Tag Archives: missionary

Miracles in His time and in His way

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“Jesus Christ is always focused on us and in these challenging times we must stay focused on Him. As our advocate with the Father we are certain our name crosses their lips and because of Jesus’ Atonement and God’s great love and wisdom discuss how to succor us in our crosses, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, help each of us within our agency in the best way and timing.” We have born this testimony over and over again in Sacrament meetings throughout Maui, Moloka’i, and Lana’i; the scriptures and the spirit witnessing the truth to our hearts and souls.

We also bear this testimony in various forms to our friends in addiction recovery as we read together and work through the 12 Steps, Healing through the Savior. We have witnessed ‘beauty for ashes’ (Isaiah 61:3), growth from despair, power from Jesus Christ. And even though there is sometimes unfortunate relapse, we know that God never gives up but picks us up where we are and helps all move forward if we will. And we have seen that those who keep coming back to him, He has their back and keeps bearing burdens and providing ‘rest to your souls.’ (Matthew 11:28-29) It is an amazing experience when we feel or are with someone else who feels tears of sorrow swallowed up in tears of joy with little time lapsing between tears. I wonder if that’s part of what Jesus felt in the garden and on the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)

In confidence we don’t provide names, but one friend recently offered a very sacred prayer on behalf of another. Weeks ago we met him when in darkness and fear, about to lose so much. Now, by continuously seeking and applying the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Christ and the power of God, has returned. Yes, we are seeing miracles in God’s time and in His way. We also meet with those who have been hurt by a loved one in addiction. We are seeing miracles in their lives also.

We are also finding ourselves in other opportunities to bless, and be blessed by others. We keep an eye out for other senior couples in the wards who are looking (or should be looking) for opportunities to serve as senior missionaries. We have met several such couples and enjoy our social relationships and gospel conversations. For example, we had a lovely day last week with our friends, Brian and Jodi Sadleir, getting to know them (and their pups Lucy and Bella) while on the beach, and getting to know them more while relaxing in their pool and eating steak at their home. They have already served a service mission in Heber, Utah. They have deep faith and testimonies and are praying for a missionary service opportunity that will work for their situation here in Hawaii. We are certain God will bless them in their journey. We anxiously encourage all seniors to serve!

We pray continuously for those in need. This includes our own children who also bear various crosses in their lives. We are confident that Heavenly Father and Jesus are focused on each of them and within their agency are being encouraged and loved and comforted and helped. Our compassion for our own children is helping us feel and express compassion to our friends in recovery, and in turn, our experience in the addiction recovery program is helping us feel and express and hopefully bless our own family.

It is Christmas time. On Saturday evening we provided transportation to two sisters in our ward who don’t have vehicles and took them to our ward Christmas Party. Wow, these people know how to celebrate with details and quantity. The food, the attendance, the entertainment, and the socializing was exceptional for a ward party. The entire full-size cultural hall was filled with beautifully decorated round tables surrounded by families and friends of all local cultures. Joan and I performed a couple numbers at the beginning, “Were You There on that Christmas Night,” and, “What Child is This.” There was a professional ukulele singer throughout the prelude and eating time. The primary children pulled-off an amazing nativity scene while singing, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. There were two hula numbers. The first by the sisters of our ward, and the second, jazzier, by the sisters of our ward Marshallese Group. The Elders Quorum topped it off with a rousing, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” Then a special guest came with a gift for all the children. Did I mention the food? Well, it was wonderful. 

On Sunday, Joan and I spoke in the Waiehu Ward and had the privilege once again to bear testimony of the Savior as our Advocate with the Father and once again feel the love of God and the power of the Holy Ghost. Having given this prepared talk a number of times, I said a silent prayer before my turn and ask Heavenly Father to take over and help me say what he wanted. He did so. The word “cross” came to mind and at the beginning of my talk acknowledged that we all carry various crosses. Jesus knows of these crosses and bears them with us.

During our own sacrament meeting in the Kahului 1st Ward we provided the special musical number, “Come, Lord Jesus.” We always have visitors in our meetings. We invited a visiting couple, the Standrings, to join us that evening with our friends for a night of nativity and caroling. That night we gathered at the Jeffrey home for a readers theater about Jesus’ birth, snacks, visiting, caroling, and a little concert by Elder and Sister Hardman. It was fun, spiritual, and joyful.

Merry Christmas.

Week 15 – July 14 – Jesus Christ walks these halls

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Stopped into Walmart this week; we don’t remember why. Perhaps it was to meet a fellow missionary from another faith, Aleka (see photo), A sweet lady who motioned us to sit with her so she could spread the word about God. We had a delightful conversation and wished her well in pointing people to Christ. We attended the multi-stake Pioneer Day chili cookoff and pioneer exhibits activity. We’re getting to know more members and guests including these delightful sister missionaries (see photo). On Sunday we spoke in the Wailuku Ward about Jesus Christ as our Advocate, and sang My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. It always feels wonderful to sing about the Savior while connecting worshipful eyes with others through music. On Monday with other volunteers we served at the Maui Food Bank (see photos) filling 900 boxes for distribution across three islands. Later that day we conducted our weekly Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) support meeting. It has been a fulfilling week with study and service. For the rest of this letter may I again make comparisons with ancient times, earlier latter-days missionaries, and our experiences today?

It is painful to learn of the difficulties and setbacks of God’s children. Nevertheless, when we have the courage to trust Him and repent and to keep doing his will amidst opposition, then darkness and pain is turned into light and joy. In the Book of Mormon, Enos said, “my guilt was swept away.” (Enos 1:6) Alma the younger exclaimed, “I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain…” (Alma 36:19-21)

In our service in Gods kingdom in the latter-days, there are also difficulties and spiritual setbacks. Yet, when we trust Him and go forward centered in Christ, joy emerges. In 1852 here on Maui, a year and a half into their missionary labors, Elder George Q. Cannon and his companions had experienced much trial, opposition, and setbacks; nevertheless, his trust in God was inspiring. Finally, after a year, his first hopeful contact Jonathan Napela accepted baptism and they began translating the Book of Mormon. Hundreds had already been baptized and following one of the first church conferences near ‘Iao Valley, Wailuku (walking distance from our apartment), an amazing miracle was performed causing Elder Cannon to compare his feelings with the prior year, and tried to express his gratitude and joy.

“A person that they had been called upon to baptize, had been crawling for five years not able to walk upright; she was believing and three of them went to pray with her that she might be restored—afterwards they commanded her in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to arise and walk—she immediately stood up and walked and they afterwards baptized her—those who saw her were astonished at it & several came into the Church at the same time. They seemed to be filled with the spirit while dilating upon it and upon the marvelous power of the Lord as manifested in the Church in these days. I was so full that language was too faint to attempt to describe my feelings, I could not talk; this was felt by Brother Uaua also. When I compared my present feelings with the feelings experienced by me this time last year in this place, and I looked at the progress of the work and the power of my Father that accompanied it; I felt that the goodness of the Lord was adorable and past describing. This day has been one of my feast days, a day that gives the soul food for reflection for some time and is not with its reminiscences easily erased from the memory.” (The Journals of George Q. Cannon, Hawaiian Mission, 1850-1854, pg. 172)

In our 2025 Addiction Recovery Program mission on Maui, we are meeting people who are or were in bondage to addiction. Like Elder Cannon, there are situations that seem bleak, painful and without hope. But just having them show up at their first recovery support meeting is an amazing miracle. As Sister Hardman and I strive to put our trust in God and keep our view centered in the Atonement of Jesus Christ we see our new friends in a much more loving and hopeful light. We are granted and motivated by the pre-joy that Jesus felt as expressed by the apostle Paul, “who for the joy that was set before [Christ] endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2) We have every confidence that our friends are loved. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…” (John 3:16-17) We feel His love for our friends.

At the end of our ARP meeting this week I prayed in my heart to know what the Lord would have me say in my testimony. Step 5 is the topic of Confession. I bore testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, emphasizing trusting God with our confession and trusting our Savior with the ability to help and give us power to overcome. I noted that even in our youthful perhaps small mistakes we need to turn to the Savior less our small sins turn into patterns toward larger behavioral mistakes and then to addictions to try to cover our pain. I spoke of my parents who were probably embarrassed when I got into childhood mischief but noted their love and confidence in helping me. I testified that God is a loving Heavenly Father who doesn’t feel shame but gives us love and opportunities to learn and grow and repent. Like spiritually connecting through music in sacrament meeting, spiritually connecting through these words of love and testimony during the ARP meeting witnessed to us that Gods love was present. As we have heard addicts say about their recovery even while in prison, “Jesus Christ walks these halls.”

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.