Auntie Nani's Testimony

I am a support missionary in the Kalaheo ward, and I just love being a missionary.  I also am a visiting teacher and the chorister in the Kalaheo ward.  And what I am going to do today is bare you my testimony of why the gospel is important in my life.  I bare you my testimony that the church is true, that the scriptures, the gospel is true.  That Heavenly Father continues to forgive us and continues to love us.  In my life, for me to appreciate the gospel and the teachings was because one day I was thinking how troubled I was, and as I was pondering upon the subject I opened the Book of Mormon and I found a scripture as I opened it that said for me not to worry and be not troubled because Heavenly Father is here.  And it is true that He was here with me and He listened and He knew my feelings and He, in some way, because He was not talking to me face to face, the scriptures, I opened it, and He was talking to me through the scriptures.  Heavenly Father has always answered my prayers and always gave me some indication whether I was on the right path, or whether I shouldn’t do it or whether I should.  I love Him so much!   He has always been the person that keeps me in the path, that comforts me, that keeps me safe and answers my prayers.   I know that He has lived with us here on the Earth.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the true book in this whole world because it tells us of what is happening today in our life here.  I love Him so much!  I bear you my testimony that if each and every one of you truly want to know the truthfulness of the gospel, pray to Heavenly Father before you read the Book of Mormon, and when you get through reading the Book of Mormon you will absolutely know it is the true Book.

Mary's Story

When I was 16 I got my patriarchal blessing.  It was a great time in my life.  In my blessing it states "you will serve a mission in the mission fields of the church as a young person."  When the Patriarch said that, I had a confirmation that was very powerful and undeniable that I needed to go on a mission.  I had to keep reminding me of that feeling, especially when I met Chad.  I met Chad 1 1/2 years before I was supposed to go and I felt good about him; however I knew what I needed to do.  I committed to the Lord and for me I knew what I had to do.  I ended up serving a mission and the beauty and blessings, and growth I experienced has blessed my life and strengthened my testimony.  Plus, I ended up being blessed with Chad after!

Lana's Story

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 28 years old.  I had to accept the unknown course of this disease.  I was a busy hard working mother of 2.  I had to decide my treatment plan.  For 2 years I tried just supplements and now I am on a disease modifying drug that I inject every day.  This diagnosis literally changed my life.  I was obese for the majority of my life and at the beginning of 2010 I began working out 2 hours a day and it has been very close to a cure for me.  I am no longer obese and I have my symptoms to a manageable point.  The church has been a huge blessing for me…

Alma's Story

When I was in high school I knew I wanted a career in art, so I never took higher math or science courses.  I wanted to go to art school in New York, but my mother didn’t want me to go so far.  So I went to UH-Manoa my freshman year, but I planned to go away my sophomore year.  By then I decided not to go so far and ended up going to the University of Cincinnati where I did enter their School of Design, architecture and Art.  It was totally different and new.  I was the only Asian undergraduate student.  There was a Chinese graduate student, but that was it.  It was a great experience, but I felt guilty about spending so much money.  I decided to go back to UH-Monoa and planned to major in Fashion Design.  Right before I was to register for classes, I was at the library and started reading a book about how the foods we eat affect us.  I changed my major to Nutrition, not knowing that I needed to take a lot of math and science courses.  I ended up graduating at the top of my class and went on to attend UC- Berkley to get a graduate degree in Public Health Nutrition.  I had wanted to go abroad and work in underdeveloped countries and teach them better nutrition.  That never happened because I got married and moved to Kauai, and I never worked in nutrition.  Although you make plans, you can’t plan everything.

Christina's Story

A few months before graduating from high school, I came across an article that was a commencement speech that a guy gave to a graduating senior class.  He told the students to not be anxious to grow up.  Not in a childish, immature way but to not be anxious and rush going out on your own.  He told them to enjoy the short time that they are dependent on their parents, because they will have the rest of their lives to be independent.  He said travel and experience and then be responsible.  I took it to heart.  I went on as many trips as I could.  I lived in Russia, in China, in Japan.  Went to Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico.  I had experiences that I would never be able to do as a “responsible” adult, I met people, I made memories, I played.  I am so grateful that I read that speech.  I am so glad I took it to heart.  I am grateful that he gave me permission to create a part of me that I will always treasure.

Peggy's Story

I was born to very loving parents who had to struggle with being an inter-racial couple – my mother is 100% Japanese and my father is a good ole farm boy from Utah that met my mother while stationed in Japan during the Korean War.  Their struggles and hardships of adapting to each other’s ways, customs, traditions, and even languages spilled over onto me and my 2 younger brothers growing up.  Many things I didn’t understand, most hurtful was the father’s family being disrespectful to my mother just because she was Japanese.  However, we turned those struggles around and it helped us to become a very close, loving, strong family – we have always stayed close, took care of each other, and been there for each other through thick and thin!

Tara's Story

My life started out hard, although I didn’t know it at the time.  My parents had an off and on relationship with the church, so I only attended until I was 10.  Thankfully my grandparents knew that we needed the Gospel and took us as much as they could.  When we moved away when I was 10, church was no longer a part of our lives.  I made many poor choices as a youth.  After 10 years of in-activity, I started attending church again.  I had been fellowshipped by a very loving ward and it all felt so right.  By this time in my life I was 20, married, and the mom of 2 babies.  Life was hard with no money, a very abusive husband in all senses of the word, and no love and support from my family.  After many years of praying and fasting, I knew that I was to divorce my husband.  It was a very hard and painful choice, especially since I was the mom of 4 children now.  I had received my endowments and was so thankful for that.  I knew it was the right choice, not something I was rushing into.  By this time, I had worked hard to support us financially.  My Tupperware business had grown and I knew I could support myself on it.  6 weeks after my divorce was finalized, I met my eternal companion.  We were married 8 short weeks later.  That marriage not only brought me a husband, but also 3 more children.  I was now the mom of 7 children.  I also helped my husband with running our business.  I have helped and learned so many things since then.  Being a mom is so very hard and especially when you are limited on what you can do.  Some of their choices have been so hard to help them with.  But then you find your hands tied.  We now have adopted another child, one of our children’s children.  We know her place is with us.  I have learned so much and am so grateful to Heavenly Father.  He has blessed me so many times and so very much!

Kelly's journey

Kelly

About 15 years ago God started me on a completely different road than I had originally planned.  It has been a sometimes scary, sometimes sad, and sometimes overwhelming road.  This road was one of chronic Lyme disease.  It would seem that illness would bring nothing but sorrow however; it has really brought me more joy than I could have ever imagined.  This road has brought me closer to God and given me a deeper understanding of His amazing unconditional love.

Gigi's Story

Gigi

After my dad passed away I realized the wish for my dad through my eyes to come visit Hawaii!

At 35 years old I had never traveled outside of Canada:  mean, no passport, never take plane and of course no speak English!!

Went to agency buy plane tickets, do everything for get my passport.  Adventure started.

On August 2000 luggage and the pictures of my dad and my mom in my purse ready for going to Hawaii.

Take my first plane so look all over and I get the window seat so look everything!

Take a second plane and everything is English : ( everything look good.

Reach Hawaii Oahu in the night go hotel…..Morning return to airport for fly to my last plane to Kauai

I put my dad picture in the cave at glass beach and stay 2 weeks on Kauai and visit Maui for a day.

2 more planes.

My stories of love starting on this trip with my tourist guide and before leaving back to Canada, I receive proposal and I accept.

After, time to return I take 3 more flights.  A total of 8 plane rides for my baptism of air!!

Yes my goal was victory and God bless me by giving  a great LDS man for bonus!!

Dawn's Story

Dawn

A long time ago, I sacrificed being a good friend for being a “cool kid”.  It didn’t take me very long to recognize that I had made a wrong choice.  Over the years, I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out what it means to be a good friend.

And I have been blessed to have wonderful examples of the kind of friend I want to be!

Allison's Story

Allison S

I am 13 years old.  I was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I am so incredibly grateful for that, and I can’t imagine my life without the church.  I was born in the McKay-Dee Hospital which was in Ogden, Utah.  I lived in Farmington for 5 years until I moved to Kauai when I was 6.  I love Kauai, it is like paradise.  As hard as it was to leave all of my cousins and my best friend in Utah, I quickly fell in love with Kauai.  I love my ward, and they are a second family to me.  Having the Gospel in my life is such a huge, huge blessing, and I take it for granted, seeing other people who don’t have family supporting them, and encouraging them to attend church, and things like Seminary really makes me appreciate that I do have a family who encourages me to go to church, I am so thankful.  That is my story ( :

Sister Duke's Story

Sister Duke

January 2011 I was sitting in a sacrament meeting listening to this sister talk and she referred to her mission.  Automatically I got a surge of energy and emotions and a very distinct voice saying “you need to go on a mission.”   I just blew it off and kept on with my life.  I was writing to my boyfriend on his mission and he had only a few months left.  March 18, 2011 he arrived home from his mission in Japan.  He came home and we started dating immediately.  In May we got engaged to be married in August.  In a short month with lots of unsettled feelings and on a huge emotional rollercoaster, I called off my wedding.  It was the right thing to do and I had no doubt in my mind but then I was lost.  I think I was at my lowest point I’d yet experienced and I had no idea what to do.  It took a few months and I turned to my patriarchal blessing once I put my pride aside.  I read through it and doing so always made me feel happy but this time it was different.   This line stuck out to me ‘The Atonement will benefit you in your life.’  I came to a conclusion and that was that I didn’t really know all that much about the Atonement.  It was at this time that the thought of a mission came back.  This time I didn’t brush it off as quickly but I still didn’t do anything drastic- also at the same time President Uchtdorf gave a talk about “Forget Me Not” and the 5^th petal is what pushed me to my pathway.  “Forget not that the Lord loves you.”  I struggled for months to move on from my broken heart and step by step I finally understood.  The Savior knows me and all I’m suffering with in my emotional side.  So I took action, I went and talked to my bishop and talked about a mission.  I walked out of his door and overwhelming sense of peace and love flowed into my heart and spirit.  A mission was my chapter to write.  I‘ve never been happier in my life and every day I’m so grateful to the Lord for blessing me with this experience.  This is the best chapter I’ve written.

Sister Mallory's Story

Sister Mallory

Last year I was trying to decide what to do with my life.  I told Heavenly Father that I wanted to dedicate my life to serving Him.

On July 20^th 2001, I went to the Temple to be endowed.  Shortly after, I received three very strong promptings to go on a mission.  I argued with the Lord at first because I was scared and didn’t want to leave home.

However, after the third impression, I decided that rather than disappointing the One I love most, I put my faith in Him and put my papers in.

My mom had health issues and two weeks after I arrived in Hawaii, I got a call from my mission president that my mom was diagnosed with cancer.  Once I got off the phone with the president and called my mom, I felt strongly that I needed to stay on my mission and trust that God would take care of my mom while I was doing His work.

Two weeks ago, I got an email from my mom saying that she had a CT scan showing that the largest tumor in her liver had been reduced by 50% , the second largest had been reduced by 33% and the rest of the tumors were gone.

Heavenly Father answers prayers.  Miracles do happen today when we show faith and trust in Him and do our part to serve Him and keep His commandments!  I’m grateful to be His servant here in the Kalaheo ward on Kauai!  The gospel is true!

You can 't help but love someone once you know their story!

So much service is done in our ward.  A lot I am sure that I will never hear about.  That that I do hear about is often in the past, and that that isn't, I rarely have my camera or think to document it.     .....So after receiving and hearing so many wonderful stories last night I decided to record them here, because... As we get to know each other, we get to hear each other's stories, and once we hear each other's stories we can't help but love each other, and once we know each other and love each other then we can protect each other and look out for each other! -and this is Wonderful!

Something New...

We have wonderful sisters and so I wanted to create this blog to celebrate them and the wonderful things that they do for each other.  My regret is that I can not go back and capture all of the wonderful things that they have done prior to today.  But at least I can capture from here forward.