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