Week 55 - Culture night! - Kalaheo, Kauai (the Garden Isle), Hawaii

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

   Most of our lessons canceled this week :( But Heavenly Father made us super busy doing service and prepping for the Micronesian Culture Night that was on Saturday and it was so amazing! 

   Our Relief Society President asked if we could help with some stuff and of course we said yes. So our list of accomplishments this week is: 2 cakes (one with the Marshallese flag as the frosting and the other with Yokwe on it), 1 pan of brownies, 100 pieces of banana bread, 68 candy leis (with over 700 little bows we tied). Then we helped decorate the tables, organize the tables. Doresty called us and asked it we could help her on the day of the Culture Night so we pounded taro, de-haired 18 coconuts by scrapping them with knives, cut pumpkin and bread fruit. Then from the missionary side we made flyers with all the Kauai missionaries numbers on it and set up a table that had Book of Mormons in Marshallese and then some other pamphlets about what we believe. by the time the event started I was already exhausted! 

    The actual Micronesian Cultural Night: started off with our Marshallese members dancing for about 15 minutes straight. Most of them were recently baptized, or members that had not come in a while. There dance was about building a house out of coconut trees and fishing. I love how their dances tell a story. I was so impressed because they came up with the lyrics, music for the ukulele, and then the dance for it all in about 2.5 weeks! They were amazing! I feel like the luckiest girl because we were able to see them practice and see how the Lord was binding these members together and helping them become strong as a group. The Culture Night not only allowed our other nationalities in the church get to know our Marshallese better but it really strengthened the Marshallese too! truly it was a miracle the way the Lord makes everything work out so perfectly! 

    Then there was the food- we had normal Hawaiian pot luck but then there was Marshallese food for everyone to try. My favorite is IQ (basically coconut porridge) or pumpkin taro coconut balls (all those foods mixed together and rolled into a ball). 

    After we ate another Marshallese group came to perform as well and they were well seasoned dancers. They kind of have dace crews almost but its usually by churches. They were really fun to watch but they weren't all the people that I loved and had seen put in so much work so my Marshallese were my favorite ;) Everyone had such a good time and it was just so full of the Spirit. That in itself is amazing to me how we can feel the Spirit when we are quiet and in a sacred place but we can also feel the Spirit when we are involved with wholesome and good activities. Wow - God is so good and I love being able to see His work all around me and in everything! 

   Well, the night ended and we were still exhausted, feet hurting from being up so much but so happy as well! 

   Sunday came and at first I didn't think that the Marshallese people were going to come because I didn't see them. I was so glad when I was wrong and Doresty (recently married, baptized, and now has 2 callings) got up and bore her testimony. Parts that stuck out to me was that she said, "I am still young in the gospel and learning but I know that this church is true. It has strengthened my family and brought us so much happiness." We are all still learning and with each new truth that we find and apply to our lives brings us more happiness for ourselves and for our families! Also, Carlmai's (a returned missionary) bore his testimony and it was so sweet when he said, "I know that we are all children of God and no matter our skin color He loves us." Then he mentioned about his father passing away while he was on his mission and he knows that he will be able to see his dad again and that one day his whole family will join the church and he won't have to come alone. Man - those are the moments where I am so grateful for missionaries so that one day if now is not the time, the gospel will bring so much joy to their family. Why am I on a mission? I am here for people like Carlmai - I chose to leave the people I love the most because I know that the gospel has blessed my life and made it full of joy amidst the trials and everybody should have those blessings as well. Everyone deserves and needs the hope and joy that is found when we hand over our lives to our Father in Heaven and let the Master Creator do what He does best - create something magnificent. 

    I love this gospel so much. I know that my time is short and that scares me; but, I know that as  I continue to work I will continue to see miracles all around me. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and has been revealed to us through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that we are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father and He loves us. God is good always! And God is love! I love you all! Mahal kita! Te amo! Poake poake yuk! Narong secolm! Ofa atu! Aishiteru! Alofa ia te oe! Yokwe yuk! Aloha wau ia oe!

 Love Always, 

    Sister Cassidy Lang