The Maui Girls have returned yet again from Hawaii. This is our third trip together and my fourth trip to Hawaii. I never tire of its beauty or of how refreshed I feel when I return. My face and back are sunburned inspite of a generous slathering of SPF30 everytime I was at the beach, but now that I'm back, it's pretty cool to be one of the few people in Springville with a tan!
One of my favorite activities was going to church. A large part of the congregation in sacrament meeting with Americans visiting the island. But during Sunday School and Relief Society, I got to enjoy the wonderful spirit of the Polynesians. I've always said I didn't think I could live on an island, but after going to church there, I think I could do it. The lessons were basic but so full of pure testimony. Relief Society was held in the cultural hall. The teacher held a portable mic and had a podium and a chalkboard to teach with. No table cloth, no centerpiece, very minimal visual aids, but the power of her lesson was so strong because she taught with the spirit and testimony of her topic. I was so well fed.
Another thing I tried to do was enjoy the beauties of the earth. In Hawaii it isn't hard to do, believe me. In every direction there is something beautiful. But I tried to notice more than could be seen in a quick glance. I watched a spider spin an intricate and beautiful web. Each day it got larger and larger. It was an architectural masterpiece I watched the sand as the waves retreated. Thousands of small holes appeared with bubbles coming out. One day I sat in a tide pool and watched all the little fish and such do their thing. It's all stuff one might miss if you only look at the ocean. Not only were the fish beautiful, but the ocean floor when I snorkeled was a pattern of beauty, too. I tried to stay in one spot and watch the sand and the affect the waves had it. Of course I watched the whales every morning and every night. I can never get enough of their breaching and spouting. One of the most beautiful things I saw was a grandma making sand castles for her little grandson.She was experiencing pure joy and so was he. I'm so grateful I had another opportunity to be grateful for God's creations, large and small.
