TEACHING THE GOSPEL

We were finally able to start up some of the classes that the stake president in Hilo had given us for our missionary assignments.  It took a while because of the time necessary to decide when and where the classes would be held, then to have the Bishops and adult auxiliary leaders send around signup sheets.  We have been assigned to teach two Adult Institute classes and a Marriage and Family Relations class.  We have also been assigned to be on a new stake council which will look at the new teacher development program and decide how to implement it in the Hilo Stake.  So, we teach institute on Tuesday and Thursday nights and the marriage and family class on Friday nights,  We had good turnouts at the Tues. and Fri, classes but the Thurs. group was a no-show. Pretty sure it just didn't get announced in the 4 wards that should have attended that class.

So, now we spend a good portion of each weekday preparing for our classes - reading and studying lesson material and then preparing any visuals or media that we intend to use.  We had to spend a lot of time last week looking for a new place to rent.  The one that was rented for us has stairs (stairs and I are not good friends)  and it's also on a very busy and noisy street.   Sometimes, since we are getting a little older, we need a short nap during the afternoon.  That is really hard to accomplish with the sirens from ambulance and fire trucks that are housed on the block behind which go by continually which then start the 5 - 10 dogs across the street barking and howling and add to that the souped up cars, trucks, and motorcycles that zoom by using our street for a race track.

Our humble cottage at 2148 Kino'ole Street.It's really quite small.

On Saturday, May 7th, we drove to Kona on the other side of the island to do an endowment session and to attend the sealing of a young couple in our Hilo ward.  They had a young 10 months old daughter sealed to them.  The temple is very small but it is very beautiful inside and out.  In the landscaping going into the temple were dozens of orchid plants of various colors plus many other exotic and lush trees and bushes.

Elder and Sister Leishman

Brother and Sister Ishibashi and Elena

We took a northern highway back to Hilo hoping to see some nice sandy beaches.  We passed through beds of lava splattered all over the ground for miles and miles.  We finally did find a sandy beach, so  I took my shoes off and walked in the ocean for a bit.  The water was Caribbean Sea warm.  I really wanted to put my swim suit on and play in it but I didn't.  Next time, though, I will.  

It felt awesome to have my feet in the ocean again.