Baptism on Lanai

We got a chance to go on the Maui - Lanai Passenger Ferry!  We've been booking these rides for our missionaries but have not had the occasion to go ourselves.  We decided to accept the invitation from the Lanai Sisters, Rosales and Van de Venter and go over for the baptism for Esau.  It was a fun adventure that I'm glad we didn't miss.

We were picked up at the Ferry from a member family the Siligas.  They were so kind to come and get us and take us into town and to the chapel where the baptism started.  The chapel just looks like a house and it is a very old building.  The sisters live in a tiny little apartment on the back of the chapel.  At this time they were being moved out because their housing had some black mold and it needed to be repaired.  

The Chapel

Sister Rosales and Sister Van de Venter

 After the service we all loaded up in cars and drove back down to the beach for the baptism.  It was very cool to witness an ocean baptism.  So rare! So beautiful! 

 

Esau and the Sisters

Esau and his family

The Lanai Branch

We were so proud of our Sisters!

This was Sister Van de Venters last baptism as she would finish her mission at the end of this transfer and it was Sister Rosales' first baptism as she had been on Lanai for the first 3 months of her mission.  

Uncle Larry walked us around down by the beach and showed us some of the amazing views and talked story about the island .  He has lived here a very long time and knew a lot about Lanai!

After the baptism they set up food on a few tables by the beach.  The food was fabulous and brought by everyone.  Uncle Jimmy was another person we met, he is a former branch president and he works for Larry Ellison, who owns the island and he had a lot to tell us.  We had a great time at the beach and then we headed with the sisters and uncle Jimmy back toward town and then Jimmy gave us a little tour of everything.  He told us lots of stories about the island and showed us some beautiful places. He sang for us when were by a beautiful pond and it was so fun. 

We had the best day with our sisters and learning about this beautiful island.  Seeing what their day was like, what their tracting area was like and we got to ride their bicycles into town.  We also met a former missionary who had returned to Lanai after his mission and now lived and worked there.  Such a wonderful day and then we took the ferry home, watching the whales jump along the way as the sun set.