Update March 2, 2015: Aloha, Malo lei lei, and Talofa!

Week 54

Aloha Everyone!

I mean Malo lei lei.. I mean Talofa!.....

It has been a FANTASTIC week here in the beautiful Islands of Hawaii! I am now serving in Hauula 2^nd, 5^th (Samoan), and 6^th (Tongan). It I s a joy and a blessing to serve with such loving people and 3 wards! It is amazing over here on the Windward side. Even though we don’t have all the commodities of the other areas of the islands like Wal-Mart and Costco we do have an amazing view of the mountains and the main road, Kamehameha Hwy. Follows the waterfront! We love 50 yards from the water! It is wonderful! It has been exciting serving in 3 different cultures and picking up the language. My Tongan is far better than my Samoan thanks to Elder Uaisele who I served with in Honolulu, which is funny because Hauula 6^th is his home ward and will finish his mission and return here in 5 weeks! I’m pretty pumped to see him and I also got to meet the family he lives with!

Sundays are a bit of a nightmare though. The three wards start at 8am, 10am, and 12pm and our meetings start at 6am! We got there at 5:30am yesterday and didn’t leave till 3:30pm! It’s a bit of dozy but so much fun! And to sing in 3 different languages is a blessing! The Polynesian people love to sing and sing very well!

Coordination the work in three wards is going to be a bit of a struggle but we are excited to serve here. The people are so loving and ready to help others find joy in their lives! Oh and my new companion Is Elder Faitau. He was just released as Assistant to the president and will finish his mission here with me. He has 5 weeks left. It is really fun because he’s ¼ Hawaiian, ¼ Samoan, ¼ Tongan, and ¼ Palangi (White) so he has family in both language wards!

Anyway a quick rundown of this week!

Monday- was P-day spent the day emailing then saying goodbye to families. it is so hard to just pack up and leave!

Tuesday- Elder Ili and I went to Base to checkout the exchange one more time and they were also doing in-field training so it was a war zone on base! Soldiers everywhere! Then we spent the rest of the day saying goodbye to as many families as I could then I got done packing about 2:30am….

Wednesday- we woke up at 4:30 to get everything loaded and get Elder Ili and Henderson to the airport to fly to Maui then Henderson took a Ferry to Molokai. Then Elder Snell and I Drove to Honolulu and chilled till transfer meeting and then it was mass chaos for about 2 hours getting everything done. Then we loaded all of Elder Faitau’s Stuff into the Silverado and took all of the Departing Missionaries luggage to the Mission home then we had lunch with a bunch of Elders at the Harris’s house they are a Tongan family in Honolulu that loves missionaries so it was a bunch of us there from lunch. Then the Honolulu Zone leaders took us up to Hauula and dropped us off at our humble little pad. 25 ft. square but its nice and cozy and close to the waterJ we have a 2014 Chevy Cruze! Finally done with corollas! Which I’m excited from the Cruzes are a little bit bigger. We dropped our stuff and starting trying to figure out what is going on!  Then we played basketball with the Tongan ward. Then slept really well!

Thursday- we spent the morning cleaning our pad, throwing away junk, and unpacking. We got all settled in then went out and starting meeting everyone and figuring out what we are doing. Its really hard when both elders are new we call it “White wash” so neither of us have any idea about anything! But its good!

Friday- more of the same settling in. we did a lot of reorganizing and more visits to meet people.

Saturday- we went to then Tongan ward’s baptism. Suli got baptized she just turned 8 she’s the oldest girl of the Davis family which Is Uaisele’s adopted family! Then we did our studies then had a big lunchen at the beach park with the Tongan ward.

Elder Faitau and I

at Suli's Baptism! I love this family already!!!

Sunday was church allllllll day. Then a few visits! Then Tongan ward has us for dinner this month so I’m pretty pumped!

Overall a great week. And a fresh start. I am so blessed to serve in such a beautiful place with people that care so much. I am blessed to be apart of this gospel and to see the joy it brings to so many people.

Have a great week everyone. Try not to freeze too much!

            Ofa lahi atu!

            Elder Shoaf

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

Pictures February 9, 2015: Hiking Away the Stress

Enjoying the view! Shout out to the newest members of the BYU family!

On top of the world!

Update February 9, 2015: Putt-putt, Fireplaces, and A Very Small World

Week 51

Aloha Everyone!

It has been another very fast/busy week here in Wahiawa. The highlight was Saturday we spent almost the whole day doing service at a investigators house in Waialua ward then at the end it turns out that this is the family of Sister Alayna Nelson’s Companion who Is serving in Las Vegas! Small world. The other highlight was we had a family come to church we have been working with that hasn’t been to church in 6 years! A BIG day for the ward! Everyone was so happy to see them there!

Any who,

This week!

            Monday- was a pretty awesome! After I went in for my IV at the doc’s office we met the Zone at a Putt-Putt place in Pearl City and it was pretty awesome then we all went to the Stake center to chill and hang out! Pretty awesome.

            Tuesday- was a busy day IV in the morning then Zone meeting then had a couple great visits one of which was the Belcher Family he’s a cop and she works in the ER at the Hospital and both work nights. They are a really great couple and just have fallen through the cracks. But we had a great visit and they really want to come back to church!

            Wednesday- we went to my IV in the morning and they said that was my last one!!!!! WHOOOOOO!!! I hate sitting in rush hour every morning for 2 hours and driving 50 miles before 9am. Pumped to be done! We then helped a family on base move to a condo in Mililani. And that ate up most of our day. Then the best part of the day, DINNER!!! And it was Tongan food!!! They had to roll me out of that house! I love Tongan foodJ

            Thursday- was a rough day, visited 30 houses, 2 answered, both of those the person wasn’t home…. But that’s alright. Just one of those days. Then we had our Scripture study at the Laumatia’s and the lit the fireplace. Yes a fireplace in Hawaii. It was awesome and it was a real wood burning!

            Friday- we had a great lesson with the Trautman’s which went really well it’s been hard to set up with him because the army is ding a bunch of Combat training in Kuhuku this week so he could get called in at any time and may be gone for the day or for 12 so it’s been crazy for all of our Army Families. We then had dinner with the John’s and the rode skateboards and rip sticks with their kids afterwards! Super fun! Just cruised around base!

            Saturday- we went to Ultimate Frisbee in the morning then to Waialua I do service for a family that is taking the lessons the have some BEAUTIFUL property right on a river running to the north shore so we spent a couple hours clearing the over growth along the bank of the river they are going to plant a few coconut trees and grass. It’s going to be really nice! Then at the end the fed all of us and the wife bring out a cut out of her daughter who is on a mission in Las Vegas and it turns out its Sister Alayna Nelson Companion! Small world!!! But we had a blast getting dirty on a beautiful day!

#workinhard

Found some friends! (Garden Spider Not pictured, Decapitated Centipede)

            Sunday- was pretty normal, meetings, church, din din, collect numba from da district. The best part was the BELCHERS CAME TO CHURCH!!!! After 6 years they came to church! The ward was PUMPED to see them!!! Oh and the Ludeman’s who we had for dinner have a Siberian husky and I’m in love! She as an awesome dog even though she doesn’t fetch…

            Today- we played some football then went on this monster hike! It took us 4 hours but was worth it even though I can’t walk…. I’ll send pictures!

            This week my thoughts are really just the same as the weeks before. Persistence, diligence, and relying on the Lord. As we face trials or even areas where we want to grow if we are persistent in doing the best, diligent in following the guidance of our Heavenly father and those who love us, and Rely on the lord to make us the rest we can overcome anything in front of us. I see it every. day.  As we turn our focus toward the lord’s will we will never fail.

I hope everyone has had a fantastic week and see the blessings that are placed in front of us each day. I love and miss you all.

With Aloha,

Elder Shoaf

P.S. for those BYU fans out there I received this video from Coach Mendenhall this week! #byucougars!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwvSd_YQ8cM

Pictures: February 2, 2015: The Shirt Burning!

Pre-Burning; Me, Ili, and Lee Chip Sao

with the Guitar and Clubs

Post-Smash remains

better Pictures to come next week!

Update February 2, 2015: Sliding the Backside Towards Home

Week 50!

Aloha Everyone! 

          I hope everyone has had a wonderful week! It has been a wonderful week here in Hawaii. Thursday was my Year mark and I officially have more days behind me than in front of me. It feels so good! but scary how fast it went!

This week!

          Monday- i went to Honolulu in the morning to have our mission doctor to look at the infection on my knee. And she decided to sent me to the doctor so we made an appointment for Wednesday. We then went back to Mililani to hang out and do P-day stuff.

          Tuesday- was a pretty slow day but we were able to catch a family that hasn't been to work for years, it went really well and i think they wont to start going to church again they both work Nights so that makes it difficult. But im excited to work with them!

          Wednesday- today started off with my appointment in Honolulu with the doctor and she took one look at me knee and told me it was staph... so that wasn't the best news. she also said it was too far along to take antibiotic pills so i had to get an IV of Antibiotics for an hour then have proceeded to have to go back every morning since. I don't understand how people can commute to work everyday! I hate it! it takes about an hour and a half to get to Honolulu in morning rush hour and I've had to go every morning... sick of it! on the bright side it looks alot better! Then the rest of the day was kind of a bust but it happens. I also picked up two new suits! im pumped for them!

 

          Thursday- today was the big year mark so Elder Ili and i were on Exchanges together for the occasion so he went with me to Honolulu then we had to take care of some things to prepare for Friday's Zone Conference but were able to make a few visits! then after dinner we went out the the Wailua Chapel to Burn our shirts with Elder Lee Chip Sao who also came out with us. we decided we didn't just want to burn it we wanted to do something original. well we found an old Guitar in one of the Pads so we decided to put our shirts in it, light it on fire then Elder Ili swung it like a bat and i smashed it with a club i have. it was pretty Epic!!!! who can say they lite a guitar on fire and Smashed it! (Don't worry it was a junk guitar and sounded horrible.)

          Friday- was Zone Conference so after my IV we met the Zone and the Kaneohe zone at the Kaneohe Building for Zone Conference all day!

          Saturday- we went to my appointment then we had to take some elders to Ewa Beach because their car got towed.... from their own parking spot.... kind of dumb but its all good. then we made a few visits then went to a Baptism!

          Sunday- i went to the doctor then church then went to our dinner and that was the day!

          Overall a good week and excited to see what the second year of my mission will bring. i hope you all have a wonderful week and remember that we are blessed everyday. It's just weather we focus on the blessing or the trials weather or not we have a great day. Our choice. 

Love and Miss you all!

Elder Shoaf