Things don't always go as we hope.....

Area: Honolulu, Oahu
Companion:  Elder Carter

Hey Mom hows it going things are going pretty good.  I'm not getting transferred.  I was kinda not happy when I heard that.....still not all that happy.  I kinda wanted to be transferred.  It's hard having 4 Elders in the same ward, but ya know its all right I guess.  I get through it.  I hope that Dada had  a Happy Fathers Day and Happy Birthday Mom.

I have little time, but this last week was pretty good.

Ok love you guys cya later!

Elder Shoemaker

Transfers are next week and a little golfing......

Area: Honolulu, Oahu
Companion:  Elder Carter

So I don't have a ton of time right now, because someone reserved my computer at the library.  Transfers are in a week from now, so not quite yet.  .....And yes I did get your letters and stuff.  We are gonna go golfing up on Fort Shafter with the senior missionary couple today for p-day, hopefully it should be fun.   We did find some new people to teach this week,  their names are Shiano and Rockie.   Yea but it sounds like you guys having fun at cousins camp.   We helped some people move this week lifted some heavy stuff, but overall we had a pretty good week.  People fed us a lot.  We're eating with a Samoan family tonight named the Ulimas.  He said he was gonna make tons of food so that should be nice.  Ok well I have to go so cya guys later.

Love you guys
Elder Shoemaker

Livin' the Life of a Hawaiian Missionary

Area: Honolulu, Oahu
Companion:  Elder Carter

Hey how's everyone doing! So this last week was pretty nice. Found some new investigators and talked with a lot of Chuukese and some Marshallese.  The new investigators that we found were all Filipino because there are a lot of them around here that's why.  We had dinner with the Whacters last night. I forgot to tell you guys but our ward covers a lot of military people as well.  Like a lot of Navy guys and this place called Fort Shafter.  Yea dinner last night was pretty fun.  Bro and Sister Whacter are both crazy so its pretty fun to talk with them.

I went on a hike this morning.  It was nice and muddy and really wet.  It was pretty fun jumping on rocks and all that stuff. I  met some people at the top and I think they should have sent you a picture, because for some reason I cant seem to find my camera so I didn't bring it.  I'm sure It will show up some where though.

It's nice how Landon had a chance to graduate, that's so great for him. I went on exchanges with a guy from the Marshall Islands.  His name is Elder Seramai.  He's really quiet most of the time, but it was still fun.  These are some pictures that we took while on our exchange.

I heard some people speaking Marshallese so I turn around and I decided to go talk to them.  We go over and Elder Seramai talks to them and it turns out that she was a member but that she was less active.   So that was pretty friggen nice.  Then we went to dinner with a military family.  Then Elder Seramai has an Aunt that lives at KPT who he hasn't seen in a while so we go and visit.  She was so excited, but without even asking us if we where hungry she just starts making us more food!  So can't like tell her to stop.....so we have a Micronesian favorite.  Just chicken and rice.  Sometimes I get sick of eating chicken and rice all of the time because you can't just eat the chicken.  You have to like dance with it so you can get all of the meat off of all the bones.  Anyway I was pretty full after that. 

We got our car fixed which took a little while.  So ya that's about it!

CYA guys in like 6 months and a few weeks or something like that.

Love Elder Shoemaker

Memorial Day in Hawaii

Area: Honolulu, Oahu
Companion:  Elder Carter

So ya this last week was pretty good.  Yesterday was Memorial Day so all of the library's were closed which we had to write home today.   We joined the Ward Choir.  Yesterday for p-day we went to this thing called Punchbowl in the morning.  It was like a memorial place for world war II people.  There was a service yesterday and the Mayor of Honolulu and I believe the Admiral of the Pacific Navy or something like that talked for a little bit.  Then they shot guns and stuff.  There was a band that played and sang.  It was pretty cool.  We were combined with Honolulu Zone to go to that.

Then after we went to the zoo!  I forgot to bring my camera inside, so I don't have any pictures but its ok. The monkeys where pretty much the coolest part.  Oh ya and it was right next to Waikiki beach so that's not good either haha. 

We had kind of a hard time with our investigators this last week.  We need to find new investigators really bad.  Its really hard especially since we have the Zone Leaders in our ward.  They get most of the referrals in the ward.  Our car is also making weird sounds, so took it in and the brake pads are pretty much toast on that thing.  I don't really know what going to happen with the car.

I have got to get going....

but love you guys and cya later! 

Elder Shoemaker

those guys gonna shoot dem guns

this is me and some gigantic women

that's a cool looking picture

this is stairs

this is all dem flags that the boy scouts put out

World War II grave -- check out the last name?

this is Honolulu from Punchbowl

Companion shaving

Life is Good

Area: Honolulu, Oahu
Companion:  Elder Carter

Hey everyone this last week has been pretty good.  Got a few things done, but other then that not a lot.  Yes, all of our investigators at this time are not really progressing all that much so were thinking that we probably need to find some other investigators as well.  We are working on that.  I don't really know what where going to be doing for p-day today, but honestly life is good and all that good stuff!

 

Love ya!

Elder shoemaker!

There seems to be a pattern here.....

Area: Honolulu, Oahu
Companion:  Elder Carter

Hey mom how is it going?  So I forgot to tell you that I need new glasses probably.  The old ones broke, I'm not sure if they where the right prescription any ways because they always hurt my eyes. I actually slept pretty good last night!  After we did FaceTime I decided that I needed some sleep so I went back took a nap and all that stuff.  The Suda's invited us over for dinner that night, so we went back. They always feed us. If we ever come over they always feed us. They are really kind to us.

Yeah so none of our investigators came to church. Boo! Which is kinda sad, but I bet it was pretty nice for them cuz they got to sleep in!  8am church just doesn't work very well for people in Hawaii.

Elder Carter is pretty nice.  He has a lot of patience, which is pretty nice.  We're are working with a few more investagtors --- the "T" family, two Marshallese girls named Brooke and Nala, a Chuukese/Samoan girl named Shayan, a Chuukese family named the "I" family, this kid named NJ , this guy named Pumba, and this guy named Patrick!  Got all that?

The "T" family is a really nice family, they have two daughters and a son that has a disability. We are currently teaching one of the daughters and the son.   I don't know if the son is really accountable for any of his decisions..... They did come to church last Sunday but didn't come yesterday.  We have a really hard time meeting with them because the Mom only really likes us teaching the kids only if she is there and she doesn't do a very good job at coordinating with us when shes open or not.  It makes it really hard. We always call and text her, but sometimes she doesn't pick up the phone or text back!  I just have to realize that it's completely out of my control.  I know that the daughter will eventually be baptized, its just a matter of time.

We invited Brooke and Nala and their Mom to church this last Sunday but guess what?  They didn't show!  (8am church?)  The Mom said yea we will be there, but didn't see them. We will just continue to teach them and hope they change.  They are all Marshallese, but speak English pretty well.  Sometimes the girls don't wear modest clothes, but again that pretty much out of my control too!  That will come with time hopefully.

Shayan is Zashalynns cousin (the girl we just baptized).   She's like 11 maybe.  Shes pretty nice and always says hi to me.  I asked her if she wanted to be baptized she said yes.  Her Mom is less active Chuukese lady.   They live next to the Suda's.  She's already been to church like once before.   We need to get the Mom more involved with the whole process.  Once she's on board then all will be good -- I'm pretty sure.  The Mom is pretty nice and seems interested.   We also invited them to church for last Sunday.  They said they would come, but they didn't come. 8am church?  It's a pattern.

The "I" family lives at KPT.  The Mom wanted us to come and teach her children. "J" is 9 and "D" is 12.  "D" is already baptized, but "J" is not.  Sometimes I feel when we teach "J" he's not really listening.  This family is Chuukese as well.  We haven't been able to teach them for a little while because we have to teach with the Mom present, which is fine. I understand that.  I try to call her though and ask if we can come and she tells me tomorrow.....but she wants to me to call again before we come over.  Then she just doesn't answer the phone or answer my texts.   Then we try to knock on the door and no one answers the door even though we can hear the tv on inside.  They also said that she was going to come to church but guess what?!.......They didn't! ......but you know its all G.  I know that Heavenly Father loves all of his children.

NJ is pretty nice kid and he lives in a pretty ghetto area called Banister.  We found him while we where tracting.   He likes video games and kendama.   This guy lives with him and his Mom.  We found out that this guy is less active member that was baptized in Samoa, but when he came to Hawaii he never went to church.  We first talked to him as he was smoking a dooby by the river.  The Mom really wanted us to teach her son NJ and the guy that lives with them liked it too.  We invited them to church and they said that they would come.  We even got members that lived right across the road to give them a ride to church. .......but guess what?! they didn't come to church - not even in the parking lot. But ya know its all G. we just keep on trying and I know that the plan of salvation is real and that someday hopefully they will choose the gospel!

Patrick is this Samoan guy that we met while tracting the other day.  He's really cool and nice.  He likes basketball and rugby and is in his mid 20's.  He works a lot, so we haven't really had a chance to follow up with him.  Many of his family are members of the church, so we will see where that goes.

Pumba is also somebody who we met with once before, but haven't really had a chance to follow up with him.  We met him at a less active family's house.  He's around 18 and loves basketball.  He's also Samoan. He's a pretty nice guy.  He said that he would us to come and teach him.  We are trying to set up a time with him, but he's at point in his life with graduation and all that end of the school stuff that he's pretty busy with a lot of things.  We will follow up with him.

I bought a board game at savors the other day.  It was Stratego or something like that.  Elder Carter and I played once and I won.

I bought Landon a kendama already so I'll see if I can send it in the mail.

So.............ya...................Boyaaaah!

Love Elder Shoemaker

FaceTime Chat with Elder Shoemaker for Mother's Day - May 11, 2014

Teaching up a Storm and a Marriage Proposal

Area: Honolulu, Oahu
Companion:  Elder Ewar

​Hey everyone how are you guys doing?

This last week was pretty nice we were able to get 20 lessons this last week.  Such a blessing! Transfers are this Wednesday and I will be staying and Elder Ewar will be leaving.  Even though I'm ready for a new companion....I know that I will miss Elder Ewar.   My new companion is Elder Carter.  Believe it or not he's from North Logan!!  I have met him like once before so I know who he is.  He speaks Marshallese and that will be helpful because at KPT there are a lot of people from the Marshall Islands.

Yes, Mothers Day is this following Sunday, Mom!

We were finally able to get some of our investigators to church.  The "T" family.  I sat with their special needs son during primary it was pretty fun.  Funner then being in Elders Quorum.  So that's super duper nice.

We keep on running into this old lady named "M".  She's from the Philippines and like 77 years old.  It was funny as Elder Ewar and I were walking down the road and she's like..... "Your more handsome then him".....in a Filipino accent.  She's kinda freaky and asks where we live and always looks at us as we walk by.  She said that she wanted me to marry her grand daughter.  I'm probably not gonna do that.

Chuukese are really quick to laugh at something and can kinda be a little rude at times.  Like for example. we were with a Chuukese family just about to teach them and on of the young daughters lets gas loose really loud....haha.   Everyone in the room is laughing at her pretty bad.  One of the Chuukese girls makes a comment that maybe they need to sew her pants after that and the little girl starts to cry because everyone is laughing at her.

I feel like I'm really eating a lot...like every night so I'm getting kinda fat hehe, its all G though ya know.

We have 8 new investigators this week!!  With Elder Ewar leaving it will be harder teaching the Chuukese people, but I do know a little bit of Chuukese not a whole lot though.  Can't do conversation only know a couple words.

Yea well I love you guys have a good week and all that.  I will probably call you or something before Mothers Day and tell you what time I will be calling ....so ya!

kinisou chapur

kene nom

Love Elder Shoemaker

this is kendama and stuffs

this is the Hernandez family one of the nicest family's in our ward

this is KPT @ night