My street and Mailbox while in Laie, we were know are the "Turtle House" thus small turtle on mailbox
Thought I should get a shot of where I live, for future reference. It's been a great experience with great room mates. Shelley Petersen, Sharla Behan and Sheri Sauve and we are having fun together. Someone told me that the hardest part of being a single senior missionary was getting along with people you live with and work with. But I think I have been VERY fortunate in that way.
We met Kaleo's daughter Maka and husband Kaleo Kahawaii again this year at the "Huki Pull" which is an an annual event in Laie. She works as a counselor at a private school and Kaleo is a groundskeeper at the temple. She is with her little niece.The whole community gets involved and it's a great event. It was the first event I attended when I got here last August so here I am 1 year later.
Laie actually has a great atmosphere and community feel. I actually feel totally at home here. There are so many good and kind people that, like Raymond families, have been here for generations. The girl who spoke in sacrament meeting is getting married in the Laie temple like her parents and grandparents. One of the most interesting aspects is that nobody care much about their homes or cars. Some of the richest people here live in pretty humble abodes and spend all their money helping and serving other, which is pretty different I feel from mainstream "church" culture in some areas. Here its all about Ohana and others.
This is Wilford Wu, a chinese student who talked today in church. All I can say is WOW. He is an amazing young man. His family joined the church when he was 5 in China and he was able to go on a mission to Washington. When he came back from his mission he had to take his missionary tag off BEFORE the plane landed back in China. They meet very discreetly and can't openly talk about their faith. Just recently there was a major setback with more discrimination by the Chinese government. He is graduating in December and is studying accounting and said he is very compelled to return to China even though he wants to get his masters degree in Utah.
He also spoke at our monthly missionary devotional and talked about his experiences
Wilford after returning home from his mission service pictured with his mom and dad and little sister.
This is Li. (just goes by this because his name is so hard) He is also a Chinese student and is here with his wife. He went on a mission in Brisbane. His wife is also from China and her family was in Australia the same time that he was a missionary in Australia and knew of Karie and Roger but didn't recognize Keelia and Brody's name.
With all these faithful students that are here from more than 70 countries you can see that BYUH is pivotal part of the "Gathering" of Israel in the last days. At our mission devotional with the new mission presidency, he told us that while travelling in Europe there were were 3 stake presidents that had graduated from BYUH. So many great leaders that will help in the future, spread the gospel to every nation, kindred tongue and people, ALL right here now in Laie.
This is us singing at our munch and mingle held every first Sunday. We sing Aloha Oe to the departing missionaries and then sing a few hawaiian numbers for fun while everyone visits and talks and says their goodbyes. We have a really great group of singers that we have fun with.
Shelley and I eating Asea Bowls at sunset beach on our day off.
Julie Larsen had a bit of excitement as she was up all night with "heartburn" or something. Of course she went down the self rabbit hole of diagnosis online and by the next day still in pain and exhausted we made an executive decision to get her to Castle Hospital where she could get help. Julie was thinking the worst, like heart attack, so I drove her and was maybe a little "dramatic" with the emergency nurse, but apparently it worked and they got her to a bed in 5 minutes. They were surprisingly quick and efficient, ruling out a heart attach then did other blood work and tests. After about 5 hours we headed home with them assessing it was something to do with her gall badder, which sounded better than her heart. She needed to go in a few days latter to get diet advise and a full assessment. She was happy to be feeling better and had a busy schedule to get to. She had a solo to sing in our devotional and a district presentation to do about her experience in the Tabernacle choir.
Had great visit from the honeymooners, Bronsen and Roxy. They came to the PCC where they had a quick ukulele lesson and then we sang Elvis's |Hawaiian wedding song to them completed with a kiss.
We go to the temple on Saturday morning which was so fun. Did some Irish ancestors names given to us by Aunt Jeanne who provides all the names for me each week. She is doing an awesome job with the Hicken genealogy.
This is Bronsen carrying Roxy to the hospital after a little surfing accident which she had and received a few stitches on her ankle. They came to my house for advise. I just phoned the mission nurse, Joni Strang, with a picture and she advised stitches since the cut was right on a bone. Good call said the doc.
It was so fun to visit with Roxy she is such a sweetie. I know her grandma Kenney in Magrath. What a great couple they are. They will have a fabulous life together. You can tell how committed to the gospel she is because she has purest and kindest countenance. I told Bronsen to take good care of her and that he has a big responsibility. This is the start of amazing things to come for this beautiful couple.
This is the spot I tell people who come to the PCC to come get a look at. It's a straight shot all the way to the beach about 3 blocks away. It's so beautiful and peaceful here.
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