Tonight, we attended a Christmas program put on by the Sisters that serve at the Laie Temple Visitors Center. They sang carols and shared their testimonies about the divinity of Jesus Christ. It was a beautiful start to the Christmas Season for us. 

Aloha

Are you kidding me?

Elder Cameron is having a nap under a cover! I have no idea how he does this!

 

Check the "Real Feel" temperature. Then add rain. How. Does. He. Do. This.

Aloha

Thanksgiving Day Adventure

Dear Sunset Branch,

It could have been a tragedy as the oven broke right before Thanksgiving, but my wife and three daughters trusted in my cowboy skills using the dutch ovens to cook everything that needed to be baked. After burning almost 20 pounds of charcoal, we made an apple pie, dinner rolls, stuffing, candied yams, a green bean casserole and a ham.

On the Weber charcoal grill, we cooked the turkey.

We had fun as we solved a problem and worked together as a family. In the end we enjoyed a delicious meal with friends.

After it was all said and done, we all sat in the living room feeling full, feeling content and feeling love for one another.

Our love as a family turned a seemingly impossible predicament into a perfect Thanksgiving Day.

I love my family!

I pray you had a good day as well. 

Aloha, President Gary Pitt

Cowboy or Eagle Scout, the food was impressive and delicious. We visited for hours, did the dishes, and we even ended up with leftovers to bring home. It was a day to be grateful, and we are!

Aloha

There appears to be a genetic problem with the feral roosters that live around Sunset Beach. They are born sightless or they are permanently blinded by the glare of the sun off the ocean.....because they crow, at random, 24 hours a day! These would not make good farm roosters!

We've had a busy week with District and Zone Conferences, temple attendance and making visits. It has rained a considerable amount by Idaho hayseed standards. However, the locals aren't bothered. It means more water to swim in and surf on. Fortunately, it's a warm rain, so efforts continue.

Aloha

Baptism of Melanie Torene. The young woman by her is her 14 year old daughter, Jiana, who was baptized a year ago. Every one has a story. These four Sister missionaries are so delightful and such fun.

Sister Cameron getting in on the fun.

Aloha

Today was the Inauguration of Dr. John Tanner, the new President of BYUHawaii.  Elder Dallin H. Oakes, of the 12 apostles, conducted and President Henry B. Eyring of the first presidency, presided and issued the charge.

Three apostles have visited this island in the last 

nine days. Their mantle of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is easily recognizable. 

Aloha

Last night at YSA-FHE, we arrived at the park pavilion and a piñata was sorta hanging. It wasn't clear what "it" was.  Pretty soon a pickup drove right up onto the cement pavilion, blasting Mexican music. I thought "oh boy".

We all took some whacks at it and as candy fell out, we grabbed it and were instructed not to eat it. 
Whaatt?  Well, each piece of candy had something written 
on it...

• what is your favorite scripture and why
• a chosen scripture which you read and then   
  talked about 
• a favorite primary song or hymn which we all sang

It turned out very well and we all got to know one another 
better. I think the crepe paper box was eventually referred 
to as "The Chupacabra".  

Aloha

Sunset Beach

This is right across the road from where we live. I think Sunset Beach is a well-suited name. It is difficult to believe there are formidable waves that eventually roll in.

Aloha

We've moved to Surfers Mecca

We have settled into our new apartment, and have officially unpacked our suitcases. I can see that we brought to much "stuff" and some of it will not be returning to Idaho, ever! I wonder where the waves will take it if I toss it in the ocean!

We have been assigned to serve in the Young Single Adult Branch (ages 18-30) and the English Family Branch that are both located in Sunset Beach, on the North Shore of Oahu. The day after we arrived, the YSA Branch President called and invited us to lunch.

He said, on average, 7,000 people drive through here,      

daily. That is 2.5 million a year. When the North Shore
Bonzai Pipeline is in season, the traffic literally stalls.
The pipeline waves are known to be the highest (20 to 30 feet) in the world, so when the word spreads to the surfer community that the waves have arrived, they come en masse. 

Our first YSA activity.

Elder Cameron showing off his skills! Looks good,  
doesn't he?

 

Sister Cameron "riding the pipeline".

Truth? We've been to the beach, one time.

Today, we attended our new Branch and Ward. To quote the movie ANNIE..."I think we're gonna like it here". The YSA meets in a community center, which is having some work done on it this week.

Sooooo, we met in the backyard of a home on the top of the mountain. Slight breeze moving the palm tree fronds, with striking flowers and foliage all around. Makes one seriously consider what the Garden of Eden must have looked like.

Aloha

Isn't he cute?

This parrot is a pet from a roadside fruit stand. He was so willing to let me take his picture. I thought my grandcritters that watch Wild Kratts might recognize him. 

The trade winds have arrived which drops the temperature by 15-20° during the day, which is gratefully welcomed.

Aloha

Our First Week

We attended the Samoan, Tongan and English wards. I actually sang two songs in Tongan and did remarkably well. (It helped to be sitting by a native). You don't have to know the language to feel the love, faith and strength, these members have. They accepted us with open arms. Literally. They love, love to hug and kiss cheeks. 

We attended our first district meeting with 30 missionaries. Six Elders and twenty four Sisters. Many of the Sisters serve at the Visitors Center, which requires many languages. Japanese, Chinese, Cambodian, Korean, Filipino and German are in our district. Because of Halloween, the missionaries were counseled to be off the street by 5:00 p.m. We all gathered at the church and had games and delicious food.

We had a baptism of an 8 year old girl of member. Her father is from Emmett.

We are responsible to inspect the apartments of three sets of Elders, every six weeks. This keeps the bugs down and the morale up. All of them were exceptionally clean, especially for teenage boys.

We spent some time with the Elders as they taught the gospel to 5 children. These island children are adorable.

We topped off the week with Elder Christofferson. It doesn't get any better than that.

Aloha

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

As part of the Lei of Light 150 years celebration, we had the privilege of attending the devotional by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, one of the the 12 apostles. 
As we listened to his comments about the history of Laie and its harsh, humble beginnings, it struck me that they are the pioneers of the tropics. They had 6000 acres of barren, arid land with no water.
Through hard work, faith and miracles, things have certainly changed in the last 150 years.

Elder Christofferson