First a review of our recent pre-mission and mission experiences to bring our reader up to date.  Our Stake President, Alan Harker set us apart for our mission to the Hawaii Honolulu Mission on Sunday evening September 1.  Our MTC experience began on Monday with classes related to the use of Preach My Gospel principles and strategies in teaching the gospel to others.  Following that training, instructors from Seminaries and Institutes provided instruction on basic teaching principles and practices in religious education.

Our experience was complicated by health issues that have been very uncommon in our lives.  Kaye developed a serious case of Shingles which left her with nerve damage in her leg that made walking difficult.  Dennis had a back molar go bad making an extraction and implant necessary.  This combined with a bout of the flu left us spinning with this unexpected challenge.    

Kaye and Dennis at the Airport

The next few weeks flew by as we prepared the house for our departure.  Clearing out kitchen space, bedrooms, bathrooms and the like.  There was much more to do than we imagined.  In fact, we have learned that leaving on a mission for a senior couple has its challenges as there are items related to one's home, financial commitments, renter preparations, and a dozen other areas.  We did not anticipate the numerous lists of things to do that we would need to complete.  But finally we were ready and on Tuesday August 27 we flew to Hawaii.

Temple View Apartments, BYU Hawaii  

Kaye in our BYUH apartment.

After a few days at a Marriott resort, just catching out breath, we drove to Laie to check into our apartment and meet the other missionaries.  Our apartment (A-200) is on the top floor at the left of the photo.

Today we met with our assigned YSA branch, the Sunset Beach Branch of 57 known members and many more unknowns scattered among the surfers and Woodstock type people who inhabit the North Shore.  The Church has 10 acres across from the world famous Sunset Beach and would like to build a chapel there if the branch can grow to justify its construction.  It will happen and we will be able to say when we visit the chapel in the future that we were there when it all began.

During this last week we have participated in the 50th anniversary of the Polynesian Culture Center.  One event was noteworthy, the Hukilau, a traditional fish gathering activity that was the first Laie tourist attraction that eventually led to the PCC.  The saints would stage the Hukilau, have a luau which they charged for, and put on a show of sorts.  That was before WWII.  The rest is history.

Another event was a parade put on by the PCC and the community. Much like a local Utah county parade. They decorated golf carts, construction machinery, etc and joined the high school marching band, the military band, and the PCC brass band for 2.5 miles of candy throwing.  Great fun.

A 2013 PCC 50th Anniversary Parade Float

It is interesting how "tender mercies" are extended to missionaries.  One is related to our "new" car that we purchased from another missionary couple.  It is an old 100,000 mile, Dodge Neon so we knew we were getting basic transportation.  Off we go on the 30 mile (60 minute) trip to transfer the title and register it.  1.5 miles from the town (Kaneohe) steam pours out, the radiator was gone.  Mom was driving, I was in the rental car.  (our plan was to register the Neon and drive it to airport to drop off our rental car)  So we drove into town and stopped at a parts store to buy radiator stop leak.  Before leaving I felt to ask where a radiator shop was (I had planned on taking it to Sears auto center down the street)  The clerk said that a radiator shop was just down the alley, the best one in town.  So I walked down and met old Hawaiian guys who had a shop.  They told me NOT to put in the stop leak and to leave the cap loose, fill it with water and bring it to them.  End of story, they replaced the radiator for a discounted price and soon we were off to return the rental car.  Could not have turned out better!  No damage to engine, fair price, etc.  The car has been well cared for and is in pretty good shape, radiators just happen to old cars.  We expect it to be just fine for our limited needs.  So think of my Audi that Elise is driving when you see the Neon.

No wax job necessary, paint mostly worn off :)))

Tomorrow school starts and Mom begins her service...so stayed tuned for our real mission adventures to come.