Hawaii assignment

I was sent to Hawaii for a few days to report on Elder Rasband's ministry and other stories. I got to Oahu on Wednesday night and spent Thurs-Friday there, then I went to Maui for the rest of Friday-Sunday and flew home overnight Sunday night. I wrote five articles about the experience for the Church News. Each headline below should be hyperlinked to the article.

Elder Rasband’s message of love for young adults in Hawaii

A call for integrity: Elder Rasband’s invitation at BYU–Hawaii

6 months after the Maui fires, survivors share how they have seen God’s hand, felt His love

The message of ministering and love that Elder Rasband shared in Maui

85-year-old Hawaiian Latter-day Saint inspires with lifelong lessons of self-reliance and faith

I learned again to prepare and plan before a work assignment but then to follow promptings when you get there. I learned from the Smiths (who lost their home in the fires) that gratitude is a powerful tool and gift. And I felt so inspired by Sister Chase's talk in their stake conference to ask yourself, "What would you do if you were not afraid?" 

I got to see the Polynesian Cultural Center where JB's parents met around 52 years ago (they were both on vacation with their families), and BYU-Hawaii campus and a teeny part of Oahu's north shore. I saw again some of the wonderful people I met six months ago when I first went to Maui after the fires. And I met new amazing people, including those I interviewed for the six month followup story, and an amazing lady who lives deep in the mountains on the Road to Hana.

If I'm assigned to go back, I hope it's for the new temple! And I need to bring JB with me. I was busy the whole time driving around, interviewing people, writing stories, going to meetings, etc, but there were some times when I stopped and stared out at the water and wished for my family.

Here are the pictures I took in backwards order.

At the airport bathroom on Sunday night, showing some of my sunburn (even with sunblock, ugh) before I changed from my dress into clothes to wear on the plane ride home. I had been in meetings and visits all day.

Writing my story on the grass by a food truck where I finally ate after running around all day living off granola bars in my backpack.

A feral chicken stalking me.

Singing Aloha Oe at the end of stake conference (I got goosebumpy and teary-eyed)

On Saturday, Feb. 10, Aunty Meiling showed us to the shore where she used to fish with her family.

She also showed us her Taro patch. That's my photographer taking her photo (you can see the photo he took in my article)

I remember sometimes to take selfies for my family back home.

Here's the lunch she served us. Spam, hot dog, various Hawaiian seafood salads, rice and noodles.

The road is so twisty and turny and narrow and I got quite carsick, ugh. It helped to pull over at viewpoints and have the breeze in my face. The photographer Scott took this panoramic and got me in it -- that other foot is one of the senior missionaries that took us there.

On Friday, Feb. 9 I interviewed Etina at her new temporary place, and then interviewed the Smith family where they are staying in one hotel room until they can rebuild (hundreds of people are in this waiting mode, it's awful). Scott took their photos on the beach and I love how they turned out for the article.

Photographer Scott's wife came as well and they had an anniversary vacation together before I got there for the assignment. They showed me where to spot whales and I saw a few but alas none showed up in this photo.

This is me in the hotel in Laie after a wonderful visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center on Thursday night. My family would have LOVED it.

The dances and show at the PCC were amazing. I was there to write about the devotional before the show. and share just a little bit about what it is all about. We'll have more in coming days and weeks from our film crew, who are there this weekend.

Roasted pig. I took a picture to show my kids.

There's a young man up in that tree picking coconut in the Samoa section of the PCC.

This guy was so funny. He showed how to make a fire and husk a coconut.

I am obsessed with the New Zealand section of the PCC.

They did a few dances and then did the Haka and let me tell you, seeing the Haka up close in person is terrifying and awesome.

The Tongan village was really fun.

Here's the Tahiti village.

Here's a wayfinding ship. The presenter fully embraced the movie Moana.

This is the introduction pavilion where I kept thinking of my in-laws being so cute as they spotted each other for the first time.

I tried to take this panoramic shot of BYU-Hawaii.

I mean, maybe I should have come here for a semester in college!

I walked to campus from the hotel on Thursday morning to see where I would need to be later that day for my article assignment.

When I landed in Honolulu on Wednesday night, I had to take pictures of the mountains and really did not do them justice.

I tried to take a selfie in a parking lot Wednesday night to show JB that I had arrived and was getting something to eat so he shouldn't worry, but this lady popped up behind me. Sorry lady!

Basketball for Ben and James

 James had a great Junior Jazz season. He improved in dribbling and confidence and was a good teammate. This was the little boy who did not like to play and used to call the other team "the bad guys" when he was a preschooler trying out soccer for the first time.

Ben had a great high school basketball season. Watching him was very exciting -- lots of blocks and assists and layups because of his position at center, but once or twice when he moved outside he hit a 3!

He started for the sophomore team and often got into the game for the JV team.

When he played at his cousins' school, they came to watch.

Nona and Papa came to several games.

JB often helped keep score for the sophomores and I loved seeing Ben check in next to him.

All that basketball and growing and schoolwork can make a boy sleepy.

And hungry. He and his friends Luke and Mason like to buy steak if they can find it on sale and grill it up.

Spiritual milestones

In January, we had some exciting spiritual milestones. Andrew was ordained a teacher at church and now helps prepare the sacrament. He still passes each Sunday because we don't have that many deacons.

Then Millie had an evening where they welcomed everyone turning 8 this year and talked about the blessings of making covenants with God at baptism.

She loves Primary and likes to read the scriptures for kids books we have.

Next year at this time, we will have a missionary, priest, teacher, and deacon when James moves up!

We continue to love speaking to Max every week from Texas. He is learning so much and he is hopeful for all those he teaches that they will recognize how the gospel blesses lives. He is also hopeful to get his visa for Bolivia. Many many missionaries are waiting, so send up a little prayer when you can for that country.