Kalaupapa

Aloha Ohana!

What a wild and crazy week. It was one for the ages that's for sure.
Sorry the email is so late. It is Prince Kuhio day, which is a state
holiday and so the library is closed. We realized the family history
center has computers though so we found someone with a key and we are
in. Unfortunately there is only 1 computer with windows xp so things
are a little different on this good old windows 98. Reminds me of the
old 3.1 days ha ha. That's exciting about Natalie getting the job. I
would probably be ready to get out of El Paso too. At least the family
got a bowl game out of it right? That's cool about the new mall, Jake
do you always drop off Wendys to Brandon when you park at his work?
Things were really fun down at Kalaupapa, I'll get to that in a bit. 

So Monday we spent making a flyer to hand out to people we tracted
into about our musical fireside on the restoration for Sunday. Sister
Apuna was great as usual and made us a nice one. 

Tuesday was district meeting on teaching towards commitments. I
thought it was a pretty good one. Elder Maughan usually does alright
with his training. Elder Robbins and I got out and passed out lots of
flyers. We handed out about 100 which was successful. We had a good
dinner of Steak and Potatoes that night which is always a plus in my
book. 

Wednesday was our service day. It was more weeding whacking, except we
didn't mess around with string, we went at the 6 foot tall grass with
blades and machetes. It was an Elders quorum project so we had about
30 guys. The lot had been abandoned for about 20 years, and the owner
is wanting to fix it up again so we helped clear the yard. It was
pretty quick work and looks pretty nice now. So that was fun. We also
helped brother Kelley patch his fence around his 40 acres to keep the
cows and goats in. 

Wednesday night somehow a ton of mosquitoes ended up
in our room. We didn't seem to have too many bites, but in the morning
there was 20 plus hanging around our ceiling. It was crazy. 

Thursday we used to get ready for President. We headed up west side to
try and teach the people up there, or at least move them to Saturday
instead of Friday like usual. We found a few people home, and ended up
moving the Gomes Family lesson for Saturday We headed down to
Ho'olehua for dinner with some members at a restaurant called "The Cook
House" It seemed like a pretty good place. It also helped that they
MADE us order the Thursday night special of Prime Rib. Members truly
spoil us here. Elder Robbins and I thought it was a special blessing.
President flew in around 8 and we headed to get some Molokai Hot Bread
before dropping off President and the assistants off at the Hotel. 

So Friday was the main event of the week. We got up and headed up to
the trail head to be there at 8. They offered President and Sister
Dalton mules to ride, but they insisted that they hike down the trail.
The trail is just over 2 miles of steps cut out of the mountain.
Sister Dalton sure is a hiker, President struggled a bit though. He
has bad knees and hike was pretty hard on him. So we made it down
there signed in got water etc. The tour started at the Catholic Church
in Kalaupapa. It was kinda cool I guess. I realized it was the 1st
Catholic Church I had really been in. It was different to see all the
statues and stuff. Anyway after that they stopped at our church down
there, because Brother Horner had told them that there would be 8
"Mormons" on the tour. The building isn't normally on the tour, I
guess because the tour is mostly about Father Damien and all he did.
The chapel was extra special for sister Dalton. Her Grandpa was an
Apostle and spoke once at that Church so she really wanted to see
inside. So we jumped off the bus with just one other lady, who wasn't
a member but offered to take our picture. So we all took pictures in
front of the Church and President checked the door. It was open, so of
course we went in. The Spirit was so strong. It was such a sweet and
peaceful feeling. The Chapel has 2 podiums, one for visitors and one
for the leppers to speak from. It was really cool to see for the 5 min
we had. As soon as the tour guide saw us walk in he ran from the bus
to yell at us and tell us we weren't allowed inside. President quickly
explained to him who he was and that we could be in there. It got a
little heated, but we ended up just taking a few more quick pictures,
before leaving. 

At least we are going to get to go back in a couple
weeks to clean it all the way up. The rest of the tour was ok I guess.
Nothing really seemed all that special after walking in our church.
Father Damiens Church and Grave were the last stop of the tour. Its
just weird to me how have huge tombstones with all sorts of carvings
and statues around the grave.

President ended up taking a mule back up, and Sister Dalton ended up
following suit. They seemed to enjoy the ride, and I am glad they did.
The uphill climb was fairly tough. Kinda like Timpanogos cave except
steeper. We headed down to Molokai Burger and had dinner and
Interviews before President flew out at 6:30. HE challenged us to get
5 a month between the 2 of us. Right now we have 6 set up for April 14
so that is exciting. 

Nothing much happened Saturday just a lesson with the Gomes and visits
to investigators to help them come to Church on Sunday. 

Yesterday we had the musical fireside. It was awesome. Music truly
brings the spirit. It was so awesome we had tons of less actives and
nonmembers. Over 200 people showed up it was awesome. Great cap to a
great week.

Elder Robbins and I are getting along great and the work is really
starting up and becoming lots of fun. The day just blows by. We never
have enough time in the week it feels like. I heard from Bishop Oyama
in Kau today so that was also exciting as well as Sister Fujikawa. She
was in Utah while you guys were in Hawaii so I thought that was funny
you traded places, anyway. 

So my memory card is about full and I can't
remember what pictures I sent home on cds and what I didn't so I was
wondering if with my Easter package you could send me another memory
card and I can send the one I have right now home. Would that work?
Anyway Hope all continues to go well where ever you may be. I am also
excited for conference. Elder Robbins and I are planning on making
mountain man breakfast between the early session of conference so
that should be fun. It is kind of a sacrifice to wake up at 5:30 for
conference, be I know we will be blessed. Thanks for all your thoughts
and prayers thanks for everything you do I Love you and Aloha! Also
can't wait for mothers day next month, should be fun right? :)

 Love, Elder Tripp