Visiting Teaching

I think that I gained a testimony of visiting teaching today. I mean, on my mission, I really recognized the importance of it since no one did it and they didn't care when their home or visiting teachees were completely inactive, but at BYU it's a little bit different. Today, my VT comp and I went to visit one of our sisters, and it was just amazing to see how each of us have had experiences that we could share to help each other. I just don't think it's by coincidence that we were all put together. We are here to bear each other up, and especially to help one another endure to the end, and I think that is what home and visiting teaching is all about. I am so relieved to know that there are other people who have gone through the same kind of trials as me, and to know that it worked out for them, so it'll probably work out for me. And also, another thought... I always think that I'm not going to be the best visiting teacher, because I will probably never bring cookies or treats or anything, but that's really not what's important. So, I feel okay in continuing to not know how to bake anything.

It made me think of a scripture in D&C (thanks, D&C class, love it)108:7-8, "Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings. And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. Amen."

And then after I got home, I was reading a talk by President Hinckley, and this paragraph just stuck out to me as applying perfectly to this also:

"Brothers and sisters, look above your trials. Try to forget your own pain as you work to alleviate the pain of others. Mingle together as opportunity affords. It is important that we do so. We need others to talk with and to share our feelings and faith with. Cultivate friends. Begin by being a good friend to others."--President Hinckley, Ensign, March 1997

And one more..."No matter what circumstances you sisters experience, your influence can be marvelously far-reaching. I believe some of you have a tendency to underestimate your profound capacity for blessing the lives of others. More often than not, it is not on the stage with some public pronouncement but in your example of righteousness and the countless gentle acts of love and kindness done so willingly, so often on a one-to-one basis." --James E. Faust, "You Are All Heaven Sent," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 110

So, the moral of the story is: do your visiting and home teaching. You won't just be helping them.

Ho'oilina Kupuna... Lu'au 2011!!

Tuesday and Wednesday were the Lu'au performances! We had such a fun time rehearsing and practicing for this show, and I'm a little bit sad that we couldn't have had more than two shows! It was so fun to get dressed up, slather our chins with baby oil and get all painted up, do lots of last-minute practicing, and watch the other sections dance. Voila some pictures:

My cute friend Holly, who was in one of the Hawaii dances.

Tahiti dance

Me and Laurel with Mary and Celinda (sisters, obviously). I just love them, and look how good Celinda is at doing the pukana.

My friend Luiza
Laurel with her stick. Great job on the stick dance... which I know has a real name, but I don't know it.
Me with my poi ball... taku poi e. Love that little thing.
Our opening number. Yeah Maori!!
Here's one of us during our dance. New Zealand was definitely the coolest...


And look who came to see me :)

What a great family I have. Thanks for coming, everyone!

Overall, I loved doing the Lu'au. It was such a great experience, I got to meet some really great people and learn about an amazing culture, and I'm excited to participate again next year :D

What will I do with my Saturdays?...

Today was our last rehearsal before the LU'AU! I'm a little sad that it's over; it's been so much fun learning all of these dances and songs, and we are excited to perform them! We have been practicing every weekend for almost three months, and I have to say, it looks pretty dang good. I haven't seen the other sections (Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and Tahiti), but New Zealand is going to be really cool.

The shows are Tuesday March 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd, in the ballroom of the WILK. Come see me and my poi-balling skills. It's going to be awesome.

Tickets for the show are $5, and you can buy them at the information desk in the WILK. Or, go here for more info: https://multicultural.byu.edu/lu%E2%80%99au

L'aventure ambiguë

These past couple of days, I've felt like I've been at a real college. Thursday and Friday at BYU, we were lucky to the have the author Cheikh Hamidou Kane visit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his book, L'aventure ambiguë. He's having three celebrations for his book-- one in Senegal (where he's from. And yes, we'll be visiting with him when we're there also :) ), one in France, and one in the USA... BYU to be specific. So cool. The author talked to us about his book, students talked to us about the book, and there were several visiting lecturers from other universities (Penn, Columbia) who came to talk about the book. It was all very philosophical and collegiate, and I loved it. Thursday night was the best, an "African Celebration" where they had a group made up of African students who perform traditional songs and dances, and at the end they had everyone get up and dance. So great.

Anyways, I admit that I haven't yet read this book (although I have a copy of it), but based on what I've heard over the past couple of days, I'd recommend it. It's a story of the clash between religion & traditional belief, and the influence of the colonization of the "western world."

So. I'll let you know what I think when I actually get to reading this book (and also I should apologize, because I hear that it's better in French than the English translation). I'm currently reading Camara Laye's L'enfant noir. It's great. I'm really excited to go to Senegal and I'm happy to be learning a little bit about their culture before I leave.

here I am

Well, Meg, I finally made a real-live blog. Next step is to have a super exciting life to have things to write about. Maybe the blog will be the catalyst. Anyways, hope you enjoy reading about my goings-on, and we'll see how long this lasts. :)