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.