GETTING BACK TO THE REASON I AM HERE IN HAWAII--THE TEMPLE

Here we are with only five months left of our mission.  I seriously can't believe how fast time is going.  It really seems like just a couple of weeks since we arrived and I had that deer-in-the-headlight look about me.  I know I really need to make the most of the time I have left here in beautiful Hawaii.  It seems like a very long time since we have actually been in the temple here.  It closed on December 28 for a scheduled three week cleaning/maintenance.  This Tuesday we get to go back to work, and I am certainly ready.  We will be very busy for a few weeks re-certifying the ordinance workers and hopefully training new workers for some of the shifts.  When we arrived last summer we had the task of doing this same thing.  I was extremely nervous then but now I have a little more experience so I am looking forward to it.  I love the temple and the wonderful peace I feel when there no matter the capacity in which I am serving.  I love the constant reminder of the meaning of life and the plan of salvation and what our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ have done for me and will continue to do for me as long as I am worthy of those blessings.

Today in Sacrament meeting, the high council speaker referenced a talk by Elder Robbins in April 2013 titled "Which way do you face?"  I have been doing much thinking about that phrase all afternoon.  I read the talk also to give me some further enlightenment on what that meant.  Elder Robbins talks of Christ being the only perfect follower of God.  He never let up on his standards (or God's standards) to gain more earthly friends.  He always knew what was right and and true and followed and taught after these things for his whole ministry.  Even though Christ doesn't walk the earth now, his teachings and example should still be the things we seek after if we are to "face" toward our God.  I loved this time to reflect on my own behavior in this matter.  I know that at times I have felt peer pressure to conform to beliefs or behaviors that didn't coincide with what God wants me to do with my life.  Sometimes I let the earthly desires I have overshadow the spiritual desires my Heavenly Father has for me.  I need to and plan to make a resolution to more perfectly follow those teachings I know to be right and true so that if asked "which way to you face?" I can honestly say, I face toward God and His teachings in the gospel.  I know I may falter at times--we all do.  But if I have my sights set in the right direction I know that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost will help me to attain that eternal life that I seek.  
We were also taught about the correct use of the Sabbath day.  That is another thing that has been an interesting behavior change while on my mission.  When at home I would do those things that I was used to.  Church, dinner with family, maybe a little scripture reading or reading of church books, and some television.  Here we have no family and until recently, we were out of church at 11:00 with nothing to do during the day.  It doesn't take long to prepare a small meal for just the two of us so I have been doing a great deal of reading.  Scriptures and other church books (and of course blogging) have taken up my Sunday's.  Don't get me wrong.  I love having my children come to my house for dinner when I am home and am really looking forward to doing that again in another five months, but I am also going to keep up my spiritual reading and pondering the things I learn in meetings.  I know that these things will continue to bless my life as they have while serving a mission in the temple.  

Of another discussion, I'm not sure if I have mentioned in a previous post that I volunteer two hours of my time each week to be in the Sewing Center on BYU-H.  This week I also volunteered to hem lots of new mu mu's for the sister missionaries. The new mu mu's aren't here yet but I will be busy when they get here. A new couple (Brother and Sister Swinton) have just arrived to take the place of Brother and Sister Priday, who were over the visitors center and the sister missionaries.  Last night I met the Swinton's and was able to hem her new mu mu for her.  I love being of service to people using the talents that I have developed over my life time.  I also helped Debbie Pierce with some sewing projects yesterday as they get their home ready to put on the market in preparation for moving back to the mainland soon.

Well, I have certainly rambled on and on today so I'll close for today.  More to come next week, I'm sure.  Have a great week!