~ Samoan Wedding ~

If you EVER have the opportunity to attend a Samoan wedding, always go! It is a spirited and splendid celebration.

Kalani and Ayesha Nahenahekamakanimaikalanimai Fitisemanu III
(A gentle breeze from heaven)
She was the Relief Society President in our YSA Branch.
(I can say her name)

The groom is also local, so there were many 

people attending, but, mostly family. 

It was held at the Polynesian Cultural Center, 

in a luau venue, to accommodate the crowd.

Taualuga, (traditional money dance) symbolizes the conclusion of a monumental task. (And a fundraiser for the newlyweds). Money is thrown into the air or onto the floor, by anyone attending, while the bride dances.

The groom was led to a chair in front of the dais area, and 
then Ayesha danced an exquisite hula for him.



What an evening!

Talofa

January Adventures

Local Keiki (Island children).

We were asked to serve in the Visitors' Center, again. I enjoy doing this, very much. 

Besides, Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, we met two women from Poland 

and a couple from Denmark, this time. The Danish woman was

 very striking. Her mother is Danish and her father, Tongan.

Elder Cameron loves this picture that hangs in the Visitors' Center.

Our January has been very busy, as we hit the ground running, after the holidays. 

We have served at the food bank, attended Zone Conference as well as a satellite broadcast from Salt Lake, explaining the changes to the missionary program. Missionaries can now customize their schedules to accommodate safety, local culture, health, and productivity.

For example, if you're serving in Hawaii, you get up at 6:30 a.m. and are home by 9:00 p.m.

If you're serving in Africa, you're up much earlier, because you must be home by 6:00 p.m. for safety concerns. If you're in Latin America, you sleep in later and come home later. Besides flexibility in daily schedules, p-day has additional time for emailing, laundry, shopping, exercising, etc. 

Also, key indicators, which is how missionaries report their productivity, have gone from nine to four. Our missionaries are thrilled with the changes. 

To quote Elder Bednar "I think one other thing that's intriguing about this is that this is a worldwide church and one size doesn't fit all". 

I have decided (per request) to get somewhat more "personal" with this blog, so here goes.

President Uchtdorf came to Hawaii for a family vacation. He loved the food at the PCC and made a special effort to meet and compliment the cook. Well, "the cook" is the head chef at the PCC and our most recent baptism. Elder Cameron and I meet with him weekly and discuss gospel principles. He was pretty excited by the honor.

Aloha

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Just Kidding

Snow was hauled in to the PCC, right before Christmas .

 It lasted about 30 minutes. 

This is the BIGGEST box of Christmas chocolates I have ever seen. 

Count on the Tongans to go big. Those are OUR two Tongan Sisters in the back row.

Elder Cameron and Wally, his new pool buddy, from California.

 He is 92 and our landlords step-dad.

Wally got bored with all the Christmas preparations 

the girls were doing, so he showed up at our door, daily. 

Q: What does the Statue of Liberty have to do with the Nativity?

                             A:  Absolutely nothing!                                                                                                  I was being a really good angel, standing on the sofa,

 with a christmas tree skirt around my neck,

 and the decorations hanging in the back,

 were somehow, perfectly hung. 

The shepherd is holding me steady with his staff.

 Ainsley, as a wise man. 

(She looks like "Lawrence of Arabia".)

We spent Christmas Eve with the Daniel Family from our Sunset Branch.

They have four children and a dog named Pineapple.

We had waffles with three kinds of fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Ainsley, Te'a, Cruz and Briar in their really hot pajamas from grandparents in Utah.

This is our YSA Sacrament Meeting, on Christmas Day.

The Rec. Center doesn't open on holidays,

 so we met in the Branch Presidents home.

Most of our kids were with their families.

 It was truly a very special meeting. 

Aloha and Happy New Year