We are assigned to the Laie Young Single Adult 1st Stake (formerly called BYU-Hawaii 1st Stake) and the Laie YSA 2nd Ward.
The Stake President, Art Hannemann, announced a few weeks ago that by the 4th of Nov we were to have a non-member identified (after sincere prayer) that we would like to share the gospel with. I have had someone in mind for about 6 months. And then we are to invite them to come to church with us this week, Nov 11th.
Here's my story:
This past summer we lived in the beach house at Jana Gaynors (Janagators) in Laie, between Temple Beach and Hukilau Beach. I was quite dedicated at getting up around 5am to go out and "run" on the beach. I didn't do the same route all the time; but it always involved running between Temple Beach and Malaekahana Beach and beyond, sometimes up to 5 miles on the beach. I have had a number of great adventures during my runs; but the one I want to share now has to do with a lady I met regularly on the beach during my runs. She was Asian but I wasn't sure where. I thought maybe Cambodia or maybe China. We became friends and we tried to communicate but neither of us understood the other. I thought from what I thought she said that she was just living on the beach and perhaps moved from one beach to another when they closed it down each week. Though we didn't walk or run together we always smiled big and waved. I tried to befriend her little dog too but he was not interested in being friends. One morning we had passed by each other a couple of times as we both went back and forth along the beach and then I stopped by our house to talk to Eric Orr who was on the beach by our house getting ready to go out Kite boarding. She waved again and passed by us; then she came right back and was carrying a silver fish shining in the morning sun. She said "alive, it's alive" She asked if I wanted it as she started to hand it to me. I said I don't know how to cook it, give it to Eric. Reluctantly she handed it to Eric and as I started to take her picture she took off to continue her journey.
The next day I thanked her for the fish and she said something like; "I give it YOU" and I reassured her that I got to eat it. And I thanked her again for it.
Another day I noticed that she goes to the point at Malaekahana that is closest to Goat Island and as the sun came up she did her Tai Chi. So I asked if she would teach me and we did a little together and had a good time laughing together at how bad I was at it.
The beautiful sunrise we shared.
Another time I came around the point there and she was so very excited to tell me about something; but once again I couldn't understand her. Very frustrating! She was saying something like "Toe Toe" and hold her arms in a big circle and point to a spot on the sand and make lots of motions about something coming from the water, big, big, with something painted on its back. I thought she meant the big double hull "Iosoepa" that was going to dock there the next day and I told her I knew about that and it would be back again tomorrow, bla bla bla, which it's a good thing she didn't understand me. Then she told me about how she went and got the manager of the park and he came and helped cover up the Tur-tle eggs so the animals wouldn't come and eat them. Oohhh, Turtle, a very big Turtle. Very interesting, frustrating but also endearing time.
Since I had really worried about her and thought she had no home, I ask one of the Senior Sister Missionaries if she would like to come with me to walk on the beach and see if she could talk to her and find out if she is okay or if she needs something. So one day in August, Sister Lee and I went out walking at 5:30am to 6:45am; but we didn't see her. Even though it was only one day I was sad and kind of discouraged because I knew we would be moving soon. We went again the next day and there she was and so I sort of introduced them to each other and then of course Sister Lee took over. She found out that she speaks Cantonese and not Mandarin as I had thought. But she was able to talk to her okay and learned that she is fine; she works at Laie Chop Suey in the mornings because her son-in-law or son owns it and she helps out. I felt considerably better that she was fine and has 3 children and 5 or 8 grandchildren.
So those are a few of our experiences together. So now it's time for me to ask someone to attend church with us this Sunday. I could only think of her. Whatever I thought I knew I still wasn't very sure about it. Concerned and worried about it, I shared my thoughts and questions with Liz Wood, an intern that works in our office, who served a mission to Hong Kong. She said she eats at Laie Chop Suey a lot and talks to them and they are devout Buddhists and it wouldn't do any good to try and talk to them. It only strengthened my desire to give my friend something and try to invite her to either go to church or something. I told Lynn about it and that I would like to eat at Laie Chop Suey and try to talk to her. So we went there for dinner last night, Thursday night, and I inquired about her. I ask if the older lady that always walks on the beach was there and they said she only works in the morning from about 8am to noon or 12:30. She was nice and the lady said this is her husband, as an old Chinese man came out of the kitchen to sit at a table. Lynn and I went over and talked to him for a while and he speaks better English than his wife but we still didn't understand much. He definitely noticed our badges but didn't comment on them. I have no doubt he has seen them before.
So today, Friday, we went over to have lunch there but it was 12:30 when we got there. There was a young man working and I ask him about the old lady that walks on the beach and he said, "momma", she has just left a little bit ago and he said she would be back about 2pm. We were going to eat there again but decided not. So we went over to Taco Bell instead.
I had written a note to give to her. It was in English but I hoped she could get someone to read it to her. While I was waiting for 2:00 I decided to go over to the distribution center and buy some garments for Lynn (it had been on my list for months). This time I made it. While I was there I was perusing the shelf to see if there was anything that would be a good gift. My eyes rested on a Chinese Book of Mormon. I purchased it! Hummm I really need a little box to put it in...... idea...... there is an outdoor stand just past PCC that has woven baskets and purses, maybe they have a little woven Lauhua? box. That would be perfect. I carried the book up to the stand and ask if she had a little woven box that this would fit in. She didn't look too sure and then she ask if I was giving it to someone; I answered yes. Then she started looking thru some other bags and brought out the perfect little Laufala woven box, emptied out the contents, and ask it that would work. It was exactly what I had in mind. When I tried to pay her she just indicated that she wasn't charging me for it. I then started looking around to see if there was anything else that would be nice to put in the box. There was. A cute carved, polished turtle shell. How much? She held up 5 fingers. Perfect again. I was happy now. I put the precious Chinese Book of Mormon, the turtle dish, and the card in the box and off I went to deliver my gift to my friend.
Wrong again. The lady at the Laie Chop Suey said, "oh no, Momma only comes in the morning; once she leaves she doesn't come back." So I ask if I could take it to her home. (Same lady we talked to last night and maybe she is the owner/or owners wife.) Yes she just lives around the back of the shopping center and up the road, second house from the end. But she has dogs so you just stand out there and call "Die SON" and she will come out. I had ordered some crispy wontons and so I was waiting for them when "momma's" husband came out again. I told him we use to live on that street because I wasn't sure if they meant Puuahi or if they meant another street. Anyway, he kept looking at the box I held in my hands but of course didn't mention it. We made a little small talk; but not communicating very well. I tried to ask how long he lived there and he had trouble saying what he wanted to say, so I still don't know.
So after about 10 to 15 semi-uncomfortable moments I left, with my wontons for the office and my precious little box in hand. I was excited now and felt very good about my planned presentation. I learned that even though there is a 2-story gray house on Puuahi St near the stop sign now, that is not the right house; at least noone comes out when I called out. But one street over I found the house and the fence with a sign stating "beware of dogs". I did as instructed and yelled "Die SON", no response; again, "Die SON"; I stood there waiting with my woven box in hand. One more time "Die SON" and this time my friend came out of the door and her little dog, always at her feet, came too. A big familiar smile shined on her face and also on mine. She came to the chain link gate and we hugged over the top with three dogs barking in unison. It was a great reunion. I told her I moved to Hauula and I missed her. She agreed, she missed me also. I told her I had a gift for her as we transferred the woven box from my hands to hers. She started to open it resting it on the fence. I'm not sure why; but I motioned and told her to wait and open it inside. I asked her if the turtle eggs hatched, if they came out? but she sadly said no, she didn't see them again. So we talked some more and she told me about her 3 children and 8 grandchildren and all their names and where they lived. And I think one lives in Hauula and one she lives with and the other lives in "that" direction - not sure where. Anyway, I told her I would come see her again tomorrow. We waved and said good-bye several times and I'm still not sure if she knows whether I'm coming back tomorrow or never. Whether she comes to church doesn't really matter to me. She is my friend and I am her friend.
Well, I hope that she can and will read something in the Chinese Book of Mormon that will touch her heart. and will be even a closer friend than we are now. (to be continued.)
