Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Adams Say Aloha

On Sunday, July 26, Dave and Bonnie Adams stepped from their SkyWest flight and into the loving arms of four of their five children, all 13 of their grandchildren and several friends from the Bloomington 7th Ward concluding an 18-month mission to the Hawaii Honolulu Mission.

Since January 2008 when Elder and Sister Adams arrived on the island of Oahu, their main assignment at the world renowned Polynesian Cultural Center involved overseeing the home and chapel at the Mission Settlement. The Mission Settlement is comprised of three buildings, including the mission home, the chapel and the school house which were built as replicas of the structures built by missionaries in the 1850’s. The Adams' were also responsible for assigning other missionaries for hosting which involved greeting people from all over the world. In this assignment, Elder and Sister Adams had the opportunity to explain the great impact LDS, Congregationalists and Catholic missionaries had on the island people. In addition to their other responsibilities, the Adams’ managed the souvenir shop which featured a large array of handmade items on sale to visitors. Bonnie worked closely with island women and other missionaries in the creation of such merchandise as pillowcases, pin cushions, small Hawaiian quilts as well as the preparation of quilt kits, patterns and many other handmade items. Dave also procured and distributed ukeleles for sale to the guests in many areas of the PCC. Funds raised in the souvenir shop were then donated to BYU-Hawaii to fulfill some of the schools needs.

"We particularly loved working with the students," notes Bonnie. "My most meaningful job was as the Relief Society homemaking counselor in one of the three campus stakes while Dave served on the stake high council where he trained student ward mission leaders and coordinated missionary discussions with the young full-time missionaries. He also assisted in convert baptisms within the stake."

The Adams - who got to the beach only once in 18-months - had little opportunity to travel to the outer islands because "we never had two days off in a row! We loved our service in Hawaii and it was hard to leave our Hawaiian family behind!"

While waiting in the Los Angeles International Airport for a connection to St. George, Bonnie Adams was approached by an attractive red-headed woman who asked if she might take a picture. Bonnie thought this woman was interested in the Hawaiian quilt she was working on until Karin Smith introduced herself as a member of the Bloomington 7th Ward and a nearby neighbor.

What’s next for the Adams? An extended visit to Springfield, Missouri is being planned so Bonnie can visit her 3 brothers and assess the needs of her 90-year-old father and her 87-year-old mother still living independently and in their own home.

"We also hope to have the chance to work at the temple in awhile," Bonnie notes. "And, if the opportunity ever presents itself, we’d like to serve another mission - but we haven’t told the kids yet!"

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