September 29, 2024

Big Month in New Zealand

 

The third-floor conference room is also used for social functions.  We’re celebrating the departure of a couple from the Communications Department.  Gina Truman looks from behind Ruby Hugo, our legal secretary.

Ruby comes from South Africa.  After one year of applications, paperwork, etc., Her family was granted citizenship in New Zealand.  We surprised her with a lunch of meat pies, Cole slaw, kiwi fruit, and a cake.  She was shocked!  Her flushed face required an immediate fan to relieve her stunned reaction.  She keeps the OGC running smoothly every day.

OGC was invited to a rugby game in Hamilton by a firm we often use for outside counsel.  Lifting teammates to catch the in pass remains one of my favorite visual aspects of the game. 

The extra kick staged extremely close to the sideline.  It was a successful score.

Another view of a different kick for the extra point.

We watched from the elite VIP box.  We received royal treatment all evening, including fabulous hors d'oeuvres beverages, and excellent company.

The scrum.  Such powerful bodies

Meeting attorney, Kainoa Hemi, was the treasured evening highlight for me.  We spent a lot of time visiting.  Her mother is Hawaiian, her father Māori.  Obviously, she embodies the best of both cultures.  Kainoa served a mission to Japan and continues on the path of other interesting ventures.   She’s as brilliant as she is beautiful.  What an amazing woman.

I was teaching our primary class about Samuel the prophet and his exile from the city.  Suddenly, the voice of Samuel rang from the “wall” behind them.  The children were shocked but listened carefully to “Samuel”.  Rick has been a great sport in teaching visual-life-like concepts.  They’ll remember that lesson. 

We enjoy these children every Sunday.

Aaron, Letitia, and Aiden appeared at the end of English Connect class one night.  Pam Tanner and I “cooed” and “awed” while holding that sweet baby.  We acted like real Grandmothers.  We feel good about creating a family feeling in our classes.

Aiden was unfazed by all our fussing.

After many hours and days of meetings for the new CPD department, we joined together for dinner.  Our Public Affairs missionaries from Australia and Papua New Guinea joined us along with visitors from SLC and Tania Torea from Wellington.

Sonny Samuela sits across from me.  He and his fabulous wife, Muriel, head all public affairs for the Auckland Temple Open House.  I'm honored to serve with them.  Sonny kept me laughing all night.  Muriel puts up with a lot, but this jovial Samoan man could do comedy on stage.

 

 

 

September 22, 2024

“Strive to Be”, Albert Park and

Miracle in Vanuatu

I interviewed these four fabulous youth at Moroni High School in Kiribati.  Each shared an experience for President Nelson’s “99 plus 1” celebration.

Charlie’s story was chosen by the church’s social media department.  It was posted September 8 on Instagram “Strive to Be” at the Pacific Newsroom site.  Last I checked he had 3700 "likes" and a few touching comments.  He certainly inspired me.

The entrance to Albert Park in Auckland

The inner-city park is known for its trees.  Notice the couple seated on a low branch on the left.

The spring flower beds provided an added bonus.

The flower colors popped with beauty.

Spectacular trees

Rick leans against this amazing tree trunk.

Just outside the park we see the church tower above the trees.

The clock shaped flower bed baffles me slightly.

The back side of this tree shows new, green growth.

We found rhubarb growing as ground cover.

Eric Molbaleh, attorney in Vanuatu, and his colleagues.  Eric wears the necklace and Port Vila shirt.  His law offices are seen in the background. 

A few weeks ago, he traveled 20 hours by boat to represent a client on an outer island.  While there, 24 church members were performing a service project when they were arrested on false claims by a few people angry with the church.   All the men were placed in a single jail cell with three woven mats on the floor and a bucket in the corner.  One man was 75 years old, two were juveniles.  They were fed a bowl of watery rice each day.  A few became ill in the deplorable conditions.  Paul, lead attorney in our office, contacted every attorney he knew in Vanuatu.  Distance from the main island prevented anyone from helping in person.  Attorney Eric was there and volunteered to spend the weekend advocating for the men.  The presence of an attorney on the island was only one miracle in this scenario.  The local missionaries brought fresh mats and food every day.  Six days later they were released, they reappear in court in October, so the story is not finished.

Malekula Island, Vanuatu.  These 24 men were wrongfully imprisoned for six days.  The missionaries received permission to bring the Sacrament to them on Sunday.  The District President, seated in the middle wearing a dark shirt with the purple tie, told the missionaries they were not appropriately dressed to receive the ordinance.  The missionaries brought as many ties as possible.  Each man could at least wear something resembling Sabbath apparel.

I’m humbled by their desire to be nicely dressed for participation in Sabbath ordinances.  My thoughts turn to this scenario each Sunday as I sit peacefully in our chapel.  Oh, how blessed we feel.    

September 15, 2024

Takapuna’s Got Talent

We tried something different when Family Home Evening planning fell to the Hafens

Haha.  Someone snapped this photo and added the caption.  The entertainment was great, every presentation.  We serve with talented missionaries.

Elder MacLennan filled the role of Emcee.  He’s quick on his feet and hilarious in such an intellectual way.

The panel of four judges proved to be terrific.  Kurtis Farrell played the role of Simon – complete with a British accent.  Julie Smith showered contestants with specific fine qualities about performances.  Gina Truman comes from a performing family so this is second nature to her.  Rex Miller spread happiness all evening.  Only two judges commented on each talent – that kept the night moving along quickly.

Rick started with “I’m an Old Cowhand”.  He’s known as the silent, studious, hard-working attorney.  The crowd roared with excitement to see this different side.

Karen and Doyle Garner presented a reading with beautiful accompaniment. 

 

The Shaw brothers, and their wives, ended up in the same mission (unplanned).  They all have musical abilities and sang, “Peanut Butter Medley”.

Amy and Jeremy Jaggi sing beautifully together.  As a counselor in the Area Presidency, he is often out of town.  Amy opted to whistle a show tune.  Wow!  She truly showed a new talent.

Merrill Dayton served as a Mission President.  He wrote new lyrics to existing music for every Zone Conference.  He shared a few selections that everyone enjoyed.  I’d always look forward to Zone Conference if he were my President.

OGC did a lip sync to “We are Family.”  Irene Rytting choreographed simple steps to the music.  Notice the unusual mics.  Mine is a hairbrush while Paul holds a flashlight.  The audience roared with laughter, clapped their hands, and danced in the aisles.  This proved to be a favorite number.

 

Many commented that Rick really looked like a teenager.

Carl Mose, friend of Ryttings, sings at hotels and other venues.  He focused on selections from the 70’s and 80’s.  The crowd wouldn’t let him leave.  He played four songs and loved every minute of it.

Sherrie Smith and Linda Miller performed a piano duet, “Bouncin’ Boogie”.  I especially liked to see their hair ribbons bounce up and down.

The front view is awfully cute of these energetic sisters.

Duane Baldwin recited “Jabberwocky”, by Lewis Carroll.  He had every word memorized.

Jim Archibald sang, “You’re No Good”, by Linda Ronstadt.  He encouraged the crowd to join in singing the chorus.  With only a few words, we all knew it.

Sister Missionaries:  One from Tahiti, the other from St. George.  They performed a tame Tahitian dance.  This was a surprise number.

The General Relief Society Presidency introduced the Women and Children initiative a few months ago.  This is a multi-million-dollar project spread over five years.  They include a list of 25 things anyone can do to support their cause.  Item 15 suggests serving something besides sugary treats at church activities.  We jumped on the idea and prepared fruit kebabs and homemade bread.  Our revolutionary refreshments were received with joyous praise.

Takapuna's Got Talent, a fabulous success.  We wouldn't be surprised to see the idea repeated again among senior missionaries.

 

 

September 8, 2024

Communication and Production Department

 Birthday Boys

Last week we were in the Communications department.  We are now Public Affairs, a branch of the CPD.  We’re doing the same thing, just using a different title.   Rich Hunter, on the left, is our great leader.  He greets us every day with his happy, “G ’day”.  Originally from Australia, Rich works with mostly volunteers (senior missionaries) and never complains about the constant change.  Also pictured are Pam and Ben Tanner, me, and Gina Truman (originally from St. George).  Larry and Launette Shaw have been here for ten days and have not yet been photographed with our group.

One morning Rich told me he was “a box of birds”.  

I did not completely understand his expression and asked, “Do you feel stressed?”  

He looked puzzled and responded, “No, a box of birds.”  

Two can play the idiom game so I stated, “That phrase is NOT ‘a piece of cake’ for me.”  

He then clarified, “You know, a box of birds.  I’m excited.”  

Never a dull moment with Rich.

Big Chiefs from Salt Lake City joined us for the ‘pep rally’ meeting creating the new department, then we headed to a hot pot Chinese lunch.  I’ve not eaten this since China.  Order your liquid, mild or spicy, select your veggies and meats, cook your lunch in the hot soup and use chop sticks to pull it from the pot and place it on rice.  The bibs added a nice touch to a messy lunch.  It was a treat to eat tree fungus again and watch others try to manage the pot contents with chopsticks.  Yummy!

Tania Torea, From Wellington, flew in for the day.  (She’s looking at the camera) I’ve worked with her many times, online.  This provided our first chance to meet in person.  We felt immediately like sisters.  She’s a phenomenal woman I feel honored to know and working with her is a pleasure.

Dave and Kata from the Pacific office.

The Shaws and the Tanners.  Pam wants everyone to note she is holding chopsticks. 

 

Ethan and Hani Kieu attend English Connect each week.  Their sons, William and Tony, attend the children’s class.  I enjoy working with them as they study so much and really try to speak well.  They moved from Vietnam a year ago.  Ethan works as a chef and Hani does manicures and eyelash extensions.  In Vietnam Ethan was an engineer and Hani an accountant.  Their boys are brilliantly smart and speak two languages fluently.  A few weeks ago, I gave them a gift-wrapped Book of Mormon.  They always bring it to class and find the reference when we close with a scripture.

Aiden Lin is now a month old.  His parents are on childbirth leave from English Class.  He’s like a little emperor.  They adore him. 

Last week I substituted in the children’s English class.  The teacher told me there would be three students.  Seven boys filled the tiny room. 

We sang YMCA, created sentences from vocabulary words, told stories from pictures I presented, and each named three good things that happened during the week.  Rick joined me to help with this youth group.  We forced them to converse with us, not simply repeat phrases.  It was a lively class, and I reported to Sister Dayton that she’ll need a bigger room to accommodate the increase in students.

Above you see three that were in my class that week.   I was tickled when they came in the Beginner Adult Class to say “Hello”.  

Primary CTR class

  We’re temporarily combined with another ward while the asbestos is removed from their church ceilings.  Our lessons are short, and we do lots of activities and singing.  The boys are especially fond of Rick.  He gives constant high 5’s.  Often, parents and grandparents join us.  We’re using a lot of creativity with this delightful crowd.

Stacking  Hafen Brothers in 2014.

2019 Glacier Park – Hans now joins the big boys.

2021 – Konrad, Paul, Thomas, and Hans.  Our three sons celebrate their birthdays in September and October.  Here’s wishing all three of these wonderful men the happiest of celebrations.