Getting a late start on blogging

As you can tell, I am starting this blog a little late.  I happened upon a Blog by some of friends who are serving in Italy and thought -- I could do that!.


We were set apart by President Brad Stucki with some of our dearest friends and family joining us. It was an amazing blessing.








Our time at the MTC was fun and frightening at times.  When they told us we would study for an hour or so and then give a discussion to an investigator, we were all stunned.  Most of us were on service missions and didn't expect to be giving any discussions.  It doesn't matter.  Everyone taught the gospel.  Once we got into it it was amazing.  We found that we could have been teaching missionaries if needed.  We love the gospel and what it has meant in our lives.  The testimonies of the returned missionaries who taught us at the MTC will ever be a memory we will cherish.  





These are the people in our District.  The Winninghams, from St. George, Sister Lee, Bro and Sister Cannon.


We arrived in Hawaii on April 24, 2010.  It was a beautiful day, as all days in Hawaii are.  We were very tired from our time at the MTC and our long flight.  Elder and Sister Arnold Palmer (no he isn't the golfer) picked us up from the airport.  We were immediately taken to the PCC and a wonderful dinner at the Ambassador Restaurant.  Prime Rib and Crab Legs were the order of the day.  Not your usual missionary first meal.  We met some of the other senior missionaries and loved them all at first meeting.  Everyone was so wonderful to us.
We had orientation for a full week before we were turned loose in the Mission Home of the Mission Settlement.

This is taken in front of the Adminstration Building for the PCC and BYU.

I spent my 70th birthday here.  We were in for an interview with the President of the PCC and when we walked out they had a cake for me.  It was truly a surprise.  We were just beginning to find out how awesome the people in Hawaii really are.

The cute girl on the right is our dear friend, Gana.  Gana is from Mongolia.  She was one of the first people to greet us with "Hi Auntie" and "Hi Uncle".  Along with the greeting comes a great big hug and kiss.  She is the one who worked with Elder Glasgow to learn the ukulele.  Gana served a mission in Mongolia and was engaged to a wonderful young man.  One of the saddest days of our mission was the day she died from stomach cancer.  Hard to believe that someone so young and faithful, was taken so young.  She taught us both so much.  She was just to good to stay in this world.  

 The lady next to her (she would die if she saw this picture) is our sweet supervisor, Lanae.  This mission is different in that we are directly under the President of the Polynesian Cultural Center, instead of the Mission President.  If we need a temple recommend we go the Mission President, otherwise everything goes through President Von Orgill. 

We serve in an area of the PCC called the Mission Settlement.  Our particular assignment is the Mission Home which is a replica of an original home that was brought over in the 1800 by some of the first missionaries to Hawaii.  They were Congragationalists. 

It is a store where we sell all types of handmade items, including quilts made right here. About 70%  of everything we sell is made by us, with help from volunteers and other missionaries.  Some who serve there full time and some who just come a few hours a week.  Turtles are big here in Hawaii, supposed to bring good luck.  So we make turtle pin cushions, turtle necklaces, shell turtles and anything turtle. 

Elder Glasgow and Elder Haugen work on the porch and run the ukulele business -- selling, purchasing, inventorying and giving ukulele lessons.  Sometimes they can give as many as 25 lessons a day.  They work hard.  

When we first arrived we served with Elder and Sister Pulley (they are now on a mission on mainland China teaching English) and Jolene and Marshall Ogden (L).  As you can tell we had not gotten our "uniforms" that matched as yet.  I can't tell you how often someone comes in and wants to buy our mumuus or at least get a pattern.  Neither of which is available.