Aloha 12/20/12

Aloha!

What a whirlwind week!

Monday, the 10th was Preparation Day and we cleaned, shopped, mailed and I packed for Utah.  The computers were acting up at the Stake Center, so Elder Lapule called and asked if they could come use our computers.  We had 5 Elders...Elders' Lapule, Lasitani, Ioteba, Viliko, and Tausinga.  I asked, "Where are your companions?"  "We left the white boys at the church."  I said, "So you wanted to hang out with the white sisters?"  They just laughed.  They are so funny!

Aloha 12/9/12

Aloha,

Even though our temperatures are still in the 80"s, there is still the feeling of Christmas in the air!  It seems people are more aware of being kinder; especially in traffic!  It is so wonderful to have a month that is dedicated to our Savior and the remembrance of what HE sacrificed for each of us.

Sunday, it was wonderful to hear the First Presidency Christmas message and kick start the month.  President Uchtdorf commented on giving gifts of love that will strengthen the individual and to be a gracious receiver.  President Eyering reminded us to celebrate the most sacred gift... that of Jesus Christ and to keep our faith strong.  President Monson said "To have real joy the Savior must always be first in our thoughts and that the true spirit of giving is forgetting self."  So we have a lot of work to do.  Mele Kalikimaka.

Aloha 12/2/12

Aloha,

What a glorious week and I hope all of you had a beautiful week, too.  Here we are already in December and preparing to celebrate the Saviors' birth.  What a blessing to be a missionary and teaching about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for each one of us.

Saturday, December 1st, 2012 was a beautiful sun shiny day with a temperature of 80 degrees.  As we go out and about, we see many homes decorated with Christmas lights and outdoor decorations AND it it seems so surreal!  On Wednesday, after my Dr. appointment we went to the temple. I took a picture of the beautiful Laie temple. Enjoy.  Before our session, we stopped at the visitor's center and took a few pictures.  One is the Christus statue w/decorated trees on each side and the tree decorated in blue is from the Makakilo Stake.  Each Stake decorates a tree and they are placed all around the visitors' center.  How festive.

I am kind of jumping around on this weeks, Aloha...oh, well!  I call that the authors' privilege.

Aloha 11/25/12

Aloha,

Had a great Sunday.  We worked in the nursery again and Sister McGiven gave the lesson on "Gratitude."  We had a table w/puzzles and play dough to get the little ones settled down before the lesson.  We played games, sang and they had a snack.

Monday, P-Day.  The regular...clean the apartment, laundry, shopping, studying, and preparing for the week.  Got a call about 8:30 PM from the Zone leaders to let us know we were meeting to go to the temple Tuesday morning at 6:30 am AND again they apologized because they didn't let us know that it was District Meeting today!!! We just aren't on their radar.

Aloha 11/19/12

Another great week in the Islands.  Last Sunday we helped (took over!) the nursery because the sister that usually is there was ill.  We only had three, but they still wear you out.  We will go in this week more prepared!!!

Monday, we had almost a bar-be-que!!!  It was transfer week for the Elders and it was their get together.  Scheduled for 2:00 and they finally got the grill started at 3:15, but we had to leave!   So another miss!  We suggested doing a breakfast next time!  We'll see.  It was a HOOT to see how inventive they were...they didn't have lighter fluid until 3:15...so, they put all the briquets on top of the bag and then an Elder went and got HAND SANITIZER and squirted it on.  It tried to take off, but not when you only have  2 oz. of fluid!  They are soooo fun to watch.

Aloha 11/11/12

I will try to keep my emails shorter!  Sorry about last weeks.  I don't need to give every detail.

Utah has finally been hammered w/cold weather.  We are still in the 80's and sunshine.  Lovely.

The cat scan never happened as of yet because I need pre-authorization.  I have a re-check w/the Dr. on Wednesday because I still cannot shake this cough.  The work suffers because it makes me exhausted.  We will get to the bottom of it one way or another!

Aloha 11/4/12

Last week, I was certainly in a fog.  The big thing that happened AND I forgot to tell you about it.   My sister, Karen, called me last Saturday night about 7:30 pm and said, "Are you all right?"  Of course, my answer was "Yes", what's up?  She said, "Haven't you seen the news??? "   What a ?  When one does not have TV or radio, it's easy to miss BIG news.  She said,  "There had been an earthquake off Western Canada and there was a tsunami warning for all the Hawaiian Islands."  I assured we were in our apartment on high ground.  Got off the phone with Karen and checked out the internet!  Sure enough...those on the leeward side needed to head for higher ground.  Right after her call, the Zone leaders called and we were suppose to check in at the Stake Center.  Of course, we went 1/2 mile to the Stake Center, checked in with the Elders and took them our homemade ghost and pumpkin cutout cookies for sustenance and came back home and to bed.  The next morning brought no tsunami.  A few high waves on Maui.   Best to give heed to any kind of weather warning.

I missed the wonderful Primary program, because I still felt horrible.  Sister McGiven said they did a wonderful job with their parts and music.  She took them the cookies too.

Aloha 10/29/12

I am sorry there is not too much to report at this end.  We had a nice P-Day and we held our District meeting in Waianae.  Worked that area on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I told Sister McGiven, I think I was inspired!!!  I said, "We need to get a bull horn to call people inside the homes! when nothing else works!!!"  So far, she is not w/me on that.  I have been lying low since Thursday.  I did see a Doctor and hopefully, he is on the right track w/the diagnosis.   He said I had a viral infection and to flush it out.  So far, I am still coughing...so I guess it is not flushed out.  I think it started the time the VOG hit.  Sister McGiven attended a baptism (Fri), marriage & baptism (Sat) and the Primary Program on Sunday.  We made Halloween cookies w/cookie cutters Michelle sent me for the Primary children after church.  Our car is having some problems (over heating) and must be seen by the repairman!...hope its diagnosis is  better than mine!   Did go out for awhile today and had to take a rest.   I send my Aloha, Sister Morris

PS Beware of those Halloween critters...

Aloha 10/21/12

Another great week in Paradise.  Always a great week when I don't see a gecko in the apartment!!! 

We had a wonderful Zone Conference in Waipahu.  We worked on practicing the "harvest blessing" tool.  We introduce ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ and would love to leave a blessing of peace on your family and your home.   The President mentioned that he feels the young Elders are being called to help accelerate the Lord's work.

Aloha 10/15/12

I hope my pictures come through.  I am trying to figure out my phone camera and transferring pictures to the computer.  hope you receive them! The first picture is a lei that Sis Toli gave me on the 26th.  The towels we made at Women's Conference. We sewed the band.  The next two are the day I left for Honolulu.  I am having breakfast at Godolfos w/Shane and Genise's family.  The last two are pictures taken when attending the MTC (Missionary Training Center). Our District (smaller groups for training purposes):  Sis Morris/McGiven, Bro & Sis Jolley, Trainer Sis Anderson, Bro & Sis Powers, Bro & Sis Porter.  The last is Sis Morris/McGiven on their last day at the MTC.

Was't General Conference wonderful?  Two more temples announced and the change in ages of missionaries.  The Lord needs his young warriors.  I'm excited.  It was not hard at all to attend Conference at 6 am in the morning.

I did a quick jump in the ocean on P-Day.  I think it was the warmest since I have been here.  What does that tell you???  Let me tell you the why?  We have had VOG, (that isn't POG, the drink)!  The Island of Hawaii's volcano spued out volcanic ash and it has hovered over the islands causing the air to be hot and particles to cause breathing problems.  I think; in my own opinion, Vog stands for volcanic gunk!!!  Kind of like our FOG, but with awful particulates...now does that sound scientific or what???  What I really meant to say is...it affected me and I was down Thursday, so Sis McGiven played nursemaid to me and we did not go visiting.  She is the best. 

Aloha 10/7/12

Another great week in the Aloha Mission.  We saw quite a few new people in the Tongan Branch.  Sister Toli went w/us on Wednesday, but caught no one at home. We ended up over in our neck  of the woods looking for a sister, of course, w/no address AND didn't find her.  We took Sister Toli to dinner w/us and then ran her back to Maile.

On Tuesday, we met w/ the Tongan Branch for our weekly missionary meeting and break the fast.  They asked how our week was going and I of course said, "We don't have any list because we have seen all the ones listed!"  That started it!!!  They were back and  forth trying to find out 'WHO" had the names and list. This is all in Tongan. It went on for about 20 minutes and I finally said, "I have a headache.!"  Bro. Totau then said, "We will get you a list."  After, the meeting, we were talking to Bro. Totau and he reiterated, "We will get you a list and you need to have a back-up plan."  I said, "OK, we will take a nap."  He said, "No, no, no nap.  You work!"  He is so funny because he takes everything I say so literally!

Aloha 9/30/12

Another great week in the Islands.  I finally enjoyed the ocean on P-Day.  Felt so refreshing.  We went to an area in Ko Olina that has 5 lagoons.  There are some really nice hotels (Marriott & Disney), but apart from them and down by the marina is another lagoon for day swimmers!  (not trippers!!!!)  You don't have the huge waves knocking you down.  It is just really peaceful.  I think I mentioned the Elders mission ends where the sand begins, so naturally we don't mention our glorious sea days.

Heather said send pictures, so this is the day we attended the temple with our zone on the 18th.  We are in front of the beautiful fountain.  Inside the entrance of the temple, they have a carved mural depicting Christ's life in the New Testament, Book of Mormon and Moroni ushering in the last days.  It is huge and takes up three walls. Elder Boyle, an Elder from Makaha,  pointed it out to us.  Of course, the temple grounds with the fountain and flowers are very breath taking.

Aloha 9/23/12

Still no blog.  Actually, emailing is probably easier.  Hope you all had a great week.

On P-day, I had my hair chopped and I am totally cool! (Cool in not dripping w/sweat!) If I tease the top, I don't look like a guy.  Tuesday, we attended the Laie Temple w/16 Elders from our Zone and then ate at Papa Ofe' (Hawaiian food) w/all of them.  We drove back via the coast.  Oh so pretty...

UPDATE OF THE WEEK!!!

Aloha 9/15/12

WOW.  Finally in the 21st century.  We have internet.  Sister McGiven and I arrived August 25th to the island of Oahu to serve a mission of one year.  We were put into temporary vacation housing in Makaha.  Our mission President, President Dalton was off island when we arrived so were met by the Smileys that were over housing.

Had a nice dinner with them and a they gave us a lovely lei!  Moved into the rental and then set off to get some foodstuff.

We are driving a 1994 Mercedes Benz that is a friends of Sue's.  Runs great and thankfully good mileage because it takes premium.

Aloha 6/20/12

Hi...in case you haven't heard.  I have been called to serve in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission.  I will labor with Sue McGiven as a women's auxiliary specialist.  We report to the MTC in Provo on August 20, 2012.  My earliest date was August 15th.  Our mission president is:  John C. Dalton IV and his wife, Louise.

Keep me in your prayers and I am working on a Blog for the mission period.   I am really excited for this new blessing in my life.

Pat