sky (most of the time). I guess it just makes me more aware of all of God's creations and the immense beauty in them.
Tonight there is a fireside at BYUH and
Elder D.Todd Christopherson will be the speaker so we are going to go to that. This week kicks off the 150th celebration of the church in Laie, HI so there will be things going on all week with a special performance by the youth next Saturday. We will not be able to attend since we are taking Keith and Debbie to the airport for a month long vacation. We will be house sitting for them while they are gone.
Well, I have rambled enough for this week. I'll be back next week to blog again.
As I reported last week, we are now under the direction of a new temple presidency. I believe I misspelled the name of one member of the presidency so here it is again.
President Kealoha, President Nihipali and President Taala. Although I don't know President Nihipali at all, I have been in meetings with the others and they are wonderful men of God and their wives are equally wonderful. We did find out about a few changes that will take place in our callings so I will explain those now.
In the past, there have been three couples used as trainers for the new ordinance workers. We also were responsible for re-certifying all ordinance workers. Thus our shifts were fewer per week. We were working three days with an additional few hours for a meeting each week. From now on there will only be two couples as trainers and they are the missionaries. That means we will be covering more shifts. We (Larry and I) will be working every morning (Tuesday-Friday) from 6 am-1 pm. The other couple (the Fry's) will be working 1 pm-8 pm. Both couples will be working on Saturday with a little overlap time because Saturday is our busiest day with weddings and new patrons. We will trade shifts each month so that will be good. Working the same shift for a month will bring continuity to our training procedures. That is actually what we did for the first 3 months but the last month our shifts were all mixed up.
I'll be honest. I don't have a problem working more because there isn't much to do on our time off but I am not really a morning person anymore and it is so hard to get up at 5:00 am and be out of the house by 5:45. I come home exhausted and it is only 1 pm. I don't know how to unwind and take naps so I am just tired all the time. On our previous schedule we had a day in between to recoup. I am sure the Lord will help me with what I need to do. I know the blessings of service way out weigh the getting up early issues.
The weather has been great this week. We have had big waves on the North Shore of the island due to hurricanes out in the ocean so we have stopped a few times to take in the beauty of the ocean. Wednesday we stopped to look at the waves at Sharks Cove and came upon a seal that was laying on the beach getting a little sun. It is amazing to see so many sights that are not found in Utah. The mountains here are so green and in great contrast with the blue of the ocean and the sky (most of the time). I guess it just makes me more aware of all of God's creations and the immense beauty in them.
Tonight there is a fireside at BYUH and
Elder D.Todd Christopherson will be the speaker so we are going to go to that. This week kicks off the 150th celebration of the church in Laie, HI so there will be things going on all week with a special performance by the youth next Saturday. We will not be able to attend since we are taking Keith and Debbie to the airport for a month long vacation. We will be house sitting for them while they are gone.
Well, I have rambled enough for this week. I'll be back next week to blog again.
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