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Week 11 – June 16 – Hosting our first support meeting

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After weeks preparing and promoting throughout the two stakes on Maui, we held our first Healing through the Savior, 12-Step Addiction Recovery Program support meeting. As we’ve traveled and met with leaders and members of the Church, they always nod appreciatively and with tender confirmation, “That is really needed here,” followed by a humble or passionate, “Thank you for doing this.” On a recent flight we conversed at length with a stranger, a part time resident who expressed these same things. Some have indicated that Covid-19 shut down in-person 12-step meetings. Others say the recent Lahaina fires and devastation contributed to an increase in addictive behaviors. Since the program is safe and anonymous, we will never tell names or specifics in our writings about participants, however to share our spiritual enthusiasm and increase awareness, we may share our personal application of the 12 steps to our own weaknesses and shortcomings. And since no ‘sign-up’ is required and no roll is taken, we had no way of knowing how many would come to the meeting, except by the often-heard statements, “I’m going to encourage my [relative] or [friend] to come,” and “My people are good people. Some of them just have bad habits.” Bishops and missionaries often tell us they have people whom they will encourage to participate.

Turnout at our first meeting was good. In addition to Sister Hardman and myself and our excellent ‘facilitator,’ we had those who were struggling with some kind of addiction, and we had those who came for awareness and healing because someone they love is struggling with a destructive behavior. We also had those who have been sober for decades but came to strengthen their own ongoing recovery and provide support to others. After doing our best to give Christ-like love as each person entered the room, we had a prayer, talked about resources available to them on the Church website, and then we took turns reading from the 12-steps in the guidebook. The text is honest, loving, and inspiring, written by recovering addicts who have found Healing through the Savior. I’ll share my personal experience with the text shortly. During our first meeting, after reading and discussing Step 1, our facilitator, also a recovering addict, shared about her experience, then invited each participant to share encouraging them to focus on their recovery and not on the graphic details of their behavior or the behavior of others. There were tears of burden and tears of hope. When the sharing was completed, Sister Hardman and I bore our testimonies of the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in ourlives. Then the meeting closed with prayer. Participants lingered briefly to give each other encouragement.

In preparation, I personally had given much thought to the first few steps in the guidebook. I thought about my own shortcomings I hoped the Savior would help me with and make me stronger (Ether 12: 27). After feeling low about a personal issue, I felt drawn to the phrase, “power of Christ” and wondered how I could access more of His power. I woke early one morning and felt prompted to go through the entire 12-step guidebook and circle every occurrence of the word, ‘power,’ which I did with the help of the online version and search function. As I circled each occurrence I noticed frequent use of the term ‘grace’ and so I marked that word as well. A pattern emerged and I began to see the word power associated with principles of the Gospel, specifically with the things Jesus taught and did. The power of faith, the power of repentance, the power of the Holy Ghost, the power of love, the power of forgiveness, the power of loving your enemy, the power of going the second mile, the power of honesty, the power of humility… I was beginning to see that enabling the power of Jesus Christ is in part doing what he does and says and teaches. 

For example, I reflected that if I’m prideful, impatient or get angry too often, then if I humble myself and have actionable faith in Christ, not only will he “make weak things become strong unto [me]” but after my best efforts “[His] grace is sufficient” for an additional endowment or gift of power to overcome my weakness. By loving instead of hating, by being patient instead of hasty, by trusting him instead being fearful, then his power emerges, and his grace brings additional comfort and rest. By actively facilitating and participating in the 12-steps, I see that the Lord not only wants to redeem the addict, but also the shortcomings in me, in all of us. Based on what I have felt so far, I have every confidence that as I yoke with Christ, I will find rest to my soul. (Mathew 11:28-29)

With our first recovery support meeting now in our memories, we go forward inviting others to participate in weeks to come. Little (or big) miracles happen along the way. Last week we took announcement posters to each foyer in the six meetinghouses on Maui. In Lahaina we found a member needing a listening ear. On our trip to Hana we met the new senior couple serving there. They told us of a young adult they met at the Kahului Costco earlier in the week. That young man showed up at our meeting. Our calendar is filling up with appointments to meet with ward and branch councils, 2nd hour 5th Sunday combined adult classes, and sacrament meeting speaking assignments across both stakes. We are grateful for these opportunities to invite and testify of Christ and his ability to bear burdens and redeem us.

On Sunday, we attended church in the Makawao Ward up-country, where we shared about the program and met some wonderful people. We concluded our Sabbath having Father’s Day dinner with the other senior missionaries on the island. We love them and love serving with them. And they are helping us in our work.

Week 8 – May 26, 2025 – The Wonder of The Wunders

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In 1986, a young father moved from Utah to Maui to start a new assignment at the Bank of Hawaii. His pregnant wife and young child stayed back on the mainland until a suitable affordable home was found. His initial situation was near beautiful beaches but challenging because it didn’t encourage the lifestyle change he needed to overcome some unfavorable habits. He rented a home up-country in Kula where his wife and child joined him. Soon their baby daughter was born and then by divine providence they moved to a home in Pukalani. Kevin and Bonnie Williams were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but Kevin had not been active in the church for some time.

A few years earlier, also in Pukalani, native Arnold Wunder had gone through his own reactivation in the church. The Wunders and the missionaries followed divine promptings, and pure Christian spirit and “worked overtime on [Kevin.]” Because of his experience, Arnold knew Kevin’s every move. He agreed to start coming to church and even go on ‘splits’ with the missionaries. Kevin recently share with us, “My true conversion happened one night on missionary splits with Elder White and Elder Stringham. While living in Maui, we were counting our pennies and weren’t able to pay tithing which was keeping us from being sealed in the temple. I’ll never forget a family we visited, who literally had nothing. But when the missionaries challenged them to pay tithing they took their last $20 from a sugar bowl that was intended for food the following day to pay their tithing so they could be baptized the following week. I wept in the backseat of the missionaries car all the way home to Pukalani. I got home and told Bonnie we need to start paying tithing. The following Sunday we paid our tithing and have never stopped…We had our recommends issued by Bishop Arnold Wunder and then the following month we came home and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.” Bishop Wunder called Bonnie to be the primary president and Kevin received his patriarchal blessing and was called to be the Elder’s Quorum president. (Correspondence with Ken Hardman, May 2025)

Bonnie and Kevin Williams, have been active ever since and have serviced in many church callings, and raised a beautiful family. They now live in St. George Utah and attend the temple every Tuesday. Bonnie Williams and Joan Hardman are sisters! Years ago, Joan and I corresponded with Colleen Wunder as we were very interested in the historical Pulehu Chapel, to which she gave us information. When Bonnie and Kevin heard of our mission on Maui, they told us the story of the Wunders. We looked them up and made their acquaintance. They immediately invited us over for dinner this past week. It was a blessing to meet them in person and feel of their faithful love and passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Brother Wunder and one of their sons have served as stake presidents on Maui. The Wunders allowed us to share a few musical numbers in their home. They also invited us to participate in the local Maui Food Bank drive last week, which service we enjoyed.

We are progressing in getting ready to host, “Healing through the Savior, 12-Step Addiction Recovery Program” starting June 16. “Oh, that is so needed,” we hear from church members, members of Ward Council’s across the stake and islands, and the full-time missionaries. We have received training from Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) coordinators in American Fork Utah, Anaheim California, and Oahu Hawaii. We have been personally studying the printed and online materials and feel ready to start. The participant guide written by recovered addicts introduces the program, “First and foremost, we want you to know that there is hope for recovery from addiction. We are men and women who have suffered the devastating effects of various addictions and have experienced long-term recovery. We have known great sorrow, but we have seen the Savior’s power turn our most devastating defeats into glorious victories…” The guide draws upon scriptures, words of prophets, and proven steps of recovery. We are very excited about the love, support, and success participants will have as they draw on the power of Jesus Christ. We anticipate becoming closer to the Savior as well, as we apply the principles to our own shortcomings.

Joan and I spoke in our Sacrament meeting Sunday. Our topic was, “Jesus Christ, our advocate with the Father.” To illustrate, in both cases Joan and I drew upon memories of our own fathers and times in our youth where they were our advocate and were there for us when we were in danger or made mistakes. We gave ward members backstory for our love and interest in serving on Maui and then related this topic to our calling in the Addiction Recovery Program.

“There is another advocate that believes in us so very much. Jesus Christ has many vital roles in Heavenly Fathers plan. He executed the creation of the world and the hosts thereof. He is our Savior, friend, and Redeemer. By virtue of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants our righteous savior pleads, ‘Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did not sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed… Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.’ (D&C 45:1, 3-5) We referenced the stories of Jesus praying for his disciples in John 17 and the sacred prayer he offered while surrounded by his followers in the new world. ‘And 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)”

In the temple recently I pondered the Lords promise, “I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this [Kirtland Temple] house.” (D&C 110:7) I focused on Jesus as our advocate with the Father. Revelation came and many references and symbols took on new and deeper meaning. Indeed, Jesus is there, engaged between us and our Father, advocating with love and mercy in our behalf.”

I pray that we may all imagine Jesus Christ advocating to the Father for us personally, perhaps even by name.

Pictures: Colleen and Arnold Wunder, Maui Food Bank drive, Joan at Pukalani Chapel, Ken and Joan at 13-Crossings trail

Week 2 – April 14, 2025 – Feeling Mahalo for our first week

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The contrast was striking, a massive cruise ship in port backed by the beautiful wave-filled Pacific to the north, and a very old multi-story apartment complex on the shore of Kahului Bay. Before stake conference we had asked the Relief Society president, Celeste M. for someone in need of a loving visit. “Morning!” she replied. “We have quite a few sisters that I haven’t met. One sister that I know typically would enjoy a visit is Eve A.” We quickly looked her up in the online ward directory and saw where we needed to go. “She has a parking spot right outside her apartment,” President M. texted. “She doesn’t have a vehicle.”

During stake conference we were inspired by the powerful Tongon Ward choir followed by the stake president’s personal surfing story where, after waiting a long time for a good wave, he moved closer to shore for more frequent waves, likening our need to not be too far out in our waiting for service but being where the needs are and acting on our promptings.

We found Eve’s parking spot, called her phone for further directions, and were warmly greeted by her and her neighbor Tracy D. These two ladies seemed more than thrilled to have visitors, especially visitors carrying musical instruments. Eve used a walker to get around but soon had us seated on the Futon sofa across from her over occupied computer desk where I noticed a well-worn quad of scriptures. They invited us to partake of crackers, cheese, and clementines on a paper plate near the Futon. Eve grew up in Cache Valley, and Tracy was born in Moab, Utah. They met as neighbors just a couple years before and were both members of the Kahului 1st Ward. At first the conversation focused on their negative emotions regarding health, homelessness on the island, and the need for local governments to focus more on those needs. Listening politely we then asked for their thoughts regarding the stake conference which they had watched via Zoom. They each noted inspiring remarks from speakers, then the Spirit moved the conversation to God’s love, mercy, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We shed joyful tears together while reading Alma 7:11, “he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind;…and he will take upon him their infirmities,…that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people…” We then discussed the intimate personal future joy that helped the Savior endure. Hebrews 12:2, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” After a while we asked if we could sing them a song. “You’re going to sing for us?!” Eve and Tracy’s eyes widened. “Yes.” We replied with a smile.

As we sang, “For the Joy Set Before Me,” there was obvious deep meaning there for Eve and Tracy as the Kleenex box was kept in use. We also played Ashokan Farewell, an Irish fiddle tune, and finally one of our handcart songs, “Pioneer Lullaby.” Some young children appeared and disappeared at the open windows as we played. Eve’s son appeared in the room as well and expressed his knowledge of the history and background of certain music types. Typical of such ministering sessions I asked, “May we have prayer with you tonight?” Eve readily agreed and asked me to pray. As we departed the harbor area, Joan and I felt God’s love and how wonderful it is to be in places of love and service. Tracy, Eve and her son were in our prayers that night and we knew we were in the right place, grateful for the people we are meeting and serving, grateful for our supportive family and friends.

A week earlier, before leaving home in Utah, we had family over for breakfast on General Conference morning. Wheat Waffles and peach syrup were on the menu, one of our favorites. After breakfast and conference, we held an Easter devotional where Bethany read about the resurrection of Christ and Rebecca H. gave a thought about Easter. We bore our testimonies, Jana gave the family prayer then we all hugged, said our goodbyes, and Melanie took us to the airport. After descending past Mount Hood into Portland, the timing was just right for us to catch the Saturday Evening Session of conference sitting in the airport. We also received a couple unexpected texts. “Aloha Elder & Sister Hardman! This is Celeste from the Kahului 1st Ward R/S Presidency. Is there anything you need? Do you have a ride? Is there anything we can do to assist? …If you’re up & wanting breakfast, we are having the missionaries over for breakfast at 8am between conference sessions.” We got similar messages from Paul of the stake presidency. We soon figured out that Paul and Celeste are husband and wife. We expressed our Mahalo and accepted the breakfast invitation.

It was midnight Hawaii time when we got off the plane in Kahului, found our rental truck and set out for our hotel room since our new apartment had no furniture. After a short night’s sleep we went and had a lovely breakfast (a feast actually including yummy cocoa rice) with President Celeste and President Paul M., four missionaries and several family members. As a thankyou gift we retrieved our instruments from the truck and played Ashokan Farewell for them. They were grateful.

Over the next week we moved into our apartment, acquired needed furniture, had companion study each morning, watched The Chosen at the local theater, walked twice up the neighborhood hill for exercise, bought a car, drove to Lahaina and back, attended stake conference and made a special visit to Eve and Tracy.