July 2024

Girls went to the Moleni Family camp with Mina an Tane the first week of July. It was in Bear Lake, they saw their 4th of July parade, and got yummy shakes. The girls danced one of their Tausala dances for the talent show. 

Saturday July 6th - Girls got back from the Moleni camp and in the evening we went to Alai Tokotaha's welcome home from Mish party also combined with Nive and Lui Schwenke's graduation party. It was at the multi-cultural center. There was a lot of people, it was decorated nice and had yummy amazing poly food. We sat with Uncle Oliver and Aunty Fina. They gave out lollie leis to nearly everyone. We were entertained by Alai, Nive and Tausala. 

Monday 8th - Thursday 11th - We had Brookshire Young Women Camp. Our camp was in Bear Lake and Jay came with us but will be going home Tuesday night, because of work. Monday morning we met at Bishops house, where I presented my Devotional. My topic was 'Glowing Flower', from the movie 'Tangled'. Our Camp theme was 'At Last We See the Light'. Here is my Awesome Devotional that I came up with also my JBean helped me with the last part, he's awesome like that!!!

FLYNN: And it starts with the Sun….Now Once Upon a Time a single drop of sunlight fell from the Heavens and from this small drop of sun grew a magic golden flower it had the ability to heal the sick and injured ….. And all you had to do was sing a special song…. (played song from Youtube)

Flower, gleam and glow

Let your power shine

Make the clock reverse

Bring back what once was mine

Heal what has been hurt

Change the fate's design

Save what has been lost

Bring back what once was mine, what once was mine

Near the end of the movie Flynn dies after sacrificing himself to save Rapunzel. Rapunzel knowing she has lost her magic light that can heal him, she sings the song anyway hoping he’ll be healed and come back to life and with her faith he comes back to life. And they live happily ever after - The End!

Well I’m going to tell you a similar story..and here goes: 

(show hand out with Sun)

And it starts with The Son - The Son of God… Now Once Upon a Time HF sent his Son from Heaven down to earth, born beneath a bright new star, shimmering like a glowing flower, and he healed the sick and injured and even raised the dead. He sacrificed his life for us. And because he did this for us we were all able to come to earth and every person that is born is born with the Light of Christ.

3 Nephi 12:16

Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

This Glowing Flower represents the light of Christ within you which will guide you to Christ who will always be able to heal your hurt, and as you choose to follow Him, others will see your good works, and Christ will change fate’s design as He will save what has been lost, and bring back what once was yours, your place beside our Heavenly Father.

So this flower glows in the dark, I hope that it will also remind you that in your darkest moments the Savior is there for you, you have his light that will strengthen you in times of despair and sadness. I know that he loves you. And I know that he wants us to live happily ever after …..Amen

Monday - Girls were given their purple camp hoodies, they were cool. Jay drove with Leila in the Dodge, cause he'll leave Tuesday night. Baby, me and Ember were in Blackie. We had to wait a little to go into the camp cause it wasn't ready yet.  When we were able to set up camp, Jay and I put our tent in the far corner away from everyone. Dinner that night we ate chinese rice stacks. Girls got their hair braided with purple, blue hair extensions. Everyone was getting bitten by the mozzies, and we emptied a full bottle of mozzie repellant! We sat around the fire and had a spiritual thought, sang camp songs and ate smores. Took photos of a cool 'owl' up in the tree. Went to bed with my honey, he had the blow up single mattress I slept on blankets but he gave me the new sleeping bag. I was warm and cozy. 

Tuesday 9th - Jay didn't have a good sleep his mattress deflated a bit during the night. We discovered after we were both dressed that we were twins. After yummy breakfast and clean up we went to a place for our hike. Heather Cloward came with us in the back and she practically had her head out the window the whole time. Some construction was going on where we parked. Julia Thackeray fell down the hill side and hurt herself so she couldn't go on the hike. Julie Jensen and Jamie Skinner stayed with her. Our hike was meh, and we were getting restless. Tessa Sanders suggested we not continue on and to end it, I was all for that, Jay too. Some weren't very happy about our suggestion saying we didn't get to see the loop. But our time was running out and I though it was better to stay on time then to keep walking for another 30mins when we've already been walking for an hour. Anyways we went and got shakes at LeBeaus, same place we got shakes with the Finlaysons. I got me a Bear Lake t'shirt from the Souvenir store, I saw it last time I was at Bear Lake with the Finlaysons. When we got back to camp we got ready to go to the lake. I think the most of us enjoyed having more lake time than hike time. We didn't even want to leave when we had to go back to camp. Jay left before dinner - Luckeeee! We made braceletes out of tiny beads. For dinner we had 'Walking Taco's' which were yummy. So a bag of doritos, put some mince taco meat in it with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, cheese, salsa and eat it with a fork out of the bag. We had a little dance with everyone, except for Heather Cloward she didn't want to dance. 

Wednesday 10th - I was woken up for morning devotional, everyone was ready waiting for me. We had yummy pancakes & bacon for breaky. After clean up we got ready to go to the lake, it was lake day today, YAY! Tessa Sanders had two canoes, and a blow up standing thingy that we used. We had some blow ups as well. The lake was shallow, we could walk out far and it would be under our armpits. We had sandwiches that we made ourselves for lunch, I made me a PB&J but didn't eat it. Girls had 'pushing contest', where they stood on the floating thingy and tried to push each other off, Caroline Thackeray was good at it. I was in the lake with the girls the longest out of us Adults. When we got back to camp, we showered off. The toilets and showers were nice, I took a nice long hot shower. After our yummy pork roast sandwich dinner we did a 'lipsync off' which kinda for me looked like it turned into a 'dance off' instead. We had to use props and were randomly given a song by the number we chose. Us adults did one too, we did it to one of the 'Tangled' songs. We just acted out the song and mouthed the words. Jamie Skinner was the evil Mom and Julie Jensen was Rapunzel. Bishop and Brother Jensen did the skit/dance/lipsync with us.  There were 3 other dances/lipsync after ours. They were all funny. After our 'lipsync' we sat around the firepit. The girls were presented with paper plates and on the paper plates it said why they got it. For Erana she go the 'nonchalant Popstar' because when anyone would sing a song she would start singing and would know all the words to the song. Leila received the 'Bobble Head' and Paje Jackson explained that it's because when Leila answers you she would bob her head up and down - crack up!  We had our 'testimony bearing' after that awards. I was prepared to say my testimony but we ran out of time. Very proud of Leila and Erana who bore their testimonies. Sis.Julie Jensen mentioned during her testimony that she noticed that we weren't getting attacked my any mosquitos, which was a miracle because we had bad mosquitos everyday since we've been at camp and especially in the afternoon and evening time. 

Thursday 11th - We got up ate had morning devotional and breakfast, cleaned up, packed up all our stuff and headed home. We had Paje Jackson in our car with me and the girls. She had a lot of big things I carefully squished into the car. We dropped her off at her house and went home. Girls camp was fun but seemed too long lol.

Saturday 13th - Girls and I went to Julia Wihongi's aka JUJU bridal shower. I won the 'don't say bride game', that's because after I won someone's ring, my girls and others just gave me their rings. I got a face mask and makeup from Moni's new job at Younique. Actually the place that we were having Juju's bridal shower is no longer 'Close to my heart' but it's now 'Younique' cause they bought the company from Jeanette, Moni's boss from 'Close to my heart'. Anyways the food was yummy, and we made flower bouquets to take home. I made awesome ones, for me, Mina and Heather everyone says I have a talent for making bouquets and I should be a florist. Dana Sautia was surprised at the ring Juju gave to her fiance 'Zechariah Combs' because it was a female wedding ring. But Zech didn't mind, he liked it. 

Wednesday 17th - Girls had their Tausala Show at the 'Samoan Heritage Festival'. We got our spot on the grass with our Tausala Aiga. Then girls and I got food some yummy polynesian food and Otai. Gave up my chair for Aunty Fina since she gave up her chair for an older lady. Ayria Skipps performed some beautiful dances. Our Tausala group did an awesome job too. There were no costume malfunctions this year. 

Saturday 20th - Girls went and helped bishop with our Stake float, at the 'Float Expo', in Sandy. In the afternoon girls had a Stake 'Hoedown dance' to go to. They had cute cowgirl outfits on. Erana wore my new cowboy boots I bought from Ross. 

Monday 22nd - We celebrated Drays 16th Birthday at Scotts. They had bought a Tiny House to go in their backyard during the summer. It didn't really look very tiny, but their grass got ruined. The Tiny House was put where they had the dog run, so to the right side of their back yard. 

 Leila's filling out her Mission papers. I have made her Dentist and Doctors appointments for this and last month. The Dentist said she needed her Wisdom teeth pulled out. I made her an appointment for it but had to change it to a later date cause she had a show the next day. But the show was cancelled, and the new date we found out the day before that she had a concert to go to. We couldn't cancel or change the date again so she couldn't go to the concert. She was a little sad. Jay took her to her appointment. He said on the way home she looked sad and kept on staring at the picture of Jesus. She took the pictured down from the visor and was holding it and crying. Jay set her up at home and made her some soft food to eat. 

Wednesday 24th - Went camping at Pineview with the girls. First we drove up the hillside and found a perfect campsite at 

Friday 26th - Dropped off girls and Sawyer Anderson at Lagoon - for a Lagoon Day!

Saturday 27th - Today we had Hiona 'Matariki Splash' day at Bluffdale Splash Pad Park. On the way there Erana said she was sick and wanted to go home. We got to the park and messaged Dad to come get her. On his way there the car over heated and so he had to turn back home. So Erana had to just suffer and lie down the whole time. We had a nice set up with lots of space, shading and yummy food. Burgers, hotdogs and dessert and other yummy foods. Just ate and lounged and visited with everyone.

Eranas Talk - Converted unto the Lord

Good morning, my name is Erana Wihongi. My remarks today are from a talk named “Converted unto the Lord” by David A. Bednar from General Conference in October 2012.

Elder Bednar says:

“Testimony is the beginning of and a prerequisite to continuing conversion. Testimony is a point of departure; it is not an ultimate destination. Strong testimony is the foundation upon which conversion is established. 

Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter-day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living. Testimony is important and necessary but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we need. Some members of the Church with testimonies have wavered and fallen away. Their spiritual knowledge and commitment did not measure up to the challenges they faced. 

An important lesson about the connection between testimony and conversion is evident in the missionary labors of the sons of Mosiah. “As many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, … as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away. “For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more. … “Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord” (Alma 23:6–8). 

Two major elements are described in these verses: (1) the knowledge of the truth, which may be interpreted as a testimony, and (2) converted unto the Lord, which I understand to be conversion to the Savior and His gospel. Thus, the powerful combination of both testimony and conversion unto the Lord produced firmness and steadfastness and provided spiritual protection. They never did fall away and surrendered “the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more.” To set aside cherished “weapons of rebellion” such as selfishness, pride, and disobedience requires more than merely believing and knowing. Conviction, humility, repentance, and submissiveness precede the abandonment of our weapons of rebellion. 

Do you and I still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from becoming converted unto the Lord? If so, then we need to repent now. Note that the Lamanites were not converted to the missionaries who taught them or to the excellent programs of the Church. They were not converted to the personalities of their leaders or to preserving a cultural heritage or the traditions of their fathers. They were converted unto the Lord—to Him as the Savior and to His divinity and doctrine—and they never did fall away. 

A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel.”

During testimony meeting at Youth conference a few weeks ago, I did bare my testimony.  However, before that, I was just sitting in the circle, planning out what I was going to say in my head until I finally stood up to bare my testimony.  Right when I started talking, I had a mind blank, and I forgot everything else I was going to say.  So, I bore what I could remember, but instead of ending my testimony with: “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen”  I embarrassingly said: “And, um, yeah.”

Thank goodness I didn't do that again during the testimony meeting in Girls camp, which was just a few days ago.  I did have a mind blank again, though, as I could've said more, but I can't change the past so oh well.  During the girls camp testimony meeting, sister Jensen noticed that a mini miracle was happening.  The mosquitos at girls camp were a nightmare, one of the worst mosquito experiences the young women and leaders had been through as far as I know.  But during the testimony meeting, not a single mosquito was around.  And then after the testimony meeting, the mosquitos unfortunately appeared again.  Despite that being just a small miracle, it was noticed and appreciated as everyone could peacefully bare their testimony without forgetting to say ‘In the name of JC, Amen’.

I know when I bear my testimony, the spirit can confirm to me that what I am saying is true. I know my own conversion is a lifelong process, but I know as long as I stay true to the gospel and faithful to the Lord he will bless me with moments of peace, love, guidance and strength which will make my conversion be stronger.  I know if I make an effort to know the Lord I'll be converted to Him. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.