Thursday, July 5, 2012

Aloha to Tom and Jackie Malm

Tom and Jackie Malm began their 18-month mission – which their family and friends say is more like an extended vacation – to the Hawaii Laie Temple Mission in early June.  They spent a week in the MTC where each of them “gained about 10 pounds because our schedule was ‘work, eat, eat, work, eat, work, eat, and eat’.  In our two weeks of instruction we heard from Church leaders and Temple Presidents sharing stories about the brethren and about temple doctrine.  We treasured every moment of it.  That was worth the time and effort to serve a mission by itself!” notes Sister Malm.

The decision to serve a mission did not come easy, according to Elder Malm.  “We had lots of reasons why we couldn’t go.  In General Conference, Church leaders asked seniors to serve a mission, if they could.  Ed and Linda Sappington pleaded for help where they were . . . with no response from us because we didn’t think we could do it.  At Ward Conference Bishop Goldhardt and President Anderson made a presentation asking for seniors to consider going.  At the end of the meeting, we looked at each other and said, ‘let’s do it!’”
We submitted our papers, wanting the Lord to know we would go anywhere and do anything.  We put down our Church and Temple experience and thought we would be called to a Spanish speaking area.  We bought Spanish programs and started to study together.  Then the call came.  Jackie found me in a planning meeting in the Temple where I did the Toyota jump.
After meeting with the temple president in Laie, we knew for certain why we had been called to this beautiful place.  President Workman told us they had prayed us here and as he spoke, he used the same words we had put on our paper work.  The Spirit bore witness to us and we were humbled.  We have been in leadership roles for several years in The St. George Temple but feel totally unprepared for this.  It is a huge responsibility with special challenges. We have faith the Lord will help us.
This week our ward here in Laie will host a Hukilau.   The town’s people come to the beach and put out huge nets. Everybody helps pull the nets in full of fish( sometimes) then they have a fish fry and party.  Our Church people here originated this as a fund raiser to build the first Chapel here in Laie, and it remains as a great tradition.”
The Malms are happy in their service and invite others to serve wherever the Lord has need for your skills and talents.

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