This Christmas season was a little different. Instead of having a collection of non-perishable food items for the needy families in our ward we had a "Giving Tree." The idea came from our newly called activities leader Brother Frank Akhay and our ward counsel members.
Brother Frank Akhay & Bishop Peter Bishop
Wahiawa 1st Ward
Families were ask to donate a gift card(s) of any dollar amount from Walmart, Longs Drugs or Foodland stores and give it to the Bishopric. Bishop would prayfully select the families in our ward who were less fortunate and distribute the gift cards to those families who would otherwise do without during this Chirstmas season.
Our ward focus was on the "Gift fo Giving"
Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not a forsake them.
Members were encouraged to take a Christmas tree ornament which hung on our ward Christmas tree as a keepsake of their generosity! They could hang it on their tree during Christmastime to remember how they helped a needy family during this time of year.
1Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
We are indeed grateful to the families who contributed to the Giving Tree. According to Bishop's report there were many generous gift card donations. Mahalo nui loa!
We had a wonderful time at our ward Christmas Party!!!
The Christmas Party announcement read:
Wahiawa 1st Ward Christmas Party
Saturday December 20th 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Dinner will be served. You are welcome to bring your favorite dessert to share!
And DESSERT they did bring!
We had and overflow of desserts in the cultural hall and on the food table in the YW room.
Friends and families enjoying the Christmas Season!
Matt and Jenilee Ferguson with their children McKenzie, Matthew, Nathan & NatalieWe will surely miss them when they move to Washington in April 2009. waaahhhh
(and ofcourse we all know Fara-Mone the brown girl in the picture...well actually she is now faded from the Utah weather.)
Uncle Les Call with Fara & Hannah Banana
Stella Kepo'o and Les Call 
James and Lorraine Carr.
Jim usually is our photographer...but guess who's taking over.
Carr's and that brown girl again. I guess she thought she was the star that night because she just returned form Provo after her first semester at BYU.
Diane, Paula and friends surely enjoyed themselves.
The "old-timers" from the original Wahiawa Ward since Avocado street. Louise Ferreira, Roberta Mariano and Jean Akagi.
Helene Sam with granddaughters Arianna & Maci Rivera and Kayla Fanene.
Sister Sam always smiles after the picture is taken.
Matthew and Rui Radik with sons.
You will see them later in the Nativity scene.
Courtney Pierce with Avery Abigail & Audrey.
Brother Frank enjoyed carrying the baby.
Our elder missionaries Brother and Sister Beyington
Hodges Family: Rych, Marie with Nick, Sammie, Katherine & little one.
Kelly and Sophie Johnson. They sang beautifully in sacrament the next day. Thank you for sharing your talent. Sophie also took charge in organizing our nativity program which certainly added "Christ" to our Christmas party.
John and Louise Ferreira. John was our kitchen helpper. We can always count on John to keep things in order in the kitchen. He was their to set-up and stayed to the very end to clean-up. He is a blessing to our ward family.
Stella Kepo'o with Josh and Marie Garrido.
The Call family and Grandma Meyer. Les, Rachel, Mitchell and Landon. Grayson was hanging out with friends. Very dear friends of ours who we will truly miss. They will be moving to West Virgina Saturday 12/27/08.
Super Woman Stephani Allred and children. Her husband Byron serving in Iraq.
Peter and Priscilla Sy and son.
The Hicks 'Ohana. Matthew, Amanda, Jostin, Kimberlyn and, Kayli.
Matt and Jostin were a big help setting up for the party the night before.
Matt and Jostin were a big help setting up for the party the night before.
The Bowen 'Ohana Duane, Crystal, Dakota, Orion & Kaya
Thanks for sharing your talents in the nativity scene and hula dance. You guys are very special people.
Thanks for sharing your talents in the nativity scene and hula dance. You guys are very special people.
Larry, and Kiana Emma Thomas & friend
Priscilla Sy with Daughter Kim De Rego and her son Kaipo Wilmeth
Stephanie with kids Jace, Kaylee, Braydon, and Hunter. Eric deployed to Iraq. Hope to see him soon!
Oh oh..the Fara's together again!Fara-Mone and Fara-Moanalani
Brother Ferreira in the back. Raegan Bishop & Fara
The sweet and generous couple. Ardie and Stella Kepo'o. Ardie did our sounds that evening. You'll also see him dancing the YMCA in the video with the other brethren. That was really fun to watch and participate in.
Donna and Mariah Spix with neice Danae Deckert
Diane Hopkins and Paula Faufata
Jared and Mandy Kaanga with Masoa and Tomokia.
Brother Kaanga the YM President is serving well!
Courtney and Caylee Lafaele with their older cousin.
Baby Madeline Lafaele and Beth Rodrigues.
Maselina Lafaele and Nu'u Huihui enjoying dinner from Marujo Catering.
Cute little Caylee Lafaele
Kent Palmer, James Dyches, Duane Bowen just hanging out.
Virginia and Breasha Morris. My VT partner and my YW.
Hi Sydney! No, uncle Frank does not have gum.!
Marie Garrido, Kim DeRego and Moana Akhay
Moana and Emma. I just found out that night that she was my VT.
Alison and Sydney Bishop. Grandma Meyer in the back.
Ardie & Matthew
Mariah & Donna Spix, Stella Kepo'o, & Ku'uipo Laumatia. Ku'uipo was recently called to serve as the RS President. She was assigned to do the Christmas program which included the Nativity Scene, MeleKalikimaka Hula. Thank you Ku'uipo for your dedicated service. We are truly grateful for the abundance of service you provide. You have touch many lives with good tidings.
Donna Spix and Marcie Palmer. The Palmer family recently bought a home and move to Makakilo. We were so happy that her family could join us.
Franke and Pierce baby girl.
Ku'uipo Laumatia and Stella Kepo'o
Les and Rachel Call
Moana with Maria Hodges and baby Hodges.
Matt and Jenilee Ferguson...the Love birds!
Rachel Call and Alison Bishop.
Kaanga's
Courtney Peirce
Dakota, Joseph, Ben, Audrey, Hannah, Danica & friend
Emma Rodrigues and good friend Mitchell Call wrestling over a cell phone.
Charne Akhay and Hannah Rodrigues hamming it up.
The Dyches 'Ohana. James, Mavis, Sam (Jaques), & Ashley
The youth were assigned to replenish the food and serve. The YM were assigned to refill the water cooler and clean-up.
Missionaries serving the Wahiawa area.
Hangloose or the Shaka sign is the local way of saying "howzit!"
Frank with the coooool shaka for Angres and Maggie.
Bishop and Brother Ferreira replenishing refreshments.
Our samoan elf emcee Manu Laumatia and the future emcee Fara-Moanalani
Some of the beautiful women of RS graced us with their song and dance to Mele Kalikimaka. It is so refreshing to see our mainland sisters bravely strut their stuff. Most of them only learned the dance only after a few practices that day.
Manu was the emcee for the evening and even called up Les Call to join him in doing the samoan slap dance.
The kids having fun watching the slap dance.The men sang Away in the Manger
YMCA "Your Merry Christmas Assignment" was lead by Ardie Kepo'o and Manu Laumatia. Everyone joined in on the song and had a great time. That was fun!
Bishopric
Manu Laumatia, Bishop Peter Bishop, & James Dyches
Brother Frank Akhay acknowledged everyone and thanked them for the fun we had and a successful evening.
Lastly, Sister Nu'u Huihui leading the children in Christmas songs. She told them that the louder they sang the quicker Santa will come.
They children were happy to see Santa Clause at the end of the program.
"Clean-up, clean-up, everybody everywhere, clean-up, clean-up everbody do your share!"
The children pitched in and help to clean the cultural hall at the end of the evening to get ready for the Sabbath Day.
Dakoto and Joseph worked hard during clean-up. I'm sure they earn somekind of scouting badge.
Here we see Kaimana supervising Benito.
There's Kaimana just posing with the vacuum. LOL
The children pitched in and help to clean the cultural hall at the end of the evening to get ready for the Sabbath Day.
Teenagers just goofing around in front of the camera.
Dakoto and Joseph worked hard during clean-up. I'm sure they earn somekind of scouting badge. 
Here we see Kaimana supervising Benito.
There's Kaimana just posing with the vacuum. LOLThe bishopric and the locals usually stay to the very end to clean up and goof off.
Everyone had a great time at the ward Christmas party. Here we are at the end of clean-up ready for the next ward Activity!
