Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

We needed a few hours to "get away" and rejuvenate our bodies so we drove to Kaneohe (40 minutes south) and visited the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden.  We've never been there and was impressed with the 400 acres planted with rain forest trees and shrubs.  It was first created by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection and includes a 32-acre lake.

Temple Open House Planning in full gear

The hours and hours of planning and preparation for our big orientation meeting with all ward volunteer coordinators came to fruition tonight with over 160 coming to the VC for our presentation.  Theirs is the big job of organizing 70 to 100 volunteers for each shift.  There will be three shifts per day: 7:30 - 12:00; 11:30 - 4:00; 3:30 to 8:30.  Each stake has two or three days to cover.  Our job is to coordinate all the ushers, tour guides and sister missionaries (about 50 per shift).  Yours truly took the lead in developing the PowerPoint presentation for the training, along with creating a number of Roster forms.  In addition to the VC sister missionaries helping introduce each tour group and helping in the reception tent, we are recruiting 45+ former sister missionaries who are now BYUH students to supplement the full-time sisters.  The pictures show some of the attendees and Dean Ellis, chairman of the Usher Committee.  Dean is married to Lisa Bahen, both from our generation in Escondido.  Dean also serves as a bishop of a student ward at BYUH.  He does a great job leading our committee.

Termite Tenting

We had an interesting couple of days preparing for the tenting of our apartment for termites.  First, all opened food products, including refrigerator stuff, needed to be double-bagged - this took about three hours.  Then we moved to a vacant apartment across the driveway and stayed away for about 36 hours.  Of course, we reversed the process, unbagging and putting away the food.  A bearable inconvenience.

Picture of all VC Missionaries

New Missionaries Arrives

Sister Belinda Wong arrived today from Australia.  Her parents are Chinese and, while she was born in Australia, she has lived most of her life in China, both Hong Kong and mainland China, including Bejing.  Our first impressions are that she will be another outstanding missionary!

Elder and Sister Crouch were transferred to Laie from the Big Island were they have been serving as proselyting missionaries in Kau since last November.  Kau is right in the path of the VOG from the Kilauea Volcano and Elder Crouch was "deathly" alergic to the gases.  It was either go home or get off the island.  We met them when we flew to Hilo to speak a month ago.  (See August 14 posting)

Two "Favorites" Complete Mission

These two sister missionaries have been outstanding in every way.  Great teachers, great companions, great leaders, spiritually strong and faithful in every way.  They finished their missions today and are returning home.

Bridget Smith is from Cedar Hills, Utah and will be continuing her education at BYU in Provo.  She is a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith (although she kept this quiet during her mission).  She served as one of the Sister Trainers.  [Grandsons please take note: I have her Facebook info and e-mail address and know she would be receptive to getting acquainted.]

Kristy Aguda is from the Philippines and is returning home with plans to attend a local college for a year and then return to either BYU Hawaii or BYU Provo.  Her family live in a rural part of the country and her father continues to farm by hand without the aid of a tractor or Carabao.  She has the smile and personality to melt the most obstinate guest.  She was full of questions and we loved our daily visits as she leaned over the VC counter soaking up everything Donna shared.  [If she shows up in Utah, she too, will be at the top of my grandson referral list.]