Tuesday, March 7, 2023 - The Crumps come

 Jeff and Carol Crump, who were in our ward in Antioch, came to visit!

They surprised us at the Visitor’s Center. Then we went to lunch with them at Pounders the next day.Jeff went with us to church on Sunday, then we had both of them over for Sunday dinner, since they were staying here in Laie at the Marriott….and there is NOTHING open on Sunday here!

They now live in Eagle, Idaho. It was wonderful to get caught up with good friends!

Monday, March 5, 2023- NEW STUFF !!!

 After living here for 9 months we finally got our landlords to fix a few things! (Mostly because the leak in our bathroom, which we told them about months ago, finally broke thru the ceiling downstairs and made a major leak!)

First came the fix to our kitchen sink! When the Monroes were here the aerator on the end of the kitchen faucet cracked and broke.  We went shopping all over the island for a replacement and had no luck. Roger even did a masterful taping job, but still not luck in fixing the leak.  So, they just had to get us a whole new faucet!  So grateful for small things!

 Next came the guest bathroom. The hot water handle didn’t even work and it dripped, so we got a new faucet there too! Now we can enjoy hot water in that sink!!!  Then the bathtub dripped constantly. So, he fixed that problem and even put a new wax seal on our toilet (hoping to fix the downstairs problem). Sorry that Most of our kids had to endure in this broken bathroom, but the Sanders and Kreys will be very happy!  I know we are!!!!

Sunday, March 5, 2023 - Christus

 Lately we have been having a lot of rain, which often causes power outages. Often, even when the power comes back on, it has knocked out some of our videos or narrations. Then we have to call Salt Lake and get them to fix it remotely. That always takes a lot of time.  

We have about a 90-second narration that goes with our Christus statue.

So, we have started having our sisters memorize the narration and then they can recite it to our guests.

They are wonderful at it! It really brings the Spirit when they recite it!

Sat. March 4, 2023 - 80 Chicken Sandwiches

 So, we are slowly trying to make our way through the food trucks in this community. There is really only a couple of sit-down, eat in restaurants. All the rest are food trucks…but they are usually pretty good!  Today we went to 80 Chicken Sandwiches for lunch.

He is only open on the weekends. He opens at noon, and you had better be there by 11:45 if you want to get a sandwich before he sells out! The line is usually VERY long!

He comes out at the beginning and explains that he is a stay-at-home dad and so that’s why he is only open on the weekends. He makes 10 combos at a time. Combos are the chicken sandwich, fries which he makes himself, and a drink which is either water or a canned Liliko drink (passion fruit) 

Knowing how big his sandwiches are, we brought our own drinks and an extra bun so we could split it.

The chicken literally sticks out both sides of the bun!

He can cook 10 of theses at a time, then it is about a 12-15 min. wait until the next batch of 10 are cooked. When he has cooked 80 sandwiches, he closes!

They were excellent!!!

Of course, no lunch is complete without dessert, so, stopped at McDonalds on the way home because Roger was craving a strawberry milkshake.  I got a hot fudge sundae, but the hot fudge was just a little on the top only! Sheesh!

Fun date!!!!

Thursday, March 2, 2023- Flags

 Each morning when we open the Visitor’s Center and each evening at sunset we are putting up or taking down flags.  It has been a good experience for the sisters, many of whom have never done anything with flags.

Sisters Ko and Tautuiaki

                                                            Sisters Jensen and Alapa

Sisters Jensen and Alapa

Our system is kind of hard. One sister has to push in on the crank, while the other actually turns the crank

And, it is no small feat to get those flags all the way to the top!.

US flag goes first, then the Hawaiian flag. The Hawaiian flag has a Union Jack in the corner, then red, white and blue stripes.

Folding the flag has been an education for them too!  If it has been raining a lot and the flags are wet, we bring them inside and hang them up on a clothesline we have rigged up in the furnace room.

Wed. March 1, 2023 - CORN DOGS!!!!

 So, there are so many food trucks on this community. We are trying to get around to all of them. Today we went to on right across the street from Kahuku High School called the Corn Dog!

we had to try their World-Famous honey dog… it is a corn dog with Honey and Sweet chilis drizzled over the top of it.  I will have to say it was pretty darned good!  But, the mini- which is a little bigger than a regular corn dog cost $5.00 and then there is the Epic- which is about 10” long and is $8.00

We got 2 mini ones and brought them home because we were too cheap to pay for drinks!

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023 - More visitors!

 What a surprise we had today as some unexpected visitors came into the VC ! Tina and Stratie Young! When Lindsay and Cameron and family lived in Clarksville, TN they were in the same ward and became very close friends!!! Lindsay taught their kids in Seminary and Stratie and Cameron were close, having both been in the military.

He is now the Stake President there which cancelled any plans they had to move to Madison, Al. They do get together still on occasions when the Sanders go up to Nashville, or the You gs come down to see them and other friends they have there.

Monday, Feb.27- Drained!!!

 Out beautiful fountain out on the plaza in front of the VC is having some problems!  In order to fix the problems they had to drain it

In order to fix the lights, it had to be empty….but then, as they were draining it, the pump went out. We hear that is a $5,000 fix and they have to order the part. But, this is Hawaii and EVERYTHING takes long than projected!  So, it is drained now and will have to stay that way until all parts come in and the right electricians to fix it are available!!!  Aaaaggghhhhhh!!!!

Saturday, Feb. 25. - New CHAMPS in the family

 So we have some champs in the family…  first, Cambria in Volleyball

Then, Annalese in Basketball !!!

Congrats to them, and to both Arie and Ashlyn who are also playing Volleyball!!!

 

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 - District Meeting

 Not sure what you are used to seeing in District meetings but ours was a goodbye breakfast at our house!

From left and around table..Roger taking the pic, Diedra doing the serving, Judy Madsen and Barbara Dennis who live below us, Tom and Michelle Kendall, Brent Barton, and wife across the table Ilene Barton, and Jim and Kelly Mason.

We went over to the food truck Tita’s Grill at the PCC. They make their own bread and serve a killer French toast! So, we bought a couple of loaves they slice it super thick, and brought it home to serve French toast at our breakfast.

Judy from downstairs, made some homemade buttermilk syrup and it all tasted wonderful!!!

We were saying good bye to the Kendalls and Bartons who were going home the next week. It is going to be a small little district until we can have more seniors move in.

Friday, Feb. 17, 2023- a trip for the Sanders

 Sadly, Cameron’s Grandpa Jimmy, in Washington state, passed away. Since they may never have occasion to visit there again, the whole Sanders family went to his memorial and to show the grandkids where their grandparents had grown up. 

4 Generations - Deb Sanders, Grandpa Jimmy, Colby, Cameron

So glad they were able to go and be together with family!!!!

Wed. February, 15, 2023 - CONGRATULATIONS !!!!

 Today we got some thrilling news!!!  Layne was voted, by her peers, as Teacher of the Year at her school!!!   So cool!   Congrats Layne - you wear the Tiarra well!!!!!

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023- Valentines Day

 Look what I woke up to this morning! My two favorite things from my favorite person!!! Red roses and plain M&M’s !!!  

We had to work over at the PCC tonight, so I took Elder Mahaffey out to dinner there! Ha! (They feed us free when we work there!) still,,,,, it’s the thought….

Monday, Feb. 13, 2023- a Reminder…

A Reminder of just how special it is to be serving in this mission. Elder Handley, who works in the office, is quite the photographer. He took these photos:

It is a beautiful reminder to us of the quote from Heber J. Grant in his dedicatory prayer. And we see it happen everyday…the peace that come to our guests when they come onto the temple grounds!

The Holy Ghost blesses us, the Lord’s work here, and all those who come here! 

 

Monday, Feb. 13, 2023 - a sweet Post from Chad Monroe

 So, in Chad and Brooke’s stake they have a newsletter where each member of the stake presidency takes a month to write a message,  This was Chad’s month, so he wrote a very sweet not!

Thank you Chad, we appreciate the kind words!

Thursday, Feb 9, 2023 - ….and a little child shall lead them…

 One sweet part of serving in the VC is seeing the children. It doesn’t matter if they come in a stroller, or walk in…they see that 14 ft. Statue of the Christus and say…JESUS!!!

They are so pure and innocent  and immediately recognize Diety! No wonder we are told to become as little children!

Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 - Kualoa Ranch

 Today we went to Kualoa Ranch, only about 20 minutes from us and some place we had never gone.

It is a popular place where a lot of movies have been filmed. Plus they have zip-lines, horseback riding, keep and 4x4 rides,….all kinds of stuff.

We opted to take the Hollywood tour, where they take you around on an open-air bus to many sites where movies have been filmed.

While we waited for our tour, Misty got up close and personal with a prop from Jurassic Park.

Actual name….Archaeopteryx

Then we stopped to see this statue and nearly lost our lives…..

Then we stopped at the site where they filmed Jurassic Park and nearly got eaten again… it really is a gorgeous area and seems like a very remote, prehistoric area!

Next up was Willie, the penguin, from Fifty First Dates.

Then - the Boneyard from Kong, Skull Island

And, of course, KONG!!!

It was a fun day…and again, we just missed the rain! We have had some great times in between all the rain!  The next day Misty had to go home…and all we were left with was a sad, empty bedroom!

 Thanks Misty for a fun week with you!!!