Saturday Morning

Aloha from Laie, the city of refuge, the community with a temple, a visitors center open seven days a week, a university that provides an education for international students many of whom would not normally be able to afford one and an amazing cultural center where students are given employment and where they learn more about their very own cultures.  In this center thousands of people come six days a week and leave with a greater appreciation for Polynesia and a soft introduction to the church who all day long gave to them the spirit of Aloha.

This morning we received an emergency alert on our cell phones. 

At first I thought my phone had been hacked.  Chris turned on the computer and saw a bar scrolling the top with the same emergency warning.  

The ballistic missile was fortunately a mistake but for nearly 40 minutes we had many thoughts going through our heads.  There was much pandemonium and fear in Honolulu apparently but here in Laie it was quite calm.  

I felt grateful to be here, a place where I truly feel God is watching over.  So much good happens here everyday.  So many good people and so many prayers for everyone laboring in this work of the Lord.  All I could think of to do was to kneel down and pray and I knew that if it was not time to end this great work, then everything would be well.  Otherwise, it must be God’s will and within the hour we could be visiting our loved ones on the other side.  I thought about all of my children and grandchildren & what they might go through if this would happen.  

Anyway, with a "pheww" and seeing life is still good on Oahu I offered a prayer of thanks and we got ready to go serve at the PCC Mission Settlement.
We got to fill the fish feeders

 and take the money to the cash office to count it. 

This is the cool machine that we drop all the quarters
in and it counts them and puts them into rolls.  I just
think it is so funny that it says "To count fish food only"
ha ha ha!

Despite the all the craziness that happened in Honolulu just a few hours earlier, we had tons of guests in the shop. Chris taught many ukulele lessons & I got to visit with guests and sew a couple more bowl holders.  We are sure enjoying our friendship with Gary Bakers parents. 

(PHOTO OF BAKERS)

Chris teaching ukulele lesson on the porch
while a group of guests go by in the canoe.

The Old Chapel

Bessed is he to whom the Gospel is welcome. (Talmage)

Working with Bill and Jeanie Baker yesterday at the PCC mission settlement was wonderful.  The old stone building has a wrap around porch.  The wooden windows are propped open and a handmade quilt hangs from a dowel at the top of every window.  Inside it’s all homey with all kinds of hand sewn items in beautiful fabrics.  Quilts, hotpads, bowl holders, hens, turtles, teddybears, doll clothes, ties, bows, purses, etc.  Ukuleles hang from cabinets on the outside and people sit on the big porch and learn how to play ‘You are My Sunshine”.  It feels like stepping back in time in an old country shop of yesteryear.  

Next door is the old chapel with a beautiful old pump organ and next to that is the old bench filled schoolhouse where you can learn how to weave a pandanus rose or a ribbon lei.  

Old pump organ purchased
for 36.00 back in 1890 from Sears & Roebuck

L: He will remember the islands of the sea.
R: He that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Catholic Father Damien & Mormon Bishop Napela

who worked together at the Leper colony on Molokai 

Enlargement of the words above:

Fun in December

Christmas at our place

Making the Danish Kleina

Hukilau Beach, Laie

Andrea & her friend Jenny 

Polynesian Cultural Center

Acai bowl in the Hukilau Market Place PCC

Wove a pandanus rose at the settlement

Hawaiian Ice brought in a couple truck loads of snow
and blew it into a pile in the Market Place for kids to play in!

Weekend in Ko Olina

A Ko Olina weekend with Andrea!

Weaving a fish :)

Paradise Cove Luau

Visited Paradise Cove Luau to compare it to the
PCC's luau.  It was very enjoyable & we had a great time
but no comparison to the PCC experience!

Planting a Tree

Gunstock Ranch excursion & picnic with the Marketing Department

Planting a Milo Tree at the ranch

I picked this spot to plant because it is the number of our anniversary.
We dedicated this tree to our family and named it "Everlasting".
Everlasting will reach up to heaven everyday for those who are
struggling to do so.

What fun to see Gary and Kristen who are here visiting Gary's parents who are serving here at the PCC  in the Mission Settlement.

A visit from Gary and Kristen! :)

Mele Kalikimaka from Laie

Hukilau Market Place Christmas

Chris Played a "king" in the live nativity

BYU-Hawaii Christmas

This little girl went up to Mary, touched her face, then laid her
head gently on the baby Jesus.  Such a tender moment.

Beautiful Sunset behind the temple:

Decorating our place for Christmas

Look who came to the manger scene in our ward Christmas Party!
Awe...ha ha ha!  Pua & Heihei!

Isn't it incredible when you stop to think about it how after all these 1000's of years, we still talk of the little baby born in a manger.  We still teach of Him, worship Him all over the world and at Christmas we still sing and tell His story.  Like the wisemen, we are still watching for Him to come and waiting for that great day.

And still is found, the world around

The old and hallowed story,

And still is sung in every tongue

The angels song of glory:

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to his name.

Isn’t it also amazing that even though we have such a brief account of the words and works of Jesus, “all occurrences that make history are chronicled throughout Christendom by reference to the year before or after the birth of Jesus Christ.”