Stephen and Elaine served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Honolulu Hawaii Mission with special assignment to the Counseling Center at BYU-Hawaii in La'ie on the northshore of Oahu. We served for 23 months from September 2007 until August 2009. Stephen served as a mental health and academic counselor and taught courses in student development. Elaine served at the front desk and office manager for the center. We worked with students from 72 different countries. We held groups in communication skills and family and marriage development for students. We were assigned to the BYU 5th married ward where we taught the family relations class and worked with the relief society and the elder's quorum. Twice a week we volunteered at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) as greeters at the various Luaus and restaurants. We traveled to Big Island (Hawaii), Maui, and Kauai, and enjoyed staying at the Hale Koa (military hotel) at Wikiki Beach. We enjoyed snorkeling, walking on the beautiful beaches, and seeing the wonderful sights. We loved our mission and felt that the opportunity to bless, counsel with, and support these wonderful students from all over the world was a tremendous opportunity and learning experience for us. There is nothing better than to be engaged in the work of lifting souls and bringing them unto their Savior, Jesus Christ.
