May and June Moments

Kealakekua Ward Party

Our ward had a "Chili  and Cornbread Cookoff".  We didn't enter, but we went to the party.  Of course, the menu for dinner was - chili and cornbread.

The prizes were cute - wooden spoons and forks.
It was fun to sample the food and spend time with the other missionaries and the ward members.

Relief Society and Young Women's Service Activity

The sisters in our ward gathered for a potluck appetizer dinner and then to make lap blankets for a nearby senior center and leis for the graduating seniors. 

 It was fun to be with the other sisters - young and old!

I brought my cute upstairs neighbor and friend - Sylvie.  Sylvie is not a member of the church, but she likes to come to the Relief Society Activities with me.  On National Best Friend's Day (who knew there was such a thing!)  she sent me the sweetest text message.  I have taken treats for her and her son and  have invited her to church and to the Relief Society Activities.  Her husband passed away this past December and she is happy to have a friend so nearby. At this activity, she and I worked together to make a lap quilt.  I have met so many awesome people here that have good hearts and want to help others.

Random snapshots and memories

Lunch out with President and Sister Hee and the Senior Couples.

Another day and another photo of the senior couples

Missions are ALL about the people!

I have learned that the best part of serving a mission is all the wonderful people that you meet and grow to love.  I decided that I want to get their pictures and names and some of my feelings recorded so that I can remember them in the future.

Sister Qiuano and Sister Francisco.

Both of these sisters serve as temple workers on Friday and they are very different, but I love them both!  Sister Quiano is quiet, seems stern and rarely smiles.  I was intimidated by her at first and it took me a while to get to know her and feel comfortable around her, but now that I do - I love her.  She has a good heart and is very dedicated to serving in the temple.  On the right in this photo is Sister Francisco.  She loves everyone and everyone loves her!  She is in her eighties and faithfully comes every Friday from Hilo to serve in the temple. She has shared with me the struggles she has faced raising her family and losing her husband - she has been a widow for many years.  Sister Francisco has a smile and a good word for all - she always tells me that she loves me.  She truly is one of my favorite people

This is Sister Kalamau - she is so kind and sweet and appreciative of anything you do for her.  She suffers from some disease that makes it difficult to walk and to stand up completely straight.  We were here a few months before we became friends.  When I say we, I mean both Hal and I.  Hal noticed her sitting at the back of the ordinance rooms (where she always likes to sit) and he noticed that she never went to the prayer circle.  She is shy and would not just go forward on her own, so Hal invited her one day.  Her face lit up in a beautiful smile and she as so pleased to be included in this special part of temple worship.  One morning when I was helping in the office during prayer meeting, Sister Kalamau came in to get an ordinance card.  I asked her if she was taking one of her family names through.  She told me that she didn't know how to find the names or what to do.  I told her about Take A Name and helped her download it on her phone.  She quickly began to see names of her family and ancestors.  The office missionaries helped her get the cards printed and this began a new era in her temple service.  She was able to do the work for her mother and sister and others in her line.  We will not forget Sister Kalamau and her wonderful smile and sweet personality.


Sunday Night - Game NightWe like to gather on Sunday evenings to have dessert and play games with the other senior couples.  With lots of teasing and fun, we spend this time together.  There is a story about the Halburt K. Mickelsen and the downward pointing finger - ask Hal to tell you about it.

 Malama Pono

We met in June at "Auntie Ginger's" home for Malama Pono (Hawaiian words for care, righteousness,progression and other good things!)  This month, Shannon, Ruby and I provided the dinner - we figured it was our turn.  We had a taco bar and lemon cake and cheesecake for dessert.

        Faith Bean is our leader and she takes charge!  She conducts the meeting, leads  and provides the music, gives the lesson and organizes everything!  She is a cute lady and full of enthusiasm and ideas.  Below are pictures of some of the sisters that attend regularly!  For a bunch of old ladies, we have lots

of fun!

   "Auntie" Ginger  - our hostess   

Ruby

Shannon

Pam - she is quite a character with lots of stories to share!

 Grace always has a  beautiful smile and she is an "Uber  Taxi" driver and picks up Ruby, Shannon and I and takes us to Malama Pono each month. 

 Yvonne - always happy with a smile! 

                                                             

Ann moved here with her husband from
England - I love her Brittish accent!

                   

 Faith is playing her ukulele and teaching us some Hawaiian songs.  In the picture below, Faith is doing the hula and teaching us the hand motions as we sing one of the songs we learned.  When she was young, Faith performed at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie on Oahu.

Celebrating our 49th Wedding Anniversary

Hal and I went for a late lunch/early dinner after our temple shift.  We love the food at the Fish Hopper in Kona so that is where we went!

Kealakekua Ward 

 Cheryl teaches Relief Society once a month and she is so cute.  She makes special blackboard magnets, has a floral centerpiece and then dresses to match !  Her lessons are very well prepared and visually lovely as well!

Traci Nakamoto teaches our Gospel Doctrine Sunday School Class and is one of our favorite people here.  Her lessons are great and she is friendly to everyone.  Hal loves to tease her and she is always a good sport!  She is the ultimate BYU fan!

 Lydia is another Relief Society teacher who prepares awesome lessons. Both she and Traci use lots of technology and they can make it work without calling in any experts!  My hat is off to both of them!

Speaking at the Single Adult Fireside

This is a picture of us with "Kona Kay".  Kay makes candy, cookies, banana bread, jams, jellies etc. - which she sells in her booth at one of the big outdoor flea markets in Kona.  Whenever we visit her there, she loads us up with free goodies.  So, when she asked us to speak at the Single Adult Fireside (which she oroganizes and hosts at her home); we of course said we would.  Just as every event here, this fireside included a huge buffet dinner. Hal and I spoke after dinner and shared some stories from our previous missions and this mission.

Then we sang some Hawaiian songs together with ukulele accompaniment.  We even sang the Hawaii State song!

ALOHA!!