I really love to lead these tours to the different LDS Temples. It’s a whole different spin on the whole LDS Travel thing. The main purpose is to visit the Temples. Some of you can understand how when you take forty strangers and take them all through a session at an LDS Temple and then they are fast friends. The spirit does remarkable things.
We only lead 3-4 LDS Temple Trips a year. My husband and I have real jobs so this is just something we do because we feel compelled to. It’s something that has strengthened our family tremendously. There are so many people that have sacrificed so many worldly comforts just to go to the temple once. All of us feel so blessed to be able to visit so many of these beautiful places.
Tomorrow morning we are leaving on our first ever LDS Temple Cruise. We’ll be on Norwiegen Cruise Lines with 61 of our funnest friends. When I get back, I’ll let you know how it goes. Until then Aloha
We arrived in Honolulu in two different groups. Rob and I were with the group that flew directly. It didn’t take long to find our transfers and get everyone on the bus to Laia. We stayed and the Laia Inn. It isn’t the newest hotel, and there are chickens and toads on the grounds, but the staff is very friendly and helpful. Also, it is just blocks away from the temple and shares a parking lot with the Polynesian Cultural Center. After we got the first group settled and some food for them. Rob and I started back in the rental van to help pick up the second group. We found them with our bus and got them all settled to make the hour drive over to Laia. We then got them settled and fed. We were all happy to finally make it on that long flight. The next day, at 7:15 Rob started shuttling people over to the Temple. Our large group was part of the 8:00 and 9:00 sessions. That temple is awesome. Then at 12:30 people started going over to the Cultural Center. Everyone enjoyed themselves throughout the day in the different villages and watching the long canoes at 2:30. At 5:00 we started to gather for our Luau. The dancers and the food was great. Then it was time for the show. All kinds of performers and dancers. I liked the fire dancers the best! When the show was over, we got to walk over and go straight to bed. Rob fired up the van for a few who needed a ride, but we were all settled before 11:00.
The next day was Saturday the 1st of November. For those who didn’t get enough of the Temple in Laie, Rob took whoever wanted to go, to the 7:00 am session. He finally got to go himself. The transport truck came for everyone’s luggage, and we began to load it all up. When Rob and the other’s got back, we were starting to load up. We loaded up all the luggage and then started to load up the large 63 passanger bus. Yes, we all just fit. The weather was fantastic and some of us enjoyed the morning to walk across the street and walk along the beach and dip our toes in the ocean. But, now it was time to head to our ship.
Our bus driver gave us an entertaining run down of all we saw as he drove. Hawaii is truely a beautiful place. When we came to the harbor it was just about noon. So, we started the process of getting everyone all checked in. There were a few lines, but as soon as we got on the ship all was well. They were handing out orange juice and drinks to everyone coming on the ship. Our group enjoyed the Orange Juice. They served lunch on the 11th floor, and we waited there until our rooms were ready for us.
