Summer Goodbyes and Hellos

Maka, Kaleo's daughter who lives here in Laie, with Ki'ivi, Zoe, Joan, Malia, Malana

It was so fun getting a visit from Zoe Aneca and here girls visiting their Grandma Zoe Ann in Kaneohe

One day at the PCC I was teaching a big group and said to this kid.... you look so familiar, where are you from. Raymond Alberta, he said. Turns out he is Parker Graves who played basketball, small world.

We will be saying good buy to Russ and Diane Greiner from California who have been in our district and have been so fun to get to know. He has authored an amazing book called "The Truth of the Matter" It outlines and answers gospel questions using scripture. He wrote it because he is a convert and he had so many friends with questions that he needed to answer as a young man in California. He went on the serve a mission and was a seminary and institute teacher for many years in California. He and his wife Diane have been here at BYU teaching institute and she has been in the drama department. 

Our District meeting dinner at the turtle house. Diane Greiner, Shelley, Sherri, Elder and Sister Seamans, Wendy, Sharla, Joan, Malinda and Greg Hudnall, and Elder Russ Greiner. They are a great bunch.

Joan with the Greiners at the farewell Munch and Mingle where we sang Aloha 'Oe and other Hawaiian number with our Ukuleles.

This is Elder John Farrell who when I told him my name said, "Oh, Harker....do you know Bruce Harker. To which I said yes he is my husband....Well I guess there is another Bruce Harker who served in the Texas mission field with my Bruce. I remember him from Bruce's missionary books. His name is Bruce Hirsche Harker. Elder Farrell was in a Branch Presidency with him in Idaho. So he had to take a picture of us together and send it to the other Bruce Harker and say....This is Bruce Harker's wife!!!!

         Hazel is gone home for the summer and is leaving Hawaii and cute friends behind until the fall.

When we dropped Hazel at the airport we picked up Melissa and Paige. We had a great Sunday dinner which of course included Grandpa Hicken's Banana Cream Pie with "tender flake lard" that had to ordered on amazon by Sharla ( who was dying for the pie) and I guess Hawaii has no lard anywhere. At least we couldn't find any. Shelley made the crust and I made the filling. It was a BIG HIT of course.

The Settlement Sisters had the honor of singing acapella  "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling at the farewell fireside for the departing Mission Presidency. 

President and Sister Bassett, who have been leading the Laie Mission for the past 3 year are returning to Utah and back to their family. They are a great couple and have been so awesome and dedicated. They had a farewell devotional that was a great tribute to their hard work. We sang the mission song that they wrote about Laie and has been sung at every Ukulele lesson since I got here. It was a great evening!!

Elder and Sister Workman were also honored as they are leaving the university and the mission to go to Provo and work full time with the Hudnalls for the Hope Squad.

President Purcell , a pillar of the Laie community, the other departing councilor in the mission presidency, spoke with grace and gratitude recalling the many kindnesses of this wonderful community since the passing of his wife in May.

 

Sister Purcell, performing a beautiful hula dancer at the Christmas party, sadly and unexpectedly passed away. She was  the amazing  wife of President Purcell the other departing councilor in the mission presidency.