Visitors' Center walk-in's

Tuesday morning the sister missionaries attended a Zone Conference and so Donna and I and one other senior couple manned the Visitors' Center.  We hosted an interesting gamit of guests:

A couple from Czechoslovakia.  They seemed very interested in everything, including modern propets, the purpose of life, temples, etc.  When I asked if they believed that Jesus is the Christ they were reluctant to say yes.  I thought they would agree to have missionaries, but no luck. 

A Catholic couple from Minnesota.  I was in the "prophet's corner" with two young LDS men and we were listening to the testimony of President Uchtdorf.  The Catholic husband slipped in a sat down and listened.  Afterwards he asked "Who is that man?"  This led to a discussion of prophets in our day who receive inspiration and direction from God.  He asked "Is the Prophet still living?"  We talked about all kinds of good stuff, the Book of Mormon, Temples, etc.  Then he and his wife listened to "God's Plan for Families."  Once again they were close to saying yes to learning more, but not close enough.

There were the two young LDS guys.  One attending BYUH and his friend from California who had spent the past month surfing.  They were fun to be with and I felt the VC was a positive influence for both of them.

My last group was four senior adults touring the Island.  They were not members but wonderful folks who appreciated our message and the good the church does around the world.  I shared with them our experience a couple of years ago meeting a girl from Mongolia who was attending BYUH after joining the church in Mongolia as a result of being taught English by the missionaries.  She later accepted a mission call and served in SLC on Temple Square.  She was about to graduate with a degree in accounting and would be returning to Mongolia to build up and strengthen her Country and the Church.

An LDS couple from Australia walked in and enjoyed every minute in the VC.  They seemed to soak it up and I felt they left with reinforced testimonies and an increased appreciation for the Church.  We were also surprised by a visit from Louie and Johanna Wolfgramm, good friends from Kona Hawaii.  Louie had just been released as a bishop on Kaui and they were on their way moving to Pleasant Grove, Utah to help a son raise a couple of grandchildren.

The Visitors' Center is an incredible teaching tool and all who come with open hearts and minds can leave strengthened by the experience with resolves to do better and be better. 

During the evening we served at the PCC.  I was helping at the Aloha Luau when a group of five LDS FM guys arrived.  One said to me, "Were you the stake president of the Escondido Stake?"  I answered affirmatively and asked who he was.  He said he was the son of Dan Clark who had served twice as a bishop in Poway.  In the early 70's Dan's son must have been a young teen ager.  Pretty good memory.

All in all, a mighty fine day, spiced with calls from Linda, Jennifer and Dave.

Mumu and Sulu

When we serve at the Polynesian Cultural Center we wear a matching Mumu and Sulu.  The Sulu is like a lava lava (except it has pockets) and wraps around your waist then ties at the side.  Quite comfortable actually.

Saturday night the "Royal Family" waited at our duty station before performing at the Luau so I took Donna's picture. 

Later two of our sister missionaries, who were at the PCC inviting folks to visit the VC on the tram, caught up with us and got a "kick" out of our costumes.  Sister Han, from Korea, is on the left, and Sister Fung, from Scotland is on the right.

Haunted Lagoon

This morning we were pleasantly surprised to welcome Dennis and Diane Reeder, three married daughters, one son-in-law, and several grandchildren at the Visitors' Center.  They are good friends from the South Jordan Country Park 3rd ward.

Tonight we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and enjoyed(?) it's Haunted Lagoon.  The PCC has been holding this several nights a week for two weeks (two to go) as a means of offsetting the loss of income due to the recession.  Saturday night they had 3,500 attend and had to turn hundreds away.  We waited two hours in line for a 15 minute canoe ride through the lagoon.  Fun but not scary. 

Later, tonight at 9:30 pm, when the sister missionaries got home, the four senior couples took a birthday cake to Sister Ieremia from the Republic of Kiribati.  (Kiribati is a chain of 32 atolls and one raised coral island.  The average height of the atolls and island is 3 feet.  Kiribati is about half way between Hawaii and Australia.)

Singing Sisters

During a lull in visitors Sunday night, four our our Sister Missionaries entertained us by singing hymns.  They have beautiful voices and sounded like angels.  From left to right:  Sister Saito from Japan, Sister Mulipola from Samoa, Sister Kolo from Tonga, and Sister Fung from Scotland (with Chinese ancestry).

Elder Tuimaseve, former SLC Utah missionary

On our second night serving at the Polynesian Cultural Center a tall Samoan walked by the restaurant entrance and stopped and stared at me, then said, "President McArthur?"  I said yes and he said, "Tuimaseve!"  He was one of our missionaries in 1989-92 in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.  One of our favorite experiences with him was a story he told of holding a Book of Mormon in his hand while standing by the road.  A car pulled over and asked what book he was holding and he said "It Book of Mormon, another Testament of Jesus Christ."  The car driver asked if he could have a copy.  Later that day, the man called Elder Tuimaseve (whose name and phone number was in the book) and asked to meet with the missionaries.  Here's a picture of him, his wife (who is teaching at BYUH for a year) and their 10-year old son.  We took the picture last night when they came to see us at the Visitors' Center.

Phil and Oly Harris

Phil and Oly Harris brightened our day with a visit to the Visitors' Center, our home, and then we all went to the PCC for dinner and the show "HA, the Breath of Life." They also came to spend time with their niece, Tess, who is attending BYUH. We celebrated Oly's birthday with the PCC employees singing to her. A fun time for all.

Tongan Sister shares story of faith and tithing

During a quiet time last week I role-played with two sister missionaries, testing their skills at resolving concerns and answering questions.  I asked, "So what about this business of having to pay 10% of my income to the church?"  Sister Latu, an Tongan from Compton, California, shared this story:

"When my family, mom and dad and twelve children, arrived in California from Tonga the only two English words my father knew were 'hello' and 'thank you.'  He got a job earning a modest salary.  We had very little...sometimes no food to eat.  One Sunday my mother said to my father, 'Why are you paying tithing to the Church when we have nothing to eat in the house?'  He just answered that paying tithing was a commandment and that the Lord would provide if we were obedient.  I will never forget the many ward families who brought food to our home that week...enough for the week and food to store."  Sister Latu concluded that from that day to now she believed in paying tithing and knew that the Lord would always bless us when we are obedient.

BYUH Mainland China Influence

Tonight we attended a Family Home Evening for Senior Missionaries - all serving in either the Visitors' Center, PCC or BYHU. The program was presented by the BYUH China Club. There are 14 students at BYUH from mainland China. Six talked, sharing their conversion stories. Five of them have served missions.

One sister talked about going to school in Denmark and being contacted by LDS missionaries. Eventually she joined the church, against her parents wishes. A year later, listening to General Conference she felt she needed to serve a mission. Later her parents joined, having been taught by local mainland China members. Her father is now feeding her the names of their ancestors for temple work.

They all expressed their love for their native country and pray for the day when the gospel can be openly taught there.

One sister shared how Elder David O. McKay came to China in 1921 and dedicated the land for preaching the gospel. She shared parts of the prayer and it was prophetic and inspiring.

BYUH China Club

Tonight we attended a Family Home Evening for Senior Missionaries - all serving in either the Visitors' Center, PCC or BYHU. The program was presented by the BYUH China Club. There are 14 students at BYUH from mainland China. Six talked, sharing their conversion stories. Five of them have served missions.
One sister talked about going to school in Denmark and being contacted by LDS missionaries. Eventually she joined the church, against her parents wishes. A year later, listening to General Conference she felt she needed to serve a mission. Later her parents joined, having been taught by local mainland China members. Her father is now feeding her the names of their ancestors for temple work.
They all expressed their love for their native country and pray for the day when the gospel can be openly taught there.
One sister shared how Elder David O. McKay came to China in 1921 and dedicated the land for preaching the gospel. She shared parts of the prayer and it was prophetic and ins…

Fiji Devotional

Saturday morning we attended a Fiji Devotional in the Fiji Village at the PCC, celebrating the independence of Fiji. The theme for the program was taken from Joshua 3:5 "Sanctify Yourselves: For tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." (great theme for a stake or ward conference) The program was outstanding. Following the program we were treated to a brunch and then entertainment. (the dancers were much better than the food.)

Mongolian Students

Sunday night this young couple came in to listen to the "Christus" narration. I asked them if they wanted it in English or another language. They asked for Mongolian, but unfortunately it was not available. In talking to them I learned the the girl (Tsatsral) been in the MTC with Kody Cook (she then served on Temple Square in SLC). The young man (Ganjii) had served with Kody in Mongolia (just not his companion). They said that Kody was an awesome missionary who LOVED the Mongolian people.

General Conference, Saturday morning Oct 3, 2009

General Conference was broadcast to the Visitors' Center and received at 6:00 am. After the morning broadcast we all gathered at the apartment compound and had breakfast. Here are a few pictures.

Our First Month

We finished our first month at the Visitors' Center and are beginning to feel more comfortable with our assignments. In September the VC had over 7,200 visitors with more than half non-members. We had 276 referrals during the month, some from members referring friends at home and some from walk-in non-members asking to know more.
Here are three experiences we had:
Erin, a single young lady from Texas, came in with two guy friends. Since the Sister missionaries were busy I took them through the VC including "God's Plan for His Family." When they came out I could tell she was touched by the message and she asked to have the missionaries call on her in Texas.
The next day, Tom, a 42 year old guy walked in. He had moved from Honolulu to our side of the island to find out about the church. On Sunday he went to church on his own, met the missionaries while there. He spent two hours in the VC and met with the missionaries again that night. He came back Friday and met with them again. When I took him through the "Temple" exhibit and explained what the baptismal font is for, he committed to be baptized when he knew it was true, so he could do the temple work for his deceased father.
Yesterday a family from Draper, UT came in. Grandparents, parents, four daughters. Two of the daughters go to school with Mckenzie and Karli. I invited them to view the "Family Plan" and afterwards invited them to refer the missionaries to friends back home. I was talking to the adults. I opened the exit door from the exhibit but they all didn't follow me out. When I went back in one of the daughters was filling out a referral for a friend and his family in Draper. Amazing how the Spirit works.

China Contacts
Sep 23, 09
We are feeling more productive and useful and can see the benefits of serving. The other night I greeted two young adult brother and sister from mainland China. The brother could speak English but his sister couldn’t. They are not members and have a non-member sister attending BYUH. The sister had visited the Visitors Center before, felt something special, and wanted to go to church. My two guests were visiting her for a few weeks. Anyway, we have a sister missionary from Taiwan and she had just arrived to substitute for another sister missionary. She took the two in hand and spent about an hour with them. When they left they took a Chinese Book of Mormon with them. We have given out three Chinese Book of Mormons in the last two weeks. We do not give out B of M’s to anyone else because we send in a referral and have the local missionaries deliver one to them in their home. But since there are not missionaries in China that can do the same, we give them one at the VC. Amazing to see how the Lord is “planting” Book of Mormon seeds throughout China.

I had a mother and two young adult children come in Sunday night from Spain. The mom could not speak English but the kids could – they were both attending BYUH. We have a large Christus statue in the main foyer and there is a 2-minute message – in the Savior’s own words – that we can play. It is very powerful. We played it for them in Spanish. They were impressed. As I used my very limited Spanish with her, her eyes lite up and I could tell she had a positive experience in being there.

Usually the sister missionaries greet and handle the guests…we only step in when they are busy with other guests.

Last night at 10 pm all 14 of the sister missionaries crowded into our bedroom to watch a 5-minute video clip as part of their evening devotional. We have a small TV in the Bedroom with a DVD player and the TV in the front room doesn’t have a DVD. As many sat on our bed one leg collapsed but they went on with the devotional. Your mom and I stayed in our living room but listened. What a great way to end the night. Our apartment is the only senior missionary apartment adjacent to the young sisters. Every morning they wake us up at 6 am with their group exercising in the driveway area. At night they “sing” us to sleep when they gather in the same area and wrap up the day with a song and prayer.
Our sister missionaries are truly amazing.