A bunch of recent happenings here in Laie!!

Our friends Leilei and Cindy. they are getting married.

His name is not Cindy but we call him that. She is a hygenist.

They are a cute couple.

Alvin and Prettica Singh. They are the computer whiz.

Bryce and Roseanne Bowles visit. What a treat to see those faces in person. We took them to the Tahitian Village Devotional. It was wonderful.

Gil at my desk. What a view!!

PCC to the left. Ben the gardner having lunch break. He is an adorable man.

My cut! Thanks Sharma for the med kit. Perfect stuff. Helping!!!

The mission settlement girls.

The quilt squares behind us are precut and ready for guests to buy.

Grandma Lilies hand appliqued wedding flower quilt. It is a magnificent Piece.

The green fabric is one piece of fabric!!

Monday is pink Mumu day!!

Weychen, LaVelle Moss volunteered from Provo. A widow and BYU prof. Jolene Ogden Nurse with Dr Podiatrist husband Marshall just arrived also to be 2nd in command. Bev Eggett mans the chapel next building over, me. I run between the office and the Settlement. Seated is Bonnie Adams leaving and turning head position over to Cynthia Pulley and her husband Steve.

Student from our ward. He and his sister Naniko are favorites of mine. Her husband is Rio and baby is beautiful. His wife is A wonderful conversion story. He looks like he's having a street meeting eh?

Talking about the Book of Mormon.

My pet project is getting signs. One tooth pulling job at a time...

If you look close Gil is over there fixing the luau sign.

Another goodbye. They are so hard!!

New couple on the left.

Weychin such a talented cheerful loveable girl.

Mele head MS lady with Bishop Steve. Talent galore.

Missionary friends Jeff and Joan McDonald. AND the cutest lady!

His 91 year old mom. Sis in law to Bill and Verna Egbert. Imagine that. Pass foto on if u can.

Ceremony and food bidding Farewell to The Adams. This is Sia a local woman with student Ghana from Mongolia.

A RS Pres in her student ward. Delightful always smiling girl.

The Petersons. He's on his way to Reno for Hot August Nights.

We dont know them as well but such nice people.

Another departing couple. Susan Easton Black too. Traditionally we sing Aloha Oe and present them with a departing lei.

It's emotional. I always cry.

From our ward. Salt of the earth people. Been here 2 years. He is a psychiatrist, sociologist, BYU counselor.

Home is Provo

Dragon Fruit.

Last week we tried lychee. Unusual. Size of a small plumb. Tough skin u peel to find a wet white juicy fruit that tastes like a large grape with a large seed in the middle u save and plant. Yum.

Beach Walks

We try to get in as many beach walks as we can early in the morning. Usually we are the only ones out there. Here are some photos of some recent ones.

We find home made beach swings

Feeling very brave. How hard can they pinch do you think???

Gil the master crab catcher.

Ward Party at Our House

We had a ward party at our house a few weeks ago. It was really fun. We had Tama Bopp come and give a lesson on how to open or husk a coconut. He is amazing. Then the team to open coconuts and get the most coconut water won. The boys pounded them so hard they lost all the water but the girls were careful! The girls won. It was so fun... and fun to watch!! The winners got a bottle of coconut pancake syrup. YUM

Brook Spurrier from NZ is a Woman!

Tama Bopp giving the instructions.

Some of the wives watching from the porch.

Interesting quick story.

Every morning I unlock the board room - sometimes the building. We leave for the PCC office at 8:15 a.m. and arrive 6 minutes or less later. I am in charge of the Devotional, making out the schedule, emailing everyone a reminder the day before, laying out the song books and the I give the program to the Conductor of the Devotional which is one of the Execs. By then it is exactly 8:30 a.m. The board room is impressive with large black leather chairs, about 20 or more, I'll count them tomorrow, and a lovely long shiney table that looks like rich mahogany embellished with a gold inlayed strip around it. (Gold paint, not real gold.) This room has been visited by Prophets and Apostles of the Lord, Presidents of Universities and Countries. It is an impressive room. It has a picture of the 12 Apostles on one wall with the Prophet and Presiding 1st Presidency next to a picture of Jesus. There is good lighting and ambiance but it is freezing in there. We all say BR! It is very highly air conditioned. It has a cupboard from floor to ceiling housing all the electrical wiring that hooks the room up to Cable and internet and conference calling with a 10 foot by 10 foot retractable screen on one end of the room. It has other tasteful and exotic decor which are lovely gifts from dignitaries around the world displayed there and all through our foyer and office... Each day someone in the office is assigned to do a Cultural Belief, (which is basically an example of one of the points of the Mission Statement of the PCC, for example: an employee who Wowed a guest), Spiritual Thought and choosing our song, a Prayer on the day, and then any announcements or comments are called for. Then everyone is wished a great day and we are off. I am always impressed and amazed at the wisdom and preparation that comes from each individual; especially when Elderly Patriarch President David Hanneman gives one of his Cultural Beliefs or one of his prayers, you know that God is listening to him. The spirit permeates the room and my soul and I am ready for the day and whatever it brings.

Yesterday for the Cultural Belief, Bobby Akoi, (my boss) told us of a guest that came in 1998 that we would find interesting. The crown Prince of Saudi Arabia asked to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center with his entourage of 20. They flew here in a Private Jet and rented the 2nd floor of the Turtle Bay Resort. He brought his own cook with him and asked to visit the PCC for part of the day, then be served dinner and go to the Horizon's Night Show that starts of 7:30 p.m. Our night show is the biggest tourist attraction on Oahu. It really is a spectacular show that has run for over 12 years with tweeking here and there, and will be retired for the new show called "HA" meaning the Breath of Life to be started in August. With the debut of "HA," all preparations from costumes to new lighting and sound systems in the Pacific Theatre are underway. It is a BIG deal, and everyone is busy in preparations.

The Prince and his entourage seemed to enjoy the Villages and threw many hundred dollar bills as tips to guides and staff as they went along their tour of the PCC. Their cook was put in touch with Fifita, our head Food and Beverage lady and together they got what was necessary for him to prepare their special meal. They were served privately in one of the Villages King's Lodge. Bobby felt some tension about them yet they were very kind and he left them in the charge of Logo to finish their meal while he went to the Pacific Theatre to check on their Night Show front row seating arrangements. By 7:45 p.m. he called Logo on his cell phone to see where they all were, the show had started and they hadn't artived. Logo said they had been sent to the Theatre with one of our guides. After investigating, Bobby found that the group all wanted to smoke and out of respect, knowing we don't smoke in our facility (yet we do have several smoking areas - perhaps they didn't know that,) they left without seeing the show. Bobby sent them a note to thank them for their visit and sorry they missed the show etc....

A week later a note was sent back. They had a wonderful experience and were delighted with what they saw and learned about the Polynesian Culture, and thanked all who made their visit a good experience Attached was a generous donation check for $10,000.00.

This place is full of stories.......I love this place.
Love MOM

July 4th

Gil loves his lava lava (skirt)

This is Tama and Gailyn Bopp

Wonderful friends we adore.

Misty Rose from the Philippines - she is head Luau girl at the "Ohana"! Always running - Busy Busy!

Working the Luau July 4 with Tama & Gailyn

journal entry

Sunday May 31, 2009.
Yesterday we went to Hauula to have an island experience. Eating at the Local Papa Ole’s for lunch with the Bopp family. Tama, Gailyn, Indigo, gorgeous girl of 8 and Sage, beautiful boy of 6. It was fun to be with a family and children. They are great people and have become dear friends, giving us love and assistance and directions for everything. They came back to our house and we cut up a pineapple that we bought roadside from Ava at her local stand. Ava is so kind to us and tried to give us everything once she saw our missionary tags. We tried to pay her full price but she would not hear of it. She makes the most delicious fresh juice and fruit drinks and insisted we each have one. It was divine. Papaya, Mango, bananas, pineapple juice….and whatever else. Very delicious. So lovely are the people here. The Bopp family played on the beach while I rested in a lawn chair from our moving experience. I was bushed. We moved from our Vacation Rental over the garage on part of the day Thursday and finished Friday afternoon. We still have much to get settled. It wasn’t so hard but was; due to the rigorous work schedule we keep up. I just get a little worn out. We run from thing to thing and the move intensified fatigue, but I feel strength and vigor return as we go along. We go early each day and have only one down morning a week, sometimes none. 8 a.m. is the norm.
Today I was called on to speak impromptu in Sacrament Meeting. I can now think of more things to say but I delivered and it is done. I bore my testimony and told of how pleased we are to be serving in this Paradise among such choice people as they are. Most of the students here live in TVA housing, ( Temple View Housing,) including our ward which is the married student 2nd Ward 5th Stake. They are in sight of the gorgeous Laie Temple which is closed for complete overhaul renovation until June of 2010. That will be a great time, the rededication. We are so excited to be serving at this historic time when the Temple will re-open.
We are having combined Elders Quorum and Relief Society meeting today and our Teacher is our Bishop. Bishop Buckingham who has been a marriage and family relations counselor for over 30 years. These are my notes from his talk. Very appropriate to a ward of newly weds – and old timers too. He has great advice!
Proverbs 10:13 says: Only by pride cometh contention, but with the well advised is Wisdom. (I’ve always said that the answers to all of life is in the scriptures. Seek and find them.)
He goes on to say:
What do boxers do when they go into the ring before the fight?
They shake hands and have RULES
Marriages should also have RULES OF ARGUMENTS.
No yelling
No name calling
Yelling and name calling is grounds to walk away. Dialogue is over when 1 and 2 happen. These things make you forget the issue. Even pet words used on us can be trip wires….
Remember that we all bring our personal history and unresolved historical issues to our marriages. Be aware of what you brought to the marriage that can be an issue – causing a trip wire. Trip wires are easily camoflauged but easily tripped on. We tend to put disproportionate amounts of emotion on something that our spouse may trip on. We create mine fields that our spouses have to tip toe around. We all have different perspectives. What unresolved issues you have that you bring to the marriage that cause trip wires and mine fields have to be identified and diffused. Your spouse doesn’t want to intentionally upset you. How is he or she to know??
Lack of sleep, pressures, deadlines at work, hunger etc. tax our physical strength and patience. Pick a time when you have physical and emotional energy to resolve conflicts. Be hyper vigilant in keeping peace in the evenings because that iw when most arguments start, when people are spent and tired. Criticism and complaints start arguments.
A study was done that concluded that ones who stayed married give 5 to 1 more compliments and affirmations than criticisms. This builds up an emotional bank account for rough times.
Keep the emotional bank accounts healthy........
After Sacrament Meeting today he asked all our ward to consider 3 things.
1. Get more out of Sacrament - bring a notepad and take notes
2. Go to a really nice restaurant this week and have a really nice celebration dinner. Save the receipt and let that receipt be your benchmark for your fast offering donation. It isn’t about the money. It is about Sacrifice. We need to sacrifice more and then we shall reap the blessings that come from it.
3. If any of you are putting off having children, he challenged the congregation to rethink their posture. We gain Godly attributes by, through, and because of our children. By being parents. Take it to the Lord.
Gil said we are good on 1 and 2. Are we going to have more children???
Love to all.

June 2009

Gary and Maren Dixon with Kathy Tolleson who directs me when I do letters for the Pres. Kathy has a son serving in Iraq. She is good at what she does. Nice looking Board room!

David Haneman. Over 85 yrs old. Comes in everyday doing research and history scrapbooking of years of the PCC. He is giving a Cultural Belief presentation at our morning Devotional. He used to take all the visiting dignitaries of foreign countries and all the VIP s on personal and private tours of the PCC. He has his picture with everyone who is anyone A powerful spiritual giant. Everyone adores him. We certainly do.

The Protocol Secretary I am replacing. Her last day at work is Wed. I dearly adore her.

At the break the fast Sunday potluck. Earl & Shirley Denos. Its a fun time.

I make the food assignments and all the PCC Missionaries break fast together.

ElderS Rex and the Pulley's. Rex is the one whose daughter is getting married here on our beach next week. Pulleys are taking charge of the mission settlement next month when Adams' are released.

For break the fast. Behind Gil is Elder Hobbs alias Tiny Tim married to Lorraine who is 4 foot nothing and 90 lbs, raised mink and farmed acres up near the Idaho boarder past Logan. They are the Nicest! Their job is to make runs for supplies. They go all over the Island everday for something somewhere. Wonderful people. Every couple is so sweet and nice. Add your prayers for Pulley's grandson. Age 3. Cancer.

Our friend Connie, she is from China and learned English here. She volunteers at the MS while her husband teaches. She is so fun to talk to and learn about. They are on their way to Montana and up to BC. She has never been to the mainland so I am excited to hear about her two week trip. Gil & I are in our matching attire to work the Luau.

Connie is in Mission Settlement mu'mu.

Hard work - Great work environment!!

Just a pretty little garden we walk through on the way to and fro.

Bidding and singing departing missionaries farewell. The tissues are passed around!! Sniff.

Monday is pink Mu'mu day. Some of my girlfriends I work with in the Mission Settlement.

Carol Hansen, Cynthia Pulley, Bonnie Adams. The husbands are posted a few photos down in their matching shirts.

Denos's Farewell. Every village brings gifts, leis, and songs of Appreciatio. Then we eat!!

Florences Farewell. Sure going to miss these folks that leave!!! :(

John H. Steve P. Dave A.