November 22

Tuesday morning as we were walking to the institute on of the teachers at the Primary School called to me.  I left Scott to continue on to open the institute.  The teacher asked me if we were free on Thursday morning and I indicated that we were.  She then asked if Scott and I would be the honored guests and the end of the year awards ceremony for the kindergarten (kindie) and classes 1 through 3.  I told her we would be honored.  She told me she would bring us the official invitation before we left the institute at 2:30.  Well she missed us.  We did not get the invitation until early on Wednesday morning.  We opened the invitation and sure enough we were the honored guests.  We had not, however, anticipated that there was a speech to the students included in that position.  

What does one say to 5 to 8 year olds on the theme "The glory of God is intelligence, in other word light and truth?"  Scott was so busy getting his Book of Mormon lesson prepared for later today, I knew I would have to come up with something---fast.  Yesterday before we went to the institute at 6 o'clock, I threw some ideas together.  Fleshed it out after we got home at 9.  Thought about it all night, and then made Scott sit down at home early today to go over the ideas I had trying to come up with the perfect talk.  We then rushed to the Service Center to type the outline up and then raced to the LDS Primary School.  What was I worried about we had a whole five minutes to spare.  I was fine with everything until I came around the corner and saw all these parents sitting in the back of the chapel (Samabula Ward chapel is also the auditorium for the primary school) and out into the cultural hall.  Indeed, the entire cultural hall was full.  GULP!!!!  Of adults.   

Our View from the Stand.
Graduates in front
Parents filled the Cultural Hall.

They gave us the most beautiful leis.  Fijians do not use the word lei, but I do not know what they do use.  We gave our talk which was short, interactive, active, and funny (thanks to Scott's subtle humor).  Then we were privileged to give each child his/her award and shake her/his hand.  The kids were so darling.  The girls curtsied to us and then the audience.  The boys bowed instead.  The parents were so proud of them.  As they were coming through I got all teared up.  Here, here is the future of Fiji, but more importantly HERE is the future of God's church in Fiji.  I was honored.

The Leis Given Us at
the Primary School
Graduation

A Closeup of the Leis

Class 1(1st Grade) Graduates
Almost all wore leis which
were not made of fresh flowers.

Scott Awarding Certificates of
Completion.

The Speech (both of us at the podium)

LaNae 
Bula brothers and sisters.  Bula vinaka, children.
Congratulations to all students for a great year, and for these awards
We understand your theme is "The glory of God is intelligence"  Do you know what intelligence is?  It means smart and wise.

Scott
Who knows where you lived before your were born?  (They knew--with Heavenly Father)
Why did Heavenly Father send you here to earth?  (little harder--to get a body)
Raise your hand if you have a body?  (Scott's humor here.)
Lets see how this body works.
     touch your nose         put your hands on your head             shake your neighbors hand
     wave good-bye          look up
Aren't we grateful to Heavenly Father for our bodies.

LaNae
There is another reason Heavenly Father sent us to earth 
Do you know what that is?  (to learn; to learn through experiences)
Heavenly Father wants us to learn!  He wants us to be smart.
There are things we sometimes do that make us bad learners.
In America a thumbs up=good (demonstrating) thumbs down=bad (demonstrating)
I am going to name some actions that make us good or bad learners.  
Will you tell me which is which by using your thumbs.
    listening quietly in class          getting to class late                            doing your best in school
    missing school                          helping others do well in school      talking out in class
    praying that H.F. will help you learn                   not completing assignments
    learning from your mom/dad                                being reverent in Sacrament Meeting
    readin a book during the summer holiday         reading your scriptures

Scott
Even though you are not in school, you can please Heavenly Father by learning everything you can this summer.