Two students will spend 18 months here serving the Mormon Church
Published in the December 20 – January 2, 2018 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Sister Lindsey Malia Wong and Sister Kapiolani Maka
Sister Kapiolani Maka and Sister Lindsey Malia Wong are serving on their Mormon mission in Morgan Hill. They enjoy the community and said to say hi if you see them. Photo by Robert Airoldi
Some of you may have seen some young adults walking or biking around, they come in sets of two, have black name tags, and are always in church attire. Those, my dear reader, are missionaries. They are representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and dedicate 18 months to two years serving those around them.
These missionaries are not from Morgan Hill. In fact, they come from all around the world. So if you see us, please share with us the little hidden treasures in this small town. We’ve only been here for about two months, but we have loved every minute of it. While we have met a few unpleasant people and gotten doors slammed in our faces, the majority of the population is so kind and welcoming.
For example, just this week my companion and I were shopping at Wal-Mart and Target and at both stores individuals came up to us at the register, thanked us for our service, and paid for our entire transactions. Our hearts were touched at their generosity. Now, some might say these acts of kindness happen just because it’s the season to give, but we would say otherwise. There is something special about this town and community that you just can’t feel anywhere else.
While our purpose is to teach and serve people, we have also learned. We are taught so much in every area we serve in. From Morgan Hill we have learned the importance of community involvement. We were privileged to participate in the annual community Christmas concert and were touched at how well the community came together to bring forth the Christmas spirit. It was comforting to see that while there is a lot of craziness in this world, the goodness truly does outweigh the bad. Among other things we’ve also discovered this place has without a doubt the best parks, the tastiest food, and the coolest backgrounds for photo shoots. From the people, we’ve been inspired by the work ethic and level of class we have come across. Coming from Alaska and Utah, both relatively cheap places, we’ve been amazed at the extents people have had to put themselves through to survive financially. In Alaska everyone gets paid to live there. So you can bet it was a huge shock to see the sacrifices people make here just to live in an area with the best weather. Nevertheless, it has been inspiring to say the least; this town is full of hard workers.
Thank you for the warm smiles, weird looks, engaging conversations, but most importantly sharing your hometown with us. While Morgan Hill is very quiet and can at times feel deserted, we’ve found that the most special parts of this place lie within the hearts of the people. It has made an impact on us “young people” and is a place we will always remember for the rest of our lives. Again, thank you for sharing your home with us. And don’t forget to say hi next time you see us strolling the streets!
Sister Lindsey Wong, 19, was raised in Clam Gulch, a small town in Alaska. She enjoys spending time with family and playing sports. After her mission she plans to back to Brigham Young University where she will continue studying finance. Sister Kapiolani Maka, 20, was born in Dallas, Texas raised in West Jordan, Utah. In her spare time she loves to be with her family, play rugby, and perform with her Polynesian dance group. Her greatest passion, singing, lead her to try out for American Idol in 2012. She will continue to chase her dreams after the mission.
