Happy Coincidences

We had the choice of getting up early for 8:00 church. Traveling a little farther for 9:00 church.

Or sleeping in and going to 10:30 or 11:30 church. 

Three different buildings, four different time options.

We decided to sleep in and go to 11:30 church then go straight from there to our hike at Twin Falls.

We listened to a Sisters in Scriptures podcast on the way.

Ended up sitting across the aisle from good friends from home. 

They'd slept through their alarm so had to end up driving farther to get to church a later service.

What a great example of commitment.

The service was sweet. The opening prayer was one of the most simple and profound I've heard.

"We are grateful to be here. To be able to step out of the world for a few minutes today."

"Bless those who aren't here. We know thou has a plan for them."

A gentleman gave a talk and said he hadn't given a talk for over 40 years. 

Keeping his thoughts in a straight line was clearly difficult for him. 

But they'd asked and he'd said yes. He spoke about praying before he read the scriptures and what a difference that made.

He said Isaiah was difficult and he could never remember what he read. Even Nephi admitted his own people had difficulty with Isaiah. But it was important.

This was a concept Chris and I were just discussing last week. 

I found it inspirational that it would be confirmed through this talk at church.

After the service, Marty recognized a man and his daughter. 

Turns out their family (including his wife) visited Japan last year when they were considering a move, and taken Marty and his companion out to dinner -- twice! 

Marty invited them to our BBQ dinner that night.

After church we went to pizza in Paia and then to Twin Falls.

What is generally a fantastic hike to several gentle waterfalls into calm pools where

we cliff jump and swim, was this week raging torrents of  muddy water!

We walked to Twin Falls and another fall up higher but the rest of the road was closed

due to flash flood danger. 

Short, but fun to be out and about.

As we left, the McBride's called to confirm they could come to dinner. 

I snapped a photo of Marty speaking Japanese to Tee McBride. It was so fun to hear him have a long conversation! I think its our first time hearing him speak a lot rather than just phrases!

The McBrides came just at sunset and brought a delicious dessert of almond custard topped with mango and lilikoi. Along with fresh apple fritters. Turns out Tee is a chef for the Japanese dishes at an upscale resort here.

Tee speaks mostly Japanese so Marty, Jason and their daughter Sonya translated when needed. But that didn't stop us at all from sharing stories, getting to know each other and laughing.

They were a friendly, fun family and we loved getting to spend the evening with them! They're moving to Nakatsu to be closer to Tee's family and opening a bed and breakfast. We're looking forward to visiting them again some day when we go back to Japan!!

What a happy coincidence that we ended up at their ward!! 

Tonight's movie after the McBride's went home was Guardians of the Galaxy 2. 

So sad that we go home tomorrow!!