This afternoon Nina and I along with a number of other missionaries in the Laie Zone met with our new mission president and his wife for a couple of hours. In the Church News article about President Bekker’s call, they had this to say:

James Henry Bekker, 60, and Delsie Anne Johansen Bekker, five children, Neff’s Canyon Ward, Salt Lake Mount Olympus Stake: Hawaii Honolulu Mission, succeeding President Stephen R. Warner and Sister Elizabeth Warner. Brother Bekker serves as a YSA adviser and is a former stake president, bishop, stake executive secretary and missionary in the Japan Tokyo Mission. Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, University of Utah School of Dentistry. Born in Salt Lake City to Henry Bekker and Louise Thomas Bekker Neel.

Sister Bekker serves as a stake Relief Society president and temple ordinance worker and is a former ward Relief Society president, and ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidency counselor. Born in Salt Lake City to Johan Armand Johansen and Hildur Fluge Johansen.

They, of course, are just wonderful people and will be a delight to serve under here in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. President Bekker is very soft spoken … but a very powerful speaker. His wife NEVER stops smiling. She has the most beautiful, broad smile and always seems genuinely happy to see and greet their missionaries.

We later met them again at the Polynesian Cultural Center where they came to take the 6:20pm Laie Tram Tour over to the Temple Visitors’ Center. They got to see first hand how this entire operation goes each evening. They’ve been making a whirlwind tour of the mission and I’m certain they’ll be right ready this evening to collapse into bed. We’re delighted that they are here. We’ll certainly miss President and Sister Warner. The Lord’s work here in Hawaii continues!

Ta ta for now!