White Christmas

Last Sunday we participated in the baptismal service for DJ, who's the 17 year-old nephew of Maka, Elder Manalo's stepfather. Leighton Manalo is currently serving a full time mission in Brazil, it is amazing to us to see the expanding influence this exceptional young man is having on his family back home in Hawaii.  He was the only member in his family after joining the church as a pre-teen, and now his mother and DJ have been baptized, and Maka has returned to church. DJ's mother has been away from the church for more than 30 years and gave a wonderful, inspiring testimony at the baptism. She feels the need to come back again.  We're seeing miracles happening.  We like to think of December baptisms as our opportunity to experience a White Christmas!

DJ Nagayama at his baptism with Elder Winn and Elder Eddington

It's been so busy for us as we approach the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  There's been fun games and activities, decorations, baking sugar cookies and bread, attending ward parties and trying to spread some Christmas joy and good tidings along the way. Sometimes it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything we'd like to participate in.  On Saturday, Sister Mundell went to Aunt Blanche's homeless shelter to celebrate Christmas.  She provided a delicious Hawaiian luncheon for the community and Christmas gifts for the children in the Community.  She is a remarkable woman who started a shelter to get people off the beaches in Waimanalo.

Auntie Blanche McMillian does a lot for her community.

Elders Navarro, Harry and Hurd sang Christmas carols with the ukulele.

Sisters Hurd, Navarro and Harry entertained us with a Hawaiian hula.

Elder and Sister Mundell at the Olomana ward Christmas breakfast

This week also marked the end of our teaching the Book of Mormon in seminary class this year. We love our students so much!  They are very sweet and kind, and we admire their faith and dedication to participate in early morning seminary at 6 am three times a week.  We will continue teaching the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History (at the stake center which recently reopened after four years) when school resumes in January.  We feel like the greatest influence we've had so far on this mission has been with the youth in seminary.

Our Book of Mormon seminary class 


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