Update December 22, 2015: Mele Kalikimaka!

Week 94

Aloha everyone!

MELE KALIKIMAKA!!!! Crazy that Christmas is on Friday! It’s hard to be in the Christmas spirit and for it to feel like its Christmas when it’s 80 degrees… But I heard its mot that much colder back home which is nuts! Anyway.

This week!

            Monday- we pretty normal not much to report. BUT! Mia will be baptized on the 26^th! We are stoked.

            Tuesday- was the BEST day EVER!!!! Why you ask? Well first off we cleaned our whole pad in preparation for Elder Connelly joining us. Then we went on splits with Jr. and had a really good visit with the Pelekai Family. Then we picked up two BRAND-NEW BEDS!!!!! If anyone knows anything about missionary’s pads the beds are usually more of Bowls than beds. But now we have brand-new mattresses and box springs. Christmas came early!!! Yup. Probably the highlight of the week!

            Wednesday- we picked up Elder Connelly from the airport then let him get settled in. he just came from the heart of Honolulu where I think there was more people in a mile radius than are on this island total so it is a bit of a shock! Haha we had a great lesson with the Borden’s then had dinner with them and their son Blaine at his house.

            Thursday- I worked around the house in the morning then we headed up west end to make some visits then Christmas Caroling to the widows of the Kaunakakai ward. It went really well and was pretty fun too.

            Friday- we had the Kaunakakai ward Christmas Party, which went really well! When we got there 10 till 6 they were already pulling out extra tables! We had over twice what they had expected! It was awesome and the talent show went really well! Complete success!

            Saturday- we went hunting with the Pawns. It was both Connelly and Southwick’s first time up the Mountain. And we had success! No pig but got 2 huge Bucks. They were velvets so their new Antlers were still growing so we estimated that full grown would have been almost a 40in rack, which is rare. Dallin Tanecayo shot them from about 300 yards an excellent shot. They were so big even after gutting them it took both Dallin and I’s whole strength to drag one up the hillside! We also got a Spike, which looks like a baby compared to the other two! We also had our Basketball activity for the Ho’olehua ward, which went really well!

The First Buck!

All three- Post Hunt. we had about 150lbs of meat to share with those who needed it!

            Sunday- was the longest day of my mission but also really really good. We arrived at the chapel at 6:30am and left at 8:30pm… first meetings then Kaunakakai ward, our lesson with Alice went really well. Then Hoolehua ward, which ended at 4 then, we had a youth fireside at 5 for the Hoolehua ward then a stake fireside that was broadcasted from Maui at 7! Long day but good reason!

            Anyway. One more week! I hope everyone has a beautiful and merry Christmas. It truly id the best time of the year that we get to celebrate the birth of our Savior who without there would be no hope, no joy, and no ability to return to our Father in Heaven. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Shoaf

Update December 14, 2015: Molokai til the End!

Week 93

Aloha everyone!

Another Wonderful week here on Moloka’i. Man I love this place and am blessed to stay here for the remainder of my mission. I was suppose to return to Oahu for my last 2 weeks but plans changed and president decided to keep me here to bring the new elder up to speed. Elder Connelly will join us on Wednesday and it will be the three of us for the next 2 weeks that way nothing has to change when I depart. It will be a smooth transition.  I am bummed that I will not be able to go to the Laie Temple one more time before I return home or see a lot of the families I have been blessed to serve before I go. It’s bittersweet, but all good. This is where Heavenly Father needs me these next 15 days.

This week!

            Monday- was a pretty normal p-day email and work around the house.

            Tuesday- was pretty busy we had splits with Jr. and had a couple really solid lessons with him. He’s an awesome help. Also service in the morning.

            Wednesday- was a LONG but Wonderful day. We were at the Airport at 6am to catch a flight to Maui. Elder James Hamula of the Quorum of the 70 was here for our Mission tour so we met with him on Wednesday up at the Palehu Chapel which isn’t used as a meeting house anymore but was the first LDS Chapel built in Hawaii. It was built in 1852, one year after the first baptism in Hawaii, by George Q. Cannon and Johnathan Napela. Who were both instrumental in the translation of the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian and Napela is also the one who brought the Church here to Molokai and more specifically to Kalaupapa where he spent the remainder of his life watch over his wife who had Leprosy. So there is a lot of historical Significance to the Palehu chapel for LDS members here. To put it in perspective this all pre-dated the pioneers that settle the Utah Valley.

            We had a wonderful training from him and his wife then we all went down to the Makawao Chapel where we had Lunch then a Question and Answer session with Elder Hamula before they flew to Kauai. It was awesome then we spent the remainder of the day with the elders there before our flight back to Molokai.

Palehu Chapel bulit 1852

View of west Maui from Makawao Chapel

            Thursday- we had service in the morning weed-whacking for Boogie then up Maunaloa for a few appointments before dinner at home. We came home to find a Christmas tree in our Pad! The Nakayamas got us a beautiful Douglas fur. The Calvary chapel here orders a whole container of trees from Oregon each year so now even though it doesn’t look or feel like Christmas it smells like it!!!

            Friday- we finished up our service project at the Kalanis. the driveway is looking good! we also had the Hoolehua Ward Christmas party which went really well! And the food and entertainment was on point and we were bulging at the seams we ate so much then the loaded us up with left overs.

If we stick around to long after a ward party this is what happens... yup that was all sent home with us. filled our whole backseat!

            Saturday- we went hunting with Ipo and saw plenty deer and most of which were buck but we just never had a clear shot or they were spooked before we could take a shot. Then we watched Kalo’s 1^st grade team’s T-ball game. Probably the most exciting baseball game I’ve ever watched! Lots of hitting and running! Haha

           
            Sunday- was wonderful as always. We had a fantastic lesson with Alice on the Sacrament and Mia has decided to be baptized! So we will be moving forward with that! All is moving fast and I love that I get to be a part of it.

            Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Shoaf

Update December 7, 2015: Christmas is in the 85 Degree Air!

Week 92

Aloha everyone!

What a week! Well first off let’s just get this out of the way. Yes, I heard Coach Mendenhall is leaving BYU and its disappointing but there is no Question that no matter whom the new Coach is and who the assistant coaches end up being. I am a COUGAR! I am Blue through and through. BYU is where Heavenly Father told me I needed to be and I know it’s where I am supposed to be. Oh and GO COOOUUUUGGGAAAARRSS!!!!!! BEAT UTAH!!!!! J Just had to get that out of the way too ;)

Any who this week has been a great week as usual. I can’t believe I’m going into my Last full week on Moloka’I But I am Grateful for the  time I have had to serve here and I cherish the relationships I have developed. It has been a blessing to know when I would be leaving the island so far in advance to be able to prepare myself and not leave with 24 hours’ notice like my last transferJ

This week!

Monday- got my Hawaii License and then cruised for the rest of P-day. The shipment of fresh Christmas trees came in so everyone was in town to pick them up! I will never complain about a Christmas tree price a 5ft tree was $100 dollars…. That’s a small one… we also had a fantastic lesson with the Yassos about weaknesses and why Heavenly Father allows us to go through trials. I think we all felt the presence of Spirit there.

Tuesday- We helped the Yassos Pour a sidewalk and the cesspool cover for their rental house. I’m so grateful to have learned all of these skills from my father so that I can bless others with them. We then had Lunch with Isabella at the Pizza Café. I swear she’s crazy! Ha-ha she was talking to someone on her phone that was off! Ha-ha never a dull momentJ

Wednesday- we went on Team ups with Jr. Kaholoaa from the Hoolehua ward and were able to meet a few families that haven’t been to church in years. I’m grateful for people willing to help us find people we can make a difference in their lives. We then had a Wonderful Lesson with the Bordens about the Plan of Salvation and how important it is for us to know where we came from and why we are here on Earth. Then Dinner with Brother Nakamura who I swear is the biggest BYU fan in the world. He has kept me well up-to-date on the ins and outs of BYU everything ha-ha.

Thursday- we hiked down to Kalaupapa. Lester asked us if we could come down and do a service project for one of the patience. Her name is Aunty Mel and she is the sweetest Aunty ever! Her windows were really bad so we cleaned her windows and were able to spend some time with her. It was really nice then we hiked out around 3 to make it up before our evening appointments and dinner. Made it up in 1hr 50 mins. I think that’s my best so far

Friday- was a slow day so we took care of some things around the house and made the baptismal program for Reese’s baptism on Saturday then dinner with the AngcosJ

Saturday- was Reese’s Baptism. It went really well and it is so good to see his family returning to church! Saturday night was also the Lights Parade in town so we went since the entire island was there! Ha-ha it was really nice a lot smaller than our back home but also about 80 degrees warmer! I just can’t get use to this whole warm Christmas stuf

Sunday- was Crazy!!! But really good! The Albinos who haven’t been to church in over 3 years came! We met with them last Monday and they really want to come back! We also had a wonderful lesson with Alice and she is progressing well! We had such a spiritual lesson with her it was incredible.

I hope everyone is loving this Holiday season and remember the reason for the season. If you haven’t seen it the Church came out with another short video about Christ for Christmas this year. Christmas.Mormon.org

I love and miss you all,

Elder Shoaf

Update November 30, 2015: From Haole to Local, Thanksgiving, Birthdays!

Week 90

Aloha everyone!

What another amazing week! Flying faster and faster towards the end of the year. It was another interesting Thanksgiving. Still not use to the whole 85 degree thanksgiving thing… but it was really good and lots and lots of food. And I think I hit a new record this week we were served Ice Cream a total of 13 times… yup oh and did I mention the remnants of at least 6 or 7 pies in our fridge? Any who.

            This week!

            Monday- was a pretty normal Molokai P-day nothing happened! Haha #isolationprobs

            Tuesday- wade and I worked on one of his bobcats we figured out what is wrong now just have to order parts. We also had a couple of great visits with return appointments. Then we had dinner with the Hoolehua ward Boy scouts at their meeting.

            Wednesday- we were slammed with 4 appointments and had 2 dinners! Hua and Eke and doing great and love church and are growing in the gospel. And the Bordens are really showing a desire to return to church!

            Thursday- Thanksgiving! We had a ward service project picking up trash then had Brunch with the Nakakyamas then we headed out to the McComas’ homestead for pizza I their own pizza oven. Then while Ty and I were cutting the wood and lighting the oven out of the house walks his 2nd cousin and his cousins roommate from BYU-Hawaii who then addresses me by my name even though he couldn’t see me tag and introduced himself as Tim Rasmussen. To the Columbus folks it’s Elder Rasmussen who finished his mission in Columbus 1st ward and also served in Carmel ward while Isaac and Dominika were there! So yeah it was nuts. The stars literally aligned for that one. a family we randomly stopped by to say whats up on Tuesday then they needed me to bring firewood for the pizza oven then Tim is his 2nd cousins roommate that had no other place to go so they came to Molokai and then on top of it I taught a few lessons on exchanges in Laie with his sister who was also there (didn’t know the relation till this day) while my parents were writing me about him....... wow. I was loving it talking about good 'ol C-Bus. He says hello and I’m glad to hear all is going well back homeJ

            So after a few hours there and a sufficient fill of pizza we went home and chilled with the Nakayamas then ate dinner there. It was a good dayJ

            Friday- was Talia’s Birthday (Wade’s Daughter) so we spent the morning cleaning yard and getting everything ready for her party. Then we went and made a few visits in town then up Hoolehua. We had dinner with the Arces up Kalae then came home to light the fire and things for Talia.

            Saturday- I turned 21…… weird…. So wade made us breakfast then we had a bigger late Lunch with some of the Ward members to celebrate. It was a lot of fun and weird again that it was warm and we had a BBQ. Usually the weather is miserable by the time my Birthday rolls around! So that was fun. Wade gave me a BEAUTIFUL Buck Knife from his collection as a gift that just made the day! Then that evening we had our first weekly Basketball night with Hoolehua ward. It was a small attendance but still good time. A few new faces too!

Da Knife!

            Sunday- was good as always all day at church. Then dinner with the Keaninis and Delos Reyes and the Angcos came as well.

            So today I officially became one Local Bruddah! I needed to renew my License so I said hey what the heck. I’ll just get a Hawaii License! So yup. I’m officially a resident of Hawaii and now get Kama’aina Discount! Aka I’m LOCAL!

My Temp License!

            Well that’s about it for this week. Hope everyone is recovering from their feast and enjoying the Holiday spirit!

Elder Shoaf

Update November 23, 2015

Week 90

Aloha everyone!

This week has been fast as always and we were blessed with much much needed rain! Here in Kaunakakai it hardly rains. This is the second time since I have been on the island we have gotten a good rain! It is getting more and more apparent how close I am to coming home by the fact everyone is sick of emailing me! Ha-ha! All of my emails were either from the mission or from other friends on missions writing home to their families! Its ok everyone I’m not sad I just find it funny!

This week!

Monday- was a slow P-day just chilled around the house, emailed, and went to the chapel to shoot around a bit.

Tuesday- we were supposed to Skype in with Maui for district meeting but their computer wasn’t working so they had it without us. So we did some things around the house and then finished up washing the windows at the house we worked on. That took most of the afternoon.

Wednesday- we had a lesson out east end with the English family. It went really well they want to work on returning to church! We also had a great lesson with the Bordens up Kalae. They are an awesome family that is also trying to return to church. They are the caretakers for all the state park areas up there and have such a beautiful place up on the mountain! It nice and cool and beautiful surroundings. We then went down the road and had dinner with his son.

Thursday- we had some service in the morning hauling off a tree one of our members cut down in their yard. Then since the latches for their trailer’s gate are broken I welded some new ones on and then we did a few other things while we had Wade’s welder out. I love the fact that I can make things with my own hands. Its super rewarding!

Friday- we helped wade in the morning with fixing one of his bobcats. The fuel tank and pump were clogged up so we pulled the whole system and went through it and now it runs like a gem. Thanks to my dad and all he taught me growing up! Then we spent the rest of the afternoon setting up for our missionary activity in the Hoolehua ward. We came up with the idea to have a deer cook-off and to invite all the less-active brethren in the ward. That’s what our hunt was for last week! It was a huge success! We had 30 men there of which 20 don’t come to church on a regular basis. It was a lot of fun and they got creative with the meat and made some spectacular dishes! The winner was shrimp wrapped with deer, breaded, then deep fried. It was pretty amazing.

Saturday- we went hunting! No surprise right? :) We went west end with a less active guy named Ipo he’s the man and I love the guy. He’s also been hunting since he could walk. It was a really bare day since it was raining so the deer don’t have to come out to look for water. Kind of crappy but we didn’t give up and ended up getting one Spike and a FAT doe. Lots of good meat. When we got back we washed our filthy truck and then made a couple visits before dinner.

Me, Ipo, Elder Southwick with our Doe and Spike.

De-Boning the Spike

Sunday- went really well. Church was great and Alice came again! Shes from North Carolina here to study the Hawaiian Culture and has a lot of interest in the LDS faith we have had a couple great lessons with her now and she’s loving it!

Over all a great week and still loving what I’m doing and loving the difference I can make in other people’s lives. Hope you all have a Wonderful Thanksgiving. It’s supposed to be 83 and sunny here for Thanksgiving. Not the average!

Love,

Elder Shoaf

Pictures November 16, 2015: Sunsets and Hunting!

Blessed to serve in such a beautiful place!

First deer of the day. A Small Doe. This was Elder Southwick's First hunting trip ever!

Born to be a pack mule #EmbraceIt

Update November 16, 2015: Baptisms are Awesome!

Week 89

Aloha Everyone! 

This has been a great week! The weather has continued to be perfect. I don’t know how I’m going to go home in the winter time… we have had a very busy week as it was our first full week covering both wards.

                Monday- We shipped the Corolla to Maui which means we are officially the only missionaries on the island for at least 5 or 6 months. Then we emailed all of you before an awesome lunch out east end with the Murray’s. She’s such a sweet heart! We then had an awesome Lesson with Hua and Eke. They are getting Baptized on Saturday so we got everything set for the Interview on Thursday and then the baptism!

                Tuesday- we helped the community on their project. They are building a pavilion at one of the beach parks that will also have a full kitchen and bathrooms. All of the labor is on volunteer basis so it was a good opportunity for us to serve in the community. We pours concrete and laid block.

                Wednesday- we had service around the house and up at Wade’s mom’s house in the morning and they told us their conversion story which is the best I’ve heard yet! You will have to ask me about it sometime! We then spent the rest of the day up in Hoolehua making visits.

                Thursday- Elder Vaenuku and Warnick flew in from Maui to do the Baptismal interview an elder who didn’t teach them has to do the interview so since we are the only two they had to fly in. most of the day we helped a retired couple wash their windows then had the Interview that afternoon. It was nuts since we only have one truck we were trying to be in 3 places at once. It was nuts but we got everything done! Drove about 100 miles though back and forth!

                Friday- morning President and Sister Warner flew in for interviews and they were catching the next plane back to Oahu so we didn’t even leave the airport! We just took turn in the truck while the other one of us sat with sister warner and talked with her. Fastest interviews ever! In my interview President told me I would return to Oahu for my last 2 weeks. That made the reality of going home even more real. I have 4 weeks left on Molokai then 2 weeks and pau… it goes so fast….

                Saturday- we went hunting early with a couple of guys from Hoolehua ward. They are planning a deer cook-off next week for the ward so we had to get the meat! We had to leave early to prepare for the baptism but they ended up getting 13! One buck, a few spikes, but mostly does. Plenty meat! The Baptism went super well and it was awesome to have their family there! I love seeing the Spirit touch people and see the joy that comes into their lives. We then cleaned yard and got the house ready for Wade to come home! Rusty has been in the MTC for 5 days now!

Before! (Dad, david, Hua, Eke, Me, Mom, Elder Southwick)

After! I Love these guys!

                Sunday- was really good Hua and Eke were confirmed and we went to both wards. We then had a great dinner with Bishop Hao and his wife and a great discussion about how the world is changing. Wade got home last night so it’s not as quite anymore! We have someone to talk to again!

                Well that’s about it for this week. Hope all is well!

Elder Shoaf