Wednesday, May 26, 2010

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS...by 'Ilikea Arakaki

I was fortunate enough to be part of the UVU Volleyball team for the past year and lucky to have the opportunity to travel with them to New Zealand and Samoa! Of all places to go on a trip with my work, it had to be two of the coolest places! Now I can proudly say I've been out of the country with people that have become my friends. Thank you so much Coach for giving me this chance to connect with the girls and the staff!

NEW ZEALAND:
-Devonport: Beautiful city with the cutest houses!
-The ferry ride...and E and Tim Tam missing it. :)
-Going to the Children's hospital and being entertained by the clown and fairy...oh and Coach being sprinkled with "fairy dust".
-A cop looking at us weird after we parked on the grass.
-Taking pictures with the cool cop.
-Seeing the cars race at the museum.
-Exploring the museum and learning the rich history of the Maori people.
-Patti asking, "Is this a crater or a volcano?"
-Allyce always seems to grab a boob when taking a picture.
-Finally going to a beach, Piha! Taking tons of pics, playing with the kelp.
-Fish and Chips for the first time!
-Going to the rugby game...our team losing. But still super fun!
-Doing temple work and singing for a little bit at the baptism font...it was lovely!
-Lanni talking in her NZ accent.
-The cute elderly people, and the little old woman who couldn't figure out Meagan's camera.
-Smelly Rotorua. P.U.
-Playing endless games driving all around NZ and singing Disney songs.
-When Creeper looked at us playing and we all freaked out cuz we thought he was driving...haha.
-Luge! Kudos to Jessica getting slammed by all the carts and living to tell the tale.
-Daniel winning all of the races...boo.
-Coach being the chief. Whoot Whoot!
-The bus ride back and our tour guide going around a round-a-bout...like 20 times.
-Singing on the bus as loud as we could.
-Singing Edelweiss :)
-With Erica, Dani, Rachel and Meagan taking cool jumping pics at the pier.
-The sad goodbye song that our families sang to us after the game, and the spirit of love we felt.
 
SAMOA:
-Coach seeing his son as a missionary.
-Going to the beach more than we expected. Yay!
-When we first got to Coach's house where he grew up. Pretty amazing.
-Tricc saying, "So this is where Sam first Whammed." :)
-Delivering stuff at Ah Mu and the Elderly home.
-Dropping stuff off at the Pediatric Ward, seeing the parents and children's faces when they recieved an animal and hygiene kits was just so joyful.
-CFA playing with the two adorable kids running around the hospital.
-Doing an assembly at Pesega Church College...the kids going wild when a boy kissed CFA and another kissed Patti on the cheek.
-Taking pictures with those kids...wow. They attacked you!
-Erica saying, "I have sweat on my body that is NOT mine."
-Lanni and Rachel's gecko video. Hahaha!
-Sarah singing Phantom of the Opera in the van, and everyone belting out Sound of Music melodies.
-The girls giving stuff to the players, and just seeing the happiness on their faces was priceless.
-Daniel ripping open a coconut.
-Delivering supplies to the small hospital near the south side of the island where the tsunami hit.
-Visiting Coach's dad's grave. There was an incredible spirit there.
-Daniel falling on the road...Haha.
-Coach singing "Fantasy", Andrew singing "Sweet Caroline", Daniel sang "Everything She Does Is Magic", and Allyce belting out "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing"...I miss you Pepe!
-The fish swimming so close and eating food out of your hands!
-Sunday being the hottest ever, never again will I take AC for granted!
-Lindsay singing with her flawless voice.
-All the little mishaps that happened during the fireside... :)
-Sarah saying that she prefers being called "Tricc" in her talk.
-Jaicee and CFA singing "Love at Home" in Samoan. So beautiful.
-Patti being hit on by the local Samoan boy after the fireside.
-Our devotional afterwards...no words can be enough to describe that night.
-While on our way to Piula, the fresh water cave, we threw t-shirts to people on the road. Their faces were so full of joy! Playing Santa Claus was the best!
-Singing Pirates of the Caribbean in the creepy fresh water cave...
-Snorkeling with Scotty, Jessica and Andrew...seeing all the tiny fish colonies.
-Watching Glee on the way home...Whoot!













Chief Sam Attempting the Haka...

Trip Reflections from the resident Kiwi

It all started 4 years ago when Sam, Andrew, Lacee & Jess brought the original UVSC team 'down under'. I skipped work for a week and followed them round, being drawn to the light that they glowed in. To have the opportunity to share in that a second time round, when I have come so far personally, was the sweetest, most loving experience I could have dreamt of.

Of course we had fun. How could we not!? Lugeing, eating, driving, sleeping, some more eating and taking in all the culture of my homeland is always such a special experience, and to share it with a group of such wonderful people only adds to the experience. This team, this program has changed my life, so to be able to return to NZ and share them with MY people was so special.

Adding to that was my first experience of Temple session, such a blessing to do that in my homeland.

Moving onto Samoa. WOW. It was such a privilege to share in that experience. From the out and out joy of the fun of the beaches, to the heart warming service we were able to do for the people of Samoa. What seemingly was so little for us (t-shirts and stationary) you could see
changed their lives.

To see Sam honoured and respected as he is in his homeland was so humbling, and only amplified my personal love and respect for the man that is 'THE WHAM'.

Thank you UVU for sharing this experience with me, thank you Sam for making this happen, thank you Lacee & Scott for being amazing, inspiring people and coaches and supporting the Wham so well, thank you girls for being amazing, fun, hilarious, energetic and enthusiastic!

Thanks for changing my life, I am truly eternally grateful.

Daniel













Highlights from the Princess...

Wow! This trip was, simply stated... AMAZING! To start New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places! Going to the black sand beach was so fun (even if it was swarmed with birds). The teams we got to play were so nice and it was so fun to get to compete with them and talk to them afterward. Driving along in New Zealand and seeing the green fields and singing at the top of our lungs, playing car games, was such a fun time. Our team is extraordinary!

I love these girls with all my heart! These are friendships that last a life time. Being able to share these memories with them is so special!
 
Samoa was a whole different experience. Playing "Santa Clause" as coach called it was one of the definite highlights. Just seeing the happiness and excitement in the peoples faces was so sweet. This trip definitely made me think back to the blessing I have at home and remember to be thankful for all that I do have. The beaches in Samoa were incredible and the snorkeling was so fun! But the thing I'll remember most was the people's lives that we were able to touch.
I could go on and on about this trip but mostly I just want to thank Coach and the people who helped make this trip a reality! THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES!!!!

XOXO Dani "Princess"














Finale... by KB

I've had some time to sit and think about what I should say to sum up the trip. I'm not sure how to put in words how i feel about it all. To say it was "amazing" and "the best trip ever" couldn't paint the picture for those reading adequately enough. I could "ditto" everything Garf said in her summary. In fact, I will. I wish i could copy and paste my 42 pages of journal entries I wrote on the trip onto the blog but I'm sure everyone would get bored. For the most part, everything we have done has been shared in one way or another; But the feelings, emotions, and spirit I felt on the trip (as well as everyone else in attendance) is unreal. I will leave with this. The gospel is the same across the world, relationships are far more important then any "thing" or souvenir, and family is everything. So, I will fall victim to the cliche by saying that it really was "the best trip ever".

Lovelovelove,
Kayli Lynn :)
xoxo