October 29, 2013

I keep thinking we can get our Blog out on our Pday, which is Saturday, but this is how our weekend goes.  Saturday morning at 8:00 am we had a Devotional that lasted until 10:00 am.   This Devotional was held in the Gateway Restaurant.  It's a beautiful building with historical art surrounding the inside.
The Devotionals are always spiritual and we learn more about the students that come from all over the world.   This was the Food and Beverage Devotional so all the students that work for Food and Beverage/Restaurant's and Snack Bars were in attendance and four of them shared their testimonies and how they were able to come to BYU-H.   President Grace and his wife are in the picture and he always speaks too.  Then of course, we eat, and eat.

Opening Song

Students Singing

We left the Devotional and picked up two students.   Katy works in Seamstress with me and we have become close.  She is from China.  Kevin and Katy are engaged and are planning to be married just before Christmas.  I have been worried about her because she is homesick and trying to plan a wedding.  I told her about Ted's Bakery and have been talking to her about her wedding cake.  We took them to the Bakery and bought the Coconut Cake and shared cake and doughnuts.  In other words, we filled them with sugar.  Bad idea as always.   Then they wanted to go to the Beach.

So we went to Sunset Set Beach and they gathered small sea shells for two hours.  Elder Tremea and I helped for a while then pulled our beach chairs out of the car and sat in the shade and watched them.  She wants to display sand, seashells and flowers for the 10 tables at her wedding.  After the beach we drove to see the turtles because they had never seen them.  Only two were on the beach.  They were very kind and respectful and thanked us over and over.   We took them back to school about three in the afternoon.  The volleyball game started at 4:00 pm so we changed and hurried over to the college to see Keke play.  The Seasiders were playing good old Dixie State University.  Sorry but our loyalties were for the Seasiders this time.  We won again.  Ron said the team is 5th in the Nation.  I guess Hawaii traditionally has a good volleyball team.

Prayer after winning the game.  Girls wore pink ribbons for Breast Cancer

Keke is #30;  Shelly #22 and Areil #10 are the two other girls that came with Keke from Taiwan.   They have played together so long they almost read each other's mind on the court.  Papa's taking quite a liking to the girls.  Keke is also engaged to be married in December.  That's another story, for another day.    Well, that was our P-day!  No grocery shopping, no cleaning the apartment, nothing done!  Sunday is day long meetings so we are going to be scrambling for a week.  Monday is Family Home Evening and Wednesday is Temple night.  The week zooms by, but then some days are frightfully slow.

Today is Tuesday.  It was a good day.  We caught the rat in the closet!  I have been telling everyone about that rat, I could hear it in the closet for months.  I would kick the door before opening it to get thread and yarn all the time for fear of seeing the thing.  Well, Sister Cooper and I decided to take matters into our own hands.  Nothing gets done here fast you know.  We called for Elder Cooper and Elder Nielson for backups and asked them to find us some traps.  They did, and you can see how big they are.

Sister Cooper

The traps were so big we couldn't set them ourselves so we called for the Elders.  Cooper and Nielson put the cheese on them and we put one in the closet and another in our Bosses closet.  This morning when Sister looked in the closet she screamed and I took the picture.....

One dead rat.  I still think we might have another somewhere,  so we are resetting the traps just to be safe.  So, the rest of the story.  We (Sister Cooper and I) were leaving work at 4:00 pm today and President Grace drove up to us at the gate in a golf cart.  Hi Ladies, he says, how was your day.  Well, we showed him our day alright with dead rat picture and lots of laughs.  I'm not so sure he thought it was funny he was a bit serious about what happened before he drove off.  Maybe we will get faster actions from the Polynesians in the future from the man at the top!

This was taken on an early stroll through the Polynesian Cultural Center before all the people arrived.  It's quiet and peaceful  I decided it would be a good time to take a walk through the center early every day at that time.

We hiked up behind the Temple last week.  It was beautiful there too.  There is a old cemetery there.  The Church has bought the ground and now have walking paths.  The Church also keeps the grounds clean and mowed.  You can see all of Laie and the ocean from there.  Beautiful serene spot.

Sleepy town of Laie taken behind the Hawaii Temple

Cemetery behind the Temple

It's late and Papa's already sleeping.  I'll sign off for this week.  Thanks for all the emails and letters. We are always excited to hear news from home.  The pictures on Cevia are needing to be replaced!!! Not that we don't love them, but we await some October ones.

Love and miss you.  Be good and do good.......the Church is true or we wouldn't be here.

Elder and Sister Tremea

Hawaiian Beach Morning Glory

October 21, 2013.

Another week gone, it seems to have gone really fast after the week is over but seems to not move as fast during the week.  I guess that is what happens when you are a missionary and away from home. We had visitors from St George here in Laie last week.  Natalie Christensen and her daughter Morgan were here for a cross country race held at the Gunstock Ranch.  The ranch is owned by the Church. Natalie was here as the organizer of the race.  I think this was the 5th year for the race and she said they would probably have around 400 runners.  She is certainly dedicated to the sport of running. She can probably run faster and farther than I can drive.  It was fun to see her and Morgan and renew the happenings of the Knolls Ward.  We had lunch with her at the PCC and had a great time.

In the above picture is Morgan, Natalie, Sister Tremea, a friend of Natalie's and Elder Tremea. Natalie was traveling with her friend Angel and her son and niece.  Angel went to BYUH and married a man from Fiji.  You can see from the picture the skin color of her son, they always look like they are perfectly tanned and seem to always be happy.  I think that is the culture trait of the Polynesian people.  Angel and her husband now live in Colorado.  She loves Hawaii and would like to move here or go to Fiji.  I don't think I could live in either place on a permanent basis.  Thanks Natalie and Morgan for stopping to see us, it makes us feel good to see familiar faces.

On Sunday I started the day at 9 am with the Elders Quorum presidency.  I am the assigned adviser to the Elders.  They are a great bunch of guys.  After the presidency meeting we met with the district leaders for home teaching.  We have 12 district leaders and each have 3 companionship's to watch over.  Our ward is an off campus ward and is located on three streets with 20 different houses for the Elders and 25 houses for the Sisters.  We have approximately 170 members in our ward which averages out to around 4 students per house.  The housing here can be pretty run down with 2, 3, or 4 people sharing a room with a single bathroom and no air conditioning.  90 percent of our young single adults are students and are required to follow the BYUH honor codes,  unfortunately some of them forget they are returned missionaries and face disciplinary action.  The district leaders visit all of the houses on a street each week to make sure that the sisters are taken care of.  I love the guys in this Elders quorum, they are trying to do the best they can and they are under a lot of pressure with school, work, church, dating and not much time for hanging out.

Our Church block starts at 12 pm and ends at 3 pm with Priesthood/Relief Society first.  For me meeting with the young people is the highlight of the mission.  Sunday's are long days, usually from  9 am to 3 pm and then usually evening meetings with the Stake or Ward.  This is the life of a missionary.

Papa talks only of the Elders...the Sisters are great too.  We have two Relief Society's running in the Ward now.  Both Presidencies are trying hard to plan the activities and keep VT organized.  Sometimes they meet together and the teachers share giving the lessons.  That has worked out too.  I see how the teachers take a lesson and adapt it to the age of the Sisters.  Always the good news each week is a Sister either going on a mission or getting married.  Last week Papa had the Elders come into RS and introduce each Home Teacher with the Sister.  It was a good idea and the kids were talking and laughing way past the time to move to Gospel Doctrine Class.

Our friends the Reynolds made it home to Idaho finally.  Today, however, Elder Maples fell off a scaffolding ladder 6 feet and broke his heel.  Not sure what they are going to do.  We visited with them tonight and they are going to see doctor again tomorrow.  Maybe surgery.  They are wondering if they should go home.  They are scheduled to leave the 16th of November.  We will hate to see them go too.

Not much happening other than work.  Another volleyball game tomorrow night.  The girls have only lost one game.  It's 15-1 right now.  Hope they win.

Love and miss you.
Nona and Papa

October 14, 2013
Our weekends are getting to be as busy as the weekdays.  Saturday is our P-day and if I don't have most of the wash and cleaning kept up it doesn't get done that day.

The week was working and busy.  I have a Mongolian student in seamstress with me.  Tamera is 38 weeks pregnant and still rides her bike every day around campus.  She is trying to go to school and work.  She has one child, a girl 5 years old.  We have been talking to her and watching her baby boy grow bigger.  She is little, and baby is just like she is carrying a box around all the time.  Good shelf to eat on she says.  She is a student and is telling us her professor's won't give her any leave to have baby.  If she misses a test she fails.  Doesn't sound right to me, but the rules are different here.  We gave her a little baby shower in Seamstress, food, presents and lots of advice from all us old Sisters. It was quite funny.  In Mongolia showers and baby gifts are given after the baby is born.  It is bad luck to do this before baby is born.....we are all praying for everything to go well now.  We are even guessing when he will be born.  I predict Saturday at 4:00 pm.  That would give her time to have baby, get out of hospital Sunday and be able to get to class Monday!!!  We'll see who wins.

T

Tamera, Mother to be.

Sisters in Seamstress with Tamera

Saturday morning we attended the Fiji Devotional.  "Whither shall I Go? "  (1 Nephi 17:8:10) was the theme.  They served us breakfast and had a program.  It was a beautiful morning to walk around the PCC.  It had rained the night before and the sun came out while we were there.  All the Devotionals have songs, spiritual talks and dances of their native island. It's always Aloha wear, and the wear their native dress.  The Devotionals are a good way to learn more about the people and customs.  President Grace and his wife were there.  He reminded us that Saturday, October 12, 1963 was the real birthday of the PCC.  So, he had us all sing Happy Birthday to the PCC.

Song and Dancing

Boys Dancing

 

HukuleaWorldwideVoyage.com

Thursday we were told that the Hokulea sailing canoe (see Google for more info) was going to be coming to Hukilau beach Friday morning.  So we went to the Hukilau beach at 8:00 am.  It was pouring rain.  We stood there for 45 minutes and got completely soaked.  No canoe in sight.  Kids were playing in the water, people were camped out under tents, umbrellas, and poncho's.  We left at 9:00 am went to work and came back at 11:00 am.  The sun was shinning and Hawaiians were still there waiting and playing to see the canoe come to shore.

Bringing in the Crew

Sister Cooper, Sister Przybille, Sister Smith

Kids out of school playing on the beach...beautiful beach 5 minutes from where we live...but we work everyday!

Getting ready for the Ceremony

This canoe was built in 1975 and is a replica of the original sailing canoes to show how the original Polynesians traveled the islands many centuries ago.  The original Polynesians did not use any navigational equipment, they used only the stars, moon and sun they called it celestial navigation. This canoe traveled the same way, they did not use any navigational equipment, to prove that the Hawaiian islands were populated by Polynesians from Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti and where ever else by the same method.  Their maiden voyage in 1976 was from Tahiti to Hawaii which is several hundreds of miles away.  The original Polynesians must have really liked water and knew how to sail using the stars as their guide.  This canoe is now going to circle the globe using the same celestial navigational skills as their ancestors.  It is expected to take around 4 years to complete the trip.  Hope they don't get lost.  Hawaiians consider any event an excuse to have a gathering and party.  We were first to leave!

Last Saturday night we went to the Alex Boye concert at the BYUH Cannon Activity Center.  We had talked to Aimee earlier in the day and told her that we were going to his concert and she told us he is a very good entertainer.  You can see him in the picture with a lot of students.

Not the best picture but it's HIM in black coat, white pants, no hair...

He is a wonderful showman, and a convert to the Church.  He sang, he talked and had the audience in his hand. He told the students to stand up for what they believe and to not be ashamed of their religion. People will respect you more if you take a stand.  If any of you get a chance to see him in concert do it, he is uplifting and provides a wide choice of music.  His voice is awesome.  I predict his fame will continue to grow and will be a great missionary tool for the Church.  He said he had done a video for the Church on I am a Mormon and received 4,000 hate letters.  He has three children and while he was here he did a video at the PCC.  He has a new song, I am Strong, and another I am Gold.   U tube has his new video and songs.

As I stepped in the shower last night a 4 inch gecko jumped out at me.  I scream, Papa came to help and we did look like a pair!  He was on his knees trying to catch it and I was naked and screaming.  I think I scared the gecko almost to death.  We finally caught it and Papa gently carried it outside to freedom.

We were going to the Temple tonight but made the mistake of sitting down for a few minutes.  We were both so tired we sat there until it was too late to go.  I'm beginning to realize the best thing to do is not stop.  It's too hard to get started again.

We are working hard and think of you often.  The people we work with and see teach us something new everyday.  I'm beginning to have a greater appreciation for the Polynesians and their lifestyle and culture.  Sometimes I think we could run circles around them to get things accomplished, but they are happy, content, love the gospel and their families.  Is there anything more?  It has been a big discussion over the Gay Marriage here.  It will pass in Hawaii but the restrictions that could be placed on us and other clergy might change.  Our Bishops would be required to marry them in our Wards and Churches.  Thanks Tammy for the article about this on line.  We are all praying this won't happen.

Be good, and as Elder Mangelson says....do good!  We've all experienced tender mercy's and miracles, and Elder Mangelson is our answer to prayers.

Love you all.
Elder and Sister Tremea

PS  If you are reading this Blog...there is a commitment to respond.
 Mahalo

October 6, 2013

Aloha Family and Friends,

This was a busy but fruitful week.  We had Nona's Graduation/Retirement Party Friday.  She is the master seamstress who has been with the Polynesian Cultural Center for 45 years.  For probably 35 of these years she has been standing and cutting shirts, mu mu's and dresses and lava lava's for the village workers, waiters and waitresses at the Luau's.  She measures each person, then starts to cut. It's an art, and I'm not sure what will happen tomorrow when she is gone.  Tomorrow will be an awakening for many here.  They seem to start to worry when it's crunch time.   Remember that "Hang Loose", it's a real thing here.

The missionaries and students that work with Nona practiced all week on a dance for her.  The song we danced to was "Thank You for being a Friend".  If you google it you will be able to hear the song/tune.  The director of the Ha Show taught us the dance.  He's good!!! He took 15 of us who were old and slow and never danced and turned it into a real dance routine.  We practiced everyday.

Each of us made a lei for Nona and after the dance gave it to her.  She had so many lei's we couldn't see her face.

She reminds me of Ron's mother Josephine.  She is maybe five foot, and short little legs, but a big smile and kind words for everyone.  Friday morning was the party and farewell.

Giving Nona a candy lei

Nona was given a recliner chair, gifts on table and everyone gave her a lei they had made or bought. 

The feather lei she is wearing would take hours and hours to make.

Sister Cooper, Nona and Sister Tremea

Nona is one of the oldest and last of the original Polynesians here.  She is 73.  

Nona and Brother Hannaman

In the picture with Nona is Brother Hannaman.  He is another pioneer.  He has a little room in the Administration Bldg filled floor to ceiling with books, pictures and historical data of the Polynesian Cultural Center.  He still comes everyday to work on the history and pictures.

We were able to listen to Conference.  Saturday we got up at 5:30 am to see it on TV live.  That's dedication!  Our landlord ask us over to watch the first session and he cooked breakfast for us.  At 10:00 am we were watching the 2:00 pm Session of Conference.  At 2:00 pm we went to the Fullers home.  They live up on the Point where it's almost a 360 view of the ocean.   I took a Crock pot full of stew and bread so the guys could watch the Priesthood Session live.   Deon and I sat, watched the ocean and told stories while Ron and Gary watched the Priesthood Meeting.   The Fullers are missionaries working at BTU-H at the Honors Office.  They told us about a young student from China.  He came to see them two weeks ago and said his bike had been stolen.   This past week he came back to their office and said he had found his bike on campus so he took it.   It was locked with his lock.  He opened the lock, took his bike but left a note to whoever had had his bike for two weeks with his phone number to call him.  He reported this again to the honors office because he didn't want to be caught with his own bike that had been stolen.  The Asian kids are respectful and kind and lack the English skills and it's an uphill climb for them here.  Some take advantage of their situation.

I think my favorite talk was Elder Holland.  For some reason I always look forward to what he has to say.  His talks come from his heart and this one I felt very close to.  I remember he said something like never harden your heart, ask for priesthood blessings and believe in miracles.  Never loose hope if miracles don't come, follow the Savior's example..... if the bitter cup doesn't pass, DRINK IT and be strong, go forward and happier days will be ahead.  He also talked about slowing down...rest up. By the letters and news from home you all might want to try that.  Fill your own bucket then you are stronger to fill the buckets of your families.  We love you and know you are sacrificing and working hard for your children.  You will be blessed and when your old....like us...joy and happiness comes from knowing your children are being good.   

Today after conference we had a a missionary Conference Luncheon.

I picked a new recipe from the Internet.  It was a cole slaw recipe with peaches.  I used the last of my Costco peaches.  It had a spicy dressing and was a hit.  We have had a big change of missionaries this month.  The BYU-H now have 15 couples and the PCC have 20 couples plus 14 single sisters.  We had a nice crowd.

A new student is working with me in costumes.  She actually works in the laundry next door.  Her name is Song.  She is from Hong Kong.  I am learning more about her everyday.  Her father was a teacher in a school.  She is an only child, which is common there.  Parents can only have one child. She was starting college and very unhappy.  She said her life was what her father wanted for her.  Her room mate was happy all the time, so she asked her what made her happy.  She said she couldn't tell her.  It took a long time for her to tell her it was because of the church she belonged to.  In China you cannot belong to Church only Buddhism practiced there.  Song wanted to go to church with her but her friend had to ask her Bishop first.  This was all in secret.  The Bishop asked what kind of person Song was and all about her before he said she could come.  Many nights she talked to her parents before they gave her permission to go.  She did not want to go without telling her parents out of respect for them.  Her father thought it might be a cult religion that was popular there.  After she started attending she wanted to be baptized.  Another problem.  One cannot be baptized in China she had to go to Hong Kong.  Again she had many talks with her parents.  I can only imagine how her parents felt.  Having only one child and trying to understand her feelings.   She left China and went to Hong Kong where she was baptized.  So tender and young in the gospel.  Tune back in next week. Story to be continued....I want to send Blog out tonight and her picture has not come to I photo from I phone.  Oh well, picture will come next week.  She is China girl, guess what she looks like.

Love and miss you.
Be good and do good!
Nona and Papa