Cousins and Best Friends

Valentines Day was on Wednesday, and we tried to make it a special day. Starting the week before, we gave our seminary students quotes, activities and games to remind them about LOVE, and the love Christ has for them. Sister Mundell called it "The Seven Days of Love". We live only 20 miles from the Laie Hawaii temple, so we decided to do baptisms, confirmations, and initiatory ordinances for family members whose names we took to the temple. It was the first time we had performed baptisms in many years, and for Cathy it was the first time since she was a teenager. We also ate out at a restaurant. The only condition was it had to be someplace other than Costco hot dogs! 

One of the biggest highlights for Sister Mundell on her mission is finding out she has a 7th cousin here. They had a connection even before they realized they were related. Her cousin is a beautiful soul, full of love and kindness. We also learned a little more about doing family history at a workshop for beginners on Saturday. We now have Family Search pass-along cards that we can hand out to people we meet on the street, the bus, and at the store as we try to engage them in discussions about family history and ancestors. Hawaiians are very concerned about family traditions and their heritage, so it is a good way for us to share a message about exploring their family roots through the church website in a relaxed, normal and natural way. 

A good friend of ours, Peggy Teague, passed away this morning. Cathy first met Peggy in Sebring and they became close friends. She took the missionary discussions in our home and was baptized almost two years ago. Those who attended her baptism still talk about it to this day! Cathy became her closest friend and as Peggy's health problems worsened, she relied on her for all of medical treatment and household expenses. It was very difficult for us to leave on our mission because we felt like we were abandoning Peggy when she needed us the most, and we realized that we would probably never see her again in this life. But we trusted in the Lord, and took advantage of Facetime to talk with her many times a month. It was a source of constant stress for Sister Mundell as Peggy developed numerous infections and had many days in the hospital. Her last request for us was to get a temple recommend, and we asked the executive secretary and bishop in our home ward to make sure this one last important act of faith and commitment was done for her. 

We had an extra long Sunday, because we attended three different wards at 8 am, 11 am and 2 pm. But the last in the afternoon was a special spiritual experience for us. We were asked to speak in the Young Single Adult (YSA) branch. It was so quiet and peaceful there during the sacrament it felt like we were in the temple. There were two beautiful musical numbers by the sister missionaries assigned to the Tongan branch. We felt a great deal of love and brotherhood / sisterhood in that small congregation of young adults, we know they will be blessed, and we look forward to the opportunity to be with them again. 

Sister Mundell with Pomai Recca, 7th cousins in Olomana ward

Peggy Teague with Sister Mundell just before we left on our mission


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