Visitors...

One of my parents good friends George and JoEllen were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Hawaii and took the time to stop by and visit my parents on their way to Maui.  My parents were so excited to see some familiar faces from home.  My mom has known George and JoEllen since high school...I think that's been about 20 years ;)

(give or take a few)

Pictures of their surroundings...

across the street

7-11 :)

This is their apartment and car.

kitchen

The street they live on.

Around the corner from their apartment

Living room...this is the hide-a-bed they are currently
taking reservations for :)

kitchen

Here is a picture of my parents kitchen in their apartment...looks nice :)

Speaking in Sacrament meeting...

So my parents spoke in Sacrament Meeting Sunday and it was the Tongan ward that they spoke in but they were allowed to speak English :)  The only problem is when the Bishop got up to announce the program all they could understand was their names so they didn't really know what order they were supposed to speak in.  So once the Bishop sat down my mom stood up to speak and as she was walking to the pulpit she noticed the other man speaking was walking to the pulpit as well.  Apparently she was the SECOND speaker, not the first. HAHA...so after she spoke, my Dad got up getting ready to speak, but then the organ started playing and they realized it was a rest hymn from the congregation...luckily the whole congregation stood up to sing the hymn so he didn't look silly standing all by himself.  My mom said several people told her she did a great job and they really enjoyed her talk, so at least they can understand english even if they don't speak it in church.

So the apartment they are in is actually the downstairs to a house, not an actual apartment building.  They don't have A/C and are missing the ocean breeze but they really like the people upstairs they are renting from and said they are very nice.  My mom had mentioned the heat and the next day an extra fan was on their doorstep.  She also asked if it would be OK if they got a little BBQ to BBQ out on the porch...the next day a new BBQ was on their doorstep.  She asked about a vacuum and said they could go get one for the place.... and the next morning there was a brand new vacuum on their porch. She said next she might mention they need a new Mercedes and see what shows up on their doorstep. HAHA...

They have FOX News, but not BYUtv so they are definitely sacrificing a little :)  but with my Dad's new iPad there is a BYUtv app that you can watch all the "classic" BYU games as well as live streaming...so that will be nice once football season rolls around...they just might have to wear their glasses to watch the small screen :)

When I talked to my mom last night she was watching a "Classic" BYU/Hawaii game but broadcast on Hawaiian TV.  She asked if I remembered if we won the game or not and once she started naming some players I quickly remembered that was the game from 1990 when Ty Detmer won the Heisman and we were creamed :(  I told her she didn't want to watch that one and better go watch the iPad and find the BYU/Miami game or something :)
Obviously the definition of a "classic" game is in the eye of the beholder (or winner) HAHA

ALOHA---Denise

Happy Father's Day

My dad got an iPad for Father's Day and I was so excited to FaceTime with him!!!  Our whole family gathered around the computer to talk to them.  The first thing Danny said when we saw them was "They look so happy"  and its true, you can see the light and happiness even across the computer screen.  They had just moved into their new apartment the day before and so they gave us a tour and it looks pretty nice.  It doesn't have a view of the ocean but it has a beautiful view of the mountains.  I am glad they found a place that will be nice for them.  They were asked to speak in church next Sunday...I didn't clarify but hopefully it is in the English speaking ward...I will find out for sure and let you know ;)

My Dad with his Father's Day gift from the ward

My mom and the Bishop of the Tongan Ward

ALOHA---Denise

An apartment has been found...

Finally my parents have found an apartment.  The sad thing is the reason it was available was because the previous missionary couple living there, the husband got pneumonia and passed away :(

It's very sad but I guess if it is your time to pass, being on a mission in Hawaii wouldn't be a bad way to go...

So they now have their own place.
Their address is:

54-231 Hauula Homestead Road
P.O. Box 0412
Hauula HI, 96717-0412

They are excited about the place.  It is only a 1 bedroom but has a hide-a-bed if you want to go visit :)

Every time I talk to my mom or dad I am struck by how happy they sound.  You can hear in their voice the joy they are having....and not just because they are in paradise :)

They are finding joy in their service.  They love the wards they are assigned to.  One is a Tongan ward, one a Samoan, and one a Haulie (what the Hawaiians call white people) ward.  They speak Tongan and Samoan in the wards and so my parents don't understand much but my dad said when they sing the hymns in those languages it is beautiful and the spirit is so strong.

They went to a community meeting this week in the area they are assigned to help and my mom said basically everything they wanted to do to improve the community my dad could do.

They wanted to improve a building but needed someone who knew building codes and how to do it...my dad can.

They wanted help to network several computers together so several people at once could work on family history...my dad can.

They needed someone who knew how to do family history online...my dad can.

They needed someone who could take the families pictures and get them a printed copy to hang in their house to show them the importance of families and get them excited about their family history...my dad can.

Hmmm...wonder if my parents were sent to this specific area for a reason :)

I have no doubt that they were and I also have no doubt they will be amazed when they find out how talented my mom is as well....in different ways than my dad but equally as talented.

I can't wait to hear the stories about the lives they will affect.

ALOHA---Denise

I almost can't believe it has only been 1 week since my parents departure to Hawaii.  In a lot of ways it seems like it has been longer.  I hope the next 100 weeks go by faster than the first...haha...
They are enjoying their "temporary" apartment so much they are trying to negotiate to stay there permanently.  Perhaps it is because they didn't like the studio apartment in the "not so nice" part of town that my dad said was so small they would have to get a storage unit for their suitcases.  So the people at the mission home said no problem they would find them something more suitable....well the next option was the "old folks home" while it was bigger than the studio apartment it had no kitchen and only a small fridge.  They were told they could eat in the cafeteria with the residents there but with my Dad's diabetes that didn't seem like a good option to be eating cafeteria food for 2 years.  I have to admit I couldn't stop laughing when my mom called and told me that the old folks home was an options and even better we could get our own room there when we came to visit for only $60 a night...and we could eat in the cafeteria too :)

They were going to take a look at some apartments near BYU Hawaii and hopefully they will find something that will work for them.

They have been put to work right away.  Their first Sunday there they met with the 3 Bishops and Stake President of the area they are over.  They have been asked to help reactivate a certain area where there have been some hurt feelings regarding the church.  My mom was meeting with the Relief Society President yesterday...I'm sure she had some good ideas for her :)

My mom went on a walk their 2nd day there and got lost and ended up having her first contact discussion with the woman who helped her figure out how to get back home.  She got her name and phone number and was planning to go back and visit her.

They are enjoying the beautiful scenery and the wonderful people they are working with...now if they could just find an apartment so they could unpack and get settled.

But you can still send anything you need to the mission home address.

Aloha---Denise

Arrived in Hawaii...

The view from their apartment

Just a quick note to let you know my parents have arrived in Hawaii.  They had dinner with the mission president and toured a few areas of the mission.  They are in a temporary apartment right now but my mom said it is clean :)  So we don't know their exact address yet.

You can send anything to the mission home if you need.

Elder Dennis and Sister Marsha Anderson
1500 S. Beretania Suite. 416
Honolulu, Hawaii 96826

I'm excited to hear how their first day in the mission goes tomorrow.


Aloha---Denise

The airport sendoff...

Well, now they are REALLY off!!!  We dropped Mom and Dad off at the airport this morning so they are officially on their way to the mission.

The mission president called them this week and let them know they would be assigned to work with 3 wards in Laie, which is right by the Temple and BYU Hawaii.  They will help with less active members and baptisms.  The mission president said he would pick them up from the airport today and take them to the mission home for lunch then they would take them to their apartment.  Sunday they will have a meeting with the Mission President, Stake President, and the 3 Bishops of the wards....after attending 3 hours of Sacrament meetings of course :)
Sounds like they will be put right to work.

We are so excited for them and know they will do a GREAT job!!!  We will miss them but are so proud of them too!!!

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go"
Can't you just hear Mom singing the song :)

This picture melts my heart.  

ALOHA---Denise