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SOUTH JORDAN — A South Jordan couple who considers Lahaina, Hawaii, their second home is devastated and heartbroken over the images of destruction from the Maui fires.
"Just so hard to see the images coming out of there, of this beautiful quaint little town that's been destroyed. There are 10,000 memories there for us. It's a beautiful paradise," David Swenson said to KSL-TV.
Nearly six months out of the year, David Swenson and his wife Shelly Swenson serve as ward missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Lahaina 1st Ward. They have been doing this for about 10 years and have come to love the people of Lahaina and consider them family.
They say, sadly, one of the members of the ward, Leroy Wagner, 69, lost his life in the fire.
"Just a sweet single man," Shelly Swenson said. "His mom just passed away this year so it's a lot on his family."
They said about 40 members in the ward completely lost everything. Their homes burned to the ground. They had only the clothes on their back.
"They are in a state of shock. They don't know what to do next. They are worried about their immediate needs of food and shelter but if you ask what are your plans, they don't know," Shelly Swenson said.
But amazingly their chapel was untouched. A picture of it they shared with KSL-TV shows the building standing untouched with ash all around it.
"It was just a miracle from heaven," David Swenson said. "All around the building, behind it, on the sides of it, in front of it. Everything was just destroyed and burned to the ground but the church was untouched."
The Swensons have been in constant contact with members in Lahaina. Members are telling them the government is hindering the problem rather than helping it. All the red tape, approvals and road closure are not allowing help to get to the people like they need, the Swensons said.
"The biggest problem right now — it is the government. If the government would just get out of the way and let people bring supplies in," David Swenson said.
Despite all that has been destroyed, the Swensons really do believe in "Maui Strong."
"Lahaina is strong. These Hawaiian people are unlike any others; they are strong. They've dealt with trials ... and these people will rise above this," David Swenson said.
You can help those in need in Maui by going to ksltv.com where we have set up a donation drive where 100% of the money we receive will go to those on Maui.
