It's Transfer Time Again!

Look at this fine, upstanding group. I can't believe it has been six weeks since the last transfer and here it is again. Elder Austin, in the lei, is dying. That's going home. I think Elder Coffin back row left will go, he's been a great ZL and maybe one other elder. You never know. It is always fun to guess. We will find out Sunday night. We always get a call ahead of time and know who will go and where. This has been such a good Zone. We love the elders and sisters like they were our own. Do I always say that? We just got the word that Wally is now the "Car Czar" in charge of car inspections here on Kauai. Poor elders, you know how Wally is about his cars. He will do that at the same time I do apartment inspections. Next Monday we will have our last p-day together and we are taking lunch and dessert into Lihue for everyone. The elders will play some game, we will fix them lunch and then say goodbye. We would have them out here but it is just too far for everyone to come. We sang Aloha'oe for our closing song today and it is always such a tear jerker!

It's Good Ya?

Today was a wonderful Sunday! I gave the Missionary Minute, Our Ward Rocks and Brother Karratti, the mission leader and Sister Akita, the Bishop's wife were the speakers. What a spiritual feast. Sister Akita talked about making good choices and trusting ourselves that we have been good parents and have tried to teach our children well. They have to choose now what to do with it. Her theme "It's Good." went along with her message and she told some wonderful stories (about kings and cannibals) to illustrate. I know sometimes we all wonder if we have done enough. Brother Karratti talked about "Turning". He used it to talk about turning toward the Lord and being obedient and striving to do our best. He even talked about when we had hiked the Sleeping Giant with his family and how we could look down and see where we'd been and where we were going and how worth it it would be when we got to the top. Let's hope our views looking down will be just as amazing!

Get Used To It!

If we have time on Saturdays in between service and appointments we go out to lunch. Today Wally surprised me and took us to the Grand Hyatt. It is soooo beautiful here. The view from everywhere is breath taking! Lunch was yummy (chicken quesadilla, roast beef sandwich, onion rings and soft serve yogurt) and the service impeccable and that was at the grill. It cost an arm and a leg but it was worth it and we probably won't do it again. Do I sound like I am rationalizing? I could sit here forever and have someone tend me, watch the ocean and feel the trade winds blow. Oh my, this is the life.

Kau Kau Tins and Lilik'oi Pie

We didn't get to have Chick Chat this week or last. It seems like ages since we have had a good visit. So Maxine and Petra (they both have Fridays off) decided we should go out to lunch today. Our week has been bleak and there are not appointments today so I said it sounded good. To tell the truth Wall probably wanted some time alone too. LOL. We finally decided on Wranglers. We have eaten there before and it is good food and a fun old place. Maxine ordered a Kau Kau Tin. It is a lunch box that the sugar cane workers used to carry to work.

When you take the handle off, the tin separates into three parts. Each part has something different in it. For example Maxine had rice, meat and vegetables. It would have had shrimp but she has developed an allergy to them and so they had to change it up for her. In the gift shop they have these tins to buy. I might get one and use it to hold some of my office supplies. Such an interesting piece of history here.

Here Petra and I are sharing a piece of Lilik'oi Pie. A house specialty. At home we have some Lilik'oi mustard that Wally loves. Lilik'oi is passion fruit and it is really popular here and is used in all kinds of things. Petra told us today that she is moving to the mainland. What a shock! She is excited to have a new adventure. We will miss her so much. She just became active again when we moved into the ward. Wally and I taught her the lessons and read the Book of Mormon with her when we first got here. This year has been such a year of growth and joy for her. Although I hate to see her go, she is so excited. I know we will be able to see her when we come home because she is going to AZ and we will stop by when we go to visit Jeffrey, Jarrica and family.

Thursdays With Bro.C

Happy, happy Wally and Brother C. as they strum and sing all kinds of songs. Let's see today it was Aloha'oe, Hawaii Aloha, Tiny Bubbles (in Hawaiian), You'll Never Find Another Kanaka Like Me. Bro. C is so thrilled that Wall is learning to play and embracing the culture. We learn so much as we talk story, talk missionary work and enjoy each others company.

How creative these Hawaiians are. This is a picture of a Papaya tree being trained to stay short so the fruit will be in reach and can be picked without a huge ladder. We've seen these buckets on lots of trees but thought people had just hung their buckets without thinking. Who knows why?

You can see all this beautiful fruit that will be ready to be picked just when it starts to turn yellow. Mmmm, love Papaya when it is still firm but sweet, not too ripe. It is good sprinkled with lime juice.

The reason I wanted to tell you about Papayas is because after our discussion today Bro. C gave us this one from his tree that will be ready to eat in about 2 days. Can't wait! We will surely miss all this wonderful fruit when we come home.

Our Family Rocks!

We gave an FHE to the Simola's today. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed sitting out on the lanai. We talked about the Wise Man and the Foolish Man and how we should build our "house" or "family" on the rock which is our Savior Jesus Christ. It was such a good lesson, just the kind we love to give and the Simola's always make us feel useful and appreciated. They like my little handouts too. We sang "The Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock" and did the actions with it. You should have seen Dad. LOL. Then for closing we sang or talked "I'm trying to be like Jesus." I couldn't remember the tune. We also went over to see some folks in low income housing to let them know we missed them Sunday. We were in casual clothes. It was a friendlier atmosphere. Sometimes we need to go just as people who are friends. It doesn't seem so threatening to them. Not that we are it is just .... I don't know how to explain it. We feel that this is when we are at our best.

Ka'ai Crater Hot Fudge Sundae...

It was great fun watching this lonely paddle boarder while I was eating my free Lappert's Hot Fudge Sundae. No wonder we are putting on the pounds. After 10 stamps on our card we can get a free anything we want. It was loaded with Macadamia nuts and whipped cream. Oh, and I love those cherries on top. Dad says we need to start dieting now so we can at least lose 7 pounds by the time we get home. Maybe next month. We have 4 stamps left over on our card and that means we only need six more then Dad can have his pick of the menu. Did I mention we have given up rice?