Elder Tanner Gale: First P-Day in Hawaii :)

July 22nd, 2013

Well First P-Day in Hawaii!!!

We flew in Tuesday and met our Mission President. He is way cool, we ate dinner at his house and stayed the night there and at members houses. The first night we had a baptism that they took all the new missionaries to. It was in the Chukies language so we had no idea what was being said, but the spirit was so strong!!

Later the first night we got our area assignments and my first area is Mililani, 1st area in the Mililani Zone.... My Companion is Elder Bolkcom from Idaho Falls he is pretty cool and we get along great!! My second day here we did service for a non-member lady who's husband just passed away. While we were doing the service we met a neighbor of hers who agreed to meet with us again this Tuesday and wants to know more!! We have a baptism for this Saturday!! Jamie is the lady getting baptized and she is awesome!! Her husband just got baptized last Sunday, they have lots of kid running around their house!!! The oldest kid is 7 and turns 8 this November and he is wanting to be baptized as well!! All the other kids are under 5 and there is 6 more haha...... they also have some older cousins living with them in their basement and we are trying to teach them. We are really excited because the cousins have been attending church with Jamie and her husband and are pretty open to talk to us!!

We have had a dinner appointment almost every night this week!! We have had so much good food, but I'm sorry to disappoint you all but I haven't gained any weight yet....... This Friday we had another service with a less active member and his wife the Ortiz's. They fed us lunch and then we did some yard work for them. Brother Ortiz is a crazy old man and he had us take part of his front lawn out and plant it over his back fence on government property, he thinks its going to take root and grow all over back there.... he has already tried it and it hasn't seemed to work yet but I guess its worth another try!! He is really funny to be around!!
This Saturday we had an early morning exercise with our whole zone at one of the parks here in Mililani. We played ultimate Frisbee and had a good time!! I have already found out that it is a lot easier to work the members for referrals!! We tracked an area and didnt have any luck....... All of our investigators that we have return appointments with have been through members and are a lot better and easier to talk to!!
Sunday was awesome, and a lot different than back home!! Every speaker that gets up starts by saying Aloha...... it is really awesome and the people in our ward are great!! For P-day we did our laundry and then our whole zone went to Hale'iwa to a beach park and played games. We went to a little shaved ice place and it was the best!!

Everything is going great here and I am loving it!!! I love hearing from you all and cant wait to get a letter.... Thanks for everything you have done for me!!! Love you all!

Mahalo,

Love Elder Gale