The Goodbyes Started and will soon end!

Who ever dreamed a person could collect so much "stuff" in 22 months. I have been going to "give n' take" every day for the past week and I still have two days left. This packing stuff is for the birds. I have enough to start up a whole new household when I get home and can't take it home with me. "Next time" I will not buy anything. It is just that everything in Hawaii is so pretty and so "Hawaiian." The colors are so gorgeous and I love all the flowers. Oh well, some lucky soul will find it and hopefully it will be a treasure to them.

The Parties Begin

Monday of last week the new "Supply Management Group" threw me a going away party. Guess what! I cried. I am going to miss the people that I worked with so much. We laughed and cried together for two years and then bingo I am gone and they are left here to carry on. It is so bittersweet. I would just like to take them home with me. I don't think many of them could survive the cold. What the heck, I may not be able to survive the cold. I had to wear a jacket last night at the International Food Fest and that is very unusual here in Hawaii. It made me think hard but then I decided nothing could keep me here. I am just ready to be back in UT with all my friends and family.

Here we are! This is most of the new "Supply Management Team" minus me. I am the first one to abandon the team. Sister Blodgett, Elder Crookston, VP Jared Hestor, Elder Weech, Elder and Sister Winzeler, Sister Smith, Rain, Sister Taylor, Elder and Sister Shelton, Regina Valentine (who saved me when Misi had surgery, Lili Filipo, Pita Unga, Me, Pua and Misi. What a team! There are quite a few missing who showed up later.

                              Waiting for the food.

Food arrives. We had enough food to feed us the rest of the week even with feeding over 50 people. They don't eat light in Hawaii. Every party is a feast.

Deserts were yummy! My favorite! Ted's chocolate macadamia nut pie and macadamia nut ice cream.

 I was LEI'D!!

Enjoyed every minute of it. 

    

Family Home Evening was a tear jerker for me. I gave my farewell talk and then they sang Aloha Oe. The talk wasn't so great but the singing was fabulous.

      

My "Boss" and Kris Winzeler













Singing my favorite song.                           Lisa Greer (Hale Sister)

Winding Down!

Life in Paradise is winding down. I will soon leave this beautiful part of God's earth and make my way home to the snowy mountains of Cache Valley. I can't wait to go home. I can wait for the snow.It has been an experience of a lifetime and I will never forget it but I can tell my work here has been accomplished and now I can go back to UT for another adventure. Life is so full of them. We never know what God has in store for us. We do know that it will be what we least expect.
I will miss the beautiful people of Hawaii and from all the other countries that I have gotten to know along the way. In this part of the world people just pass through your life on their way to a different life. That is what the PCC and BYU-H is about. I will miss Misi and Pua. Can't spend everyday for two years with someone and not miss them.

That is me in the upper left hand corner. I am the missionary that has been her the longest during this time at the PCC. That must mean it is about time to go home.


HALLOWEEN-2018
Neither of us was very creative in dressing up. We dressed the same as last year but it was fun just the same. Green Bay is Misi's favorite team and Minnie is turning "89" this year. So I am Minnie at 89. I think she looks pretty darn good for 89. 
Moana street was as crazy this year as last. We had 6 or 8 bags of the big Costco candy and they were gone within an hour. Then our landlord came out and took over and did about the same. They come by the hundreds.
                            

Bishop Greg and Cheryl Christiansen came to Oahu and stopped by for a short visit. Bishop Christiansen originated my mission call from Disneyland while Cheryl was on a terror ride. 😮 They wanted to see our multi-culture ward. It was Bishop Mahoni's birthday (my bishop here) so he fed the whole ward after church and had a linger longer-B-Day party for him. It was a nice day. Good to see someone from home.

Last Luau ticket taking

Ticket taking has been a mandatory part of our mission. Sometime hot, sometimes hotter but we were always well fed afterword. We were able to eat at the Prime Rib Buffet most of the time. I loved there seafood chowder and taro rolls. It all contributed to my "40 lb" mission. My last luau was a special event hosted by President Grace. I loved the way the tables were set up with the "Bird of Paradise"

napkins.

.Sister Hopkinson is standing at the welcome entrance of the event.

Sister Rohm and Sister Mecham were also at the last luau.

USU AGGIES COME TO HAWAII

LAST BIG "P-DAY" HURRAH!

Debbie Day, Cindy Myrup, Julie Nield (from Smithfield), Lisa Greer, and me at the International Marketplace. First we went to the Aloha Swap Meet, then Duke's for lunch and off to the game.

ODDS AND ENDS

Went to Pounders Beach to listen to the waves one afternoon and the Lord blessed me with this beautiful rainbow and sunset

.

GOD BLESS! SEE YOU IN A WEEK! AMEN