On Christmas Day, we fed the Elders biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, orange juice and got them set up to Skype with their families. We called Elder Cameron's dear parents and siblings, took a nap (Santa came early), then, WE WENT SNORKELING! Actually, there were a lot of people with the same idea. Since winter is when the ocean on the North Shore is turbulent and only for tough surfers, we went to Turtle Bay which is for novices and gentle folk, such as we. There is a rock barrier that keeps the snorkeling area quite calm. However, that barrier also limits the type and amount of sea life that is available. Well, I had a grrrreat idea. I took one of the left over biscuits and gave those fish a Christmas feast! Word travels fast under water. Very quickly, we had a plethora of sea life to enjoy. The biscuit dissolved into a million crumbs and fed our distracted entertainment. I have since learned, from those who know, to feed the fish a whole, peeled banana. I will be checking out that suggestion with the locals. 

After our refreshing swim, we Skyped our delightful family and felt sorry for ourselves because we weren't with them. We are grateful for the technology to see one another so conveniently and clearly. 

We, then, grilled chicken and pork chops for the Elders, and enjoyed a relaxing Christmas evening reminiscing with them.

The point of all of this is: 

We went snorkeling on Christmas Day! 

What a blessed and memorable day it was for us.

We had a Christmas miracle. Let me explain.....
As you know, we live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. What's more, we live on the North end of the island, which is more remote than the South end, which means not as many stores or as many items in the stores as we're used to on the mainland. Really not a problem until you want 'Butterscotch Cook and Serve Pudding' for your traditional Cameron Family Christmas Rolls. Instant won't work. And only two stores had the instant, anyway. A Walmart in Honolulu said it had some in it's store, but, the traffic there and back during the surfing season is non-negotiable, plus, the president of the free world is vacationing on this island, which adds to the chaotic madness.
We finally resigned ourselves to going without until a later time, and we didn't hardly whine at all!

In Laie is a place called " Give and Take". It has four little pods on the perimeter and in the middle is a tarp over "the stuff". When kids graduate and people and missionaries leave the island, they often have accumulated way to much stuff to fit in any suitcase, so they donate it to "Give and Take". Books, shoes, clothes, kitchen items, bedding, strollers, office supplies, toys, games, knick knacks, food and so much junk, you can hardly imagine. If you find something you want, you don't pay for it, you sign up to work a shift. No money is involved, just your shift, to organize. Missionaries don't do a shift, they get to "just shop". 

The day before Christmas Eve, after our interview with our mission president, I wanted to donate some things, plus we wanted to look for some books. We rooted around and found a book, some staples and a file folder. As we were leaving, I glanced to my left at the jewelry counter and saw this.

Who says Heavenly Father doesn't have a sense of humor?!
Cook and Serve in Laie? Never! Yet, there was one small box of just what we wanted. I remember sending the recipe to Elder "Crocker Cameron" in Florida and a box of this pudding to Anziano Cameron in Italy.  So, it stands to reason, someone sent this box to their kidlet, or someone brought it in a suitcase. Doesn't matter. It lets us know we're loved and 
cared for. That is our Christmas miracle. How cool is that.

                                                   Aloha

               

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We wish you much joy at this Christmas season, and pray that we all may experience the peace and spirit of the Savior now and throughout the new year.

With much Aloha, from beautiful Hawaii

Elder and Sister Cameron

Traditional Tongan apron, which represents respect. This is the most feminine example we have seen.  When they lived in Tonga, these aprons were worn over their clothes when in the presence of the Island King and his family. Now, they wear them to church, also as a sign of respect. The Tongan women love Elder Cameron.

Malia Fumaki and Elder Cameron 

Elder Cameron showing his great surfing form as he gets into the local fun with Polynesian Santa.

Aloha

  

This was something to crow about, but, where was the rooster when I needed him to warn us?

There are wild pigs on the islands that wander around in the mountains and seem to come out at night. Wouldn't you know...we got an adventurous one that decided to show up in the light. Perhaps it has the same defect the rooster do and can't see! Fortunately, we have two yellow labs that live at our address and watch out for us. There was no way that pig was coming inside those gates! There are Tongan kids that like to spear and roast them. I will have their phone numbers handy for the next porcine reconnaissance.

Aloha

Peace Is Possible

Yesterday, was December 7 - seventy four years since the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Elder Cameron and I were driving to Honolulu for some training and we had two Japanese Sister missionaries with us.  As we made the journey, we talked about Christmas traditions that our families celebrate and how much we'll miss them, but, that we are happy to be where we are and do what we are doing. We love these Sisters and we each have the same goal of teaching others of Jesus Christ. In seventy four years we've gone from wanting to destroy one another to wanting to save one another. My Dad, who is 90 years old, served (Thanks, Dad) in World War II, on the islands of Tinian and Saipan, so the dichotomy of us serving side by side with Japanese nationals is not lost on me. 

Every six weeks, the missionaries on the island of Oahu, clean "Mighty Mo", also known as the USS Missouri battleship, which was the site of surrender with Japan, that ended the war. 
It is now a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Check out our group of ship cleaners.  Japanese, Filipino, Cambodian, Hawaiian, German, Tongan, Chinese and a few 

Americans. Happy looking kids, aren't they. Maybe we can learn something from the younger generations.

                                                                        Aloha

A Savior Is Born
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