Two Short Stories from Maui

One: The Free and the Friendly, & Two: The Entangled and the Recovered

Story One – The Free to the Friendly

On Saturday, June 27th Sister Hardman and I set out to rest our souls and exercise our bodies with a walk on the beach. Among other walkers that morning we heard a voice directed at us. “Hi, can you tell us where the nearest grocery store is?” A middle-age couple, also dressed for walking, explained, “We just got in last night, took an Uber to our rental, and won’t be renting a car until Monday. Where can we get fresh produce?” We looked at each other, “What about the Island Grill… they might have… probably not produce…no, that’s a mile down the road anyway.” We got to know our friends a little as we explained that Foodland and Safeway would be a really long walk.

At Twin Falls with Michigan friends

Vikram and Vani were from Michigan on a vacation with their two daughters (who apparently hadn’t got up yet). “We’d be happy to take you. We’ll just go back up the walkway and get our car.” “Oh, no,” they replied in a subtle Indian accent, “we couldn’t expect you to do that.” “It wouldn’t be any problem,” we countered. “We have the time.” After a couple more courtesy rounds of, “Let us take you,” followed by, “No, that’s too kind,” it was obvious to both parties that it was the right thing to do. So, we all climbed in our little Nissan Versa and headed for Safeway. During the drive they were very friendly and told us more about themselves than we can remember. “I used to be an engineer and my wife is a dentist; but now I work for her…” There is more to this engineer/dentist story but I’ll leave it to your imagination.

We dropped them off at Safeway while we went for our usual extravagant breakfast at McDonalds. While loading their groceries into our trunk they expressed their gratitude with some Ghirardelli, Premium Dark Chocolate (which we accepted), and a bottle of wine (which we did not). “You drink wine, don’t you?” Vikram said. “We don’t, but that’s very kind of you.” We had a pleasant visit all the way back to our rental units. That afternoon they would catch a tour shuttle to Haleakala, and we were gathering with other missionaries and members for a social that night. We dropped them off and expressed hope to do something together ‘later.’

Well, later came and we ran into them at the same place on the same sidewalk that evening where, after some conversation we were invited to go with them Monday on their journey to Hana (that’s a big commitment). On Monday we met at Safeway (a different one), and began our caravan along the Hana Highway. Our first stop was Ho’okipa Beach to view the many turtles we knew would be resting there. Then we continued to Twin Falls where an evening flash flood made it too dangerous for swimming (the daughters were disappointed). Then we continued through Haiku, then a eucalyptus grove, a bamboo forest and on to ‘Half way to Hana,’ a popular food stand with fresh banana bread. It was at a picnic bench here that we finally got to know the full family and learn all about them.

The older daughter lives in New York and works for a financial company as a computer scientist. The parents obviously hoped that their younger daughter would follow a similar academic path. Due to the education level of the conversation, the interest in math and science, and perhaps the fact that I had worked at the Haleakala observatory, for some reason our subjects tended toward rockets, satellites, orbit, NASA and… I threw out some questions gently aimed at the younger daughter. “So, why do astronauts float in space? Why don’t they fall to the Earth?” Considering facial expressions, everyone around the table loved the question, but for different reasons. I kicked into engineer mentor mode, put my soda cup in the middle of the table, placed my crumpled napkin nearby and said, “This is Earth. And this is the moon…” I had fun explaining orbital mechanics and they didn’t seem to mind. We talked and visited and finished our Kalua Pork sandwiches and banana bread and acted like life long friends. We had to get back for our Monday evening addiction recovery support meeting, and they wanted to go further toward Hana. “You must come to Michigan. It is beautiful in the summer and fall.” We parted ways and expected to see each other again. We treasure the picture that was taken of us that day with our new friends from Michigan.

Story Two – The Entangled and the Recovered

Along the southwest coast of Maui, large green sea turtles, or ‘honu,’ ‘forage’ to survive. Families and local fishermen also utilize the coast to catch fish to live. Occasionally, sea turtles interact with fishing gear and get entangled, threatening their lives. On July 4^th, a beautiful morning near the Surfside Resort in Kihei, we observed an unusual uniform group of snorkelers moving side-by-side face down just off shore. They were towing a small raft. Another onlooker in a similar uniform saw our curiosity, walked up to us and asked, “May I tell you more about what you are seeing?” “Yes, please,” we responded. Our friend from the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute explained that these uniformed snorkelers were searching for entangled, ensnared or otherwise compromised sea turtles in need of rescue, not able to release themselves. They search and also respond to siting’s of entangled turtles from other snorkelers. Under authorized and professional direction, they rehabilitate and recover honu to their natural healthy habitats and purpose. (https://www.mocmarineinstitute.org/sea-turtle-rescue-and-rehabilitation)

As our Marine Institute volunteer talked, I was struck by her use of the words entangled, ensnared, rescue and recovery. I thought on this day of liberty and freedom, like sea turtles, our friends we support as service missionaries are entangled in addiction, unable to release themselves and seek recovery, freedom and renewed purpose. Like the uniform group of snorkelers moving side-by-side with a rescue raft nearby, Sister Hardman and I along with many others are working side-by-side in Hawaii and around the world with the Savior nearby to rescue, rehabilitate, and return God’s children to a knowledge of their divine worth, and his plan of happiness for them. As each of us snorkel or travel through life, we will likely find individuals who are ensnared in addiction, and may have lost their sense of identity as children of God. They might wonder if God still loves them. We know that he does. 

In rooms of recovery, we all feel his powerful love. We can encourage the entangled to seek professional and ecclesiastical help. We can help them to his raft of grace, his power.  We can encourage them to participate in Healing through the Savior, 12 Step Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) at addictionrecovery.churchofjesuschrist.org. “The 12 Steps of recovery [teach] how to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ to our lives. President Jeffrey R Holland said: ‘Are you battling a demon of addiction—tobacco or drugs or gambling, or… pornography?… Whatever other steps you may need to take to resolve these concerns, come first to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Broken Things to Mend,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 70, as quoted in, Healing through the Savior – 12 Step Addiction Recovery Program, pg. 5)