We hit an air pocket with a gust of (warm) wind but welcome wind. My leg muscles were jelly by the time we headed back and Leah and I had a prayer to get down without falling down. Awaiting us was a cold bottle of water from Dixon's fridge and we all downed it on the first breath. It was an experience I will never forget and a highlight of seeing this beautiful island in the wilderness region of the Kualoa Mountain range.

The trek down was grueling. We were 7 miles roundtrip and my legs were feeling like jelly. We both drank all our water and were so glad Dixon had an extra for us. They carry water bladders on their back with straws over their shoulder but came with some bottles just in case.....Rieske is a fireman paramedic so we felt in good hands in case of an emergency.

This is the top of the lower falls. Gil climbed out there and looked down but I can't find that shot.

It was beautiful. This is the upper falls and then there is a lower falls on the other side of where I was dipping my feet.

We did make it and what a great refreshing place to rest...

Down there is Laie town and all of the PCC and BYUH from the top of the mountain. "How much further?"

How much further??? And I smell pig? A pig wallow right in the middle of the trail. Wild pigs roam the countryside and make a muddy wallow here and there. You smell them before you see it...

We had to have a few rest stops.

Look at that incredible Tropical Pine tree....
Gary Dixon and Don Rieske are avid hikers and invited Gil and I to go one early Saturday morning on a hike. We headed to Laie Falls up the mountainside and decided to work towards it and quit if it seemed too much. Leah Rieske and I tagged along and were having a great time. I expected it to get cooler as we climbed higher but the entire hike was sweltering jungle heat and a good up hill jaunt. Almost there, we decided to got all the way up. It was not easy but we made it.

I couldn't resist this picture of the young Tongan couple at the devotional. Obviously in love. Elder Craig in the background taking movie pictures of the ceremony.

I just love this cute picture of my Missionary companion. Elder Craig. He's one great missionary and everyone loves him.

This some of the luncheon buffet at the Farewell. gil with Jeff McDonald. Every occasion is a feast time. Hence the term Luau.

This is Steve and Jan Downs. He is a great Country Western poet and singer who did a few gigs with Bren Hill. They are great people we have come to love.

More great people we are going to miss. Sharlene and Del Nebeker, the Hobbs, and Delia and Warren Naillon. They all go home before we do. That's the way it goes....

Tim and Elaine Hobbs from just over the boarder in Idaho left with the Dixon's. They were so fun to know too. You meet the lovliest hardworking people on missions. She is 4 foot 10 and he is 6 foot 4. He was stooping down to give her a kiss. He said it is easier if they just stand on stairs. She goes up four or five from the landing and he saves his back.

This is Elder and Sister Dixon from Brigham City. They picked us up from the Honolulu Airport when we arrived 6 months ago, and we took them to Honolulu Airport to go home to Utah October 7th. He was sort of our Zone Leader, coordinating all of us in our positions of service. The were very warm in getting us adjusted, settled and welcomed. Maren and I worked in the office together and I sure miss her. This was their farewell luncheon and ceremony we had just before they left. Look at the incredible leis. These loving Polynesians present so many gifts and treasures to departing Missionaries it is just incredible. It's a happy but emotional farewell. You seem to just become dear friends and then they leave you. We will look forward to a reunion in the future.......especially since they are just up the road from Ogden.

Sia and Walter Tonga. Their other daughter is 11 and is with her grandmother in Tonga. The custom is to leave a daughter with grandmother so she won't be lonely. They desperately miss that daughter and can't wait to be reunited in February.

This is our hot and cold water outdoor shower. Not very private but washes off the sand and salt water before you come in...

We had a ward Pot Luck dinner in our back yard a few weeks ago. We had games and opened coconuts. The next few pictures are of our party that was well attended. Our house faces Kamehameha Highway and the back faces the ocean.

This is Sia Tonga and 3 of her 5 daughters that performed for us at the Tongan Devotional. About every other month since we've been here a PCC Village has presented a Saturday Morning early morning Breakfast and Devotional. Sia performs as MC and singer at the Luau Shows. She has taught her girls to sing harmony. They sound like angels. It will be a sad day for the PCC when she packs up her family and returns to their Island home and extended family to Tonga.

"Oh, there you are Elder Craig. Looks like you found Elders McDonald and Eggett who have lost their wives in Winward Mall..."

"Gil, I am in the Mall and finished my errand and cannot find you." Preetika and Digi and I are looking for you and Alvin.

This Alvin and Preetika Singh and Digi, students we took to Walmart and Costco on a Saturday. Most students do not have a car and the nearest shopping from Laie is in Honolulu or Mililani, or Koneohe, all of which are an hour away on the two lane Kamehameha Highway at 35 miles per hour. When you "go to town" you take some kids with you. We were all stuffed in the back seat because of Ann. Ann is a little old lady we met in Walmart who missed her bus. She had several bags tied to her walker and was sitting outside of the store. She asked Gil if he had a cell phone and would call her "special needs bus" which he did and found that it would be 2 hours or more before another bus came her way. We offerred to take her to her home in Koneohe because we go right past that town on our way home....she hesitated a minute and looked at our missionary tags then said, "well, if I can't trust you Mormons I don't know who I can trust." We gave her a bottle of cold water and tucked her bags in the back and hoisted her up front. She was delightful and delivered her safe and sound.

Gil and I with Preetika Singh at the Swap Meet shopping. Hot hot hot day so we got us a cold coconut water to refresh us. The swap meet is a huge deal that opens every Wednesday and Saturday (if there is not a game) at 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Honolulu Stadium. It is very fun to go to.

Taking some kids from our Ward to Dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Center at the end of our work day. The Ambassador and the Gateway Restaurants have lovely buffets.

Papa searching for Birthday gift for Sophia. Yep. She'll like this pink one.

I'm very behind but promise to catch up and send you some things we are doing. We are surely on the go but rewarded always for all our efforts.

Uplifting message from Brother Jim

>
> CLIFF YOUNG
>
> Don Davis, a good friend, first introduced me to Cliff Young of
> Australia - a man who has since passed away but will certainly
> never be forgotten. I would encourage each of you to Google his
> name and you can read (and Utube) the whole fascinating story but
> indulge me to share just a piece of his story to teach a lesson or
> two that should inspire all of us - no matter our age or interest.
>
> Cliff was 61 when he became famous. He was a rancher and had kept
> his sheep 'in the fold' without the benefit of a jeep or a horse
> but only his two good legs. He entered, for the first time, one of
> the most grueling races on the planet - nearly 1000 kms (600
> miles), running from Sydney to Melbourne usually a seven day race.
> Only top athletes - and in prime condition - even considered
> running this professional race. When Cliff showed up to run, he
> was scoffed at as he arrived in Coveralls and ranch boots covered
> with goulashes (in case it rained).
>
> The race began and Cliff was last for some time but near the end of
> the 5th day he passed the frontrunner and finished the race in just
> over five days and broke the course record by over nine hours. He
> didn't know he was supposed to stop and sleep so he just kept
> running and running - the Young Shuffle became as famous as
> Cliff. Everyone stopped laughing and Australia fell in love with
> Cliff Young. He was awarded $10,000 which he didn't expect and
> gave it away to the last five runners who got $2,000 each. The
> next year, at 62, he ran again but he suffered a dislocated hip,
> bad knees and shin splints that nearly 'did him in'...but he still
> finished 7th and received a new car, not for winning, but for being
> the most inspirational runner. He immediately gave it away. He
> wasn't in this for the money.
>
> He ran because he wanted to.
>
> He was dang good at it.
>
> Lesson Time:
>
> There are no limits on what we can achieve - we limit ourselves
> with our fears, our lack of faith in ourselves and with bad
> information. Cliff Young didn't know he was supposed to stop and
> sleep. He didn't know he had to wear Nike's to win. He didn't
> know that anyone running 600 miles had to be young and
> professionally trained.
>
> If we REALLY accepted the Atonement and REALLY knew who we were
> foreordained to become we would stop putting brakes on our
> potential and unleash the Godhood Gifts, most often which lay
> hidden in each of us.
>
> We need to challenge ourselves to DO better; to THINK better; to
> PONDER better; to READ better and more; to WRITE more, then better;
> to SHARE more and then READ some more; IMAGINE ourselves winning
> races; ENTER some races; dislocate a few hips; push our knees to
> the limit and fight through the pain of pushing our limits. Most of
> the time we live in envy of those who 'have' instead of asking how
> they got it and putting together a plan for how we too can push our
> limits of achievement. We fear the unknown and usually avoid it.
>
> Tomorrow morning I'm having a talk with Betty (my girls bike with
> the basket on front) about our mediocre performances. We can DO
> BETTER. We may not be Lance Armstrong, but Betty and I are just
> five years older than Cliff Young when he began his overnight climb
> (I mean five day climb) to the top and I think we can DO better.
> If Cliff can run 600 miles with shin splits and a dislocated hip,
> Betty and I can surely do one more lap around the Big Circle or
> stop needless spending or read more scriptures or do better home
> teaching - in fact I can't think of anything I can't do better.
>
> Anyone join me?
>
> Bro Jim