A uniformity of devotion like BYU-Hawaii is found in an international travel of Elder Holland

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve visited Middle East and three European nations from February 20 to March 4. He called the experience as a uniformity of faithful devotion of Latter-day Saints of diverse cultures and nations regardless languages and geographies, says Church News.

Traveling to United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, England and Germany, Elder Holland described the devotion of Church members at each place as being "in their hearts, their spirits."

“You hear someone bear testimony in a different language, or coming out of a different culture, or in a very distant part of the earth and yet it sounds like you are in your home ward,” said Elder Holland summed his traveling experience with a testimony. “The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles, one of the great powers of the gospel,” he said.

Elder Holland got to preside over two stake conferences in two different countries that are 3,000 miles apart on the same weekend. He presided at the stake conference in Abu Dhabi on February 22 and then over to the Apeldoorn Netherlands Stake conference's sessions February 23 and 24.

One thing unique about the trip, Elder Holland got to dedicate the Abu Dhabi Stake Center in the United Arab Emirates, the first building constructed by the Church in the Middle East. 

While traveling to British, Elder Holland visited the London's historic Hyde Park Chapel where recently remodeled to function as a church meetinghouse and a visitors' center. Elder Holland said, "I was in this building when it was dedicated, so my memories are very sweet today.” He recalled his memory a young missionary in British Mission during the early 1960s.

Spending couple days in Germany, Elder Holland met with mission presidents and spoke to LDS members in several combined church meetings. He told the German members that “we truly are all brothers and sisters in the gospel and encouraged them to continue meeting together in order to foster a spirit of love.”

Ben Howells, an ICS senior from England, said he was happy that Elder Holland visited his country. He said, “I served mission in London and it is the same mission as Elder Holland. I I feel the sense of connection with him. When he visited PCC last year, I was lucky to be his tour guide. ”

Tsz Yin Chan, Biochemistry senior from Hong Kong, said, “Since Elder Holland already visited Middle East, I wish Elder Holland can visit China someday and dedicate a visitor center or a chapel in maybe Shanghai or Sichun. We have a lot of members in those areas.”

Clover Cheng

1000 Shillings - A project of hope for impoverished women

On a breezy Saturday, BYU-Hawaii students gathered to learn how to support impoverished women in Uganda and Nepal with 1000 Shillings, a non-profited organization started by BYU-H alumn, in Mckay Foyer on March 30.

1000 Shillings became the name of the company based on the amount of money that the average woman in the Namatala slum lives on per day – approximately 1,000 Ugandan Shillings (US$.40). While it caused 2000 Shillings to buy a can of soda in Africa, 1000 Shillings goals to empower impoverished women artisans around the world by giving their products an international market, a platform for the women to tell their stories, and seed capital for the women to start their own businesses.

Anthony Noble, a political science senior from Washington as well as the “One” president, said he would like to see how other humanitarian organizations do to help people all over the world. He said, “I also served mission in Africa and I expect to hear to learn a lot from 1000 Shillings.”

The event was started with an introduction of 1000 Shillings with its purpose and mission. The host Seth Young is a peacebuilding junior from Arizona. His sister is Alexis Young, one of the co-founder of 1000 Shillings and alumni of BYU-H. “Raising awareness is my full purpose and to help my sister and the women in Africa and Nepal by spreading the word about 1000 Shillings,” said Young.

Young showed videos with the testimonies of the women in Africa and Nepal that 1000 Shillings are currently helping to be independent and self-reliant. One African woman Esther, who was formerly a farmer, said she used to earn 500 Shillings (US$0.20) a day. 1000 Shillings taught her how to make jewelry and sell it overseas. She appreciated 1000 Shillings and said, “Now I can eat breakfast with my family. Thank you,” said Esther.

A Nepal woman Saili also gave thank to 1000 Shillings. Saili was one of the victims of sex trafficking. She was sold as a sex worker when she was 16 and found in a recovery home by 1000 Shillings when she was 21. Now she learned how to sew and make jewelries to provide for her son.

Showing guests the jewelers and other products made by these women of 1000 Shillings, Young invited guests to consider buying the products as the end of the events. “Think of the stories of each product,” Young said and picked up a necklace. “It is worthy cost to help women and their family. It is about supporting women and building peace. Peace if harder to achieve if people’s basis human need is not achieved.”

Seeley Dopp, a peacebuilding junior from Idaho, said, “There are so many non-profit organizations for Africa but not the U.S. We have sex trafficking here too. Maybe we can lern from 1000 Shillings to do something to help the women in need,” she said. 

For more info on 1000 Shillings go to their website: www.1000shillings.com

Clover Cheng

Peace builders from the U.S. Department of Defense visited BYU-Hawaii

Sponsored by McKay Center, guest speakers Robert Ricigliano, Director of Institute of World Affairs at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Karen Grattan, Senior operations Research analyst, introduced the practical side of peacebuilding to BYU-Hawaii Students in McKay Foyer on March 28.

        Ricigliano and Grattan are currently working together as analyst contractor at the Department of Defense (DOD) for United States government. They are not only working partners, but also friend since high school.

Grattan shared how she came to involve with peace and reconciliation. She said, “I am a social scientist and I study how cocaine causes brain injury to pregnant women and babies. There are a lot of social reasons that put these women into the attempt of drug dealing. Family conflict is one of the reasons. Through understanding how the social system affects conflict, we might able to build peace in the interpersonal level and even an organizational level.”

Building peace is possible when people start in a personal level, said Grattan. She used her team in DOD as an example, said, “Peace is a team work. You need to hold accountability as a peace builder before going out to build peace between countries. My team does conflict analysis and it is important to be reflexive and reflective. These attitudes are the keys to create harmony in a personal level.”

Agreed with Grattan, Ricigliano said, “If you know the movie Invictus, I was in South Africa during 1970 to 1985 when the conflict was so serious between black and white people.” He said he was once given the opportunity to shake hand with Magnus Malan, Chief of the South African Defence Force and Army in the 1970s. Malan was charged for murdering and torture in 1995.

Ricigliano recalled, “Malan is the evilest person in my definition. But when I shook his hand, I realized he was a sunken person. He was told he was right the whole time. He was just functioning according to the system. And when the crimes were made known to public, everyone pointed their fingers to him.”

“Peace happens when we all work together,” Ricigliano shared his personal peacebuilding motto. “Peace is about how to work and what to do. Together is the key word. None of us is as smart as all of us. I believe in collective intelligence. We need lots of people in building peace…Violence cannot fix problem. It seems stop the problem for a short time, but the problem will come back.”

Chase Buie, a peacebuilding junior from Salt Lake City, said he desired to work in the field of conflict resolution like the guest speakers. “I am here to learn how to deal with conflicts in a macro and micro level,” said Buie.

Planning to be a lawyer, Rick Plehm, a communication senior from Utah, said he also interested to be a mediator in reconciliation. He said, “I want to explore the alternative option about what I might do. This lecture reminds me of Professor Chad Compton’s organizational communication class.”

Host of the lecture, Kelsey Gonzalez, is a communication senior from Washington as well as friend with Ricigliano. She said, “Rob and Karen are experienced in international negotiation. I want students to see how building peace is possible in a practical level.” She added, “The speakers are also interested to meet Professor Chad Ford and talk about our peacebuilding program in BYU-H.”

Clover Cheng

New LDS website counter rumors about Mormons and China

After Liahona have been approved to be printed in simplified Chinese in 2012, there is another cheering news for over 70 Mainland Chinese students in BYU-Hawaii. The new website, www.mormonsandchina.org, is now available for specific information between the People's Republic of China and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The new website attempts to answer frequently asked questions by church leaders who minister to Chinese Mormon as well as Chinese Mormon who are currently living outside China but have concerns about continuing the worship after their returning to China.

For the first time, the church is publicly addressing the concerns regarding to its operation and membership in China. As a Q&A format, the site provides official guidelines, including the current status of the Church in China, whether the church has missionary activity in China, and how to find a LDS congregation in China.

“Our more open communication about the church in China follows our developed relationship of trust with Chinese officials and our concern for the PRC citizens who are joining the church throughout the world,” said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the LDS Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who has supervised the church in China for a number of years.

“We will continue to teach our members to be good citizens. Providing accurate information about the Church will allow them to better contribute to society in China,” Oaks emphasized, "The church has no proselyting missionaries in the People's Republic of China nor does it have any plans to send missionaries, or to engage in any proselyting activities in China.”

“Over the years, the Church has built a strong relationship of trust with the People’s Republic of China by always respecting the important laws and traditions of that country,” for this purpose, he said, the Church is blocking access to this website so it cannot be viewed in China.”  

According to the site, to avoid any misunderstanding as trying to promote the Church in China, should church members neither distribute any Church materials nor set up religious-based internet blogs. It is also discouraged that church members take more than one copy of church material beyond personal use when travel to China.

Jeff Ye, a political junior from China, said he felt happy about the new site. “It's helpful for Chinese who joined the church outside china and plan to go back,” Ye said. As a Chinese Mormon got baptized in Mainland China, he said the site does not directly affect him because “I already knew where the church is and the laws in china.”

Jade Cheng, an elementary education freshman from Hong Kong, said “I am happy finally the church stands up and clear all the rumors. Sometimes, I hear stories about how members tempted to bring Book of Mormon or Liahona while traveling to China. I think it is not good for the reputation of the church. We shouldn’t do illegal things even though for the purpose of preaching the gospel.”

Planning to do internship in China, Derek Kaye, an ICS junior from Washington, said he appreciated the website reminds LDS member the do and don’t in China. “The church is becoming a global organization and the website means it is progressing,” he said. “I read the site. It is a good example that the church is very careful in following the correct principle. And it fulfilled my curiosity about what to be aware of.” For example, he said, “At least I know bringing ‘1 copy of Book of Mormon to China only’ is not just a Mormon rumor.”

Clover Cheng

Hot rice pudding recipe

Save some money from buying pudding in Foodland but make your own sweet treat. With the good use of creativity, leftover rice can become a dessert.

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Serve: 2 people

Reference: Family recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup of leftover white rice

1 cup of whole milk

4 Tablespoons of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extra

Your choice of toppings (cinnamon, raisin, or nuts)

Steps:

Heat the leftover rice in the microwave for 1 minute.

Blend the rice and milk in a blender until it becomes rice puree.

Boil the mixture in medium heat with sugar and vanilla extra.

Stir the mixture for 10 minutes until the mixture becomes porridge.

Put the pudding in cups/containers.

Sprinkle your choice of toppings.

Enjoy while it is hot.

*If a cold pudding is preferred, put the pudding in the fridge for 1 hour.

“Matariki Festival of Aotearoa”- An evening of Maori culture in cafe

With food, laugh, and performance, BYU-Hawaii students and facility members gathered to celebrate the Maori New Year Harvest in cafeteria on March 22. BYU-H Food Service served guests with the New Zealand menu including carved leg of lamb, Maori Boil up, and steamed bread pudding, etc. 

“We want to give students a different experience. We did a lot of Asian culture in the past and it is time to do Polynesian culture,” said Marilou Lee, BYUH Club Dining and Vending Manager, explaining the purpose of the event.

“The event was a result of a lot of communication and collaboration,” said Lee. “Café cooperated with the Kiwi Chapter and the community members for the menu. They showed us the recipe and we try to be as close as possible”

Agreeing with Lee, Katai Mariteragi, Club Dining supervisor, gave thanks to whoever helped to bring the event alive. “Food Service can’t do it alone. We always invite students to involve in any event. Like this one, Kiwi Chapter helped to provide decoration and entertainment…We have schedule for other Polynesian culture in the soon future too.”

For chapters which have the will to showcase their culture, Lee extended the invitation and said, “Contact us for an event. BYU-H is so diverse. We should use the chance well to learn from different culture.”

Spencer Tan, the Executive Chef, said “If you try the salad, you would see a strange curly plant, it is the fiddlehead fern. We order if from New Zealand. We did the research few months ahead for the special order.

Serving the guests food plus a big smile, Paul Mooso, a biochemistry sophomore from Indiana, who called himself a “Dish Washing Captain in café”, said he was proud because “the students kept come back for second plate. They look really excited about the food.” 

“I am certainly going for more food,” said William Tokaduaskux-Swagger-duadua, an exercise science freshman from New Zealand, who had 6 empty plates and 2 baskets in front of him. “I am very skeptical about the food, but Café brings me home today. I always tell my friends about the food in New Zealand, today Café back my word. I feel proud my culture is on plate. Now students can experience my culture, food, and performance.”

Also from New Zealand, Shaquille Byrnes, a history sophomore, complimented the decoration. She said, “Everything looks amazing and everyone looks happy. Tonight is a good first step for students to know our culture. It is a good and close representation.”

Without a meal plan, Mathias Tov Lubega, an IT sophomore from Uganda, said he paid to come and it was all worth it. “The food is very cultural. I like the soup. It is delicious and reminds me home. We use pumpkin, photo, and sweet potato in soup too. I wish café can have event like this every week.”

“I came for an adventure,” said Janell England, a psychology sophomore from Calif., confessed she knew nothing about New Zealand culture. “I do like it and surely I will go back for more food.”

The next coming event of Food Service called the “Earth Week” which aimed to bring awareness about food waste and earth protection to BYU-H on April 23 -25.

Clover Cheng

Laie Elementary School lockdown lifted after scare

Students at Laie Elementary School are resuming normal activities after reports of harassing phone calls put the school in lockdown on March 8.

According to the Laie Elementary School official website, a front office staff received harassing phone calls requesting for information on March 7. While the purpose of the request and the caller’s identity were unknown, the staff member made a report to Honolulu Police Department (HPD).

The lockdown was put into effect shortly after a threat of bodily harm to the staff member from more harassing phone calls on March 8. During the lockdown, students were kept safe inside the locked classrooms and were released at the end of the school day.

HPD was on campus around noon and checked on the phone number of the harassing phone calls, and concluded that this was a "scam”. No injuries have been reported. A security attendant from Keamalu Consulting Investigation Consulting Agency was sent by District Office to guard campus on March 11.

Has a 6-year-old daughter currently attending Laie Elementary School, Skyler Chambers, a business junior from Utah, said “I got aggravated when I found out about the lockdown. It was 2:15pm when I went to pick up my daughter as a normal off school time. I saw cops running around like a mad house. It makes me nervous.”

“Parents need to know what is going on. It will make me feel better if I know how the school is going to protect the children,” Chambers continued. “I wish the school can contact parents through either email or phone call but not give us a letter after…My daughter said the teacher made them to sit under the desk for 2 hours and go to toilet in a bucket.”

As a prospective teacher, Lauren Clifford, a TESOL junior from Arizona, shared her opinion if she was put in the situation of a lockdown. She said, “As a teacher, we’ve to be brace, take authority, take action, and be confident. The most important thing is to keep the students calm. A teacher shouldn’t act scared, the students would get worry. A true hero is to be strong for others.”

        Roy H. Yamamoto, the Director of Campus Safety & Security, said BYU-Hawaii has an emergency notification system to alert students for an emergency. He recalled, “We have used the emergency notification system for tsunami warnings such as for the earthquake off British Columbia in October 2012 and Japan in March 2011.”

        According to the campus alert system poster themed “Don’t be the last to know” says, “BYU Hawaii’s new alert system enables emergency response team members to communicate with students, staff, and faculty in minutes by sending a message via a number of contact methods—including email, text messaging, and cell phones.”

For students who would like to receive emergency alerts from BYU-H’s Everbridge Aware campus alert system, here are the instructions:

1.          Login to my.byuh.edu

2.          Click on myTools > Update Personal Information

Enter or update your Campus Emergency Alert Phone