“Je sui enfant de Dieu.”

Within biking distance of our house are an LDS stake center and four church buildings. They are right near the main road and even before we had had the opportunity to attend church, those buildings that mirror in style and construction other buildings on the island still pop out at us—we’re part of that. Those are familiar. Those are LDS chapels. It’s as comforting to a stranger in a strange land as the smell of a turkey roasting on Thanksgiving morning.

Our first Sunday here, we drove to a building down the street from us where Eric had attended meetings when he was here previously. The parking lot was empty even though two wards meet there. We looked at each other and said simultaneously, “Stake Conference.” So we drove a few kilometers in the other direction and arrived at the beautiful Stake Center. Sure enough, we found people there. Except when we peered through the windows, it became clear that it was the priesthood session. We walked around the building and found a sister who shyly admitted to speaking some English and between a scout leader in charge of ushering, a new missionary who barely speaks more French than we do, and this sister who spoke and understood far more English than she would admit, we learned that Stake Conference, a regional broadcast, would begin at 11:00 and that in all likelihood, our ward was the Puna’ruu ward that met in yet another building.

We came back at 11:00 and seated ourselves in the room for the English broadcast. Most of the stake attended the French broadcast in the chapel and some were listening in Tahitian in another room. When we arrived it become clear that there had been a mix up with the time. The broadcast was in full swing even though the majority of the people were still arriving. We sat there fully expecting to see maybe at least one other American family like us in the Paea stake. Instead, as people arrived the room filled up with all Polynesian looking people—some young men who might have learned English on their missions and a few families with children. We had the most people with blond hair in that room.

Afterwards we chatted with a couple who had lived in New Zealand for a time, so they spoke English with us and we enjoyed talking with them. They were quick to offer help and talk of having us over to dinner.

Many of the buildings here are structured so that there is an open area in the middle with classrooms and the chapel on the sides. Fans and lots of open windows allow for as much circulation as possible. The stake center happens have air conditioning. We had been melting away gradually from the heat we were not conditioned to experiencing, so it felt wonderful.

The broadcast soothed our souls as well. Elder Hafen had already spoken when we arrived. The first speaker we heard was in the Primary presidency. Her talk centered on having a gospel centered home and all that you can do to teach your children. Then Elder Condie stood up to speak. He was also conducting the meeting. He has always been a favorite of mine. He had just returned from being a mission president in Austria when he was my Book of Mormon teacher my freshman year at BYU. I liked him so much the first semester that I signed up for the second half of the Book of Mormon with him as well. He has a way of looking you in the eye when he taught and you would feel love, the spirit and sense truth. The first thing he did every semester is to learn all the names of the students in his class. That was his last year teaching at BYU. He was then called to be a seventy. I went on to serve a mission in Austria. He served in the area presidency over Austria. That meant that I had the pleasure of shaking his hand again at a zone conference. He gave me that look in the eye and said, “Yes. Sister Jenkins. From Ohio. How are you doing?” Just the way he said it and looked at me, I knew that he remembered me. It a singular feeling to be remembered—especially by one who has so much to remember. I’m grateful to him for that.

His talk for the regional conference was also infused with love for the people to whom he was addressing his remarks. It’s his gift. His remarks were compelling and uplifting. At the end of his talk, he bore his testimony in a tear-choked voice in three different languages. I was moved by the spirit of his testimony, but also touched by his compassion for all people.

Elder Cook was the final speaker. Again, I felt my tired jet-lagged, disoriented self hearing words of peace and wondering at the opportunity to be living here with the Polynesian people. He used stories about people from the islands to illustrate the points he wanted to make. I don’t remember all the details, but I remember the feeling.

It is a privilege to be a member of a worldwide church. We are very grateful for that privilege and know that here more than ever it will provide us and our children with rich experiences.

That air conditioning sure felt good!