What a week of contrasts!

What an incredible week of contrasts and new experiences.  (We arrived 7 days ago)   I (Leon) began the week trying to remember all the last minute responsibilities that I needed to turn over to other very capable assistants at the hatchery.  Safety committee recertification forms, purchase ordering procedures, breeder flock management details, and advertising contracts to keep us on par for our monthly hatching goal of 1 ½ million, or 18 million chicks for 2016.  And by week’s end I was learning the details of how to check all the supplies needed on my janitorial cart and the +/- 20 procedures to perform when servicing one of the dozen public restrooms on this giant hotel complex called the Haggai Institute.

We temporarily have replaced our “homeland” of the continental U.S. with the island of Maui, about the size of our county of Bucks in Pennsylvania.   Our family including 11 grandchildren ages 2-12 has been temporarily replaced with a “family” of 20 or so other retirees like ourselves.  Our 2-story Quakertown home of 4-bedrooms has been replaced by a hotel room with a small fridge and microwave on the 3^rd floor.  But don’t get me wrong, we’re not complaining!  It’s just different, and we are enjoying the change.  

We spoke Sunday for the first time by phone with each of our 3 children.  We attended a local, vibrant Christian fellowship for the morning worship service.  Later in the day one of our coworkers invited us along us on a public bus trip to a quaint, historic beach town (Lahaina) on the northern coast. It was the original capital of the kingdom of Hawaii.   One of the things to see there is the largest banyan tree in Hawaii.  It covers 2/3 of an acre, is 50 feet high and has 16 trunks located in front of the nearly 200-year-old courthouse!

Our workdays are becoming somewhat routine but can vary from day to day.  However, I am wondering when my muscles will stop being surprised by some of the duties they are being called upon to perform on a regular basis!   Karen and I are trying to speed up the getting-into-shape process by spending a half hour before breakfast in the amply outfitted exercise room here at the institute.

Karen looking forward to flight-time
at Newark 

Karen reflecting on how far away Maui seems from Pennsylvania

Leon in his "undercover boss" disguise

Karen trying to figure out how to get a
suntan while vacuuming

16-trunk Banyan tree in Lahaina

Anniversary dinner by the ocean

Watching the sunset (on #46) as we embark on year number 47 together.

Monday was our 46^th wedding anniversary and at the suggestion of some of our fellow volunteers who are on their 6^th – 8^th stints here at H*gg*i we made dinner reservations at a beautiful nearby [Mana Kai Maui] resort.