Update February 23, 2015: Laie Bound!

Week 53

Aloha Everyone!

          It has been a fantastic week here in Wahiawa! And the last. Yup. I’m getting transferred. Mixed feelings about it but I’m excited! I will be serving in Hauula (How-eww-la) which is on the windward side south of Laie but I’m in the Laie zone. I will be in Hauula 2^nd, 5^th, and 6^th wards! Yup three wards. Even crazier. 2^nd I English, 5^th Is Samoan, 6^th is Tongan! So it will be an adventure trying to speak three different languages! I’m pumped though! It should be a lot of fun! My new comp is Elder Faitau who is being released as the as the assistant to the president so he will be a great example to learn from!

Well with all of the Excitement out of the way…

This week!

Monday- was pretty normal nothing too crazy.

Tuesday- was a great day we had our last district meeting 5 of the 8 of us are being transferred! Then we had a couple of pretty good visits. Dayleen is so close to baptism, we are so excited for her!

Our District! (Killpack, Goodman, The Petramalo's, me, Snell, Henderson, Ili) 

Wednesday- we spent the day down at the USS Missouri doing service. Nothing too exciting we spent most of the time on Ford Island picking up trash but then Kevin took us inside of the Big guns!!!! It was soo cool!!! Then we had a great meeting with the Belchers. It’s so good to see them getting back to church! It’s been a tender mercy to see them come back!

Outside the Gun

At the Breach of the Gun! (Me, Elder Hineman)

Thursday- we were on Exchanges Elder Snell and I worked in Wahiawa and had a good day! Spent a lot of time on base figuring out who is who and had a couple of great visits! Then of course Scripture study at the Laumatia’s!

Friday- Elder Henderson spent the morning cleaning our pad for pad inspections and got 100% the first perfect score Elder Quarnberg has given! Then we were doing our studies and I got a call from Elder Ili telling me that I was leaving. We were in shock because we had heard Elder Henderson would leave and I would stay but apparently both of us are leaving! We are pretty bummed to both leave. White washing an area is always hard to keep the work moving. But we are excited. Elder Henderson is going to Molokai! My dream area! Such a beautiful Island! And as I said I will be staying on the rock for at least the next little while. We also had our ward Cultural night which was a big success!

Saturday- we helped a family on base move and they gave us a bunch of gear from when he was in Afghanistan! And he also gave Elder Ili and I Ukuleles so we each have 2 now! Means I’m twice as good right? Nope still can’t play very well… then I went to dinner with Elder Snell in Mililani then we all went to the Quarnberg’s for games! Sister Quarnberg almost cried when I told her we were leaving! I’m going to miss them a bunch!

Sunday- was a long day I was sick all night and sore from Saturday so I felt like I had been hit by a bus but managed to go to church for my last Sunday in this ward it’s so bitter sweet to be leaving but I’m ready to see what’s next! We then had dinner with the Maafala’s and Laumatia’s and then we went to the stake cottage meeting. It was really good and a great way to end the week!

Overall it has been an amazingly fast 3 months here in Wahiawa! I can’t believe how fast it’s gone! I have loved every minute of it but know I am needed in Hauula and will be blessed to serve with some amazing people over there. It’s such a blessing to serve here in Hawaii. I will soak up as much of this 85 degrees and sun as I can for those back home where it’s below zero!

Love you all,

Elder Shoaf

Update February 16, 2015: An Emotional Rollercoaster

Week 52

Aloha Everyone!

This has been a great week and for sure a week I will never forget. Probably the turning point in, some cases, for my mission.  I had some very eye opening experiences that I will never forget. We also had some crazy winds come through!  50+ mph it was pretty wild!

Anyway,

This week!

            Monday- was a pretty good P-day as I said last week, football, hike, email, and dinner.

            Tuesday- we had a great District meeting in the morning. The subject I had to train on was the atonement and I prepared my lesson accordingly and went into it not really sure where I wanted to go with it but it worked out really well. We had a great discussion about how there is two sides the forgiving (redeeming) and the preventative (guidance, savior) it was really cool. It’s really fun to be able to have such great discussions! We then went to base to help the Johns family move there Piano upstairs…. That was an adventure but we didn’t die so that’s good! Then we spend about 30 minutes out in the street with their kids riding scooters, skateboards and other things it was pretty fun I’m not gonna lie!

We found the toys and the masks.....

            Wednesday- was a really eye opening day. And really set the mood for the rest of my mission. I really had to think about why I was out here and things really got put in perspective. I will leave it at that but I will say I am grateful for the support of others and for my family and for my Heavenly Father and his servants. Don’t EVER let anyone tell you there is not hope or you can’t do it. Through our savior Jesus Christ we can do anything. I know it.

            Thursday- was a long day. No one home and a lot on my mind but it ended well with Scripture study at the Laumatia’s  and also got some great and comforting news afterwards.

            Friday- was a pretty good day. We took care of some paper work and errands in the morning then went to a recent convert in Mililani 2nds area to help them set up for a Birthday/Valentine’s day party. Which was fun than we did our studies then visited a few families on base before dinner with Sister Clark and Cole which was really good! They are always entertaining they are from Kentucky and embrace it! The whole day was rainy and the winds start coming in so it was not a good day to be out!

            Saturday was nuts. We went to Ultimate Frisbee in the morning which was in vain. The winds were in excess of 50 mph so it was impossible to throw the Frisbee farther than like 10 feet. And that was a challenge! It was nuts! Then we went to Honolulu to meet with President Warner on somethings which was great. I always love meeting with him! Then spent the afternoon visiting a few people and doing DIY on our pad. Fixed and painted our screen door and some other things!

            Sunday- was a fantastic day we didn’t have any meetings so nothing till 1:30! Which was nice to have the morning to study and reflect. Then I got an awesome call from Elder Ili who told me that he ran into a Girl I starting teaching with the Kurihara’s when I was in Kaimuki over 8 months ago and she got baptized!!!! I had no idea but It made my day!!! Then church was great as always then we had dinner with the Weiss’s and her parents were here and her day is a HUGE BYU fan so we ended up talking a lot of BYU which was nice. He got me caught up on what is going on.

            Overall a great week but an Emotional roller coaster. But ended on top of the world. I am so blessed to be here and to serve the lord. I love this gospel and know it’s true. The Atonement is real and through it we can overcome sin and return to our Heavenly Father. He loves each one of us. He knows what we are going through and where we are struggling and sends the help we need if we turn to him! I see it constantly. We are all here for a reason and can touch those around us.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. I love and miss you all.

Elder Shoaf