Hey All

Aloha Y'all

Things went kinda slow this week but we ended with the baptism on Saturday it was great and the spirit was strong, also something to note, The Utes are now 6-0 on weeks with Elder Tripp having a baptism so that was good to hear. So mom while I am thinking of it back in your high school days did you know the pack family? Specifically Vickie pack? Anyway Elder Carrel who is in Kona and he mentioned his mom graduated from Skyline in the early 70's so I assumed maybe you knew her who knows. That reminds me though I don't know if you heard about the Tsunami chaos of Hawaii or not but I'll get to that later. Glad Boston was great. Jake glad you are getting closer to a pad of your own, who knows maybe we can make it a bachelor pad in June huh?? ;) ;) Crazy there is snow over there already. We are planning a trip up 13,000 feet to Mt Mauna Kea at first sign of snow. is that taller than King's peak? Exciting to hear about Scott.

So Tuesday the big thing was the doctor we met up with a member who needed to go to Hilo anyway for something. We headed on the Saddle road through the valley of the 2 volcanoes. so he dropped us off at the Doctor we found it pretty easy. Our church has a building on the same street that I had been to before so it was pretty easy to find. The doctor was kinda a chump and gave me some lip, in a thick German accent like "Your stone is 2 millimeters  you understand millimeters don't you?" He also wanted to inform me the Salt Lake Tribune was backing Obama which he found "shocking from such a Mormon state" I politely smiled, but the verdict was I probably still have the stone inside me if I never noticed it come out or experienced any discomfort so I have to go back next week and they will do an x ray if nothing happens between now and then. I don't feel pain except an occasion jolt or 2. I'm no doctor but I assume that means it is still there. Afterwards we stopped at Ihop for a late lunch and then headed the scenic route home. Up around the top of Hilo through Honoka'a back to Waimea. It completed for me the whole circle of the Hawaii Belt Road or Mamalahoa Hwy. Today for P day we are planning to hit the North Coast of the Island for a hike. I think that will mean I have been on every main road the Big Island has to offer. Tuesday night we had Missionary Coordination meeting and then a late dinner and called it a night.

Wednesday we had a good lesson with Todd he is really coming along. He has cut down his Smoking some which is positive. I can tell it is so hard for him but he is so sincere and wants to be baptized so much and join the Gospel. we had a good lesson. We also followed up with Max and finished his lessons to get him ready for baptism.

Thursday we had the baptismal interview for max and visited a few people around Waikoloa for most of the day. The rest of the day seems to have slipped me. Thursday night we headed down into Kona for an exchange.

Friday I spent down in Kealakekua, "The Way of the God", It is named that because this is where Captain Cook first landed on the Big Island and The Hawaiian's mistook him for the White Bearded God Lono. Anyway just a quick history lesson. but we had a good day. I had DLTM in the morning it was good I think our zone is starting to become unified which is always a good sign. After we did some service and visited a few investigators and ended with Dinner at Costco. I was with Elder Moore he is about 6 months behind me. He is pretty solid though and a great teacher so it was a good exchange over all.

Saturday we had set up for the Truck-O-Treat in the morning. It was carnival style this year so all the youth groups and quorums had to make a game like a cake walk or beenbag toss. Elder Vaikeli and I manned the Franks with Frankenstein and handed out hot dogs as well as home made rootbeer. This all took place at around 4 The baptism was at 2:30 it was well attended especially by Maxx's friends and family so it was good to get them excited a lot of them are non members. So Trunk or Treat ended around 7 we were just sitting in the other elders' pad at the Church Elder Carrel was up for an exchange so that is when we figured out our moms went to Skyline. Anyway about 7 30 the Tsunami sirens went off. We were like WHAT!! Anyway we headed home and Elder Carrel said he would call us with directions. We got back to Waikoloa and no joke there was about 20 cars lined up at the one gas station in the village trying to fill up gas. Our tank we filled up Friday night luckily. Anyway we took that as a sign we should get out of town. I think we probably would have been fine even with a Tsunami but we headed down for the High part of Kona. Phone lines were a mess and we couldn't get a hold of anyone so we just headed out. Eventually the ZL's called and told us to get to there pad, where we were already headed, we made it around 9. The wave was supposed to hit at 10:30 but Kona didn't get more than a 4 foot swell is what I heard. It was still a fun experience and i am glad no big damage happened.

Yesterday the ward was updating all of their records and phone and email addresses of the ward in case another Emergency really does happen some time down the road. Elders Quorum we set up a phone tree and emergency meeting places so that was good. Other than that I don't know what else to say. Hope all is well Love you all!
Love, Elder Tripp