Update

We have spent another week in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission.  I (Marsha) go for my walk most mornings, look at the ocean, beautiful trees, flowers and green foliage and think--- “I can’t believe I’m in Hawaii what a beautiful part of the vineyard to labor in.

Sunday we are sitting in the Tongan ward.  A cute 14 month old boy was sitting next to us.  He kept looking at my lilly white legs then at me & back to my legs he finally came up to touch my leg then smile & tough again.  He started to gently push on them.  So cute – I really think he thought my legs were like marsh mellows & he wanted to see if they would puff back.  With all the walking that’s probably the only part of my body that can bounce back.

Our Wednesday class at Kahana went well, we only had three in attendance this time.  The other four were all from one family and they were gone somewhere.

The three that came arrived about 30 minutes early. Their mother was bringing them home from an after school activity and they saw our car so their mother dropped them off.  Their mother is not active and we are not sure she is a baptized member maybe only a member of record.  We are gradually getting to know where all the people live and their status as far as membership.  It was very encouraging to have their mother drop them off because sometimes we have to  hunt them in the area. 

Our lesson was about “Doing Good Each Day”.   We played a music video by Alex Boye'  “Have I Done any Good Today” 
(Here is the link to watch it yourself)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdoaHHDK_SA

It is very touching but a little more upbeat than the way we sing from the Hymn book.  We gave a short lesson and went to the community garden to  weed and pick up trash.  After we finished that we had them decorate sugar cookies.  When they finished and the two boys started leaving taking their cookie treasures with them Marsha said “See you next week” Areal the eleven year old girl said, “Sister Anderson you forgot something” .  Marsha said, “Oh what? Did you leave some cookies here”  “No, Prayer,  the Closing Prayer”   How neat that she would want a closing prayer.

We followed the suggestion of the stake president and told some of the members that we are helping with a records audit and need to get the names and birthdays of everyone that are living with them.  The response has been great.  Most still don’t have an interest in coming to church.  The most common excuse is that is the only day they get to visit with their family and since so many are now inactive or non-members.  We were invited to come to a baby blessing on Saturday at noon.  They are doing it in an area near the ocean in Kahana Valley.  It is nice to know they are willing to invite us to attend a family event like that.  They are having someone from the ward come to do the blessing.  Step by step we are getting to make friends with the adults in the valley.

A river runs...

They had so much rain today that this normally dry stream behind their apartment is now running like a river.

Senior couples picture

So all the Senior Couples got together at the PCC  They took this group photo.  Elder and Sister Anderson are the ONLY proselyting missionaries in the group.  All of the others work at the PCC or Temple visitors center.  I think they must have been sent there for a special purpose.


ALOHA---Denise

Friday August 31, 2012 

We picked Lisa and Kassi Hartle at the Honolulu International Airport. They stayed with us while Kassi got settled into the dorms at BYU Hawaii in Laie about 4 miles north of us.  Saturday we spent some time with them showing some of the sights and where to get the best coconut shrimp, the school, and the beach.  Sunday they went to the Samoan Ward with us then rented a car and spent Sunday together.  Monday (Labor Day) Brandon Reeves (his dad helps coach Steven's basketball team) came for dinner with us and Kassi & Lisa. After dinner we dropped Brandon off at school and Lisa  & Kassi went with us to the Senior Couples Family Home Evening.  Michael Ballam, his wife and son Ben presented the program.  Ben is serving a mission at the PCC.  He was born with spinal bifida and is in a wheel chair.  They talked about finding out about Ben’s condition before he was born and the priesthood blessings they both received from Neal A. Maxwell.  Their story is so compelling as to the truth that God does know who each of us is and what our needs and desires are.  There was an extremely strong spirit attending the evening.

The Ballam’s grandson Zachary is in the Triplet’s 4^th grade class in Highland and their son Chris & family are in Denise & Danny’s ward.

Tuesday, we all attended the Laie Temple to do baptisms for the dead.  We met the Hartle’s friends  (the Martins) from St. George.  Their daughter Marisa is attending BYU-H also.  Great experience we did a name for a relative of two of temple workers they were in tears knowing that finally their relatives work was getting done.

Wednesday evening we took Lisa to the airport, on the way the attend our Kahana Valley class.  We had seven children and Kassi talked to two of the older girls about the Young Woman’s program.  Our two young missionary Elders assigned to the second ward attended the class also.

Last Wednesday our lesson was on prayer.  This week one young seven year old boy told us that he had prayed, before his math test, to do well and recall what he had studied.  That touched our hearts that he remembered our lesson from last week.

We keep the lessons short, play a game and have treats.  Hoping to leave them wanting more so the come back next week.

Thursday evening we had an appointment with the Stake President Shumway.  He wanted to check and see how we were doing, make sure we were eating… silly question… just look at us. He was glad we were working with the children because most of the adults have no interest at this time to come to church or learn about the Gospel.

After our meeting we went to the BYU-H Woman’s Volley Ball game.  As Senior Missionaries we get a free pass to all the home sports games. 

Wednesday Sept 13 we Taught our class in Kahana Valley seven children came and the Elders came again also.  When it is time for opening prayer they stop what they are doing, fold their arms & are quiet.  I think we have made great progress since only two are members and are not active.  As we were getting ready to leave two girls ran back to our car to ask if we would pick them up for church on Sunday.  

Anna Rosa a cute seven year old ask us to come to her school on Thursday to have a family picnic lunch.  Her family could not come.  What a sweet invite for us, Marsha hugged her and said absolutely we will come.  We can understand why the Lord loves these little children so much.  We are so blessed to help these young ones learn about the Gospel.