I love Christmas (whereas Elder Jones is more "eh" about it - but he likes that I like it.)
So, we are decorating our little abode with the Christmas cards we get from friends and family....that's it. What says love more than those? Forget the Walmart sparkles.... If we get a hankerin' for flashier decorations, we just meander over to the Visitors Center 1 block away and get wowed by their 19 decorated trees.
So, just in case you were wondering, Christmas at the Polynesian Cultural Center means:
1. CRAZY HOURS - we thought life was busy before. It's gonna be insane now. We have our regular work, the luau and now we're adding on Christmas Lagoon (see below). Also, there are all of the parties, the dinners, and the special concerts at the temple, at the Stake Center and at the university. Baby, my dance card is FULL!
2. Christmas Lagoon
This is a big event. Unfortunately, this is also the last year for this amazing show. The drain on resources (man hours, electricity, etc., etc.) is proving to be too much. So here is our one and only chance.....to participate in something really special.
This is the 'official' write-up:
Christmas Lagoon- Starts December 13th
We invite locals and visitors to join us at the Polynesian Cultural Center for our Christmas Lagoon festivities and make this unique and entertaining event part of their holiday celebration. Our Christmas Lagoon canoes whisk guests away to a Pacific winter wonderland accentuated by actors, animals and props on a journey through PCC’s tranquil freshwater lagoon past carolers, festival lighting displays and more. The festival extends beyond the traditional canoe experience with holiday fare, arts and crafts; live entertainment, choirs and bands; and keiki holiday train rides.
Adding to the joy of PCC’s multi-cultural celebration will be special displays presented in tribute to the people and holiday traditions of China, France, Spain, Norway, and Russia.
#3 - lots of Christmas programs
We went to see a the Shaka Steel (14+ steel drummers and percussionists) and Ka Pa Kani Ko'ele O Laie (a Tahitian drum troupe with Tahitian youth dancers) drum performers this last week.
3. Strange going ons on my department's Facebook page -
So, if you're following us on Facebook (shop.polynesia), you may have seen that the Mele and Josepa picture stories have begun (remember - my little coconut head dolls?) They now have their own little on-line adventure leading up to their first Christmas together). It's been fun AND terrifying. There way no telling what the public's response would be, much less the administration's reaction would be.
So, the public response has been - pretty fair. Not viral by any means, and I'm sure that there are plenty of people saying "what the Holy Moley is this?" But it has been one of our leading posts (off and on) AND we have not gotten ANY negative comments. So, we consider it an accomplishment. Here is the quick backstory and the first three 'episodes' (my apologies to those who have already had to suffer thru these - we're half-way thru - the end is near!!!!):
Mele and Iosepa's First Christmas: Introductions
Christmas is a special time on the islands. We not only celebrate the joy and magic of the season, we know how to have fun! As a special holiday gift, we have prepared our own Christmas tale.
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Iosepa is our brave, Fijiian warrior. He is mighty, he is strong, he is a risk taker! Iosepa tends to think of himself as quite the handyman. Mele begs to differ.
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Mele and Iosepa met on a beautiful moonlit night, right after he performed a traditional Fire Walk. Somehow the combination of burnt up heels and that snaggle toothed grin won her heart, and they were happily married soon after.
Join Mele and Iosepa, (pronounced "MEL-ay" and "eYO-sep-ah") from the Islands of Fiji as they prepare for their first Christmas season together in their own, unique way.
Each week leading up to Christrmas we will present another adventure, portrayed in snapshot format, showcasing the (mis)adventures of our crazy yet endearing newlyweds.
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Mele is Iosepa's loving wife. She is resourceful and wise, though she tends to panic easily. But then again, she's married to Iosepa, so it comes naturally.
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Okay - here is the 1st, 2nd and 3rd episodes:
Episode #1:
"I Want THAT One!"
Mele and Iosepa go Christmas Tree shopping
Episode #2
"Iosepa Gets All Tangled Up"
It appears that Iosepa has hung up more
than just his Christmas lights.
Episode #3
"Iosepa Wraps Up More
Than Just the Presents"
Mele stumbles upon her hubby’s first attempt
at wrapping Christmas presents.
Anyway...............
Elder Jones just took a test "scuba dive" in a big pool over on the Army base. We are now going to sign him up for lessons - check another 'to-do' off of his bucket list! I hope to have pics soon.
Our GPS was being really clunky crazy here on the islands so we decided it was time for a new one. Once we decided to place it on our shopping list Elder Jones said "too bad these things don't come with voice command". Voila'....they DO!
You may not think we would need such a thing here on a little island in the middle of the sea. WRONG! The roads around here are extremely convoluted and the people like to give directions using the terms "mauka, makai, leeward and windward." ACK! The only thing I wish this new machine had was a knowledge of the Hawaiian language. You should hear how she (because it is a women's voice, after all) pronounces "Kamehameha", "Laie" and "Hau-ula""It's pretty funny - but then again, my pronunciations are hysterical too.
a few more pics from this week...
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| Me NOT enjoying the beggar ducks |
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| Took the girls to a special fireside presentation |
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| Why it would be special to preteens - yep, that's David Archuleta |
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Ron in the ancient banyan tree being a little boy again -
Recognize this place? You would if you were a fan
of Lost and/or Pirates of the Caribbean |
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| Me on the ground, exactly where I belong |
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Thanksgiving Day at Tita's Grill - a wonderful
family that looks upon missionaries and the
homeless with equal love and compassion. |
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The band that came to entertain. They were fun...though, I
must say, "Margaritaville seemed a strange choice for a
room full of missionaries and people who may have a little
problem in the drink department - but hey, they did a fine job! |
Missionary Thoughts
So, I just got back from
Church. I was so frustrated! I shouldn't be. I should be
patient and humble. Oh how I wish I was! Elder Jones and I are teaching
the Marriage and Family Relations class for Sunday School. We work pretty
hard on it.
It's a small, intimate
group of couples and we're glad it is...except today only one person came AND
our normal classroom had some other people meeting in there ..... so we had to
find another place to go. To top it off, there were a few other couples
from our class in the hallway, but they were talking to other people and after
10 minutes of just standing there waiting, I personally decided that this just
wasn't going to happen and went over to attend the regular Sunday School
lesson. I'm okay with that....even though I found myself with stupid
tears in my eyes - I think because I started worrying about the significance of
the class and whether it was simply not interesting. Really, it was just
circumstances. And before anyone starts talking about how rude the attendees
were - it really is a different culture around here. I can get all up in
arms about it, but it will only frustrate me. I need to understand and
work from within rather than want to get all boo hoo'ey about things.
So I was thinking while
I was all sniffly about a talk given just today in Sacrament. There was a
touching story I could never summarize sufficiently, so I am going to share the
actual words taken from a talk given by one of our Church leaders, Elder
Bednar:
Early one summer morning
I was showering. My wife called to me in the middle of my shower and indicated
that I was needed immediately on the telephone. (This was before the day of
cell and cordless phones). I quickly put on my robe and hurried to the phone. I
next heard the voice of a dear sister and friend informing me of a tragic
automobile accident that had just occurred in a remote area involving three
teenage young women from our stake. Our friend indicated one of the young women
had already been pronounced dead at the scene of the accident and that the two
other young women were badly injured and presently were being transported to
the regional medical center in Fayetteville. She further reported that the
identity of the deceased young woman was not yet known. There was urgency in
her voice, but there was no panic or excessive alarm. She then asked if I could
go to the hospital, meet the ambulance when it arrived, and assist in
identifying the young women. I answered that I would leave immediately.
During the course of our
telephone conversation and as I listened to both the information being conveyed
and the voice of our friend, I gradually became aware of two important things.
First, this friend's daughter was one of the young women involved in the
accident. Our friend lived approximately 35 miles from the hospital and
therefore needed the assistance of someone who lived closer to the city.
Second, I detected that the mother simultaneously was using two telephone
handsets--with one in each hand pressed to each of her ears. I became aware
that as she was talking with me, she was also talking with a nurse at a small
rural hospital who had initially attended to the three accident victims. Our
friend was receiving updated information about the condition of the young women
in the very moment she was informing me about the accident and requesting my
help. I then heard one of the most remarkable things I have ever heard in my
life.
I faintly heard the nurse
telling this faithful mother and friend that the young woman pronounced dead at
the scene of the accident had been positively identified as her daughter. I
could not believe what I was hearing. I was listening to this good woman in the
very moment that she learned of the death of her precious daughter. Without
hesitation, and with a calm and most deliberate voice, our friend next said,
"President Bednar, we must get in contact with the two other mothers. We
must let them know as much as we can about the condition of their daughters and
that they will soon be in the hospital in Fayetteville." There was no
self-pity; there was no self-absorption; there was no turning inward. The
Christlike character of this devoted woman was manifested in her immediate and
almost instinctive turning outward to attend to the needs of other suffering
mothers. It was a moment and a lesson that I have never forgotten. In a moment
of ultimate grief, this dear friend reached outward when I likely would have
turned inward.
I then drove to the
hospital with a concern in my heart for the well-being of the two other
beautiful young women who had been involved in the accident. Little did I
realize that the lessons I would learn about Christlike character--lessons
taught by seemingly ordinary disciples--were just beginning.
I arrived at the hospital
and proceeded to the emergency room. After properly establishing who I was and
my relationship to the victims, I was invited into two different treatment
areas to identify the injured young women. It was obvious that their respective
wounds were serious and life threatening. And the lovely countenances and
physical features of these young women had been badly marred. Within a
relatively short period of time, the two remaining young women died. All three
of these virtuous, lovely, and engaging young women--who seemed to have so much
of life in front of them--suddenly had gone home to their Eternal Father. My
attention and the attention of the respective families now shifted to funeral
arrangements and logistics.
A day or so later, in the
midst of program planning and detail arranging for the three funerals, I
received a phone call from the Relief Society president of my home ward. Her
daughter had been one of the victims in the accident, and she and I had talked
several times about her desires for the funeral program. This faithful woman
was a single mother rearing her only child--her teenage daughter. I was
especially close to this woman and her daughter having served as both their
bishop and stake president. After reviewing and finalizing several details for
the funeral of her daughter, this good sister said to me, "President, I am
sure it was difficult for you to see my daughter in the emergency room the
other day. She was severely injured and disfigured. As you know, we will have a
closed casket at the funeral. I have just returned from the funeral home, and
they have helped my daughter to look so lovely again. I was just wondering
. . . why don't we arrange a time when we can meet at the
mortuary and you can have one last look at her before she is buried. Then your
final memories of my daughter will not be the images you saw in the emergency
room the other day." I listened and marveled at the compassion and
thoughtfulness this sister had for me. Her only daughter had just been
tragically killed, but she was concerned about the potentially troublesome
memories I might have given my experience in the emergency room. In this good
woman I detected no self-pity and no turning inward. Sorrow, certainly.
Sadness, absolutely. Nevertheless, she reached outward when many or perhaps most
of us would have turned inward with sorrow and grief.
Let me describe one final
episode related to these three tragic deaths. On the day of her daughter's
funeral, this Relief Society president from my home ward received a phone call
from an irritated sister in our ward. The complaining sister had a cold and did
not feel well, and she basically chewed out the Relief Society president for
not being thoughtful or compassionate enough to arrange for meals to be
delivered to her home. Just hours before the funeral of her only child, this
remarkable Relief Society president prepared and delivered a meal to the
murmuring sister.
We appropriately and
rightly speak with reverence and awe of young men who sacrificed their lives to
rescue stranded handcart pioneers and of other mighty men and women who
repeatedly gave their all to establish the Church in the early days of the
Restoration. I speak with equal reverence and awe of these two women--women of
faith and character and conversion--who taught me so much and instinctively
reached outward when most of us would have turned inward. Oh how I appreciate
their quiet and powerful examples.
Let me suggest that you
and I must be praying and yearning and striving and working to cultivate a
Christlike character if we hope to receive the spiritual gift
of charity--the pure love of Christ. Charity is not a trait or
characteristic we acquire exclusively through our own purposive persistence and
determination. Indeed we must honor our covenants and live worthily and do all
that we can do to qualify for the gift; but ultimately the gift of charity
possesses us--we do not posses it (see Moroni 7:47). The Lord determines if and
when we receive all spiritual gifts, but we must do all in our power to desire
and yearn and invite and qualify for such gifts. As we increasingly act in
a manner congruent with the character of Christ, then perhaps we
are indicating to heaven in a most powerful manner our desire for the supernal
spiritual gift of charity. And clearly we are being blessed with
this marvelous gift as we increasingly reach outward when the natural man or
woman in us would typically turn inward.
Wow.
The person I am now would not have acted like that Relief Society
president. The person I am now would have taken all of my pent up anger,
hurt and grief and hurled it at her like a canon! And that isn't' who
I want to be, because I really do see that it takes all that perseverance,
love, charity and humility to become the best I can be. As the Primary
song goes:
I'm trying to be like
Jesus;
I'm following in his
ways.
I'm trying to
love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am
tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to
listen as the still small voice whispers,
Chorus
"Love one another
as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in
all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in
deed and in thought,
For these are the things
Jesus taught.
I'm trying to love my
neighbor;
I'm learning to serve my
friends.
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will
come again.
I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:
Chorus
"Love one another
as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in
all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in
deed and in thought,
For these are the things
Jesus taught.
If I'm only like Jesus when it's easy, I'm not
living up to my full potential and I'm not being of any good on this mission or
beyond. I really am trying to be like Jesus - so I really do want to
conquer selfishness and pride. The little things in life that cause
annoyance come mostly from an inability to see the big picture. What if
that surprise meeting in the classroom was to help a family with a problem?
What if people didn't show up (and this really is the truth) because one
couple just had their baby last night earlier than expected, one husband was
teaching another Sunday School class, one wife had to cover for someone who was
sick and one couple had a toddler who was absolutely inconsolable and they
didn't want to disrupt the class? What do my little sniffly feelings
matter when I didn't even take the time to consider the needs of others?
Just seems like a whole lot of unnecessary hoorah to me, and I jumped
right into it. So I'm going to work on doing better.
Thanks for letting me talk this out. I
feel better now!
LOVE and BLESSINGS to you all this great holiday season!!!!
I will convey one experience from this week. I try to hard to learn the words for "hello" in each of the six languages of the Polyensian villages here.
After his mission, he married Santhi in 2007, a young woman
he had been arranged to marry since he was a young child. She was a graduate of Andhra University with
a Master’s degree in Chemistry. Her
father was a Christian Pastor. He did
not believe in Anand’s religion. Neither
did Santhi. It was very difficult. She did not want to hear about the
Church. She had been advised not to
listen by her family. This lasted for a
couple of years. Then she agreed to
attend Church. She listened to the
missionaries. She loved what she heard
and she decided to be baptized and join the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. 
In 2010, after much prayer and effort, Anand was accepted to
Brigham Young University – Hawaii. He,
Santhi and their son, Daivik, came to Hawaii with much faith and little
else. Anand is pursuing a degree in
Information Technology. He feels that he
will be able to return to his homeland with an education that will support his
family and allow him to positively lead and support his community. Santhi teaches chemistry classes in BYUH and
is volunteering to develop a way to convert biodiesel Glycerin into soap.
When
the Vakapallis first moved to Laie to attend school, they were placed in a very
small apartment unit with a promise that they would be moved into a larger one
as soon as one became available. When
that time came, they felt like they would have to say no simply because they
could not afford it. They walked into
the apartment knowing that they were going to have to turn it down. When they turned around to leave, they saw
thru the door a perfect view of the La’ie Temple. Most of the apartments do not have this
amazing view. They knew that they must
have this blessing in their lives. Their
reverence for the temple is manifested every evening as they gather around
their doorway to say family prayers in full view of a Temple of the Lord, which
they recognize to be one of the greatest blessings members have on the earth
today. Their apartment may be small and
humble, but when given an opportunity to move to even an even larger apartment,
they would not give up their precious temple view.
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