Lutheran from Colorado visits VC

Today I hosted two men who had been working on the island for a week and decided to drive around the island before catching the plane home to Colorado tonight.  One was a returned missionary who served in Russia whose father was from Iraq and his mother Puerto Rican.  They saw the temple and decided to stop by the Visitors' Center.  [This happens often - people seeing the temple are drawn to visit and learn more.]

I began with a little Hawaiian-member history (1850 - 1865) then showed them our 5-minute Laie history video.  We spent time at our Book of Mormon display (of BofM's in 82 languages) and I asked non-member Mike if he would like a copy and he said yes.  I explained that two missionaries would bring it to his home in Colorado Springs and he was good with that.  It is amazing how the Spirit in the VC softens people's hearts and prepares them for the gospel.

Kody Cook Arrives

Our grandson, Kody Cook, arrived Tuesday, April 13th, to attend BYUH.  His classes began on Monday, April 19.  He has a job working at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a "runner" and works Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, for about 20 hours a week.  We baked an apple pie the other night and shared it with him.  It is a bonus for us to have him around even though we do not expect to see much of him.  What a great young man he has turned out to be!

Temple Construction Workers Hosted by VC Missionaries

On the 15th of April the VC provided lunch for 48 men working on the renovation of the temple.  Bruce Bean, Jacobsen Construction superintendent had told us earlier that many of the non-members had questions about the temple.  We thought this would be a good way to answer their questions.  Eight sister missionaries and two zone leaders were there to mingle.  Elder Mark Eubank welcomed the group and answered some of the generic questions.  Later we gave them copies of DVDs and pass-along cards and invited them back the following week for dessert.  Today about half of them returned.  That's Donna's head and back in the picture.  She was serving BBQ Pork Sandwiches.
[Actually we only served 46 workers.  We later figured out that two tourists "crashed" our party, ate our food and listened to our Q&A, then disappeared.]

VC Training Pays Off!

Yesterday and today our mornings began at the VC with special training by Mark Lusvardi, one of the Missionary Department Directors.  He is responsible for all Visitors' Centers and special events involving missionaries.  On Tuesday our assignment was to go home and work on a new way to approach visitors, help them feel the Spirit and want to (1) know more, or (2) share with friends or relatives.  We did that and role-played our new approaches.  The next day, while on duty at the VC, the brother and sister-in-law of Tim Sweat, from California, came in and asked for us. [Tim is one of McArthur Homes' top salesmen.]  I helped them tour the VC and applied the training, and it worked!  The next step will be to see if the friend accepts the invitation to meet with the missionaries. 

Pictured above is Brother Lusvardi.

We found Chicken Little

Wednesday during an inspection of the missionary apartments Elder Eubank spied a hen sitting on a clutch of eggs nestled in a corner by one of the porches and covered with plants.  Yesterday Elder and Sister Nysetvold bought some chicken feed so the hen will not have to leave the nest to forage for food.  Watch for further progress postings.

Cruising' the Island with Dianne

We acted like tourists yesterday sharing Oahu with my favorite sister, Dianne, and traveled south stopping at the Byodo-In Buddhist Temple in Kane'ohe.  Then we followed the less-traveled road from Kailua around the southeast tip of the island.  We stopped at Sandy Beach State Park and watched kite-flying and then to the Hanauma Bay overlook.  After an indecent, but totally delicious meal at an Outback (including a "Bloomin' Onion") we headed back via the Pali Highway, stopping at the lookout (for which Donna deposited $2.00 of a $3.00 parking fee and grumbled because it wouldn't take quarters, causing her to break the law and risk being arrested).

General Conference Breakfast

Today's breakfast between sessions of General Conference was enjoyed by 28 missionaries.  The four senior couples provided and served it after the morning session (6 am to 8 am).  Breakfast casseroles, cinnamon rolls, OJ, chocolate milk, fresh pineapple and grapes...all tasted good!

Elders Nysetvold and Tripp handled the drinks and cinnamon rolls, and their wives served the casseroles, Donna served the fruit, the Eubanks hosted and I was the errand boy.

April Fool's Day

This morning I created a fictitious letter from Church headquarters to read at the beginning of our weekly training meeting at the VC, announcing the dates for the rededication of the temple and the open house.  The sisters hooped and hollered because it has been the hot topic of discussion around the VC and Laie for months.  They were soooo excited.  Even our Director, Elder Eubank, started to write down the dates.  Next "the letter" said that the Visitors' Center would be closed for the month of June for minor renovation and that the sisters would be transferred to the Big Island to work as ordinance workers in the Kona Temple, and there receive special training in the purposes of temples.  (more hooping and hollering)  The letter continued...all sisters whose scheduled release dates are in June, July or August will be given early releases and will be sent home the first of June.  Lastly I said that the senior couples would be given the month of June off as a vacation to return home or visit the other islands.  By this time some started to show skepticism and so I reminded them what day it was.  (more hooping and hollering ...but of a different tone)  Several of the foreign sisters, not knowing about the tradition of April 1 being "April Fool's Day" just sat there with glassy, confused stares on their faces.

But they got even with me, or at least tried to.

At 9:45 pm I got an emergency call from Sister Latu saying their toilet was overflowing and asked me to bring a plunger and help.  I believed her but before I could act, my other phone rang and it was Sister Larsen saying they needed to borrow my garden hose.  When I asked what for, she said there was a fire in their kitchen.  Now I'm starting to catch on, and then my phone rang again.  This time Sister Bridge called to say the sisters where missing from their apartment and no one knew where they were.  Finally, Sister Latu called back wanting to know where I was.  Needless to say, we all got a good chuckle out of April Fool's day.