It was just after sunset at Kalama Park in the beach town of Kihei, Hawaii. We sat with our friends Ken and Sheron Drake, and their daughter watching a parade of bicycles go by. Each bike had multi-colored lights strung through the tire spokes and bike frames. It was the twice-weekly Hawaii Electric Light Parade to promote night-time bicycle safety. Our friends young-adult son was among the participants. We lived in the same ward many years ago, even went on a handcart trek together, but hadn’t seen them for decades. They have family on Maui and visit occasionally. We had a nice time, became re-acquainted, and figured out we don’t live very far from each other in Pleasant Grove, Utah. We learned that they were in the cast of The Chosen, Season 5, filmed not far from our Mosida mission in Utah. Like for most people, they have experienced some challenges in life. I hope we provided some love and encouragement.

Early in the week my cell phone rang. It was Dale Johnson from our Kahului 1st Ward. “Brother Hardman, I’m sure you are very busy, but since it’s a work day I didn’t know who else to call.” Hearing his voice reminded me of his warm welcome to us in church a few weeks earlier and our conversations during the recent ward temple trip to Oahu. “My leg is troubling me and, well, I don’t have insurance and… could you come over and give me a blessing?” We of course went right over and Brother Johnson welcomed us from a folding chair just outside his apartment door. Judging by the stack of well-warn books under the chair, it’s clear Dale does a lot of reading out in the fresh Maui air. We entered the cinderblock home and met Sister Kathy Johnson and their young adult son Joshua. We got to know the family, talked about faith and priesthood blessings, then Joshua anointed and I sealed the blessing. We didn’t have our instruments with us but we sang a hymn with them, shared a few stories, and then departed.

A few days later my phone rang again. It was Dale. He sounded cheerful and said nothing about his leg. This time he wanted help tagging (adding a name) an ancestor photo on Ancestry.com. He had worked for Ancestry many years before and I was happy to hear that he likes doing family history work. Again he said something like, “I’m sure you are busy, but…” “No,” I replied, “This is interesting. I enjoy family history. I know FamilySearch better than Ancestry but tell me what you’re trying to do.” In his detailed Canadian manner he described the problem, gave me access to his files and we dove in. “It’s a picture of a band with my uncles from my home in Manitoba, Canada. I’m related to four of them in the picture but I know the names of all six but can’t tag the two.” We fiddled and tried a few things, but without success. So, after the call I fired a question off to Chatgpt.com and got the answer. On Maui, while plunging into our service mission calling, it feels good to dip my toe occasionally, even if very briefly, into the sea of family history.

Our daily preparations as service missionary Group Leaders for Healing through the Savior, Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) continued this week. Last Sunday we attended two Ward Council meetings on the Island of Molokai via Zoom from Maui. We explained the program and encouraged all to invite those who can benefit by participation. We also connected with Elder and Sister Teve who have been hosting ARP on Molokai for many years. This very kind and loving couple welcomed us and we all expressed desire to coordinate and assist each other. On Maui we printed some flyers and purchased some easels and set them up in several foyers of meetinghouses in both stakes. While up-country at Pukalani we met with the assigned high counselor, Brother Keola Higa and stake President Kelii Wunder and received much support for what we are doing. “The hardest part will be getting people to attend the first time,” President Wunder expressed. “[It is difficult for them to ask or get] help overcoming weaknesses in their lives.” They plan to encourage wards in their stake to have us come and present in ward councils and other gatherings. We provided a digital copy of the ARP flyer for them to circulate. In the mean time we continue to study the materials we will use when conducting the group meetings. (Before leaving Pukalani that evening, we were impressed with the beautiful sunset. See picture)

We have become good friends with two of the Honolulu Hawaii Mission senior missionary couples who are serving on Maui; the Marriott’s and Taylors. This week we had lunch with the Taylors at one of our favorite restaurants, “Coconuts Fish Café.” The Taylors serve as Member Leader Support (MLS) missionaries which means they do many things to help the missionaries (including fix flat tires), the mission president and the local leaders. They also serve at a local Catholic food pantry and have invited us to join them. “Many churches on the island think very highly of the Latter-day Saints,” Elder Taylor informed us. “It would be good to get the ARP flyers to these churches.”

During our spare time Joan does creative needlework and I work on creating songs. When I need to record vocals, I set up a simple recording studio in our apartment (see picture). I recently released the following on Spotify and other major music outlets: When Earth Meets Heaven, Ballad of John Griffin, and Feel God’s Love Again. Also, it has been years since Joan has worn a wedding ring. So, we resolved that omission (see picture). Mid-week we packed, got a ride with Elder Taylor to the airport, and flew to Utah for a family reunion that has been planned for many months. (One of the benefits of a part time service mission is the flexibility to return home occasional for personal reasons.) While at home we enjoy some Sundance air and views (see picture), a Mosida Handcart Trek Site reunion dinner, and stake conference. We look forward to spending a few days with children and grandchildren.

Pictures: Pukalani sunset, Ring, Recording studio, Sundance

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/

We arrived at the airport before light finding the security gates closed. It was the Kahului 1st Ward’s Temple day. The Kahului Hawaii Temple was announced in 2023 but as of now has not been built or started. So, with the Kona Temple under renovation on the ‘big’ island to the south, ward members sacrifice and make the trip west every couple months or so by air to the La’ie Temple on the north shore of O’ahu. At the Honolulu airport, we boarded a few rental vehicles and made the beautiful drive to La’ie. In route it was very pleasant to converse with ward members. Behind the driver was smart and humble Canadian Dale T, about age 70 and a long time resident of Maui. Turn’s out we had a connection with an acquaintance at BYU, Professor Robert T. many years before. In the second row behind me was sweet demeanor Betty Dumaran, a few short years behind President Russell. M. Nelson in age, able to walk slowly but made effective use of the wheelchair staff at the airport. I felt like Betty was my own mother, so kind and thoughtful insisting she pay me back for her Egg-McMuffin at the drive through. Joan was seated in the back row of our van with another sister (isn’t that really nice Joan let her husband sit in shotgun to minimize motion sickness in and out of the curves of the winding coastal road?). Our driver, young Brother Kelii C. seems to have lived on every Hawaiian island. He was born on that very Oahu north shore, lived on Molokai, and worked on Maui for a company headquarters on Kauai, if I remember correctly. Along that north shore he told us where his relatives still live and all about his shallow water spearfishing and the reef causing waves out about a half mile from so.

More about the conversation and getting to know these beautiful people later. With no time to spare, we arrived and made our way into the beautiful Hawaii La’ie Temple. It looked like all the pictures I’d seen. Back home in Utah Valley, where there are five temples to choose from within thirty minutes, we were in the habit of weekly worship and service there. The powerful words of the endowment and other ordinances were reassuring each time we went. We have been in Hawaii for just a few weeks and it was a blessing to enter a place again where such eternal promises and blessings could be explained, made and renewed. The spirit of the temple, whether in Utah or Hawaii is the spirit of eternity, and the very horizon enabled by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. “Thank you Heavenly Father for thy plan and these blessings.” Of course, one cannot experience this and only think of themselves. At the temple there is this compelling feeling to share its meaning with all of God’s children. After the endowment and sealing sessions several of us gathered outside for a photo. I felt something different, a mix of joy and splendor and love and an absence of fear. These were no longer strangers, but fellow citizens in the family of God. We made covenants (or by proxy represented others in making covenants) and we had pondered the eternal significance of the covenants while together.

Earlier that week on Maui we had experienced a similar feeling. During some of our discretionary time, Joan and I took a drive ‘up-country,’ a residential area on the foothills of Haleakala at about three-thousand feet in elevation. It is a beautiful area where, this time of year the Jacaranda trees paint the hillside with plenty of purple and with shade, showering the green ground with a lovely hue and aroma. We visited the Surfing Goat Dairy and enjoyed God’s sweet creatures and sweet chocolates made with goat milk. We also visited the Pulehu Chapel in Kula, built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near the site of the first convert baptism in 1851. Passing through the chain-link fence one feels like they have entered sacred temple grounds and upon entering the little well restored chapel, one feels like singing a sacred hymn. Or at least Joan does. After checking the guest register for where visitors all over the world came from, she went right to the pulpit, opened the well-worn green hymnbook and began singing, “Come Ye Children of the Lord.” Synchronizing with her soprano, I joined with bass on the second verse. (The words echoed from the painted slats and stucco; the meaning resonated in our hearts.)
“Oh, how joyful it will be, when our Savior we shall see?
When in splendor he’ll descend, then all wickedness will end.
Oh, what songs we then will sing, to our Savior, Lord, and King!
Oh, what love will then bear sway, when our fears shall flee away?

Back to our temple trip. Before leaving La’ie, Brother Kelii C. asked if we had any preferences for lunch then quickly made a recommendation, Ken’s Fresh Fish. We all agreed and soon we were sinking our teeth into the most delicious Ahi I have ever tasted. During the one hour drive back to Honolulu we experienced sunshine, heavy rain, great Hawaiian vistas, and amazing tunnels through the steep, green, volcanic mountains dividing the windward and the leeward sides of the island. My conversation with Brother Kelii turned out to be very helpful and encouraging for our upcoming assignments as service missionaries. It certainly was not coincidence that he was our temple trip coordinator and our driver that day. The Lord brought us together to move His work forward. We visited and got to know our new friends even more while waiting for our flight at the airport. When we landed back on Maui, we felt the promised love of God which we felt from our experiences of the week, of that day, and in the temple.

Ken and Joan Hardman

Picture 1 – Hawaii La’ie Temple Trip

Picture 2 – Pulehu Chapel, Kula, Maui

Picture 3 – Surfing Goat Dairy

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.

What keeps drawing us to Maui? Most would say it’s the tropical breeze, brilliant rainbows and waterfalls, foot-massaging sandy beaches, or God’s hand in the compelling everchanging sunsets. For us, we wondered, what would it be like to serve the people here? Even more, there was a recurring prompting, some unfinished business, an obligation yet unfulfilled.

On our last visit, January 2025, we attended church as usual. Worshiping with the locals was special because of their love of God and each other, and their Aloha spirit. After partaking of the Sacrament, Brother Sheldon Chinen gave the talk, and spoke about growing up on the island, his conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, those who nurtured his testimony, his career at Hill Air Force Base (AFB) in Utah, and his retirement and return to his home, Maui.

As church concluded we stepped to the end of the pew to intercept Brother Chinen coming down the aisle. We talked about our families, and mentioned that I coincidentally had been working at Hill AFB during the same years he was there. I told him I had also worked part time for Boeing on Maui. “Then you must know Ernest Agcaoili?” he said. That name instantly retrieved good feelings. My eyes widened, “Yes, I sure do know Ernest. He was the lead technician, a smart, wonderful, and kind man.” As I spoke Ernest’s name, I felt I needed to reconnect with him. I sensed that there was some emotion, some experience we had in common beyond just working together. “I’ve lost track of him,” I said. “I know he lived ‘up-country’ in Makawao but I think he’s retired. Do you know how to…” Just then Sheldon pulled out his phone, tapped and swiped, and there on his screen was his friend and youth schoolmate, Ernest Agcaoili. More memories emerged. Thrilled, I captured the contact information, then Joan and I made plans to go visit Ernest and his wife Roxane. As we left the chapel, I recalled the very experience we had had in common. Joan and I decided to go visit them immediately, even that very hour.

In the fall of 2020, four years earlier, Joan and I had a major tragedy in our family. Our son-in-law was serving a neighbor (as he often did) and was working in the metal basket of an elevated lift boom (i.e. cherry-picker) when the support failed and he fell to the ground in the basket. He was severely injured and two weeks later passed away. We lost a son, our daughter lost her beloved husband, and our other children lost their dear brother-in-law. It was a painful time and the hurt continued for a long time.

That next winter, six months later, I was working on the summit of Haleakala helping the team refurbish a massive telescope. Prior to leaving the summit I had a personal visit with Ernest. Outside the building, the cold wet wind blew hard. On the inside Ernest’s warm care calmed the storm, at least for a time, that I felt inside. Ernest turned to me and asked, “How are you doing?” At first I wondered if he was asking about my physical stamina at high altitude, or if he was asking whether I had any COVID-19 symptoms. I then realized that he had heard that I had lost a son-in-law a few months earlier. I replied with equal honesty and respect, “It has been hard. Thank you for asking.” As I expressed myself I soon saw in his eyes that he too was suffering from a major loss.

Three years before this visit on the mountain with Ernest, after receiving his education to work at the same facility we were in, Ernest’s stepson was hit and killed by a car while riding his motorcycle up the mountain to work. Ernest and his wife were devastated. “I’m not the boy’s blood father,” he said, “but it hurts, it still hurts.”. And his wife especially was still in pain. He said that the loss had caused his wife to question her faith. She would ask, “Why did God allow this to happen?”

He explained to her that their son had finished his work and that God had other work for him to do in Heaven. The Spirit filled my heart with love and we talked about ‘The Lord’ as we walked very slowly down the hall. I told him that I receive comfort knowing that when my life is finished I will greet my loved ones in heaven. Then, I told him that I strongly believe that his stepson was greeted by and is with his ancestors. I told him that I believe Ernest’s wife is being prayed for by her ancestors. His eyes expressed appreciation. I thanked him for his care for me and for letting me express care for him. Then spontaneously we said to each other, “I love ya’, brother!”

I never got to meet Ernest’s wife. But as we approached their home this past January, I felt I knew why I needed to see him again, why Joan and I were in that church meeting that day, and why we needed to meet Brother Chinen. We needed to reconnect and express our love and compassion to both Ernest and Roxane.

We’ve driven up the Haleakala Highway from Kahului many times. For some reason we had never turned into the not-so-small community of Makawao, hidden in the hills and medicinal eucalyptus trees on the northern side of the mountain. With some nervousness we found our way to the Agcaoili home. Upon recognizing me, Ernest greeted us warmly, we introduced our wives, and began to visit. We reminisced a little about work, but then he proudly showed his restored antique vehicles in the driveway and garage. Ernest was a skilled mechanic and craftsman at work and at home. The spirit then prompted and I said something like, “Ernest, I have often thought about your kindness when Joan and I lost our son-in-law and I have wanted ever since to express to you, Roxane, our love and compassion for the loss of your son. We hope that you are feeling some comfort in God and that He is helping you.” All eyes teared and the remainder of our visit was filled with love for each other and for The Lord. It was clear that Roxane and Ernest believe in God and have felt his comfort but continue, as all of us do in our losses, to feel the pain while reaching out in faith that all will be well someday. We were all blessed by that tender reunion and knew in our hearts that it was the spirit of God.

We left our new forever friends and descended the mountain with peace and gratitude that we will see our departed loved-ones again. The missionary spirit which filled our hearts made it clear that we indeed wanted to serve the people of Maui, in any capacity, church or community. We later sent a message to Brother Chinon reporting on our wonderful reunion with the Agcaoili’s and the sensitive loving spirit we felt. In the same message we asked Sheldon for contact information on those in the ward or stake to whom we would request the opportunity to serve.

Later, in Utah, Joan revealed one day. “I had an overwhelming feeling of comfort that it was the right thing to do. I wasn’t asking, it just came, a spirit washed over me with love and peace.” And just recently I found my journal entry from that night four years ago on the mountain with Ernest. At the end of our visit I had offered to help him and his wife learn more about their ancestors. To which he nodded favorably. “Ah,” I thought. “Perhaps that is some of the unfinished business we needed to do, to help them learn of their ancestors.” And so we go forward having worked here and having played here. Now with spiritual confirmation, we go forth to serve here.

While serving our two-year mission helping youth appreciate their ancestors, I reflected much on the faith and determination of my own ancestors and those who came with the Willie and Martin handcart companies in 1856. This song reflects some of my reflection. Please enjoy, be inspired, and share. Sincerely, Ken