After attending our first Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) Meetings as new service missionary Group Leaders, I wrote in my journal, “I was deeply touched by Godly love for each of the [participants] who shared their recovering experiences.” It was in American Fork, Utah as we were on a brief trip home to take care of Joan’s broken tooth. We decided to get some training while there and contacted one of the local ARP Coordinators. Walking into Elder and Sister Metro’s home we instantly felt of their faith, love, and strong testimonies. It is called, “Healing through the Savior.” They took time for us as we all introduced ourselves. Then they share instructions, templates, scripts, and other tips for conducting ARP meetings. Their high praise for the ARP was confirmed as, in our first actual meetings we heard over and over how individuals were more successful while focused on the power of Jesus Christ. “This is the Atonement in practice,” I heard one participant say. In one of the meetings Elder Metro invited me to conduct part of the meeting. Joan attended one of the support meetings just for women. Being on the Lords errand to serve others is a wonderful experience.

To make sure Joan’s tooth was recovering well, we spent a few more days in Utah. We attended a session at the Provo City Center Temple, attended Halvor’s Soccer game, ate at Chubby’s with the Gardner’s, attended Makenly and Alayna’s dance recital, went to Jana and Brent’s report on their recent pleasure trip to Fiji, and spent time visiting with Melanie (and the cats) at home. Together, we all enjoyed Mulan, the live action movie. I mowed and trimmed the fast-growing spring lawn twice, caught up on some mail, and continued preparing for our ‘talks’ coming up in our Kahului ward. The topic is, Jesus is my Advocate. It is a joy, inspiring and powerful, to study and picture Jesus Christ as our personal advocate with the Father. According to the scriptures, it seems probable that Jesus and Heavenly Father discuss each of us personally, by name and advocate for our well-being and eternal success. “Spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” (D&C 45:3-5) “Lift up your hearts…I…am your advocate.” (D&C 29:5) Then, there is that sacred setting in ancient America where Jesus appears, blesses, heals, and then in the presence of a ‘steadfast’ multitude prays to his father for them, including the children. “No one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the father.” (3 Nephi 17:17, italics added). In the temple this week, my mind focused on this. Revelation came and many references and symbols took on new and deeper meaning. Indeed, Jesus is there, between us and our Father, advocating with love and mercy in our behalf.

Fighting time-zone-hopping and jet-lag, we arrived back on Maui. Our new friends, Elder and Sister Marriott picked us up at the airport. The next morning we did our best to vacuum, take out trash, and otherwise help clean our local meetinghouse with other ward members. With a nap and some shopping, we were ready to go forward. We reviewed a message from President H., “When you get back, I would encourage you to try to visit at least one ward council or their second hour at least once a week until you’ve met everyone.” So, we made a plan and Sunday morning headed twenty miles around the west mountain to Lahaina for Sacrament meeting. In the meetinghouse we were surprised to walk passed the stake president who caught us and said it was Ward Conference and invited us immediately into a special council and asked us to introduce ourselves. “Aloha, brothers and sisters, we are very glad to serve you in hosting the addiction recovery program.” Many heads nodded as if to say there is a need and we are grateful. “If any of you know anyone who suffers from addiction, we invite you to invite them to come to this loving, safe environment where they will be encouraged to seek the power of the savior in becoming what He knows they can become.” We were excused from the council and made our way to the chapel where we attended the ‘visitors’ (tourists) sacrament meeting hosted by the ward. The chapel nearly filled by starting time and, after singing, prayer, and the administration of the sacrament, many testimonies were shared by the visitors who expressed their love for the locals who had lost so much in the recent fires, and their gratitude for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Feeling humble and blessed, we drove back to Kahului anxious to attend church with our ward whom we hadn’t seen for a couple weeks. Just outside of Lahaina, driving along the west Maui beaches and bluffs, our phone rang. It was our bishop, Bishop T. He started to talk while we found a place to pull over. “Would you be able to teach the youth in Sunday School today? There are about 20 in the class.” When you are a service missionary, and your bishop makes a request like that, the only answer is, Yes. “And,” he continued, “would you please visit Edgar C. who has a serious illness in the hospital. He is in room…” During the rest of the drive Joan read outload the Come, Follow Me lesson and we prepared for teaching Sunday School. D&C 46 is about the Gifts of the Spirit, so we stopped by our apartment and picked up an object lesson about gifts, specifically the gift of music, and headed for church. After our second sacrament meeting of the day, we taught Sunday School and later reported back to the bishop. “Sunday school went really good… they gave us their full attention. We engaged with them on D&C 46 and had really good conversations. Joan and I brought our guitar and violin to maybe help capture their attention and play a couple songs. [This] helped facilitate some wonderful gospel discussion. Thank you.” There was a good spirit with these kids.

Although tired, we went to the hospital to visit Edgar C. We found several others in the room including Pres. H (who seems to be everywhere on the island). Shortly it was just me and Joan with Brother C. and his wife. Although preparing for surgery the next day, he was very calm and kind as he talked about his condition and family and shared his conversion story. He expressed confidence that the Lords hand is in the lives of his family. Out of nowhere I said, “Have you had a hymn today?” So, we sang a hymn together. Then Joan asked, “Do you have a favorite hymn?” He thought, began to hum, then we recognized the song and all began to hum, “Testimony,” we all said in unison. We sang a verse, concluded our visit with hugs, and went home that evening feeling the love of God.

Pictures: Provo City Center Temple, Maui Sunset from shores south of Lahaina

We ascended a short hill to get to the small graveyard near Maui’s western shore. The map on the BillionGraves app led us to the Maileipai Cemetery entrance along the main highway in Kahana, but the gate was locked. Using the GPS navigator, we went around the neighborhood and found a narrow alley headed in the right direction. We parked the car and continued along a dirt road then up the short hill. For an old small cemetery, it seemed unusual that there were new small trees planted carefully along the access road.

Half way up we were noticed by dogs who began to bark. A few more feet and we saw that a half dozen dogs were in two rows of enclosures, one row stacked on top of the other, and one unleashed dog was growling and moving toward us. We stopped and surveyed the scene. The graveyard was to our right surrounded by a white picket fence. Straight ahead was a lone tree under which was a rather nice tent. Surrounding the tent were wooden benches with pots and other items expected in a kitchen. “We’ll” I said, “This homeless person has it pretty nice.” Between the dog cages and the tent was a shack with a window and door. Behind the shack we could see both ends of an old pickup truck.

The dogs had calmed a little so Joan walked forward. “Let’s keep going.” I was proud of her bravery. As part of our mission service we had decided that we would take pictures of graves for BillionGraves to support their genealogical purpose. We went to work taking pictures of each aging grave marker, half of which had no visible writing, or the writing had eroded away. Joan held back the brush, and I took the pictures. We then descended the hill, returned to our car and continue on our way.

Later at our apartment we transcribed the information (typing the text we read in the pictures) and became curious about one in particular. Wording inscribed with a hand tool in the once wet concrete read, “Our Beloved Son and Brother, Nelson B. Sablas, Born July 8, 1948, Died Feb [day unreadable], 1999.” “That’s odd,” I thought. “I guess it’s possible for parents to bury their 51 year old son (referring to the phrase Our Beloved Son).” I’ve been toying with family history all my life and this one caught my attention. I opened FamilySearch.org to see if by chance this person was there and what other information I could find. Indeed, I found him, and his parents and some helpful resources including the fathers obituary. Nelsons death year was 1949; so actually, he only lived seven months. The father was from the Philippians, the mother from Maui, and they had many children, not just Nelson. Why was young Nelson buried in that old small graveyard and other family members elsewhere? Why did he die so young? Why did the father come to Maui? How did the parents meet? The parents are buried just down the road from us in Wailuku. Although not related to this family, I felt, and still feel inclined to learn more, update their records, and see if there is temple work that can be done. Such stirrings came from braving service in an isolated, dog protected, lone tree, organized homeless persons yard.

Late in the week we became concerned about Joan’s cracked tooth. It was a month from our planned trip to Utah for doctor and dentist visits but that future visit was for a dental exam and checkup only, not to fix a tooth. Tooth infection’s for Joan had caused problems in the past so we decided to act. We called our dentist, sent a picture of her cracked tooth, and the dentist confirmed pain relief or action was necessary. Comparing expected out-of-network insurance costs with travel costs, we booked a quick round-trip to Utah to get Joan to her dentist.

Just before leaving, our new stake president called and said our service missionary application process had progressed enough to get us set apart so we met him at the stake center before our departure. President Hanks performed a follow-up interview, asked if we had any concerns, and gave wonderful counsel. He reached for the scriptures, opened to Isaiah and taught us some important messages. “Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters…Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing: now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:16, 18-19) His message in part was that the Lord will make a way to accomplish his work whether that work be like crossing an ocean or a mighty river, he may not use the same old ways to do his work but we can trust he will find new ways to accomplish new things. He will make a way to cross our wildernesses and find nourishing water in our deserts. We felt the spirit of his message.

He then set apart Sister Hardman then myself as Service Missionaries in the Kahului Maui West Stake bestowing the authority to perform our specific assignments including overseeing the Addiction Recovery Program in the stake. Very encouraging and powerful blessings were bestowed with hopeful, heavenly promises. (Like most blessings of this kind, we wished later that the special occasion could have been recorded.) We were blessed that we would find special meaning in all that we do, that our posterity would be blessed through our service, that we should do our best and let God take care of the things he can do best, and that we would have heavenly power and confidence. On the way out of his office, he stopped us in front of a painting of the Savior and had us pose for a picture as new missionaries.

With the help of our senior missionary friends, the Marriott’s, we were taken to the airport and made our journey back to Utah.

Pictures: Elder and Sister Hardman, Maileipai Cemetery, Rock Formation

Joan and I have been deeply touched preparing to host addiction recovery meetings on Maui. Provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is called, “Healing through the Savior – The Addiction Recovery Program.” In our role we will plan, conduct, and set the tone for meetings where recovering addicts can come to a safe and caring environment to anonymously share successes, encourage each other, and learn how to draw on the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The sharing portion is conducted by a recovered addict, one who has successfully applied the recovery steps and principles and can provide hope, a living example to others of success, that the Savior can help them.

To prepare ourselves, we study the guide books, the recovery steps, and listen to publicly available audio recordings of recovery meetings approved by the participants to help others who may not be able to come to an in-person meeting. We read associated scriptures and words of latter-day prophets in the guide. While listening, we’ve wept for those who have been in bondage to heartbreaking addictions. We’ve rejoiced with their testimonies and stories of gratitude and success. We’re anxious to play a role for future participants as they travel this challenging journey of recovery. We pray that people across the islands who are in such bondage, will have the desire to seek help, including help that can be found in this recovery program. As stated in the leaders guide, we work for and pray for their success so that they can make and keep sacred covenants with God for even greater blessings. It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ in action. (Ref. https://addictionrecovery.churchofjesuschrist.org)

We have also been touched by the support and love we receive by tourists, church members and non-members, for our willingness to come here to serve. Almost every day we meet someone who knows someone who could benefit by this program. This week we stopped along a trail to visit with another hiker, a resident. As we parted this kind stranger said, “Thanks for coming here and doing God’s work.” We ask for your prayers, and pray that we may be humble and do God’s work in his time, and in his way.

We take time every day for our own physical and emotional health. Adjacent to our apartment in Wailuku is a residential area called Wailuku Heights. I often make the 600-foot elevation gain hike to get my cardio exercise, then lift weights at home for resistance training. We occasionally use the apartment clubhouse gym and pool for exercise. This week Joan and I went on two significant hikes. I’ll speak of one of them now, and reserve the other for a future story. On the far east side of Maui is the small town of Hana which is reached after forty miles or so of winding road from Kahului, many narrow bridges, fresh banana bread shops, and ‘locals’ anxious to drive faster than the tourists (who are enjoying the many views, waterfalls, and seascapes). We pulled into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel to eat the lunch we packed. Another ten miles past Hana along the coast is the lower part of the Haleakala National Park, Ohe’o Gulch, and the Seven Sacred Pools. The primary hike, the Pipiwai Trail, is two miles each way with a vertical rise of 650 feet, a large bamboo forest on the way, terminating at the base of Waimoku Falls which drops 400 feet down a sheer cliff. Looking up at this water fall is one of God’s many spectacular creations here on Maui.

To nurture our spirits and love of music we occasionally stop by the Pulehu Chapel in Kula (up-country). As mentioned earlier, this was the first chapel built by The Church on the island in the 1850s (more on this story later). This week we took our instruments with us, found the chapel open, entered and started to play. With its white painted wood paneled walls, floors, and ceiling, it has an amazing resonant sound and Joan’s violin reverbed with amazing beauty, seriously (I think Joan plays violin well. But in this chapel, it is heavenly). We also sang a few hymns harmonizing our voices and feeling the spirit of the music and the place. We also did some video work in the beautiful yard for my next song, “Feel God’s Love Again.”

As we finished, the full-time missionaries arrived and we had a wonderful visit (We keep running into missionaries). We asked if we could play a few songs for them, to which they agreed. And there in that historic chapel we shared some guitar, violin, and singing. We were grateful to add music to their lunch-time break. That evening we attended our ward Mother’s Day dinner where we again were blessed by the spontaneous love ward members gave to us, and the natural kind conversation we wanted to give to them (The spaghetti and salad and desserts were also wonderful).

We are always open to additional ways to serve. One sister in the ward was widowed a couple years ago and had been feeling promptings that her husband’s family history and ancestral temple work needed to be done. We met Sister Rosalind C. a few weeks ago on our first day back in Maui. She was at the breakfast we attended that General Conference weekend at the MacDonald home. During our visit this week, she explained her promptings and feelings that she didn’t know how to proceed with the Chinese research for her husband. The spirit was clear to us; offer to help. I’ve never done Chinese family history research before but I knew the general process and how to find help, so we offered to look into it and ask the opinion of our professional genealogist daughter, Jana, who texted some suggestions (from Fiji where she happened to be at the moment). We followed those suggestions and have given Sister Rosalind a path forward. We look forward to following up with her soon.

Our week wrapped up running in to more missionaries while having Saturday evening dinner at the local Taco Bell. On Sunday we enjoyed worship service and Sunday School in our home ward. We spent part of the evening reading the journal of George Q. Cannon (we’ll work his applicable adventure into our story soon). And on Monday we had a planning session with President K., counselor in our stake presidency who is over the Addiction Recovery Program. He is a mature saint with the best of demeanor. And then we joined part of a Zone Conference being held in the Maui Lani chapel by the full-time missionaries.

Pictures: Waimoku Falls, Kihei Sunset, Pulehu Chapel Singing

Other Maui Service Stories: https://ancestorclips.com/category/maui-service-stories/