Letter to Mum from Student April 14 2025

 Ms. Wihongi:

Thank you for taking your time and effort to read this email.

I wanted to say that I believe you're an amazing woman. I noticed how most of the students you have in your classroom tend to pull your leg and push your buttons. I know they give you a hard time and tend to irritate, but I wanted to let you know you're outstanding. 

I love spending time with you in your class because you're so caring and sweet. I love hearing you talk, your voice sounds incredible to me. I love seeing you smile at everyone in the halls everyday: your smile is so pretty, frankly just you over all is beautiful. 

Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that you're most definitely my favorite teacher/staff at this school. Thank you for brightening my day, I hope I was able to brighten yours!

I hope your day is half as great as you are, because nothing can amount to or be as remarkable as you are!

Cordially,

Mia Cottam
Class of 2025
Riverview Junior High School
39044@student.murrayschools.org 

March 2025

 3/2/25

I taught the combined YW class last Sunday. I get a little nervous still, but I did great and I ran out of time which was a bummer. Nothing much happening this week, just work and school. Dad went and saw the new Captain America movie with work friends and then they ate out for lunch. I bought tickets for all of us except Mina and Tane cause they already saw it, for tomorrow. Baby and I had mutual, where the YW did blind cupcake decorating. It was a fun activity. Our new oven came on Thursday, it looks nice and clean. I went and got our free membership with Costco that Mina and Tane gave us for Christmas but got sucked into the executive card instead and I had to pay extra and I signed up for their credit card. But I was able to get a giftcard cause I substitute teach it was $40 and a $50 one for signing up for a credit card. So I will just put them towards the extra I had to pay and it will still be free lol. Dad and I did some sealings on Friday and afterwards we and baby went and looked at Costco, got us some ribs for dinner and other things. Saturday after Erana was done with her chores we went to Deseret Book and got the new youth logo charm for our bracelets. I probably need to get you one aye? Got a free Chick-fila chicken sandwich and bought a frosted lemonade. We looked at Kohls since we hadn’t been there for ages, and I had a credit to use, but we saw nothing we liked. Sunday I made Cubby’s butternut soup tuscany style and Scotch Broth for Tyrell cause he said he like it, but he got confused and the soup he liked was the Cubby’s one. We watched ‘The Gorge’ for our family movie, kinda cringey. 

Hello Sister Wihongi, 

It's Tyrell and Alisa. I've been learning birds of a feather by billie eillish on the guitar. I'll probably be a better guitar player by the time you get back because I've been practicing a lot and wanna get good. Alisa and I have gone to the gym everyday now since she got her membership she's starting to lose weight already I think, she wants to lose weight for our Florida trip lol even though she's already skinny I think. We also have not eaten carbs for a couple weeks now. We are also trying to not snack between meals and get 8 hours of sleep every night to help speed the fat burning process. I think it's been working. We're not even fat though lol but it's been good in other ways for us like learning self control. Anyways Alisa had a bookclub thing with Mina, Louisa, and other girls. I hung out with Josh and Tane to play games while they had their bookclub. On Sunday mom made one of my favorite soups, Alisa and I made Brazilian cheese balls. We watched a movie called the Gorge, it was entertaining but had some corny parts. Alisa and I started the daredevil show, because the new one is coming out. Today we're going to see the new Captain America movie with mom and erana. Jaxons apparently going to Japan this week just found out, jealous. Anyways, hope you're loving you mission you're doing a good job. We love you! 

Hi Sis Wihongi,

This past weekend I had book club and julie, Alisa. Serina, louisa, and chrystelle came over. We spoke about our book called Hello Beautiful from last month. It's about a family and a guy that went through tragic events but somehow it turned out beautiful/ it was meant to be. tane and I also went to see Captain America and red hulk. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. Anyways, Hope you are doing well. 

Alofa atu!

Mina & Tane

Hi Leila, nothing much happened with me this week.  It was spirit week in school.  They had a big assembly and the freshman are now existent because the freshman sucked and lost at every game 💀. The drill team was good, though, best dance I had ever seen the drill team do that was a drill team in my school.  In the end, the sophomores won and the seniors came second.  It's prom this Saturday, and it's Gotham themed.  I'm not sure if I'm gonna go.  We did the blindfold cupcake challenge for yw because it was the first ye activity I had done as well as Daphne and some of the other girls.  I had a BOS test due yesterday at 9:29 because my teachers bedtime is 9:30.  The test was a word document and we didn't have word at home, so had to download the browser word.  In the end I got a 0 because the document I turned in couldn't be read by the grading website, so I have to talk to my teacher tomorrow about it, maybe 😭.  Went to Costco on Friday I think and I got a fruit smoothy.  I've got all A's.  I'm doing March Madness in seminary and I'm already failing so bad, and I'm so ashamed because I forgot to hold the door open for someone on the 1st, I was too scared to bare my testimony on Sunday, and I keep on falling asleep before saying my night prayers 😭😔.  That's it.  Bye. - Love Erana

3/11/25

Hi Sister Wihongi,

Last Tuesday we went to see Captain America: Brave New World. I liked his new suit. Dray came with us, he took Jaxon’s ticket. I can’t remember what else we did. Friday we did sealings at the temple again. Oh yeah, Jaxon decided to go on a last minute trip to Japan with Zander and Sio. He flew to Texas first last Tuesday then to Japan. He gets home on Saturday. It’s starting to get warmer here, spring is just about here. The tulip bulbs we planted last autumn along the front footpath are starting to grow. A favorite scripture from last week’s Come Follow Me is D&C19:23, “23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.” Hope all is well, we love you and miss you. Mum and Dad.

Hello Sister Wihongi

This is Tyrell and Alisa. Last week we went with dad, erana, and mom to watch the new captain America. It was alright. We also celebrated Alisas moms birthday. We went to dinner to a Japanese buffet called tsukiya. Its an all can eat buffet we'll have to go to when you get back. On Sunday we watched the new Hunger games as a family. I had a tie dye party with my boxing crew and tie dyed a couple shirts. They turned out pretty cool.

Anyways, that's all I can think off that we did.

We love you! You're doing a good job! (I kept mine short cuz minas looks long azz).

Talofa Sis Wihongi,

Last Thursday, I had gotten my colonoscopy. 24hrs before the procedure, I had to be on a liquid diet, no food. Then the night before, I had to drink like a gallon of this disgusting nasty clear drink. It was so terrible, I wanted to cry Haha. I would chug some and then immediately drink cola afterwards. Then i would mix some with Lemonade and Ginger Ale and it made it a little better. This clear drink is supposed to help me flush out my colon so it's empty. I had to wake up at 4am to drink more of that stuff (4 hrs before my procedure). Then Tane-Toa had to drive me to the clinic and wait there while they do the colonoscopy. I got dressed in a gown and was pantless underneath haha then I had to get an IV put in and that was the worst part. My veins are too small and hard to find and after they tried 2 times to get the needle in me, my body started to tremble and I cried lol. The needle and poking was making me super anxious. I didn't know that I would be this scared of needles before, I used to be fine. They had to get a 3rd person to come and stick it through my hand instead of my arm. Then they rolled Me back to the doctors room and they put the Anesthesia through my IV and it burned and hurt really bad and then all of a sudden I knocked out because nek minut a nurse was waking me up in a different room and Tane-Toa was sitting next to me. And when I woke up I started crying again for no reason hahaha. I guess I get emotional when on Anesthesia. They showed me pictures of my colon and it's healthy, just some internal hemorrhoids …. I was disoriented waking up and tane helped me put my pants on. Then right after we went home and ate some bun bo hue (spicy beef noodles) at our favorite pho spot. After eating the noodles, I realized that eating super spicy stuff on an empty stomach is probably not the best lol. My husband was really sweet to me through the whole process. We started playing pickleball again and the first time we went on the court, Tane was coaching me waaay too much like every 2 minutes. He'd say something about my hitting technique or something and it annoyed me so much. I was just silent and angry. And then when we finished and got in the car, he says “i know you're upset, can you tell me what it is” and then I said “This is the first time I've played pickleball in over a year, I know I'm rusty and I already know what I need to work on. I don't like you stopping every 2 min to tell me what I'm doing wrong because I already know! I'm not gonna be perfect since it's been a long time. Just correct me once and that's it.” And he says “Okay babe, I'll back off the coaching. Thank you for telling me. I'll make sure to not talk as much next time.” I like how my husband listens to me and doesn't get offensive. You know how sometimes boys get defensive and upset sometimes like  “Well you kept hitting it wrong so I wanted to help you!” Tane doesn't do that because he's a MAN, he just says “Thank you for telling me, I'll make sure to ____” And the next time we played pickleball, he remembered to not talk so much and I had wayy more fun hahaha. He's very good at communicating, way better than me. Us wihongis are terrible at communicating. But I want to be better for him because he deserves it. I also went to a funeral this weekend as a girl from our stake committed suicide. It was so sad, her name was Mina too and she was only 16. Her brother is on his mission right now and he sent a video message for her funeral service. He shared that before he left on his mission, he had a late night talk with Mina and she said things like how she feels like she can never be forgiven for the mistakes that she made. That she doesn't feel worthy. Her brother told her that Christ loves her so much and of course He’'d forgive her. I guess she still had a hard time believing that. I've felt like that before, and I learned a lot about Christ's Atonement during that time. You are helping people understand His infinite love and Atonement and it's the greatest thing to teach! I saw Surisa Tafua at the funeral and she thought I was you. She Said to me “where's your companion?” And later she says “OH MY gosh, I thought you were leila”

Anyways love you heaps! You're doing great!

Mina and Tane

Hello Leila.  I can barely remember what happened last week.  Sounds like Mina had a long week. I started reading Mina’s book, Mistborn.  It's pretty good, and I'm kind of into it.  The toilet is leaking from its base, and a plumber is coming tomorrow, so I have to clean the bathroom for the plumber.  I didn't clean Dorothy's last week because she had a doctor's appointment and couldn't do it any other time or another day last week.  Jaxon is in Japan with his burasa's, so I've been hanging out in his room.  I can't watch Netflix in his room because he's got his own whole Netflix with Vinny. I've been getting into my hobbies and doing active things by myself, and I was motivated for a long time, but at some point I lost my self-motivation because I kept on feeling like crap.  I got a new swim suit from the thrift store, and I liked it a lot.  It's red with flowers on it.  Those times when I'd be randomly angry and frustrated and to the point that I'd start crying, they weren't because of you or something that happened.  It was because I had really low self-esteem for a long time and I just hated myself a lot that I'd cry a lot alone in the bathroom or somewhere where someone wasn't there.  Anyways, I just felt like telling you that because I've done a lot of things that you've wanted me to talk to you about, but I was too scared to say.  I've been having weird dreams that I remember but not too much that I can't exactly explain them.  I miss you very much.  - Love Erana

3/16/2025

Talofa Sis Wihongi,

This week I had to make waffles at 3am for a stake relief society activity on Saturday morning. It was a breakfast and broadcast. We watched the annual relief society broadcast. My relief society president likes to go overboard on a few things but it always turns out good. Tane and I have started playing this new multiplayer game called Split Fiction. It's really fun, it's about these writers that go into their own worlds they've written about and one girl is a fantasy writer and the other is a sci fi writer. I enjoy it a lot! Tane is going to cut his hair this week😆 He's sick of his long hair so he wants it gone before we go to Florida. He also got a promotion at his job, he is now a manager over a team. He earns a salary now, which means he doesn't work for hourly pay. It's just he gets paid this set amount no matter the hours he works, and he can still get commission. He only got a little higher raise but it will still make a difference. I think this is a blessing for our future when we have babies. I'm so proud of him, he is really professional and hardworking at work that everyone said that he should be the new manager. Anyways, can't wait to hear about your week!

Alofa atu!

♡♡♡

Mina and Tane

Talofa Sis. Wihongi, 

Wednesday for Mutual, older girls decorated candles and the two younger girls made journal jars. The boys were supposed to hand out the ‘Food Drive’ door signs but only 2 boys showed up. So Me, Erana and Penelope dropped off some to the homes by our Condo’s. And Erana delivered our condo ones the next day.  Erana had no school on Friday, she stayed home. Saturday I woke up early to help clean the chapel again. I cleaned all the entrance’s windows last week and so I picked it again. This time it wasn’t as hard because I did a good job last Saturday. Then I went and picked up Erana to do the ‘Food Drive’. Zach Horkan came with baby and I. We did Allegheny our condos and the homes next to our condos. We got a good amount, then we dropped them off. I bought Maceys ice-cream. Zach got a Daddy cone and by the time we dropped him off he had eaten it all. Jaxon came home Saturday too, from his trip to Japan and Texas. He brought me some snacks and he told me what he did. He did some thrifting/op shopping in Japan and got him some sweet stuff. After Erana’s chores we went to the DI and looked around, she got some new shorts and a pretty blush prom dress. We went to Ocean Mart in Sandy to eat yummy food. But when we got there the food place inside was changed. And it had two separate food shops side by side. Both of their foods did not look appetizing at all and we were sad that the old restaurant had gone. We only bought custard cakes, and small bonbon’s that weren’t filled up properly. And long fry bread from the other shop. We came home a little bummed. Sunday we dressed in green for St. Patrick's day, and had cornbeef and cabbage for dinner. I cooked up a steak for our Japanese Princess - Alisa! She doesn’t like cornbeef lol. We watched the first movie of the Hunger Games. Because last week we saw the prequel to it, about the Snow guy who is the old man in the Hunger Games and in charge of them. 

Love you! Mum & Dadxxx

Hello Sister Wihongi. This is Tyrell and Alisa. This'll be a short one. Alisa and I went on a date to Buffalo wild wings. We watched the first Hunger games with the family on Sunday and ate corn beef for St Patrick's. I got a new calling in church, elders quorum teacher. And that's about it I think. We miss and love you and hope you're loving your mission! 

Hello Leila.  Morgan Wallen and his music reminds me of you.  I took long naps yesterday so I woke up this morning at 3 am wide awake, and I stayed in bed - awake - till 6:30.  I think I should've gotten up earlier, but oh well.  My friends keep on shipping me with my guy friend, but I have no attraction toward him.  If I did/do have some sort of attraction toward him it would be because my friends are fussing over how I should be with him.  I've been reading Mistborn a lot lately and I'm into it.  I've also been reading my BoM while also listening to it at the same time, because whenever I read the BoM I get sleepy.

I want to a thing called PolyStrong on Thursday, it was fun and we listened to some inspiring Polynesian talk.  One of the guest speakers was a guy whom turned to the Lord after he got out of jail - he'd been in jail for 23-24 years - for killing a man, because he was a gangster and so he and his ex-gangster friends made a program to try and save youth whom are in same situations that they had been in when they were young.  I'm choreographing a Tahitian dance with Ari for PoP and it's hard, I think my ideas are lame but I was doing pretty well today in coming up with moves for our dance and I was getting pretty hype. I don't know if the kids in PoP think I'm a weirdo loner, but they probably do because that's practically what I am in that class.  My friends like to roughhouse and push each other for fun sometimes and I also think it's funny because I also push them sometimes, for fun.  It's one of our ways of communicating.  One of my friends said her love language is play fighting and stuff, which makes sense.  It's snowing a lot here.  I'm trying to be more myself in my seminary class, so people have been seeing my weird, out-of-pocket side.  I don't do things that are too weird, at least I don't think I do.  The YW painted candles on Wednesday and they told me the Sunday before that I was doing the lesson for that activity, so I made a short lesson that Wednesday but nobody brought it up or anything so I just didn't share my lesson.  My lesson had something to do with Matthew 5:14-16.  The candles I painted are wack, or you could say wick. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah.

Anyways, I've been trying my best with March Madness, but it's absolute madness because my classmates are doing all this stuff and I'm just there, but I am doing my best so I can't beat myself up for being someone else.  I do not like my Freshman Success class.  The things we do in that class are dumb and unnecessary.  Oh well.  That's it.  Bye love you.  - Love Erana

3/23/2025

Hi Leila,

This past week was kinda the same as usual. Mum and Erana had a murder mystery game for YW on Wednesday. Mum was the murderer. Thursday I went with Tyrell and Alisa to Mina’s to play DnD again. It was fun. Erana came. Friday, I picked up a new gun I bought. It’s a small one that can fit in pockets. Going to go to the gun range on Friday to shoot it for the first time. Mum and I went to the temple and did initiatories. We walked out of the dressing rooms at the exact same time after. We then took Uncle Scott and Auntie Heather out to eat for his 50th birthday. We went to Hwa’s and got japchae, pork bulgogi, Galbi short ribs, Bibimbap and a beef bulgogi and sushi combo. They had given Mum a $100 for her 50th, that’s what we used to pay for it, lol. Sunday’s dinner we had these cheesy smashed potatoes that we saw on youtube so mun made them. They were yummy, and we also had chicken salad and melon. After dinner we watched Hunger Games Catching Fire, the 2nd one. We’re watching them all again. A favorite verse from Come Follow Me this week, that I focused my lesson on in primary, is D&C 24:8, “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.” A reminder that the Lord is with us when we have patience and endurance (no murmuring, staying humble, prayerful) during the hard times of our life. Love you always, Dad and Mum.

Hi sis!

Not much happened this week but I did bear my testimony in my ward conference. I'll just paste it here for my email this week. Tane-Toa got a haircut! He looks very handsome and younger😆 it reminds Me of when we first got married🥰 And the short hair makes his big brown eyes pop out more hehe. He also bought men2 swimsuits for florida♡ anyways, here is my testimony 

Maloeleilei Kaingalotu

My name is Wiramina Moleni. My husband and I have been in this ward for just over a year now and we love it. We both teach sunday school to the 11-12 year olds in this ward and its been fun and we love our class. 

I wanted to share my short and sincere testimony of God's love for each of you. Every week, we go over to my parents house for Sunday Dinner and my parents have us be in charge of come follow me discussion right after dinner. A couple weeks ago, during our cfm discussion, my little sister mentioned something I haven't noticed before. In the old testament, and during the endowment at the temple, we learn that God tells Jesus and Michael to go create the sun & moon, waters & earth, and living creatures. Christ goes back to God to report what was created, and God looks at it and says that it was good. That's all He says, the creations are good. However, in D&C chapter 18:10 it says “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;” We are His greatest creation. I am so glad my sister shared that with me because , even though it was a super simple message, I felt the spirit confirm God's love for me in that moment. It’s a great reminder of how precious we all are to our Heavenly Father. 

If you continue reading in chapter 18, it says 

“For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!”

Our Savior's Atonement is the biggest act of love that was done specifically for you and I.

He wants us so desperately to repent and turn to Him! There may be times when we feel like we are unworthy of His forgiveness or love, moments that we feel like we’ve made it too deep into sin that theres no going back. But i know that's just the adversary trying it's best to distance you from Christ. We need to turn to Him more than ever in those moments. Look unto Him in every thought, doubt not the powers of His Atonement, doubt not His love for you and Fear not. If you say that you believe in Christ, then you need to also believe that He can take away your sorrows, and that He can make things right. I know without a doubt that He lives and loves you. There is joy in Him.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love Mina & Tane xoxo

This is Erana.  Hello, Leila.  I successfully choreographed a tahitian dance with Ari in PoP.  They're having an assembly for multicultural week and PoP is performing, but I won't be there with them since the family is going on vacation in Florida.  I'm excited to go to Florida, but I'll have to do work and stuff for classes before and after coming back.  It's almost spring break.  In seminary, we've got groups that are chosen to do devotional.  The leader of my group forgot that our group had the devotional and she had me do the devotional. I was unprepared and did the most crappy, shame-o-est devotional ever.  Shame-o.  Mutual was an in-person game of Clue. In the end, mum was the killer and her weapon was a tithing slip.  I had a dream last night, more like tons of dreams last night but I'll only recall one of them.  I could see in my perspective and in a third POV.  There were murders in town, and this town was weird, not Taylorsville.  I found out dad was the murderer, and his next victims would be his family which would be me, a white girl who was my sister and her name started with ‘J’, a white boy named Jackson but it wasn't Jaxon, and a white woman who was apparently my mum.  Dad was like a killer like Ghostface or Jason esque.  I had gotten home one night, I snuck past dad, and I had managed to convince

Jackson to run away, as well as my sister.  I ran away with my sister, for some reason, but she must've snitched because dad found me and he was going to kill me.  It was kind of scary.

That's it.  Bye, love you. 

Hello Sister Wihongi. This is Tyrell and Alisa. Alisa learned how to make a guava cake, it was so good. We played DnD at Minas again. I taught a boxercise class for my wards activity. It went very well, and after my boxersice class, Dodge, Alisas sisters husband, did a yoga and meditation class. It was fun. I taught my first lesson in elders quorum about hope. Here's a short message I shared I'll share with you… hope in Jesus christ doesn't remove our trials from us, but instead gives us strength to endure. Also, part of having hope includes trusting In God's plan, and that everything will be okay. For example, I hoped to see grandma after my mission, but she passed away while I was out, but because I trust in God's plan, I know that everything will be okay, and I'll still be able to see her again because of God's plan. Anyways, we love and miss you. Hope you're doing well!

Mum’s AI/her Poem for Uncle Scott’s 50th Birthday:

A POEM FOR MY LIL’ BRO!

Growing up with four sisters was such a delight But I’d dream of a lil’ bro, a bond that felt right, My wish came true when I married Jay, And suddenly, four brothers and a Sis came my way!

I loved having a lil' bro, Scott, to tease,
At first, I didn’t know it would make him displeased.
I’d pick on him without thinking twice,
Until I learned, my teasing wasn’t nice.

From teacher's desk to Principal's chair, To Vice Superintendent, his success is clear. He leads with wisdom, a heart so grand, A pillar of Murray, across the land.

With Heather, you've found your true companion, A love so pure, built on strong foundation. Together you built a life full of cheer, With Kage and Drayden, your joy is clear.

Those who have left us would surely beam, At the dad and husband you’ve always been. Though I still tease, I hope you can see, You’ll forever be an amazing brother to me.

Happy 50th, lil’ bro! LOL

February 2025 - Mum's 50th Birthday

 2/2/25

Hello Leila, Alisa and I are doing good. Still nothing exciting to tell you about. I played DnD last night with dad, erana, mina, tane, josh, uncle jody, and wesley. Alisa was at a wedding shower. We are currently watching the new transformers with the family, mina and tane aren’t here because they don’t have a car right now. Anyways, do you have to memorize D&C section 4? Some missions had too. We love you and hope you’re doing well. Tyrell and Alisa.

Talofa,

Dad and I had work all week. Monday, after work Maioha and Ali took me out to dinner at China town. We ate at a Japanese restaurant that had Bento boxes and we each got a double meat one and I also got fried udon noodles. It was ok but Hwa’s japanese and Korean restaurant is waaay better lol. So I told them we should eat there next time. We got some groceries and then some dessert at the bakery 85. Got some yummy mochi custard pies and mango cake and chocolate cake. There are more stores in China town, with fun claw machines, with cute teddys. I showed Ali and Maioha, the Angitu practices, Jaxon and I watched in NZ, they liked it. 

Tuesday January 28th, Jaxons 22nd Birthday! After work I went back to that bakery and got some more mochi custard pies, a mango pudding cake and the chocolate cake, coconut pudding cubes, some green grape ice-cream cubes for Jaxon’s birthday cake. We took Jaxon out to Sizzlers the one on Redwood rd closest to us. The wedlings couldn’t make it. So it was Dad, me, Erana and Jaxon. Jaxon got Steak and Snow Crab legs, I got Sizzler steak, Erana got Steak and Malibu Chicken, Dad got the Salad bar. We decided the quality of the food was not as good as I remember when we’d have dinner with Mum. So probably not going to Sizzlers anymore. We then came home and celebrated Jaxon’s bday, sang him Happy Birthday and had his desserts from Chinatown. 

Dad and I did Sealings after work on Friday. We decided to go every Friday since were not doing anything on Friday afternoons. Mina and Tane are having car problems and Mina has maybe some health issues too, she probably needs to see the Doctor. I think it’s cause she’s overweight and when your overweight you get more health issues. I’ll let baby tell you about Mutual and DND. Sorry my email is long, but these letters are our journaling too. Love you and praying for you - Mum xxx

Hi, Leila.  I can barely remember what happened in the previous days of this week.  I signed up for my classes for next year.  I’m taking honors English because I’m required to since I took it this year, secondary math, I was gonna take physics but I’m taking biology, drivers ed, weight training for girls, seminary, health, beginners drawing CE 1020 because my counselor told me to take it, and choir but I kind of want to take dance because I like to dance and I also want to take welding because it’s something new.  I hate the smell of Dorothy’s house.  I’m traumatized by the smell of old people and chemicals.  For YW’s we did an everybody’s birthday party and karaoke.  I forgot that I would be going into older yw’s and there would be new yw’s.  It’s kind of overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time.  The new yw’s are kind of annoying.  I’m not gonna call names and I’m not trying to be mean, but some of the new yw are annoying because of their immaturity.  I know I must’ve been like that and I probably still am.  I realized I never really thought much of the future.  I knew I would grow up and move up in things, but I never really thought of never seeing Olivia and Abby in YW ever again.  I knew you wanted to go on a mission but I never really thought of you going on your mission and being gone.  I never really thought of being in the older yw’s.  I never really thought of what I’d do in high school.  I never really thought of what I’d do with my life.  Dad and them had their d&d session on saturday.  Alisa couldn’t be there so I filled in as her character and nearly got her killed, but I also did a cool things and Alisa got the McKinley sword.  I kind of cried this morning while getting ready for church because I thought I looked ugly.  I was in a bad mood for a while this morning, and I realized a while ago that whenever I’m angry at someone else, it’s only because I’m angry at myself.  My self-negativity seems to just project outwards to others through my expressions and tone of voice when I speak.  I got instagram, and I put an app timer on it.  I’ve only followed family members and some friends.  We’re watching Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the Transformers with animal robots that came out a while ago.  It’s kind of dumb.  Learned about Joseph Smith and D&C 3-10.

Hi Sis Wihongi!

Our car broke down so we are trying to look for a new one to buy. I had a girls night with louisa, serina & baby June, Julie, and Alisa. We got matching pajamas and just yapped a lot. We talked about our book of the month called Pachinko. It was a boring book and super long about a Korean family Living in Japan during the war. It felt nice to have all of January be free of any photoshoots. But I will start getting back into photography this month. One photoshoot I have is for all the young women in my ward for an activity at a studio. Tane and I went to the temple this week too for initiatories. How are you feeling about teaching? You getting more confident? Love you heaps and praying for you! Xoxo Mina & Tane

2/9/25

Hello Sister Wihongi

We celebrated Alisas sister Kayla's birthday this week. On her birthday, we went to the nickelcade and won a lot of tickets. Alisa loves to play the coin pusher games. We made a giant bowl of strawberry sago for her, and bought her a party game called hues and cues. It's pretty fun. Then we ate papa John's for dinner and had cake and ice cream. We finished the day by playing a long game of monopoly. The next day was the superbowl. We watched it at uncle Scott's. Alisa and I just took cookies. The eagles beat the chiefs! We were happy about that. The halftime show was the most boring one yet by Kendrick Lamar. Anyways that's all the exciting stuff, hope you are doing well! We love you.

Alisa and Tyrell 

Hi Sis Wihongi, 

This Sunday I had a lot of meetings at church and had to give a short training. I Was sick last week with a cold and I'm still congested. We bought a new car as you know. It's been good so far. Had the superbowl at uncle scotts and I made a Korean miso soup called doenjang jjiggae. I also made a strawberry Sago for Tanes family afterwards because they had a potluck too. It was gone in minutes lol. Hope you are doing well! Love you heaps

Mina and Tane xoxo

Hello Leila, I can barely remember what happened last week.  By the way, I'm writing this on Monday, the day after.  Some drama happened in POP last week.  Ari and Seina, or however you spell her name, got into a fight with Mrs. McLelland.  Ari and Seina randomly dropped out of POP, so McLelland needed a new class president as Ari was president.  McLelland grazed the surface of what happened, as it was unexpected for her, but someone must've texted Seina and poisoned McLelland's words because Seina came into class and started cussing out Mrs. McLelland.  Seina left and McLelland called administration, and after McLelland started yelling at the class and lecturing us, she calmed down at some point and apologized for getting angry at us.  McLelland left the class after someone came to watch the class, and everyone started to snicker and mock/make fun of Mrs. McLelland.  I felt physically sick and disgusted by the people I was surrounded by, whom I thought were averagely nice people.  I know I should have compassion and charity for them, but I can't help but see them differently now, and I feel uncomfortable around them.  

Anyways, the super bowl was yesterday, Kendrick Lamar sang half time.  His performance was okay, not the best.  Rihanna's performance from last year was much better.  SZA featured in one of Lamar's songs.  It was Chiefs v. Eagles, and the Eagles won, surprisingly as I thought the Chiefs were gonna win because of a prophecy dad told me.  We - mum, dad, and I - went out shopping and got ribs, KFC, and ice cream from Macy's on Saturday.  We heart attacked homes with hearts and cookies for yw on Wednesday.  That's pretty much all I remember from last week.  - Love, Erana

Hi Leila,

This past week was the usual 4 days working 10 hours each. Not much going on. The weather had warmed up to the low 60’s at one point but now has dropped back to the 30’s. No big snow storms this year so far. Just light dusting of snow now and then and mostly rain. The grey dodge is getting fixed so it can pass emissions testing. Mum, Erana and I went out on Saturday to Home Depot to look at new ovens but I fixed the problem on the old one right before we left so we don’t have to get a new one yet. While we were out we went to KFC and to Maceys and got an ice cream and also a rack of bbq baby back ribs. We had Stake Conference Sunday and we ate dinner at Uncle Scott’s to watch the Super Bowl. The Eagles thrashed the Chiefs. We ate boil up and chili, miso soup that Mina made, shrimp cocktail, chicken tenders, honey dew and desserts. I got full. Keep studying hard with the language and practising with your companion.

Love you so much, Dad and Mum

2/16/25

Talofa Sis Wihongi

It was Valentine's Day this week and Tane got me a bouquet of white roses and Dots pretzels ♡ then after work, we went to drop off 2 roses and chocolates for Josie and Tessa, we got chocolate for josh and louisa too. We just thought it'd be fun to surprise them since they live so close to us. Then Tane took me out to Seven Brothers which is across the street from us. It is a Hawaiian burger place that is yummy. Then we went home and watched Pirates of the Caribbean 3, because we are watching them all at the moment. I love my husband so much, I am really lucky to have someone who loves and cares for me like he does. He works hard, takes care of our finances and always let's me know our budget/Bills/tithing, he does the laundry every time (i think I've only done the laundry once or twice our whole marriage), washes the dishes after I cook our meal, tells me I'm beautiful when I don't feel like it (which is basically everyday), supports me in my photography and hobbies and encourages me to do them, reminds us to pray each night when sometimes I just want to go to sleep😅🤣, he vacuums and keeps things tidy, helps me stay accountable to my physical goals, makes me laugh and forces me to hug him whenever I get grumpy, and I can go on and on. I've never heard him raise his voice before or ever get angry. I hope you are able to find someone who loves you this much after the mission. I'm so proud to call Tane-Toa my husband♡ On saturday, my ward had a young women's activity to have a photoshoot and I Took all the girl's photos at a studio. They had activities up to this photoshoot like learning to do/take care of their hair, self-worth and true identity activity, face masks, etc. And then This photoshoot is to help them see how beautiful they all are. There was around 25 girls which is a lot! It went on for 2 hours and I had a lot of fun. All the girls are so cute! Now I have to edit them. I learned in a Samoan ward conference that the Samoan word For “covenant” is feagaiga. And it has the word “aiga” in it which means family. So the Samoan word for covenant can remind us WHY we keep our covenants, and that is to be with our families forever. I thought that was pretty cool, the Samoan language is beautiful. Can't wait to hear from you!

Alofa atu, 

Mina & Tane

Kia Ora!

We had a 4 day school week and a nice long weekend. Friday went to Walmart with Dad and Erana, took a long time there getting some clearance stuff. Got Papa Murphy's Pizzas for Sunday Dinner since Dad and I won’t be there for dinner. Plus I don’t know if you knew but our oven had been broken since Thanksgiving Day and Dad just barely fixed it this past week. Dad and I also checked out Jordan Landing Walmart, but they had nothing. Looked at Ross, got me some cream & brown colored Reebok bball boots and Dad got a jacket and pants. Saturday Erana and I went to the mall and looked around. Erana got jean shorts at H&M and I got some baggy jeans there too. Then we went to ChinaTown and ate some Korean street food, fried squid, Korean potato corn dogs, and Bobba drinks at Sweet Honey Desserts. Sunday went to Church, it was Aiden Jackson’s Farewell and guess what???? He was allowed to play the piano before he gave his talk AAAANDD his sister Paige and two other girls (not of our ward) were allowed to sing or perform a musical number??? Baby and I were confused or I was a little annoyed at why I was told we weren’t allowed to do any of that for your farewell and were told we aren’t supposed to make Sacrament meeting about us? Dad says to not hold grudges. I said I’m not holding grudges. Being annoyed at the moment is not holding a grudge. After church Dad and I renewed our Temple recommend and Brother Leonard was asking me questions about you but of course I was clueless and he must think I’m a dingdong lol. Dad and I went to Anniversary Inn downtown on 5th South. We stayed in the ‘Treasure Island’ room. Dad booked it for something fun to do for my 50th Birthday, even though my Birthday is on Wednesday. Dad has planned a fun getaway for the whole family to Orlando in April during Spring break. Monday we came back home and went to Fashion Place Mall again with Erana. H&M didn’t take off her alarm thingy on her shorts and we also bought her a couple of jeans at a skateboarding store - she spoiled! Lol

This was our enjoyable long President’s day weekend. Love you - Mum xxx

2/18/2025

Hello Sister Wihongi,

This last week was Valentine's week, I taught a boxing class at 5:30am then right after I went to Smiths to buy Alisa some flowers, a card, and surprised her a couple days before Valentine's day. The next day we went to trader jos and the world market. On Valentine's day, I had a job interview and then right after I went to crave to buy Alisa her favorite cookie and surprised her. Then for dinner we ate out at a place called pho 777. And then we started the Hobbit. The day after we played monopoly with Alisas family and I won. On Sunday I had to give a talk. I talked about all the instances in the scriptures where the Lord counsels us to ‘pray always’ to escape temptation and receive the holy spirit. I shared an experience from my mission that explains how God is always one step ahead of Satan. Anyways, We hope you are doing well. Here’s a scripture that explains what it means to ‘pray always’ Alma 37:36-37. Love and miss you. Tyrell and Alisa.

2/23/25

Hello Leila, sorry I didn’t write to you last week but I can’t remember what happened last week besides I got new jeans and went to the mall and Chinatown.  I also can barely remember what happened this week.  I only had three days of school this week because I had Monday and Tuesday off.  School was good.  I’m yw secretary for the older girls so I have new responsibilities.  I went to the presidency training for it on Saturday.  I kind of slacked off a bit on Saturday because I vacuumed and all, but then I fell asleep on my bed and woke up two hours later.  Jaxon cleaned the toilet because I went to have dinner with mum, Tyrell, and Alisa at Honolulu Grill; I had to pay for myself.  I saw two very gay guys at Honolulu Grill and they kissed and it blew me away because I would’ve never guessed that they were a gay couple because they looked like wanna-be gangster guys.  After dinner on Saturday, Tyrell, Alisa, Mum, and I went to H-Mart and then Smith’s.  I’ve started working out, sshh.  This Little Light of Mine is a hymn!  I had a nightmare on the night before Saturday morning and it was gory.  I think I had powers in that dream where I could turn back time every time something went wrong and died.  These people were trying to invade this castle I was in, and they were trying to steal a baby that’s important for some reason. Sometimes that baby would get a spell cast on it somehow and it would turn into a ginormous stone dragon.  At some point near the end of my dream the bad people invaded our castle with an army, and they were trying to get inside but they couldn’t; it's a medieval setting in my dream.  And at some point I was in a room where some parts of the floor would disappear and you could just fall through, and I had a bow and arrow but I didn’t use it.  I noticed two guys had gotten inside of the castle and so I went to stop them because they were trying to take the baby; the baby was being taken to a boat in secret so that it may be safe.  With the two guys, one of the dudes randomly pulled a gun out -  even though it’s medieval times - and that guy shot his partner a few times in his chest.  His partner just looked down at his bullet wounds and was like, “what the heck, man”, and the guy who got shot pulled a gun out of his pants and shot the other guy in the head.  The guy who got shot in the heads eyeballs popped out and blood was just spewing from his eye sockets.  After that, something happened and everyone around me started to scream and their skin was melting off their bones like an ark of the covenant kind of scenario.  I freaked out and went to the basement area of the castle and there were random children in the rooms and they all were screaming and were just standing bloody bones.  I went back upstairs and then my dream ended.  Anyways, that’s practically all that I remember.  - Love, Erana

Hi  Leila,

Last Sunday after church, Mum and I went to the Anniversary Inn as a gift for her birthday and we stayed in the Treasure Island suite at the one on 5th south in Salt Lake. We had a nice breakfast the next day that they brought to us. We left at 12pm on Monday which was Presidents Day. I had it off and so did Mum and Erana. We went to Fashion Place mall and walked around and got some new baggy jeans for Erana at the Zumiez store and also got a mango and a passionfruit boba smoothie after that.  On Tuesday I took a sick day off because I didn’t feel like working. Mum went to work and Erana had another day off school. I did our taxes. We get some money back this year because getting the solar panels gave us a tax credit. Wednesday was Mum’s 50th birthday and I took her out to eat at Hwa’s restaurant and got our favorite pork bulgogi and japchae and also some Korean fried chicken. It is so yummy. Mum got the left overs ready to take home but she left it on the table and she was upset that she wasted it and lost some sleep over it, lol. Poor mum, she always over thinks things like that. On Friday Mum and I went to the temple. Saturday we went out to do a little shopping. We got a lot of winter boots for cheap at Walmart as they were on sale. We’ll put them away for when we need them in the future. I liked this scripture I read from Come Follow Me study. D&C 100:7-8.

7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

Study what it means to teach with solemnity of heart and with a spirit of meekness, for doing so comes with a promise that the Holy Ghost will bear witness to what you are teaching. Keep working hard and keep studying the language. You’re doing awesome, the Lord will bless you for your efforts and multiply everything you do with faith.

Love Dad and Mum.

Hi Sis Wihongi 

This week I had a newborn photoshoot in someone's home. It was a couple I knew from high-school. It wasn't my best photoshoot as it was hard doing it in their home with not the best lighting. I went to a Galentines party that was Wicked musical themed. It was fun, it was at Chrystelles parents house. That's Chantal and Chanelles’ sister. Every week I go to ward council meetings early in the morning on Sundays since I have to go to every ward conference in our stake for my calling. This Sunday, ward council was at 7am and my alarm didn't wake me up for it and I woke up around the time I had to leave so I was going to be late. While I was rushing getting ready, Tane-Toa woke up and went to warm up my car and scraped the frost off the windshield  because he noticed I was running late. It was 6:45am. I felt so loved when he did that. He could've just stayed asleep but he chose to serve me hehe. Just another story of my sweet husband. I also made Sunday dinner for mum's birthday. It was kimchi pork belly with lettuce wraps or rice. Hope you are finding joy in doing the work!

Love Mina and Tane

Hello sister Wihongi,

This week we celebrated mom's 50th birthday. Alisa and I went over on her birthday to eat cake and ice cream. They bought a lot of treats from Sagatos bakery and they bought Alisa and I a guava cake. Alisa bought a gym membership pass to eos too. I had nothing to do with that decision, she just wants to slim down more I guess. We took mom and Erana out to dinner to Honolulu grill, which was Alisa and I's birthday gift to mom. Then on Sunday we celebrated her birthday again with aunty and uncle. That was pretty much our week. Hope you're loving the mission and doing well. Keep praying, we love you.

 Alisa and Tyrell.