March 23, 2025

Communication Department Area Seminar

Communication (Public Affairs) Directors throughout the Pacific Area congregated in Auckland for a three-day seminar. 

Our BYU intern, Jasmin Balahadia, Susan, and Tania Torea – our favorite Māori sister from Wellington.  She’s a public affairs employee for New Zealand.

Evenings included gathering for lively games of 5 Crowns.  These people are fun and competitive.

Māori show on night two.  They used the audience to help perform.

These men were hilarious when they tried to do the Haka.

Emily Kwok from Australia.  She’s my new sister.  Emily lived in Hong Kong until age 6.  What a remarkable woman. 

Veronica Strong, Jasmin, and Jeremy Higgins.  These ‘youngsters’ comprised the panel on social media.  They’re all pros.  Veronica handles social media for the Pacific Area.  Jeremy also taught many tips for taking good pictures.

Lavinia Kaumaitotoya (Fiji), Maria Good (Auckland), Supi Toimoana (Tonga), Louise Parker (Australia), Kim Woodbury (SLC-Church headquarters), Hina Garbutt (French Polynesia – Tahiti), Tania Torea (Wellington – Church employee in communications)

Panel discussions were so valuable.  Topics included; Working with Priesthood Leaders, How to build news media relationships, Developing relationships with government and communications and inter-faith leaders.  Other presentations were made by OGC (go Paul!!), Effectively using social media, taking better pictures for stories, Protecting religious freedom, and more than I can list.

We enjoyed an afternoon at the open house for the Auckland Temple.

Solomone and Lavinia Kaumaitotoya (Fiji).  I love their bright clothes.  This happy couple proved to be delightful during every phase of the seminar.

Reita Andrews from Kiribati.  We met last year and have remained in touch.  I love this special sister.

No one dares NOT join in singing ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ with Sonny Samuela.  Only his wife, Muriel, would skip doing what Sonny commands.  Truthfully, he is a lot of fun and has a heart of Gold.

The last night we opened our Family Search Apps to ‘Find a Relative’.  Solomone is my cousin.  His grandmother was Scottish and a relative to my Grandfather Bailey.  I embraced my new cousin in a huge bear hug.

Eight cousins.  One from Fiji, another from Tonga, one lives in Wellington NZ, and another comes from Australia.  Three are missionaries from the USA.  Now, we’re family.  Solomone suspected there was also a joyous reunion in Heaven.