October 23, 2014

Unfortunately when I start to write on the Blog, its late in the evening and I'm tired.  We have worked all day, then went back to the PCC for tickets until 7:30 pm.  We don't seem tired while working or being away but when we get back to apartment we just flop in the chair or shower and go to bed.  We are real party poops!

On Friday afternoon last week Bill and Stacy Pollack took us to Walmart with them.  We stopped after and checked on the washer.  That was a good idea because we found the washer was on sale. Hopefully we will be able to get it installed before we get home.  Pollacks took us to Chile's for dinner after shopping.    I'm starting to really think our mission is coming to an end!

The next night we went to Turtle Bay for dinner with Elder and Sister Fuller.  It was a good dinner at the Golf Course.  

Elder and Sister Fuller

Elder and Sister Tremea

Ron has been golfing every Saturday at Kahuku Golf Course.  There are about four guys that have been making that a regular event for the past few months.   Rain or shine you will find them all there.

These are some pictures of the changing face of the PCC.  The new Marriott Hotel is starting to take up sky and land space.  All of a sudden it looks very large.  The tower is finished, we don't know what the tower stands for or what they are going to do with it.  Rumor is, they might take it down after they have spent $65,000 to build it!  Go figure that one...

Polynesian Cultural Center

The Tower!!!

Marriott Hotel taking shape along highway

Ocean from George's Deck.  We took Taco Bell Special and ate lunch on the Deck today.

We were invited to the Ricks (Wayne and Nancy) home for dinner after church.  They are a new couple from SLC.  He is working at the PCC helping to keep the air conditioning working and Nancy works with me in Costumes in the morning and at the Settlement in the afternoon.  They are a good asset to the PCC.  Both are excited to be here and willing to serve anywhere.  We enjoyed the evening with them in their home.  They are living where Elder Palmer and his wife lived when we first arrived.  We have asked Elder Ricks to take over "George's House".  He's thinking about it.  We took them up there today to show them the house.  George has a good young man helping him now.  He is honest and keeps the house and gardens ready for visitors.  Ron is ready to pass the house calls over to a new missionary.  Hope it works out.

Elder and Sister Ricks having lunch with us at the Banyon Tree at PCC

Tuesday was a big day for us.  We had our exit interview with President Grace.  He was nice and gracious.  We told him our concerns where we worked and visited with him for about an hour. President Grace's secretary was out of town for the week and Sister Petty forgot we were coming so we didn't get our flower lai's and gifts.  President Grace felt bad.  I had made him a cool scarf to wear when mowing his lawn and when it's hot.  He thought it was great and wanted PCC to make and sell them.  He has been only one interested.   We also met with the PCC Board of Directors.  President Grace asked them where our gifts were….four men jumped up and left room and came back with large jar of red licorice and said they couldn't find the gifts.  It was funny.  We just laughed.  I did feel bad we didn't get flowers however.

President Grace with Cool wrap

Wednesday it rained most of the day.  We decided to get our flu shot during lunch break.  I am glad we have that taken care the flu shot before we come home.   After work we hurried changed and made the 5:00 pm session at the temple.  Wayne and Nancy Ricks went with us.   It was a small session and we were finished quickly.  We then went to Kackle Fresh and had Fish and Chips. Finally, we have good fresh fish in Laie.

Everyone is starting to tell us good-bye.  Not many more days.  I finished a shirt today…almost looked perfect.

I asked Fatai if she would hire me to stay and sew so I could afford to stay in Hawaii.  It will be different not spending time each day with the people I have learned to love.  But, I am missing my family more!   Friends at Seamstress…..

Fatai

Roger

Ivy from China

Jessica and Viti from Hong Kong

My Student Friends.  Jessica, UKai, Viti and Ivy

New Sisters, Faye Nelson and Karen Martineau

     Goofy Girls!









Both Sisters are new in
Seamstress.

















We worked tonight at the PCC.   We took some pictures of the pig and the other Missionaries working with us.  We ate together at Prime Dining.

Pig for Dinner

Student Chef

Fellow Missionaries, Elder and Sister Anderson, Elder Tremea, Elder and Sister Fuller and Elder and Sister Rose

Kuhuku High School Football is so big here we had to buy some T-shirts.    This was painted on the Kuhuku High School wall outside the store.  We found shirts and T-shirts that were 7X.  I have made a 5X and I thought that was big.  

The games are on TV.  The crowds are so big and the fans get so excited the games are played in Honolulu at the Stadium.  They have been winning and are going into the State Finals.  There is a game tonight and we have been watching it on TV.   Maybe we should have our new shirts on?

Every morning I walk to work and I see these beautiful water lilies in the Lagoon. 

They poke up from the dirty water and garbage around them.  It makes me think of you, my children and grandchildren, that have to live in this world full of garbage, yet you rise above the dirty water like the lilies and are clean and beautiful working and reaching for light.  I am so proud of you for facing each day with obstacles, yet you keep covenants and commandments of the Lord and are trying to be good.  You will be blessed.

We love you.  We send hugs.

Nona and Papa

October 14, 2014

Our days are passing by quickly now.  We have been very busy with our Student Ward and working.
We enjoyed Conference.  We were able to watch the second session at 10:00 am and the first session early on iPad.  Thus, we didn't have to leave home.   One of my favorite speakers was Elder Ballard, talking about the Old Ship Zion.  Remember rule number one is, stay in the boat kids!  I was so glad he explained how important it is to stay in the boat.  I hope you all get to reread his talk and think about it.

Maddie and partner

On Friday in Salt Lake City our granddaughter Maddie Barton and her partner played in the State Tennis tournament.   We got this picture with their smiles after they won their first two matches at State in the doubles competition.  This is a great accomplishment.   Unfortunately they lost their first set on Saturday and were eliminated.  We are very proud of Maddie and her partner for their hard work and dedication to their high school Deseret Hills in St George. Next year they will have a good shot at winning a State Championship.  Way to go Maddie, we love you.


Yesterday, was our P-day and we found a new Farmers Market near Hale'iwa near the old Sugar Mill.  We bought fresh fruits and veggies.  We are getting bananas from the PCC now.  They have been cutting racks down and distributing them to almost everyone walking out from work.  We have green, yellow and black ones.  All are ready to eat in a day or two.  We stopped at the Soap Factory at the old Sugar Mill too.  It was fun to see the soap process.   We came back and met BYU couples and went to see "Meet the Mormons".   We went to eat at North Shore Taco and laughed so hard at our mission stories.  That was our big night on the town in Laie.   What did you think of the show?

Thursday we went to Honolulu to see Doctor.  I had x-rays on tooth with root canal last spring. Everything looked good for his $1,200 bill!  We parked in the building parking lot and we expected the Dentist would pay for parking, boy were we wrong.  Since we did not have to pay for the visit he would not pay for the parking, great guy, cost us $12 to park.  We then drove to find the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.   We parked car at the Marriott Courtyard and walked down to to see the oldest Hotel in Hawaii, the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki.  It was built in 1927.  It has a colorful history of famous people coming over on the Matson Shipping line and staying at the hotel for two or three months.   It's still a pink building and expensive rooms.

Mai Tai Cafe

We stopped outside at the pool Cafe and had a $27 hamburger and diet coke.  We were sitting on beach and had beautiful view.  I guess that made it all worth it.  We will remember the short time we spent checking out the famous Hotel and eating for a long time.

We were able to see Elder and Sister Mayfield and have dinner with them at the El Charro Mexican restaurant before driving to Costco and home on the North Shore.   It was already dark so we didn't see the big waves today.  It had been windy and high waves were predicted.   It is dark by 7:15 pm now so our days are getting shorter.

For our FHE tonight President Grace and his wife Valarie talked to us.  He is the President of the PPC. He is from New Zealand and is about 6'7 but is a very loving man.  He is also Stake President of the Student Married Stake. He told us that the PCC reports directly to the First Presidency of the Church, the only other church entity that reports that way is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  The PCC is a very strong recruiting source for new converts.  One of the directives of the PCC is to train BYUH students that come from poor circumstances how to work, they are paid which helps pay for their education.  After they graduate they will be able to go back to their own countries and be strong leaders in the Church.  Working at the PCC helps them get jobs in their country along with their education.  It is a very important opportunity for these young people.

The above picture is of the Hukilau Beach.  This is the place where the idea for the PPC got started.   A Hukilau is a Hawaii gathering party.  They put their boats in the water with their nets and go out about a 100 yards and start back in.  The fish are trapped and then the people on shore would gather up the fish and have a Hukilau party.  Many tourists started traveling to Laie to participate in the Hukilau and the Church saw it as an opportunity to present the cultures of the Polynesian Islands of Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji,  Tahiti and New Zealand.  The PCC opened in 1963 with a Prophetic blessing from President McKay that millions of people would come to see this place and the culture presentation.  This blessing has come true and many millions have visited the PCC over the past 51 years.  It is expected that millions more will attend in next 50 years.

Love and miss you all,
Looking forward to seeing you soon.  Sending hugs and love,
Nona and Papa

October 4, 2014

At Family Home Evening this week, brother Christensen from BYU came and talked to us.  He has spoke at BYU Education Week and been a Mission President.  He talked on missionary service and missionary work.    It was a spiritual meeting.  He expressed his testimony and love for the Savior and ended testifying of the truthfulness of the gospel.  He said each of us was sacrificing to be here and told us everything will work out for good.   He told us he had just been diagnosed with cancer. We had worked at the PCC that night taking tickets so we barely made the meeting.   We have new missionaries both at BYU and PCC arriving.  The audience looked different to me.  Many couples and missionaries that I don't know very well.   Many couples we know well have finished their mission and  gone home.

On Wednesday we drove to Kanohaoe to the Farmers Market at the Mall.  We had heard about it but never been able to go.  Sister Cardnal would always bring us red beets from the Market.  We went with Fullers and found we had been missing a great way to pick up fresh vegetables and fruits.  We drove over after work and picked up beets, bananas, bread, onions, celery, and more.  Everything looked fresh and yummy.  We were all hungry while shopping so everything looked good.  We finished shopping for vegetables and went to a restaurant to eat.   The weather is changing, the sun is setting by 7:00 pm now.  We drove home in the dark and it was raining hard.

Farmers Market

Pounding Poi at the Market

They take the taro root and mash it up to make poi.  It's very much like a potato.  A staple for the Polynesians.  It has a bland taste  

The girls in our Relief Society are so on the ball.  I love these girls.  They don't need as much help as Papa's Elders do.  The girls seem to be on top of VT and lessons and music.  We had over 80 to Relief Society this week. Becca will be leaving on her mission right after Conference Weekend.  She will be missed.  Her Father passed away suddenly about 6 years ago and she has been working and putting herself through school since.  A mission will be great for her.

Relief Society Presidency, Nana, Secretary. Nina, President; Becca, 2st Counselor

Becca and Nina after Becca's Farewell

Saturday we had signed up to go on the new Zip line in Kahuku.  I decided it was about time to try this before I die….on my bucket list!   We had a good time.  It was very safe and smooth.  We rode up top of the mountain on four wheeler and had 7 different zip lines to get back down.  It was breathtaking.  Ron was the only male leader in our group…sounds like heaven right?  We had one couple from Germany, a father with his daughter that went with out group.  The rest were all single sisters here.

Our Group

This was a bit more than a Zip Line….Obstacle Course too.

View from above

Safety First

We could see gardens and fields of vegetables, banana trees and papaya fields

Sisters Price, Smith,Despain,Miyasaki,Tilly,Pollock,Johnson,Nielsen, Tremea, Elder Tremea

Saturdays seem to come by so fast.  We are busy working all week and sometimes drive to Milliani for supplies and gas after work.  In seamstress this past week Jessica announced she was pregnant. She is from Hong Kong.  Their culture does not divulge they are pregnant until after three months.   Maybe that's so the wife has to be sick the first 3 months in secret!  Anyway, we were all thrilled for her.  Apparently, she has been feeling pretty sick.  Eliza was excited and you can see in the picture.

Eliza and Jessica


Elder and Sister Petty at Kahuku Grill 

Last night we spent the evening with Elder and Sister Petty.  We went to Kahuku to the Kahuku 
Grill for food and then went to the Beach and watched the sunset.  I will always be grateful for Sister Petty.  She was the sister that took over my first job as coordinator of the Missionaries and scheduling for Luau's.   They are from Texas.  It's a second marriage and they have 12 children between them. One of Elder Petty's sons lives at Stone Cliff in St George.  Maybe we will see them after the mission.

Snow Administration Building

This is the Snow Building and is the Administration building for both BYUH and PCC.  It is also where Elder Tremea works.

We are looking forward to listening to Conference this weekend.  We will receive it live four hours later.  We are able to get it on the internet with our Computer.  We are anxious to listen and hear our beloved Prophet and Counselors.  We hope you at home are able to listen with your family and loved ones too.

We miss and love all of you.  We are counting the weeks, days now.  It brings mixed feelings and anxiousness.   We actually have many things to do to get ready to come home.  

Love you, Nona and Papa

We leave with a little Quote, and are blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Quote:
“The Gift of the Holy Ghost. . . quickens all the intellectual facilities, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of a person, form and feature. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eye, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.”

Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology

September 21,  2014

The past two weeks have been very busy and very rewarding.

This young student is from China.  He is in out blog because he would not let me into the PCC without by badge which you see hanging on me.  I had to go back to the car and find it in order to enter.  He was apologizing for not letting me in with my missionary tags and said he was just following orders.  It was OK we were just a little late for a luncheon.  These students try to the best they can in working, most of them have never had jobs before so this is a new experience for them.

This week was busy making repairs and new costumes for the Lagoon Show.  Fatue and I worked on these beaded belts for the boys.  The nuts had to be cleaned and cut in half then a hole drilled in them.  I helped her put the four nuts together but she took the string of four and braided it together on the waist band.  When the boys dance and move the beads make a clicking noise.

Fatie's Birthday was Monday September 22,  but we celebrated her birthday Friday morning.  We surprised her with a breakfast.  I had made a cake for her but had to be at the temple with our Ward for the Baptism.  It was a confusing morning, Ron had to be at the temple at 7:00 am and I needed to get cake to sewing by 8:00 am. Elder Pierce was home and took me to PCC and then to the temple for the Ward breakfast.  I took this picture of her after the party was over.  She was sweet and thanked everyone.  We got her a new T-shirt (Kahuku High School Shirt) and ball cap and lots of other little things. She was so excited, acted like a little kid.









We had a big three day social for our ward, it included a Baptism for the Dead on Friday, a service project on Saturday morning with a barbecue after, and then finished up with a musical fireside on Sunday.  The social was sponsored by our Elders Quorum and it included the Relief Society, missionaries and the Bishopric.

On Friday we had about five Elders and twenty Sisters do baptisms for the dead.  The elders performed the priesthood duties and the sisters did the proxies for about a 100 people.  Jason who is our First Councilor performed the baptisms and he was very sore afterwards.  I did the recording and witness duties.  This is the first time I have done baptisms for the dead and it was a wonderful experience.  After we finished we had a breakfast of rice, eggs, donuts and juice.  The sisters provided the food and we provided the drinks.

Cleaning the Chapel

On Saturday morning at 9:00 am we cleaned the Chapel and cleaned the taro patch.  The picture shows the members doing the chapel cleaning. It took us about an hour and we were done.   We did not get any pictures of the taro patch cleaning.  The Polynesian people regard the taro plant as sacred because of the significance it played keeping them alive when they first arrived in Hawaii.  You get to stand in water and trim the weeds and clean out the debris.

Jason and Frank

After the service projects we had a barbecue. In the picture you see Jason our Elders Quorum 1st Councilor and Brother Frank Buttell our Bishopric 1st Councilor.  He is a master barbecue chef.  He is lighting the briquettes. He cut up 160 chickens for the barbecue and boned all of them.  He said it took him about 2 hours.  It would have taken me 10 hours.  After cutting up the chickens he marinated them in large garbage bags in large coolers.  His wife made the sauce, it really tasted good.

Waiting for the fire

The fire is going, took about an hour for all of the briquettes to get hot enough to start cooking.

Bishop Liva and Sister Tremea

The chicken is cooking.  Frank would cook on one side for around 15 minutes and then turn them. They use another empty grill and put on top and then flip.  Pretty slick.  The chicken was a golden brown and in some cases a little burnt, but they like it that way.  They cooked around 10-12 grills of chicken, we had plenty to eat and a lot left over.  It is the Polynesian way to cook much more than needed and send home the rest with the guests.  You certainly do not go hungry.

After eating the members played games.  The purpose of the 3 day social is to get the students acquainted with each other, and who knows maybe a relationship will follow.

More games, playing with water balloons.  At least it kept them cool. The temperature was around 90 degrees so getting wet was welcomed.

After playing and sweating it seems the ocean was a perfect place to go.  The water is warm and the sun was hot, so a great combination for a good time.  The beach was only 100 feet from our tables and chairs so it was very convenient.  I don't think we will see this kind of picture in St George.

After food and games it was clean up time.  We finished around 3:00 pm.  I started at 7 am helping to set up the grills, tent, chairs, and tables.  Several of our Elders helped.  At 4:30 we had to go to the PCC to take tickets at the Luau.  We finished around 7 pm, so it made for a very long, tiring but very good day.

On Sunday finished our three day Social with a musical fireside at 6:00 pm.  This was in addition to all of our church meetings, another long day.  The musical fireside was a wonderful spiritual event. The theme of the fireside was "why I believe.  Several groups performs musical selections and several ward members gave their testimonies.  While the testimonies were being given the piano was softly playing in the back ground.  Most of the music came from the Church hymn books with a twist on the arrangements.  Some the songs were sung in Tongan and the Polynesian guys did a great job harmonizing.  The testimonies were from the heart and brought a few tears to our eyes.  We had over 350 people in attendance, our ward has about 125 members, so we had a lot of visitors.  Several non-members were there to enjoy the program as well as the young missionaries serving in Laie.

After the Fireside we served refreshments to the people attending.  Every thing in Polynesia requires food after an event.  The Relief Society sisters provided desserts, the Bishopric brought the ice cream and we brought cookies baked by Foodland.  The students lined up and kept coming until everything was gone.  The students are always hungry so it is a joy to feed them.

This 3 day event was the highlight of our Mission over the past two weeks.  It is a spiritual high to be with so many young people who are strong in the Gospel.  They give us hope for the future that every thing will be OK.

Have a great week,
Love and miss you.
Nona and Papa

September 15, 2014

Busy week mending costumes and making shirts.  The shirts are worn and sold as fast as we can make them.  The crowds at the PCC have been smaller this week.  Weeknights we only had one Luau and on Friday we worked the Aloha Exit.  We had over 500 people, almost enough for two Luau's but they were able to seat everyone in one plus Island Buffet.  We like working the Exit.   They have added a sushi bar!

The Exit is low key, not the push to get everyone in taking their ticket, giving them the lei and taking pictures.  We see less children and teenagers too.  I guess everyone it back to school.  Like our own grandchildren.

Elder and Sister Cardno from Canada will be leaving this week.  Sister Cardno has been working in the seamstress room with me our whole mission.  She is a good seamstress.  Elder Cardno is in refrigeration and has kept the air conditioning going at the PCC.  He will be missed too.  He is a funny guy, always teasing the girls and women…..real Aussie Canadian.   We had a luncheon for her in seamstress and only brought healthy foods.  Sister Cardno is a health enthusiast.

Sister and Elder Cardno and Sister and Elder Tremea

Grace brought her little girl to work last week.  She came in the costume room for popcorn.  Her Daddy is a fire knife dancer at the evening show.   Her sister is a fire knife dancer too.

The weather has been very humid this week.  It has rained at night and everyday which cools the heat down.  We are so grateful to have air conditioning.  I think we would have died by now without it. The other missionaries are really struggling because of the heat and their apartments are so hot.

Last weekend we drove to Honolulu for the Swap Meet.  A football game was scheduled for late afternoon and so no Swap Meet.  We were with two other couples so we found a new Mexican restaurant that was very good then drove over to Ko Olina for the afternoon.  Nice day.  Stopped for grocery's and gas and ice cream and came home.  Just another circle of the Island,,,

Looked like a dive, but great Mexican Food
Elder Nielson, Sister & Elder Johnson, Sister Nielson and Elder Tremea

Old Missionaries!  Same place, same palm trees, same chairs as many P Days as we can!

Spotted Stingray

Trail along beach

 Ron and I walked along the beach trail.  It was beautiful, right by Paradise Cove Luau.

Last weekend was a big weekend for Desert High School.  Homecoming game and dance.  Both Anna and Maddie were asked to the dance.  We have two beautiful granddaughters to be proud of and show to all our Missionary Friends and Polynesian Family.  We are so proud and grateful for these beautiful granddaughters.

Princess Anna Jo

Lucky Boyfriend Tucker

Princess Madeline Rose

Boyfriend Brandon

And were off and going…..bye Mom and Dad….wait up for me!

We miss and love all of you.  Thanks for the pictures, it's almost like being there.  Have a great week. We have a busy weekend coming up.  Our Ward is having a three day event, Friday Temple Baptisms and we are preparing breakfast.  Saturday is Service Work at the Heber J. Grant Bldg. for two hours and then a BBQ at the Beach and Sunday we are ending with a special Fireside.  We are helping with the food we will be busy.  The Ward doubled this past week.  It was great to have the kids all back. They are so excited for school, friends and life.  It's great to be around the youth…..they love us even if we look old, and they are forever teaching us new perspectives of life.

"For behold, thus saith the Lord God:  I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom, for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."  
2 Nephi 28:30

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:  We have all seen a toddler learn to walk.  He takes a small step and totters.  He falls.  Do we scold such an attempt?  Of course not.  What father would punish a toddler for stumbling?  We encourage, we applaud, we praise because with every small step, the child is becoming more like his parents.

Our Heavenly Father wants us to become more like Him.  That should be our eternal goal.  God understands that we get there not in an instant but by taking one step at a time.
"Four Titles,"  General Conference, April 2013

Be good and do good this week.
Love,  Nona and Papa