Several years ago my wife, our four young children, and I moved to Hawaii. Although we had felt prompted to move, we struggled with the adjustment to life on an island, the distance from our extended family, and the travel required for my new assignment.
A few months after we arrived, I was called to be the bishop of our ward. During one of our first ward Priesthood Executive Council meetings, in an effort to ease the heavy home teaching burdens of our priesthood brethren, I opted not to have home teachers for our family. Despite our family's challenges, we were fairly consistent in our scripture study and family home evening efforts, as well as in spending one-on-one time with our children. So I felt we would be fine.
I remember the rainy evening when the doorbell rang and there stood Brother Kanaile, an 85-year-old Hawaiian brother from my high priest group. He announced that his priesthood leader had assigned him to be our home teacher. I explained our lack of needs, assuring him we were fine. He responded emphatically: "Even a bishop needs a home teacher."
It wasn't long before I was very grateful for his assignment. Brother Kanaile's regular visits with his Aaronic Priesthood companion became a much-anticipated event for our children. He always shared a spiritual lesson, remembered birthdays or special events, and often brought a Hawaiian treat for our children. He became our children's Hawaiian tutu kane, or "grandpa."
Do I remember the specifics of each lesson he taught us? Not really, but I know he brought us the gospel message and taught our family the doctrine. I also don't remember all of the special foods he shared or things he did. But I remember his prayers and the encouragement I felt as a young bishop. I am grateful for this dedicated home teacher and what he did to help our family. He was right: even a bishop needs a home teacher.
Jan Felix, Utah, USA