Service Missionaries

Serving as a Senior PCC Missionary or Volunteer

Intro to senior service missionaries		A tremendous contribution, a rich heritage
Current PCC service missionaries		Openings for service missionaries
How else can I help?		Additional information

Many people are familiar with the sight of young missionary representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly called the Mormons), which founded Brigham Young University Hawaii in Laie, Oahu, in 1955 and the adjacent Polynesian Cultural Center in 1963.

There are thousands of Latter-day Saint missionaries serving in over 170 countries around the world. They normally work in pairs, the young men wearing dark suits and ties (or white shirts and ties in warmer climates) and the young women dressing modestly all the time. Some may be seen riding bicycles between appointments.

They serve voluntarily at their own (or family's) expense, the men for two years and the women for 18 months. Depending on where they serve, they may have to learn another language. They usually spend a half-day a week taking care of personal affairs, including laundry and letter-writing, and another half-day rendering organized community service. The rest of the time they attempt to share their beliefs with those who wish to listen.

"Senior missionaries"

You may be less familiar, however, with the Church's program for "senior missionaries" -- older, retired couples and individuals who also serve voluntarily (i.e. non-paid) at their own expense around the world for periods ranging from six months to two years. Like their younger counterparts, there are thousands of senior Latter-day Saint missionaries currently serving.

Some teach and share their Latter-day Saint beliefs, but many are more appropriately called "service missionaries" because they lend their professional expertise and work experience to a wide variety of Church-affiliated activities, including health care, retired military relations, auditing, education, family history (or genealogy), security, farm management, music, materials management, physical facilities and construction, public affairs, temples, family services, humanitarian services, employment resources, and welfare.

Unlike their younger counterparts, senior service missionaries usually have assigned responsibilities and schedules, with days off in which they are free to enjoy themselves and pursue personal activities.

Senior Missionaries at PCC

There are currently over 30 full-time Latter-day Saint service missionaries at the Polynesian Cultural Center. They are involved in helping with:

Motor pool	Physical Facilities	Agriculture
Food Services	Air conditioning	Warehouse
Operations	Business Office	Farm
Wardrobe	Finance	Internal Auditing
Human Resources	Information Systems	Guides
Islands	Maintenance	Islands Handicrafts
Safety and First Aid	Hawaii Mission Settlement

There are also about 24 "educational missionaries" and volunteers serving at BYU-Hawaii. For example retired professors teach classes, while others work as administrators, counselors, career placement, office and in other staff positions. There are also service missionaries at the Laie Hawaii Temple, the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center, and the Laie Family History Center. For a list of most of the service missionaries and volunteers in Laie...

A tremendous contribution, a rich heritage

In short, LDS service missionaries make a tremendous contribution wherever they are assigned.

"They add an immense value here at the Polynesian Cultural Center," says President & CEO Von D. Orgill. "These faithful men and women have left behind comfortable retirement and homes, children and grandchildren, so they can come at their own expense and freely share their time and talents with us."

"Is it a sacrifice? Of course, but all of them feel like they've gained much more in return," President Orgill continues. "For example, Polynesians in general revere their kupuna or elders, so our senior missionaries quickly become important members of our larger, extended family and are enveloped in the aloha spirit of our young employees. They often become mentors to these young people, plus they enjoy each other's company and at least weekly meet with all the other senior missionaries in the area."

"Our current service missionaries are continuing a rich tradition at the Polynesian Cultural Center, that started in the South Pacific in the 1950s when our Church called 'labor missionaries' to help build chapels, schools and temples. LDS labor missionaries from throughout the Pacific and the U.S. mainland built BYU-Hawaii [which was called Church College of Hawaii from 1955-74] in two phases from 1955-1961, and then went on to build the Polynesian Cultural Center, which opened in October 1963. Many community members also volunteered their time to help build the PCC."

"We love our service missionaries and warmly appreciate all they do. Many of them tell me they feel this love every day while they're with us, so I know it's a special time and opportunity for them to serve here," President Orgill says. "We're very grateful for all they bring."

Current PCC service missionaries

LDS service missionaries currently at the Polynesian Cultural Center include:

Elder Terry and Sister Charlene Breit From Santa Maria, California. He is a retired mechanical engineer assigned to work in Physical Facilities, and she is a former office manager assigned to the Human Resources department. The Breits previously volunteered as senior service missionaries in the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.
Elder Gil and Sister Sherrie Craig From Ogden, Utah. He is assigned to in-Center marketing, and she divides her time between the administrative offices and the Hawaii Mission Settlement. The Craigs, owners of the international Taco Maker, Inc. Mexican fast food chain, retired in 2006. In addition to working in the family business, Sister Craig was a homemaker to their six children.
Elder Max and Sister Karen Dummar From Eagle, Idaho (formerly of Bellflower, California). He is serving in the Motor Pool and she is assigned to the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Dummar is on hiatus from a 45-year career as a high-pressure certified repairman and instructor, and Sister Dummar started her own wedding planning business after raising 11 children. This is their first mission together.
Elder Roger and Sister Beverly Eggett From Bountiful, Utah. He is assigned to Physical Facilities as a carpenter, and she works in the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Eggett worked for 41 years at the Salt Lake City International Airport as a construction manager, and in addition to homemaking, Sister Eggett worked in teaching, hospitality and at the Utah State Legislature.
Elder Bob and Sister Susan Gourley From Bountiful, Utah. They are assigned to the PCC Receiving Department. He is on hiatus from his own small industrial supplies business, and she retired from the Granite School District in Salt Lake City, Utah, after teaching elementary education for 21 years. They previously served as volunteer English teachers through a BYU Provo program in Guangzhou, China.
Elder John and Sister Carol Hansen From Bluffdale, Utah (near Salt Lake City). The couple is assigned to the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Hansen and Sister Hansen are both retired from Latter-day Saint Physical Facilities work. They previously served a one-year records preservation mission in Alabama, and he also served as a young man in southern Australia.
Elder Norm and Sister Lynette Haugen From West Point, Utah (near Ogden). They are assigned to the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Both retired from The Boeing Company after each working more than 20 years out of Hill Air Force Base near their home. Elder Haugen, who is originally from Norway, was a BYU–Hawaii student before the PCC was built and played on the basketball team.
Elder Steve and Sister Dawn Johnston From El Cajon, California (near San Diego). Elder Johnston, who retired after almost 40 years of being a heavy operating equipment mechanic and welder, is assigned to Physical Facilities as a welder; and Sister Johnson, a retired preschool and parent education teacher, works in Human Resources. This is their first mission.
Elder Don and Sister Charlene Kimball From Sandy, Utah (previously from the San Francisco Bay area). Elder Kimball, a retired CPA, is assigned to the Finance Office, and Sister Kimball divides her time between the Seamstresses and the Hawaii Mission Settlement. They previously served an inner-city mission in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Sister LaVelle Moss From Orem, Utah. Sister Moss is serving in the Hawaii Mission Settlement. She retired several years ago as an art education professor at BYU Provo, and then volunteered for a school year as an university English language teacher in Qingdao, China.
Elder Guy and Sister Carolee Newgren From Canby, Oregon (near Portland; formerly of San Jose, CA). Retiring in 1998 after 33 years with the San Jose Fire Department, the former battalion chief is assigned as the PCC's safety officer. Sister Newgren, who operated her own ballet school for 14 years, is assigned to the Islands Office. They previously served concurrent missions with LDS Family Services and then as coordinators for all service missionaries in Oregon and part of Washington.
Elder Marshall and Sister Jolene Ogden From central Idaho (formerly of Boise). They are assigned to the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Ogden is a retired podiatrist, and Sister Ogden is a retired surgical center Registered Nurse. They previously served as Church Educational System (CES) missionaries at Boise State University. As a young man, he also served as a missionary in Australia and Papua-New Guinea.
Elder Steven and Sister Linda Ord From Cottage Grove, Oregon. He works in accounting, and she divides her time between Wardrobe and the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Ord has primarily worked in the health care industry, the last seven years as a CFO before retiring in 2008.
Elder Arnold and Sister Kathy Palmer From Kingwood Texas. He's assigned to Human Resources, and she works in the mail room. Elder Palmer, who's originally from Laupahoehoe on the Big Island, retired about two years ago after a 37-year career in HR that included service in the Middle East. Sister Palmer has been a homemaker. They previously served a part-time mission at the Bishop's Storehouse in Houston, Texas.
Elder Kenneth and Sister Deena Rex From Bellflower, California. Elder Rex serves in Physical Facilities, and Sister Rex — who is part-Hawaiian — divides her time between the Islands Office in the morning, and the Hawaii Mission Settlement in the afternoon. He retired about three years ago as a general contractor; she owned a florist business for 15 years and was a homemaker.
Elder Bob and Sister Karen Teel From Pleasant Grove, Utah (and previously of Orange County, California). He is assigned to Maintenance and she works with the Seamstresses. Elder Teel recently retired from commercial real estate sales after a long career in engineering in California and Arizona. Sister Teel has been a homemaker to their eight children.
Sister Ann Watson From Laie, Oahu. She is serving her second mission at the Polynesian Cultural Center and is again assigned to the Food and Beverage area. Sister Watson is a retired Veteran's Administration personnel management specialist and also does research at the University of Hawaii School of Medcine on a voluntary basis.
Elder Delwin and Sister Linda Wilson From Ivins, Utah (near St. George). He is assigned to Maintenance, and she splits her time between the Seamstresses and Food & Beverage departments. Elder Wilson retired after working for over 26 years as a Latter-day Saint building maintenance mechanic in Ivins, and she spent the past 18 years as a custodial staff supervisor in the St. George Temple.

Current PCC Service Volunteers

In addition to the fulltime service missionaries, the following volunteers are currently serving at the PCC:

Keawe and Milly Enos from Laie: They are assigned to the Alii Luau, and Keawe also assists the carvers.
Earl and Lily Kahalahili from Kailua: They are assigned to the Hawaii Mission Settlement
Stuart and Emily Wolthuis from Makakilo: They are assigned to the Hawaii Mission Settlement

Current Openings for Service Missionaries at PCC

Openings for voluntary (non-paid) service missionaries at the Polynesian Cultural Center change from time to time. If you're interested, but don't see anything that fits your qualifications, you may want to check this site occasionally, or contact: John Muaina, Vice President of Human Resource, who coordinates the missionary efforts, phone 808-293-3005.

We currently have no openings: When openings exist, the spouse will be assigned to clerical or hosting duties at the PCC. The service period for each position is 12-18 months. Living expenses per couple are estimated between $2,000-$2,500 per month.

Missionary Archives

For information on missionaries who have completed their service with PCC, please visit our missionary archives.

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How else can I help?

First, everyone who purchases an admission and show or meal ticket, or anything from our online gift shop, is already helping the Polynesian Cultural Center fulfill our nonprofit purposes of supporting educational opportunities for students at Brigham Young University Hawaii.

Besides being a full-time service missionary, there are also several other possible ways you can help:

Full-time and/or Part-time "Volunteers"

In addition to full-time service missionaries, a number of LDS couples and single women serve at the PCC (or BYU-Hawaii) as either full-time or part-time "volunteers" (and are technically labeled as such, even though all service and other missionaries as well as "volunteers" voluntarily give their time and serve at no pay). While these volunteers are locally treated the same as service missionaries, there are several important distinctions:

Volunteers are not called by the LDS Church Missionary Department, although they may be called by local ecclesiastical leaders, or by the local coordinator.

Volunteers may take pre-approved time off from their assignments, and return to their homes or undertake other travel during the course of their service.

Volunteers have more flexibility in their length of service, whereas most service missionaries commit to 12, 18 or 24-month missions.

Volunteers are responsible for all of their own expenses, whereas the Church Missionary Department usually provides round-trip transportation for officially called service missionaries.

Like service missionaries, volunteers are also responsible for all of their living expenses and are not paid.

Some volunteers only serve a few hours a day

If you have particular skills you are willing to share, and you are interested in possibly becoming a "volunteer" at the Polynesian Cultural Center, contact: Leslie Steward, Assistant to the President and Missionary Coordinator, ph. 808-293-3021, for further information.

Make a Financial Contribution

Please consider making a financial contribution of any size to the Polynesian Cultural Center, The PCC is U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institution, and those who file U.S. income tax returns may claim charitable deductions to the Center.

LDS Philanthropies is the LDS Church-affiliated organization that oversees collecting contributions to both the Polynesian Cultural Center and Brigham Young University Hawaii. You can make a contribution online, or work with their staff on special arrangements or programmed giving.

Word-of-Mouth Promotion

If you have enjoyed the Polynesian Cultural Center experience, please recommend us to your friends and relatives who might be planning a vacation to Hawaii. Mahalo (thanks).

Additional information

Single women are eligible to become full-time service missionaries.

Single men cannot be called as service missionaries through the Church Missionary Department, but they can be called by local ecclesiastical leaders as "stake missionaries" or volunteers if they already live in the area.

Polynesian couples and single women are encouraged to apply.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints distributes periodic bulletins -- usually printed on blue paper, and hence, called "blue sheets" -- that are posted in many LDS meeting houses. Contact your local Latter-day Saint leaders to see a copy or for more information. The "blue sheets" list various categories, locations, language (if any) and other requirements where volunteer service is needed, as well as estimates of living expenses in each of those locations.

Online information on worldwide volunteer service missionary needs is also updated frequently. Application forms are available through the online link.

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