2nd WEEK IN PARADISE

Well, I thought it was time to catch up on the things we have been doing. First off, be patient with me on trying to figure out how to make the blog easy for me to write and easy for you to follow. The pictures posted are backwards from what I wanted, oh well.

Last week, a new friend Tarisa Kimball, whose husband is over Ted, invited me to go to Walmart & Costco for the day. She really knows how to pack her car up (picture). On Sunday, after church they had us over for dinner. They have five very cute children who called us Grandma Pat & Grandpa Ted right off. Their family is from Wyoming so their names are cities in Wyoming (Sheridan, Laramie, Cody,Sage (forgot one).

Saturday we found Ted's Bakery, yummy donuts, sweet rolls and had breakfast too. There is so much to see on this side of the island that we just went exploring and found many places we want to go back to. We had our first visitors from our neighborhood back home came to see us, the Farnsworth's. It was so fun to see someone from home. We spent the evening with them & also Mark Eubanks & his wife, they are the directors of the Temple Visitor Center.

Ted has finished his first full week of classes and he felt good about it(except today the computers were down) He really likes the teaching part but the preparation part is really interfering with his free time on the beach. He says he has a new found appreciation for all teachers. It is hard work.... He loves the students and I have heard some students say "Hey, Bro. Stagg I love your class". that's gotta make him feel good. It is always fun for us to run into some of our Fiji friends while walking around campus. We were invited to join the Fiji Club, how fun that will be for us. I really wanted to volunteer in the Fiji Village in the PCC, but I guess I am the wrong color. They want to keep things authentic. So next week I start to work at the Mission Settlement for 2 days. Last night we volunteered taking tickets for the Luau 4:30 to 6:30. It was a blast(600 came thru our line). Ted was the ultimate greeter. "Aloha, we're so glad you came". Can't you just hear him. It was a great night then we got to go to the fancy restaurant for a free dinner. We will be able to do this at least one night a week. It really is a wonderful place to be, and it is all run by volunteers and the students. I am excited to part of the team.

On Tuesday, we went exploring to some of the beaches close to us. Hukilau Beach was our first one. The sand is so smooth and the water is so pleasant and warm. We walked forever and enjoyed watching the waves. Everyplace we have been this week the waves have been huge(they say they have been 15-30 feet). Next, we went to Sunset Beach to watch the surfers and to end the day with a beautiful sunset on Sunset Beach.

On Wed. I decided to have my own adventure and take the bus to Honolulu. I left on the bus at 8:45am and got home at 8:30pm. It took 2 hours to get to the AlaMoana Shopping Center (which is so huge). I probably won't do this very often, but it was fun to see all the little towns along the way & the pineapple fields,& the shrimp ponds. I actually shopped till I dropped on the bus.

I was thinking tonight while cooking dinner things I'm glad to have here in Hawaii. Hot water out of the tap instead of out of the Hot Pot you plug in and a dishwasher. Not Ted this time as he is way too busy studying and preparing for class. This Saturday we will spend the afternoon at the PCC getting aquainted with everything there. Nice perk, we always get to go in for free. Ahoha for now and Mahalo for looking.