The Pacific Post

 Week 28 Law Symposium and a Beautiful Whare 23 February 2025 Dear Family and Friends, This week was a blur of activities and scrambling to get them all done. There were some big events and we hope and pray that we were able to contribute just a little. This is a picture of a humanitarian water project completed in Vanuatu. We couldn't help but add this picture of these 2 adorable sister enjoying water near their home. Here are a couple of links below that were included in our story that brought tears to my eyes when I first saw them. Simple needs of people here in the Pacific.  The story we wrote about this event made it to the Church News worldwide, not because of quality writing but because it is such an impactful event when the church blesses lives.  It is inspiring to see the love of the Savior for every person on the earth.   The background on this is that the Church humanitarian services completed a clean water project in a Vanuatu village.  Prior to...

 Week 27 Television Interviews and Rugby 16 February 2025 This is what an in-office Zoom (the Church uses Teams) looks like.   This is the Area office communication team and our intern from BYU.   We have missionaries from Australia and Papua New Guinea who join us.  On this day, Rich Hunter the Pacific Communication/Public Affairs manager and employee Zoomed in.   These happens a couple of times a week as we catch up on everything happening around the Pacific.  Very typical. Take special note of the attractive Valentine's Day dress worn by Launette. The Super Bowl was on Monday here and so some of the employees and missionaries gathered in the Area lunch room for about an hour to watch the game.   Funny side note, they don't run the American commercials in NZ, they are all local commercials and nothing out of the ordinary.  You would be hard pressed to find another group of white shirt and tie people watching part of the game....

  Week 26 Orientation and Valentine's FHE 9 February 2025 Hello Everyone! Time is flying by. I can't say that was the case at the beginning of our mission. It's hard to believe that it is already February. This next week marks .333 of our mission. Only a year to go. Crazy! We had a great week. By the way, does anyone know someone on the BYU Women's Soccer Team? I'm working with a Tasha Bell to bring them here in April. It would be fun to know someone.  Say hello to these wonderful people. They help us with communication in New Zealand. Their energy is endless and they both have such happy dispositions.  We love being with them. This "public affairs meal" was an opportunity to answer questions, teach, and train.   FYI, Rich Hunter is sitting next to Launette in the blue shirt. He is the manager for communication and public relations in the  Pacific Area.  He is a church employee and he manages 4 sets of senior missionaries.  All truly great people....

  Week 25 Partners In Crime and Spreadsheets 2 February 2025 Introducing our new "partners in crime",  Elder and Sister Hancey from Layton. They will be a great addition to our team. They are quick studies and very happy and positive. We hope to do justice to their training and education. Their arrival is very timely. We are very  busy. This spreadsheet represents probably about 80 hours of work.  Every communication director from the pacific area is included as we have worked through church authorized travel agency (not my favorite vendor) to schedule air, ground transportation, hotel and meals. They are invited to the annual communication seminar in March.   Couldn't get the whole spreadsheet in the picture.   But, we did it and now we are just down to figuring out all their visas and their reimbursements. Look who dropped by our office, KC and Judy! Kelly's brother and sister-in-law serve in the same mission but we never see each other unless w...