Amidst days of joy, twice this week we had unexplainable episodes of darkness. Whether caused by personal weaknesses or external factors, we needed to be mindful and spiritually cognizant. Regardless, our new stake president felt inspired to counsel us mid week, “As you prepare for this assignment, I invite you to study the Sermon on the Mount and Mark chapter 9, especially the exchange between the Lord and a pleading father, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” In tears the father pleaded, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:23-25) We are realizing that even with much preparation and faithful efforts, there is yet more to do to be pure and ready to be on the Lord’s errand.

In 2014, eleven years earlier, It was a typical winter day for me at Boeing, while performing analyses on critical propulsion systems my cell phone rang. The gentleman introduced himself as the engineering manager at the Boeing office in Maui. I stepped into the hallway for privacy. As I recall he said something like they were in need of an engineer to analyze their space surveillance system and that I was recommended as someone who was good at analysis and wasn’t afraid to do technical writing. The task was part time and included writing diagnostic procedures for some of their equipment. He was right, unlike most engineers, I enjoyed the challenge of technical composition, and my reputation as the founder and chair of the Boeing Technical Journal gave them confidence I could do the job. Before accepting the work I called Joan and when she heard it was part-time on Maui and would require occasional trips, she gave the ‘yes’ answer I expected and we made plans for our first trip.

Over the next several years we made many trips to Maui. I worked during the week, sometimes at the sea-level office in Kihei, and sometimes at the 10,000 foot elevation observatory among the technicians and telescopes. Joan would scout out things we needed to see on the island and make plans to be my guide on weekends. Over the years we attended church in Kihei and sometimes in Kahului. It was satisfying work learning about large, highly technical space imaging systems and how to diagnose root causes when the system malfunctioned. I would search technical repositories and learn all I could while on-island, then back home in Utah I would compile technical data and develop manuals. Other work included managing a project to refurbish a car-size mirror on the primary telescope. The people I worked with were wonderful including the fore mentioned Ernest A. (Issue 1).

Over the years we also made a number of vacation trips to Maui with various family members. We felt like we were getting to know the island and eventually we felt a desire to live with and serve the people. During the trip to Maui in January of 2025, we asked the before mentioned Sheldon C. (See Issue 1) for the name of a member of the stake presidency that we might visit about a local service mission call. In the interim we read about senior service missions in the General Handbook and in church magazine articles. One was titled, “What you Need to Know about Serving a Senior Service Mission.” The subtitle read, “Choose a senior service mission or design your own.” That sub-title caught our attention. “If you have health challenges, family needs, or other concerns, a service mission might be the right path for you. If you have special skills to offer, the best option might be working with your area coordinator to create a mission just for you.” The stake president responded and a week or so after our return to Utah we got a call from the executive secretary and were soon on a Zoom call with stake president Benjamin H. After prayer, he asked questions to get to know us and what types of service we were looking for. He responded with several highly needed options. We discussed each in some detail.

We read, pondered, and prayed then met again by Zoom a few weeks later and by then all felt comfortable moving forward. The stake president expressed his keys of inspiration and added another possible service opportunity to the evolving list which we also felt good about. “Anything where we could help others come unto Christ” was our reply. We notified our family, friends, Utah bishop and stake president that we were moving our records to Maui for 18-24 months to be service missionaries. All wished us well.

This week in our third (and first in-person) interview with President H. He thoroughly interviewed both of us, then with revelation in his eyes solidified our initial assignments, Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) Group Leaders for his stake. We talked much about it and he confirmed that this program was very needed and would bless many. He directed us to the area (Oahu Hawaii) Service Missionary Coordinators, and the ARP Coordinators who were thrilled with our desire to serve. They provided instructions and “Opportunity” numbers that we would use on seniormissionary.churchofjesuschrist.org to formally apply as service missionaries. We initiated the application and met with our new bishop, Bishop T on Sunday for his interview and to move our application forward.

In the meantime, we enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunday spirit. “He Lives!” “He is risen!” These words echoed in my mind as I woke up. I opened my eyes and saw Joan’s smiling eyes greeting me and I said, “He is alive!” She smiled and repeated, “He is alive!” I then said, “If you resurrect before me, then when I rise and see your empty grave, I will with excitement look around for you and when I see you, it will be great!” In the sacrament meeting we heard special messages and testimonies from two youth, and two adults. Brother D. spoke of Easter as a source of joy. “All have experienced loss,” he said. “My wife died early in our golden years.” Then he found the restored gospel and learned about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and sealing ordinances and felt joy and peace. After church we visited Sheldon C (Issue 1) and Lynne C. in their home to learn more about their history in Maui and Utah and to share some music with them. We concluded the evening at an Easter feast with three other senior missionary couples whom we instantly enjoyed. They gave us encouragement and advice. We loved our time with them and shared music and songs.

Yes, there were a couple dark moments this week, but inviting the Lord’s help to, “help thou mine unbelief…” darkness is dispelled, fowl spirits are rebuked, the work goes forward and “all things are possible.” It’s going to be a great week.