Anti-Mormon visitor experiences the VC

On Friday all the sister missionaries attended a meeting with Elder Tom Perry, leaving the Senior Couples to staff the Visitors' Center.

I (Donna) had a great experience on Friday am.  I talked to a young couple and their mom (from South Jordan, Utah) who were members of the church plus their non-member grandmother (from California).  As I began to show them around, the mother whispered to me that the grandmother was "anti-Mormon."


 We stopped with others who were watching the children in a kiosk presentation. The grandmother just stood their and REALLY listened and enjoyed the presentation. Then we moved on to the Mormon Ads. Again she really enjoyed them and pushed a button herself so she could listen to more. I suggested we go to God’s Plan and they all agreed. While there the members all had tears in their eyes and the grandmother was also touched. She left smiling and I testified of the importance of families and the temple. I could not get over the difference in her countenance from when we first started and when we finished. They were all happy and I bet anything they will have better gospel discussions than ever before. The gospel can change lives and I’m praying that the grandmother will listen to her children.

Transfers

This week five sister missionaries left the Visitors' Center, two completed their missions and returned home, Sister Jager to Germany and Sister Mulipola to Western Samoa.  Three other sisters were transferred to "the field" and are serving on Maui.

In exchange, two returned "from the field," Sister Ganochkina (Russia), and Sister Smith (Utah.)  The three new sister missionaries  who just arrived from the MTC are: Sister Clark (Utah), Sister Watanabe (Japan) and Sister Magno (Philippines).  This picture shows everyone serving in the Visitors' Center and the two elder zone leaders.

Samoan sisters from BYUH

Tonight, just before we closed, these three BYUH students asked if they could see "God's Plan for Families" a twelve-minute presentation that is my favorite part of the VC. At the conclusion I asked if they were all members.  Two were, one wasn't and she said she felt "tingly" inside as she watched the presentation.  I explained she was feeling the Holy Ghost witnessing to her that what she had just watched was true.  She ended up asking to have the missionaries visit her and teach her the gospel.  Her name is Anna Oloaga.  She and her member-friends are all Samoans.  Anna is standing between her two friends, Jennifer and Euemma, who were just doing what we all should do more often: being friends and sharing the gospel.

Birthing Stones

Today we visited a sacred Hawaiian site: the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones where past royalty came to give birth to future rulers.  When the time came for Royalty births the woman would arrive at what was then a secret spot, and in the presence of 36 male chiefs she would position herself at certain stones to give birth while they watched.  Within minutes of birth the child would be taken away and the mother would never see her child again until it was grown.  First born sons were raised by the husband's relatives and first born daughters were raised by the mother's relatives. Every boy, first born or not, was taken from the woman's hut when weaned and raised in the men's hut.  Never again in his lifetime would the male be allowed to eat with women, not even his mother or his wife.

Hawaiian Chickens

At 9:30 pm tonight I finished eleven Hawaiian chicken pin cushions to be sold at PCC for eight dollars each .  Last night I repaired the flag of Hawaii (for the second time).  I also hemmed a muumuu for Sister Tripp as the one that fit her was about three or four inches too long.  What a different mission but I guess everything we do helps build the kingdom in some way. 

I also had a wonderful tour today.  One member who attends the University of Hawaii brought her three non-member friends to the visitors' center this morning.  I got an e-mail referral from Clare Warwick, one of the young students..  When we get an e-mail referral like this, Elder Peterson, one of the senior missionaries, sends an e-mail with offers of multiple items they can have.

 It is a fun mission!  I know the church is true and the Lord is blessing us as we help the young sister missionaries.

Referral for the week

Don hosted a young couple who are members of the Church.  After "God's Plan for the Family" Stephanie expressed her love for her father, a less active member.  We do not send missionaries to members but I was able to write him a letter and send along two pass-along cards.  His name is Keith Sabin, from Oregon.

Senior Missionary Change

Elder and Sister Jay England finished their twelve-month mission and returned home to Draper, Utah this week.  They were replaced by Elder and Sister Steve Tripp, also from Draper, Utah.  Elder Tripp is a retired building contractor - "retired" by the economy.  As I understand, he also worked with his sons in the building business.  Their son is a bishop in Jenn and Pat's stake

Elder and Sister England                           Elder and Sister Tripp

The next couple goes home in March and the Mission is looking for a brother with strong computer skills - someone who knows his way around excel spreadsheets, and other presentation programs.  If you know of someone who qualifies and would have an interest in serving in Hawaii, please have them contact me: 801 550-5525.

Missionaries are always hungry

Tonight, while on duty at the VC, we heard Sister Aguda (with the banana) tell her companion, Sister Ochiai, that their dinner appointment fell through.  It was 7:30 pm and so we invited them come to our house and we'd feed them.  We got home about 8:15 pm and they showed up around 8:30 pm.  We fixed them tamales (opened the can) Ritz crackers and a delicious rice pudding with peaches, coconut and almonds that Donna had made earlier in the day.  As the picture shows, they left with a little nourishment to tide them over.

Two Sister Missionaries returning home

Two of our best missionaries will be finishing their missions next week and returning home, Sister Mulipola to Samoa and Sister Jager to Germany  Sister Mulipola has consistently been one of the top missionaries at the VC and Sister Jager has been one of the two trainers.  They were honored yesterday at the weekly training meeting.

All the sisters develop a special bond and they serve together, evidenced by their smiles and hugs in the next picture.  (4 of them got away before I took the picture.)

Filipino family

On Wednesday a Filipino woman and two boys came to the VC to use the bathroom.  Afterwards she lingered by the Book of Mormon display.  Donna pointed her out to me and suggested that she seemed to be searching for something.  In talking to her I learned that she had been baptized about 10 years ago in the Phillipines but had lived in Honolulu for the last 8 years and had not attended church because she didn't know where the church was.  Her sons who were with her, ages 10 and 12, had not been baptized and, of course, had not grown up learning about the gospel.  I said, "we need to have our missionaries stop by your house and teach and baptize your sons, and show you where the church is."  She agreed and so I have send the referral via internet to the mission office.  Her name is Merlinda de Jesus.  I had a spare copy of the Book of Mormon in Tagalog and (contrary to our usual practice) gave it to the boys along with an English version.  I also gave them copies of Joseph Smith's story, both in English and Tagalog.  The 12-year-old son has only been in the USA 6 months and so his English is very limited.  If Donna had not been attentive to the Spirit, they could have easily walked out of the VC without saying a word.

Presidents' Leadership Council - Hawaii

Today was our P-day and we had the entire day to attend the semi-annual meeting of the BYUH and PCC Presidents' Leadership Council.  Starting with breakfast and ending with a luau dinner and the Polynesian Cultural Center production of "HA- the Breath of Life" the entire day was inspiring.  The PLC does incredible good, providing financial support for students from all over the world.  We heard heart-felt testimonies from three students from Tonga, sharing how their education at BYUH and experiences working at the PCC had changed their lives.  At lunch we were joined at our table by three students who were members of the Concert Choir.  The choir performed some of the music that will be part of their tour to Hong Kong and Taiwan next spring.  Other students gave an incredible presentation on the SIFE organization, a national group that fosters world-wide leadership development.  BYUH has students from over 70 countries and helps fulfill President David O. McKay's prophetic vision for BYUH when he declared, "From this school, I'll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally."

We were so happy to see Mitch Davis, a great friend from Escondido, CA.  A contemporary of Dave and Steve, Mitch's parents, Dix and Lynn, helped shape the lives of our older children (and visa-versa).  Mitch, who produced the movie about Elder John Groberg's mission in Samoa (The Other Side of Heaven) will be the concluding speaker tomorrow as the PLC seminar winds to a close.

Here's a picture of Jim and Carolyn Ritchie; Von Orgill, president of the PCC; and the two of us. Jim was a partner with Chuck Akerlow in South Mountain ten years ago when McArthur Homes purchased some lots from them.  He is now serving here full-time as a BYUH volunteer heading up an international business development program for the students.

We also enjoyed sitting with Milt Shipp and his wife at the luau.  Milt was a partner with Steve Young in Development Associates, Inc. and sold McArthur Homes the "Elk Meadows" subdivision in South Jordan.

Following the evening performance of "HA" the PLC guests were invited to stay and meet the cast of the show.  Here's a picture of the cast as they gathered to greet.

Special Visitors

Donna got her first referral this week!  And it wasn't easy.  A tutu came in pushing a baby stroller (tutu means grandmother).  No sister missionaries were in sight and so Sister McArthur greeted her and quickly learned that she did not speak English, only Portuguese.  Her name is Zambonimaia Selli Aerlane and she is from Brazil.  But with the help of the Lord and her genuine interest in helping, the two of them were able to communicate.  The grandmother sat in front of the Christus statue and Donna played her the 2-minute narration (in Portuguese) in the Savior's own words from the scriptures.  Donna says she could tell the grandmother was touched by the Spirit and had tears in her eyes.  She took her to one of our large theatres and showed her a 11-minute video about Christ.  Afterwards she gave her a Comment card (Portguese version) which she filled out requesting more information and visits from missionaries.

We also had a visit last night from two Halloween groups.  The first was a visit by Shirley's niece, Emily Newman and her friend, who brought us some "treats."  Emily is attending BYUH.

The second group is shown in this picture - ten of our sister missionaries - doing their version of "Trick or Treat." 

We and Elder and Sister Peterson made breakfast for the sisters Saturday morning because they did such a great job cleaning their apartments earlier this week.  We fed them pancakes, eggs and bacon, orange juice or milk, and fresh pineapple or grapes.  A fun activity starting by getting up at 5:30 am so they could eat by 7:00 am.