Happy Birthday!

August 20 - Elder Black

August 30 - Sister Keyes

BELONGING TO HEAVEN

On BYUH campus we have the George Q Cannon Activities Center and the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian and Pacific Island Studies. Just outside the Cannon Center stands a seven-foot-tall bronze statue depicting the two men, whose collaborative efforts produced the translation of the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian. These two men are tied to this university because of their close ties to the beginnings of the church on the Hawaiian islands.  Articles and books have been written about them and their early missionary efforts. 

Photo from the Deseret News Archives

One book, "Belonging to Heaven," by author Gail Sears, is described by Deseret Book as follows:

Hawaii. A land of deep tradition and rich culture. A people of family and faith. A paradise on earth.

Jonathan Napela is a descendant of the Hawaiian royal line, and his future is bright with a new wife and a position of influence in the community. As a devout man, he believes in God, but he feels there is something more—something he is missing. When he meets Elder George Q. Cannon and is introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jonathan feels as though he has finally found where he belongs.

Jonathan's friendship with George provides remarkable opportunities for the young Hawaiian to grow in his new faith. His joy in the gospel is tested though, when he is challenged by those he once called friends, and later when he struggles to gather Saints to Laie. And when leprosy threatens to take his beautiful wife, Kitty, from him, Jonathan faces an impossible choice: send his wife to the leper colony of Moloka'i alone, or risk how own life to accompany her. Drawing on his deep reservoirs of faith, Jonathan comes to understand that opening his heart to sacrifice is the purest expression of love.

This novel, based on a true story, is an extraordinary example of a man who chooses to serve God and family when others might have given up.

The book is available at the BYUH Library and you can check it out with your ID card.

Links to two additional articles are listed below:

http://ldsmag.com/article-1-11975/

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1978/08/jonathon-napela-quiet-hero-of-hawaii?lang=eng

Most of us, as missionaries, are only here for a moment; but by learning about those who have paved the way, we appreciate even more the opportunity we have to be serving in this place at this time.  

Aloha and Welcome - Elder and Sister Mueller

A big Hawaiian aloha to Wilford and Christina Mueller who have this to say by way of introduction:

Sister Mueller and I are from Lindon, Utah, where we have lived the past 14 years. Previously we had lived in West Jordan where we primarily raised our 6 children. They are now all grown and range from age 40 to 28. Our five oldest are married and have blessed us with 17 grandchildren, our youngest is still looking for Mr. Perfect and teaching dance fulltime at Kearns High School in Salt Lake. Sister Mueller was a stay-at-home Mom raising our 6 children who are all strong in the Gospel, while I taught math in high school for 34 years and also served in the Utah Army National Guard in Military Intelligence for 25 of those years, having served on two deployments to the Middle East.

Our missionary call came due to an inquiry about the math missionary position at BYUH the day before I was going to contact the mission president in the Alpine German Speaking Mission, where we had always intended to serve. The way the call came made us realize that the Lord wanted us in Hawaii instead.

Elder Mueller will serve in the math department, and Sister Mueller will serve in the Voice program.

We are grateful that the Muellers have been sent here to serve and look forward to getting better acquainted.

ALOHA!

The Center for Academic Success and the Larsens

The Center for Academic Success is run by full-time senior missionaries who are called and set apart to love and help students achieve academic success at BYU-Hawaii. The missionaries provide academic coaching, offer encouragement and help students realize their potential. They will find tutors and mentors to help students achieve success.

The Center recognizes that students coming to BYU-Hawaii for the first time, go through a big adjustment to adapt to a new education system, a new culture, and often a new language. At BYU-Hawaii students are expected to attend all of their classes, complete all of their assignments and pass their exams.The Center for Academic Success is here to help students become academically proficient (Handout about the Center for Academic Success).

One of the missionary couples who help to run the CAS are Elder and Sister Larsen.

Elder and Sister Larsen

Educators for over 40 years, the Larsens came to BYUH to direct the Center for Academic Success.

For ten years, Elder and Sister Larsen lived and worked in Saudia Arabia with their son and daughter. Elder Larsen worked as the Director of Education for Aramco Oil in Ras Tanura and as the Curriculum Director at the School of the American Consulate. Sister Larsen taught elementary school there, and coached the track and girls' basketball teams.

At the end of the ten years, the Larsens decided to return to Bountiful to finish their careers and to be nearer to the grandchildren.

As retirement loomed, the Larsens thought they would like to serve a mission and return to the Middle East where there were opportunities in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. Out of the blue, they received a call from BYUH to see if they would consider submitting their resumes to serve a mission here.

The resumes were in and in December of 2014, they got a call from Elder Chipman in Salt Lake City. He told them that they were accepted at BYUH, and the mission call would be extended, but he couldn't find their mission papers. They hadn't even submitted their mission papers yet, so on January 6, 2015 the papers were submitted; on February 6 they received their call, and on April 6 they both retired from full-time employment as educators. One week later they were in the MTC on their way to Laie.

Sister Larsen said they "love, love, love" their mission. What do they love?

1. They love the students. The ability to help, support and befriend struggling students brings them joy, for example:

• The girl who was convinced throughout her life that she was "dumb." After her mission, she decided that, if she could succeed on a mission, maybe she should at least try college. Through the help of Iworks and the Academic Support Center, she will graduate in October and has already been accepted into Graduate School.
• The young woman who, while struggling with depression, comes in for a hug, a smile, which is often the motivation she needs to keep going.
• The student who, when asked, "What can we do for you?" responded, "Just love me."

"Students love hearing their name," say the Larsens, who make an effort to learn names and make the Academic Support Center a personal oasis for struggling students. Through their combined expertise, the Larsens are in a position to help students succeed both academically and emotionally.

2. They love all the senior missionaries and the unique opportunities to serve with so many unselfish, talented and faithful people in such close proximity - the university, the Polynesian Cultural Center, the visitor's center and the temple.

3. They loved being here at Christmas. Working extra hours at the Polynesian Cultural Center setting and busing tables and working in the kitchen was a rewarding and delightful way to spend the holidays.


These dedicated senior missionaries can help students learn to organize their time so that they can be successful in both school and work. Instructors and professors will contact the Center for Academic Success regarding students that are having difficulty in their clsses or not attending. The missionaries will help them get back to where they are expected to be.

Mahalo, Elder and Sister Larsen and Mahalo, Center for Academic Success

Rautea Teihotu

"One of my favorite, my eternal family. I was still on mission and my Mission President allowed me to go to my brother's set apart. I don't have a lot a family picture because my father doesn't like pictures."

The island of Tahiti is the home of Rautea Teihotu (photo left). As the oldest of three children, he grew up outdoors in the water and on the land. His mother was an active member of the church and helped her three children to follow in her footsteps. It wasn't until 17 years after their marriage, that Rautea's father was baptized and took his family to the Papeete Tahiti temple to be sealed for time and all eternity.

Rautea loved sports and was an active participant in basketball, volleyball, soccer and even American football. When he was 17 years old, he injured his knee during a basketball game and was unable to play competitively again. He still loves sports--especially basketball.

After high school graduation, Rautea spent two years at the Tahitian University studying a physical chemistry science degree. He was called on a mission to his native land - Tahiti and returned early in 2015. While he was on his mission a doctor there recommended that he have surgery to repair the damage to his knee. So when he returned from his mission he underwent surgery, and after months of recuperation and rehabilitation, he was able to come to BYU - Hawaii.

In the meantime, his younger brother returned from his mission to Africa and his sister, who is currently serving in New Zealand, will return this fall. They both plan to join their eldest brother here at school by the Spring Semester.

Rautea's grandfathers on both sides were fisherman, so Rautea grew up participating in what would become one of his favorite pasttimes. Like all good fishermen, he has a couple of favorite fish stories:

The first took place after he and his friends had been fishing and were standing in shallow water cleaning and taking care of the catch. They were laughing, talking and working when one of them spotted a sea eel and shouted out the warning. They all tried to jump out of the way, but Rautea was unable to avoid the eel and has a scar to show where he was bitten.

The second was when he put himself in great danger by disobeying the rules. He was out spearfishing alone (rule #1) and saw a fish. He swam after it, but the fish was getting away. Rautea was determined NOT to let the fish escape and dove deeper after it without surfacing for air (rule #2). The fish got away and Rautea looked up only to realize that he couldn't make it to the surface with the air in his lungs. He barely reached the surface--his nose bleeding--when he passed out for a few seconds, but was able to clear his head enough to swim to the shore. When his family heard what had happened, they were not very happy with him and he is more aware that rules (and commandments) are given primarily for our safety.

After working with Rautea for a semester, I was impressed with his quiet demeanor, his work ethic, his humor and his testimony. Here is a excerpt from an essay he wrote and gave me permission to share:

When I was on my mission, I liked to share this story with our investigators and the members of the Church. We read the first four verses of Alma chapter 50 and looked for what the Nephites built to reinforce their cities.

:1 “… that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, …”

:2 “And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, …”

:3 “And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets …”

:4 “And he caused towers to be erected … and he caused places of security…”

Then I compared the ways that the Nephites used to reinforce their cities with the ways we can use to defend ourselves against our “enemies”. Nowadays, we can say we have modern Lamanites who are trying to destroy us. They could be Satan, pornography, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc. So like the Nephites, we have to protect and reinforce our family’s defenses. Our enemies know the plan of happiness and the family’s potential to be eternal, that is why we are an important target.

For example, the heaps of earth can be compared to prayer, timbers to scripture reading, pickets to fasting, towers to prophet or leaders and places of security to holy places like the Temple, Church, Home, etc.

Alma 37:6-7 said “… that small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.” My mother taught me a little story before I went to BYUH. She said if I don’t pray, it would be like I let the door open, if I don’t read the scriptures, I let the windows open and if I don’t fast, my home doesn’t have a roof. Then when the storm come, it will be a disaster.

As senior missionaries, our lives are blessed through the examples and testimonies of the young people we associate with here at BYUH.

'Ohana

The annual 'Ohana Meeting was held on Friday to welcome all employees, missionaries and volunteers to the start of a new semester at BYUH.

We were treated to an outstanding piano duet performed by Scott and Stacy McCarrey of the music department and introductions were made.

As part of the keynote presentations, President and Sister Tanner spoke to prepare and inspire us as a new school year begins.

Sister Tanner spoke about three simple principles they taught to grandchildren this summer and how the same principles apply to us as BYUH 'ohana. Taken from familiar primary songs, the principles are:

1. "When we're helping, we're happy..."                    - be helpful
2. "I want to be kind to everyone"....                         - be kind
3. "When my mother calls me, quickly I obey"...      - be obedient

President Tanner presented seven Hawaiian words that he and Sister Tanner have grown to love and how they apply to this university. He often quoted President David O'McKay through words written and spoken by the former prophet.

Aloha - affection and peace, acceptance and love. The spirit of aloha should be evident in all that we do.

Pono - righteousness - The Hawaiian State Motto is Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, which translates as "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." Again, President McKay talked about building "testimony and character," "noble men and women," and "genuine gold." 

'Ohana - family
In his diary of Feb, 1921, David O McKay wrote: "...the Church of Christ will truly make of all nations one blood." We are brothers and sisters - 'ohana.

Kuleana - one's personal sense of responsibility. We should look for ways to improve our surroundings by taking responsibility for ourselves and each other.

Malama ka-aina - one's responsibility to love and respect the land. President McKay challenged the people to keep their yards beautiful and clean--that the area may project an "aura of light."

pu-uhonua - place of refuge. President McKay prayed that this place would "be what the early fathers blessed this land to become." He was speaking of not just the early church leaders, but the early fathers of Hawaii.

hukilau - pulling together - the hukilau was a way to raise money to build a church when the first one burned down, it was a way to provide funds for education. It is the spirit of the university pulling together for the benefit of all.

As missionaries, we have a unique opportunity to share in the vision of BYUH and to contribute in our own way for the short time that we are here.

We are grateful to be welcomed as part of the BYUH 'Ohana.

Aloha and Welcome - Elder and Sister Perkins

Jerry and Lynne Perkins came to BYUH from Orem, Utah. Jerry is originally from Burbank, California and Lynne grew up in a small town near Niagara Falls, New York.  We were introduced by two roommates who were dating.   They didn't get married--we did.   

Jerry worked for CES (Seminaries and Institutes) for 29 years.  That job took us to Arizona, Samoa, New York and Utah. While living in New York, we were in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Jerry had the wonderful opportunity of playing the Prophet Joseph Smith for two years. 

The last 22 years were spent at BYU in the Religion Department. We also had the opportunity to live in Jerusalem for a year. 

Lynne had the best job in the world!  She was able to stay home and raise our seven wonderful kids. We had a boy, then four girls, and finished with twin boys. What a blessing they have been in our lives! Our number 22 grandchild will be born in September.

Jerry will be teaching in the Religion Department here, and Lynne will be working with the Honor Office, in the sewing center and with VOICE.

We are excited to get to know all of the other Senior Missionaries! 

Happy Birthday!

August 1 - Elder Crookston

August 2  - Elder Perkins

August 5 - Elder Pavia

August 8 - Sister Lundgreen